The city no longer glowed as it once had.
Only pale moonlight spilled across the streets—revealing countless figures standing shoulder to shoulder, motionless.
A few silhouettes hurried through the crowd, their voices edged with anxiety.
"What's going on? Why is everyone just standing here?"
"Senior—what happened?"
Layla's eyes brimmed with tears.
She had been woken by the thunderous sound of synchronized footsteps. When she stepped out of the Akademiya dormitory, she found the streets packed—rows upon rows of people aligned with eerie precision.
At the same moment, every light in Sumeru City went out.
The most terrifying part?
These citizens moved like puppets on strings.
Once they formed their lines, they simply… stopped.
"I'm not sure either," Faruzan muttered, pounding her head lightly.
"But the headaches I've had for ages—gone. All at once."
"…Huh?"
Layla froze.
Only then did she realize her own constant migraines had vanished too.
"You've all been having headaches lately?" Dehya asked blankly, glancing around. Even her employer stood among the crowd.
"You Akademiya geniuses get headaches too?"
She shook her head in disbelief.
"Kids raised in the desert don't get headaches, yet you scholars do?"
"Tch. Probably overthinking."
"But that's not the point. Look at this."
"Why does it feel like everyone received the same command?"
That was the truly frightening part.
Alhaitham's expression darkened.
"It wasn't just them," he said quietly.
"We've all felt it—dull pressure, faint stabbing pain."
"But none of us spoke about it."
"That's what makes it terrifying."
"It's as if our consciousness was being restricted."
"When the cerebral cortex receives continuous external stimulation," Alhaitham continued,
"symptoms include headaches, dizziness, loss of focus…"
"Combined with what we're seeing now—"
Kaveh's eyes sharpened.
"You're saying—"
"Enough riddles!" Dehya snapped.
"Stop showing off your brains and tell me plainly. What happened to them?"
"…Their consciousness was controlled," Alhaitham said.
"They've been turned into puppets."
A chill ran through everyone present.
Then—
A voice cut through the crowd.
"It's not that simple."
The Mahamatra General, Cyno, rushed in, breathing hard.
"They were controlled—but only because their will was already destroyed."
"They're no longer thinking beings."
"Earlier today, I overheard something."
"Sumeru has been occupied by Fatui Harbingers and someone from beyond this world."
"They were attempting to create a god."
"Great Sage Azar cooperated with them at first… then internal conflict broke out."
"He was killed."
"What?!"
The group recoiled.
Creating a god?
Azar—a collaborator?
Cyno continued grimly:
"They realized I was listening. When I tried to intervene… they vanished."
No one had time to question how Cyno survived.
If what he said was true—
Then these people…
"…are brain-dead," Faruzan whispered, her legs giving out as Layla caught her.
"Living bodies without souls."
In Sumeru, Vision-bearers were few.
Most ordinary citizens—
had been reduced to vegetative shells.
The city fell into stunned silence.
[Ningguang]:"Turning an entire city into living corpses… ruthless."
[Cloud Retainer]:"This is what happens when a nation lacks a powerful god."
[Shenhe]:"If the future hadn't changed, those two would've welcomed Bella."
[Collei]:"How… how could this happen…"
[Nilou]:"Does this mean they're all… dead?"
[Alhaitham]:"Not dead. Empty."
[Navia]:"That's worse than death."
Sanctuary of Surasthana
Nahida clutched her chest, gasping for air.
Sumeru was finished.
Dehya's earlier words stabbed her heart—
Even desert children never had the right to education.
If criminals deserved "rehabilitation,"
what about innocent children robbed of everything?
"I understand… I understand now…"
Memories of Aerin's discipline surfaced.
Pain twisted her expression.
"If the Fifth Descender didn't exist… would I have forgiven them?"
Her head throbbed violently.
Without Aerin, Bella might never have descended.
But even without Bella—
Dottore and Scaramouche would still have invaded the minds of Sumeru's people.
Perhaps fewer would be brain-dead—
But for the weak-willed, the frail…
It was still a death sentence.
[Nahida]:"If the Fifth Descender never came… Bella wouldn't have followed."
[Nahida]:"Without her, the harm wouldn't be visible."
[Paimon]:"Uh… why is the Dendro Archon talking to herself?"
[Lumine]:"She's breaking."
[Eula]:"Is she… losing it?"
[Nahida]:"I would've believed those criminals deserved persuasion…"
[Navia]:"What?! You'd forgive them?!"
[Morax]:"She once believed anyone could be redeemed."
[Hu Tao]:"If it were our Geo Archon, they'd be crushed."
[Keqing]:"That's why the Fatui don't dare mess with Liyue."
[Pantalone]:"I merely sought Morax's gaze."
[Nilou]:"She'd be trapped in the Sanctuary forever…"
[Lumine]:"Don't lump me in. They deserve death."
[Aether]:"Agreed."
Nahida's confession shattered Sumeru.
Fear replaced grief.
Would their god forgive those who destroyed them?
"No… no, I don't want a god like that."
"Desert children are denied education—why should monsters get mercy?"
"If that's justice, we want a new god!"
"When the Fifth Descender arrives, let him decide her fate!"
Then—
The moonlight vanished.
A massive dragon silhouette eclipsed the sky.
Oppressive pressure crushed the crowd's breath.
Then—
The dragon vanished.
Two figures descended from the heavens.
A man.
A woman.
They hovered briefly… then landed softly.
Aerin scanned the few still conscious.
"Vision-bearers," he said calmly.
"Bella spared you."
Bennares frowned.
"But most of the city…"
Aerin nodded.
"Controlled."
"You should leave. This city is no longer safe."
Before anyone could respond—
Applause erupted.
Every motionless citizen began clapping in perfect unison.
Lights flared on.
Red eyes gleamed.
Black miasma seeped from their bodies.
Bella's voice echoed from countless mouths.
"Did you enjoy the performance?"
"But let me correct something."
"These people weren't ruined by me."
"Azar chose to drain their dreams."
"I merely helped."
"And out of kindness—"
"I gave them power beyond this world."
"You should thank me."
Aerin chuckled softly.
"They lost their will. Their humanity."
"You touched the foundation of this world."
"So you must've already chosen how you'll die."
At that—
The puppets charged.
BOOM.
A golden sword descended from the heavens.
Light exploded across Sumeru.
When it faded—
The citizens lay still.
Freed.
Empty.
"I purged the corruption," Aerin said quietly.
"They're free."
"…But they're hollow."
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