"Your Highness, what's wrong?"
An Abyss Apostle asked respectfully.
Aether raised his head and looked at the red sky. Others might not be able to notice it, not even the Seven Archons.
But he came from outside the world of Teyvat, and he understood what the barriers in this world were like.
The so-called barriers in the world of Teyvat were nothing but man-made. The world of Teyvat itself had no natural barriers; it was a world that was completely open to the outside. Anyone could come to this world from beyond.
But just now, it was completely cut off from the outside, and he couldn't sense anything anymore.
Even the passage he found for the 'Dragon King Nibelung' to return from outside the world was completely sealed in an instant.
Not merely closed, but completely gone.
"Mobius strip? What kind of situation is this? This world has actually become surrounded by an infinite loop!"
Aether used the 'Abyssal Power' to probe further, his expression shocked. The world of Teyvat had suddenly transformed into a plane world?
He had not lost his memory like his sister. He and his sister had once visited a similar world.
Such worlds were self-contained and self-sustaining, interacting very little, if at all, with the outside. They were like small stones in a vast forest and sea, unaffected by the rest of the cosmos.
One could only hope for chaos to erupt internally for self-destruction, or use world-class power to break the infinite boundary enclosing them.
Cold sweat began to bead on Aether's forehead. "This is bad... Really bad. The space in the world of Teyvat has suddenly connected end to end, becoming a closed world. Not only has the passage to the Abyss been sealed, but even Lumine and I will have trouble leaving Teyvat."
"Moreover... the loom of fate has been completely severed, breaking the established cycle and moving towards an uncertain future. My plans are shattered."
For the world of Teyvat to be surrounded by an "infinite loop"—even Phanes couldn't achieve that. No, this wasn't something any god could do.
"The space connecting end to end is a rare phenomenon in the Quantum Sea."
To use an analogy, the current Teyvat space had become like a sphere. When one reached the edge of the world, they would find themselves back at the starting point.
The Abyss Apostle looked at Aether, who was speaking with frustration and urgency. "Your Highness, should we continue trying to gain control of the 'Abyssal Power System'?"
Aether took a deep breath. "Above all else, Teyvat has been inexplicably sealed, and the path back for the Nibelung is sealed as well. The power of the Abyss can no longer flow into Teyvat."
The Apostle was stunned. "What? The power of the Abyss can no longer enter this world?"
Aether gritted his teeth. "The world has become closed. If I don't find a way to reopen its barriers, I won't be able to leave."
Five hundred years ago, Aether had confronted the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles. She had dragged him into this world. Khaenri'ah had been destroyed by the Seven Archons, leaving him powerless.
To him, Khaenri'ah had been a part of his life. When it was destroyed, his only goal was to take his sister out of this world.
But they were stopped by the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles, who wanted him and his sister to bear the burdens of this world.
The gods believed him to be naive. This world was doomed, and if they stayed, they would be trapped. He and his sister still had a mission—to find a new home for their people.
How could they be trapped here?
He had been transported to the underground sky, where the 'Abyssal Power' was sealed. The Sustainer had hoped to seal him there, leaving his sister to bear the weight of this world's fate.
Fortunately, the red sky had been transformed by the Abyssal Power, giving rise to many Abyssal beings.
It could be said that this place had become the "Abyss" unique to Teyvat.
Due to his unique nature, he easily mastered the 'Abyssal Power' and was respected as a prince by the beings born of it.
Those who mastered the 'Abyssal Power' were qualified to vie for the 'Second Throne.'
The so-called 'Second Throne' referred to the powers of both the Light Realm and the Abyssal Realm.
Aether, with his unique constitution, had already mastered the 'Light Realm Power.' Now, if he could gain control over the 'Abyssal Power System,' he could become the new 'Second Throne.'
Once he had command of the Abyss, he would march straight to Celestia and challenge the First Throne.
From the messages left behind by the Dragon King Nibelung, he knew that Phanes had been gravely injured in the fight against the Dragon King and had since fallen into a deep slumber.
If he became the 'Second Throne,' he would surely be able to overthrow Celestia.
Aether took a deep breath, clenching his fists. "Continue searching for the key to the 'Abyssal Power System.' If the world is closed, so be it. Once I defeat Phanes, I will find a way to escape."
The only thing he cared about was getting his sister out of this world.
The Apostle nodded. "Yes, Your Highness."
"Also, send more Abyss Apostles to create trouble for the Seven Archons, as well as my foolish sister who is always chasing after me."
"Although she is a constant worry, she has never experienced true hardship. Make sure she isn't deceived by the people of this world."
"If there is any sign of that happening, let the Abyss Mages intervene. Keep her fighting monsters and keep her occupied so she has no time for distractions."
"Understood..." The Apostle nodded, inwardly lamenting their role. Are we nothing but troublemakers, Your Highness? Might as well call us glorified bodyguards.
Aether, the little prince of the Abyss, continued to lead his followers through the ruins of the shattered red moon, searching for a way to gain control over the Abyssal Power System.
---
**The Edge of Teyvat**
This was the area where the world of Teyvat came into contact with the Quantum Sea. Here, the laws of the world of Teyvat were thin or non-existent.
It was a special zone formed by the encroachment of the Quantum Sea.
This place was known to outsiders as the 'Eroded Border,' but to the people of Teyvat, it was the 'Dark Outer Sea.'
Those who refused to participate in the Archon War, those who lost in the war, or witches seeking freedom from Celestia's control would often choose to stay here.
For witches or beings from outside the world, it wasn't so bad.
But the Archons who escaped here would be continuously corroded by the power of the Quantum Sea, slowly losing their sanity, warping from benevolent deities into twisted evil gods.
Boom.
A huge mushroom cloud rose at the edge of the world.
"Oh my god! The wave of quantum erosion is fading! This area has turned into pure space in just a few minutes! What on earth is going on?"
A shrill voice echoed amid the explosion.
"Did I just witness a ghost?"
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!