The group enters the newly discovered exit, finding a completely different space inside. Faintly, they can hear a broken, intermittent voice—it sounds like Xiao.
[???: "…Bosacius… is it…?"]
Xiao takes a sharp breath, instinctively holding it. Just from that single word, he deduces what his future self has encountered.
The group in the story follows the voice, arriving at a platform where a spatial rift appears before them.
[Itto strides forward: "Is that Xiao guy down there? We gotta help him!"]
It's clear Itto's a true bro—when there's trouble, he's the first to act.
[Itto, looking at the rift with a cheerful grin: "What could be in there? It's not like there's a living person, haha."]
Even as he speaks, his steps don't falter, moving closer to the rift. Suddenly, a shadowy figure leaps out from it!
The translucent shadow appears abruptly in front of Itto, looking exactly like the kind of ghost he fears most.
[Itto, freaked out, lets out a high-pitched, girlish scream: "…WAAAAH!"]
Lucian even kindly draws a close-up illustration of Itto's terrified face, making Paimon in the story cover her mouth to stifle a laugh. In the mysterious space, Paimon's too drained to laugh, but in reality, she's got plenty of energy for it.
The shadow facing Itto is also illustrated by Lucian, and readers see it's Xiao's residual image. The group calls out to Xiao, but the shadow doesn't respond, as if it can't hear them.
[Itto, still with a cracked voice: "Why you gotta scare people like that!"]
Though spooked, Itto notices something's off with Xiao's state.
[Itto, concerned: "Hey, bro, snap out of it!"]
At this, Xiao seems to finally hear them. After listening to their explanation of the situation, he says:
["Something's wrong… cough! This Domain is dangerous. You… need to leave quickly."]
["Your safety is the priority. This space seems to…"]
Before Xiao can finish, his shadow vanishes, as if some force is preventing him from saying more.
Readers realize only after reading this that this space is cunning, trying to wear down the Traveler and the others' resolve by making them encounter Xiao. But Xiao nearly revealed critical information, so the 'connection' was cut off.
[Paimon, worried: "Where'd he go? Isn't he hurt? We gotta help him!"]
At the spot where Xiao disappeared, a large hole appears, seemingly the only 'path' forward.
[Itto charges toward it, shouting as he runs: "Don't worry, bro, this boss is coming to save you!"]
Readers are touched, He's really something, I'm tearing up. Just moments ago, he was scared out of his wits, yet he's the first to rush in.
[Kuki Shinobu: "Boss, don't charge ahead alone—you're not a dog!"]
Readers: Pfft!
Sorry, bro, couldn't hold it in. Won't happen again.
Just when we were thinking Itto's a true bro, now he's a true dog bro.
[Itto replies: "No worries, this boss is invincible—"]
[Before he finishes, all they hear is Itto's distant, drawn-out wail: "—AHH! My butt!"]
Itto falls from a height into the pit, landing hard on his rear. Luckily, there's water below, so he's not seriously hurt.
Using the sound of Itto's fall, Kuki Shinobu gauges the pit's depth—it's quite deep—and warns everyone to be careful.
Arataki Itto: the pit detector everyone swears by.
[Paimon, concerned: "Bull Chucker, is your butt okay…?"]
Despite their constant bickering, their friendship is genuinely strong.
[Arataki Itto, rubbing his butt and feigning calm: "It's fine, it's fine… This boss's butt is pretty amazing…"]
[Kuki Shinobu, bluntly: "If it hurts, just cry. I can hold back my laughter."]
[Itto yells: "You're thinking of laughing? You should be sympathizing with me!"]
[Kuki Shinobu: "Sympathy would tarnish your majesty, wouldn't it? Besides, I'm not the one in pain."]
As she speaks, she sneakily pokes Itto's sore butt with her finger.
[Itto howls in pain: "AAAAHHH—!"]
Readers: Pfft!
Sorry, bro, still couldn't hold it in. Next time, promise!
Thank goodness for Itto—without him, this story would be unbearably heavy. Just as readers were starting to dwell on the eerie nature of this space, Itto's comedic antics lighten the mood again.
[Arataki Itto, clutching his butt: "Shinobu, have you no heart? You're the real ghost here…"]
Itto's clowning makes everyone in the story laugh. Yelan, ever the reliable one, has already surveyed the surroundings. The area is enclosed by rock walls, with a pool of water behind them and a single door ahead—seemingly the only way out.
Everyone finds the sudden appearance of this door suspicious and is still observing it, but Itto, all courage and no brains, steps up.
[Arataki Itto, clenching his fist: "If no one else dares to open it, I will."]
He strides over, ready to fling the door open and see what's inside.
Then come a few illustrations: Arataki Itto slams his fist into the door, but it doesn't budge. Confusion flickers in his eyes—his punch couldn't break it?
Turning his head, he notices the door's mechanism right beside it, standing quietly as if it's grown a 'face' ready to mock him.
The scene is painfully awkward. The group, in perfect sync, says nothing but collectively starts clapping.
Readers: Pfft!
Sorry, bro, we really can't help it this time.
Furina nearly bursts out laughing but, thanks to years of acting experience, manages to keep a straight face, though she's cackling inside.
Itto, embarrassed, covers his face, suddenly shy. Now all of Teyvat knows about my humiliating moment!
In the story's illustration, he flashes an awkward smile as he activates the mechanism beside the door.
The door opens, revealing an interior styled like Inazuman decor, with a table in the center holding beans. Readers are puzzled—aren't they in Liyue? Why's this room Inazuman?
Itto steps inside, equally confused about why an Inazuman house would be in this underground space. Then, behind him, a figure suddenly appears, rubbing their hands and chanting:
[Inazuman: "Begone, evil spirits! Begone, evil spirits!"]
[Arataki Itto, startled: "WAAAAH—!?"]
But when he turns around, no one's there, which makes it even scarier.
Itto's terrified of these sudden apparitions and hurriedly runs back to the group, slamming the door shut.
[Yanfei: "Did I see that wrong? Was there someone in there?"]
[Arataki Itto, voice frantic: "No way! You saw it wrong!"]
He knows exactly what happened but refuses to admit it.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice · Kuki Shinobu: About the Chasm's Room
"Even though the boss always says he doesn't care, he was really hurt when they threw beans at him to 'exorcise' him, wasn't he?"