Chapter 15: World Commission
With the heavy, suffocating aura of Xiao's karmic debt finally scrubbed from the air of Wangshu Inn, Lumine let out a long breath. She turned her golden eyes toward Zhongli, a bright, active spark in her gaze.
"Since Xiao's karma can be dealt with," Lumine began, gesturing toward her floating companion, "Paimon's power should be able to resolve some of your erosion, too."
She stepped closer, her tone earnest. "Although I don't know exactly how much of it she can clear away, it will definitely be useful. Why don't we strike while the iron is hot and try it right now?"
Hearing her name, Paimon puffed out her chest. She pumped her tiny fists in the air, her starry cape fluttering as her eyes practically sparkled with excitement.
"Yes, yes! Zhongli, let's try it!"
Having just realized the sheer, reality-bending magnitude of her 'Optimization Power', Paimon was itching to test its absolute limits. For the longest time, she had followed Lumine across Teyvat as nothing more than a floating mascot, an emergency food ration, and the undisputed God of Yapping. Now that she finally possessed a genuinely formidable ability—one that could actively protect Lumine and their friends—she was desperate to flex it.
At the word erosion, Zhongli's hand, which had just reached out to grasp his ceramic teacup, froze for a fraction of a second. It was an almost imperceptible pause. Deep within his amber eyes, a fleeting, indescribably ancient weight flickered and vanished before anyone could truly register it.
He picked up the cup, his movements smooth and deliberate, and took a slow sip. When he spoke, his deep voice was as steady as the bedrock of Liyue.
"There is no need to rush this matter for now."
He lowered the cup, his gaze drifting past the wooden railings of the inn, looking far up into the endless sky toward the direction of Celestia. His tone carried the distant, echoing resonance of a bygone era.
"As for erosion... it is the very foundation of this world's operation, forged by the laws of the Heavenly Principles. It is fundamentally different from 'afflictions' like karmic debt. If it is forcefully extracted or removed, there might be unforeseen variables."
He paused, letting the gravity of his words settle before his expression softened into a reassuring, subtle smile. "When the time is ripe, we can find a stable, secluded domain. We will combine our strengths and invite the Adepti to provide support. Then, perhaps, we can give it a try. Proceeding this way would be far more secure."
Lumine and Paimon exchanged a glance before nodding in unison.
"Mm!" Paimon chirped, crossing her arms confidently. "Then we'll wait for you to get ready, Zhongli! Just give us the word when you've gathered Xianyun and the others!"
With the plan settled, the group entrusted the peacefully sleeping Xiao to the care of Verr Goldet, the inn's boss, and set off down the road toward Liyue Harbor, their destination set for the Xinyue Kiosk.
Along the way, the little floating guide finally couldn't hold back her bubbling pride. She eagerly opened the multiversal chat interface to broadcast her glorious achievements.
[Genshin Impact · Little Paimon]: "@All members Wahahahaha! I, Little Paimon, have made another great contribution!"
[Genshin Impact · Little Paimon]: "Just now! I solved the karma that had plagued the Conqueror of Demons for over a thousand years!"
[Genshin Impact · Little Paimon]: "The root of that nasty stuff was the lingering resentment of defeated gods! It was a super big problem! Even Zhongli and the other Adepti could only suppress it! But what happened? As soon as my 'Optimization Power' came out, hmph hmph hmph! It was easy peasy! Xiao is sleeping so soundly now!"
[Genshin Impact · Little Paimon]: "How about that? Am I amazing or what?! Tonight, the Geo Archon is even treating us to a massive feast at Xinyue Kiosk to celebrate! Hehe!"
[Honkai: Star Rail · March 7th]: "Whoa, so amazing! A thousand years of karma?! Should we start calling you the Divine Healer Paimon now?"
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "A thousand years! Paimon is incredible!"
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: "Alright, Paimon, I admit you're very strong. But my bamboo-copter can make me fly, and that's not bad either."
[Genshin Impact · Little Paimon]: "But I can already fly."
Paimon's blunt, devastatingly simple reply struck like a physical blow. Across the universe, Stelle slumped against the parlor car's sofa, her entire world seemingly draining of color until she resembled a bleak, black-and-white sketch.
Jokes aside, everyone in the chat group felt a twinge of genuine awe at Paimon's newfound ability. More, her success ignited new sparks of hope across different dimensions.
Aboard the Astral Express, Dan Heng sat in the archives, his sharp eyes fixed on the holographic screen. He tapped his chin thoughtfully.
'Purifying the residual resentment of a thousand-year-old god... It seems Lumine's world also possesses long-lived species. If a millennium-old affliction can be completely eradicated, then perhaps my previous speculation holds weight.'He pulled up a separate data file, his expression turning solemn.'The Mara-Struck condition of the Xianzhou natives... it might truly be curable by Paimon's Optimization Power. Though, it remains uncertain if those who have already been completely corrupted can be pulled back from the brink. Still, this is a rare, unmatched opportunity. I should ask if she would be willing to try.'
In another universe entirely, within the cozy confines of the Random Play video store on Sixth Street, Wise stood behind the counter, his analytical mind racing along a very similar track. He looked up from his monitor, his gray eyes meeting his sister's.
"Belle," Wise said, his voice low and measured. "Do you think Paimon's power might also be able to help those afflicted by Aether corrosion?"
Belle blinked, her eyes widening as the realization hit her. "Eh? That actually makes a lot of sense! If she can really cure it, then Paimon would literally be a savior to so many people in New Eridu." She immediately reached for her phone. "I have to ask her if she's willing to help us!"
