"You all know this—the Gnosis, within its designated domain, acts like a rivet, securing the entire world."
"To put it in terms you can all understand: with your Gnosis in your own hands, the regions you govern become more stable, less prone to the stagnation of ley lines, and more resistant to the Abyss's corruption."
"..."
Kiana didn't even glance at the despondent Barnabas, instead looking at The Seven with a hint of amusement.
"And then... you all gave them away."
Barbatos looked somewhat awkward.
Morax remained silent.
Beelzebul instinctively protested, "My Gnosis wasn't lost."
She didn't recall handing her Gnosis over to anyone else.
Yae Miko... surely she's kept it safe, right?
Morax and Barbatos nearly failed to hold back their reactions.
The Heavenly Principles had made it clear from the start—aside from the Pyro Archon's Gnosis, all the others had been gathered by the Tsaritsa. So you mean to tell us you didn't catch any of that?
Kiana also looked at the earnest, rustic girl with amusement.
But she didn't press her.
Instead, she turned her gaze to Nahida.
"Every time the Irminsul experiences an anomaly—especially when it's used to alter the entire world—it consumes the world's fundamental essence."
"Do you understand?"
Kiana spoke calmly.
"The more things are affected, the more discordant elements arise, and the conflicts born from these changes grow increasingly intense."
"All of this... is a form of consumption."
Nahida seemed to want to speak, but hesitated.
"I..."
"Would you like to guess how much time you've shaved off Teyvat by tampering with Irminsul not once, but twice?" Kiana looked down at the petite, shuttlecock-like figure.
However, compared to Nahida herself, the other Archons—especially Morax, Beelzebul, and Barbatos—were staring in sheer horror. Their reactions were far more intense.
Irminsul was tampered with? Twice?
What the hell!
When did that happen?!
If the situation weren't so dire, they would've already confronted Nahida.
You're just a custodian, not the owner—who gave you the right to do such things?
And according to the Heavenly Principles, every use of Irminsul hastens the world's end. Are you trying to drag the entire world down with you?
Damn it!
The Seven had no reason to doubt Kiana's words. Her power was overwhelmingly, irrationally strong. Even if she said nothing, they were powerless against her.
Precisely because she held their lives in her hands so effortlessly, there was no need for her to deceive them.
Moreover, they were already in the wrong. Punishing them—or even executing them—would be entirely justified.
The fact that she was explaining anything at all was an act of mercy.
The good news: they probably wouldn't die too horribly.
The bad news: this was utterly nerve-wracking!
"But... I only recall altering Irminsul once..." Nahida hesitated, her voice timid.
Morax was already in despair.
Was the number of times really the point?
The real issue was that you, as the guardian, stole from your own charge and abused your authority!
He remembered Buer being quite clever in the past—how had she become so foolish?
"Your first alteration... let's set that aside for now, as there were mitigating circumstances."
Kiana gazed directly at Nahida, her tone subdued.
"But the second time—the one you remember—do you truly believe what you did was right?"
"I..." Nahida wanted to say that her brilliant wisdom surely couldn't have led her astray.
But under Kiana's gaze, she found herself unable to speak.
Struck dumb.
Kiana then turned her attention to Furina.
"Playing the part of the Hydro Archon, huh..."
"Y-yes, I'm sorry!" Furina prostrated herself, as if she'd rehearsed this countless times.
Kiana sighed. "You lost the Gnosis, the Hydro Archon's Throne is gone, and when disaster strikes Fontaine in the future, don't claim innocence."
"Had I not already purged the Abyss entirely, even the Hydro Sovereign, with all his authority, wouldn't be able to safeguard a nation alone."
"..."
Barbatos, Morax, and Beelzebul looked at Furina, speechless.
They were numb.
How is it that each new generation of Archons is more troublesome than the last?
Lord Heavenly Principles, didn't you leave something out?
With the Hydro Archon—the heart of the Primordial Sea—gone, are you sure Teyvat can still be saved?
So the Hydro Archon, for the sake of her own nation, dragged the entire world down with her?
Wait a minute...
The Hydro Archon's throne is gone.
So this 'Hydro Archon'... is actually human?
The other Archons weren't unaware of Fontaine's prophecy, but they never imagined this was how it was resolved.
Even without knowing the full story, with the insight gained over centuries, Morax and the others could guess enough to feel even more dismayed.
How utterly embarrassing!
Furina didn't know the full extent of Focalors' plan.
Even if she wanted to refute the claims, she couldn't.
Should she say that if the prophecy wasn't resolved, everyone in Fontaine would have died?
But to put it bluntly, every Archon present would agree: better for Fontaine to perish completely than for it to be prolonged at the cost of dragging everyone else to their doom!
If what Kiana says is true, you could even say that the extra time Fontaine bought was donated by the other nations. They could have endured much longer, but now... who knows how much shorter their time has become.
This is just...
Morax and Barbatos grew more speechless the more they thought about it.
They felt a profound despair.
The Dendro Archon, guardian of Irminsul, stealing from her own charge.
The Hydro Archon gone, leaving behind a complete mess.
The Cryo Archon collecting the Gnoses, drastically weakening the other nations' fortunes—fine, but then she plans to wage war against the Heavenly Principles and even tear open the False Sky?
The enemy outside is already struggling to find a way in, and you're quietly playing the traitor, showing them the path?
You—no, all of you!
Whether it's Nibelung, or Khaenri'ah, or you, Barnabas!
Teyvat is truly blessed to have you all!
Barbatos and Morax, as two of the original Archons, knew a bit more.
In the past, there was no need to offer up allogenes to Celestia as kindling, to fuel the flames that sustain the world.
But later, it became necessary.
And now, even if the whole world were sacrificed, it might still be beyond saving.
Aren't we already at the end of the road?!
"Lord Heavenly Principles... surely you have a solution?"
Barbatos offered an uneasy smile.
Noticing Asmoday staring coldly at him, he quickly pledged his loyalty.
"If there's anything I can do, I'll do it! Even if it means sacrificing me, I'm willing!"
"Good. Then you shall be sacrificed."Kiana watched Barbatos with keen interest.
Barbatos laughed awkwardly.
"But surely... I can still be of some use, don't you think? Lord Heavenly Principles."
Kiana ignored him.
She fell silent.
Her calm gaze swept over the assembled Archons.
An invisible pressure began to spread.
The slight easing of tension from moments ago vanished, replaced by a suffocating weight.
The Seven began to sweat again.
Their foreheads once more touched the floor.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
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