The people of Mondstadt looked up at the enormous explosion in the sky, fear spreading across every face.
Many were convinced their end had come.
Yet—
Inside the Knights of Favonius confinement room, a red-clad girl stared at the sky with sparkling eyes, her expression filled not with fear—
—but awe and longing.
...
...
With the crisis finally over, Venti let out a long breath.
"Th–That scared me to death…"
He could survive an explosion like that—but there were others here.
And he definitely hadn't planned on killing Dvalin.
Cael shook his hand, looking puzzled.
"Strange… I didn't even break the crystal. How did he recover?"
Indeed—
the Abyssal corruption was completely gone, yet the crystal on Dvalin's back remained intact.
Dvalin looked at Cael and replied quietly:
"I was scared into recovery."
"…What exactly did I do five hundred years ago?" Cael muttered.
Dvalin, now fully restored in both mind and memory, stared at him—
Then suddenly recoiled in terror.
"AGAREST?! You're still alive?!"
Only now did it truly register that the Dark Demon God—
supposedly dead for five centuries—
was standing right in front of him.
Venti sighed.
"He revived. Now we need to deal with the aftermath."
He looked at Cael seriously.
"You don't want your identity exposed, right? What's the plan?"
Cael nodded.
"I've got one. Dvalin—lie down."
A plan had already formed in his mind.
Dvalin muttered under his breath:
"…You didn't used to call me that."
Still, he obediently lowered himself.
Cael walked over to the unconscious Lumine, hoisted her onto his shoulder with one hand, and picked up her Dull Blade with the other.
Calmly, he moved behind Dvalin and drove the blade straight into the crystal.
"THAT HURTS!!" Dvalin complained.
Cael ignored him.
He placed Lumine's hand on the sword hilt, arranging it carefully—
As if she had delivered the final blow.
After setting the stage under the watchful eyes of a god and a dragon, Cael returned to where Paimon lay unconscious.
He looked at Venti.
"Once I fall, wake Lumine. Dvalin—act hurt, then make a dramatic villain exit."
To sell it—
Cael clenched his fist and punched himself hard in the stomach.
"PUAH—!!"
It hurt.
But not much.
"Damn it… I can even go fifty-fifty with myself?" he cursed internally.
Then he collapsed.
Leaving Venti and Dvalin staring at each other.
"…Why is he so good at this?"
"…This isn't his first time."
...
...
Lumine's consciousness returned.
The first thing she saw was herself gripping the Dull Blade, embedded in Dvalin's crystal.
"…Did I succeed?"
Recalling Venti's words, she genuinely believed she had defeated Dvalin.
At that moment, Jean and Diluc also awakened.
They saw Dvalin fallen at Lumine's feet.
"Outstanding, Honorary Knight," Jean said, holding her injured abdomen as she stood.
"You truly saved Mondstadt."
Diluc remained silent.
Something felt… off.
But the outcome was good.
He let it go.
Paimon groaned as she floated up.
"Ugh… did Paimon get hit earlier? My neck hurts…"
Her memory was hazy.
Then—
She remembered.
"CAEL!!"
She looked down at Cael's motionless body and sighed.
"Seriously… you're so weak, why did you even come? Look what happened…"
Yet seeing him not move at all—
Her heart clenched.
"Hey… you big pervert," she said softly, landing beside him.
"You can wake up now, okay? Paimon's awake already…"
No response.
Cael continued playing dead.
Perfectly reasonable—
he was the weakest combatant after all.
Paimon panicked.
She gently patted his face, her voice trembling.
"Cael… stop joking… get up already…"
Cael tilted his head slightly—
Letting a trace of blood trickle from his mouth.
Venti watched from afar, utterly stunned.
"…What the hell, his acting's better than mine."
Paimon froze.
Her bright eyes dulled instantly.
"CAEL!!!"
Everyone turned.
Jean shouted immediately:
"Return to Mondstadt—NOW! He needs treatment!"
Cael's mind screamed:
Oh no. Did I overdo it?
Did I make Paimon cry?!
If I wake up now, this is going to be REALLY awkward—
Then—
The ground collapsed.
Venti's face changed.
"The structure's failing—MOVE!!"
The platform shattered.
Everyone fell—
But Dvalin swooped in and caught them all.
At that moment, Cael "woke up."
"…Phew."
Lumine exhaled in relief.
"I'm glad you're okay."
Jean and Diluc were visibly relieved as well.
Just moments ago, Cael had looked genuinely dead.
Paimon wiped her tears and finally dared approach again.
"You scared us half to death!" she sniffed.
"So—how are you making it up to us?!"
Her eyes were still red.
Cael softened.
"…What would little Paimon like?"
She thought hard.
"…Treat us to a big meal!"
"No problem."
[Achievement Unlocked: High-Quality Acting]
[Bonus Reward: Dark Element Control Proficiency]
[Assisted Traveler in defeating Stormterror]
[New Function Unlocked: Vision Distribution Program]
Information flooded Cael's mind.
After reading through it all, he understood.
The stronger those who held Dark Visions,
the faster his Origin Power would recover.
A powerful system.
Currently, he could only create two Visions.
Enough for now.
When he returned to Liyue, the first Dark Vision would go to Xier.
Using a Delusion forever wasn't ideal.
The second?
He wanted to give it to Teppei.
But his consciousness couldn't yet reach Inazuma.
That would wait.
...
...
As the story progressed, La Signora finally appeared.
Which meant—
This arc was ending.
She froze Paimon instantly, Fatui restraining Lumine.
Cael lay beside Paimon, playing corpse.
Signora sneered.
"Even your allies are this weak. You truly don't deserve to be a god."
"I could wipe everyone here out with a snap."
Venti laughed.
"You're so proud of power borrowed from your master?"
That—
Set her off.
In an instant, she tore out Venti's Gnosis.
"Aiya! I failed!" Venti cried dramatically, collapsing.
Signora glanced at the Gnosis once—
Then left.
...
...
—Daily Reminder—
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