Kael Steps onto the Island, All of Teyvat in Shock
Where did he go?
The sudden turn of events left the audience speechless.
Kael had clearly intended to end the battle in a single stroke, unleashing every ounce of power within his body. But instead of striking his foe, that power had surged toward the horizon, vanishing into the sky.
Even stranger was Kael himself.
The man had simply... vanished.
***
Inside Kael's home, the intense battle had kept Furina's nerves stretched to the breaking point. She had been holding her breath, watching him charge that final, terrifying attack.
His sudden disappearance hit her like a physical blow. It was the feeling of throwing a full-force punch only to hit a ball of cotton.
She had waited so long. She had been dying to see how the duel between Kael and Aether would end.
And now, the man was gone?
"This..."
"What just happened?"
Furina stared at the screen, her eyes wide and vacant. Then, a thought struck her. Her expression shifted from confusion to dawning horror.
"No way... You didn't end up like those people in Fontaine, did you?"
She turned to Kael, her voice trembling. "We had some incidents recently. People would touch the Primordial Seawater and just... vanish into thin air. Did that happen to you too?"
She leaned in, scrutinizing Kael's face as if looking for cracks in his soul.
"I get it! You were swallowed by the power of the Abyss, weren't you?"
'She certainly has a vivid imagination,' Kael thought.
"You have a very creative mind," he said aloud, his voice flat.
He wasn't entirely sure what was happening either. But being "swallowed by the Abyss" didn't feel right. Who knew what kind of dramatic, heroic narrative the system was trying to weave for him now?
***
Aether: "Is Kael... dead?"
Lumine: "Brother, what are you talking about?"
Dainsleif: "Did his body crumble into nothingness because he couldn't contain the Abyss's power?"
Raiden Ei: "Is that a possibility? How disappointing. The story was just reaching its climax."
Enjou: "A tragedy for Lord Kael."
Aether: "???"
Enjou: "Ahem... I mean... as expected of the Prince. Only you could defeat a Reincarnator."
Paimon: "Kael shouldn't have made that vow to Lumine. He insisted he wouldn't die until he brought Aether back. Well, look what happened. He jinxed it!"
Lumine: "Hey, what is going on? Where is Kael?"
Kael: "I'm right here."
Lumine: "No... I mean... what happened to his past self? He wasn't really swallowed by the Abyss, was he?"
Lumine felt a surge of inexplicable irritation. She never imagined a mere story could make her lose her composure like this.
Lumine: "Men... all they know how to do is fight. What's the point? And you, Brother! A journey is a journey. Does it matter who I travel with? Why is it okay for anyone else, but not Kael? Why did you have to stop us? Are you sick in the head?"
Aether: "..."
Yae Miko: "Oh dear. The little sister is actually angry now."
Lisa: "How terrifying. I didn't expect Lumine to care this much about a past life."
Jean: "Lumine, I understand your frustration, but please, calm down. The Kael of the past isn't dead. Look, he's waking up."
Lumine: "Eh? Really? I knew it. He's alive!"
Aether: "..."
Still alive? He actually survived that?
[Kael lay before a massive set of gates, his eyes fluttering open.]
[Everything around him was blindingly bright.]
[Countless stone pillars floated in the air, suspended over a sea of thick, rolling clouds.]
Venti: "Ehe, what a magical place. Is that... heaven?"
Zhongli: "Hmm..."
Nahida: "Why do those stone pillars look so familiar?"
Apep: "The Skyfrost Nail?"
The Throne of the Gods
The Skyfrost Nails.
Even those who had never seen them in person knew what they represented. To the people of Teyvat, to those who understood the weight of history, those pillars were a terrifying omen.
They were the descent of Celestia's judgment.
A physical manifestation of divine wrath.
As the rows of Skyfrost Nails came into view, the realization hit the people of Teyvat like a physical blow. They knew exactly where Kael had gone.
Teyvat.
Celestia.
Paimon: "Whoa! Kael... Kael was actually summoned by Celestia..."
Venti: "As expected of Mr. Kael. To celebrate your arrival at the big house, how about a drink?"
