As my eyes appeared I found that we where in the domain but it was different compared to the "Temple Of The Falcon" that me and amber went into.
As this temple appears as an ancient, subterranean ruin featuring classic, white-stone Mondstadt masonry mixed with glowing, mystical blue architecture. The interior is broken into a series of elevated chambers, archways, and connecting bridges suspended over dark, mysterious depths. The rooms are constructed with towering, ancient pillars, blocky stone platforms, and traditional Triquetra-style stonework that represents Mondstadt's history, just like the temple of the falcon, but more narrowed and tightened, as if the temple wants to sufficate its victims to those who enter it.
Kaeya walked ahead of me as I followed in pursuit as we reached the bottom level of the temple, to find a variety of hilichurls guarding the giant door, with me getting my sword ready only for Kaeya to move his hands in front of me saying "Let me show you how the "Knights Of Favonius" conquer our adversaries" as he pulled out his "Favonius Sword" and got into a battle stance that has gained my interests.
Unlike the heavy claymore styles of Mondstadt knights or the raw aggression seen in some other nations, Kaeya's style is: 1) fluid, 2) deceptive, 3) efficient, and 4) psychologically manipulative. It resembles a hybrid of: European dueling swordsmanship, cavalry officer fencing and aristocratic battlefield combat. With Kaeya looking like he fights like someone who trained in both formal duels and lethal encounters.
As he got into a fighting stance before facing the slimes and hilichurls, I got an idea of one of the skills I've wanted to use, while I was watching him fight the slimes and hilichurls.
"Projection Magecraft"
I already promised myself that I won't you "Projection Magecraft" from my "3rd Wish" to bring out a weapon. But I could use my "sight" as one of the "5 senses" that projection magecraft would need, to gather information about the fighting style and techniques that were used from a weapon to fight.
Since in the "Fate Stay/Night UBW" anime - Shirou's structural analysis aspect of his magic acts like a highly advanced 3d scanner, I could just look at a weapon and read its blueprints which includes; its materials, weight, age, and flaws. As well as the fighting style / combat skills / techniques that where used with the weapon from the original owner. I could potentially replicate the same thing here in this situation.
I wanted to build my arsenel of different fighting styles and techniques throughout all of teyvat, and then improve them latter and add them to my own arsenel to create my own style, this will help me when facing enemies like the "Fatui" or the "Fatui Harbingers" in the future.
Aether (Thoughts); 'Heh, heh, I'm sounding like Garou from "One Punch Man" in the manga who combined every martial arts fighting styles and skills he copied and perfect to create his own style. I think it was called "My Fist" was it?, Eh whatevs, either way, this method is faster and more efficient for the long term.'
Before I did anything I asked Great Sage for something.
Aether (Thoughts); 'Hey Great Sage. 'Can you make my magic circuits invisible from prying eyes when I activate them?'
Great Sage; [Notice!, If the host wishes, I could apply my the hosts "Wind Magic" to create a faint cloak of wind around the users exposed skin where the exposed magic circuits on the skin to make you translucent and transparent around everyone else]
Aether (Thoughts); 'Wait, can you really do that?'
Great Sage; [With my current abilities and with the permission of master allowing me to access "Wind Magic" from his "Elemental Skill", I can combine this with "Mana Manipulation" from the Tensura universe with the unique skill "Skill Creation" to create the invisible transulucent cloak/veil around the users skin like a membrane. If master allows it.]
Aether (Thoughts); Okay then sure, why not then? You have my permission.
Great Sage; [Understood] [Accessing magicules energy from the unique skill "Magicule Battery" for energy source] [Optimizing sub skill - "Skill Creation" to construct the cloak / viel effect] [Tapping into "Elemental Skill" - "Wind Magic" for creating the elemental skin layer around the users profile] [Layering the surface of the hosts skin] [Increasing the cloaks productivity process].
Great Sage; [Notice!; the creation of the "Extra Skill - 'Mana Cloak/Viel'" is complete, does host wish to activate this skill?]
