The air across Teyvat seemed to freeze.
Mondstadt's tavern patrons were still basking in the afterglow of freedom and redemption. The wind of Barbatos had not yet faded.
And then—
The screen shifted.
No windmills.
No cathedral spires.
Instead—
Mountains of stone rising like spears into the sky.
Carved pavilions and gilded rooftops.
A harbor glittering with commerce and contracts.
Liyue Harbor.
The image focused on Yujing Terrace.
The political heart of Liyue.
The stage of the annual Rite of Descension.
It was already packed with people.
Solemn bells echoed across the port. Incense smoke curled into the air, carrying the scent of glazed lilies.
Citizens stood in reverent silence.
At the very front—
Two familiar figures squeezed through the crowd.
"Hey! Stop pushing! Paimon's going to be flattened!"
"Shh," Lumine whispered, golden eyes fixed on the platform. "It's starting."
Time had not paused for Liyue while Mondstadt healed. They had arrived just in time.
On the high platform stood the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing—Ningguang.
Elegant. Composed. Absolute.
"The auspicious hour has come."
Her voice cut cleanly through the murmurs.
"By tradition… we call upon the Adeptus."
She raised her hand.
Geo energy gathered at her fingertips.
The ceremonial censer before her began to hum.
"Burn incense. Inform the heavens."
Golden light erupted from the censer—
A pillar of radiant Geo energy shot skyward, piercing the clouds.
Across Liyue, heads bowed.
All awaited the divine oracle.
But—
Something was wrong.
The golden pillar trembled.
It stalled midair—
As if seized by an unseen hand.
The light flickered.
Warped.
Dimmed.
"What's happening?!"
"The Lord of Geo's power—!"
"Is this… an ill omen?!"
Panic rippled through the crowd.
Even Ningguang's expression darkened.
And then—
That cold, pale-blue screen tore through reality once more.
[System]: Warning. Critical worldline node detected.
[System]: Act Three – "Rite of Descension" livestream… interrupted.
[System]: Emergency Question Initiated.
Every nation saw it.
On Yujing Terrace.
In Inazuma.
In Sumeru.
Across the seas.
[System]: Question: During Liyue's 3,700th Rite of Descension, what is the final outcome of Rex Lapis, Morax?
Rex Lapis descends as usual and delivers divine guidance for the coming year.
B. Rex Lapis descends, but announces his retirement. This will be his final Rite.
C. Rex Lapis does not appear. The Rite fails. Liyue faces uncertainty without divine guidance.
D. Rex Lapis… is assassinated. His Exuvia falls from the heavens.
Silence.
Then—
An eruption.
"Blasphemy!!!"
A Millelith officer drew his blade and pointed it at the sky.
"This is heresy of the highest order!"
"Assassinated?! The Lord of Geo?! Impossible!"
"Bring this demon down!"
But no weapon could touch the screen.
The Chatroom exploded.
[Chatroom – Ganyu]: (shaken) Th-The Lord…? That can't be…
[Chatroom – Keqing]: Absurd! Option D is nothing but slander against Rex Lapis!
[Chatroom – Ningguang]: (expression dark) …System. Are you implying one of these must be true?
[Chatroom – Cloud Retainer]: Insolence! To speculate upon the Emperor's fate—! Reveal yourself and face divine wrath!
[Chatroom – Moon Carver]: …An ominous sign indeed.
[Chatroom – Lumine]: …Paimon…
[Chatroom – Paimon]: Th-This is a million times scarier than Timmie's imaginary friend!!!
Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Zhongli calmly held a teacup, admiring a newly arranged vase of silk flowers.
When the four options appeared—
His amber eyes, weathered by six thousand years, sharpened ever so slightly.
His gaze moved across A.
B.
C.
Then stopped—
On D.
His hand froze midair.
In his eyes flickered something no mortal could decipher.
Regret?
Resolve?
Acceptance?
[System]: Countdown: 60 seconds.
[System]: Buzzers open.
The people of Liyue trembled.
The Adepti seethed.
The Qixing was calculated.
Across Teyvat, Archons watched in silence.
And high above—
The faltering golden light trembled again.
As if waiting.
For someone—
To decide the fate of a god.