"A Descender? Such things are seldom seen, seldom even spoken of."
Cloud Retainer's eyes gleamed with thought.
She had heard of them, yes— hundreds of years ago, even before Rex Lapis had walked the earth.
Those who descended from beyond were always beings of unfathomable might.
And now, a nameless man appeared before her, standing casually at the Raiden Shogun's side.
If he had not yet displayed his power, was it because this Descender sought not to challenge the Heavenly Principles outright, but to turn the Archons to his cause— and one day overthrow Celestia together?
Otherwise, how could she explain Baal standing by his side?
Her mind raced with possibilities.
Were Su Ran able to read thoughts, he would no doubt protest:
So in your eyes, a Descender is destined to stir rebellion?
"…Then you must know Rex Lapis' whereabouts."
Baal's gaze earlier had said enough.
This man was connected to Morax's disappearance.
"That I cannot say for sure.
But some days ago, I encountered a mortal who disguised himself as Morax, trying to gain an audience with my companion here.
I found him suspicious and struck him down."
Su Ran recounted the meeting with Zhongli as if it were nothing.
But Cloud Retainer's feathers bristled.
If a mere Descender could strike Rex Lapis— had he truly…?
"Of course, the fellow was weak.
He couldn't even withstand a single blow from me.
So I concluded he was a fraud."
"Then most likely he was a fraud!"
Cloud Retainer exhaled in relief.
Even if a Descender fought Rex Lapis, it would hardly be over in a single strike.
The Geo Archon was among the oldest gods of the land, the one who carved a nation from stone.
Even a Descender would need to weigh the heft of rock before challenging him.
"Hmph! To impersonate the Patriarch of Adepti— that deceiver deserves death!"
Her birdlike features twisted with outrage.
She would have liked nothing better than to personally punish such insolence.
"Where is the fraud now?"
"Locked away in an Inazuman prison.
He won't be out for quite some time."
"Good! Serves him right."
With that, Cloud Retainer let the matter rest.
"…But you. Your aura feels entirely ordinary.
No transcendent power at all.
Are you concealing it with some secret technique?"
The great crane began to circle Su Ran, studying him closely.
This was her first time beholding a Descender.
Naturally, she sought to understand.
After all, every Descender of the past had left their mark on history.
Even the weakest among them had slain a god.
"…No, nothing like that."
Su Ran, for his part, had no idea what this "aura" business was about.
Power was power— something he used when needed, not something he projected for others to feel.
To him, "divine pressure" was just social status, like mortals bowing their heads before a god.
"Most likely it's because I am a sage with a talent for invention.
My strength lies not in force, but in intellect."
If Morax, the Tsaritsa, or Ei thought him formidable, that was because they saw only his strength,
not his true genius.
He was not merely strong— he was a Genius Club Envoy.
And "Genius" meant invention, wisdom, creation.
"…A sage of invention?"
Cloud Retainer drew back slightly, eyes alight with renewed interest.
A Descender renowned for wisdom— such a thing she had never heard of.
"Then this Adeptus must see how dazzling your wisdom truly is."
"Anything you can imagine, I can probably create."
Su Ran lifted his chin proudly.
Dazzling a native of Teyvat with his knowledge was hardly difficult.
If he felt like it, he could build constructs with the strength of gods themselves.
"My mastery of mechanisms is profound, rarely have I been defeated.
Do you dare match yourself against me?"
She did not mention her one true loss.
That memory was… bittersweet.
"Oh? Does True Lord Cloud Retainer truly have such courage?"
Su Ran's lips curved.
Of all things to compete in, she had chosen mechanical craft?
Did she not realize the Raiden Shogun's body was itself a pinnacle of mechanism?
"Did you know?
This very vessel of the Shogun was crafted by me.
It took less than two days."
He gestured toward Ei.
"If you are so confident, why not pit your mechanisms against this body of mine?"
"…What?!"
Cloud Retainer nearly choked.
Match her craft against the vessel of a god?!
That was beyond folly.
"She speaks the truth," Ei added, stepping forward.
"True Lord, will you test me?
I will not draw upon my own power, only what this body itself is capable of."
For some reason, when Su Ran boasted, a strange pride welled within her too.
She would gladly stand as proof of his genius.
"…Lord Baal, this is no jest…"
Cloud Retainer's voice trembled.
Even she—ancient and arrogant as she was— would not dare such a match.
She had no wish to be humiliated by a Descender's creation.
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