Hearing Azhdaha's words, Furina rolled her eyes dramatically.
She knew this ancient dragon was still treating her like a petulant child, yet she could hardly protest. In truth, Azhdaha appearing in person to negotiate was already granting her immense diplomatic courtesy.
What manner of entity was Azhdaha?
Though he did not hold the divine seat of an Archon, claiming he fell short of one was pure self-deception. An ancient leyline sovereign awakened and granted sight by Rex Lapis, he had fought side by side with the God of Contracts throughout the bloody crucible of the Archon War, sweeping across the lands of Liyue. The number of gods that had perished under his claws was beyond counting. He had slaughtered not only minor and intermediate deities, but high-ranking apex gods as well.
Across the endless river of time, save for Zhongli, not a single reigning Archon in Teyvat was older than him.
In ancient days when the gatherings of the Seven Archons were still held, though Furina had never attended them personally, records indicated that Azhdaha was always present at the table. The other sovereign Archons fully recognized his stature and martial prowess, and even Barbatos, an original member of the Seven, interacted with him as an equal.
What could she possibly say against such standing?
Azhdaha held no Archon's throne, yet he had never needed a divine title to ornament his authority. During their sole encounter in the distant past, Furina had watched Barbatos provoke Azhdaha, only for the dragon sovereign to swat the Anemo Archon straight into the dirt with a single swipe of his tail.
With Azhdaha's sheer strength, had he ever harbored ambitions of divine rule, he could have left Liyue and claimed dominion over any of the other six nations. Even if an Archon fought with the full empowerment of their domestic leylines, defeat remained the inevitable outcome against him.
He was undeniably a primordial senior. In Zhongli's absence, his word carried the full weight of Rex Lapis himself.
Furina waved her hand with an exasperated flick of her wrist. "Fine, fine! How tedious! You ancient relics love nothing more than using your age to bully younger generations!"
"Careful with your words, little one," Azhdaha rumbled with a deep, rumbling chuckle, shaking his massive head. "If Morax catches wind of that, he will accuse me of mistreating you."
He paused, his golden eyes steady. "In any case, grant me this courtesy, and let the matter rest here. As for the diplomatic friction caused by their crossing, Buer and Barnabas will offer you a formal personal apology once their current duties conclude. Furthermore, this conflict was incited by those augmented Fatui remnants. The Abyss Order is currently purging their rogue cells across the northern reaches, which serves as adequate retribution on your behalf."
Furina's brow arched slightly, her gaze locking onto Azhdaha with sharp contemplation. "So, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata has truly returned to life as well?"
Her expression clouded slightly as her thoughts drifted into deep, uncertain waters.
Though Azhdaha rarely concerned himself with administrative intricacies, and Ningguang's inner circle often teased him for his ancient battle cries against Morax, anyone who believed the Lord of Vishaps lacked wisdom was a fool. Those who waged war alongside Zhongli without a sharp mind had perished millennia ago. Azhdaha merely disliked civil governance; the accumulated wisdom of countless eras was etched into his very bones.
Perceiving the source of her unease, Azhdaha spoke in a lowered, reassuring rumble. "Rest assured, we will not interfere in Fontaine's internal affairs without invitation. The matters weighing upon your mind will remain untouched, unless you formally request assistance, or Mister Ryen takes a personal interest in restoring your predecessor. Bringing back the fallen carries its own profound toll; we do not distribute resurrections carelessly."
Furina let out a long, quiet breath. At the very least, they would not resurrect the previous Hydro Archon without warning, which brought a measure of relief to her overburdened thoughts.
A moment later, she crossed her arms, her theatrical petulance returning. "Old monsters truly possess an answer for everything. I despise dealing with beings who have lived for thousands of years."
"That is merely because your thoughts are far too easy to read, little Focalors," Azhdaha laughed heartily before settling into a dignified composure. "Well then? Will you grant me this consideration, and grant Morax this respect, by permitting their column to depart in peace? As for the restitution and formal apologies, Buer and Barnabas will seek you out personally once their tasks are complete."
Had Ryen witnessed this exchange, he would have found endless amusement in seeing Azhdaha act as Teyvat's premier diplomatic mediator.
Furina pursed her lips, offering a dry retort. "Even if I refused to grant you this consideration, could my forces truly stop you from escorting them away?"
A trace of amusement flickered within Azhdaha's luminous golden pupils, though he offered no reply.
