"She's about to die?"
"Who?!"
Lumine looked at Paimon with alarm.
Who was about to die? And what was this crisis facing Teyvat?
At this moment, Paimon felt far too unfamiliar—so much so that Lumine almost didn't recognize her.
"The Sustainer—the Sustainer is about to die!" Paimon said rapidly. "She has no way to come and pay respects to Father God…"
Gu Chen remained calm. After glancing at Paimon twice, he asked, "What is Teyvat's crisis?"
Furina frowned as well.
Fontaine's prophecy crisis was likely approaching—she hadn't been too worried about it. But now another crisis concerning all of Teyvat had emerged?
A sense of unease crept into her heart.
Neuvillette was deep in thought. Suddenly, a flash of realization struck him, his eyes filling with shock—just as Paimon continued:
"I don't fully understand either! The information she left me just says… some kind of ominous power that will devour everything—including the universe… I don't know what it is!"
Lumine pondered.
Paimon didn't seem possessed. It was more like she had received fragments of memory or knowledge.
If what she said was true, then the god of Celestia… was dying?
Something that could devour even the universe…
The sheer scale of it made Lumine feel a deep sense of despair.
—
Neuvillette suddenly spoke:
"I think I understand."
Everyone turned to him.
"Within the True King existed a certain ominous power. After his fall, that power devoured his flesh and bones—leaving nothing in its wake. It is extremely destructive to all things. What Teyvat faces now… may very well be that very 'ominous' force."
Furina's expression turned grave. She looked toward Gu Chen.
From Neuvillette's words, it seemed that this force had existed even before the Primordial True King's fall—perhaps it was even the cause of it.
If even the True King had fallen to it…
Then how could Gu Chen, as a reincarnation, possibly withstand it?
Lumine spoke up, "So… Teyvat is about to be devoured by this ominous force?"
"Yeah… pretty much," Paimon nodded.
Gu Chen remained thoughtful, silent.
Neuvillette turned to Paimon. "I have a question."
Paimon scratched her head. "You want to know why Phanes seized the authority of the dragons?"
Neuvillette said nothing, but nodded.
Paimon answered:
"The memory says… when Phanes was still outside, the Heavenly Principles hadn't yet been born. But it had already observed that, from the distant cosmos, an ominous force was approaching Teyvat…"
"They seemed to possess intelligence—devouring everything along their path. Their final destination was unknown, but Teyvat lay directly in their route."
"To protect this world—full of life and potential—Phanes chose to descend here…"
"He tried to communicate with the ancient dragons, but they held blind reverence for Father God and refused to listen. Left with no choice, Phanes defeated them, then used his eggshell to enclose the planet—trying to steer it away from the ominous force and preserve a spark of life."
"He prepared everything. But then Nibelung returned from beyond, bringing that ominous force with him…"
"After the great battle, Phanes was already corrupted. Even though the force was weak, it left him on the brink of death…"
"And now… beyond the eggshell, the starry sky has fallen silent."
Neuvillette's pupils shrank. "You mean… the world beyond the false sky has already been devoured?"
"Yes." Paimon nodded.
Neuvillette inhaled sharply.
He finally understood why Phanes had acted as he did.
If the ancient dragons had listened back then… perhaps things would be different now.
But he couldn't blame them.
Because he himself was no different—he too held blind reverence for the Primordial True King.
With a sigh, he said plainly:
"I have no solution."
Furina turned to Paimon. "Then what is your purpose, staying by the Traveler's side?"
Paimon answered honestly:
"The Sustainer is dying. The Creator has yet to arrive… but the world will not burn again, because—"
"Lumine will ascend the throne."
Everyone froze.
Even Lumine herself was stunned.
Paimon's words sounded like prophecy—filled with an undeniable sense of fate.
The first part had already been confirmed.
The Sustainer was indeed dying.
"The Creator has yet to arrive…"
Furina and Neuvillette both glanced at Gu Chen.
If there was a "Creator of all," it could only be the Primordial True King—Gu Chen's past life.
Did that mean… he had not yet fully returned?
As for the last part—
Neuvillette looked at Lumine. "I didn't expect you to be the chosen successor."
Lumine gave a bitter smile. "I didn't know either…"
Furina sighed. "No wonder trouble follows you everywhere. You really are like the protagonist of a light novel—walking the path of a savior."
Lumine felt helpless. "Even Phanes was corrupted… I'm nowhere near that level. A savior? I don't think I'm capable of that…"
At last, Gu Chen spoke:
"If the Traveler was chosen as successor, then the plan must already be underway, correct?"
"Yes!"
Paimon nodded, now speaking more smoothly despite lingering fear.
