"The storyteller has done so much evil that he's finally driven himself mad—"
"Hooray—another one's lost it—"
"Storyteller, the next life should be the fifth one, right? It's time to come back to Liyue, isn't it?"
"This is Liyue. You need to understand that Liyue is home turf. Please tell more stories about Liyue, especially about Lord Rex Lapis—"
The audience buzzed with discussion below.
Some talked about the just-finished fourth life—the story of the black dragon Durin.
Others speculated about where the next reincarnation would take place.
Outside Wangshu Inn, bookmakers had already opened bets on which nation the boy would be reincarnated into next and how he would meet his tragic end.
...
Now, as the audience murmured, Li Mo realized he had lost his composure. He quickly schooled his features back to seriousness.
Not only that, he contacted the system again to verify the prize he had just drawn.
Yes, he had seen correctly this time. It was a complete Wish.
That meant he could finally make a wish.
"System—can I use the power of the [Wish] now?"
In nearly a thousand years of reincarnation, this was the first time Li Mo had obtained the power of a Wish.
He was a little excited.
[Ding! System notification: The power of the [Wish] can be used now!]
[Use it immediately?]
Before confirming, Li Mo asked the system again, "Are there any limitations on the Wish?"
"For example, could I wish to destroy the world?"
"Or wish to create a new world?"
"Or wish to become the Heavenly Principles?"
Of course, Li Mo was only asking hypothetically. He had endured ninety-nine lifetimes; he had yet to enjoy life properly. He had no intention of destroying the world.
[Ding! System notification: The power of the Wish has an upper limit. It cannot exceed the limits of this world.]
The system gave a vague answer.
Li Mo asked again, "Could I wish to become the Heavenly Principles?"
[Ding! System notification: This wish exceeds the limits of this world. Impossible!]
He could not become the Heavenly Principles.
It seemed the Wish was not all-powerful.
But even if it were possible, Li Mo had no desire to become the Heavenly Principles. Since his transmigration, he had yet to enjoy life properly.
After a moment's thought, Li Mo decided he should use the power of the [Wish] to resurrect someone.
That should be within its power.
After a little more reflection, Li Mo made his choice. He would resurrect one of the most important people from his first life.
The first Electro Archon of Inazuma, who had fallen in the Cataclysm of Khaenri'ah.
Raiden Makoto.
Li Mo spoke to the system in his mind.
"System—I choose to use the power of the [Wish] to resurrect the first Electro Archon of Inazuma, Raiden Makoto."
Among his hundred reincarnations, Makoto's death was one of the deepest wounds in his heart.
[Ding! System notification: The power of the [Wish] has been used!]
[The first Electro Archon of Inazuma, Raiden Makoto, is being resurrected… 50%… 70%… 100%… Resurrection complete!]
The moment the resurrection was complete, outside Wangshu Inn, a startling sight unfolded in the sky.
Where the sky had been clear moments before, lightning flashed and thunder rolled, splitting the heavens.
Almost the entire sky was enveloped in Electro power.
Not only that, both within and outside Wangshu Inn, all the Electro energy in the area suddenly surged, drawn by some mysterious force toward a single point in the sky.
Ordinary listeners noticed the lightning and, curious, ran out to see.
But for those with Visions, or those with Gnosises, the sudden change was shocking.
Keqing's power was also Electro. The moment the change occurred, she rushed out of Wangshu Inn and saw the Electro energy gathering in the sky above.
A blurry figure was taking shape in the heavens.
Was a new elemental being about to be born?
No. Though only a blur, Keqing could tell this was not an elemental being.
A real person was about to be born.
Not only Keqing, Shenhe, Hu Tao, and the others, but even Barbatos, the Raiden Shogun, and Zhongli were stunned by the sudden burst of power.
As the Seven Archons, the seven rulers of Teyvat, they were the most powerful beings in the mortal realm.
But in this moment, they could clearly sense that the power gathering outside surpassed even their own.
Zhongli's expression, usually so calm, turned serious. "Whatever is happening, we should go outside and see."
Barbatos said in astonishment, "It's Electro energy. Could it be related to the Electro Archon?"
The Raiden Shogun's expression remained cold. "It has nothing to do with me."
The next moment, all three moved. In an instant, they were at the entrance.
They looked up and saw the immense Electro power still gathering in the sky, taking the shape of a human form.
Not only that, seeing this coalescing form, all three felt a sense of familiarity.
Especially the Raiden Shogun. Her hand, gripping Musou Isshin, trembled.
Then, a surge of Electro power erupted from the blade.
Before Zhongli and Barbatos's eyes, a human figure coalesced from the energy.
After five hundred years of meditation within Musou Isshin, pursuing eternity, Raiden Ei had finally emerged.
The moment she stepped out, she paid no heed to the Raiden Shogun beside her, nor to Zhongli and Barbatos.
She looked up at the blurry figure taking shape in the sky, her eyes filled with anticipation.
She murmured, "Makoto… is it really you who has returned?"
Beside her, Zhongli and Barbatos, as fellow archons, heard her words clearly.
Their hearts jolted.
Makoto? The former Electro Archon, Raiden Makoto?
Could the figure forming in the sky really be Makoto, who had died centuries ago?
Even Zhongli, with his vast knowledge, and Barbatos, with his attunement to the wind, could not determine the origin of this Electro energy.
Just as everyone was baffled, more and more Electro energy gathered in the sky. Even Zhongli and Barbatos were astonished.
If all that energy were to explode, it would likely level Wangshu Inn—perhaps even the entire cliffside.
As the Electro energy grew, the figure grew clearer.
Its face was identical to the Raiden Shogun's.
...
(A/N: Zhongli will definitely be written, but no matter who he is reincarnated as, it feels difficult to write well.
I'm afraid of messing it up, so I need some time to think.
For the next story, I won't write about Zhongli first. Instead, I'll write about another person from Liyue (a disciple of the adepti). Stay tuned!)