Chapitre 4: The End of Erosion, A Cause for Celebration Among the Archons
"So, the one above has gained the power to counter the Abyss? That seems like good news," Morax remarked after observing the state of Asmoday, the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles.
While Focalors had never seen the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles in person like the first generation of Archons, she was well aware that Celestia was home not only to the Heavenly Principle but also to her Four Shades.
The Sustainer standing before them was undoubtedly one of those Shades.
As the four Archons entered the grand hall, they realized immediately that this was a place meant for the assembly of gods.
Inside the temple, numerous thrones were arranged in a circular formation. At the highest point, on the most magnificent and opulent throne, sat a languid youth. He rested his head on one hand, studying them with an amused expression.
Before Morax and Barbatos could puzzle over the unfamiliar figure on the throne, the youth spoke.
"Greetings, Morax, Barbatos, Baal, and Focalors. The former Heavenly Principle, Phanes, has perished. I am the new Heavenly Principle, Noah."
Noah smiled warmly as he addressed the four Archons standing in the Hall of Gods.
As he spoke, the Primordial Ring of Law materialized behind him in a radiant, seven-colored halo, exuding supreme authority.
The Primordial Ring of Law was the ultimate power governing all the laws of Teyvat, from which even the Archons themselves had been born as fragments.
To the Archons, the Heavenly Principle was an entity that could not be defied.
"The new Heavenly Principle! Phanes is dead?"
The revelation sent shockwaves through the minds of the four gods.
"Yes. Phanes sacrificed herself to protect Teyvat after the Khaenri'ah Cataclysm five hundred years ago. As the Fifth Descender, I inherited the Throne of Heavenly Principles and all of Phanes' power upon my arrival in this world," Noah explained, smiling at their stunned faces.
"Then, do you summon us because you require our strength?" Morax, the eldest of the Archons, was the first to recover from his shock.
That explained everything.
Phanes was gone, and the arrival of a new Heavenly Principle would inevitably bring either renewed vitality or disaster to Teyvat.
The Abyssal power that had once plagued the Sustainer was gone, indicating that the new Heavenly Principle possessed the ability to counter the Abyss.
It made perfect sense that Phanes would have entrusted the Throne of the Heavens to him.
Barbatos exhaled a long sigh of relief. If there was a new Heavenly Principle, there was no chance of being held accountable for his past negligence.
"This isn't something that can be explained in a few words. Please, take your seats. We'll discuss this slowly—this concerns Teyvat's greatest matter of importance," Noah said with a snap of his fingers.
A round table appeared in front of them, surrounded by five magnificent thrones. Each throne bore an elemental sigil corresponding to the respective Archon's identity.
Asmoday seated herself coolly beside Noah.
"If this is about Teyvat's most critical matters, you can count on me, Lord Noah! I'll give my all to the cause," Barbatos declared, patting his chest as he sat in his designated throne.
It was clear that this new Heavenly Principle was different from Phanes, who had been distant and unfeeling. Flattery wouldn't cost him anything, and it might even smooth the way.
"Oh, by the way, Lord Heavenly Principle, why didn't the other three Archons join us for this meeting?" Barbatos asked with feigned innocence.
"Their nations' current situations disqualify them from participating in this conference, so they were not summoned," Noah replied, a playful smile tugging at his lips as he observed Barbatos' wide-eyed, "innocent" expression.
That's exactly the tone I expected from you, Barbatos.
Come to think of it, aren't wind spirits supposed to be genderless? They can take any form they wish... Something to research later.
"Oh, I see," Barbatos replied, his heart sinking as he realized Noah had seen through him.
"So, what exactly is this great matter that requires our presence? Can you explain in detail, Lord Heavenly Principle?" Morax asked calmly.
Ei remained silent, like a soldier awaiting orders, while Focalors fidgeted nervously.
As the Hydro Archon, she lacked the strength of her colleagues, and the gravity of the situation made her uneasy. Could she face a fate similar to her predecessor, Egeria?
"Asmoday, share the information with them," Noah said, tapping the table lightly.
He had already granted Asmoday administrative privileges over the Human Realm Force System, effectively making her a co-moderator in this divine assembly.
Unlike the previous Heavenly Principle, who had used the three systems merely as tools to manage Teyvat, Noah saw their immense potential as the foundation of a self-sustaining divine order.
It was this vision that had inspired him to remodel Celestia into the Hall of Gods, paving the way for a future where his pantheon would outshine even the gods of Greek mythology.