Aether (Thoughts) 'Yes'
As I said this, I felt a bit of my magicules being used from my reserves, with my "Wind Magic" also being used coating my skin and becoming translucent throughout my body like a protective invisible veil, It felt like wearing a thin extra skin around my body, but oddly comfortable on my body.
I looked at my arm, and I can feel a thin veil/cloak covering my forearm. I turned on my magic circuits to see them spread around my arm, but all I could see was a faint glow of the golden lines of my magic circuits spreading out, making it difficult for the naked eye to see, but apart from that, the skill was doing its job.
'Perfect' I thought. There were some improvements needed to be made but this was close enough for now.
I then turned my eyes to see Kaeya still fighting the hilichurls and slimes before I whispered to myself to make sure that Kaeya couldn't listen by saying "Trace..... On".
My eyes where wide open as they glowed with intrinsic magic circuits flowing through my "eyes" as I analyzed the sword techniques that Kaeya was using.
And, just like how Shirou/Archer Emiya also uses there projection magic in the anime, the projection progress went through the intricate seven-step mental process that allows them to copy a weapon's structure, materials, and complete history. Which took me a while to handle as the information was flooding into my mind as Kaeya was fighting the hilichurls with "Great Sage" echoing the 7 steps of the projection magecraft which include;
1) [Judging the concept of creation]
2) [Hypothesizing the basic structure]
3) [Duplicating the composition material]
4) [Imitating the skill of its making]
5) [Sympathizing with the experience of its growth]
6) [Reproducing the accumulated years]
7) [Excelling every manufacturing process]
As I did I've observed everything I could feel, my magic circuits already turning on, as Captain Kaeya was to busy facing the hilichulrs in front of me, as I had my sword help him with the slimes.
Aether (Thoughts); 'Hey Great Sage. Can you potentially summarize the information/data that was gathered by observing Kaeya's sword style from my "Personal Skill" category? As well as telling me the advantages and disadvantages of the fighting style?"
Great Sage; [Notice!] [Gathering Data from the "Sight" Sense of the personal skill - Projection magecraft] [Information Downloading Rapidly] [Increasing The Processing Speed of Information Gathering Using The Sub Skill - "Thought Acceleration"]
Great Sage; [Notice! Host the sword "Favonius Sword" as well as the sword style/technique/ abilities/and skills from the "Ceremonial BladeWork" has been recorded and projected in your inner world "Unlimted Blade Works" Is Ready]
Aether (Thoughts) 'Wow that was fast, thank you 'Great Sage' can you please give me a summary of kaeya's swordmanship from the blade?'
Great Sage; [Understood Host, Here is the information gathered by observing the subject "Kaeya Alberitch" "Ceremonial BladeWork" swordsmanship through the blueprint that contains the "data"/"information" of "Trace On" activation from the host's personal skill - "Projection Magecraft"]
Then a blue screen that only I could see displaying the blueprint sheet of the "Favonius Sword" that Kaeya was using appeared before me, with notes on appearing with bullet points around the sword schematics. As my magic circuits are turned off from appearing from my skin.
Great Sage: [Kaeya Alberich's "Ceremonial Bladework" is far more than a simple set of combat techniques. It's a unique swordsmanship style deeply intertwined with his hidden heritage and strategic mind. The philosophy and practice of this art reflects his dual identity as both the charming Cavalry Captain of Mondstadt and the last hope of a fallen nation
1) Advantages of Ceremonial Style; This elegant and precise style provides Kaeya with distinct edges on the battlefield. With advantages include;
- Unparalleled Strike Power: Ceremonial Bladework is a deceptively powerful offensive art. Kaeya possesses the highest Normal Attack multipliers among all sword users, meaning his precise strikes land with devastating physical force when built for it.
- Masterful Tactical Mobility: The art's signature feature is its fifth and final strike, where Kaeya uses a flash-step to instantly teleport behind his opponent, striking them from the rear. This technique allows him to bypass an enemy's frontal defenses, relentlessly pressure a target, and seamlessly reposition in the heat of battle.
