Morning.
Raiden Ei smacked her lips softly, wiping away the trace of drool at the corner of her mouth before slowly opening her eyes.
Despite passing out almost instantly the night before, she had slept… surprisingly well.
"Hmm?"
She turned her head and saw Skirk and Kamisato Ayaka still fast asleep nearby.
Ei rubbed her temples.
For some reason, the figure called "Scaramouche" from the projection kept feeling disturbingly familiar.
Only after Aerin's explanation did she finally understand—
That being… was the puppet she herself had once created.
Because she had ignored Yae Miko's advice back then and failed to dismantle him, Inazuma had paid the price.
The once-proud Raiden Gokaden—
Five great swordsmith traditions—
Now only Amenoma and Isshin remained, and even Isshin existed in name only.
The one responsible for erasing four entire lineages…
Was Scaramouche.
"…Sigh."
Ei let out a heavy breath.
"It feels like every disaster Inazuma has faced… started with me."
"Regret is pointless."
Aerin's voice came from the bathroom doorway.
Ei stiffened instantly.
Like a child caught misbehaving, she lowered her head.
Aerin didn't dwell on it.
"You've got nothing to do here anyway," he said flatly.
"Skirk's still asleep. Come with me."
"We'll purify the remnant of Orobashi in Musoujin Gorge, repair a damaged Ley Line…"
"Then we head to Sumeru."
Ei snapped her head up.
"Sumeru?"
"Not Liyue?"
"What if the people who need to be dealt with escape?"
Aerin glanced at her sidelong.
Liyue's situation was already under control.
Apart from the absurd insistence on human governance, the foundation was solid.
As for the corruption in The Chasm—
once Aerin's Taixu Sword Qi fully permeated the World Tree's Ley Lines, that filth would be erased automatically.
At this point—
Teyvat was already within his grasp.
Some repairs simply required his hand. No one else could do it.
"If they run," Aerin said calmly,
"you can hunt them down one by one and cut them apart."
"You may be terrible at ruling," he added coolly,
"but I acknowledge your skill at killing."
Ei winced.
"Get dressed. We're leaving."
As for Liyue—
Zhongli knew exactly who had to stay behind.
Ningguang wasn't someone to underestimate.
Even the Treasure Hoarders wouldn't escape Morax's gaze.
As for Liyue's internal offenders?
A single glance at the projection was enough to identify which clans and magnates were involved.
No one was getting away.
"…Mm."
Ei nodded obediently, carefully putting on her clothes.
Sumeru…
Does that mean—
I'll personally dismantle that bastard Kunikuzushi?
She was still thinking when—
"Is this… my chance at atonement?"
Her voice followed Aerin as he stepped out of the Imaginary Space.
"You're letting me go tear Kunikuzushi apart myself?"
Aerin turned back and smiled faintly.
"I'm just worried that the moment I leave, you'll start demanding to govern Inazuma again."
"So stay with me. Tour Teyvat."
"And maybe let this shut-in who hid in the Plane of Euthymia for five hundred years see the world."
"…I'm not a child," Ei muttered.
Her thoughts drifted to her final farewell with Makoto.
Even in her last words, Makoto had treated her like a little sister.
But Makoto would never know—
Just how much Teyvat had changed.
Ei hurried after Aerin.
Sumeru — Another Sleepless Night
The people of Sumeru endured yet another night without rest.
Only now did they truly understand how Mondstadt's citizens had felt back then.
"Why hasn't it started yet?" Collei wrung her hands anxiously.
Tighnari stepped out, sighing.
"Collei… you didn't sleep at all, did you?"
She shook her head.
"Until the Fifth Descender deals with those two monsters, I can't rest."
Tighnari nodded grimly.
"You're not alone."
At last—
The projection flickered.
Liyue Mountains — The Cave
Nahida still lay motionless on the stone bed.
"…Her leg movements are getting longer," Bennares observed.
"If she doesn't change, she truly has no value."
Even bound by the Law of the God Who Loves Humanity,
a god could not allow themselves to be slaughtered endlessly.
If Nahida continued to die passively in her dream—
Aerin really would knock her senseless.
Just then—
Space warped.
A vortex opened.
Eula stepped out.
"You summoned me, Master."
Aerin gestured to Nahida.
"Bennares and I are heading to Sumeru."
"If she wakes before I return, bring her to me."
He handed Eula an energy suppression collar.
"Don't forget this."
Eula accepted it solemnly.
"Should we inform Lumine? This will be your final battle with Bella…"
"No need."
"They're rabble."
"Lumine should find her brother."
"You stay here. Kokomi's in Inazuma. Everyone has their task."
Sumeru — Akademiya
Azar finally realized something was wrong.
"Dottore!"
He slammed his hands on the table.
"This isn't what we agreed upon!"
"Where are the people of Sumeru?!"
Entire districts were vanishing.
Dottore smiled calmly.
"The experiment proceeds flawlessly, Great Sage."
Azar's voice trembled.
"And the missing citizens?"
"You mean… half the city?"
"So you do know," Azar snarled.
"And?" Dottore laughed softly.
"All sacrifices are worth it—for godhood."
"Didn't you say so yourself?"
"Once we have a powerful god, people can be… replaced."
The citizens watching the projection went numb.
Even Aerin had never demeaned humanity this way.
Before Azar could respond—
A guard at the door turned to ash.
Flames roared.
Scaramouche stepped inside, holding a blazing greatsword.
"This power…" he laughed.
"Magnificent."
"Beelzebul—after I kill your master, Inazuma is next."
A lazy voice echoed from the shadows.
"He's coming."
"I can smell him."
Bella stepped forward.
"Tonight… we may duel him."
Azar barely had time to understand—
Scaramouche's blade fell.
Fire consumed him.
The crowd gasped.
That sword—
It was identical to the one Aerin had once used.
The Heavenly Fire Greatsword.
[Scaramouche]:"See that, Beelzebul? I've surpassed you."
[Raiden Ei]:"Where are you."
"It's late—but to atone for my sin…"
"I'll dismantle you myself."
[Yae Miko]:"…You've finally figured it out, my friend."
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