Asmoday transmitted the information, and the reactions were as expected.
The calm and composed Morax, the carefree Barbatos, the reserved Ei, and the anxious Focalors all widened their eyes in shock.
Shock gave way to excitement, and excitement quickly turned to fervor.
"Devouring other worlds to perfect Teyvat! This power is simply unbelievable," Barbatos exclaimed.
Even Phanes, who had created Teyvat, was far from being in the same league as this new Heavenly Principle. The sheer magnitude of Noah's power was unimaginable.
"Indeed, this ability is nothing short of a divine blessing for Teyvat," Morax agreed, his respect for Noah deepening.
At first, he had merely been awed by Noah's inheritance of Phanes' power. Now, he felt genuine reverence for the vision Noah embodied.
This vision—to break free from the false sky and explore the unknown—was what Teyvat's people had always yearned for.
Phanes had punished anyone who dared to pursue such ambitions, fearing the dangers of the unknown, such as forbidden knowledge.
"If you require my strength, use it as you see fit," Ei said, her pale violet eyes burning with fervor. Her hands trembled slightly from excitement.
She saw in this plan a true chance to bring her sister back.
Teyvat lacked the power to resurrect her sister, but what about the other worlds? Surely, the answer lay somewhere among them.
"I am at your service as well," Focalors added, determined to contribute. As Fontaine's god, she had a duty to support Teyvat's advancement.
Perhaps, after proving her worth, she could ask Noah to solve Fontaine's unique predicament, transforming its people into true humans.
If there was another way to save them, she wouldn't have to face death. And she feared death greatly.
"Good. It seems everyone understands the importance of this matter."
Noah smiled as he tapped his finger rhythmically against the table.
A plan to strengthen Teyvat on such a massive scale was irresistible—only traitors and fools would object.
The benefits were undeniable.
"Of course, to ensure the success of this plan and to allow you to fully dedicate yourselves to this grand endeavor, I will adjust Teyvat's laws and provide you with assistance."
"The first measure I'm implementing is to lift the erosion that affects all life in Teyvat. If we want this world to ascend into a stronger existence, the stronger its inhabitants become, the greater the benefits to the world itself."
Noah announced this decision with resolute authority.
"Lifting Erosion!"
For the ancient Archons—Morax, Barbatos, and Ei—this proclamation sent a jolt of excitement through their spirits.
To them, Erosion was the greatest enemy, an affliction that had plagued them for eons.
"Erosion was a rule set by Phanes to maintain the balance of Teyvat. Since Teyvat is a finite world, it couldn't possibly sustain the resources required for its gods to grow indefinitely. The longer gods existed at their peak, the more resources they consumed."
"That's why Phanes created the rule of erosion."
"But now that I've become the Heavenly Principle, this rule is no longer suitable for Teyvat. Instead, it's detrimental and must be abolished."
Noah continued, explaining the logic behind his decision.
Erosion, in essence, was a desperate measure born of Teyvat's inability to sustain itself. Phanes had no way to increase the world's resources, so limiting their depletion was the only option.
When Noah finished speaking, the Primordial Ring of Law behind him emitted a dazzling light, and the rule of erosion was erased from Teyvat.
"This is incredible!"
Barbatos was so overjoyed that he nearly burst into song. Erosion had tormented him endlessly, and another five centuries under its grip would have left even his soul in tatters.
If it had been this unbearable for him, the oldest Archon, Morax, must have suffered even more.
While Barbatos had little interest in increasing his strength, he valued his memories and sanity dearly—they were irreplaceable.
The moment the rule of erosion was lifted, Morax felt an immense weight leave his body.
Though his strength hadn't fully returned yet, it was only a matter of time before he was restored to his prime. Without erosion, beings like Azhdaha and the Yakshas could also return to their former selves.
Morax's gratitude toward the new Heavenly Principle grew immeasurably.
"Now then, you all understand the importance of those three worlds to Teyvat. You're also familiar with the plans for annexing them. Let's discuss who will carry out these tasks."
Noah leaned forward, resting his chin on his hands, radiating the aura of a decisive leader.
He could have issued direct orders, but that would have been boring. He wasn't interested in playing a single-player game.
Besides, his actual age didn't come close to even a fraction of the youngest Archon, Focalors. While his modern, Earthly perspective gave him a broad outlook, he lacked deep expertise.
When it came to practical matters, the Archons were far more capable.
As their "big boss," his role was to outline plans and let the competent people execute them.
