Xilonen asked, "Is it just Angie who's come, or is the Captain with her too?"
The messenger replied, "The Captain is here! And... the other Captain from last time is also with them!"
Xilonen frowned deeply and turned to Mavuika. "You've lost your power. You can't face the Captain directly again. We can't afford to lose you."
Mavuika shook her head. "Calm down, Xilonen. They might not be here to cause trouble."
Xilonen, initially tense, considered Mavuika's words and realized another possibility. Still, she remained wary.
Noticing Xilonen's gaze, Lumine gave a reassuring nod.
With me here, nothing will go wrong!
As Mavuika led the group out, they saw The Captain and Angie waiting for them.
It was still at the entrance of the Stadium of the Sacred Flame, and it was still The Captain and Angie.
But this time, The Captain's purpose was no longer to seize a Gnosis.
"There's no need to be tense. We're here to seek cooperation," The Captain said, his magnetic voice completely reassuring the still-nervous group.
Behind The Captain, Angie winked at Paimon, who gave her a thumbs-up in return.
Mavuika's Sun-like eyes fixed on The Captain, her divine aura of authority and composure putting everyone at ease.
She nodded slightly, her voice calm. "Cooperation? It seems the Traveler's message carried significant weight. This isn't a suitable place for discussion. Follow me."
The Captain and Angie followed Mavuika into the Speaker's Chamber.
During the exchange, Ishkab and Angie's eyes met, both their faces registering surprise and realization.
She also possesses a Pure Soul...
The thought struck them simultaneously, while the players' game screens lingered on their five-second-long gaze. They exchanged brief nods as a silent acknowledgment.
-
[ Live Stream ]
[ Epic Meeting of Two Pure Souls! ]
[ They seem to have something to say, but they've already communicated everything with a single glance. ]
[ Last time it was Rola and Qingge, right? Hmm... and Qingge and Angie too... ]
[ You all have to stay alive! ]
-
Speaker's Chamber
Mavuika: "What kind of cooperation are you seeking?"
The Captain: "This is the optimal choice after weighing the pros and cons, Mavuika. The Abyss's threat level far exceeds my previous estimations. Individual plans are meaningless in the face of such an overwhelming qualitative difference. Continuing to act alone would be tantamount to suicide and would accelerate Natlan's demise."
He cut straight to the core, his words concise and direct: "After comprehensive consideration, I've decided to abandon my own plan. However, until the Traveler's plan is implemented, your plan must continue to be executed."
"Finding the remaining two Heroes, awakening them, and uniting all of Natlan's power is currently the most effective way to combat the Abyss."
Xilonen's wariness softened slightly, though it didn't vanish entirely. "So, what exactly does this cooperation entail?"
"Intelligence sharing, military support, and..."
The Captain's gaze swept over Mavuika:
"Since we're collaborating toward a common goal, there will be no secrets between us."
"Within my capabilities, I will assist you in swiftly locating the final two Heroes and combating the Abyss. The Fatui Vanguard can infiltrate more dangerous areas for search and clearance operations, far more efficiently than your current limited manpower."
"Furthermore, I will provide you with all the information I possess regarding the Abyss's corruption nodes, enabling you to assess the situation more accurately and avoid unnecessary losses."
His proposal was practical and immensely enticing.
This was precisely what Natlan desperately lacked—efficient operational capacity and a broader intelligence network.
With the Abyss already launching attacks against the Six Great Tribes, tribal warriors were stationed along their respective defense lines. Simply put, they were critically short on personnel.
Mavuika and Xilonen exchanged glances, both seeing agreement in each other's eyes.
This was exactly what they desperately needed.
Mavuika stepped forward, her gaze burning with intensity. "Your assistance is crucial. Natlan will never forget this timely act of kindness. Xilonen and your people will finalize the specific information exchange and task assignments as soon as possible."
She paused, then added with the same sincerity, "Similarly, all the information we currently possess regarding the Abyss's activity patterns, the defensive arrangements of the Six Great Tribes, and other relevant intelligence will be fully disclosed to you. Only with symmetrical information can we achieve maximum synergy."
This was a true exchange of equals, not a one-sided act of giving and receiving.
The Captain nodded. "Reasonable. Angie will serve as our liaison. She has the highest authority and can handle all matters directly."
Seeing the most critical obstacle cleared, Mavuika finally revealed her first slightly relaxed expression of the day. Though still weary, her tense shoulders loosened slightly.
She turned to The Captain and said solemnly, "Welcome to our alliance. Your strength and intelligence are precisely the aid Natlan urgently needs right now."
Mavuika extended her hand.
The Captain gazed at her outstretched hand, then reciprocated, clasping her hand in a firm grip.
The hands of a God and a Harbinger briefly clasped, symbolizing Natlan's united strength against the Abyss. After numerous twists and turns, their true integration had finally begun.
"The alliance is forged," Mavuika declared, her voice resolute as she withdrew her hand.
The group immediately began discussing the specific execution plan, troop deployments, and the Abyss's primary attack points.
-
With the main business settled, the tense atmosphere in the room rapidly dissipated.
Paimon let out a long sigh and spun in a circle mid-air. "Great! It's so much better not having to fight! I was so nervous earlier, I didn't even dare to breathe loudly!"
Her words drew smiles from everyone.
Lumine's lips curved slightly upward as she nodded politely to The Captain and Angie.
Watching the group exchange information, Paimon patted her little belly and leaned in to whisper in Lumine's ear:
"Even though the atmosphere still feels a bit serious... I feel so much more at ease now! With The Captain's help, finding the last two Heroes will definitely be faster, right?"
Heroes, huh...
Perhaps Mavuika knew who the most likely candidates were, but without their awakening, she couldn't reveal anything in advance.
The spark of hope hadn't been extinguished; on the contrary, it burned even brighter with the addition of this unexpected, formidable ally.
The road ahead remained arduous, but with more companions fighting side by side, they could illuminate more of the path.
Lumine turned her head and saw Ishkab and Angie, who had just finished speaking, already engaged in conversation.
It was strange—the two had never met before...
-
Inside the System Space, Jiang Mumu calculated that the Abyss would launch its first large-scale assault in just seven days.
This Abyss originated from Teyvat, not Jiang Mumu's own.
However, the distinction hardly mattered. Jiang Mumu's own Abyss was also preparing to attack, but before that could happen, her alter ego's plans had to be executed first.