"Welcome to the Xianzhou as our honored guests. I'll be your guide."
A beautiful white-haired Foxian greeted the visiting delegation from the Federation of Hope.
"Our General is occupied for the moment, so I've been asked to show you around and let you experience some of our Xianzhou's scenery."
As she spoke, her gaze landed squarely on Titania.
"I heard the Federation of Hope has two leaders, correct? What's this—did the other have important matters to attend to?"
"I alone count as two. What, you think I'm not qualified?"
Titania snorted. When Sora wasn't around, she was the sole leader here—the only god.
No one had the right to question the radiance of a god.
"Hahaha, of course not, of course not. It's just that we'll soon be holding the Heaven-Mending Creation ritual, and we hoped both leaders could experience our culture together."
She blinked knowingly. "After all, it'll help the Federation better understand our side."
Titania was immediately hooked by the term she'd used.
Heaven-Mending Creation?
Just hearing it sounded grand—perfect for a god like her.
"Heaven-Mending Creation? I've heard of that before." Robin had performed across the galaxy for years and naturally knew a bit about various events.
Though the ritual wasn't well-known, the IPC praised it as the first event to completely eliminate racial discrimination.
Because this ritual… "Rumor has it anyone on the Xianzhou—regardless of origin or species—can participate."
"Miss Robin truly is well-informed. Yes, it's our ritual held every five years."
The Foxian girl smiled. "But do you know how this ritual began?"
"Hmph." Titania snorted, full of confidence.
All eyes immediately focused on her.
Fenille, who had come along, looked stunned. Had Titania finally learned something from all those frantic lessons—finally gotten it together?
Warm relief filled Fenille's heart. Titania could finally handle things herself. As her friend, she was glad.
The result, however, was predictable.
Under everyone's expectant gazes, Titania declared proudly:
"I don't know!"
She still hadn't learned half her characters. She'd only been drawn in because the name sounded impressive.
Fenille nearly threw out her back on the spot—like plummeting from heaven straight into hell.
Of course. I'm so stupid. Why did I expect anything from Titania?
"Hahaha, our esteemed leader is truly straightforward! You'll get along splendidly with our General."
"'General'? Someone like that should—mmmph!!"
Before Titania could finish, Fenille clamped a hand over her mouth.
"This is someone else's territory! Titania, think about your public image."
If Titania said the wrong thing, they'd risk tension with the Xianzhou again.
Their newly formed Federation had already fallen out with the IPC—this side couldn't afford another conflict.
The Foxian guide simply smiled, a trace of nostalgia flickering in her eyes.
"Well, since we've gotten this far, why don't I tell you the story behind Heaven-Mending Creation?"
...
In the blue sky above, a smear of ink-black slowly spread.
It appeared abruptly—small, yet it immediately caught Sora's attention.
But that wasn't what he was focused on. His mind was still stuck on the sentence Xi had said moments earlier.
"Heaven-Mending Creation didn't proceed properly. The sky is collapsing. That's all."
Xi's voice was calm. The growing darkness overhead didn't concern her at all.
"What does 'sky collapsing' even mean?" How did it jump straight to world-ending disaster?
While reintegrating with his body, Sora questioned her.
His words finally drew Xi's gaze.
"Aren't you from the outside? How do you not know what the outside world is like?"
Xi remembered clearly—back when she…
How would I know where this is? If TERMINUS hadn't thrown my body here, I'd never have come!
Seeing the confusion on his face, Xi let out a soft chuckle.
"So you're telling me you know nothing, yet still came here to interfere?"
"I only came to take back my body. That's all." Sora stated plainly.
But he needed answers. "So—what exactly does 'sky collapsing' mean?"
"Rahu, Devourer of Worlds, is a gluttonous behemoth granted Emanator qualifications by the Denizens of Abundance. They parasitized it, awakened it, and made it obey their will."
Xi explained leisurely. "Right now, we're inside Rahu's stomach."
Sora froze.
Wait—how did this suddenly turn into a mythological plot?!
A stomach big enough to swallow an entire Xianzhou—just how massive was this thing?
Xi ignored his shock, her eyes fixed on the spreading black stain above.
"And 'sky collapsing' simply means the Cangyan is being digested."
The only reason it had survived this long inside Rahu was because of the combined strength of Xi and General Futian.
But now that the Futian within her had faltered, this realm that had clung to life was reaching its end.
"How do we stop it from being digested?"
Xi laughed softly. "With things as they are, do you really think that's possible?"
Their earlier battle had sent them high into the sky; where they stood now was no longer the ritual arena.
They were in the outskirts—a place normally deserted.
Yet they were surrounded.
From their appearance, Xi saw no sign of other species.
They were all Xianzhou humans.
"You didn't just come alone—you even brought this many people. Clearly, you're not here with good intentions."
Xi swept her gaze across them, her voice growing colder.
"You really want to lock me up again?!"
She had finally gained her freedom, yet they intended to imprison her once more and drain her endlessly.
"Heliobus, your companions have already been captured. Surrender peacefully."
A Xianzhou man spoke solemnly from the crowd.
But Xi had no intention of surrendering.
The humiliation of being enslaved and exploited still burned within her. She had endured enough. She would never bow again.
