The Thing Calling Itself "Enjou"

"Flash!" Pillars of light erupted from three separate points as the gears activated, a signal of success from Alina, Endora, and Collei. Though a few traps and Vishaps had challenged their path, the three of them tore through the obstacles with ease, their skill and determination shining through.

With all the gears now in place, the group regrouped at the base of the towering Dainichi Mikoshi.

"This should do it," Enjou muttered, his voice low and gravelly as the massive structure roared to life. The bright light of the Dainichi Mikoshi flooded the cavern, mimicking the warmth of dawn in the eternal night of Enkanomiya. Beneath the pillar, an ancient stone door groaned open, revealing a long-sealed underground chamber.

"GRRR!" A vicious growl echoed from the darkness below. As the group peered over the edge, two enormous Vishaps, long trapped in the abyss, glared up at them, their roars a mix of fury and hunger.

"Looks like there's still one final obstacle," Enjou observed, glancing down at the enraged beasts. "Will you handle this?"

"Naturally," Allen replied confidently, stepping closer to the edge. Just as Enjou turned to study the beasts below, Allen swiftly moved in. With a single, calculated motion, he kicked Enjou square in the back, sending him plummeting into the pit.

"Wah—!" Enjou yelped, completely caught off guard as he tumbled down, crashing to the ground with a heavy thud fifty meters below, leaving behind a broken body.

"Why did you do that, brother?" Endora blinked, her eyes wide with confusion as she turned to Allen and the other girls. "Is he dead?"

"Any normal human would be," I looked over the pit. "But you're not any normal human, are you, Enjou? Or should I call you Abyss Order?"

"Hahaha." Enjou's body started cracking as he stood up. "How long have you known about my identity?"

"Since the start," Allen answered calmly. "I found you by following your Abyss energy, after all."

"There aren't many people who can see Abyss energy. To think that you were one of them..." Enjou mumbled. "This wasn't in my notes."

"GRRR!" The Vishaps reacted to the new prey, launching themselves fiercely toward Enjou.

"Pests!" With a low, guttural growl, the cracks spread rapidly, small pieces of his human facade crumbling away like brittle stone. Beneath the surface, molten red light pulsed with the fury of a living inferno, veins of flame coursing through his exposed flesh. His human features melted away, revealing a towering figure with elongated limbs, sharp, clawed hands, and a face twisted in the grotesque likeness of a Pyro Abyss Lector.

The air around him shimmered with heat as flames licked hungrily from his body. His voice, now deeper and more distorted, rumbled through the room.

"Burn!" Flames shot from Enjou's hands, burning both Vishaps into ashes.

After defeating the Vishaps, Enjou turned to Allen. "I can't quite understand it, Allen. If you knew from the start, why didn't you fight me then? Or did you think these pitiful Vishaps would be a good trap to deal with me?"

"I was simply curious about your intentions, and I'm not really one to trust words. So I decided to investigate your actions," Allen answered.

"Can I take this action as you having learned all you needed about me?" Enjou curiously analyzed Allen with a cold, calm gaze.

"Of course. I know exactly why you're here, and..." Allen grinned, pulling out a book. The cover seemed quite old but well-maintained, the title easily legible: Before Sun and Moon. "What you're looking for."

"You have it!" Enjou's playful smile broke for the first time.

"So this is what you were after." Allen grinned at Enjou. "I wasn't too sure, but thanks for your easily-read reaction, Enjou."

"Tch!" Enjou clicked his tongue, clearly irritated. "How did you obtain it? Where was it?"

"You're asking that? I thought you'd directly attack me, trying to take it by force." Allen nodded appreciatively at Enjou's cold composure.

"I didn't lie entirely, Allen. Before being a soldier, I am a researcher, placing more value on knowledge than on completing my mission."

"I see," Allen nodded. "It was quite simple to figure out that you were searching for something, especially related to ancient history, as the only books touched in the library were historical ones. It's amazing how much dust can reveal."

"Were you able to understand them?" Enjou seemed surprised by Allen's knowledge.

"I received a noble education in Inazuma. I'm not an expert, but I know the ancient language used here quite well," Allen explained. "Once I knew what you were looking for, I simply discarded your methods. If you were still searching, it meant your attempts were fruitless, and that your approach was wrong. So I did what an Abyss Order member would never do: I helped."

"There are some ghosts here, astral projections of ancient people who tell old stories. By following them and helping with their odd requests, I was able to obtain this book after defeating a Ruin Guard," Allen explained. "It's quite special for two reasons. First, it's not written in the same language as the other texts, but even so, its title is easy to read. Even Endora was able to read it. And second, it's sealed and can't be opened unless..."

