Hearing the news, Jean's face brightened with relief.
"Eula's finally here? Perfect! That means our progress will speed up again."
Beside her, the Cryo Archon allowed herself a rare smile.
After the recent investigations, many of the Fatui soldiers had been found guilty of corruption and purged by Rosalyne and the others.
Yet even so, between the cleared Fatui and the standing ranks of Snezhnayan troops, their total number now stood at fifteen hundred , enough for the next stage of development.
For expanding the main world and its two parallel dimensions, that was more than sufficient.
The only region that would still demand greater numbers was the Twilight Forest, a place no one could yet traverse safely.
Stretching lazily, Ryen stood and began walking toward the gate.
"Let's go. It's time to make arrangements , we're going in too."
The others followed him outside.
Beyond the courtyard walls, the sight that met them was overwhelming:
rows upon rows of disciplined soldiers stood waiting, divided into two distinct groups.
On one side stood Mondstadt's knights , their armor bright, their faces still young and untested.
It was clear they were recent recruits, barely out of training.
On the other side stood the Snezhnayan soldiers, now stripped of Fatui insignia.
Having left the Tsaritsa's shadow, they no longer called themselves Fatui;
even if Ryen bore them no ill will, few in the alliance were ready to forgive that name.
Unity was paramount , there could be no division within the armies that would build a new world.
At the front of the formations, Eula and Yelan stood in conversation.
When the main group emerged, they turned together, their expressions a mix of curiosity and impatience.
Eula crossed her arms, glaring at Jean with characteristic defiance.
"Jean! You had me raise a battalion and rush here , what's so urgent?"
"If you don't explain yourself, I'll remember this slight!"
Her tone, as always, carried that peculiar rhythm , equal parts haughty and teasing.
Lisa chuckled softly, leaning toward Ryen to whisper:
"That's Eula , the Spindrift Knight. Honest to a fault, and perhaps a bit dramatic.
Don't worry, when she says she'll 'remember it,' she doesn't actually mean it."
Ryen smiled faintly and nodded , he already knew Eula's quirks.
Yelan, standing nearby, had seen enough of Liyue's changes under Ningguang to sense what was coming.
Though she said little, her sharp gaze flicked toward Rosalyne as she reported:
"All former Fatui soldiers have been interrogated. None are tied to schemes against the Seven Nations."
"Some, however, are civilian specialists , administrators, logisticians. You'll have to assign them appropriately."
Rosalyne inclined her head.
"Understood. Thank you."
Yelan turned to leave, but Ningguang's calm voice stopped her.
"Yelan , does your intelligence division have any pressing tasks at the moment?"
"None of note," Yelan replied, folding her arms.
"With the supplies and devices the Ministry has provided, we're improving rapidly.
Unless you have something specific in mind?"
Ningguang smiled.
"Not a task. An invitation."
"If you're free, come with us , you should see what lies ahead with your own eyes."
For a moment, Yelan hesitated, then walked back to Ningguang's side.
She'd heard whispers about Ryen's "world" , but seeing it firsthand was something else entirely.
She wasn't about to refuse.
Ryen looked over the assembled troops, his tone even but carrying quiet authority.
"Form your lines. Once you're ready, I'll open the gate."
He snapped his fingers.
Instantly, starlight gathered before them , thousands of glittering motes weaving together into a spiraling core of light.
The spectacle drew stunned silence from all sides.
Even Eula, ready to demand an explanation, faltered, staring wide-eyed.
Beside her, Kujou Sara and Raiden Ei exchanged uncertain glances.
"We'll start by sending these troops to Base One, "
Ryen paused mid-sentence, reconsidering.
With nearly two thousand soldiers here, sending them all to the Liyue base, already filled with 1,500 Millelith, would overcrowd it completely.
Besides, both Mondstadt and Snezhnaya now had fully operational bases of their own.
There was no need to funnel every recruit through Liyue's ranks anymore.
"On second thought," he said, correcting himself,
"divide them. Send the Snezhnayans to their own base, and the knights to Mondstadt's.
The Millelith camp can't hold them all , and training should happen within each nation anyway."
Jean and the others nodded in quick agreement; they had reached the same conclusion earlier.
Meanwhile, Eula was growing increasingly exasperated.
"So… what are you doing exactly?" she demanded, hands on hips.
"Why does everyone seem to know except me?"
"Whatever it is , I'll remember this insult too!"
Jean gave an embarrassed laugh, tugging at her friend's sleeve.
"Just be patient. You'll understand soon enough. Even if I explained it now, you wouldn't believe me."
"What's that supposed to mean? Are you calling me thick-headed? Because this grudge, "
Before she could finish, the starlight erupted.
A massive gate of pure energy unfolded before them, its surface shimmering like liquid glass.
Through it, another world was visible , vast, square, and unreal.
It wasn't Teyvat.
It wasn't any place shaped by the hands of gods.
Every block of earth, every tree, every mountain , perfectly geometric, as though constructed.
Eula fell silent at last.
Ei and Kujou Sara stared, realization dawning on their faces.
So this was the secret.
Not just of the Alliance, but of Ryen himself.
A new world , one born entirely outside the laws of Celestia.
No wonder Makoto had joined so decisively.
No wonder she'd said this alliance was the only true path to resist the heavens.
From this perspective… she had been right.
"Come," said Ryen softly.
Without hesitation, he stepped through the gate.
Jean followed, tugging Eula along, and one by one, the others crossed behind them.
When the last soldier entered, the portal shimmered once , then collapsed into motes of starlight and vanished.
Within the Minecraft world, the sun hung low, painting the horizon in molten gold.
The new arrivals , soldiers, gods, and mortals alike , looked around in bewilderment at the strange landscape of cubes and grids.
Mountains were stair-stepped, trees perfectly uniform, the very clouds floating as squares.
Ryen turned to face them, the light of sunset outlining his figure.
Spreading his arms slightly, he smiled.
"Let's make this official, shall we?"
"Welcome," he said, his voice calm but resonant,
"to my world."
~~----------------------
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