"To the Abyss, these seven Pure Souls are their coveted 'ultimate sustenance.' Devouring even a single Pure Soul would trigger a qualitative leap in the Abyss's power, not only greatly strengthening Abyss Monsters but potentially prematurely awakening the most terrifying entities deep within the Abyss or completely corrupting the world's boundaries."
"At the same time, by consuming us, they can twist this purity into the most terrifying dark nourishment, achieving their goals and simultaneously breaking the seals the Ancient God placed on the Abyss's pathways."
"Now that the Heavenly Principles slumber and only the Ruler of Death remains active among the Four Shades, the Abyss first tainted the fragment of the Goddess they stole, then used it as a foundation to continuously amass Abyss Energy, forging an immensely powerful Abyssal Consciousness Entity. Her strength is overwhelming; if the seal were to be broken directly, Teyvat's current forces would be utterly unable to resist."
After revealing these secrets, Silaya's heavy tone lightened slightly:
"But there's no need for excessive worry. After sealing the Abyss passage, most of the Goddess's power and fractured consciousness fell into a deep slumber, and her slumbering place lies on Teyvat."
"When the seven Pure Souls converge, they may guide you to the Goddess's slumbering place or awaken a portion of her power."
"Lumine, I remember you carry a sword—a blade imbued with the soul of a dear friend. This is something the Abyss has no use for, our last vestige of reason. To resist the Abyss, please safeguard it well. My own soul has already been lost; the Abyss will never claim my Pure Soul."
"But you can. Pure Souls share a subtle connection. I sense that three others have already ended their lives, making me the fourth."
"To save Chu Xi, wield this sword. We will reside within its blade, accompanying you on your journey. Fear not its durability—as long as we endure, it will remain unbreakable."
Lumine extended her right hand, and the Unrelenting Will materialized, faintly radiating crimson, gold, and azure light.
The moment Lumine drew the sword, Venti and Zhongli's gazes snapped toward her.
When the children of their nations passed away, their families pleaded with their respective gods to transfer fragments of their souls into longswords. Did those souls, like this one from Sumeru, also awaken fragments of memory or develop some kind of preternatural intuition?
Perhaps that's why they preserved their souls through this method.
Lumine remained silent, knowing that Silaya currently lacked the ability to communicate. Due to Irminsul's deletion mechanism, the Silaya they were seeing now was merely a pre-recorded projection set up long ago.
Otherwise, it would have been impossible to bypass Irminsul's authority and appear in Teyvat.
Silaya: "Girls with Pure Souls are destined for tragic fates. The Abyss will stop at nothing to find and capture us, making our lives perpetually fraught with danger and secrecy."
"I cannot speak for others, but I can share my own perspective. I am an orphan, without parents. I roamed the streets of Sumeru from a very young age until Brother Kaveh found me, helped me, and kept me from starving to death."
"It was Teacher Alhaitham who taught me, introducing me to knowledge. I was born and raised in Sumeru, benefiting from the kindness of many Sumerans. Lord Kusanali even accompanied me since I was a child. I will forever cherish these acts of kindness in my heart."
Nahida tilted her head back, tears streaming from her large green eyes. The feeling was strikingly similar to the inexplicable tears that had flowed when they rescued Rukkhadevata.
So it really is you... I had forgotten you. I shouldn't have forgotten you...
Silaya continued, speaking to herself, "If it means saving all of Teyvat, I'm willing to give everything I have. This is my own choice, not something forced upon me."
"Though I can't speak for the others, I sense that if they were here, they would make the same choice."
"So, Lumine, use our power. Don't feel guilty. I believe in you."
With these words, a relieved smile bloomed on Silaya's weary face. Wandering the Abyss beyond Teyvat's borders was far more agonizing than fighting alongside Lumine within her sword.
Silaya's body dissolved into shimmering starlight, drifting toward Lumine.
Understanding her intent, Lumine tightened her grip on Unrelenting Will.
The starlight slowly flowed into the blade. Once fully absorbed, the sword erupted in a vibrant green glow, engulfing the entire blade. Then, the light receded, merging with the original three colors to occupy a distinct segment of the sword's blade.
-
Outside the game:
A screen popped up on the game interface, displaying the Unrelenting Will.
Unrelenting Will: This weapon contains a fragment of your four companions' souls. By carrying them with you on your journey, you may find yourself less alone.
Special Effect: When the Traveler uses Pyro, Hydro, Geo, or Dendro Elemental Energy, their Attack is increased by an additional 800.
Chen Xiyao: Another Pure Soul fragment added. So this is how they're returning? I thought Silaya would be missing...
[ I really admire her. Not only did she save Rukkhadevata, but she also prevented the Abyss from claiming her soul. She even ensured she wouldn't be absent from the final convergence of the seven souls. ]
[ Speaking of which, can the seven souls only converge through death? ]
[ Absolutely not. They just need to stand together. ]
[ Pure Souls resonate with each other, so why did Angie and Qingge fight so fiercely at first?]
-
Sanctuary of Surasthana
The group gazed at the longsword for a long time. Finally, Venti spoke first.
"Old Man, we've finally gotten results from our investigation. Since she shared this information with us, we can't let her down, can we?"
Zhongli's amber eyes gazed upward, as if he could see through the Sanctuary's dome to the floating island suspended in the sky.
Having lived for over six thousand years, he knew many secrets, but this was the first time he had ever heard of the Goddess Silaya had mentioned. Still, it made sense—that era predated the arrival of the Heavenly Principles by an even more distant age.
Zhongli glanced at Rukkhadevata. Their eyes met, and both understood each other's intentions.
Rukkhadevata: "Traveler, where are you headed next?"
Lumine sheathed the longsword and replied, "Fontaine. We still have some unfinished business there, then we'll head to Natlan."
Rukkhadevata: "Very well. Proceed according to your plan. For the next while, Morax, Barbatos, and I will be leaving our respective nations temporarily. If you need to contact us, you can reach out to Nahida."
Venti: "If things get urgent, remember the flower I gave you!"