Zhongli: "Curious. He wields such potent Abyss power, yet instead of being struck down by the Skyfrost Nails, he was brought directly to Celestia."
Alhaitham: "A rare opportunity to acquire forbidden knowledge."
Arataki Itto: "Wait, what?! How do you guys know he's on Celestia?"
Kuki Shinobu: "Boss, please. Just stay quiet for once."
Kamisato Ayaka: "My heart is racing... If Mr. Kael opens that door, we'll finally see what Celestia really looks like."
Enjou: "He actually made it up there? Lord Kael is a beast."
Venti: "Lord Kael is a beast!"
Qiqi: "Lord Kael... is a beast..."
Furina: "Lord Kael is a beast!"
Klee: "Lord Kael is a beast! (Throws flowers)"
Jean: "Klee, watch your language."
A long corridor stretched toward a massive gate.
Kael stood still, his eyes scanning the surreal architecture.
Purple-black flames flickered around his hands, a reflexive surge of the Abyss.
But the energy didn't flare. Instead, it was pulled away. The Skyfrost Nails acted like cosmic magnets, drawing the dark aura into their frozen depths.
'What the... it's eating my power?'
Kael blinked, stunned.
Then, a voice echoed inside his mind. It was cold, ancient, and resonated with the weight of stars.
[The Sustainer is dying.]
[The Creator has yet to return.]
[But the world shall burn no more, for you shall ascend the Throne of the Gods.]
The chat exploded.
The Sustainer? The Heavenly Principles?
The Heavenly Principles was dying?
A new one was being born?
The entire continent of Teyvat was thrown into a frenzy. For centuries, the gods had been silent. Now, the truth was being laid bare in front of them.
Yae Miko: "Oh my, oh my. Was that opening scene real? Is Kael actually taking the seat of the Heavenly Principles?"
Raiden Ei: "Kael... will become Eternity..."
Charlotte: "This... this is huge! I can't even make this a special report. The Steambird would be shut down in a heartbeat!"
Furina: "What?! Kael is the new Heavenly Principles? No, no, no... this can't be..."
Neuvillette: "Furina, what's wrong? Are you back home?"
Furina: "No."
Neuvillette: "Good."
Lumine collapsed onto the ground, her legs giving out.
"Kael... is the new Heavenly Principles?" she whispered.
Paimon: "..."
"Hey, Lumine!"
"You're acting weird."
"If Kael was really the Heavenly Principles, how could he be here in Teyvat during this life? You're losing it."
Paimon's words acted like a bucket of cold water. Lumine snapped out of it.
She was right.
If Kael had already ascended, he would be up there, on that floating island in the sky, not talking to them in a chat room.
Paimon: "I'm telling you guys, don't get so worked up. If Kael was the Heavenly Principles, he wouldn't be hanging out in a livestream with us."
Kael: "You guys really make a big deal out of everything."
Lumine: "Hey! Since when did you two start ganging up on me?"
Keqing: "Did no one notice the Skyfrost Nails absorbing his Abyss energy?"
Ningguang: "Perhaps it was being purified."
Cloud Retainer: "No, it's more complex than that."
Moon Carver: "The voice only spoke after the energy was absorbed."
Ganyu: "It's like... a mechanism being triggered."
Cloud Retainer: "Did the Abyss energy act as a key to activate the Nails?"
Nahida: "Could Celestia be converting Abyss energy into a usable power source?"
[Venti: "Traveler, when you set out on your journey again, you must remember its true meaning."]
["The birds, the songs, and the cities of Teyvat."]
["The Tsaritsa, the Harbingers, and the monsters... they are all part of your path."]
["The end is not everything. Before you reach the finish line, use your eyes to truly see this world."]
Venti: "Huh?"
Jean: "Lord Barbatos... that was your voice."
Lisa: "My, my. What's going on here?"
Barbara: "Lord Barbatos... (Praying) You and Mr. Kael really are..."
Lumine: "Barbatos! (Angry)"
Venti: "I don't know anything! Even if I did, I don't remember! And besides, who says those words were meant for Kael?"
~✦~ End of Chapter ~✦~
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