Chapter 29: The Cost of Power

"Ah~! Is that how you see it?"

Yae Miko looked at the suddenly transformed Liam and couldn't help but laugh.

"People are always learning and progressing. Compared to you, I'm still very young, so naturally, my perspective isn't as broad as yours!"

Liam smiled in relief but couldn't resist taking a jab at Yae Miko.

"Oh? But Raiden Ei and the Shogun are both quite old too, and that didn't stop you from making your move! If anyone's a pervert, it's definitely you!"

Yae Miko wasn't one to take a jab lying down. She immediately retorted, leaving Liam speechless.

Liam: "..."

Sure enough, he realized he'd brought this on himself by provoking this sly fox. Clearing his throat, he decided to change the topic.

"Ahem, so what are you doing here, Miko? I was just about to head back, and you're still following me?"

"Me? I was just wandering around Inazuma and happened to run into you. I figured we could head back to Tenshukaku together!"

Yae Miko smiled sweetly at Liam, showing no trace of deception.

In truth, Yae Miko had been keeping an eye on Liam. After the incident with the Tenryou Commission, Yae Miko understood that Liam was not one to sit still. He was like a powder keg ready to explode at any moment.

She feared that he would personally go to the Kanjou Commission and cause trouble again, which could lead to unforeseen consequences. So, she constantly used the charm she'd given him to track his location. The moment she noticed he left Tenshukaku, she immediately followed.

As expected, though he claimed to be grocery shopping, he still sent someone to inquire about the Kanjou Commission. Despite being warned not to take risks, was he planning to stir up trouble there again in a few days?

"Is that so?"

Liam looked at Yae Miko suspiciously. He couldn't shake the feeling that this sly fox had ulterior motives.

However, Liam decided not to dwell on it. He couldn't figure out what she was thinking anyway, so he didn't bother trying.

After coming to terms with the fact that he couldn't die, Liam's mindset had changed significantly. He had already accumulated enough Imaginary Points to travel to another world. Even if he awakened, he could have the system send him elsewhere.

With that, Liam and Yae Miko set off together toward Tenshukaku.

"By the way, how does it feel to possess the power to destroy the world, Liam?"

On the way, Yae Miko suddenly asked, looking at Liam.

"???"

Liam was taken aback by the question and replied, "Why do you ask?"

"Just curious! It's a power capable of destroying the world, a power that not even the gods possess!"

Yae Miko smiled as she looked at Liam. He stared back at her, feeling that her words had a hidden meaning, but he still answered.

"To be honest, I was a bit lost at first. After all, I used to be just an ordinary person. Forget about world-destroying power, I used to struggle just carrying a sack of rice up a few flights of stairs!"

Liam spoke with some emotion. In his previous world, he was a typical modern man, physically unfit, socially isolated, and prone to bouts of madness. There was nothing particularly special about him.

"And have you come to terms with it now?"

Yae Miko asked with a smile.

"I suppose so," Liam replied with a relieved smile. "Whether I like it or not, I have no choice. After all, with that power, no one can kill me... not even myself."

Seeing Yae Miko's expression change, Liam laughed.

"What's wrong? Even the esteemed Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine can make such a strange face?"

Hearing this, Yae Miko shook her head and said, "It sounds like that power is more of a curse. Is it really that terrifying?"

"Haha, it's called the End, the power to bring about the end and annihilate everything. Its very existence is meant to destroy all civilizations. I'm actually lucky. I only lose control during my awakening. One of my predecessors had it far worse!"

Liam laughed as he spoke to Yae Miko. Indeed, the power of the End, from Honkai Impact 2nd, was akin to a curse, synonymous with despair and destruction.

"Another like you exists? What happened to them?" Yae Miko asked in surprise. After all, Liam, who could destroy Teyvat just by awakening, wasn't the only one? Her curiosity grew...

"Yes, there was another End. She had it worse. In her loss of control, she killed all her friends and loved ones with her own hands and then activated the Dead Zone to end everything. Miko, do you know the despair of watching yourself kill your dearest ones? And in her despair, she couldn't even commit suicide. As I said, 'No one can kill her, not even herself!'"

Even now, thinking back to the Honkai Impact 2nd CG of "End's Descent" made Liam grit his teeth.

Yae Miko: "..."

Yae Miko couldn't fathom the depths of despair that beings like Liam, known as "End," must endure. This despair wasn't just for others but for themselves as well. The thought of killing one's own loved ones filled her with fear.

"What is the Dead Zone?" Yae Miko asked, noticing the unfamiliar term.

"The World-Destroying Dead Zone is a phenomenon that occurs when a Herrscher's Honkai energy reaches a level sufficient to destroy the world. Once it spreads, all life perishes!"

Liam didn't keep her in suspense and explained directly. Seeing Yae Miko's changing expression, Liam suddenly smiled.

"By the way, when I awaken, there's a Dead Zone too. Honestly, it's quite beautiful! You should see it sometime!"

Yae Miko: "..."

No, thank you. There are plenty of beautiful sights in Teyvat that I haven't seen yet! That so-called Dead Zone might look pretty, but you need to survive to appreciate it!

Hearing Liam's dangerously nonchalant words, Yae Miko couldn't help but mentally retort. However, she also gained a deeper understanding of Liam's true nature. Previously, he had only briefly mentioned his identity to Raiden Ei and the others.

But sometimes, the more you know, the more troublesome it becomes—like now for Yae Miko. Although she had obtained more detailed information, her sense of urgency didn't diminish. In fact, it only grew stronger. Liam's story had made Yae Miko realize just what kind of entity she was dealing with.

