Lumine and Paimon stood helplessly, unable to do anything in the face of this situation.
Rukkhadevata approached Nahida. "we all Nestle under the great tree of wisdom, peering out to perceive the world."
"From the earth and from the rain, we perceive it's wonders until we become a white bird to perch atop a branch..."
"And finally snap off the most important leaf"
Her small hand gently stroked Nahida's cheek, softly wiping away the tears at the corner of her eye before pulling her into a warm embrace.
"Once upon a time, I alone dreamed in this world. In my dreams, Everybody would also dream after they fell asleep."
"Wild and wonderful thoughts would emerge from their minds"
"Some tumbled to the ground and others floated to the sky."
"Connecting all things in the world into one dazzling net"
"Among a plethora of worlds were numerous smaller worlds. All of fate...Finding within the tapestry their brilliant glow."
"I gradually understand that these indescribable and constantly changing things are the most profound things in the world."
Guided by Rukkhadevata, Nahida's small hands reached up and embraced her.
"Only they can completely repel the madness."
"Only dreams can awaken consciousness from the deepest darkness."
The screen transitioned into animation, signaling the impending conclusion.
The sight of Nahida and Greater Lord Rukkhadevata weeping in each other's arms pierced the hearts of countless players. Combined with the emotionally charged music, it brought tears to their eyes.
[Penguin: Alright, Mihoyo, you win. You've tricked me into crying again.]
"I am the one who posed this question, yet also the one who sought a solution. Saving the world with the dreams of the people used to be my answer."
"And now, you've also found your own answer."
Rukkhadevata faltered, realizing she was still embracing Nahida, her body hadn't dissipated, and the Forbidden Knowledge hadn't been purged. Moreover, she felt the agony of her remaining consciousness had lessened dramatically in that instant.
"What... what's happening?"
A rare look of confusion appeared in Rukkhadevata's eyes.
Nahida's sobs ceased, and Lumine and Paimon looked even more perplexed.
Something felt deeply amiss.
In the Player World, the original animation froze, the screen stuck on Rukkhadevata's perplexed expression.
Chen Xiyao: "Waaah, what's going on?"
Her live stream viewers were equally baffled. Just moments ago, the scene had been so emotionally charged, but now...
"Hello? Can you hear me? Hello, hello..."
Beneath Irminsul, a familiar voice echoed as if right beside them.
Paimon immediately exclaimed, "Silaya! It's Silaya!"
"Heh, that's right, it's me. I'm rewarding Paimon with a giant chicken leg... and I have some good news! My experiment was a success!" Silaya's voice was filled with elation, though her weakened state was also apparent.
Paimon: "Experiment? You mean the one to save Irminsul?"
Nahida: "Silaya, where are you?"
"Me? I'm inside Irminsul. Just look up and you'll see me."
The group followed her instructions, even Rukkhadevata tilting her head skyward.
But instead of Silaya, they saw only the towering canopy of Irminsul.
"Silaya, what's going on? Why are you..." Rukkhadevata could hear Silaya's voice coming from within Irminsul, but... how could that be?
"I don't have time to explain. I barely made it, almost failing at the last moment. But I succeeded. If you want to know everything, ask the Akasha. I might not have much time left."
Lumine: "No time? Silaya, what do you mean?!"
Paimon tried to pinpoint the source of Silaya's voice, but it seemed both right beside her ear and coming from all directions at once.
"Silaya, you sound so weak! Where are you? We'll come find you right now!" Paimon cupped her tiny hands around her mouth and shouted.
"No time, Paimon... I've already..."
Silaya's voice faded in and out like a poor signal.
"Akasha... knows everything... help me... request..." At this point, Silaya's voice cut off completely.
Paimon: "Hey, Silaya! Are you okay?!"
Paimon yelled into the sky, but this time, no answer came.
"Lumine, what do we do now? Could Silaya be...?"
Lumine rushed over to Nahida and Greater Lord Rukkhadevata. "Nahida, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, do you know what's happening?"
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata: "For a brief moment just now, I seemed to lose my connection to Irminsul. Though the link quickly restored itself, this feeling... What exactly has that child done?"
Neither generation of the God of Wisdom could fathom the reason, primarily because it defied all comprehension.
Others could scarcely even perceive Irminsul, let alone interact with it as Silaya had.
Paimon was deeply worried. Silaya's condition hadn't looked good earlier, and her experiment was supposed to save Irminsul. She claimed she had succeeded, yet even Rukkhadevata said that saving Irminsul required her own deletion...
Nahida: "Silaya mentioned earlier that everything we need to know is in the Akasha. Let's not panic. We'll go check the Akasha immediately."
With that, Nahida turned to Greater Lord Rukkhadevata.
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata: "Given Irminsul's current state, I cannot leave. Though I don't know what has happened, I now have ample time. Go ahead; I'll await your report here."
Nahida nodded earnestly and departed with Lumine and the others.
In that fleeting moment, Silaya's body had completely stopped breathing.
Chu Xi, who had been at Silaya's side the entire time, immediately noticed the abnormality and quickly pressed a finger to Silaya's nose to check for breath.
No breathing?!
Chu Xi's heart raced with panic as she frantically checked Silaya's pulse.
"What's wrong?"
Alhaitham, who had been reading nearby, closed his book and immediately rushed over.
"Silaya... she's not breathing..." Chu Xi's voice trembled, her right hand, still feeling for Silaya's pulse, shaking. "There's no pulse either..."
Alhaitham swiftly pulled Silaya into his own arms from Chu Xi's embrace. After checking her nostrils and confirming the absence of breath, his own breathing quickened. He pried open Silaya's eyelids, revealing eyes bloodshot and streaked with red.
Though Silaya hadn't been directly involved in the main plot recently, she had remained relentlessly busy, barely resting and often sacrificing sleep.
"What do we do, Mr. Alhaitham? Will Silaya...?" Tears streamed down Chu Xi's cheeks, her voice choked with emotion.
"Don't panic... let me see..."
Alhaitham's heartbeat pounded in his chest, growing louder with each beat. It was unclear whether his reassurance was meant for Chu Xi or for himself.
After assessing Silaya's condition, he immediately stood up and pressed his hand against the Akasha Terminal at his ear.