"When Lumine resonates with the Statues of The Seven, she doesn't merely gain elemental power—she is receiving authority over the elements."
"When she accumulates enough experience in this world, those authorities will elevate her—like stars surrounding the moon—onto the divine throne."
"At that point, she will surpass the gods. Then, by continuing Phanes' plan, she can lead Teyvat away from its destined path and avoid the approaching catastrophe!"
"So it's not just elemental power… but authority…" Lumine murmured, watching the five elements flow in her palm.
"What are the chances of success?" Gu Chen asked.
"I don't know," Paimon shook her head.
"…Then they're not high," Neuvillette sighed.
Lumine looked worried. "We should gather every possible ally… maybe that would improve our chances?"
Gu Chen said calmly, "That force has intelligence. It won't just let its prey escape."
Lumine froze, then slumped. "Then what do we do? Even you're just a reincarnation—you can't handle it either, right? Are we just… doomed?"
Gu Chen took a sip of tea, his expression relaxed.
"Don't be so pessimistic. The one who foretold your fate may not see the full picture."
He stood, hands behind his back, gazing toward the sky beyond.
His voice was steady, unhurried.
"Those below my level see only the tip of the iceberg and mistake it for the whole."
"Those who reach my level will see me as a mayfly sees the heavens."
"Fate is ever-changing and often cruel—"
"If this fate is no good, then change it."
—
Lumine blinked, utterly confused.
Neuvillette spoke calmly, "It means—the one who judged your fate cannot comprehend the greatness of the Creator."
Lumine understood.
The Sustainer was dying.
But the Creator… had already returned.
—
"Can you really do it?" Furina asked, worry in her eyes. "That force even corrupted the Primordial True King. You…"
Gu Chen shook his head. "If I say it, I'm certain of it."
Furina nodded softly.
"When… do we begin?" Paimon asked nervously.
Seeing her fear, Gu Chen chuckled. "What are you afraid of? I don't eat people. Besides… when the sky falls, the tall ones hold it up."
"…That's true." Paimon relaxed slightly.
"No time to waste," Gu Chen said. "Let's deal with it now."
—
The moment his words fell—
A phenomenon erupted.
A sharp crack rang through the blue sky.
A fracture appeared—then spread like a spiderweb.
"The sky… it's breaking!" Paimon cried.
The sky shattered like a layer of light.
Darkness engulfed the world.
Above them stretched a deep black void, where crimson flames flickered—like burning embers in the emptiness.
Just looking at them sent chills down one's spine.
Even Neuvillette felt a cold dread, as if whispers clawed at his mind, trying to drag and devour his soul.
He knew it was an illusion—but that only made it more terrifying.
Only by averting his gaze did the feeling subside.
"So it's already this urgent…" Gu Chen murmured.
He had never paid attention to what lay beyond the sky.
With a leap, he transformed into a streak of black light and shot into the heavens.
—
Beyond the sky.
The crimson flames began to merge, twisting together—
Until they formed a colossal, flame-wreathed ape.
Its presence warped the void itself.
It seemed to roar silently.
Gu Chen's expression shifted slightly.
Memories stirred deep within him.
"…So you didn't completely die either."
His voice was cold.
The flaming ape extended a massive hand—large enough to grasp planets like marbles—and reached toward Teyvat.
—
Below, Furina's heart clenched as she stared upward.
Even as a god, she could not see clearly—only worry.
Suddenly—
Neuvillette froze.
A sacred, ancient aura descended from the depths of space.
It carried no oppression—only warmth.
All beings felt as though they were embraced by something gentle, like returning to a mother's arms.
In the void—
A vast phantom emerged.
Before it, even the colossal ape seemed like dust.
A divine, majestic ancient dragon lowered its gaze.
All beings—humans, gods, elemental creatures—were overwhelmed.
An instinctive reverence rose from their souls, compelling them to bow.
Multicolored clouds gathered from all directions, sealing the sky once more—forming a new firmament.
No one could see what happened beyond.
It all felt like a dream.
—
Back in the estate.
Space rippled.
Gu Chen stepped out, clad in black, dragon horns crowning his head.
"Are you alright?!" Furina rushed forward, anxiously checking him. Only after finding no injuries did she relax.
"They're just remnants. That thing was only a fragment—what could it possibly do to me?" Gu Chen said with a smile.
Then he leaned close to her ear, whispering:
"I saved the world. How will big sis reward me?"
Feeling his breath by her ear, Furina's face flushed red. She lowered her head like an ostrich, too shy to respond.
Neuvillette quietly excused himself.
Lumine blinked, then scooped up Paimon and followed him out.
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