"Wait," Wise interjected, reaching out to gently tap her wrist. "Belle, be careful. Don't be too rash with your wording. We don't want to overwhelm her."
Belle waved him off with a bright, confident grin. "Oh, I know, big brother! Don't worry, we have a very good relationship."
A moment later, two notifications chimed in the multiversal chat almost simultaneously.
[Honkai: Star Rail · Dan Heng]: "Paimon, although it is a bit presumptuous of me, I still wish to ask you for a favor. If you ever have the chance to visit our universe, would you be willing to try and heal the Mara-Struck condition afflicting the people of the Xianzhou?"
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "Paimon! If you ever get the chance to come here, could you try to resolve the Aether corrosion? Many people in our world get corrupted by the Aether inside the Hollows. They end up Etherealized, eventually mutating into Ethereals, which are mindless monsters."
[Genshin Impact · Little Paimon]: "Eh? Mara-Struck? Etherealized? What are those? They sound so scary!"
[Genshin Impact · Little Paimon]: "But no problem! I'm the Divine Healer Paimon now! Whenever you need my help, just say the word! I, Paimon, will never shirk my duty to my friends!"
[Genshin Impact · Little Paimon]: "Hehe... of course, if there's good food involved, that's even better!"
[Honkai: Star Rail · Dan Heng]: "That is not a problem. I will arrange the finest banquets."
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "No problem at all, Paimon! When the time comes, my brother and I will take you to Lumina Square for the biggest meal of your life!"
...
For a short while, life across the multiverse seemed to settle back into a peaceful, everyday rhythm.
In Teyvat, Lumine and Paimon briefly bid farewell to the bustling, lantern-lit streets of Liyue Harbor. using a Teleport Waypoint, they vanished in a flash of blue light, reappearing amidst the scorching, sun-baked lands of Natlan. The heat washed over them instantly as they resumed their interrupted journey, seeking an audience with the Pyro Archon to uncover new clues about Lumine's missing brother. All the while, they kept a silent ear out, waiting for Zhongli's signal to finally tackle his 'erosion'.
In the cosmos, aboard the Astral Express, Stelle and March 7th maintained their daily routine of bickering, completing their trailblazing tasks, and religiously checking into the chat group. The digital interface became their central hub for envisioning future interdimensional adventures, swapping wild stories, and building anticipation for whatever massive "World Event" the system might throw at them next.
In New Eridu, on Sixth Street, Belle and Wise returned to their busy, dual-layered lives. By day, they were the friendly, knowledgeable managers of Random Play. By night, they handled the shadowy depths of the Rope Net, taking on high-stakes commissions and racking up valuable system points.
This comfortable routine held steady until three days later.
Seeking critical intelligence regarding the fugitive Pearlman, Wise set out alongside the cyborg gunslinger Billy Kid. Their destination was the dusty, lawless expanse of the Outer Ring, where they planned to negotiate with the Sons of Calydon and assist them in claiming the title of Overlord.
The drive started smoothly. The two chatted and laughed, the roaring engine of their vehicle cutting through the arid wasteland. Wise even snapped a few scenic photos of the rugged Outer Ring canyons, uploading them to the chat group to share the view.
Then, the chaos hit.
Without warning, a massive, heavily armored tanker truck crested the ridge, its engine screaming as it barreled directly toward them. It didn't slow down. It didn't swerve. It was a deliberate, lethal ramming attempt.
"Billy, hard right!" Wise shouted over the roar of the engines.
Billy yanked the steering wheel with his mechanical strength. The tires shrieked against the asphalt, kicking up a blinding cloud of dust as their vehicle smashed through the rusted metal guardrail. Gravity vanished for a stomach-churning second as they plummeted off the edge of the road, crashing straight into the swirling, distorted spatial anomaly of an active Hollow.
Inside the video store, Belle's phone buzzed frantically.
[Zenless Zone Zero · Wise]: "Emergency situation, Belle. We've likely been set up. Just now, a tanker truck deliberately tried to run us over. To avoid the collision, Billy had to sharply turn the wheel. We broke through the guardrail and have fallen into a Hollow by the roadside."
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "What?! Big brother, are you hurt?! How do you feel?!"
The sudden influx of distress messages instantly drew the attention of everyone in the chat group, a flurry of concerned texts flooding the screen.
[Zenless Zone Zero · Wise]: "Everyone, don't worry. For now, we seem to be uninjured. The vehicle took the brunt of the fall. But I'll need Belle to contact external help immediately. Call the Sons of Calydon directly."
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "I'll contact them right away! But big brother, our normal human physiques can't withstand the corruption inside a Hollow for long!"
Even though she knew her brother was temporarily safe, panic gripped Belle's chest. Her fingers trembled as she prepared to dial the Outer Ring contacts.
Suddenly, a sharp, mechanical chime echoed directly into the minds of every single chat group member. A glowing, semi-transparent blue interface materialized in the air before them.
[Ding! System Notification: Detected urgent need for help from a group member. World Commission activated!]
[World Commission: Assist Belle in rescuing Wise from the Hollow.]
[Difficulty: Easy]
[Player Limit: Three people]
[Commission Reward: 200 Group Points]
[Hint: Upon accepting this mission, you will be directly teleported to Wise's location inside the Hollow. Please assist Wise in evacuating the Hollow as quickly as possible.]
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