Members of the Five-Nation Alliance answered exclusively to the jurisdiction of the alliance. While Sumeru and Snezhnaya had pushed the boundaries of protocol, the rogue Fatui faction had initiated the violence. Azhdaha was surrounded by ancient acquaintances and naturally preferred to balance diplomacy with courtesy.
Had Ryen been standing here in his stead, matters would have progressed far more bluntly. To the master of the block world, his people answered only to his judgment, even if they leveled an entire realm.
Reasoning with an outsider? That was never the doctrine of a block-born sovereign.
Furina waved her sleeve dismissively, her interest in the confrontation entirely spent. "Take them and leave. How utterly unfortunate to cross paths with your lot today!"
Arlecchino exhaled a quiet breath of relief, stepping forward with a crisp salute. "Snezhnaya will fully assume all financial responsibility for the damage inflicted upon the frontier. We will ensure Fontaine receives a generous token of apology."
Furina gave a soft scoff, turning her back on the border as she motioned for Neuvillette and Clorinde to follow.
As they began their ascent up the ridge, Azhdaha called out behind them, his voice rolling across the peaks like distant thunder. "Little Focalors, profound upheaval is about to sweep across Teyvat. Have you no interest in joining the alliance?"
Neuvillette and Clorinde hesitated, casting a fleeting, inquiring glance toward the Hydro Archon.
Furina paused in her stride, a complicated shadow crossing her eyes. After a heavy silence, she spoke in a measured, aloof tone. "Your grand crusade is far too hazardous for my tastes. I have no interest in your wars. I would much rather remain in my seat, enjoying the splendid dramas of the Opera Epiclese in absolute peace."
Azhdaha showed no disappointment, having offered the invitation merely as a passing thought. Zhongli had mentioned that the cataclysm five hundred years ago had left deep, indelible trauma upon the young Hydro Archon's spirit, leaving her terrified of defying the mandate of Celestia.
The will of a sovereign deity could only be reshaped from within; no external counsel could force the transition.
Azhdaha nodded slowly, his deep voice carrying a rare warmth. "Then look after yourself. An alliance war is inevitable, and though we bear no malice toward your people, the flames of conflict will inevitably brush against Fontaine. Take care of yourself, little Focalors."
Without turning around, Furina picked up her pace, her voice drifting back cold and resolute. "Fontaine will not involve itself in foreign disputes. We have neither the leisure nor the inclination! Whatever you plan, it has nothing to do with us!"
With those final words, she led her retinue across the crest of the hill, vanishing beyond the ridge.
"Nothing to do with you..." Azhdaha murmured, letting out a low, weary sigh.
For any living being breathing upon the soil of Teyvat, how could an upheaval of this magnitude ever leave them untouched?
Turning his gaze away from the empty ridge, Azhdaha set the thought aside. Every entity chose its own path, especially the gods. If Furina refused to align with them, so be it; Azhdaha could not guarantee the preservation of Fontaine's legacy when the final war commenced. When total war erupted, the entire world would be thrown into chaos. When every nation fought for its own survival, none would have the luxury to shelter an isolated neighbor.
The scars of five hundred years past truly ran deep.
Shaking off the lingering melancholy, Azhdaha turned to look down upon Arlecchino and Candace.
"The matter is settled. I will inform Buer and Barnabas of the details, and the final administrative arrangements will rest in their hands. However, they are currently exploring the New Continent alongside Mister Ryen and will likely be occupied for some time. You may proceed with your march across Sumeru; the path through Sumeru and Liyue is completely secure. There is no need to rush your pace, as the main party has not yet returned."
Arlecchino bowed deeply, her voice filled with sincere gratitude. "Thank you, Lord Azhdaha. We apologize for the trouble our passage has caused you."
"There is no need for apologies," Azhdaha rumbled gently. "Mister Ryen entrusted me with the defense of the alliance during their absence. This is merely my duty."
Behind them, the Iniquitous Baptist tore open another Abyssal rift, waiting respectfully for the dragon sovereign to enter.
Abyssal corridors traversed the depths of the void, serving as specialized transit pathways for Abyssal mages. Ordinary mortals of Teyvat could not endure the corrosive exposure of the crossing. While Azhdaha and the Adepti were entirely immune to such trivial corruption, Arlecchino's mortal infantry could never survive the transit, which was why they had to march overland toward Liyue on foot.
