The three Gnoses had been forged directly from Ryen's command over Imaginary energy.
They carried none of the bizarre, restrictive conditions imposed by Celestia, requiring neither the bureaucratic governance of a mortal territory nor the continuous faith of mortal subjects.
These three vessels functioned essentially as elemental conduits far superior to standard Visions, completely devoid of backlash while granting a staggering amplification to one's base power.
Though a Gnosis appeared fragile, one had only to recall how terrifyingly powerful Scaramouche had become when channeling one to understand that such relics were anything but weak.
Zhongli and the ancient sovereigns looked down upon them only because they stood at the apex of demigods, meaning the modest resonance provided by a standard Gnosis was beneath their notice.
For those who had yet to cross the divine threshold, however, a Gnosis was an incomparable treasure.
Grasping a Gnosis granted the foundational power of an Archon, placing the bearer firmly on the level of a mid-tier deity.
Moreover, these three specific vessels were forged to resonate with the arcane schools of the Wizardry module.
If paired with a corresponding Master Staff of the same alignment, the height of power one could reach was staggering.
The amplification provided by a casting staff had always been absurd; whether magnifying the elemental energy of a Vision or the divine authority of a Gnosis, it provided a massive, unyielding increase in combat output so long as the affinities matched.
A Master Staff paired with an uncorrupted Gnosis was a terrifying combination.
Backed by the martial foundations the commanders already possessed, a brand-new high-tier deity would be born on the spot.
With proper cultivation and time, rivaling premier Archons was entirely within reach.
Although these three authorities did not naturally exist within the native ecology of Teyvat, they had been woven into reality through Ryen's command over Imaginary energy.
They were in no way inferior to the vessels manufactured by the Heavenly Principles.
The qualitative essence of Imaginary energy stood unchallenged; there was no logic by which Celestia could forge something the Imaginary Tree could not replicate.
Across the expanse of the Sea of Quanta, Ryen had never heard of a single concept beyond the authority of the Imaginary Tree.
It stood as the true sovereign overseer of the multiverse.
Combining these three synthesized Gnoses with the force multipliers of the casting staves laid open an extraordinarily wide path to divine ascension.
Divine-tier combat capability would never lose its relevance.
The only lingering logistical complication lay in elemental recovery.
Teyvat's Seven Elements were intimately tied to Light Realm energy, making recovery after depletion relatively straightforward.
These three new disciplines, however, were steeped in arcane mystique, existing beyond the restorative currents of native elemental leylines.
Recharging their reserves in the field would require careful management.
Yet the problem was modest; massive mana flasks existed to bridge the gap.
The greater challenge was precedent.
The Seven Elements had existed across Teyvat for countless epochs, stretching back through the ancient reign of the Seven Dragon Sovereigns to a primordial antiquity far older than the First Throne of the Heavens.
Centuries of combat and research provided endless references for mastering elemental energy and divine power.
These three new authorities, by contrast, had to be deciphered entirely from scratch.
Whoever claimed them would face a protracted process of trial and error.
Structuring their magical output, weaving attack combinations, and defining their unique arts would demand intense personal experimentation.
Ryen found the prospect somewhat tedious, yet the warriors standing around him were unlikely to complain about walking an uncharted path to godhood.
Turning the matter over in his mind, Ryen offered a decisive conclusion.
"These three Gnoses shall be awarded to the three individuals who display the greatest merit once the forty-nine-day siege concludes."
"Naturally, Guizhong, those of you slated to receive server administrator privileges are excluded from the pool."
Reaching over, Ryen affectionately patted Guizhong's head, smiling warmly.
"You are already set to inherit a permanent quarter-share of my physical constitution, paired with administrative creative authority within this realm."
"Gifting these vessels to you would not even count as adding flowers to a brocade. It is far wiser to grant them to others."
Establishing this boundary early was the proper course.
Once Guizhong and his partners inherited his physical resilience, Ryen considered a standard Gnosis completely unworthy of comparison.
With that absolute physical constitution anchored into her frame, even her native divine power as a goddess of dust became secondary.
Faced with an enemy, she could simply emulate Ryen's preferred method, resolving complications through overwhelming kinetic force.
Fretting over elemental manipulation was largely unnecessary.
Distributing the vessels among the broader alliance was far more productive than hoarding them within his private hearth, preventing subtle grievances from taking root.
Maintaining impartiality required thoughtful deliberation.
Guizhong and the women raised zero objection.
They understood the balance perfectly; compared to the boundless durability of Ryen's physical constitution, a glowing chess piece was of little consequence.
"The policy is settled," Ryen said, clapping his hands together.
"Three Gnoses for the three most valiant defenders of the walls."
"As for everyone else, I will take time to forge a batch of corresponding Visions as participation awards. When the time comes, you may select whichever attribute suits your style."
"Do not worry about the ancient rule claiming one cannot bear two Visions simultaneously. My creations answer to my authority alone."
"However, though you may theoretically equip all three, my counsel is to begin with a single attribute."
"You already carry native Visions that require deeper mastery, alongside Delusions that demand refinement. Adding one of my Visions brings your load to three distinct conduits."
"Biting off more than one can chew is foolish."
"Master your current Visions and Delusions first. Augmented by the properties of the casting staves, your combat output will easily reach the threshold of demigods."
"Once you have thoroughly mastered that foundation, you may claim additional affinities."
