Fu Xuan stood with her hands on her hips, glaring angrily at Jing Yuan.
"General, something this serious—and you didn't respond to my messages?"
Bella had changed course and was heading toward the Luofu.
That alone was terrible news.
After all—
She had once destroyed Jarilo-VI.
Yes, she restored it afterward…
But only because she had overlooked copying the Engine of Creation when she first awakened.
This time—
If she blew up the Luofu…
There was no guarantee she would restore it.
"This is only something that happens in the future," Jing Yuan said calmly, smiling faintly.
"It has no direct impact on the present."
"And from what I see, Jarilo-VI benefited from her actions."
"Because she drew the attention of that great being."
"So there's no need to worry excessively."
Fu Xuan's expression darkened.
"General… are you brushing me off?"
Jing Yuan sighed.
"That light screen spanning the universe…"
"Is already beyond our understanding."
"A being on the same level as its creator—"
"If they descend upon any world…"
"That world can only wait for its fate."
Destruction?
Survival?
Or… unexpected fortune like Jarilo-VI?
It all depended on that being's mood.
Fu Xuan fell silent.
"…Sigh."
Her anger vanished instantly.
"…I don't even understand why someone like him would appear in this universe."
"I remember he mentioned fighting in other worlds beyond this one."
"Does the universe even have boundaries?"
"Is there… another universe beyond this one?"
"And the most absurd part—"
"The people of Teyvat claim he's human."
Jing Yuan thought for a moment.
"Perhaps it's related to what was mentioned before…"
"The awakening of Spiral Power."
"Spiral Power…" Fu Xuan muttered, nodding.
"Yes… when asked, the people of Teyvat avoided answering."
"What a suspicious bunch."
Yanqing sighed helplessly.
"Lady Fu Xuan… please calm down."
"If that great being arrives and sees you like this…"
"I'm worried something might go wrong."
Fu Xuan froze.
Then glanced at Jing Yuan—
Who was smiling awkwardly.
"…So you two are worried about me?!"
Somewhere in the Universe — A Manned Starship
Time stood still.
Everything—
People, objects—
Frozen completely.
"…So that's how it is."
Bella stood alone, observing.
"The Stellaron Hunters… act entirely based on that man, Elio."
She had frozen time across the region—
Including the Astral Express and the Xianzhou Luofu.
Elio could see the future—
And select the optimal path.
The Stellaron Hunters existed to guide that path.
"This time…"
"They're guiding the Astral Express to the Luofu."
"Because in the future…"
"The Astral Express will fight Nanook, the Aeon of Destruction."
"And for the best outcome—"
"They need the Xianzhou Alliance."
"So they must establish a connection."
Bella tilted her head slightly.
"…Fate."
"Unless causality itself is altered…"
"Fate cannot truly be changed."
"That so-called 'script'…"
"Is still bound by destiny."
In the next moment—
Bella's consciousness moved.
She appeared above the Xianzhou Luofu.
"A civilization built on starships…"
"Interesting."
Her eyes closed.
A vast consciousness spread outward—
Covering the entire Luofu.
Every mind—
Every memory—
Flowed into her awareness.
Within seconds—
She understood everything.
"Oh?"
"This is getting interesting."
"So the Stellaron crisis…"
"Was brought here deliberately."
Back at the Seat of Divine Foresight—
Fu Xuan, who had been about to leave in frustration, stopped abruptly.
Bella's voice from the screen pulled her back.
Jing Yuan frowned.
"I was wondering earlier…"
"Why Kafka said the Luofu would face a Stellaron crisis."
"So someone brought it here."
Fu Xuan grew tense.
"…So the crisis isn't just the Stellaron itself?"
Jing Yuan nodded slowly.
"If someone could smuggle a Stellaron into the Luofu…"
"Under the protection of the Hunt…"
"…Then they must be at least an Emanator."
Bella's Analysis
Bella's eyes gleamed.
"Phantylia…"
"A Lord Ravager of Destruction."
"She disguised herself as a Foxian…"
"Infiltrated the Luofu…"
"Manipulated the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus…"
"Planning to revive the Ambrosial Arbor…"
"Using Abundance to rebuild her body…"
"And combine it with Destruction to annihilate the Luofu."
She summarized the situation:
Five forces entangled—
Phantylia (Destruction)
Sanctus Medicus (Abundance followers)
Stellaron Hunters
Xianzhou Alliance
The Stellaron itself
"A perfect mess."
But then—
She noticed something else.
A woman.
Blue-white hair.
Black blindfold.
"…Jingliu."
"Former Sword Champion of the Luofu."
"Jing Yuan's master."
During the third Abundance War—
Even powerful generals fell.
But Jingliu—
Defeated Hoolay and imprisoned him.
"…And there's one more person."
"A familiar face…"
A blond man flashed through her memory.
Astral Express
Welt suddenly stood up.
"Wait—!"
He stared at the screen intensely.
"Who is that?"
March blinked.
"Another acquaintance of yours?"
Himeko sighed.
"…You know too many people."
Welt hesitated.
"…He looks like someone I knew."
"But… probably not."
Chat
Welt Yang: "The person Bella just saw—can you speak?"
Luocha: "Mr. Welt… were you calling me?"
Welt Yang: "…My mistake."
March sighed.
"Does he know everyone in the universe or what?"
Stelle shrugged.
"He's lived too long. Happens."
Back to Bella
Bella ignored Phantylia for now.
Instead—
She walked toward the deepest level of the Shackling Prison.
With a single kick—
The gate shattered.
Inside—
A massive wolf hung bound in chains.
Hoolay.
Bella crushed the chains effortlessly.
"Wake up."
Time resumed for him.
Hoolay looked around in shock.
"…What just happened?"
He didn't remember anything.
One moment—
He was imprisoned.
The next—
Free.
"…Who are you?"
Bella's crimson eyes locked onto him.
"That's irrelevant."
"I freed you."
"And I've prepared something for you."
"A fleet."
"And mechanical creations."
"Go to a world called Teyvat."
"Distract its defenders."
She opened her hand—
A sapling appeared.
Radiating immense life energy.
"…This aura…"
Hoolay trembled.
"…Abundance…?!"
"Correct."
"The Ambrosial Arbor."
Bella had recreated it—
Empowered by multiple Stellarons.
Once planted—
It would grow instantly.
Granting immense regeneration and power.
Even fragments could regenerate.
Hoolay didn't hesitate.
This was a gift from a godlike being.
He boarded the ship—
And departed through a spatial tunnel.
Bella smirked.
"Let's see how long they can hold out."
"While I send her into Teyvat."
"If she enters Mara…"
"She'll slaughter plenty."
"Even if Aerin revives them…"
"It'll disgust him."
Then—
She turned toward Jingliu.
But she didn't realize—
At that exact moment—
Something changed.
Teyvat — Inazuma
A flash of pale violet light.
A fox-eared girl opened her eyes.
"…Wasn't I dead?"
"…Where is this place?"
Surrounded by falling sakura petals—
She stood in confusion.
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