After pursuing their targets for a while longer, Qiu Bai and the others once again encountered Abyss Mages and Ruin Guards.
Lumine was just about to charge forward when Qiu Bai stopped her with one hand.
"Leave it to me."
He smiled slightly, then raised a single finger toward the enemies.
A strange black aura surrounded his fingertip, and in an instant, he flicked his finger through the air more than ten times, leaving behind afterimages.
The Ruin Guards and Abyss Mages collapsed all at once, as if their energy and very souls had been drained away in an instant.
Dainsleif watched in shock.
"Yes! With Qiu Bai around, everything's so much easier!"
"Let's go check it out!"
Paimon stomped her foot excitedly before flying ahead. Qiu Bai ignored Dainsleif's stunned gaze and simply followed.
Lumine ran forward as well, while Dainsleif, still processing what he had just witnessed, slowly walked after them.
…
"Huh… There are strange symbols floating around the Abyss Mage's body."
"Is this Khaenri'ahn script?"
Paimon clasped her hands behind her back, tilting her head curiously as she looked at Dainsleif.
"I'm reading it…"
Dainsleif rested his chin on one hand, studying the characters.
"'Use the enemy's faith as fuel.'"
"'Glory to His Highness, the noble Prince.'"
His frown deepened as he muttered the words.
"…Wait, is that what's written in the letter?"
Paimon asked, confused.
Dainsleif ignored her question, continuing to analyze the Abyss Mage's markings.
"'The Loom of Fate. The Primordial Project.'"
"The Abyss… seems to be carrying out a plan, and the key term is 'Loom of Fate.'"
He turned to face the group, explaining briefly before shifting his focus back to the Abyss Mage.
"It appears to still be in its early stages."
"Or rather, they're conducting their initial experiments."
Dainsleif stroked his chin in thought.
"Loom of Fate? What's that supposed to mean?"
"Like… a machine that literally weaves fate?"
Paimon waved her hands, puzzled.
"Could it be related to the inverted statue?"
Lumine spoke softly, her expression contemplative.
"Oh! Now that you mention it, that eerie ruin we saw does seem like it could be connected to this plan."
"So, Dainsleif, what exactly does the letter say?"
Paimon turned back to him, eager for answers.
"I'm still reading…"
"…It's an outlandish plan, and some parts are difficult to comprehend."
Dainsleif muttered, eyes scanning the strange purple symbols floating around the Abyss Mage.
"What is it?"
Paimon urged him to continue.
"To summarize in a single sentence—"
"The Abyss Order's preliminary plan involves the Archon of the Vortex, Osial."
"…Osial? You mean that sea monster?"
Paimon yelped in surprise.
"But wait—didn't the Immortal Lord of Yin and Yang cut Osial down with a single strike?"
Lumine glanced at Dainsleif, then at Qiu Bai.
"Now that I think about it, Osial has already fallen."
"What could the Abyss Order possibly want with it?"
Paimon turned to Qiu Bai, then back to Dainsleif.
"Perhaps they intend to use Osial's severed limbs…"
"Or the remnants of its divine essence for something."
Dainsleif mused aloud, still uncertain.
"They started with the kin of gods, and now they're moving onto ancient Archons?"
"Their ambitions just keep growing."
Paimon waved a hand dramatically.
"It's not just about altering willpower. They want to use Ruin Guard technology—"
"And the divine power of Meleaus to completely transform Osial's remaining body parts."
Dainsleif furrowed his brow, deep in thought.
"…Meleaus' divine power?!"
"But… how do they plan on obtaining the power of that god?"
Paimon's jaw dropped as she stared at Dainsleif, then turned to Qiu Bai, utterly dumbfounded.
"My divine power?"
"…Could it be that since I completely obliterated Osial, they no longer have enough of its remains to create a mechanical Archon?"
Qiu Bai rubbed his chin, considering the possibility.
"The letter states that they intend to make a deal with that deity."
"This is the final step of their plan—and the most dangerous one."
Dainsleif's expression darkened.
He never expected him to attempt a transaction with one of the most powerful gods in existence.
"Meleaus is the only deity in Teyvat completely unconnected to Celestia."
"Perhaps that's why the Abyss Order wants to negotiate with him."
Dainsleif muttered as he stared at the strange script once more.
"…A god unconnected to Celestia?"
"But wait, didn't all the victorious Archons in the Archon War receive their Gnosis from Celestia?"
Paimon's eyes widened in disbelief.
"How could there be a—"
"A god with no ties to Celestia?!"
She clamped a hand over her mouth before turning to Qiu Bai, still unable to process the revelation.
"But that's the truth."
"That god—Meleaus—"
"Has absolutely no connection to Celestia."
Dainsleif turned to Paimon and confirmed the statement.
Lumine, too, looked baffled as she stared at Qiu Bai.
"…Why are you looking at me? I'm not Meleaus."
Qiu Bai's mouth twitched as he looked between Lumine and Paimon, who were both staring at him with suspicion.
He awkwardly rubbed his nose.
"When this is over, I need to interrogate Qiu Bai properly."
Lumine clenched her fist, making a mental note.
Paimon also studied Qiu Bai curiously. If he truly was one of Teyvat's deities…
Then where did his Gnosis come from?
"And the Abyss Order's plan…"
"Are they trying to create—"
"The ultimate killing machine—
A Mechanical Archon of the Depths?!"
Paimon's eyes nearly popped out of her head.
"…That nickname just keeps getting longer."
"But honestly, it does sound about right."
Lumine glanced at Paimon, nodding in agreement.
"Yes. According to the letter, they intend to place the 'Eye' into the hands of the inverted, defiled statue."
"Combined with the power of the God of Yin and Yang, this would grant the newly-born corrupt Archon the strength to challenge Celestia itself."
Dainsleif explained, his tone grave.
"…Celestia. The throne of the gods…"
Lumine muttered, struggling to process the enormity of it.
"Ugh… This plan they're scheming…"
"It's on an unimaginable scale."
Paimon held her head, overwhelmed.
"Well, if no one knows where the world's first Ruin Guard is hidden…"
"Then maybe… we should start by investigating the defiled statue instead?"
Paimon suggested, turning to Dainsleif.