Chapter 4: The Power of Spoilers
The power of the Star Forger granted him many potential abilities, but for now, there were only a few Kenji could access.
Flight was a given—it's only natural for a dragon to fly. He could also manipulate space, though he was likely confined to Earth for the time being, and his teleportation range wouldn't be too extravagant. He also gained the ability to survive in a vacuum. Until he unlocked more of the dragon's power, all his abilities were essentially "lite" versions. For example, he had the power of creation, but he couldn't just create a real planet out of thin air yet.
It wasn't much, but it was more than enough for now. The main priority had been awakening his Gourmet Cells; they were the fastest path to growing stronger in this world.
Kenji now also understood why the chat group had given him the nickname [Star Forger]. It was all because of the power of Aurelion Sol.
[Lady Justice]: "The Authority of the Hydro Dragon costs so many points!"
Focalors had spotted the item in the shop, and her heart leaped. Her intuition screamed that if she could obtain the Authority of the ancient Hydro Dragon, she could solve the crisis foretold in Fontaine's prophecy. But the price was a staggering 50,000 points. Even if she managed a perfect sign-in of 100 points every single day, it would take over a year and a half. The chances of that kind of luck were slim to none; it would likely take much, much longer.
She knew the crisis was fast approaching. There just wasn't enough time. A glimmer of hope had appeared, only to be snatched away, leaving her to stare at it helplessly.
[Star Forger]: "Are you Focalors? @Lady Justice"
[Lady Justice]: "Who are you calling a fool?! Listen here! I—Furina de Fontaine—am the Queen of all waters, people, and laws!"
[Lady Justice]: "As long as we stand in the Epiclese Opera House, before the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, I, the god Furina, can pass judgment upon even the other gods of this world!"
Kenji was now certain. This wasn't the divine Furina; it was the actress, Focalors. That over-the-top, theatrical declaration was a dead giveaway. Furina would never say something like that.
Besides, he thought, I called you Focalors, not a fool. You're telling on yourself. This version of Furina really wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed.
Still, teasing her sounded like fun.
Heh heh heh... Time to drop some truth bombs!
[Star Forger]: "My dearest Hydro Archon, in that case, could you defeat Liyue's Warrior God, Morax?"
[Lady Justice]: "???"
Furina was completely stumped. Wasn't Kenji from another world? How could he possibly know about Teyvat? She had been intentionally vague about her world to protect her identity.
She had certainly heard of the great Morax. Though she'd never met him, she knew for a fact she couldn't beat him. Others might not know her secret, but she was painfully aware of her own limitations. She was just a mascot.
If she had Morax's power, she wouldn't have to worry about the prophecy in Fontaine, let alone spend five hundred years pretending to be a god just to hide the fact that she had no divine power. If she had that kind of strength, she wouldn't need to act like a god. She would be one.
[Lady Justice]: "Ahem! If Morax dares to come to Fontaine, I will dare to put him on trial."
This was a time for bluffing. She couldn't let them know how weak she was.
[Lady Justice]: "How do you know about Morax? I never mentioned him."
[Miss Pink Elf♪]: "Yes, Ely is quite curious about that too! ♪"
[Star Forger]: "Well, how do I put this... Sometimes, the stories of one world become known in others in the form of games or movies. I happen to have played a game about your world, Teyvat."
No wonder so many transmigrators in these chat groups love to abuse their meta-knowledge.
Heh heh... Furina, you wouldn't want anyone else to find out you're just a fake god, would you?
[Lady Justice]: "How much do you know? (Ò﹏Ó)"
Furina's heart skipped a beat. Could Kenji possibly know her biggest secret?
[Star Forger]: "Quite a bit. For instance, I know about Fontaine's prophecy, how all the people of Fontaine will eventually be dissolved into the primordial sea..."
[Star Forger]: "And I also know about... 'the... me... in the... mirror...'"
[Lady Justice]: "!!!"
It was over. Game over. Barbecued.
The sliver of hope Furina had been clinging to was unceremoniously crushed.
"The me in the mirror" was a secret only she should have known.
A wave of panic washed over Furina, followed by a tidal wave of social death. Kenji knew her true identity. Thinking back to her grand, dramatic introduction just moments ago, she wanted the ground to swallow her whole. She was so embarrassed her toes could have carved a new Palace of Mermonia out of the floor.
[Miss Pink Elf♪]: "Do you know things about me too, Kenji?"
Elysia was a little curious. She wanted to know if they ultimately won their war against the Honkai.
[Star Forger]: "Elysia, are you currently in the Previous Era, or are you in the Elysian Realm?"
[Miss Pink Elf♪]: "...Previous Era?"
The smile on Elysia's face slowly faded. That single phrase told her everything. Her era had failed. Otherwise, it wouldn't be called the Previous Era. As for the "Elysian Realm," she didn't know what that was. It hadn't been built yet.
[Star Forger]: "So you must be with the Fire Moths. Which Herrscher have you just defeated?"
Kenji suddenly remembered that in the selfie Elysia had sent, she didn't have her distinctive elf-like ears. That meant she hadn't undergone the MANTIS surgery yet.
[Miss Pink Elf♪]: "We just defeated the Second Herrscher. Kenji... did we fail?"
[Star Forger]: "Yes and no. But for simplicity's sake, let's just say yes. Your civilization will be wiped out by the Final Herrscher. Only a few will survive to see the next era. And you... you sacrificed yourself."
[Lady Justice]: "Elysia sacrificed herself?"
Furina, you're over five hundred years old, Kenji thought. Elysia in the Fire Moth era is just a young woman.
Furina had grown quite fond of Elysia. Chatting with her was always a joy, and it seemed to soothe the erosion of her five hundred years of loneliness.
[Star Forger]: "Elysia chose to sacrifice herself. She used her own life to change the nature of the Herrschers in the next era."
[Lady Justice]: "Wait, why would Elysia do that? What do the Herrschers have to do with her?"
Elysia placed a hand over her heart. At that moment, something clicked into place.
[Miss Pink Elf♪]: "...Kenji... I-I'm a... Herrscher... aren't I?"
Elysia had sensed from a young age that she was different. When they fought the Herrscher of the Void, she had felt a strange sense of familiarity. When she personally delivered the final blow, she felt an overwhelming sadness, as if she had killed her own kind.
[Lady Justice]: "What?! Elysia is a Herrscher?!"
Furina remembered Elysia telling her that Herrschers were evil monsters that destroyed cities and killed humans. But she could tell, deep down, that Elysia wasn't that kind of person.
[Star Forger]: "It's because Elysia is a special Herrscher, one who possessed humanity, that she decided to sacrifice herself. She wanted the Herrschers who came after her to have humanity as well."
[Miss Pink Elf♪]: "And... did I succeed?"
[Star Forger]: "Yes. You succeeded. In the next era, a Herrscher just like you appeared. A Herrscher who stands on the side of humanity."
[Miss Pink Elf♪]: "That's good... Then my sacrifice was meaningful. It wasn't in vain."
God loves the world. And Elysia... Elysia loved humanity.