The moment Aerin declared that Dainsleif was one of the Six Pygmies, everyone watching the light screen froze.
Those six figures were said to possess power comparable to an entire world.
Any one of them alone—
Could rival a world?
For a split second, it felt as though everyone's understanding of power shattered outright.
This completely overturned what Teyvat believed strength to be.
[Childe]: "That man—Dainsleif—has power on the level of a world?"
[Pierro]: "Dainsleif…"
[Hu Tao]: "So… one person's power exceeds an entire world? That's what it means?"
[Navia]: "That can't be right. Six people with world-level power appearing at once—then what do our gods even count as?"
[Furina]: "Aerin has to be exaggerating. Celestia only sent the Fourth Descender and the Primordial Loom of Fate. Those six don't even align with him—so they must belong to the Abyss. If the Abyss really had six world-level beings, how would Aerin or the Fourth Descender compete at all?"
[Kamisato Ayaka]: "I remember—Celestia feared Teyvat being completely swallowed by the Abyss. That's why the Fourth Descender was meant to flee with the Primordial Loom and search for a new home if all else failed. But… we still haven't seen the Fourth Descender."
[Paimon]: "Could it be that the Fourth Descender was already eliminated by the Abyss? That's why they never appeared?"
It was only with Dainsleif's appearance that people truly realized—
How brutal the future struggle over Teyvat would be.
Without power on the scale of a world, one didn't even qualify to sit at the table.
Compared to this—
The ancient Archon War now felt almost laughable.
[Dainsleif was clearly shaken by Aerin's words.]
[The icy blue of his eyes darkened, his expression twisting slightly.]
[A sudden surge of pain struck his head. He clutched it and pointed at Aerin.]
["Who are you?"]
["What nonsense are you spouting?"]
["The Six Sinners of Khaenri'ah."]
The moment the word sinner left Aerin's mouth—
Dainsleif's gaze snapped wide, his voice rising sharply.
["Lies!"]
["There were only five!"]
["No matter how damaged my memory is, I cannot forget the betrayal of those five."]
["Before the Cataclysm, the six of us went together to stop the Black King of the Abyss from corroding the foundation of the world."]
["They couldn't resist the temptation of Abyssal power."]
["They divided it among themselves, each becoming a transcendent being with power comparable to a world."]
["But when Khaenri'ah faced destruction—"]
["They stood by and watched it fall."]
["I will never forget that."]
["I will make those sinners pay."]
Dainsleif stared straight at Aerin.
He couldn't understand how this man knew such things.
But he was certain of one fact—
The ones who divided the Abyss' power were five sinners.
["Which is exactly why I said your memories are flawed, Dainsleif."]
["Let me straighten things out for you."]
[Centuries ago, six individuals once entrusted with Khaenri'ah's future were sent to stop the Black King of the Abyss from eroding Teyvat's foundation.]
[None of them resisted temptation.]
[All six drew power from the Abyss and became transcendent beings rivaling a world.]
[But they underestimated the authority of Phanes—the Heavenly Principles.]
[Even with such power, they could not escape the order Phanes established.]
[As natives of Teyvat, they were still recorded by Irminsul.]
[Then the prophet Visurfenir glimpsed the future.]
[Khaenri'ah's beasts would spiral out of control.]
[Teyvat itself would face annihilation.]
[Thus, Khaenri'ah was struck down by Celestia.]
[And yet—opportunity emerged.]
[If they did not stop Khaenri'ah's destruction—]
[The Abyss Prince would later shoulder the banner of defiance against the Heavenly Principles.]
[A new Loom of Fate would be built.]
[New ley lines would overwrite the old.]
[When those new ley lines replaced Celestia's—]
[The six, each bearing world-level power, would no longer be recorded.]
[They would gain absolute freedom.]
[Free to rule this world without restraint.]
[But among the six—]
[One voice wavered.]
[That hesitation, too, was foreseen by Visurfenir.]
["Your brother, Visurfenir, altered your memories, Dainsleif."]
["He erased your identity as the sixth."]
["Left you hating the five sinners who embraced the Abyss."]
["Only then would you desperately try to save them."]
["Only then would you dedicate yourself to opposing the Abyss."]
Aerin stepped aside, revealing the first Ruin Guard of Khaenri'ah behind him.
["The Abyss Prince could never find this tiller machine."]
["But you—following his trail—would obtain its eye by chance."]
["Unfortunately, in the future, your fractured memories would lead you to hand it to the Abyss Prince anyway."]
["Thus completing the closed loop of fate Visurfenir foresaw."]
Dainsleif stared blankly at the Ruin Guard.
A violent headache struck him, his body swaying.
["No… that's impossible."]
["I am the one who seeks vengeance."]
["I am the one who will punish them."]
Aerin merely shrugged.
He raised his gaze toward the stars beyond the false sky.
["Then let me ask you this."]
["With nothing but an immortality curse—]
[What gave you the confidence to seek revenge against beings who wield the power of a world?"]
Dainsleif froze.
The question crushed him like a final blow.
[Gold — Rhinedottir]
[Moon Hunter — Rerir]
[Prophet — Visurfenir]
[The Knight of Extreme Evil — Surtalogi]
[The Sage — Hroptatyr]
Each of the five possessed power rivaling a world.
If he did not share that power—
How could revenge ever be possible?
Dainsleif snapped his head up—
Only to see a dark, yawning tunnel opening behind Aerin.
["Wait—don't leave!"]
He still had countless questions.
Why did this man know Visurfenir's future?
Why had he intercepted the Ruin Guard's eye before him?
Seeing Aerin ignore him, Dainsleif lunged forward, black power surging in his grasp—
But the instant he neared—
His body froze in midair.
["What is this power?!"]
Panic surged through him.
No matter how he struggled, his body remained suspended—
caught between overwhelming attraction and repulsion.
["My name is Aerin."]
["The Fifth Descender of Teyvat."]
["You don't need to know the rest."]
["If you truly hate them—then take up your resolve."]
["Take revenge on the five."]
["And on the blond who turned you into a pawn."]
["Twilight Sword of Khaenri'ah—Dainsleif."]
Aerin glanced back, meeting Dainsleif's terrified gaze.
A violent fluctuation erupted around him.
A quiet whisper brushed past his ear.
["Shinra Tensei."]
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