"I shall take my leave," Azhdaha said in parting. "Continue your journey without fear. As for the modified Fatui remnants, the Abyss Order will handle the remaining cleanup."
With that final instruction, Azhdaha stepped through the rift alongside the flying Adepti, disappearing from the valley.
The moment the colossal dragon departed, the crushing mountain-tier aura that had blanketed the region dissipated completely.
Arlecchino and Candace both let out long sighs of relief. Though Azhdaha had restrained his pressure as much as possible, the natural presence of a primordial apex lifeform was impossible to suppress entirely. To mortal warriors who had yet to undergo systemic physical enhancement, standing before such absolute power was an overwhelming ordeal.
Arlecchino immediately ordered her officers to tally their casualties and equipment before turning back to Candace with an apologetic grimace. "We have brought considerable trouble to your borders. Snezhnaya will cover every Mora of the restitution."
Candace shook her head with a gentle smile. "We are allies; offering mutual support is our fundamental obligation. Once your troops have rested and reorganized, we will march together. My unit will escort you through Sumeru."
Arlecchino felt a heavy weight lift from her chest. While rogue Fatui units would not dare attack within Sumeru's borders, wild monsters still roamed the wilderness. Moving a massive military column naturally drew predatory beasts, and having Sumeru's aerial vanguard as an escort guaranteed complete safety.
Curiosity surfaced in Arlecchino's thoughts, prompting her to ask, "Were your divisions not occupied with the great desert terraforming initiative?"
Candace's expression brightened with genuine pride as she nodded. "The primary phase of the transformation has concluded successfully. We have converted an expanse of the desert matching half the size of the rainforest into lush, fertile territory. The Akademiya has decided against altering the remaining sands, wishing to preserve the natural desert as a training ground and protect Sumeru's cultural heritage."
She gestured toward the distant horizon. "The land reclaimed thus far is more than sufficient to sustain all our desert folk. The next phase involves long-term urban construction, which the Akademiya's architectural divisions can manage on their own. Greater Lord Rukkhadevata sent word instructing us to assemble the next intake of personnel destined for Mister Ryen's realm, so my unit was assigned to mobilize the candidates. These soldiers riding with me form the vanguard of the incoming deployment."
Arlecchino turned her gaze toward the Sumeru ranks. While these soldiers might not yet match the seasoned veterans of Liyue's Millelith, their discipline, equipment, and morale were impeccable. In truth, this thousand-man unit far surpassed the hasty levies she had managed to gather from Snezhnaya. The benefits of consistent operational refinement were undeniable.
Then there was their modern ballistic weaponry. With Snezhnaya paralyzed by internal division, the Tsaritsa had avoided sending firearms and advanced military hardware back home, fearing Dottore might capture the technology for dangerous reverse-engineering. Now that Dottore and Pierro were actively hunted by the Abyss Order, Snezhnaya could finally enjoy a period of stable modernization.
After a brief pause, Arlecchino nodded with deep respect. "Then we place ourselves in your capable hands for the remainder of the march."
Candace gave an approving nod, turning to signal her adjutant. "Distribute a portion of our alchemical healing draughts to the Snezhnayan ranks so their combat strength recovers quickly. We will rest here for one hour before resuming the march."
"Understood, Lady Candace!" The adjutant saluted crisply and hurried off to coordinate the supply crates.
Arlecchino opened her mouth to express her gratitude once more, but Candace gently held up a hand.
"There is no need for endless thanks; this is simply how allies operate. When Sumeru first entered the alliance, Her Majesty the Tsaritsa provided us with immense logistical guidance and material support. Our automated potion production lines were established with the collective aid of the coalition. This is a minor courtesy."
Candace smiled warmly, her tone easy and open. "Your homeland was merely hindered by internal unrest, leaving Her Majesty with too many domestic concerns to establish direct supply routes. In truth, Snezhnaya's operational footprint in that world is far larger than Sumeru's. Once you cross over and witness it firsthand, you will realize these basic potions are merely the baseline."
Arlecchino nodded slowly, her eyes drifting toward the majestic dragons resting calmly behind the Sumeru lines.
After a moment of quiet hesitation, she spoke softly. "Could you tell me more about that world? Her Majesty... has rarely had the time to explain the details."
"Is that so?" Candace blinked in surprise, then gave a cheerful, welcoming nod as she sat down on a nearby boulder. "Gladly. We have an hour to rest, so let me think where I should begin..."