In the pitch-black depths of the Chasm—
"Whoa… it's so dark here!"
The girl looked around in confusion at the area where she couldn't even see her own hand.
She had already heard the system say that the destination was the Chasm—and she knew this place very well. This was where the "big brother," a group of Millelith soldiers, and Boyang had perished.
As a certified in-game directionless player, she got lost here all the time. The Chasm always carried an oppressive feeling—darkness that made it feel like monsters could jump out at any moment.
This place was filled with karmic debt, as well as the lingering resentment of gods and beasts. Ordinary people couldn't survive here for long.
Stay too long, and they'd go mad.
They'd be corroded.
They'd become empty shells.
She had finally transmigrated—and that cheap system dumped her into this pitch-black hellhole?
This was a straight-up nightmare opening.
But that wasn't even the main issue.
The darkness and atmosphere alone made her extremely uncomfortable. It was far too gloomy.
Darkness always made one's imagination run wild. Standing in a place like this, anyone would start wondering whether a ghost would suddenly rush forward and perform a point-blank kill.
And with so much karmic residue and resentment in the air, the already terrifying atmosphere became downright hair-raising.
[Congratulations to the host on arriving in Teyvat. Region: The Chasm.]
"Can you skip the congratulations?" she snapped. "Just tell me—do I have elemental powers or not?"
Her tone was urgent. She desperately wanted strength. Every second she stayed here made her uneasy.
"And why did you teleport me here in the first place? This place is seriously depressing!"
[Answering host's question: The host possesses Hydro elemental control, healing abilities, and formidable close-combat strength.]
[Regarding question two: The host's original body suffered catastrophic damage from violent combat. This location was selected to prepare for dormancy. Estimated dormancy duration: several hundred years.]
"… So I'm a healer-warrior hybrid?"
She was full of question marks. Completely ignoring the "several hundred years of sleep" part, she lowered her gaze to her heavy hands.
Violent combat?
What kind of violent combat?
Had she been beaten up the moment she arrived?
Using the system's faint glow, she looked at her hands.
And instantly froze.
(Author's Note: The system emits faint light when active.)
These weren't hands at all.
They were massive, dark, razor-sharp claws.
Upon closer inspection, she noticed clear quadrilateral markings along the backs of her hands and fingers. A faint blue glow shimmered around her wrists.
Good grief—this was a complete transformation!
Had she turned into a monster?!
Absolutely not!
She didn't want to be hunted down by the Millelith!
"System! What did you turn me into?!"
She panicked. If she really became a monster, she'd get beaten into the ground by the Traveler sooner or later!
[Answering host's question: The host's new body belonged to a deceased subordinate of Morax, the Geo Archon. One of the Five Yakshas—General of Spiral Vortices: Bonanus.]
"Bonanus…?"
Her eyes widened.
That blue, soft-looking Yaksha with the big hands?
As if responding to her doubt, the system conjured a large mirror before her.
Under the dim light, she could barely see the reflection.
A girl glowing faintly blue stood there in a daze.
She had long, dark-blue hair reaching her waist, and wore water-blue garments that revealed smooth, pale shoulders.
A star-shaped mark rested on her forehead—the symbol of the Yaksha.
Behind her was a long tail shaped like segmented blades. Two pairs of sharp, water-blue horns rose from her head, like twin blades.
Delicate ornaments hung from them—shells and pearls strung together with silver thread.
In the darkness of the Chasm, she looked almost sacred.
Light-blue eyes.
Like a celestial being.
… She was stunning.
Looking back at her massive claws, she felt much better. After all, these were Bonanus's weapons—and symbols of the Yaksha race.
"But isn't this basically body theft?" she frowned. "I don't like stealing someone else's body."
[The host may rest assured. Prior to this, the system communicated with Bonanus's deceased soul.]
[The original Bonanus agreed to fuse her soul with the host's and relinquish her body—on the condition that three wishes are fulfilled. Failure will result in backlash.]
[Wish One: Use the system's power to save everyone.
Wish Two: Uphold the contract and temporarily guard Liyue in her stead.
Wish Three: Use this body to live a mortal life.]
She fell silent.
It wasn't that she didn't want to—but these wishes were extremely difficult.
Especially the first.
She knew how Bonanus died.
Driven mad by karmic debt, she and her second brother Menogias had destroyed each other.
(The Five Yaksha:
Bosacius—eldest, Electro
Menogias—second, Geo
Bonanus "Fushe"—third, Hydro
Indarias—fourth, Pyro
Alatus "Xiao"—fifth, Anemo)
Which meant that at this point in time, Menogias was already gone.
Bonanus herself had fallen.
And Bosacius… might not have much time left.
Sensing her hesitation, the system spoke again.
[The anklet on the host's leg can absorb karmic debt.]
[Current absorption limit: 50,000 units.]
[Absorbed karmic debt is purified and converted into power and currency.]
[The anklet can also absorb karmic debt from other Yaksha.]
[Accumulated karmic debt may be exchanged in the system shop for useful items.]
[With sufficient karmic debt, the host may activate a special ability:
Entering distorted time-space instances as Bonanus to alter key events.]
Bonanus understood.
She could enter the moments when the Yaksha went mad—and forcibly pull them back out.
A truly broken ability.
But the cost was karmic debt.
"… But isn't that cruel?" she asked softly, lowering her head.
"They'd have to coexist with an unfamiliar soul…"
[The host need not worry. This is a soul fusion, not possession. Separation remains possible at any time.]
She nodded slowly.
That meant she'd still be borrowing this body for years.
Her gaze hardened with resolve.
"I'll bring back her family. I'll make up for her regrets. And when everything is done… I'll return her soul."
[The system acknowledges the host's resolve. Upon completion, assistance will be provided.]
[Warning: Two lifeforms detected ahead. Host is advised to proceed immediately.]
Bonanus froze.
Two lifeforms?
Could it be… her eldest brother?
And Boyang?
Without another word, she rushed forward.
This was the Chasm.
If Bosacius was anywhere, it would be here.
Behind her, a translucent figure bathed in blue light slowly emerged.
The original Bonanus watched her leave, smiling faintly.
[She will fulfill your wishes. Soul fusion preparation complete.]
"… Thank you."
The spirit nodded gently and faded away.
"I hope… you can reunite with everyone."
[Fusion complete. Consent confirmed.]
(Author's Note: Returning the body will take a long time. Many events will occur before that. Rest assured—this is not a story where the body is returned before even leaving Liyue.)