In the end, Mavuika didn't send anyone to chase after him. Even if The Captain was injured, he still wasn't someone ordinary people could "pick a fight with" and survive.
After some time, Lumine, Chasca, Mualani, and the others found the ancient name and managed to contact Kachina, who was trapped inside the Night Kingdom.
"You're not going with them? Aren't you worried about them?"
Venti looked at Koji. Abyssal power was extremely dangerous—let alone a place like the Night Kingdom, which rejected the living.
If Koji went along, there would be no danger at all.
"This was Lumine's own decision." Koji shrugged. "Going with me would be very safe, but she also wants to relive that kind of thrill an adventure is supposed to have."
With him around, it was basically a speedrun. Lumine was actually starting to miss the old days—those wild, dramatic ups and downs.
Besides, even if she really ran into danger, someone would step in. She carried Koji's blessing on her.
"Mavuika, there's something I'm really curious about."
Koji's gaze swept over Mavuika's leather outfit. It really did an excellent job of showing off her figure… miHoYo really knew what they were doing.
"What is it?"
"Mavuika… when you go to the bathroom, is your waist like this?"
Koji put a finger to his chest and mimed pulling a zipper downward.
Mavuika: "..."
Even someone as warm and outgoing as her felt secondhand embarrassment at that question. Who asks that? Where are your manners?
If she weren't basically out of power right now, she'd have wanted to 1v1 Koji on the spot.
"Oh, right—Venti." Koji turned to him. "Do you gods use the bathroom too?"
"Uh… that…"
Venti had no idea how to answer. Koji's question was way too sharp. Normally, no—they didn't need to. A god's body was extraordinary. For example, Venti's true form was a wind spirit, not flesh and blood.
"The people who went into the Night Kingdom probably won't be able to leave so easily."
Mavuika forcefully changed the subject. Her power was being used to maintain the Sacred Flame… which meant the only option was burning those mementos.
Those stories were important, but in a critical moment, she could still burn away part of her strength to open two gates.
"Leave it to me."
Koji took down the divine sword at his waist—Divine Sword: Dawn—and merged it with Natlan's phlogiston-rich ore. The sword immediately gained a scorching, searing undertone.
"Lumine and the others… I'm counting on you."
Humm!
The sword trembled as if alive, signaling that it understood. Then it turned into a streak of light and vanished.
Night Kingdom
As the Abyss pressed closer and closer, Lumine and the others sprinted toward the crack in the sky. But they still didn't make it in time—only able to watch as the rift leading outside slowly sealed itself shut.
Ha!
At the exact moment the rift was about to close, a brilliant streak of light shot through. Along with a clear, ringing sword cry, the divine sword drove itself into the ground right in front of Lumine.
"This is…?" Kachina frowned. "I feel like I've seen this sword somewhere before."
Warmth spread out from it. The Abyssal power around them—and even the Abyssal power that had seeped into their bodies—was wiped away into nothing.
In this dim world, the sword's radiance was like dawn itself rising.
"Dawn…?"
Lumine's eyes lit up. She'd been hoping Koji would show up to save the day, but she hadn't expected it would be his only sword.
"We're saved."
"Please."
Lumine pulled Divine Sword: Dawn from the ground. It was her first time using it. Other than Koji, only his beloved girls could draw this blade.
Shhk!
A Dawn-bright sword arc ripped through the air. Sword qi crisscrossed and surged—splitting heaven and earth. In an instant, it cleaved open the dome overhead. Something that normally required divine power to break through now tore apart like paper—utterly helpless.
Long-lost light poured down onto them again. And above them, beyond Tianxin Tower, they finally saw blue skies and white clouds.
"Jeez—this is insane." Lumine stared, stunned. "I didn't even charge it up."
She'd only ever seen Koji use it before. She never imagined that with a casual swing—without any buildup at all—she could shatter the sky in a single strike.
After this, she absolutely had to make Koji forge her a weapon. Sure, she was currently using a four-star one-handed sword, but compared to Koji's weapon, hers was basically roadside scrap metal.
"Let's go. We almost got locked in solitary."
"O-oh, right."
If they could leave, no one wanted to stay in a place like that.
…
The group returned to the Stadium of the Sacred Flame.
"This sword is seriously easy to use."
Lumine handed Divine Sword: Dawn back to Koji. No fancy technique needed—just brute force and it was done.
"Thank you." Mavuika lowered her head slightly. "And sorry—making you help when you're guests."
She was honestly a little embarrassed. As Natlan's Pyro Archon, she'd had no power to rescue her own people.
"Thanks."
Iansan also offered her gratitude. She knew that if Mavuika acted right now, she would have to burn those mementos—and that kind of price was far too cruel for Mavuika to pay.
Koji waved it off. It was only a small effort.
"You all saw the current state of the Night Kingdom, didn't you?" Mavuika's expression turned serious.
Chasca and the others nodded. It had looked terrible. The Abyssal power was far too active.
"Natlan is going to be destroyed. We may have less than one year left."
Venti didn't find it strange. Natlan's ley lines weren't stable, and the Abyssal corrosion here was the worst.
Other nations could restrain Abyss incursions fairly well, but Natlan had endured a long, drawn-out war—paying countless sacrifices just to win a brutal, miserable victory.
Even now, the Abyss had not been completely defeated. Its retreat was only temporary. Sooner or later, it would strike back.
"Pyro Archon…" Chasca asked. "Can't we ask other nations for support?"
If Natlan was destroyed by the Abyss, the Abyssal power would surely spread into the other nations.
"Heh." Mavuika smiled. "Kachina—though we're all Seven Archons, support between nations is basically something that never happens."
The Seven Nations were seven separate countries. Their relations weren't exactly great. Sending aid to another nation was complicated beyond belief.
Venti smiled too. It was true. He had a very good relationship with Zhongli, but if something really happened, he'd never once thought about seeking Liyue's help. In the end, you had to rely on yourself.
Friendship between gods didn't affect countries all that much.
Sending troops to help another nation wasn't a small matter—politically or militarily. There were too many things to consider.
"My dear, I think seven nations is still too many." Lumine grinned as she offered a suggestion. "Why not unify all of Teyvat? Then I'd be the empress."
"You're not actually serious, are you?"
Mavuika didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It was bold—absurdly bold—and the difficulty of actually pulling it off was enormous.
"If I became the Heavenly Principles," Koji said with a perfectly serious face, "I'd do it."
With so many nations in Teyvat, unify the world and build a true, lasting unified empire.
(End of Chapter)
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