It's me, Nova, back once again to deliver another chapter! This one'll probably be the best one yet! Enjoy!
Can't do reviews right now! Super sorry, but due to internet issues I can barely post this chapter at all. Hope you understand, and enjoy the chapter!
Disclaimer: Genshin Impact belongs to Mihoyo. I only own characters of my own creation.
Chapter 8: The Abyss Massacre
(In the streets of Liyue Harbor)
As I walk through the streets, humming my favorite song, I notice a group of Fatui agents. The fifth one I've seen today.
As I order a few bouquets of flowers, ones imported from Sumeru as requested by a client, I inwardly frown.
I knew this would happen eventually. Zhongli told me about the Tsaritsa's plan to go after every archon's gnosis. I didn't think they'd come for me so soon though.
I make my way back to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, a cheerful smile adorning my face. Turning the corner and swiftly entering, I released the breath I didn't know I was holding.
"The situation must be bad if it has gotten even you nervous," the tall god says as he walks towards me.
"Five groups, about seven in each. And that's just between here and the flower shop a few streets away. Tensions between the citizens and the Fatui have increased more than you could ever imagine. If it gets any worse, there could be war."
I don't want the people to end up dying because of me. Those Fatui are only here for my gnosis. How selfish. Killing people as if their goals are more important than the lives of those they kill.
I feel an emotion I can't remember ever feeling before. Genuine anger.
"Their utter disregard for life is appalling."
I notice the god raising an eyebrow.
"While I certainly agree, this may be the first time I've seen anger from you. Care to explain why?"
I look to the ceiling, pondering my next words.
"I've always had a connection to the border between life and death, as the current director of the funeral parlor. But now that I'm the goddess of Death, I understand it better than anyone else ever will. Though you don't need such a connection with life and death to know that causing a potential massacre for your own selfish gain is just about the most disgusting thing anyone could ever do."
The man nods, then begins to walk upstairs to his office. But he suddenly stops and speaks.
"You know, you've been too focused on the Fatui and your Archon training lately. I recall hearing that a certain friend of yours would like to finish picking flowers with you."
And with that he leaves me in realization.
How could I forget! Yanyan must be so annoyed that we didn't get to finish back then! Well, no time like the present!
And with that thought, I was out the door, swiftly making my way over to Yanfei's office.
(Across the street)
Ah, seems she is becoming interesting again! As much as power and training goes, it's always underwhelming for me! When you have more magical power than anyone could ever achieve, it really makes anything less seem boring. Been there, done that, seen it more times than there are particles in the full universe. But love and friendship never get old. It reminds me of myself back when they were still alive.
I continue to walk the streets of Liyue, taking in the sights. But as I was about to head back to the inn my group is staying in, I overhear a rumor about a large army of abyss mages and heralds, and thousands of hilichurls, all gathered to seemingly attack Liyue Harbor.
The abyss… they want to kill Ereshkigal before she learns to control her power. Strike her while she is weak. That would ruin my fun. That adeptus Xiao can't handle that, even with the Millilith's full force supporting him.
I turn to walk in a different direction, heading towards Guili Plains.
Even if Morax and Barbatos help, and likely expose their identities in the process, Liyue would be devastated. More than half the city would be turned to rubble. The revelation of their identities would only cause further chaos, prolonging the process of rebuilding. And the Fatui would certainly take advantage of the situation and kill Ereshkigal in the chaos.
I see the army in the distance. I materialize my scythe and grimoire, and flare my magic to my chains.
I guess I'll have to do this myself.
I grin, my long lost lust for battle slightly returning as my opponents are none the wiser.
(Yuehai Pavilion)
We need to act fast. The abyss may attack any moment now. As the Tianquang, I must protect Liyue at all costs!
"Lady Ninguang! The Knights of Favonius have arrived!" my helpful secretary states.
That helps a lot, but it's not enough! We need as much firepower as possible!
"Lady Ninguang! The Honored Guest has returned from Inazuma and has offered to help!"
Still not enough! We need as much power as possible! This is war, and if we don't want Liyue Harbor to go up in flames, we need a miracle to happen!
"Lady Ninguang! Someone is fighting the abyss!"
"What?!" I shout in horror.
What are they doing?! They'll die!
"And they're winning!" she announces with a hopeful smile on her face.
Winning… WHAT?!
"What did you just say?!" I ask dumbfounded.
"Someone is fighting the abyss alone, and they're pushing them all back!"
…Miracles do happen after all.