- Elemental Vision Integration: Kaeya's fluid bladework perfectly complements his Cryo Vision. The art's swift strikes are interspersed with rapid Cryo applications via his Skill, Frostgnaw, allowing him to effortlessly weave elemental power into his physical combos to trigger powerful reactions like Freeze or Melt.
2) Disadvantages of the Ceremonial Style;
- Lack of Fluidity and Special Mechanics: Despite high multipliers, the art suffers from a relatively slow attack speed and lacks any special mechanics—such as life-steal, built-in elemental infusion, or AoE cleaves—on its normal strikes. This makes sustained damage output feel sluggish and generally less effective compared to more specialized damage dealers.
- Limited Area of Effect: The art is fundamentally a dueling style designed for single combat. Outside of his Elemental Burst, Kaeya lacks strong multi-target damage on his basic attacks. His Glacial Waltz Burst also has a notoriously small radius, requiring him to be dangerously close to enemies to deal damage.]
Great Sage; [Notice! This concludes the data gathered from the personal skill - "Projection Magecraft - "Trace On" variant from the personal skill category"]
Aether (Thoughts) 'That's a lot to take in, so basically the sword is a perfect metaphor for Kaeya himself. 'As it is an outward display of grace, precision, and charm that masks the weight of ancient secrets and a ruthless strategic mind?'
Great Sage; {Host is correct. This swordsmanship shines the brightest as it's calm, balanced movements conceal a sudden, teleporting strike; it is a beautiful and formal ceremony that culminates in a deadly, practical conclusion. As a fighter, Kaeya is an elegant duelist and a master of control whose effectiveness hinges on strategy over brute force, a truth reflected in every measured, "ceremonial" swing of his blade.]
'Wow' I knew that projection magecraft really is a useful ability to have, but I never thought it would be THIS useful. I remember wishing for high quality magic circuits to help me with casting better projections of bladed weapons, but I'm not at the level of projecting any weapons that are considered "Divine Constructs" at the moment.
Maybe It'll happen when I upgraded my [personal skills] sets from ranks to grow to potentially [EX] rank in the future but until then I need to train to reach that level. Well it was a good thing I wished for my unique skills to help me reach that level.
But I also remembered something from watching a few tensura episodes in my own world.
Since Rimuru has accumulated a lot of skills from Veldora's cave back in the beginning of the show, and had the unique skill "Degenerate" to combine those extra skills to create other versatile skills....
Can I possible replicate the same effect here, but instead of extra skills...
Could I potentially fuse "Great Sage's" Analytical Appraisal with the 7 step by step process of projection magecraft, to increase its processing speed even faster?
My eyes widened and my body shivered from excitement as that thought entered my mind.
Aether (Thoughts); 'Hey Great Sage' I asked mentally
Great Sage; [Yes Host?]
Aether (Thoughts); 'I was wondering, is it possible that you can combine that "Thought Acceleration" & "Analytical Appraisal" effect of your skill with the "7 Step-By-Step" process of projection magecraft from my personal skill to with degenerate to create a "Sub Skill" under the category of "Great Sage"?
Great Sage; [Notice! Host it is possible to do so by using the unique skill "Degenerate" to combine the step-by-step process of projection magecraft with "Thought Acceleration" and "Analytical Appraisal" to make it possible to increase the processing / analytical speed of projection magecraft. Would master want this to happen?}
Aether (Thoughts); Yes Please
Great Sage; [Notice!, beginning synthesis process by using the unique skill "Degenerate" and with the "7 Step-By-Step" process of projection magecraft from the user's "Personal skills"}
I then turn my attention to seeing Kaeya still fighting against the hilichurls looking a bit winded from the exertion,
"Captain Kaeya, do you need some help?" I asked him.
"No need for now, just wanted to get warmed up before we continue exploring the temple" I responded
"Alright, then I said" I said, as I unsheathed my sword as we traveled throughout the temple
As we continued Kaeya casually asked me; "So Traveler, Unless I'm mistaken, you don't seem to have a vision?"
"That's Right" I said casually not paying attention to him as a I look around the temple.
