[The violent explosion caused by the orbital cannon nearly engulfed the entire platform in a wave of heat.]
[The Doomsday Beast, caught in the torrent of energy, finally succumbed. With a final mournful howl, it began to collapse. Yet, in the last second before losing consciousness, the purple orb atop its head suddenly erupted with an intense burst of light. The uncontrolled radiance shot straight toward March 7th, who stood the farthest from it!]
["March!"]
[Amid Dan Heng's and Himeko's shocked cries, March 7th, kneeling on one knee, raised her head in confusion. But faced with this sudden killing intent, evasion was already impossible!]
"Ahhhh, Miss March 7th!"
At the same moment, audiences across different worlds felt their hearts leap into their throats.
Please, please, please! March 7th is so adorable—she absolutely cannot come to harm!
["Boom!"]
[At the critical moment, without the slightest hesitation, Stelle dashed forward and shielded March 7th with her own body.]
[The blinding light instantly swallowed her whole, leaving nothing but a snowy white expanse on the screen.]
["Strange... Is this the afterlife?"]
"Waaah, did Miss Stelle really just die? Damn it! I just fell in love with her, and now it's already over?"
"Regardless, her bravery and willingness to step forward are commendable. Rest in peace, Miss Stelle."
"Hey, stop talking nonsense! Don't curse her yet—look up at the screen!"
Amid the clamor, the crowd turned their attention back to the Celestial Screen, astonished to see something faintly emerging within the white light.
[Golden wounds, like flowing magma, shed countless specks of light that fell like tiny streams, continuously converging.]
["It is time to depart."]
[A gentle female voice echoed through the void. Stelle drifted through the dark emptiness, descending alongside the falling light.]
[——Descending toward the owner of the wounds.]
["Just what is this...?" Stelle slowly opened her eyes, startled by the sight before her. In the distant void stood a towering figure, its features indiscernible, save for the scars on its chest where the wounds originated.]
[As if granted a glimpse of divinity, the onlookers outside the screen felt goosebumps rise all over their bodies.]
["Reach that endpoint."]
["...Who are you?" Stelle noticed beams of light encircling her body. She struggled with all her might, but it was futile. She continued to drift slowly toward the wounds.]
["Use your own will to reach that conclusion."]
[Fragments of memories flooded Stelle's mind like a tidal wave. The overwhelming surge of recollection nearly split her head with pain, but in the next instant, a pair of golden eyes snapped open—not only staring at Stelle but seemingly peering through the screen, gazing upon all the spectators across the myriad worlds.]
["He has already noticed you."]
[With those words, the figure's form finally became clear.]
[It was a dark-skinned man, his cold and stern face devoid of expression, his eyes filled only with indifference and disdain. Molten light slowly trickled from his hands, the jagged wounds resembling a river spanning countless galaxies, with countless lights converging before him.]
"Is this... a Aeon?" Musashi Miyamoto slammed the table and shot to his feet, not even realizing he had shattered the stone table with a single palm.
His entire body trembled uncontrollably.
This damn sense of intimidation... It was absolutely exhilarating!
Though people hailed Musashi Miyamoto as peerless under the heavens, what about beyond the heavens? He had never witnessed it, nor had he ever considered it.
But today, he had not only witnessed Dan Heng's peerless spear techniques and Kafka's refreshingly novel swordsmanship but also this bone-chilling sense of menace.
It was as if those like him—who were seen by outsiders as having mastered martial arts to its limits—were nothing more than a drop in the ocean.
Insignificant as dust beneath one's feet.
Not even worthy of being considered an opponent—perhaps not even worth a glance.
"Yujiro, what do you think of this sense of intimidation?"
Snapping out of his excitement, Musashi patted Yujiro Hanma's shoulder, only to find his muscles tensed like stone, his entire body drenched in cold sweat that dripped slowly down his arms.
Meanwhile, in Fontaine of Teyvat, Furina—who had just barely adapted to the oppressive presence of the Doomsday Beast and was about to enjoy a slice of cake—felt her heart skip a beat in terror. Her hands trembled so violently that she nearly spilled the tea from her cup.
Only when the nearby citizens averted their gazes and turned their attention back to her, the "superstar," did she force herself to appear composed, taking a sip of tea with an air of nonchalance.
"Wh-what the hell was that just now?"
"Why do I have goosebumps all over?"
"Don't panic, Furina, this is just a minor scene!"
Furina took several deep breaths to steady herself, ensuring her voice wouldn't waver.
Though she had stepped down from her position as the Hydro Archon, in the eyes of Fontaine's people, she had still been their god for 500 years. Hadn't she weathered countless storms? She had to maintain some resilience under pressure.
The panicked citizens of Fontaine were on edge. The Doomsday Beast's oppressive aura had already been overwhelming, and now, in such a short time, an even more terrifying presence had appeared? Their poor hearts could hardly take it.
"Lady Furina, who was that dark-skinned man just now?" a reporter asked, struggling to keep his voice from shaking.
"Hmm... Perhaps a deity from another world? Though it was only a fleeting glance, I could still sense the power in his gaze." Furina speared a small piece of cake with her fork, feigning leisure as she ate it.
"I see! As expected of Lady Furina! Even when facing a deity from another world, you remain so composed." The crowd, convinced by her explanation, sighed in relief and began applauding.
If even the now-mortal Lady Furina could remain so unflappable, surely that Aeon wasn't that terrifying, right?
...Right? Probably just a bit scary in terms of his gaze?
"Of course. Though I've relinquished my divine power, I was still once a god."
"But Lady Furina, why are your shoulders trembling slightly?" someone pointed out, catching the flaw in her performance.
Though she tried her best to suppress it, as more and more onlookers gathered, the memory of those golden eyes made Furina tense up, betraying her nerves.
"Uh, th-that's just excitement."
Facing her fans' questioning, Furina adjusted quickly. She elegantly placed her fork on the plate, crossed her pristine, jade-like legs, and lifted her teacup with fingers clad in white lace gloves. Her perfect ladylike demeanor silently conveyed her calm and poise to the crowd.
"Indeed, if Lady Furina still possessed her divine power, she would surely be the first to challenge that otherworldly deity should he dare to invade."
Furina wore a face drenched in cold sweat, but a sudden thunderous boom from the sky conveniently saved her from further embarrassment.
[The scene on the Celestial Screen returned to the space station. Stelle stood before March 7th, her face twisted in pain. The agony made it hard for her to remain standing, yet something within her radiated a formidable power, resisting the Doomsday Beast's attack.]