Teyvat fell into an unprecedented silence.
All eyes were fixed on the four options.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Each one carried the weight of a future that could overturn not just Liyue—but the balance of the entire world.
[Chatroom – Beidou]: …(sharp inhale)… Rex Lapis assassinated? That's no small joke. If that's true… every contract in Liyue collapses with him.
[Chatroom – Venti]: (smile gone) …Oh my. @Zhongli, old friend… you holding up over there?
[Chatroom – Zhongli]: ...
(No reply.)
[Chatroom – Tartaglia]: Oh? (licks lips) …Assassinated? Now this is getting interesting.
Wangshu Inn.
BOOM—
A surge of black karmic energy mixed with teal Anemo burst outward.
The balcony was swallowed in killing intent.
"Xiao—!" Verr Goldet gasped.
"Out of my way."
Xiao's eyes burned crimson.
He stared at option D.
"…Blasphemy… sacrilege… death."
To the last Yaksha, Rex Lapis was everything.
His purpose. His salvation. His god.
Option B? Retirement? Unacceptable.
Option C? Absence? Unacceptable.
Option D? Assassination?
Unforgivable.
[Chatroom – Xiao]: Absurd.
[Chatroom – Xiao]: The Radiance of the Lord cannot be doubted by insects.
[Chatroom – Xiao]: I choose A. He will descend as always.
Without hesitation, he selected the only answer his heart allowed.
[System]: @Xiao has selected A.
[System]: Judging…
All of Liyue held its breath.
Please.
Let this be a cruel joke.
[System]: Judgment complete.
[System]: Answer… incorrect.
"…What?"
Xiao froze.
[Chatroom – Ganyu]: …(vision blurring)… W-Wrong? A… is wrong?
[Chatroom – Keqing]: (pupils contract) …A is wrong?!
[Chatroom – Ningguang]: …Which means… B, C, or D… must be true.
[System]: @Xiao. Punishment activated.
[System]: Punishment: "Growth Reversal."
A strange white light engulfed him.
"…?"
The world spun.
When the light faded—
Xiao looked down.
His hands…
Smaller?
He glanced at the railing.
It seemed… taller.
"Uh… Conqueror of Demons?" Verr Goldet blinked in disbelief. "Did you… shrink?"
Xiao had been forcibly shortened.
Still youthful—but noticeably smaller.
The imposing aura?
Completely undermined.
[Chatroom – Paimon]: …Pff—
[Chatroom – Paimon]: (trying not to laugh)… H-He got shorter!
[Chatroom – Venti]: Ehe~ @Xiao, need a boost? Can you still jump onto rooftops like that?
[Chatroom – Itto]: HAHAHA! That's even funnier than mine!
[Chatroom – Xiao]: …(karmic energy crackling)… @Venti.
[Chatroom – Xiao]: …You… seek… death.
The killing intent was palpable.
But far worse—
A was wrong.
Yujing Terrace.
Keqing's mind raced.
"A is wrong… The Lord will not descend as usual…"
She analyzed rapidly.
"D? Assassinated? Impossible. He is the oldest of the Seven."
"C? Absent? He would never break a contract."
"Which leaves…"
Her gaze fell on B.
Retirement.
Her heartbeat thundered.
A forbidden thought she had always harbored—
"A Liyue governed by humans… without reliance on gods…"
Could it be—
Was this the divine will she had long believed in?
[Chatroom – Keqing]: I choose B.
[Chatroom – Keqing]: Perhaps… the Lord is weary. Perhaps entrusting Liyue to humanity is his final oracle.
She pressed her choice.
[System]: @Keqing selected B.
[System]: Judging…
[System]: Answer… incorrect.
Her expression shattered.
"…Also wrong?"
[Chatroom – Ganyu]: (nearly in tears)… B too…?
[Chatroom – Ningguang]: ...
[Chatroom – Lumine]: A and B are both wrong…
Across Teyvat—
Only two remained.
C.
D.
Absence.
Assassination.
[System]: @Keqing. Punishment activated.
[System]: Punishment: "Career Experience – Voice of the Streets."
On the grand platform—
Keqing's elegant attire vanished.
Replaced by—
A rough apron.
Before her appeared a steaming food stall.
A wooden sign dangled overhead:
"Master Keqing's Secret Beef Offal."
"…???"
Before she could react—
Her body moved on its own.
She grabbed a ladle.
And loudly called out—
"Fresh hot beef offal! Fragrant and tender!"
"Prepared personally by Yuheng!"
"One bowl! Three hundred Mora!"
Her face burned scarlet.
"N-No—stop— I— ('Come try it! Money back guarantee!') — I can't— Aaaah!"
[Chatroom – Beidou]: Pfft—HAHAHAHA!!
[Chatroom – Beidou]: @Ningguang, your Qixing runs side businesses now?!
[Chatroom – Xingqiu]: (stunned) …The Yuheng Star truly embodies closeness to the people…
[Chatroom – Hu Tao]: Hey hey! @Keqing, stealing my market share? Wangsheng's funeral beef stall is MY future business!
[Chatroom – Lumine]: …(quietly takes out Kamera)
[Chatroom – Paimon]: Quick! This photo's worth a fortune!
[Chatroom – Ganyu]: (covering face)… Lady Keqing…
And above it all—
The golden light in the sky flickered once more.
Two options remained.
The fate of a god—
Balanced between silence.
And murder.