The moment Ishkab entered Lumine's Unrelenting Will, a notification popped up on Chen Xiyao's game interface, displaying the Unrelenting Will.
Unrelenting Will: This sword contains fragments of your five friends' souls. Carrying them with you on your journey might help alleviate your loneliness.
Special Effect: When the Traveler uses Pyro, Geo, Hydro, Dendro, or Anemo Elemental Energy, their attack power is increased by an additional 1000 points.
-
Natlan, Stadium of the Sacred Flame.
As Ishkab's figure gradually transformed into streams of light, merging into Lumine's Unrelenting Will Sword, a deathly silence fell over the surroundings.
When the last glimmer of light vanished into the blade, the Unrelenting Will Sword emitted a clear, resonant hum that lingered in the air. Five distinct colors—red, yellow, blue, green, and cyan—appeared along its surface.
Lumine gently caressed the sword, her fingertips tracing each color.
A teardrop slid down her chin and landed on the sword with a plink, shattering into countless tiny droplets.
High above, Ei gazed at the blue streak on the sword, her eyes darkening slightly...
Rukkhadevata: "...By transforming 'existence' itself into a 'concept,' they etched the individual's story into the world's laws... This is a feat only a Pure Soul could accomplish. Her sacrifice has become inextricably intertwined with the future of this land."
Rukkhadevata also studied the green streak, lost in thought.
The Tsaritsa's icy voice rang out like colliding crystals: "...A necessary sacrifice. Yet the 'necessity' itself reveals the world's cruelty. Snezhnaya will remember this price."
She glanced at the sword, then turned her gaze toward Angie in the crowd.
By now, the Traveler's sword had already gathered five Pure Souls. The Tsaritsa had a premonition: if they didn't execute the Traveler's Plan soon, there was a high chance the sword would collect all seven Souls!
She couldn't bear to watch Angie meet the same fate.
Tartaglia shared her feelings. At that moment, a churning coldness gripped his stomach.
Ishkab's fate struck him like a thunderbolt. Right before his eyes, she had transformed into an eternal inscription on the sword's blade—a sacrifice so valiant, so complete.
An unprecedented chill gripped his heart, nearly suffocating him.
Angie... his sister Angie... also possessed a Pure Soul!
He could almost see Angie's stubborn, smiling face, resolute as Ishkab's, dissolving into flowing light and being absorbed into the sword.
"No..." A faint, trembling syllable escaped between his clenched teeth.
His knuckles turned white, and even the Hydro Element swirling faintly around him grew turbulent and agitated, mirroring his violent emotional turmoil.
The terror of watching someone dear walk toward an inevitable tragedy, yet feeling powerless to prevent it, was far more gut-wrenching than facing any formidable foe.
"Brother... don't worry. The Traveler's plan is about to begin. I'll be fine," Angie's reassurance offered Tartaglia a sliver of comfort, but only a sliver.
"...Pure will, a choice transcending life and death. The cost... is awe-inspiringly heavy," Capitano murmured, bowing his head in solemn respect.
Columbina exhaled softly, humming a mournful, ethereal elegy only she could hear, the lyrics blurred and indistinct.
This was her unique way of mourning.
Arlecchino: "...The optimal solution. Trading the complete annihilation of an individual for the survival and strategic advantage of the nation and civilization. A very... efficient trade-off."
Upon closer inspection, one could notice her fingers unconsciously stroking the hem of her garment.
Rosalyne merely watched in silence, not uttering a word, yet the chill emanating from her seemed to intensify.
Kinich's gaze remained fixed on the radiant sword in Lumine's hand. His throat bobbed with difficulty, his jawline tightening like stone.
It was a dull, stinging pain, the kind that follows being swallowed by an immense void, leaving one nearly numb.
His sister's figure had vanished from the scene. He... hadn't even had a proper goodbye with her.
All his shouts, struggles, and resentment seemed pale and powerless in the face of the unalterable truth.
Ajaw was heartbroken. The dragon was suffering, yet he still followed his sister's instructions and came to try to comfort Kinich.
But before he could even speak, he saw Kinich had already wiped away his tears. It seemed he had already composed himself.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone around him, Kinich finally took a shallow, almost imperceptible breath, his breath trembling subtly.
He forcibly smoothed the turmoil in his eyes, leaving only a heavy, instantly-born weariness.
He didn't speak, merely shifted his gaze from the longsword to the distant horizon. His tightly clenched fist, knuckles white, gradually, with immense restraint, relaxed.
Kinich was a master of emotional restraint. His heart ached, but he refused to display it here.
All his grief and anguish transformed into a silent weight, settling into his ramrod-straight spine.
-
Earlier that day, Fontaine City, Romaritime Harbor.
Fidelle encountered Freminet here, as if he had been waiting for her. He stood alone by the sea, and as Fidelle approached, he seemed to sense her presence and slowly turned around.
"Sister," Freminet said softly, his voice almost drowned out by the crashing waves.
"Freminet?" Fidelle drew closer, her face a mix of surprise and understanding. "What are you doing here?"
She instinctively reached out to brush away non-existent dust from his shoulder, but her hand froze midway as she noticed the unusual emotion in her brother's eyes.
During the Traveler's absence in Natlan, Fidelle had often visited the House of the Hearth.
Unlike the other children there, Lyney, Lynette, and Freminet lived separately, and Fidelle made a point of visiting them frequently. She would cook them delicious meals and chat with them. Since Freminet was her brother, Lyney and Lynette naturally started calling her "Sister" as well.
When facing Fidelle, Freminet still blushed occasionally, but he had grown much more comfortable than before.
Instead of answering his sister's question, Freminet pulled out a small but heavy-looking waterproof backpack from behind him and handed it to her.
His movements were a little stiff, his gaze lowered, avoiding Fidelle's direct stare.
"Inside... there are some Fontaine-made wound medicines, more effective than what's sold on the market. And your favorite Seafoam Dew Candies. I heard... Natlan is very dry, so there are also some... high-efficiency filter cartridges for diving. Maybe... maybe they'll come in handy."
He spoke slowly, his voice deep and deliberate, each word carefully chosen, yet he couldn't quite mask his awkward concern.
Fidelle took the backpack, her fingertips registering its weight. A pang of emotion welled up in her chest.
Her identity was no secret among Freminet and his friends. She wondered how he had learned she was leaving and prepared these things in advance.
This brother of mine... though he doesn't say much, his heart is truly kind.