Chapter 68

"What is that?"

On the main street of Liyue, in front of the Pokémon House store, a thick crowd of onlookers had gathered, all gazing at the commotion.

Beidou, who had just arrived from the dock, looked toward the roaring black vortex in the distant sky, her face full of solemnity.

"Is this also part of Liyue's prosperity?" Yoimiya murmured in astonishment.

Kazuha's mouth twitched upon hearing this. "No, this is definitely not the usual Liyue, Yoimiya!"

Hearing the commotion and the sounds of alarm echoing through Liyue Harbor, a group of people emerged from the store.

They had arrived early to queue for a Pokédex and to claim their first Pokémon.

Xingqiu, Chongyun, Ganyu, Yanfei…

One by one, they gathered at the doorway, staring in awe at the unfamiliar scene unfolding in the sky above Liyue.

Nearby, on the border of Mt. Aozang and the Immortal's Abode, a divine crane soared swiftly into the sky.

It was Cloud Retainer, one of Liyue's ancient Adepti.

At this moment, Cloud Retainer was visibly shaken. In the sky, it looked like a massive vortex was drawing everything into its depths.

"Which ancient demon god has awakened?!"

"Emperor!"

"Emperor!!"

In a panic, the crane flapped its wings and swiftly flew back to its domain, waking her disciple, Shenhe, who was in secluded training.

"Ah He, things are not looking good. Let's take shelter for a while," Cloud Retainer said urgently. "We must wait for the Emperor to emerge and take control of the situation."

Meanwhile, at Wangshu Inn, the Great Demon-Conquering Yaksha, Xiao, stood on a tree, observing the swirling clouds with a growing sense of unease.

Under the stone forest, Dragon Lord Azhdaha, who remained sealed yet often roared for release, was unusually silent today.

Near Liyue, in Mondstadt.

At the ruins of Stormterror's Lair…

Traveler Lumine and Paimon were joined by Jean, Eula, Collei, Diluc…

The lineup for facing off against Dvalin this time was far grander than in the original events.

Even Venti, who was often seen as unreliable, had sent his Lapras to assist in the battle. Though young, Lapras wasn't yet able to join the fight, so it simply acted as part of the Pokémon cheer squad, cheering enthusiastically.

After purifying Dvalin, everyone was preparing to leave the crumbling ruins on the East Wind Dragon.

However, an overwhelming scene suddenly caught their attention from the direction of Liyue. Its boundless grandeur even sent rumblings all the way to Mondstadt!

"This is…" Jean and the other knights were astonished.

"Wow!" Little Paimon was so shocked that she fell onto Lumine's head, clinging tightly to her blonde hair.

A look of horror was also hidden in Venti's emerald eyes, though he quickly remembered his late-night chat with Takumi, the Pokémon House manager, the previous night. A slight smile crept onto his face.

"So this is what he discussed with the old man," he murmured.

Suddenly, Venti leaped onto Dvalin's back, turning to the Knights and Travelers with an invitation.

"Let's all fly to Liyue and witness this new era unfold!"

With that, the East Wind Dragon took flight, soaring toward Liyue.

That same morning, the Mondstadt Adventurers' Guild had received an order and quickly assembled an "Environmental Protection Team" with Bennett and Fischl as the captain and vice-captain. They were en route to a designated area in Liyue.

The team had just crossed the border and reached the line between Stone Gate and Wuwang Hill, with Dihua Marsh in sight.

Boom!

Bennett stopped the team, looking at Fischl with shock.

"The direction of that vortex… isn't it right where our mission coordinates are?"

The commotion spread as far as the Sea of Clouds.

In the Inazuma sea region, often blocked by thunderstorms, on Narukami Island, in the Grand Shrine atop Mt. Yougou, a pink-furred fox put down her best-selling light novel, her eyebrows twitching as she stared toward Liyue in shock.

"What an enormous disturbance!"

"Could it be…?"

"Another demon god-level conflict has erupted in Liyue?"

This was not a good omen.

In today's Seven Nations, aside from the rulers, there were no complete demon gods. They were either reincarnated due to excessive wear or had been shattered, sealed, and fragmented.

Yae Miko, the Shrine Priestess of Narukami Shrine, sighed slightly and disappeared into the shrine.

Meanwhile, at Inazuma's Tenshukaku Castle Tower…

"It seems you cannot remain idle any longer, Ei," Yae Miko said softly as she entered.

As a close confidant of the Shogun, she could enter without being questioned or stopped by guards.

"Liyue is undergoing some kind of monumental shift that impacts the entire world!"

Ei's expression shifted upon hearing this.

"Could it be…?" She subconsciously looked up toward Celestia. Would the Supreme God again deliver divine punishment?

Would another "Khaenri'ah" be destroyed as it was 500 years ago?

Indeed, history often repeats itself.

A strange look appeared in Ei's eyes. "Yet… Celestia remains quiet, issuing no commands to us Archons."

Yae Miko was momentarily stunned.

"Which god has permitted this monumental change in Liyue?!"

"Why… why would they…?"

Just then, the vortex over Liyue expanded to its limit, suddenly bursting apart in an explosion of light and then dissipating. In the depths of the vortex, a massive silhouette of a Pokémon emerged.

It looked somewhat like an alpaca, yet also resembled a centaur.

With a light leap on its front hooves, it vanished into the depths of the space-time rift behind it.

Yae Miko stood in silence for a long while, staring blankly at the sky.

"Perhaps that is the answer?"

"Is this being… compelling even the gods of Celestia to yield? Or has some sort of agreement been struck?"

Ei said nothing, but her eyes glinted with a newfound understanding.

Her status and her position as ruler allowed her to perceive the powerful vitality now radiating across Liyue.

Simultaneously, the very rules governing Teyvat seemed to be subtly shifting!

"I hereby declare," Takumi announced, snapping his fingers.

"The first Pokémon ecological zone in Teyvat's history has been established!"

He looked on with satisfaction, surveying the designated area.

The hills grew steeper and more stable.

The jungle became deeper and more verdant.

The inland sea turned a more profound shade of blue, adding a sense of mystery.

Suddenly, birds took flight from a forest, with fierce creatures battling in the dense jungle.

Takumi watched closely.

The birds were Spearows, known to travel in flocks and to anger easily. If you provoke one, you'll face the wrath of the entire group.

Then he turned his attention to two creatures clashing in the forest.

It was a battle for territory and dominance!