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[Received emotional value from the player world...]
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Not long after Genshin 5.0 launched, Rios received a massive amount of emotional value.
If it were just players being attracted to Genshin's new nation, Rios wouldn't be able to obtain emotional value from that.
But due to his modifications, characters like Kinich, Mualani, Kachina, and others were vastly different compared to the originals.
The emotions generated by players because of these modifications could also provide emotional value to Rios.
"So, what kind of mechanics should I set for little Paimon?"
In the council chamber, Rios propped up his chin with one hand while tapping the table with the other like he was playing piano keys, his expression looking somewhat troubled.
Besides having figured out how Paimon should die later on, he had no ideas whatsoever for her skill mechanics.
"If only I hadn't made the Pyro Traveler so detailed; I should have left the remaining mechanics to Paimon."
Rios really wanted Paimon to make the Pyro Traveler's strength go up another level, but the Pyro Traveler's skill mechanics were already very complete; adding a Paimon would just be mismatched and awkward.
"Got it."
A flash of inspiration struck.
It was as if a beam of white light pierced through Rios's mind.
"Why do I have to make Paimon help the Pyro Traveler get stronger?" The corners of Rios's mouth couldn't help but curve up into a smile. "Just treating her as a mascot who spits out little flames wouldn't that be fine?"
He already had a preliminary concept for Paimon's mechanics.
After players complete the main storyline quests, Paimon will also obtain an "imitation Vision" and fight alongside the Pyro Traveler.
However, Paimon can only spit out little flames from behind the Pyro Traveler, so weak that she can't even apply Pyro.
When encountering powerful enemies, Paimon will instinctively step back, protecting the Traveler in front of her.
Of course, Paimon isn't completely useless; when the Traveler's HP decreases, Paimon will take out food like Sweet Madame (it's not from the Traveler's inventory; it just looks like it) to restore the Traveler's health.
When Rios was a Genshin player before, he really hoped that during exploration, Paimon could follow alongside.
But perhaps the planners felt that having her follow beside without interaction would make Paimon seem too much like an NPC, so there was no follow function.
At the time, Rios could only use the bug-clipping methods taught online to clip Paimon out.
There weren't few players who shared this regret with him; if the Pyro form Traveler could fight while bringing Paimon along, it could fulfill their wishes.
Of course, the main point was that in this setup, it would be easy to arrange scenes where Paimon takes hits for the Traveler, harshly stimulating the Traveler in one go.
"Done thinking about Paimon; let's see where the Traveler and the others have gone."
Rios saw what was happening in the Children of Echoes through the system.
After Lumine and Paimon finished touring the tribe, they heard that Kachina was going to participate in the Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame, which sparked their interest in watching the performance.
So, they followed Kachina's group toward the Stadium of the Sacred Flame.
Unlike the original work, because Kachina performed outstandingly in the defense tower training, plus the Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame had been suspended for a period, the Children of Echoes still had people willing to team up with Kachina.
"If we go to the Stadium of the Sacred Flame, we should be able to meet the Pyro Archon, right?" Paimon was still thinking about buttering up the Pyro Archon to get the "imitation Vision." "I wonder if the Pyro Archon's temper is good?"
"This... I'm not too clear on that either."
Kachina embarrassedly rubbed her head: "Ever since becoming an Archon, the Pyro Archon has implemented policies that seem utterly bizarre to us, but after interacting with him, it feels like he hasn't changed from before."
"Why is that?" Paimon puzzledly tilted her head.
"I heard from the elders in the village that when the Pyro Archon becomes a god, he needs to enter the Sacred Flame to receive the knowledge of previous generations of Pyro Archons."
Kachina showed a complex expression: "Because he bears too much memory and knowledge, every Pyro Archon undergoes some changes in personality after emerging from the Sacred Flame."
"So, does that mean the Pyro Archon issued those policies you oppose after entering the Sacred Flame?" Paimon asked.
"It looks like he saw something in the Sacred Flame, so he made that decision." Lumine slightly furrowed her delicate eyebrows, her fist against her chin, making a thoughtful pose.
"No." Kachina shook her head. "I heard from Mualani that the Pyro Archon already had the idea to suspend the Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame the day before he ascended to godhood."
"Huh?"
Lumine and Paimon were stunned upon hearing this, feeling puzzled as they asked: "Then why did he have that idea?"
"We want to know the answer too." Kachina spread her hands.
They were like that pink Kamen Rider, still searching for the answers to the questions, so they couldn't give explanations to the Traveler and the others.
"Watch out!"
"Abyss monsters have appeared!"
One of the warriors in Kachina's squad shouted loudly.
Immediately after, several purple monsters appeared in everyone's line of sight.
They took on the forms of Hilichurls and other monsters, blocking the road ahead.
"They appeared so easily?" Paimon surprisedly placed her hands on her chest, her eyes wide open.
When she heard Natlan people describe how they frequently clashed with the Abyss, she was only somewhat surprised without much feeling.
But encountering Abyss monsters not long after leaving the tribe—this was really too frightening.
What kind of perilous existence did the people of Natlan live in?
"We haven't seen many Abyss monsters lately either; I didn't expect to run into them again right before the Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame is about to be held."
One warrior frowned and said: "These guys aren't here to deliberately cause trouble, are they?"
Natlan people placed great importance on the rescheduled Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame; they couldn't let these filthy spawn stop it.
"Heh, perfect chance to practice on you lot and get back in form." Another Natlan warrior ignited with battle intent.
"Paimon, hide behind me." Lumine stepped forward, a golden light flashing in her palm; in the blink of an eye, a longsword appeared in her hand.
Just as the battle was about to erupt, Paimon at the back of the group noticed several sparkling red stars at the edge of the sky.
The red stars grew larger and larger; upon closer look, they were actually flame-like meteors.
"Everyone, look; it seems like something's flying over from the sky?" Paimon shouted nervously, drawing everyone's attention.
"What is that?" Lumine looked at the fire meteors flying from the sky, a wave of confusion rising in her heart.
She hadn't pulled any cards either.
The warriors of the Children of Echoes looked up and immediately showed ecstatic expressions: "Great! It's the Pyro Archon's arrows!"