(10 minutes earlier, on The Battlefield)
"You are getting in the way of my fun," I say, declaring my presence to my opponents with magic amplifying my voice.
In an instant, the entire opposing army stands on edge. My grin grows wider.
"Now…" I say, raising my scythe and preparing spells from my grimoire.
"Let the Massacre begin!" I declare.
"Attack!" I hear the enemy commander shout.
And so it begins.
I cast my spell, and hundreds of beams of pure magical energy fire. The abyss mages take up the front, trying to block them with their shields, but failing to stop them.
I swing my scythe down at the ground, and the earth quakes. Hundreds of mages are killed in mere moments.
If they die too fast with power, then I'll have to entertain myself with skill!
Then, I charge into the army, tearing them down with sheer skill. I swing to the right, lean into the momentum, becoming a tornado of death. Blades and clubs are expertly deflected, and any that got close had a 3 foot (or about a meter for those of you who aren't in the U.S.) long blade cutting from the brain down to the heart in the blink of an eye.
Still too boring!
All of a sudden, my scythe is stopped, a blade in the hand of an opponent that seems familiar.
Ah… so this is Lumine. Hehe, finally! Someone interesting.
We clash, using only skill and experience to drive our blades forward. The girl is barely able to keep herself from dying, hitting my blade with hers at just the right angle to deflect it enough to not hit her, then preparing to deflect the next, knowing she isn't fast enough to attack back.
I jump back, and begin to speak.
"So you are the leader here. Your skill is among the greatest. You've earned my respect. For that, I will hold nothing back."
The shackles shatter, and the world shatters with them.
"I know your name, Lumine." I say, noting the shock on her face at the statement.
"However, you do not know mine. Therefore, I shall tell you," I say, smiling dangerously, bloodlust radiating out of me.
"I, am Nœväya Azadyme!"
The entire army collapses, and most are dead. The only one still standing is the girl, but even she is just barely holding on.
Hmm? I sense the Millilith coming. I suppose it is time to end this.
"The Millilith are coming. However, you are interesting, so I will send you back to the abyss."
She looks at me in confusion. I smile, and raise my hand to cast a spell.
"[Käłėídøßçœp]"
A tear in reality opens and sucks her in. Far, far away, that same girl appears, unable to make sense of all that had happened.
(With the Millilith)
"What happened here?" I think to myself, trying not to think about the brutal sight before me.
"T-Traveler. Please, please tell me this isn't real." I hear the master chef behind me ask.
All I can do is simply shake my head.
"They were monsters. Humans that willingly became monsters out of their hate and desire for revenge on the gods. This was the path they chose, and it led them here. It is tragic, but not unexpected." I say with a solemn undertone.
"I know you did this, Nœväya. Your magical energy is everywhere here. But Liyue Harbor would have been destroyed if you didn't. So despite the massacre you wrought, thank you. You saved everyone." I give a small, almost imperceptible smile, as I begin to help clean up the destruction around me.
(In Æ%#ß&ã¿!)
{Don't you think you went a bit too far?}
"Nope! I think I made things more interesting!"
{You're hopeless…}
"Hey, what's with the shameful tone?!"
{Why are you even here?}
"Cause I had to get out of there as soon as possible! Too much heat after that stunt."
{And you came here instead of Aether's tea pot?}
The paradox's eyes widen in realization. The entity sighs.
{You are the most powerful being to ever exist, you are more intelligent than anyone, you have more experience than anyone has ever had or ever will have. You can see every dimension, every timeline, every single variable. And yet still, you overlook the most obvious of solutions.}
The girl stutters, trying to give a good response, but eventually just lowers her head in shame, and all is silent except for the rattle of her newly reformed shackles and chains.
"Thanks for the suggestion…" she says in a depressed tone, leaving through a tear in reality.
Once she is gone, the entity laughs hysterically.
{AHAHAHAHAHAH! I've never seen her so embarrassed before hahahah! Maybe now she'll stop being so smug!}
A/N: This is a longer chapter, the one that was SUPPOSED to go up last Thursday, but was delayed because I was the big dumb and forgot where the story was continuing from. This is a big and important chapter that sets Nova's standpoint in the world and clearly sets her goals to the reader. This bit will probably be removed after beta review, but if not, then I blame my laziness, forgetfulness, or maybe I will just feel like leaving it in for comedic effect. :P
Thanks for reading! And tell meh what ya think! Plz, if not I feel like I did somethin' wrong! (Lol)