The Natlan native didn't say anything else. Venti could only laugh helplessly—if the old man found out about this, he'd probably mock him for two and a half days.
Not that short. At least a year and a half.
"People these days won't believe the truth even if you tell it," Venti said with a resigned shake of his head.
"Forget you—if Zhongli showed up and talked about the Archon War era without exposing who he is, hardly anyone would believe him either," Koji said with a grin. "In Liyue, if he brings up Rex Lapis, he'll still get hit with 'Do you understand the Geo Archon, or do I?'"
"Even if I said I'm the Anemo Archon, the people of my nation probably wouldn't believe it," Venti said bitterly. "That's the first impression. In everyone's eyes, I'm just a drunk who loves wine—how could I possibly be the mighty Anemo Archon?"
"You're very self-aware," Koji said.
Both the Anemo Archon and the Geo Archon were simply too low-key. Unless they manifested divinity and revealed their true forms, no one would connect the dots.
…
In Natlan, Abyss incursions happened from time to time, and each one claimed lives.
"The Abyss…" Venti sighed softly. The Abyss here made him think of the past.
"Venti, have you ever been to the Night God's realm?" Koji asked.
"I haven't. It's a land of souls. For the living, it creates a very strong rejection," Venti said, shaking his head. "I've traveled plenty of places, but I deliberately avoided that realm. Besides… a kingdom of souls isn't something you should disturb lightly."
Lumine and Mualani's group left the stadium to search for the Ancient Name. After Kachina's death, her soul remained within the Night God's realm.
"Interesting. Someone with real weight just showed up," Venti said, looking toward the center of the Stadium of the Sacred Flame.
The Fatui appeared—and the one leading them was the Captain, the First Seat of the Harbingers, whose power had reached the level of a god.
"What an overwhelming presence… only a human on Varka's level could trade blows with him," Venti praised. The First Seat lived up to his reputation.
Not all Khaenri'ah survivors relied on mechanical creations. Some were simply born with terrifying talent.
"As expected of Natlan's deity—your strength is well-deserved," the Captain said as he advanced step by step. A chilling, ruthless aura surged forward like a cold wind.
"I already know the secrets of the ley lines. Fate has long pointed toward destruction."
Mavuika accepted Kinich's greatsword. Like a blazing meteor, she descended and landed directly in front of the Captain.
"A promise from five hundred years ago has still gone unfulfilled. And even if the Gnoses are in your hands—what does that accomplish?"
Facing the menacing Pyro Archon, the Captain showed no fear—only calm, unhurried composure.
"Captain. Long time no see," Koji said with a casual wave. This time, there was no need for him to sit on a throne—he could just have Ronova handle it directly.
"Aotian…" the Captain murmured as he looked up. Seeing Koji didn't surprise him in the slightest.
"…Barbatos?" The small green figure beside Koji surprised him. That overwhelming divine Anemo power—there was only one being in the present era who could possess it: Mondstadt's Anemo Archon.
An Archon typically wouldn't casually enter another Archon's nation.
"Mondstadt's god… why are you in Natlan?"
"I came to watch the excitement. After that, I'll swing by the Sea of Ashen Silence," Venti said lightly.
"So you're the Captain. You really do have that upright, resolute air about you. I'm curious—how did your fight with Varka turn out?" Venti asked with a grin, taking the chance to ask about Varka.
The Captain fell briefly into memory, then said with sincere admiration, "Varka's strength is the pinnacle of humanity—one of the rare opponents who can make me take things seriously."
"Fighting him was… a pleasure."
He didn't skimp on praise for the Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius. With the Captain's experience and perspective, a compliment like that carried real weight.
"Since your plan has made no progress, then I will shape new rules for Natlan," the Captain declared.
"But before rebirth… destruction is inevitable!"
He tore off his coat. A frost-laced one-handed sword appeared in his hand—its cold was unlike ordinary Cryo, deeper and more unfathomable, as if it belonged to a different kind of ice entirely.
Boom!
"What an incredible special Cryo," Eula's gaze sharpened as she watched the battle with full focus. A human peak combatant who towered above most Vision wielders—just seeing it made the blood run hot.
"Eula, isn't your fighting style mostly physical? Cryo's more like support for you," Koji teased. "The 'Cryo tall lady' label doesn't exactly match your damage ratio."
…The first character to land a 9,990,000 nuke.
"Yes, but I can still feel how terrifying this Captain is," Eula said. "Is he even human?"
Aside from Koji—who was basically a walking cheat blessing—this was the first time she'd seen a human this strong who wasn't a god.
"He's human," Venti said, genuinely impressed. "Just the strongest human in Teyvat. Whether it's technique or raw combat power, he's honed it to an extraordinary level."
Venti could feel it clearly: this Khaenri'ah descendant was almost absurdly upright—someone who disdained schemes and plots.
Shenhe didn't speak, but the Captain's strength was far beyond Liyue's adepti. Rare, even among legends.
"Who wins?" Eula asked curiously.
"Mavuika wins," Koji and Venti said in unison.
The Captain was strong, but the Pyro Archon was stronger. She wasn't like the Second Dendro Archon, who wasn't suited for direct combat. A human body could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with a god, but there was still a limit. Compared to true divine power, there would always be a gap—unless the Captain could take another step forward. And that kind of breakthrough wasn't something you just did because you felt like it.
Even though Mavuika had to devote part of her strength to maintaining the Sacred Flame, she was still not to be underestimated.
Their battle raged from the ground into the sky. Ice and fire effects detonated at full spectacle. Their weapons clashed until they were shattered and lost, and in the end the Captain fell behind—badly wounded by the Pyro Archon's flames.
If a sudden cloud of smoke hadn't erupted out of nowhere, Mavuika would have already taken the Captain down.
"The Smoke… Lord…" Mavuika murmured. She didn't see who rescued him, but the nature of the smoke made it easy to identify.
She didn't chase. She still had things she needed to do—she couldn't leave this place.
"Mavuika, have fun?" Koji and the others walked over. To them, the clash between the two was a pure visual feast.
"It was fun," Mavuika said. "The Fatui Captain is a truly capable opponent. Worthy of being the First Seat."
Kinich and Iansan still wore shock on their faces. They hadn't traveled outside Natlan, so their understanding of other nations was shallow and incomplete. To them, the Pyro Archon's power was absolute—and the idea that someone could fight her at all was almost unthinkable.
"Venti, do you know where they ran off to?" Eula asked curiously.
"I do. That way," Venti said with a smile, pointing. The wind had told him—unless the other side had spatial power.
Mavuika also looked in that direction, but she didn't pursue.
(End of Chapter)
[100 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter]
[Check out my Patreon to read 20+ chapters ahead]
[[email protected]/Zukooo]
[Thanks for your support!]