Lisa withdrew the karmic flames, her demeanor once again returning to that mysterious, lazy elegance.
"That's better. How amusing—imagine Jean's face if she saw the arrogant Fatui Harbinger acting so agreeable. She'd be delighted."
Her words made Rosalyne so stifled with indignation she nearly wanted to leap out the window.
But the situation left her with no choice. Forcing down her anger, she asked in a low voice:
"What do you want from me?"
"I told you already—I was entrusted to deliver something to you."
"…What?"
Rosalyne froze. The next moment, her pupils shrank sharply, and she shot to her feet in disbelief.
"The Gn…osis?! How could this be in your hands?!"
What Lisa was casually tossing in her palm was none other than Venti's Gnosis—
the very thing Rosalyne had been coveting for so long.
Lisa studied it briefly. The willpower condensed within it was far denser than any Vision, and with a single glance she pierced through to its essence.
To put it bluntly, it wasn't much different from a Vision. Just another toy.
She had no interest in it whatsoever.
After all, what Mount Shu disciple still needed elemental power?
Why play with Visions when Hellfire burns so much sweeter?
With a flick of her wrist, she tossed it over. Rosalyne caught it in a hurry, examining it for a long time before confirming—it was indeed Venti's Gnosis.
Her expression grew complicated.
"You… why would he give this to me?"
"It's nothing special. I don't want it, and neither does he."
Lisa idly combed her hair with slender fingers, her tone bored.
"Honestly, I don't understand why you people go to such lengths to collect these trinkets."
"They're not even as finely made as one of my chess pieces."
"But, if you want it, you can have it. It only takes up space lying around anyway."
"Now take the Gnosis and leave Mondstadt. For the sake of that one time you once saved this city, I'll let you go without trouble."
She stretched languidly, her voice soft but carrying a warning.
"And one more thing—tell your Fatui to move quietly in Mondstadt."
"If your meddling disrupts my cultivation and annoys me…"
Her golden eyes half-lidded, a lazy smile curving her lips.
"…I'll be back for another 'peaceful chat.'"
Rosalyne hardly noticed her tone; all her focus was fixed on the Gnosis clutched tightly in her hand. After a long silence, she spoke softly:
"You went to Liyue."
Lisa's gaze sharpened with interest.
"Oh? And what exactly are you implying?"
"You gained something there, didn't you! That thunderstorm—it was because of you!"
At this, Lisa chuckled, shaking her head.
"Miss Rosalyne, if I'm not mistaken, we are still enemies. What makes you think I would tell you anything?"
"The Witch of Flame, this naive?"
With that, she rose to her feet, stretching lazily, her tone drifting like smoke.
"Take the Gnosis and go. Don't make me escort you. Your grudge with Barbatos has nothing to do with Mondstadt."
"You know what you must do, don't you?"
Rosalyne remained silent, staring down at the Gnosis in her hands.
Lisa had no desire to linger. Just as she turned to leave, Rosalyne suddenly blurted:
"Stormterror's Lair!"
Lisa paused, glancing back curiously.
Rosalyne's gaze was unwavering.
"In Stormterror's Lair, the remnant soul of the 'Lord of the Tower' has awakened. That woman's explosion seems to have stirred it."
"Our intelligence says that the dragon is now marked by the remnant's gaze."
"I don't know what will happen… but in return for the Gnosis, I advise you to save them. If you're too late, I can't say what disaster will come."
Lisa's face darkened. Her eyes locked sharply onto Rosalyne.
The latter tucked away the Gnosis. As Lisa said, it was nothing but a fancy chess piece—hardly of real interest to her. If not for the Tsaritsa's will, she wouldn't have cared at all.
What she was intrigued by… was the flicker of flame Lisa had conjured with her fingertips just moments before.
That thing…
was terrifying.
Terrifying, in a way that did not belong to Teyvat—
something no mortal should ever wield.
"I have no reason to lie to you. Whatever you've stumbled upon, I cannot match it."
"To deceive you gains me nothing. If you need a reason… then perhaps I simply want to know what has changed you so drastically."
"Of course, if you refuse to say, it doesn't matter. I know he is in Liyue."
Lisa's expression chilled. A flying sword appeared in her hand, sharp sword-intent spilling into the air, making Rosalyne's chest tighten.
"I don't believe you'd dare lie to me. But listen well—don't you dare stir trouble in Liyue."
"There are beings there you cannot afford to provoke. Think carefully."
"And carry this warning to your Tsaritsa—yes, that thunderstorm was caused by him."
"Why do you think Alice was able to return?"
"Because more than half the Outer Abyssal Archons were captured by him. As easily as plucking chicks from a nest."
"Both Morax and Barbatos have already taken him as their master."
"If he wished, he could erase Teyvat with a wave of his hand. You and your Tsaritsa should know very well what that means."
"Your schemes, your games—they're beneath his notice. But if you anger him…"
"Then Snezhnaya will no longer need to exist."
"Repeat my words exactly to your Tsaritsa. She knows better than you what must be done."
"With that, our accounts are settled."
Without another word, Lisa stepped onto her sword, shattered the window, and streaked away like a flash of flowing light.
Rosalyne stood staring at the receding figure of a woman riding her sword through the skies, her mind in a daze.
The Outer Abyssal Archons…
Captured?
Half of them?
Morax and Barbatos… disciples under his hand?
What kind of being was this?
