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Irminsul, the World Tree of Teyvat.
Nahida gazed through tearful eyes at the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata before her—who looked exactly the same as herself—her heart filled with unbearable sorrow.
As she saw the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata preparing to erase her existence completely from the Irminsul, Nahida hurriedly tried to stop her. "But… but I really don't want to forget you!"
Her voice trembled with sobs, and tears rolled down her cheeks like broken pearls.
Just as the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata was about to respond, she suddenly sensed something of great importance, her body jolting violently.
Her once-serene expression turned grave in an instant. Her beautiful eyes widened slightly, and she suddenly shouted, "Not good!"
Startled by the sudden outburst, Nahida trembled from head to toe and instinctively asked, "Wha… what's wrong? Did something happen?"
The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, yet her face still looked deeply troubled. Slowly, she said, "I just sensed something. The presence of the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles has vanished."
Nahida's eyes widened in shock and fear.
Her lips quivered as she stammered, "Wha… what? You mean… is it dead?"
Nahida's heart leapt to her throat, while Lumine and Paimon's hearts eased slightly—perhaps the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles had been killed by Shao Yun.
If it were anyone else, Lumine and Paimon wouldn't have believed it. But Shao Yun—somehow, it felt entirely possible.
The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata gently shook her head and explained gravely, "No, it shouldn't be death. My sense tells me it's more like falling into a slumber—just like the Heavenly Principles itself."
Nahida's heart relaxed a little, but Lumine and Paimon's hearts tensed again—did that mean Shao Yun might be in grave danger instead?
The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata then softly lifted her hand and tenderly wiped away the crystalline tears on Nahida's cheeks.
After wiping her tears, the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata gazed at Nahida with eyes full of endless gentleness and compassion. Her voice was as soft as a whisper in the wind. "While I still have a little consciousness left, before this world forgets me entirely, let me offer one final piece of strength to it."
As soon as she finished speaking, strange ripples suddenly spread throughout the interior of the Irminsul.
Moments later, countless Aranara began emerging endlessly from unknown sources!
Every single Aranara from the entire rainforest of Sumeru had gathered here.
Among them, the most eye-catching was Aranakula.
It was the first to fly before Nahida and the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, bowing respectfully before greeting them, "Honorable Lord of Dendro… and Lord of the Trees?!"
Faced with this sudden appearance, Nahida's eyes widened in confusion as she stared at the arriving Aranara, urgently asking, "Aranakula? Why are you here?"
Hearing Nahida's question, the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata sighed lightly before explaining slowly, "There is both good news and bad news. Let's start with the good—the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles has mended the rift that tore the heavens. However…"
She paused, her expression growing more somber by the second, then continued, "The calamity caused by the Devil and its dealer has done too much harm."
"The ecology of the Sumeru rainforest has been catastrophically damaged. To restore it completely will take at least a hundred years."
Aranakula spoke softly, "We have come for the sake of the rainforest. Lord of Dendro, Lord of the Trees, it is our greatest honor to see you both one last time before we fade."
When Nahida heard the words 'fade away', her body stiffened as if struck by lightning, her face turning pale.
"Does that mean… to restore the rainforest, you must sacrifice yourselves?"
Before she could finish speaking, tears poured down Nahida's face once again. Desperate, she pleaded, "No! Aranara, please don't do this—there must be another way…"
Seeing her anguish, Aranakula quickly stepped forward to comfort her gently. "Please don't be sad, Lord of Dendro. Though we will lose our strength and forget all our memories, returning to mere tiny seeds…"
"Believe us—someday, we will take root again, grow strong once more, and write new, beautiful stories of our own."
Before Nahida could respond, the tall, compassionate figure of the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata began to blur, and in the next instant, she turned into countless emerald leaves drifting down like a beautiful, sorrowful rain of green.
At the same time, the surrounding Aranara also began to change, one by one transforming into leaves themselves, following the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata into the wind.
Nahida's heart felt as though it were being torn apart. She reached out, trying to grasp the falling leaves, but it was all in vain.
She called out their names—the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's and the Aranara's—but her cries went unanswered.
…
Inside the Sanctuary of Surasthana, Nahida, Lumine, and Paimon slowly awakened from their deep communion with the Irminsul.
They opened their eyes. What had transpired within the Irminsul now felt like a long and heavy dream.
Nahida looked down at her trembling hands, tears streaming endlessly from her eyes.
She choked out, "I feel like I've forgotten something. But I remember… all the Aranara sacrificed themselves."
"I finally understand the price that Devil spoke of—the price I had to pay. I've forgotten something precious… and I've lost the Aranara… no…"
Nahida's voice broke into sobs, her sorrow spreading through the entire sanctuary.
At that heartbreaking moment, the great doors of the Sanctuary of Surasthana were suddenly thrown open with a heavy thud.
Shao Yun stood in the doorway.
"Well, well, well—looks like I arrived just in time? When I came back, I saw the air outside had cleared, the rainforest thriving again, and the sky restored."
Speaking as he walked, Shao Yun strode quickly toward Nahida.
Nahida stared at him through tearful eyes, taking several moments to recover before asking in disbelief, "Shao Yun? You… you survived the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles?"
