Lumine, Angie, and Fidelle teleported back to the Stadium of the Sacred Flame.
The arena had been transformed into a fortress, with countless Natlanian warriors standing guard, weapons in hand, their eyes vigilant.
Kachina spotted Lumine's arrival and immediately informed Mavuika, who was inside the stadium.
Without pausing for greetings, Lumine rushed inside.
Mavuika saw her and hurried over.
Lumine cut to the chase: "The plan succeeded, but the Goddess's slumbering place is in Natlan, and the Abyss has infested it. We must launch a counterattack against the Abyss, find her slumbering place, and awaken her."
"The Abyss has already descended upon that location. Morax and the others are buying us time—we must seize every second!"
Just then, a ground-shaking roar reverberated across Natlan, rattling the entire land.
Lumine: "That's from Morax's side! Mavuika, we have to move now!"
Mavuika nodded grimly.
"Xilonen, Iansan, Kinich, Mualani, Ororon, Chasca..."
"Pyro Archon!"
"We're ready, Pyro Archon!"
"Let's go!"
Once she confirmed the six warriors were prepared, Mavuika turned to Lumine. "Traveler, please step back. Once I've regained my strength, we'll depart!"
Lumine nodded and stepped back.
Xilonen and the other five heroes stood in a hexagonal formation, with Mavuika at the center.
"Everyone, we face a brutal war. Please lend me your unwavering resolve—to utterly defeat the Abyss and ensure no more lives are lost!"
Mualani raised her hand, revealing the Ancient Name in her palm, as a vibrant, predominantly blue aura enveloped her.
Before your blood runs dry, strike flint against blade, leaving a tiny light behind.
A surge of multicolored energy erupted from the Ancient Name, flowing toward Mavuika at the center.
Thus, the flame shall connect the eyes of all Natlan.
Even eternal darkness cannot sever our bond.
Behind Mualani materialized Tupac, the hero of the People of the Springs from five centuries ago. Due to his immense height, he knelt on one knee.
Five centuries ago, he had carried the gravely wounded Pyro Archon back to the Arena before passing away.
Xilonen: Flint embedded in earth, echoing mountain peaks.
Converge, disperse, and be reborn from the embers.
For the newly kindled flame, herald the dawn.
Behind her stood Sundjatta, the hero of the Children of Echoes from five centuries ago, who had sacrificed himself to protect Wanjiru.
Iansan: A hero ascends the volcanic peak, seizing the sun.
Flames crowned her, her radiance dazzling like a starlit galaxy.
She led me to take my first step.
Behind her stood Wanjiru, who had died in the war five hundred years ago.
Ororon: The All-Seer feasts in anticipation of his own demise.
Let us raise our flesh and bone, our cups of wine, and sing a final song for the heroes who gave their all.
Celebrate his fulfilled destiny.
Behind him stood Sanhaj, who had detonated a miniature Night God Space during the Mare Jivari battle, repelling the monsters.
Kinich: The firewood of yesterday, the raging flames of today—both fuel lives that never look back.
Every deed shall be judged by fire.
Behind him stood Burkina, who had died at the hands of a comrade corrupted by the Abyss.
Chasca: I leave the hardships of my life as my epitaph.
To commemorate that I once possessed them, and that I [transcended] them.
Behind him stood Menelik, who even in death refused to release his grip, strangling a monster.
Mavuika: Heroes who traverse time and space, trust me once more.
Mualani & Tupac: We stand [united] in heart and mind.
Kinich & Burkina: Baptized in the fires of backdraft].
Xilonen & Sundjatta: Bearing the blessed Ancient Name.
Iansan & Wanjiru: Knowing the true meaning of power.
Ororon & Sanhaj: Accepting the fate of sacrifice.
Chasca & Menelik: "We finally welcome the fire of Transcendence."
Power surged relentlessly through Mavuika's body as she clenched her right fist, flames coalescing in her palm.
Raising her fist high, she cried out, "For Natlan!"
"For Natlan!" the crowd roared back.
Centered on Mavuika, a tidal wave of Pyro Element energy erupted outward. The fire in her eyes blazed brighter, and she soared into the heavens, recreating a blinding Blazing Sun high above Natlan!
Mavuika stood at the heart of the Blazing Sun, her fiery hair dancing wildly!
As the Blazing Sun rose, countless Abyss Realm Gates reappeared across Natlan's Land, pouring forth dense swarms of Abyss Monsters.
These Abyss Monsters were roughly as strong as those from the previous war, but lacked the indestructible Pillars of Light.
The Pillars of Light had transformed into Abyss Realm Gates that could be destroyed and sealed. Combined with the Ode of Resurrection's blessing, humanity was now invincible!
Mavuika: "In the name of Haborym, the Pyro Archon, I declare the Night War begun!"
"The Ode of Resurrection shall protect all Life until this war concludes!"
Across Natlan's Land, every warrior—Natlanian or not—was now enveloped in a golden aura.
This was the visible manifestation of the Ode of Resurrection's power. Thanks to the earlier actions of Ishkab and Yohualtecuhtin, the Ode no longer affected only Natlanians, but all who fought within Natlan's borders.
Of course, the restrictions were far greater for deities. For example, if Mavuika were to fall in battle, even if the Ode could resurrect her, she would lose her divine power and become an ordinary mortal.
Below, the battle cries never ceased.
"We have been blessed once more!"
"Kill them all!!!"
"Slaughter these damned monsters!!"
"Brothers, charge with me!!!"
Outside the Stadium of the Sacred Flame, the cries of battle rose and fell in waves, as the morale of the warriors shielded by the Ode of Resurrection soared to unprecedented heights.
The Fatui Harbingers led their Fatui Soldiers into the fray.
Itto and Diluc charged at the forefront. Diluc swung Wolf's Gravestone, unleashing a colossal crimson Fire Bird that soared into the monster horde, scattering foes in its path.
Itto gripped Redhorn Stonethresher with one hand and hurled it with all his might. The Claymore pierced through the monster ranks, cleaving through one creature after another before returning to Itto's grasp at his command.
"Abyss scum! Die, all of you! Pay for Yuna's life! Aaaaargh!!!"
Their combat styles were utterly frenzied, fueling the ferocity of the Natlan and Fatui warriors behind them.
"Two lunatics!" Rosalyne couldn't help but mutter, observing their berserk state.
Boom—!
A sudden explosion erupted from the far horizon, accompanied by the roars of monsters.
Morax's four Venerable Adepti, brought from Liyue, unleashed their full power, sending countless monsters flying.
Further away, bolts of lightning tore through the monster hordes, clearing vast swaths in mere seconds.
The thunderous roar of colossal mechs mingled with the howls of monsters and the cacophony of explosions. The Prodigal's gargantuan purple form crushed the battlefield beneath its colossal weight!