What kind of cataclysm had descended upon Teyvat?
Rosalyne bit her lip hard, her mind racing. Suddenly, the grand plan of collecting Gnoses felt laughably childish.
Then a thought struck her like lightning. She rushed to her desk, sweeping papers aside in a frenzy, pulling out one trembling report.
"Following the day of the thunderstorm, Liyue has begun widespread dissemination of cultivation doctrine."
At the time she had dismissed it as trivial. But now…
It all connected.
Lisa's sudden terrifying strength, gained in less than a week.
That eerie flame beyond all elements—the Hellfire.
Her flight on a sword like the immortals of old.
This was—
"Damn it! Liyue has begun cultivating immortality!"
Rosalyne slammed her fist on the desk.
"Anna! Anna! Get in here!"
The newly-awakened assistant rushed in, flustered.
No time for explanation—Rosalyne barked,
"Gather the troops! We depart for Snezhnaya immediately! And send word to Childe—he is to collect every single cultivation novel from Liyue!"
"All of them!"
"Catalog the abilities of every immortal described within!"
Anna froze, utterly baffled by Rosalyne's wild order.
"Lady—what about the Gnosis—"
"Do it now!" Rosalyne roared.
"The Gnosis is secured! We return at once! I must speak to Her Majesty on a matter that concerns the very survival of Snezhnaya!"
Anna blanched, bowing before hurrying out.
Rosalyne gasped for breath, shaken by her own deductions.
Her mind replayed the image of that thunderstorm ravaging Teyvat—
the closest the world had ever come to annihilation.
A being like that had arrived… in Liyue.
For Snezhnaya, for Fatui, it was terrifying news.
And yet—
not entirely hopeless.
If immortality could be seized—if Lisa had gained so much in a single week…
What about a year?
Snezhnaya could not miss this chance.
Her steps quickened as she strode out. She could not wait another moment—she had to return at once.
And then—go to Liyue.
That reckless fool Childe was still there. She dared not leave him unattended.
If he met this so-called supreme being and blurted out something like, "Fight me!"…
Then all of Snezhnaya would be doomed.
She had to stop him before disaster struck.
Stormterror's Lair
Jean and her companions had fought their way through countless monsters, solved trap after trap, and at last stood before Dvalin.
The dragon's eyes were tightly shut, its body wreathed in ominous energy. Two cruel barbed stingers protruded from its neck, radiating malice.
It seemed completely unaware of their approach.
Jean exhaled in relief, glancing at Lumine. Over the past days, they had learned of her ability to refine Dragon's Tears. Naturally, she was the key to freeing Dvalin.
Diluc and Kaeya rejoined them from the other side.
"Grand Master," Kaeya reported smoothly, "no signs of Abyss Mages nearby."
Diluc added grimly, "All monsters have been cleared. Traveler, you may begin."
Ever since learning that the Abyss Order was behind Dvalin's corruption, they had taken no chances, scouring the Lair inside and out for an entire day.
But the Abyss Mages truly seemed to have vanished—perhaps, as Venti had said, in fear of Alice.
Even so, Jean couldn't shake a lingering unease. Still, seeing Dvalin slumbering deeply, she allowed herself to breathe easier.
"This is the final step. Lumine—we're counting on you!"
Lumine waved with a carefree smile.
"Don't worry, it's nothing. By the way, once this is over, can we have a victory feast? All this running around is exhausting."
Diluc nodded curtly.
"Angel's Share is prepared. You only need to come."
Then, almost sneering, he muttered,
"A whole Knights of Favonius, and in the end, it's the Traveler who solves the problem…"
Kaeya chuckled, smoothing things over.
"Now, now. Don't be so harsh. The Acting Grand Master has worked hard too."
Diluc said nothing. Jean was Jean; the Knights were the Knights. One woman's diligence could not redeem the whole order.
"Enough! Once we settle things with this big guy, we can head to Liyue for beast meat—er, I mean, cultivation!"
Paimon rubbed her hands together excitedly, eyes shining.
"Paimon can't wait! Hurry up, Lumine!"
Lumine rolled her eyes.
"Honestly, with your strength, you'd only end up as beast food."
Still smiling, she stepped toward Dvalin.
Diluc and Kaeya watched with anticipation. Solving this meant they could finally set out for Liyue.
What kind of power did this "Mount Shu" wield, as Venti's letter had claimed? What fruits had their cultivation borne?
Diluc was prepared with vast resources, ready to pay homage on the mountain.
If Mount Shu truly existed—it was his greatest hope for vengeance.
Everyone's hopes are fixed on Lumine.
No one noticed the darkness surging beneath Dvalin, storm power roiling, pouring into the dragon's body.
Just as Lumine reached out to touch him—
Dvalin's eyes snapped open.
A black tempest erupted, blasting Lumine back with brutal force.
"Lumine!!"
Jean's cry tore the air as she caught the Traveler mid-flight—only for the impact to hurl them both across the stone.
Blood sprayed from their lips.
"Jean! Lumine!"
Kaeya paled, rushing forward with the blade drawn.
Diluc's expression hardened, greatsword in hand.
Dvalin rose into the air, his once-pure winds all tainted into black storm. His eyes burned with rage and sorrow as he fixed them with his gaze.
"Gunnhildr… why have you betrayed me?!"
Diluc froze—then breathed a name from ages past.
"The Lord of the Tower!"
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