With Kaeya then asking - "Then how are you able to channel elemental energy so easily?" I have tried
I sighed and said again - "Like I said before Captain Kaeya. I've always had a "Knack" for anemo that I've been training for long periods of time during my travels, and right now I'm still in the process of understanding my powers that are coming natural to me" I said seamlessly.
"In fact, I plan to still practice my new abilities further on in the future after we are done with the storm terror crisis in Mondstadt once everything has settled down, at least that's my goal before I continue with my journey" I said as I walked beside him
"You don't plan on staying in Mondstadt?" Kaeya asked, a bit shocked by hearing this.
"Correct, I since my main goal is finding where my sister so that I can continue traveling with her, we got separated and I don't want that to happen again. After the incident, I plan to look for her around Mondstadt, and hoping that the "Knights Of Favonious" will keep there promise to me about helping me with my search for her once the storm terror problem is solved." I replied to him
Even though I already know that lumine is the "Princess" of the abyss order, I'll still continue to play it like I'm clueless with looking for her as I don't want there to be any problems that a random traveler happens to have a sibling connected to the abyss order. So I'll play dumb for a while longer to not draw attention to myself.
Kaeya was quiet for a long time whilst hearing this, but then his shoulders slacked a bit, as if he had given up on interrogating me a bit further with him saying "Ohh well, it would have been nice if you stayed in Mondstadt, We would have given you a title and made you a knight if you wanted." he said.
I thought about this for a while, but then I thought to myself about the advantages and disadvantages, "I'll think about it after we're done" I said, still weighing my pros and cons at being promoted to the Honorary Knight.
As we traveled around the domain, I noticed that there where more hilicurls and elemental slimes then usual as compared to the game, the slimes would pop up randomly as we go to different places.
Great Sage {Notice!, Master, the Sub skill for using the unique skill "Degenerate" has been completed}
Aether (Thoughts) AWESOME!!!, Thank you great sage, Please tell me about this new sub skill
Great Sage: {Understood! The name of this powerful "Sub Skill" under the skill description that has been added to "Great Sage" is called - 「Infinite Record – Trace Forge」
Aether (Thoughts): Wow, now that's a really cool name for a sub skill! What does it do?
Great Sage [ Answer! - It is a sub-skill that is born from the fusion of Analytical Appraisal (Great Sage) and Trace On Projection Magecraft (Fate) combined together with the usage of the unique skill "Degenerate". It allows the user to perfectly read, record, replicate, and integrate any bladed weapon (and, by extension, its wielder's combat experience) into their inner world — the Reality Marble: Unlimited Blade Works.
The process follows a strict 7-step analytical projection, each step enhanced by Great Sage's parallel processing and sensory analysis (sight, touch, hearing, smell, taste — where applicable).
7-Step Process Enhanced by Great Sage
Step 1 - Hypothesis of Creation - Great Sage instantly extracts the weapon's core concept (eg, "this sword exists to severe magic" or "this dagger is for silent assassinations").
Step 2 - Hypothesis of Material - Full material decomposition — alloy ratios, wood grain patterns, leather tanning methods, even magical residue composition.
Step 3 - Hypothesis of Structure - Blueprint-level structural analysis down to molecular arrangement and any enchantments or temper lines.
Step 4 - Duplication of Production - Simulates the exact forging process (heating, hammering, quenching) to recreate the blade's internal stress patterns.
Step 5 - Sympathy of Accumulated Years - Reads and replicates wear, rust, battle scars, and even emotional imprints left by previous users.
Step 6 - Duplication of Skill - The core fusion point : The user downloads muscle memory, stance patterns, breathing rhythms, and combat tactics from the original wielder(s) recorded in the weapon's history.
Step 7 - Judgment of the Original - Finalizes the perfect copy — indistinguishable from the real object. This copy is stored in UBW and can be materialized at any time.
Key Features of the Subskill;
1. Real-Time Combat Download
When the user physically holds a traced weapon , Great Sage activates Simulated Combat Integration :
Neural pathways are temporarily overwritten with the original wielder's reflexes.
Muscles move automatically to execute techniques as if the user had trained for decades .
This is not mere copying — the user experiences the memory of battle through the weapon's "accumulated years" (Step 5).
