Abyss Order.
The moment the blond man appeared on the light screen, Aether froze.
Beside him, the Pyro Abyss Herald stared at the projection with equal shock.
Dainsleif.
The Abyss Order's greatest enemy.
Over the past several years, he had sabotaged the Order's plans time and time again.
His appearance never meant anything good.
"Why is that bastard Dainsleif at Stormterror's Lair as well?"
"And… he seems extremely concerned about the eye Aerin took from the Ruin Guard."
The Herald spoke in confusion—
Then suddenly stiffened.
Dainsleif.
Enemy of the Abyss.
The eye of the tiller machine.
As those key words connected, the Herald stared at Aether in disbelief.
"Your Highness… could it be… could it be that—"
Aether nodded silently.
The Herald sucked in a sharp breath.
The most important component of the Loom of Fate—
the eye of the very first Ruin Guard ever created.
The Abyss Order had searched for it endlessly.
And yet, in this future—
It had fallen into Aerin's hands.
That meant one thing.
Their grand plan would become nearly impossible to complete.
Aether watched the light screen coldly.
If Dainsleif could seize the Ruin Guard's eye from Aerin, the Abyss Order might still have a chance to turn the tide.
But if Dainsleif failed—
Aether slowly clenched his fists.
Dainsleif was strong.
Even at his peak, Aether had never been his match.
But against an enemy like the Fifth Descender…
Did Dainsleif really stand a chance?
["You know me?"]
[Dainsleif uncrossed his arms.]
The moment Aerin turned around—
A crushing pressure washed over Dainsleif, instantly putting him on edge.
Even so, he spoke without hesitation.
["Whoever you are, the item in your possession will bring you immense trouble."]
["The Abyss Order has long sought the eye of Khaenri'ah's first Ruin Guard."]
["They intend to combine its power with a defiled inverted statue as a foundation—"]
["To create a mechanical god."]
A mechanical god?
The revelation sent a chill through the audience.
A god—
another name for a demon god.
Historians who knew Teyvat's past understood what that meant.
Thousands of years ago, the world had been ravaged by the Archon War.
Even if most people didn't know who Dainsleif was, and even fewer understood Khaenri'ah—
Just imagining a mechanical Ruin Guard elevated to the level of a god was enough to make one's scalp go numb.
The Abyss Order wanted to create something like that?
Dainsleif had only just entered Mondstadt's territory when the light screen altered his expression.
He had come precisely to investigate rumors of the Ruin Guard's eye.
And now—
He had seen the future with his own eyes.
Unfortunately, the Fifth Descender had arrived first.
"…Does he intend to use the eye to create a mechanical god as well?"
Dainsleif rested a hand on his chin, sinking into thought.
"The possibility is high."
Considering Aerin's actions—creating Valkyries—
The conclusion seemed unavoidable.
["I don't know who you are,"]
["but since you know I was once of Khaenri'ah, you should understand what that machine is."]
["It is a creation of Khaenri'ah."]
["Such a dangerous object should be entrusted to me."]
["I will ensure it does not fall into the Abyss Order's hands."]
Dainsleif's tone was calm and restrained.
What answered him—
Was a cold laugh.
["Dainsleif, you're only half right."]
["The eye of the first Ruin Guard is indeed a core component of the Loom of Fate."]
["But I can't blame you."]
["With your damaged memories, your understanding of the truth is incomplete."]
["If I handed it to you,"]
["before long, you would give it back to the Abyss Order anyway."]
Dainsleif's brows knitted together.
His gaze grew deep and sharp.
["What are you implying?"]
This was precisely why Aerin had left Benares to deal with Eula—
And come to Stormterror's Lair himself.
The eye of the world's first Ruin Guard.
Not only could it be used to create a mechanical god—
It could also be used to construct the Loom of Fate.
Very few in Teyvat truly understood what the Loom of Fate was.
But one thing was certain—
It was the key item Celestia intended to give the Fourth Descender to restore the world.
Even without fully grasping its nature—
Anything sought by both Aerin and the Abyss Order could not be simple.
Fontaine — Palais Mermonia.
"Ohohoho…!"
Furina leaned forward excitedly, eyes sparkling as she stared at the light screen.
Aerin had directly called out Dainsleif's name and title.
That alone proved he was no ordinary figure.
The tense atmosphere—where a fight could break out at any second—made her blood race.
Even more excited than Furina were Mondstadt's citizens.
They too sensed that Dainsleif was extraordinary.
Many secretly hoped—
That he might possess a way to deal with Aerin.
Some even found themselves silently cheering for him.
[Aerin spoke openly, making no effort to conceal the truth from Dainsleif.]
[All know that Teyvat's ley lines can record information—]
[From major historical events down to fleeting human thoughts.]
[But few know that Irminsul possesses a special self-protection mechanism.]
[When an event is too important—]
[To prevent tampering, Irminsul records it separately in the form of fairy tales.]
[The stories may be altered, but they still reflect the truth in veiled form.]
[And eventually, those tales reappear in the real world.]
[One such story is especially interesting—]
["The Pale Princess and the Six Pygmies."]
[It tells of six pygmies who betrayed the Prince of Light who saved them.]
[They killed him, divided his power, and became beings capable of rivaling the world itself.]
Dainsleif's brow furrowed deeply.
No one understood betrayal better than he did.
No matter how damaged his memories became—
He could never forget that scar.
He clearly felt that Aerin was pointing at something.
At someone.
At the six individuals once entrusted with Khaenri'ah's hope.
["What exactly are you trying to say?"]
Dainsleif didn't understand why his heart was pounding.
Cold sweat seeped from his skin.
["You are one of the six pygmies,"]
["Dainsleif."]
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Dainsleif's pupils shrank violently.
Impossible.
No matter how much his memories eroded—
He remembered clearly.
There had been five great sinners who betrayed Khaenri'ah.
His entire purpose—
Had been to hunt them down.
How could he—
Become the sixth?
To read advanced Chapters, head over to p@treon:
patreon.com/nani_kaito