"Well… what do you think, old man?" Barbatos glanced at Morax, clearly reluctant to be the first to step up.
Annexing another world was an enormous task, fraught with unpredictable challenges. Barbatos preferred to let someone else take the lead, then learn from their success.
Morax shot Barbatos a calm look before speaking.
"I believe we should annex these worlds in order of strength, starting with the weakest. Teyvat is already riddled with vulnerabilities, and annexing a stronger world could take too much time."
"We are short on time above all else. A weaker world like Demon Slayer's world can be annexed quickly, providing Teyvat with at least a few hundred more years of stability."
"That span of time would be sufficient to annex the other, stronger worlds."
"You're absolutely right, old man. I was thinking the same thing. And, between the three of us, Inazuma is the best fit to execute the plan," Barbatos added, shifting his gaze toward Ei.
"Why?" Ei asked, puzzled.
Focalors tilted her head at Ei's confusion. "Because Inazuma's culture aligns closely with that world's beliefs. It would be much easier for Inazuma to replace the gods in their myths and establish its authority there."
How could such an obvious point elude an Archon as old as Ei?
"Is that so? Very well, I'll take charge of the Demon Slayer world," Ei agreed, though her heart was filled with unease.
Even with detailed plans in place, she wasn't sure how to portray a god in another world's mythology.
If only my sister were here. She would know exactly what to do.
Still, Ei thought, Yae Miko was clever enough. Entrusting this to her would surely yield results.
"If you need help, just say the word. After all, this concerns the survival of Teyvat," Morax offered, noticing Ei's furrowed brow.
"Exactly. This is a critical step for the future of our world," Barbatos added.
This was an unprecedentedly important endeavor for Teyvat. Even if Inazuma spearheaded the operation, none of them could afford to let their guard down.
"Now that we've made our decision, today's meeting is adjourned. We'll reconvene to discuss the other two worlds once the first is annexed."
Noah announced, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
"Meeting dismissed."
As soon as Barbatos left Celestia, he turned eagerly to Morax.
"Old man, do you think I'm dreaming? This all feels so unreal."
"Shall I help you wake up, Barbatos?" Morax asked, lifting his hand in mock seriousness.
"No, no, no! My delicate frame can't handle one of your slaps, old man," Barbatos replied, wiping nonexistent sweat from his brow.
"This world has undergone a profound change," Morax said, glancing back at Celestia with a sigh.
It seemed his plans to relinquish his role as Geo Archon and hand over Liyue's governance to its people would have to be abandoned.
The new Heavenly Principle would never permit such a move.
The weight of his responsibilities had grown even heavier.
"With a new Heavenly Principle in place, of course the world has changed," Barbatos quipped with a wink.
"Well, old man, I'm off to Mondstadt to handle my affairs. Until we meet again."
With that, Barbatos vanished into a gust of wind.
While Mondstadt's people still revered him, he had largely neglected his duties as their Archon for two thousand years.
Organizing them to participate in the Heavenly Principle's plan to annex other worlds would be no small challenge.
Morax, however, had a much stronger foundation to rely on.
With the powerful Adepti and Yakshas at his disposal, and the deeply ingrained traditions of the Rite of Descension, Liyue's alliance between the Archon and the Qixing was rock solid.
Morax could likely annex even a world as strong as the Inuyasha world in a relatively short time.
Back in Liyue, Morax returned to Mt. Aocang, taking a seat at the stone table outside Cloud Retainer's domain.
"Rex Lapis, you've arrived," said a woman dressed in green robes and red-framed glasses, her graceful figure stepping from the shadows of the cave
"Cloud Retainer, I have a matter of great importance to discuss. Summon all the Adepti, Yakshas, and the leaders of the Qixing and Eight Trades here for a meeting," Morax ordered, his expression grave.
Cloud Retainer blinked in surprise. "Eh?"
Inazuma
In Tenshukaku, Ei sat tensely as she watched a young man stride into the palace.
She had barely returned from Celestia and begun summoning her retainers when the new Heavenly Principle arrived in Inazuma.
"Lord Heavenly Principle, what brings you here?" Ei asked nervously.
"No need to be so tense," Noah said with a laugh, clearly amused by her expression. "Though I am the Heavenly Principle, I've only just arrived in Teyvat. Isn't it perfectly reasonable for me to travel around and experience its culture?"
His playful tone made Ei relax slightly, though she still found herself unsettled by the disarming smile on his face.
My wife's awkward reactions are just too cute, Noah thought, suppressing another chuckle.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone