Genshin Impact: I, Heavenly Principle, Will Make Teyvat Supreme

A towering mountain, several kilometers in height, crumbled under the onslaught of godlike power. The mountain's structure collapsed in an instant, with smoke and rubble erupting outward in a wave-like formation, scattering debris in all directions. The ensuing shockwave flattened the dense rainforest, uprooting ancient trees and leaving bare, exposed earth in their wake.

As half of the mountain disintegrated, it revealed a hidden metallic base embedded within the rock. The base, constructed of unique alloys, buckled under the immense pressure of divine energy. Flames burst forth from its fractured structure, spewing through cracks and vents.

Amidst the fiery chaos, five figures cloaked in thick mantles emerged from the inferno. Their measured footsteps echoed against the roaring flames, mingling with the distorted hum of the air around them.

Arlecchino's sharp eyes narrowed as she observed the five identical figures stepping out from the base. Though they appeared almost identical, subtle differences in age and demeanor betrayed their individuality.

"Heh, Dottore," she sneered, her voice dripping with mockery. "I thought you'd scurry away like a rat hiding in the sewers. Yet here you are, showing some semblance of courage for once."

Pantalone spread his arms with a smug, false smile plastered across his face. "Truly hard to believe. The so-called Doctor, the Second Harbinger, who once wielded power rivaling that of the gods, is now the target of our hunt. How ironic."

With a theatrical sigh, he added, "As the people of Liyue often say, 'the wheel of fate turns inexorably.'"

Sandrone, perched nonchalantly on one of her mechanical constructs, glanced around the base with disinterest. "This place is littered with machines. Yet for me, they hold no meaning at all."

Rosalyne, swaying her hips as she approached, casually conjured a shard of ice in her palm. "Why waste words on a sinner the Empress has ordered us to eliminate? Only his true form possesses divine strength."

Tartaglia, gripping his dual blades forged of lightning, water, and ice, added impatiently, "Exactly. The segments I've dealt with before weren't anything special. The strongest one I fought was barely on par with my powered-up state using Foul Legacy."

The five Dottore, their faces contorted with varying degrees of frustration and dread, stood silently. Gone was their earlier composure; the crushing realization that death was imminent loomed over them like an unshakable shadow.

The original Dottore, the eldest of the group, suddenly erupted into wild laughter, his outstretched arms shaking as if mocking himself and the gods alike.

"Ha! Hahaha! So this is what they call 'karma,' as the people of Liyue would say?"

His voice trembled between madness and clarity as he continued. "I thought I could manipulate the power of the gods, study their essence, and even decipher the workings of the Heavenly Principle. Perhaps I could even transcend the order established by the high sovereign of Celestia."

"Yet it seems that in my arrogance, I have invited the ultimate price. The time has come to pay the debt incurred for my hubris, hasn't it?"

He laughed bitterly, his tone steeped in irony. "Those who dwell within the rules and seek to defy them must inevitably suffer the backlash of those same rules. What a cruel jest... this so-called 'Loom of Fate.'"

As his laughter subsided, the original Dottore became eerily calm. In a deep, measured tone, he declared, "I, too, was once granted authority by the Empress. I understand the strengths—and the flaws—of this borrowed power."

"Though I know my escape today is impossible, taking down two or three of you is still within my capabilities."

The edges of his lips curled into a deranged grin. "So, which two of you will I drag to the grave with me?"

Clap. Clap.

Pantalone's gloved hands came together in slow applause. "Impressive as ever, Doctor. Not only do you possess unparalleled strength and knowledge, but you also understand human nature so well. A shame, really. But unfortunately for you, we are not like the others…"

Before Pantalone could finish, Tartaglia launched forward, his impatience reaching its limit.

"Enough talk! Everyone, charge! Let's end this!" he roared.

The dual blades in Tartaglia's hands crackled with the combined power of his Vision's Hydro, the Foul Legacy's Electro, and the divine Cryo imbued by the Empress. He slashed downward at one of the Dottore clones with relentless ferocity.

In that instant, an oppressive divine aura erupted across the battlefield, shaking the very ground beneath their feet.

Dottore's segment twisted his face into a ghastly grimace, like a demon from the depths of hell. "Heh, the Delusions were my creation!" The Delusion at his waist began to glow, cracks forming on its surface before it shattered. The corrupted energy of a god's resentment surged forth and was immediately absorbed into his body.

A terrifying aura erupted from him, instantly elevating his strength to the level of a god.

Boom—

The clash of two beings with godlike power caused an explosive battle. The experimental base was torn apart from within, the already crumbling mountain reduced further to cascading rubble that flowed like a torrential flood. The earth quaked violently across the rainforest, shaking the very ground in waves that spread outward.

Though the destruction spared nearby villages and towns, the tremors disrupted the daily lives of the local inhabitants.

As Tartaglia engaged in battle with one of Dottore's god-level segments, the remaining Harbingers fought against the other segments elsewhere in the rainforest. The skies darkened ominously, clouds swirling with a corrupted energy that spiraled downward like a vortex centered on the battlefield.

Beneath the ground, ley lines pulsed erratically, and torrents of elemental energy surged uncontrollably. Elemental creatures swept up in the chaos howled and raged, their behavior akin to drunken madness. The rainforest, teetering on the brink of an elemental eruption, seemed ready to spiral into an uncontrollable disaster.

Suddenly, green branches sprouted from the earth, glowing softly with a calming light. The radiant energy soothed the maddened elemental creatures, their frenzied roars quieting to subdued murmurs. The raging flow of the ley lines slowed, the glowing branches extending to stabilize the surrounding terrain.

It was as if the entire rainforest had come alive. Towering trees swayed their branches as if in approval, and the now-calm elemental creatures instinctively bowed toward the glowing branches as if in reverence.

Buer walked gracefully through the jungle, her steps leaving trails of divine energy in her wake. She had been aware of everything since the moment the Lord Heavenly Principle descended upon Snezhnaya.

Thus, when the Harbingers, empowered by Tsaritsa's divine strength, entered Sumeru, Buer kept a vigilant watch. After all, godlike power in the rainforest could unleash untold destruction. If the situation spiraled out of control, she was ready to intervene.

Boom—

The battle raged on, the prolonged conflict causing the skies to churn with rolling thunderclouds. Lightning cracked across the sky, forming dark, spiraling storm systems. Outside the collapsing mountain, glowing branches spread further into the surrounding rainforest, absorbing the residual shockwaves and protecting the fragile environment.

Buer observed the chaos from a distance, her gaze filled with nostalgia as memories of the Archon War two millennia ago resurfaced.

Though none of them were true gods, their battle displayed a fragment of the devastating power seen in that bygone era.

A thousand-meter whale formed from water surged upward from the ground before crashing back down, obliterating the remaining mountain and transforming the terrain into a massive lake. Golden beams of light, dozens of meters thick, shot skyward repeatedly, only to be answered by icy waves that froze thousands of meters of land into a glacial wasteland.

At the frozen epicenter, explosions continued to ripple outward, their force unrelenting.

The original Dottore segment was relentlessly pursued by Arlecchino and Sandrone. Arlecchino, wielding the Cryo Archon's divine power, struck with bare fists, pummeling Dottore mid-air and denying him any chance to land. Sandrone's mechanical constructs, meanwhile, fired golden beams of light, each dozens of meters in diameter, that bore into him without mercy.

Dottore's body was drenched in blood, his movements growing sluggish as he took blow after blow. Yet, his crimson eyes burned with madness.

Despite his dire situation, his trump card remained in play. Two deadly, god-piercing spikes—his ultimate weapons—had silently maneuvered into position, hovering mere inches from Arlecchino's and Sandrone's hearts.

His lips twisted into a frenzied grin.

"Heh heh heh... Ahahaha! Let's go to hell together!"

Dottore's plan was simple.

If he was doomed to die, why not take down the ones hunting him? Most of his remaining power was channeled into activating the two spikes designed to pierce even a god's body. When the Empress had granted him her authority, he had studied the nature of divine power in detail.

He had concluded that while gods could lend their strength, the core essence of their bodies and spirits remained unchanged. Thus, he was confident that his spikes, capable of piercing divine bodies, would achieve instant kills.

With the immediate threat dealt with, he would focus on eliminating the other Harbingers. Eventually, the Empress herself would have to intervene to deal with him. For a god, being forced to kill those they had empowered was an unparalleled humiliation. To die at the hands of one of the Seven Archons themselves—what a glorious funeral that would be. Such an end had not been seen since the Archon War.

Dottore chuckled darkly.

In his perception, time seemed to slow. The two spikes inched closer to Arlecchino's and Sandrone's chests. In mere moments, their bodies would be as fragile as tofu, pierced through by the spikes. The demonic resentment and elemental energy within the spikes would detonate upon impact, utterly destroying them.

But then, in the very next instant, Dottore's eyes widened in disbelief. The spikes, which had always been his ultimate trump card, were enveloped in a blue glow the moment they made contact with their bodies. The energy and malevolent resentment imbued within the spikes were frozen solid in an instant.

Of course, the Empress had once granted Dottore her authority, so she was well aware of his trump cards. Naturally, she had taken precautions. Moreover, she had been watching this confrontation from the start to ensure its success.

How could one of the Seven Archons fail to guard against a mere godlike human?

In the end, humanity's arrogance always became the sharpest blade against itself at the moment of reckoning.

Before Dottore could process what had happened, a sharp pain shot through his neck and waist. Then, all sensation vanished. His vision spun wildly before finally settling.

What appeared before his eyes were two pairs of boots.

His pupils trembled.

Had he been knocked down?

No… This sensation was different. His head had been severed from his body.

