"Bastard!"
A construct of crimson and black space transformed into a long spear, its drill-like tip piercing the void as it shot straight toward Rin.
However—
CRACK!!!
The space shattered into iridescent fragments.
A longsword, surging with lightning, directly severed Asmoday's authority.
Clang.
The blade was sheathed. A figure slowly descended from the sky, having effortlessly intercepted the furious blow.
"Even if you can use quantum energy," Asmoday's gaze flickered with both fury and fear. "You will gain nothing from this… A quantumized Phanes is not something you can resist."
"This is suicide!"
By now, regardless of what plans Asmoday might have had, it was too late.
A horrifying aura was surging from the Ley Lines, and a tangled "pure whiteness" was rapidly coalescing above the floating island formed by the tree's branches.
As the Regent of Space, Asmoday certainly did not lack the ability to act.
But—
BOOM!!
The spatial gate she tore open was sealed shut.
The spatial barrier, which should have been as fragile as silk, only ripped a hole the size of a fingernail under Asmoday's full power—a hole that healed completely in the blink of an eye.
"Are you all insane!?"
Space was completely sealed off.
Asmoday could only think of one possibility: her opponents intended to take the entire continent of Teyvat, including herself, down with them!
But what could they possibly gain from this?
"Don't be in such a hurry."
Rin's attention was not on Asmoday. She was staring intently at the sphere of light gradually taking form above the floating island. A purplish-black fluid, tinged with scarlet, had surged from the depths of the Ley Lines and completely fused with the sphere.
At the same time, in Rin's idle left palm, a crystal flower identical to the one Khamsin had used dissolved into particles of light that scattered into the surroundings.
An Apostle's screening mission would naturally have no reinforcements.
But a Monarch's Secret Order was not bound by such rules. A higher power summoned in an Apostle's name could only be one of the [Three Pillar Gods] or the [Top Three Flame-Chasers].
The "Heavenly Principles" Phanes was indeed powerful.
But since he could be suppressed by four "Apostle"-level opponents, he was by no means a match for someone at the level of the [Three Pillar Gods]. And while Phanes was not at full strength back then, he was not at his peak now either.
Moreover, a superweapon like quantum energy posed no threat to the Empire's high command.
So what if he held two Dominions?
The number of Paths one walked did not necessarily correlate to the strength of one's power. Besides, judging by the strength of the surrounding spatial lock, to cause such an exaggerated effect before the main body had even arrived… the one who answered the call was most likely the one who specialized in war: Lord Behemoth, the [Pillar of Earth].
With Lord Behemoth's [Dominion of Trailblaze], taking down the Phanes before them should be a matter of course.
However…
Things took a turn that Rin had not anticipated.
Just as Phanes appeared—bearing a nine-tenths resemblance to Asmoday, with only his eyes filled with chaotic disorder—the sky of Teyvat underwent a change.
After a brief, instantaneous polar night, it was completely enveloped by an endless, brilliant radiance!
"The… the Monarch?"
"Your Majesty, the Emperor!?"
---o---
A magnificent, great sun now hung high in the sky.
Its volume seemed comparable to the continent of Teyvat… no, that was merely a trick of the senses. The colossal golden sphere, with a true volume several times that of the planet itself, completely blotted out everyone's vision.
Even the normally composed Rin let out an uncharacteristically astonished sound.
Despite being a trusted confidant of the Monarch, Rin herself had not seen his true form in nearly a thousand years. Even the power avatars created by the Monarch were not easily seen by anyone besides the [Three Pillar Gods].
The object in the sky now—
There was no doubt.
A body of this size was absolutely not an avatar. It was the Monarch's true form!
The terrifying power contained within…
Even at Rin's level, she could only barely perceive a fraction of it.
Aside from the invincible, unfaceable might that forbade even a direct gaze, the most direct manifestation was the [Dominion of Trailblaze]. A celestial body of such volume and mass, at such a close distance, could crush and devour the planet with gravity alone without releasing any power.
The only reason Teyvat still existed was because the Monarch was using his own Dominion to "passively" counteract this immense gravitational pull.
To put it another way, if the Monarch so wished, he could tear the planet beneath their feet to shreds in an instant.
Besides Rin, many among the students of St. Freya Academy also recognized His Majesty the Emperor in that instant. It was impossible to judge by appearance or aura, of course; it was mainly the descendants of several families, led by the Kaslanas, who recognized their "Origin" through their bloodline.
This was also the first time in the last millennium that His Majesty the Emperor had appeared in the world in his true form. To witness this scene was an absolute, supreme honor for every member of the Empire!
At the same time, if the Apostles, Legion Commanders, and students of St. Freya were filled with shock, awe, and heartfelt reverence at the Monarch's appearance…
Then the people of Teyvat…
Venti gently wiped the sweat from his brow and gave Dvalin's head a firm pat—as if to say, "See that? Good thing we surrendered early."
The fortunate celebrated their clear-headedness.
The anxious fretted over their fates.
Battle was a common affair for the Demon Gods who had ascended to the positions of the "Seven Archons of the Mundane World," but if the enemy was the sun itself… Watching the outsiders who had been so high and mighty moments before all kneel on one knee, paying their respects to the sun in the sky…
"..."
The Hydro God, who had been the most loyal to Sky Island, followed the first-to-act Venti and also dropped to one knee, placing a hand over her chest in a salute.
The Hydro God's action became the first drop to break the calm. The moment the Monarch appeared, Rin, knowing the matter was settled, withdrew the authority she had spread over all the Demon Gods and mortals. The most direct consequence was that the masses of soldiers from all factions, who had been teleported away from the "battlefield," all fell to their knees before the divine miracle.
"You—"
The most panicked person on the scene was naturally Asmoday.
The "Four Supreme Pillars" had inherited Phanes's knowledge of the sea of stars and the cosmos. Although she had never seen this being before, from its undisguised aura and might… no, from its sheer size alone, she knew exactly what level of existence this "celestial body" was.
[Emissary].
An existence favored by the Astral God of their chosen Path.
Among them, the more famous ones, especially those renowned for their combat prowess, usually held another awe-inspiring title:
[Grand Monarch].