2. Adaptive Growth & Surpassing the Original
Every time the user practices with a traced weapon, the body naturally adapts to the skill set.
Initially, user performs at 100% of the original wielder's level.
With repeated practice, physical stats (speed, strength, endurance) grow to match and exceed the original's peak.
New, personalized combat forms can emerge — recorded back into UBW as a variant blade-memory .
Example: If you trace a sword once wielded by a master swordsman with 50 years of experience, you immediately fight like that master. After 1 month of daily practice, your own body will surpass that master's physical limits while retaining their technique — creating a superior combat style .
3. Unlimited Blade Works as a Living Library/Archive
Your Reality Marble becomes a library of combat knowledge , not just weapons.
Each weapon entry includes:
- Full forging history
- All previous wielders' techniques
- Your own practiced evolutions
- Weapons can be summoned instantly from UBW.
- You can "dual wield" two different skill sets simultaneously (eg, left hand downloads a parry-focused style, right hand an aggressive flurry style). ]
Aether (Thoughts); Wow, okay then, so what would you consider the final verdict of this subskill
Great Sage: [Notice Based on this subskill, the "Final Verdict" is that this is a powerful subskill that turns the user into a martial archive who doesn't just copy swords — they inherit and transcend the legends attached to them while following the core function of 1) Analyze → 2) Replicate → 3) Absorb skill → 4) Adapt body → 5) Surpass original.
[「Infinite Record – Trace Forge」」 transforms the user from a mere copycat into a living martial evolution .
It is not just projection — it is inheritance .
It is not just analysis — it is absorption .
It is not just replication — it is transcendence .
Every blade traced becomes a teacher.
Every wielder's memory becomes a lesson.
Every battle practiced becomes a step toward surpassing the original.
Within Unlimited Blade Works, infinite weapons await—and with them, infinite paths to mastery.]
[The blade is the record. The body is the student. The Reality Marble is the library. And the user? The user is the library/archive made flesh.]
["Trace the blade. Inherit the legend. Surpass the origin."]
Aether (Thoughts): .....
I just stared at the description that great sage gave me about this sub skill and it scares me to think about how op this is, i can literally just copy a weapon, download its the fighting style that was used from the original owner of that weapon and then just surpass them fully.
Aether (Thoughts); 'I wonder could this work on OTHER divine class artifacts and weapons in Teyvat.'
But that's something else to think about in another time.
I turned my head to find kaeya already clearing this place pretty well, but I figured that i also need to do my work if I want to gain more rewards form the unique skill "Descenders Blessing In A New World". I need to gain as much material and equipment as possible If i truly wish to thrive in this world a lot longer.
Aether; "Hey Captain Kaeya, Is it okay that I take the lead in clearing the rest of this domain?"
Kaeya (Raising an Eyebrow and smirked); "Sure thing, I'd like to see what my new friend is able to do."
I nodded and immediately pulled out my "Serpent Devourer" that I had sheathed on my hip, and got into a stance. I then mentally thought that its time for me to use the "Wind Breathing Style" that I got from the statue of he seven to use to improve my swordsmanship skills even more.
'Here goes, time to use the forms' I thought to myself, But first I'll just cloak my sword with Wind Magic to actually make it look like i'm wielding wind like I am in the demon slayer anime.
I then coated my blade with "Wind Creation Magic - Slicing Wind Emperor" where wind magic is surrounding blade edges instantly causing the blade to glow with a teal green wind magic from black clover, but condensed to create razor sharp effects. This is where this sword can be used in close-range combat or for the basis of longer range spells.
As we got to the next floor, there where about 10 hilucurls and slimes from down below us
"Raaaar!!" the hilircurhurls called out as some of them have clubs and other being Electro Hilichurl Shooters that fires arrows charged with electricity to deal Electro damage.
I quickly sheathed my sword and jumped down from the platform.
Kaeya; Traveler Wait!!!!
But I was already on the move, when i called out my Wind Breathing Style from demon slayer by saying;
"WIND BREATHING; FOURTH FORM - RISING DUST STORM!!!!
