Phanes's attack was in vain.
To be precise, his strike failed to even breach the Monarch's defenses. Although he was an ancient dragon egg, Lu Xing, with attributes in the four digits, was already capable of using skills that tapped into the very source of his Dominions, such as [Galactic Silence] and [Celestial Comet Wall].
[Celestial Comet Wall] had forcibly compressed the power of Phanes's attack to a single point of damage.
For the Monarch's true form, with its ridiculously massive scale, this one point of damage truly couldn't even manage to polish the surface.
While taking Phanes's attack head-on, Lu Xing also gained a deeper understanding of "favoritism." As a fellow inheritor of the Astral God of Order's legacy, Phanes was, at best, significantly stronger than a [Pathstrider] who had embarked on an Astral God's path, but he still had not surpassed the bounds of a [Pathstrider].
Compared to Lu Xing, who was watched over by an Astral God and held the status of an [Emissary], there was simply no comparison.
Naturally, the powers of Origin and Finality also played no small part in this.
As the first of his siblings that Lu Xing had encountered, the Monarch had proceeded with the utmost caution from the very beginning of the plan. But now it seemed that much of that caution and attention to detail had been excessive.
To waste so much energy, and then to worry about potential complications to the point of having his main body come here in place of Cheche... It was a bit of a loss, certainly, but to survive in the sea of stars, these necessary qualities of a cunning survivor could not be discarded.
After all that thought—
"Let this be the end."
A massive God Halo slowly bloomed at the apex of the golden celestial body.
Iridescent auroras completely veiled the connection between the continent of Teyvat and the starry sky. Then, they rapidly twisted and condensed in the void, until they formed beautiful ribbons that shot straight down toward the waiting Phanes!
Phanes would not get a chance for a second strike.
"Everyone saw it…"
"You started it."
---o---
"—"
The entire process was utterly silent.
Phanes's body simply dissolved, bit by bit, dissipating into nothingness.
The ribbons enveloped Phanes's body completely. What appeared to be light, ethereal gauze was, in reality, the physical manifestation of multiple fused [Dominions]. The Monarch connected to him through the void, continuously absorbing the Imaginary and quantum energy from within Phanes's body—along with the Branch of the Imaginary Tree linked deep within the Ley Lines—into himself.
And, most importantly, the two Dominions: [Finality] and [Abundance].
The mission was now definitely impossible to complete.
After arriving here personally, the Monarch gained a more profound understanding of Teyvat's current situation. Whether leaf or branch, a civilization fished out of the Sea had already lost its natural qualification for the test. As the examiner, he could administer a "make-up exam," but even if it succeeded, the power granted by the Imaginary Tree (a link to Imaginary Space) would perhaps be less useful than the branch he had reaped on this trip.
After all, a link for Imaginary energy replenishment was crucial for a "rootless" civilization.
But from the Empire's perspective, it was commonplace and utterly unnecessary. As a civilization that had long fought on the front lines against the Quantum Sea, the amount of Imaginary energy the Empire obtained in the same time frame far surpassed that of any coastal civilization observed.
Even if they leaked just a tiny fraction, it would be enough to sustain an entire civilization like Teyvat, or even several of them.
Soon, Phanes, in his "Finality template" form, began to rapidly shrink amidst the dimming light.
Less than two minutes later.
Swoosh.
Thump!
A small, "white unidentified flying object" was flung out from the turbulent center of energy. After tracing a beautiful parabola through the air, it was caught squarely in the arms of Raiden Makoto, who happened to be in its path.
The Monarch had drained Phanes of his power and Dominions, but he had not killed him.
Regardless of anything else, the "Heavenly Principles" was once the master of the Demon Gods and the continent of Teyvat. The world becoming what it was today was not his original intention.
His existence would be beneficial for integrating this civilization into the Empire.
To be precise, the new existence born from his remains would be a very suitable mascot for such a role… much like Raiden Makoto, who was currently holding said mascot.
The latter was herself born from the remnants of Baal, one of the "Four Supreme Pillars," carrying on her will.
---o---
"Next."
Phanes was no more.
With the assessment now a lost cause, the focus of his own "hatching" was now clearly the Imaginary Branch buried deep underground.
What was hidden within was not just Imaginary energy "contaminated" by the quantum.
The Seven Dragon Kings.
Phanes.
The powers of [Immortality] and [Order] had dissipated.
But the "knowledge" they had left scattered within the Ley Lines was an absolutely precious treasure for himself and for the Empire.
BOOM!!!
The God Halo expanded, and a Stargate opened.
A magnificent celestial river appeared between the Monarch and the land of Teyvat.
"Rin."
"My Monarch."
Upon being called, Rin immediately understood the Monarch's meaning.
"You will guide my power. Transfer all 400 million intelligent lifeforms on this planet."
A miniature sphere, identical to the continent of Teyvat, appeared in Rin's hand.
"This is a copied model of Teyvat."
"Wake Haxxor Bunny. You have one week to reforge this planet. The 'building materials' should be sufficient. As for any missing parts…"
The Monarch's voice paused for a moment.
"After I have completely extracted the Imaginary Branch, I will bring the remainder to you."
"..."
"As you command."
The conversation between the Monarch and Rin was not a private one.
And so—
The Demon Gods of Teyvat heard a conversation that seemed like something from a dream.
Things like "transfer 400 million lives" or "rebuild a planet"... most of them had, for the first time today, even learned the number of intelligent beings on Teyvat.
"The remaining issues can be discussed after I return—"
There were still many matters to resolve, but before the grand affair of his own "birth," everything else had to be pushed aside.
FLASH!
A brilliant golden light flared in the sky.
In the blink of an eye, the Monarch was the only living being left on the entire continent of Teyvat.
Even beings like slimes had been counted by the Monarch among the "intelligent lifeforms" and sent away. The principles upheld by the Empire were no joke; this "justice" was not for show, but a code of conduct for all citizens of the Empire, from the top down.
"Now then—"
Lu Xing began to release his control over gravity.
As the gravitational pull took effect, he would unleash the only physical skill currently available to him, [Divine Flame Impact], to shatter the continent of Teyvat directly!
This way, he wouldn't have to eat dirt during the absorption process, and the size of the resulting building materials would be more convenient for the populace to use.
Such a win-win situation…
All it would take was a gentle little bump.