"Will you lose control and kill everyone too?"

Yae Miko stared blankly at Liam, her voice trembling at the mere thought of such a possibility.

"Haha, probably not. I don't think anyone in Teyvat could withstand the force of a Death Blight, so I doubt I'd even get the chance!"

Liam chuckled, speaking as if it were a trivial matter. In his mind, considering the overall power level in Teyvat, there wasn't anyone who could survive the apocalyptic force of the End-triggered Death Blight.

Yae Miko: "..."

Do you even realize what you're saying? Do you have a heart?

Seeing the resentment in Yae Miko's gaze, Liam couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. So even this sly fox could be frightened! He quickly cleared his throat and continued, "Alright, I'm done joking. Although awakening does indeed trigger the Death Blight, don't worry. I'm very stable right now, and for the sake of the Shogun, Ei, and Makoto, I would never unleash it in Teyvat."

"Sigh... Whatever, whatever. If it's fate, then it can't be avoided. If you really do unleash that Death Blight in Teyvat, then it must be Teyvat's destiny. But I trust you—after all, what choice do I have?"

Yae Miko smiled again, her calm demeanor returning as she looked at Liam.

"Haha, you really are something, Miko!"

Liam admired how quickly Yae Miko regained her composure. If he were in her shoes, knowing a superweapon was standing right next to him, he wouldn't be nearly as calm.

"Alright, little Liam, you should head back to the Tenshukaku. Stop wandering around aimlessly. I'd like to live a little longer, you know!"

Yae Miko playfully tapped Liam's head with her folding fan, laughing.

"Don't worry, Miko. I'm not as reckless as you think. Another power of mine is about to awaken, and soon, there won't be many in Teyvat who can match me!"

Liam's confidence grew as he glanced at his status panel, where the Herrscher of the Void core was at 80/100.

"Another power? It's not something as destructive as your 'End,' is it? Don't mess around—Teyvat can't handle any more of your chaos!"

Yae Miko raised an eyebrow, her voice full of concern.

"Well... it is somewhat related, but don't worry, this power is completely controllable. There's no danger. It's just my spatial manipulation ability, though it hasn't fully awakened yet. For now, I mostly use it for teleportation."

Yae Miko nodded in understanding, recalling Liam's space-jumping and storage abilities.

"So that's the power. By the way, what did you mean by 'Honkai energy' just now?"

Yae Miko's curiosity was piqued. While knowing more wouldn't change anything, it would at least satisfy her curiosity.

"Well..."

Liam pondered for a moment, organizing his thoughts before explaining in a way Yae Miko could understand. "Honkai energy is the power we use. You know about the Abyss's power, right?"

Yae Miko nodded. She had experienced those wars and understood the Abyss's terrifying power.

"Let's put it this way—the Abyss's power is nothing compared to Honkai energy. The Abyss's corrosive nature is insignificant in the face of Honkai energy! Ordinary people who come into contact with Honkai energy are almost instantly reduced to ashes."

Liam sneered at the thought, dismissing the Abyss's danger compared to Honkai energy, which was leagues beyond.

As he spoke, he picked a blade of grass from the ground and infused it with a small amount of Honkai energy. In an instant, the grass disintegrated into ashes in his hand.

"Not only that, but even if someone is lucky enough not to turn to ash, the Honkai energy would mutate them into monsters called 'Husk.' I've already told Ei and the Shogun about this. If you're interested, you can ask Ei for more details."

"Anyway, this power is very dangerous for Teyvat, which is why I haven't fully awakened it yet. I want to avoid triggering a disaster known as 'Honkai.' To put it bluntly, if a Honkai outbreak occurs in Inazuma, it'd be lucky if even ten percent of the population survives."

"I see."

Yae Miko nodded in understanding, unfazed. After all, if Liam could destroy all of Teyvat, turning Inazuma into a wasteland wasn't much of a big deal, was it?

This sly fox had fully embraced a laid-back attitude...

They continued chatting along the way and soon arrived back at Tenshukaku.

"I'm going to cook something for the Shogun. If you're looking for Makoto, go on ahead. I won't be joining you."

After entering Tenshukaku, Liam waved his hand, indicating that he was heading to the kitchen.

"Hehe, I don't have anything urgent to do, so I'll just tag along with you."

To Liam's surprise, Yae Miko didn't go find Raiden Makoto but instead followed him.

"Come on, Miko, I'm just going to cook. Why are you following me?"

Liam looked at Yae Miko, baffled, unsure of what she was up to.

"Oh, look at you! I just wanted to spend more time with you, but you're already trying to get rid of me!"

Yae Miko dramatically covered half her face with her sleeve, as if on the verge of tears.

Liam: "..."

Sly fox, have you gotten addicted to acting?

He sighed inwardly but finally relented. "Fine, fine, do whatever you want."

Liam said no more and headed to the kitchen. Soon enough, he arrived and couldn't help but admire how clean and tidy it was, always maintained in pristine condition.

Once there, he began taking out the ingredients from his storage space, preparing to cook. He moved to the stove and then pulled out the Judgement of Shamash.

Seeing the weapon in Liam's hand, Yae Miko raised an eyebrow and asked, "You're just cooking, so why are you taking that out?"

She knew the Judgement of Shamash was incredibly powerful but couldn't understand why Liam would use it now.

Without a word, Liam combined the dual guns into a blazing greatsword.