From down below I raised my sword up before swinging it horizontally, releasing a powerful, circular whirlwind of slashes around myself above them from below the hilichurls, slicing The 5 hilichurls that were closest to me, as they received multiple slashes around there bodies before turning they collapsed into black dust.
Then the 5 other hilichurls with bows and arrows, jumped away from me pretty quickly to create some distance away from me as that was the mindset of long ranged snipers / shooters, and then they began charging there electro arrows to attack me from 5 different angels all together.
But i wasn't going to let that happen.
As I used my "Airbending" skills to actively manipulate the physics of air pressure and wind resistance around my body. To manipulate the air directly in front of me to dash at each individual hilichurl and delivered the another form of from the wind breathing, also known as;
"Wind Breathing Second Form: Claws- Purifying Wind!!!!"
I lifted my sword upwards toward the right, above my head and unleashed four vertical slashes at once down on the hilichurcls with one swing that all resembled razor sharp claws that reduces the hilirchurls to dust.
I continue to do this to the other 4 hilichurcls to make sure that they don't get an arrow to land on me, as I generate a compressed wind current directly behind myself to act as a thruster to continually push me forward and exponentially magnifying my momentum as I repearteld used the "Second Form: Claws- Purifying Wind" to slash at the hilichurcls before they can do some damage.
Ending with each of them falling down/collapsing in purple dust dissapearing from this section of the domain.
All done within 15 seconds.
Kaeya jumps down from the platform to see the lingering purple dissolving hilichurcls enemies being defeated drift around the air and then comes to stare at me with his expression filled with shock at what he just saw.
Kaeya: "How did you do that?!"
I shrugged and said, "Captain Kaeya, when you travelled as much as I do, You learn a thing or two about your abilities and yourself".
Kaeya: "What did you just do?"
Aether: "I used a swordsmanship fighting style that i have been developing for quite sometime called "Wind Breathing". Its a wind based swordsmanship style that basically mimics wind, specifically powerful torrents of air and whirlwinds, and replicates it with the user's movements, techniques and abilities. Most, if not all, known techniques and forms involve purely offensive attacks, most of which utilizing fast rotating movements to generate swift whirlwind-like slashes that greatly increase the wielder's striking range." I explained to him, who nodded his head as he listened with a finger on his chin, doing a thinking pose.
I further explained by saying "I then combined this with my anemo element to create the visualization effect that mimic winds to create ACTUAL wind by coating the blade with my anemo wind element to make the actual effects of each technique REAL into real life, As i used the 2 different forms from this fighting style to take down the hilichurls"
Kaeya was quite for a moment before asking me this question - "Wait, so does this mean that other anemo users could potentially use this "Wind Breathing" style that you've talked about? Since they can coat there swords also with anemo energy as well to create these effects as well?" He asked curiously.
Aether : Yes, It's possible but the degree and effectiveness of the each form that is offered from the wind breathing style depends on how much elemental energy the user has and how much CONTROL of that energy they have, it does take consistent training to reach the peak of this technique.
'Though, I am using Garou's Adaptations from the second wish to make my body adapt to each technique I use thought to be perfected later on.' Aether thought to himself.
Kaeya nodded his had at this absorbing the information as he thought about the requirements for mastering this new swordsmanship style.
Kaeya (Thoughts); 'Interesting, maybe jean can learn this to improve her swordsmanship later on.'
Aether: "Captain Kaeya, is it okay that I take on the remaining monsters in the domain? I want to sharpen my skills whilst I'm still here"
'That AND I want to gain better rewards from my unique skill "Descenders Blessing In A New World" to update my inventory and my elemental skills even further. But I won't let Kaeya know that though' Aether Thought to himself.
Kaeya: "Sure go ahead, just leave some enemies for me to take down
'Hehehehe' aether thought to himself gleefully, as kaeya continues to journey with him with the cavalry captain having NO IDEA how much enemies aether plans to take down as they explored the domain to increase his drop rates of rewards.
'Sorry captain, but you have no idea how much rewards i need to be the strongest of this world.'
End of Chapter.