Allen lifted the book, letting the light of the Dainichi Mikoshi bathe it. As if by magic, the seal broke, allowing the book to be opened.

"So, I have two questions," Allen said while reading the book. "Why were you searching for this? And were you the one who blocked the exit from Enkanomiya?"

"You have no idea what this is about. But as thanks for finding it, and as a reward for your wits, I'll answer your questions," Enjou explained. "I was ordered to find that book, which narrates the history before the arrival of the Celestia Gods. It proves that the gods are foreign beings who don't belong to Teyvat."

"But the real question is..." Enjou started floating toward the pit's exit. "How will you deal with my power?!"

"Is that so?" Allen turned to Collei. "Here's your chance to show your true power. Don't let us down again."

Collei looked furious but jumped down into the pit, somersaulting and kicking Enjou, slamming him back to the ground.

"I've been waiting for something to vent my anger on!" Collei grinned as she landed perfectly on the ground below.

"Just one? You're underestimating me!" Enjou quickly stood up, summoning huge fireballs and hurling them at Collei.

Collei agilely dodged the incoming fireballs, nocking arrows infused with her power. She pulled them back and shot the arrows toward Enjou.

"Useless!" Enjou raised his hand, flames surging from it and swallowing the arrows. However, to his surprise, the arrows exploded with purple flames, absorbing his own and passing through, striking his chest.

"Bah!" Enjou spat blood as the arrows injured him, erupting into a storm of flames that engulfed him. "Y-you're also tainted by the Abyss!"

"This is my strength!" Collei nocked a single arrow, far more powerful than the previous ones. She shot it toward Enjou's head, perfectly hitting the target and causing an immense explosion. "Nothing withstands my flames!" Collei grinned before looking up at Allen. "How about that, leader?" she asked sarcastically.

"Hah." Allen sighed as he summoned an ice bow, nocking an ice arrow and firing it at Collei.

"What th—!" Collei jumped aside, barely dodging the arrow. "Hey, you bastard! What do you think you're doi—!" As Collei began cursing at Allen, Enjou reappeared from the previous explosion, charging at her. His body was now fully composed of flames, his power surging as he extended his hand, ready to kill her.

"BOOM!" Just as Enjou was about to touch Collei, Allen's ice arrow pierced the ground, exploding and forcing Enjou to flinch for a second, giving Collei enough time to escape. She jumped back, landing on all fours like a wary cat.

"You lost again due to your arrogance," Allen said as he gracefully leaped into the pit, landing beside her. "Shall I take over from here, Collei?"

"AAAAH!" Collei trembled with rage, glaring at Allen, her fury masking the shame of having failed twice in such a short time. She quickly turned toward Enjou, who, after his second phase, seemed completely recovered and in perfect condition.

"I'll kill you!" Flames exploded around Collei, cracks appearing on her face.

"Foul Legacy!" Purple Abyssal flames surged up from the ground, enveloping her in a vortex of raw energy. Her body began to transform, armor forming around her as her flames shaped into the form of a great serpent's scales. A helmet in the shape of a snake's head covered her face, its eyes glowing with dark fire.

Her bow dissolved in the fire, and in its place, sharp claws formed at the ends of her gauntlets, each one a blazing.

Her bow dissolved in the fire, and in its place, sharp claws formed at the end of her gauntlets, each one a blazing serpent made of purple-black flame, resembling two sharp serpent teeth.

With a speed that defied her previous state, Collei launched herself forward, the ground cracking beneath her feet as her claws slashed through the air, each strike accompanied by the burning snakes that trailed behind her.

"Burn!" Collei shouted, her claws striking Enjou's shield of flames. Blow after blow landed, purple flames igniting wherever her claws made contact. Enjou staggered back, struggling to maintain his footing, shocked that his shield was unable to fully absorb her flames, finding himself overwhelmed by her power.

"Impossible! To have a demon inside you..." Enjou stammered, losing his balance.

"DIE!" Collei roared, focusing her flames over her claws, piercing through Enjou's shield and completely shattering it. She twisted her body, landing a brutal hit to Enjou's stomach and sending him flying, crashing into the nearest wall with a force that cracked it.

Collei approached Enjou's body slumped against the wall. As she glared down at him, she frowned, her frustration evident. "Fuck!" she cursed, swinging her arm through the air in a fiery arc. Enjou's form vanished in flames. "He escaped."