When Lumine saw Shao Yun standing there unharmed, her heart began pounding uncontrollably.
Then, overwhelming joy surged through her, washing away all traces of sadness.
Before she could even think, she ran toward Shao Yun.
Finally, she threw herself into his warm embrace.
Her arms wrapped tightly around his waist, her head buried deep in his solid chest.
Feeling her sudden closeness, Shao Yun shuddered slightly before gently placing his hands on her delicate back.
Lifting her head, Lumine looked at him through tears of joy and said, "You're safe… that's all that matters."
Shao Yun softly stroked her silky hair, then leaned close to her ear and whispered, "We need to go now. Don't ask why."
At those words, Lumine froze. The bright smile on her face stiffened.
She turned slightly, her gaze darting toward Nahida standing silently nearby, then back to Shao Yun, lowering her voice in confusion. "What's going on? Did something happen?"
But Shao Yun offered no explanation—only two cold words: "Be obedient."
Still overwhelmed with relief at his safe return, Lumine didn't question further.
After a brief pause, she nodded. "Alright… I don't know why, but I'll listen to you."
As Shao Yun took her hand and motioned for Paimon to follow, a tearful, furious voice rang out behind them.
"You bastard!"
The shout was unmistakably aimed at Shao Yun.
Though Shao Yun's patience with the Archons had been worn thin by the Sustainer and Venti, he'd always held back—out of respect for Nahida.
But now, hearing her lash out without cause…
Shao Yun stopped abruptly, then turned around, glaring at Nahida—who stood there crying yet defiant—and hissed through clenched teeth, "What did you just say? Say that again."
Sniffling hard, Nahida somehow found the courage to meet his killing gaze and shouted, "I said you're a bastard!"
Hearing her repeat it, Shao Yun's temper exploded.
So, you've forgotten the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata and really think you're the first Dendro Archon now?
Shao Yun roared, "Wow, seriously? You've got the nerve to call me a bastard?"
Crying, Nahida screamed back, "It's because of you! You agreed to that Devil's help so easily, and now all of Sumeru suffered for it!"
"The Aranara had to clean up your mess, one after another—they all… they all…"
Her voice broke off in uncontrollable sobs.
Shao Yun nearly laughed aloud but took a deep breath, forcing himself to respond evenly.
"Nahida, seriously? This happened because of your cowardice!"
"Look at yourself—you're always hesitating, afraid of everything, never decisive."
"I told you everything I knew! You saw that Devil with your own eyes!"
"At that time, I risked worsening my condition just to pass crucial information to you immediately!"
His anger rose higher and higher as he continued.
"And what happened next? You claimed you had a plan in Aaru Village—fine, I believed you. You didn't want me involved, fine, I agreed. You brought Lumine instead, fine! But in the end, you failed! Rahman died, and you were imprisoned!"
Shao Yun's fury finally broke loose. "And now you have the gall to blame me? Nahida, ask yourself whose fault this really is!"
Nahida covered her mouth, sobbing helplessly.
Normally, Shao Yun would never speak so harshly to a child.
But Nahida wasn't an innocent child—she was five hundred years old!
That thought only fueled his rage further. Pointing straight at her nose, he shouted, "Don't forget—if it weren't for me, that Scaramouche would've become a god already! And you? You'd be locked away forever, maybe even dead!"
"And now you dare call me a bastard? You're the real bastard here!"
As Shao Yun's shouting grew louder, Paimon looked nervously at Lumine, who returned the same worried glance.
Their eyes met—they both silently wished the other would intervene.
After a long hesitation, Lumine sighed softly.
She reached out and gently tugged on Shao Yun's sleeve. "Shao Yun… aren't you being a little too harsh on Nahida?"
Shao Yun would never yell at Lumine. Hearing her voice, he gestured toward Nahida and shouted even louder, "Too harsh? Hell no! I'm going easy on her! She's nothing more than a gardener of Irminsul—at best, a librarian! Actually, Lisa's better than her!"
After venting his anger, Shao Yun felt he had said everything he needed to.
He waved his hand dismissively, grabbed Lumine's hand, and started walking toward the door.
As they walked, he muttered, "Come on, let's get out of here. The Sustainer fixed the skies, the Aranara fixed the rainforest. We've done our part."
Paimon looked back at Nahida—who stood frozen like a lost soul—and whispered softly, "Poor Nahida…"
Thinking Paimon was just being sentimental again, Shao Yun said, "We've got urgent things to discuss. And pity? There are plenty of pitiful people in this world."
Lumine glanced at Paimon, tugged her hand gently, and whispered, "Alright, Paimon, let's go. Maybe… she just needs some time to calm down."
…
Shao Yun, Lumine, and Paimon left the Sanctuary of Surasthana.
Night had fallen quietly over the land. The three of them looked up at the sky—countless stars glittered like scattered pearls upon a vast, black tapestry.
A wide river of light, the Milky Way, stretched across the heavens, shimmering with a mysterious, enchanting glow.
After so much turmoil, Sumeru had finally regained its peace.
The apocalyptic destruction that had once terrified all had vanished like a nightmare.
What replaced it was this calm, serene beauty—tranquil and pure.
The air was thick with the fragrance of plants and earth, the unique scent of nature itself, washing away the acrid sulfur and suffocating ash from before.