Though he had reached godlike strength as a human, he was still just that—a human.

And when a human is killed, they die.

His remaining consciousness lingered only because his life force was extraordinarily tenacious, delaying the inevitable.

As the original and most authentic Dottore segment perished, the remaining segments fighting the other Harbingers were struck by catastrophic feedback.

One segment erupted into blue flames, its body reduced to ashes within seconds. Another dissolved into a puddle of liquid in the span of two heartbeats, managing only a single, terrified scream before vanishing.

The last two segments had already been defeated moments before Dottore's death.

Tartaglia, recovering from his [Foul Legacy: Raging Tide] form, fell to one knee, gasping for breath.

"Hah… hah… If not for Her Majesty's divine power, fighting in this state for so long would've killed me."

He took a deep breath, a faint smile crossing his face. "But I've never felt this strong before."

He glanced at the other Harbingers.

"Oh, right. Dottore has been eliminated. That means the threat to Snezhnaya's survival is finally over. These past three days… they've been exhausting."

"Without Her Majesty's power, I wouldn't have lasted," Tartaglia admitted, slumping slightly, his exhaustion finally catching up to him.

Arlecchino glanced at Dottore's severed head, noting that its pupils had yet to fully dilate. Crossing her arms, she remarked, "While I don't particularly care whether Snezhnaya survives or not, if it were to disappear, the funds I use to care for the children would dry up."

"And hungry children cry."

Sandrone, with her usual impassive demeanor, stated, "The matter is resolved. My total energy reserves are down by 73%. Immediate replenishment is required, or system maintenance will be compromised."

She turned to leave, addressing the group flatly. "Goodbye, colleagues. If you need to find me, use the code phrase with Katheryne at the Adventurers' Guild."

With that, the flames from her mechanical constructs propelled her into the sky, vanishing from sight.

Rosalyne, the Fair Lady, swayed her hips as she turned and walked away. "Since the task is done, I'll return to Snezhnaya and report directly to Her Majesty."

Though she knew the Empress had likely observed everything from afar, Rosalyne felt it her duty to personally present herself. Whether or not the other Harbingers would do the same, she did not care. For her, the Empress was her savior, and she must always act with the utmost respect.

Pantalone wore his signature warm smile. "Her Majesty's divine power is truly intoxicating. It's a pity she'll soon recall it. Quite a loss, wouldn't you agree?"

"Well then, as a banker, I should return to work. With the changes in Snezhnaya, the financial flows of the Northland Bank are busier than ever."

Arlecchino glanced at Tartaglia, who lay sprawled on the ground. She offered him a polite nod. "Tartaglia, I'll take my leave as well. Do try not to get eaten by wild beasts."

"Though, in a place like this, wild beasts are unlikely. Best of luck."

Tartaglia groaned, feeling the divine power within him slowly dissipate. His expression was somewhere between frustrated and tearful.

"If I'd known the battle would end so quickly, I wouldn't have used my Foul Legacy. Without the divine power suppressing the backlash, I'll probably be stuck lying here for days."

He sighed. "Looks like I'll have to rely on my subordinates to carry me back."

He had no intention of asking the other Harbingers for help. He didn't want to owe any of them a favor—it wasn't a game he could win against any of them.

...

Snezhnaya

In the palace throne room, Tsaritsa exhaled heavily, glancing at the clock. Five hours remained before the three-day deadline expired.

The Empress knew better than anyone that when the Heavenly Principle said three days, it meant exactly three days. Any delay, even by a second, would result in the Divine Nail descending.

Tsaritsa patted her chest, relieved. "We made it just in time."

Her thoughts drifted to her next task: awaiting further orders from the Heavenly Principle. Her gaze turned southward, toward Liyue, tinged with a hint of envy.

The Heavenly Principle had entrusted Liyue with an opportunity to prove itself.

With Morax's strength and cunning, surely Liyue would deliver the most satisfactory outcome among the Seven Nations.

...

Liyue Harbor

"Today's performance features my new piece, The Divine Damsel of Devastation. If there are any shortcomings, please offer your critique…"

Noah sat with Zhongli at the Heyu Tea House, listening to Yun Jin's opera performance. Though opera wasn't his usual interest, Yun Jin's delivery left him thoroughly captivated.

It was a cultural and sensory feast, blending spiritual and visual artistry. No wonder Zhongli spent his days listening to operas and strolling with his birds.

Sensing that Tsaritsa had completed the task he'd assigned, Noah nodded in satisfaction.

"Tsaritsa did an acceptable job. On a scale of 100, I'd give her a barely passing score of 65."

Turning to Zhongli, he continued, "Now it's your turn, Zhongli. Show me what you've prepared."

Zhongli's hand holding the teacup trembled slightly. His ancient golden eyes shimmered faintly, a light reminiscent of the wild spirit of his youth.

"The Adepti and the Eight Trades of the Liyue Qixing will soon converge on Mount Tianheng for their final stand."

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