"Once, without even realizing it, I was imprisoned and drained by you for a thousand years."
Platinum flames surged to life around her. This time, she wasn't fighting to survive.
"And now, I'll show you who truly has the right to speak here."
The tension between the two sides sharpened to a knife's edge before Sora's eyes.
No—wait—there was still a massive, world-ending threat hanging right above their heads!
"Hey, hey, hey—can we please deal with the thing in the sky first and fight later?"
But neither side listened.
Both groups glared at each other, moments away from erupting.
No—
They already had.
"Charge!"
Armored Xianzhou rushed toward Xi.
To them, suppressing the Heliobi was the most urgent task.
Xi's lips curved into a cold smile. Flames gathered into a spear in her hand.
Even if thousands stood before her—she could suppress them all.
Never again would her kind be enslaved.
This was Xi's resolve.
Yet just as both sides were about to collide—a flash of light burst between them.
"Can we please deal with the crisis in the sky first? That thing threatens literally everyone!"
Sora was genuinely baffled. With a far greater danger above, why were they still choosing to fight now?
"Keeping us trapped in the resource-starved Jiulan Realm… turning food into a luxury… killing our former leader…"
A path opened within the Xianzhou ranks, and the young leader Feng Xi had mentioned stepped forward. "With grievances this deep, do you really think we can sit down and talk?"
He shifted his gaze onto Sora. "Sir, we thank you for clearing away the other obstacles, but please—do not interfere."
When even food had become scarce, how could the people of the Jiulan Realm not rebel?
So whether the sky collapsed or not, they had to first seal away Xi, the Heliobus leader before them.
"That's exactly what Futian deserved. He and I signed a contract long ago to secure your survival here, yet your greed knew no limits."
Xi's voice was icy. "And we still haven't even begun settling the matter of you exploiting our race for thousands of years."
The Sui Emperor had made a pact millennia ago: in exchange for victory, their kind would be freed.
Thousands of years had passed since, and not a shred of that freedom had appeared.
Instead, Heliobi had been sealed and exploited across the Xianzhou.
Their flames used to refine metals—
Their bodies reduced to engine fuel.
How could Xi ignore all of it?
She was one of the Sui Emperor's direct offshoots. She could never remain indifferent to her own race's suffering.
Thus both sides had reached a point where communication was impossible.
Every one of them wanted to defeat the enemy before them first—then worry about the collapsing sky afterward.
Sora, caught in the middle, fell silent.
The atmosphere grew heavier and heavier, ready to explode any second.
The ink-black stain in the sky continued spreading—now visible even to those barely paying attention.
Crack—!
A sharp fissure tore across the sky, the crisp sound echoing through everyone's ears, shattering the fragile silence.
"Charge—!!"
The Xianzhou lunged forward, fighting for their survival.
"Then show me what you can do!"
Xi, fighting to protect her race from further enslavement, brandished her flaming spear and surged ahead!
At that moment, Sora slowly lifted his head.
"[SAIKOU HAKKOU]!"
A brilliant flash instantly swallowed everyone's vision.
CLANG—!!
A resounding impact shook the air. When the light faded, the Xianzhou saw Sora standing firm, shield raised—having completely blocked Xi's powerful strike.
"You've chosen to side with the Xianzhou?" Xi snarled through her teeth.
Sora pushed back, sending her flying.
She steadied herself midair, gaze cold and sharp.
Meanwhile, the Xianzhou warriors lit up with excitement. This mysterious powerhouse seemed to be helping them.
If not now, then when?
Weapons in hand, they prepared to charge again—
But in the next second, Sora turned—and unleashed a blazing slash straight toward them.
The sword-energy tore out like silver-white lightning, sweeping across the field.
Dirt erupted. Grass flattened. A deep ravine carved itself into the ground.
Those standing directly in its path were gently—but irresistibly—pushed back by an invisible force. Their weapons slipped from numb fingers as they tumbled to the ground, staring at Sora in shock.
With one sword strike, he had subdued every Xianzhou present.
Xi's brows furrowed.
This degree of control…
This man had already surpassed the title of "Sword Champion."
"Sir, what exactly is your intention?" the young leader asked.
"I'm asking everyone to give me—Sora—a little respect, and let's fix the sky first."
Sora spoke calmly. If they wanted to fight afterward, fine.
But first, handle the crisis. Otherwise, countless innocents would suffer—something he refused to allow.
The young leader paused, then looked to Xi.
Clearly, he was waiting for her answer.
Sora also faced the Heliobus leader.
Xi smirked. "And why should I give you respect?"
With that single line, the air tightened again.
"You think that just because you beat me once, you can order me around?"
Her voice dripped with arrogance. Despite the wounds he'd inflicted, she showed no fear.
"The collapse of the sky is actually good news for me…"
"Because only then… can my true strength finally awaken."
As she spoke, something massive emerged from the ink-black stain above.
Within that abyss sat a colossal figure—hands in a mudra, seated cross-legged, towering in the shadows.
"This is why I don't fear any of you."
Xi floated upward, eyes cold as she looked down on Sora and the fallen Xianzhou.
"To me, you're nothing but insects."