The explosion triggered by the five colossal Planet Fall was terrifying beyond imagination. The second barrier shattered in an instant, and the third held for less than three seconds before collapsing with a thunderous crack.
Yet, just before the third barrier broke apart, a brand-new golden barrier enveloped it, completely containing the immense energy within that space.
After the massive blast, the ground below was reduced to dust, utterly annihilated. Countless souls drifted aimlessly within the barrier. They were no longer beings of this world, immune to any physical harm, and simply floated without restraint.
In the void, two figures faced each other.
One stood calm and composed.
The other, disheveled and torn, blood trailing from the corner of her mouth.
"The Sustainer of Heavenly Principles truly lives up to her title. That guy's full-power strike only managed to injure you this much."
Elliot looked at the battered Sustainer with mild amusement, his tone light and teasing, as though the supreme ruler of the world before him wasn't even worth taking seriously.
The Sustainer wiped the blood from her lips, her gaze dark and heavy as it locked onto Elliot. She could feel it clearly—this man had changed. Completely. His presence, his expression, his very essence—he was no longer the Elliot she once knew.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice low and cold.
"Who am I…?"
"Hmm, good question."
"I haven't quite figured that out yet."
Elliot propped his chin in his hand, thinking seriously, as though genuinely pondering the answer.
The Sustainer's mind, however, was a storm of questions. She couldn't understand how he knew so much. The forbidden text Before Sun and Moon had always been under their constant surveillance—she had never once seen him approach it.
So how did he know that both they and humanity were outsiders, invaders to this world? And how did he know of their intent behind the Archon War?
Because indeed, their reason for starting the Archon War was just as Elliot had guessed.
First, it was a matter of convenience—there was no need for them to personally deal with the rogue gods.
Second, should any foreign invaders appear again, the seven gods who survived that brutal conflict would be strong enough to help.
They needed representatives to govern the Seven Nations, to prevent humanity from advancing technologically and attracting further intrusion from beyond.
Without such rulers, Celestia would have to constantly monitor the entire continent of Teyvat. It would be exhausting—and impossible to manage.
To put it simply, the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles was like an emperor, and the Seven Archons her highest ministers. The emperor could not watch over every citizen or handle every trivial affair. But to ignore them entirely would invite rebellion and chaos.
Thus, ministers were needed to maintain order, leaving the emperor to focus on what truly mattered—threats from neighboring realms, diplomacy with other nations, and the balance of the world itself.
Therefore, only a few things could draw the Sustainer's attention:
Excessive technological advancement that might attract foreign invaders.
Direct interaction with forces not belonging to this world, such as Khaenri'ah's research into the Abyss.
Anything that could threaten their authority—such as Elliot , the one who created the Netherworld.
Millennia of war had claimed tens of millions of lives. If those souls were to be absorbed or released, it would spell disaster for the Sustainer. Thus, she and her kind had come to destroy him.
But what baffled her most was this:
How had they never noticed an God as powerful as Elliot ?
Did he have some way of evading their gaze? Otherwise, with strength like his, there was no way they could have overlooked him. If he had shown even the slightest hint of power during the Archon War, they would have noticed immediately.
Unless… he had never participated in the Archon War at all?
No. That couldn't be.
If that were true, then how had he learned all those things?
These questions swirled endlessly in the Sustainer's mind, without a single answer.
"I've decided," Elliot said at last. "I'll call myself… Lord of the Netherworld."
"What do you think? A fitting name for the god who rules the realm of the dead."
"Hmm… as expected of me. Perfectly chosen."
The Lord of the Netherworld grinned proudly, speaking as though showing off his brilliance.
"You look confused. If there's something you don't understand, you may ask me."
"Three questions…?"
"No, no, that's too many."
"I'll allow you to ask one question."
Seeing the doubt written all over her face, the Lord of the Netherworld extended one finger toward her with mock generosity.
But before the Sustainer could even open her mouth, he added with a playful smile,
"Just so you know—once you've asked, I'll be getting a bit... up close and personal. So you'd better be ready."
"I'm curious to see just how powerful this five-in-one Sustainer of Heavenly Principles really is."
The Lord of the Netherworld's tone was cheerful, almost neighborly, but that very smile made the Sustainer frown deeply.
Even knowing she had withdrawn her four shadows and reached her peak strength, this man still exuded such unshakable confidence?
"How did you know all this?"
The Sustainer of Heavenly Principles finally voiced the question that had haunted her.