"Take your ascension one step at a time."
The assembly nodded in unified agreement, though an undercurrent of awe rippled through their thoughts.
A Vision was the foundational law of Teyvat's heavens, yet Ryen manipulated such divine decrees with complete casualness.
If the Heavenly Principles ever witnessed mortals stacking multiple synthetic authorities without divine sanction, she would likely question her own sanity.
Still, excitement was unavoidable.
Even if only three individuals would claim the supreme Gnoses, the prospect was thrilling.
Three new deities wielding matching Master Staves would grant the alliance absolute martial dominance.
To put it bluntly, Celestia was facing an unprecedented crisis.
Lumine blinked, turning to Ryen with an amused, playful tilt of her head.
"Now that you have forged three Gnoses and plan to manufacture an armory of custom Visions, haven't you considered replicating the standard elements as well?"
"For instance... outfitting everyone with seven... no, ten distinct Visions!"
"Strung together into a shimmering necklace, it would look magnificent!"
Hearing her suggestion, the commanders involuntarily pictured themselves marching onto a battlefield with ten glowing glass orbs clattering around their throats.
In Ryen's original world, it would look remarkably like strutting down the street with a colossal gold chain.
Instinctive reluctance stirred in their chests.
Wielding ten elements was an extraordinary dream, but hiding the charms within one's pockets was vastly preferable; few possessed Ryen's shameless confidence in displaying flamboyant accessories.
A standard Vision was hardly a delicate piece of jewelry.
Lumine's teasing remark, however, offered Ryen genuine food for thought.
"Strictly speaking, I can synthesize Visions for the native elements as well. If any of you hold a genuine need for them, I can forge them."
Ryen pondered the mechanics before offering a slight nod.
"We shall leave that for later, however. Excessive haste invites chaos."
The leaders murmured in agreement. None of them were eager to drown in unmanaged elements.
Mastering a native Vision and a Delusion was already demanding, and integrating an unfamiliar arcane attribute would take months of training.
Piling on additional elements would turn a blessing into a logistical disaster.
Even so, the evening's harvest was historic.
Three brand-new Archons had been chartered, and three esoteric elemental disciplines were preparing to enter circulation.
Once the war concluded and Celestia stirred, the spectacle awaiting the Heavenly Principles would be breathtaking.
Without warning, the mortal champions once groomed to ascend Celestia's staircase would meet her as fully fledged demigods.
"Mr. Ryen..."
Scaramouche spoke up, his brow furrowing as a thought crossed his mind.
"Among the eight affinities governed by the casting staves, four correspond to native elements, and three are represented by the Gnoses in your hand."
"The final affinity is the most mysterious, eccentric, and lethal of them all, is it not? Are there no Gnoses or Visions planned for Necromancy?"
The moment the words left his lips, the air along the battlements grew strangely still.
Scaramouche sensed the shift immediately, noticing Zhongli, Xiao, and the commanders fixing him with sharp, warning stares.
"Wait! I held no improper designs, I merely meant..."
"What precisely did you mean?" Ryen asked, fixing Scaramouche with an amused, cool gaze.
"A Gnosis and Vision of Necromancy?"
"What are your intentions?"
"Do you plan to manipulate mortal souls across Teyvat, or desecrate the remains of the dead?"
"If you possess no fear of death, I can forge the vessel right now, anointing you as the primordial Archon of Necromancy."
"Yet what manner of fate awaits you afterward is something I cannot guarantee."
Ryen paused, his tone laced with dark irony.
"It is entirely possible that the moment you ascend the throne of Necromancy, the alliance will cease looking toward Celestia and unite their strength to eliminate you on the spot."
Scaramouche stood frozen, an awkward chill creeping down his neck.
"The Archon of Necromancy; you truly possess a reckless imagination," Ryen scoffed, shaking his head.
"Do you imagine I simply overlooked the existence of the Necromancy wand?"
"Wielding necromantic spells within this block world is harmless enough, as the monsters here possess zero higher intelligence."
"Attempting to practice necromancy under the skies of Teyvat, however... you must truly crave an early grave."
"Power carries no inherent moral alignment, but necromancy by its very nature defiles the departed. Even placed in the hands of sweet children like Klee, its danger is profound."
"Do you intend to drown Teyvat in wandering corpses?"
"Furthermore, pioneering necromancy would inevitably involve subjugating souls and tearing through mortal consciousness. Where would that leave Hu Tao's Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?"
A wave of cold guilt washed over Scaramouche. Hastily abandoning the notion, he lowered his head and spoke in a hushed, deferential tone.
"It was merely an idle inquiry. I harbored no such dark ambition, or I would be no better than that vile beast Dottore."
The surrounding leaders slowly withdrew their gazes, letting the matter drop.
Toying with necromancy staves against brainless zombies was an acceptable diversion, and using one in an extreme emergency was forgivable.
Crowning an official Archon of Necromancy in Teyvat, however, was pure madness.
Desecrating the souls of fallen ancestors and manipulating mortal minds was an unforgivable offense.
Zhongli and Xiao held profound memories of such horrors.
Had Scaramouche forgotten the gruesome fate of the ancient God of Dreams?
Had he truly pursued such a path, even Makoto would have executed him for the sake of public order.
Teyvat was a picturesque realm of living wonders.
Allowing an immortal necromancer to walk its roads would turn their home into a macabre nightmare.
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