Telling

"Elements existed in every corner of the world. They were the foundation upon which the world was built."

Zhongli's gentle, deep voice rang out.

"I refined elemental power and gained a new kind of strength, one that was purer and resonated with the world more deeply than elemental power."

"This power could be gentler, or more violent. It all depended on its user..."

As they listened to him describe the origins of a world's power system, everyone gained a rudimentary understanding of Teyvat's Adeptal Power.

Zhongli extended the index finger of his right hand, and a brilliant, sparkling golden force floated above its tip.

"What dense magical power!" Sitting closest to Zhongli, Su Lin leaned in until his face was nearly pressed against the manifested Adeptal Power, examining it closely.

Ye Fan seemed to be deep in thought.

According to Zhongli, the spiritual energy in Teyvat was inert. Moreover, because elemental power was highly active, spiritual energy was often mixed with it in a mottled, impure state.

Without refinement, it was extremely difficult to use.

Zhongli had discovered this power while seeking a more efficient way to use elemental power, then began researching purification techniques.

Later, over the course of long ages, Adepti who had mastered Adeptal Power began to appear.

But—

That did not mean the Adepti were merely ordinary cultivators.

With such a high starting point, followed by cultivation over countless years, they were likely genuine Immortals in their world.

"Sorry for the wait."

A portal flickered to life.

Shirou Emiya stepped out first, one of his hands still reaching back through the portal, holding onto something.

"Don't be scared. Just come over."

"I'm not scared!" a clear, crisp voice rang out.

Led by Shirou Emiya, a little girl in a purple dress and purple beret stepped through from the other side of the portal. Her peach-gold hair looked almost silver, and her eyes were red.

She was Illya, the daughter of Shirou Emiya's adoptive father.

Su Lin had no idea that Shirou Emiya had privately spoken with Xiao Yan. Seeing this, he even forgot to set down his teacup.

"That's a crime."

Of course, he was joking.

Illya looked around in sudden realization. She had not expected Shirou Emiya to be telling the truth.

Whoosh—

A huge, pitch-black figure appeared, blocking the little girl from view.

Violent Dou Qi surged freely. The Berserker in everyone's eyes now radiated immense hostility toward them, and the fighting spirit forged through countless battles could make weaker people faint.

Fortunately—

There were not many weak people here.

Lu Mingfei, who had taken out his phone to snap pictures for keepsakes, offered no comment.

His carefree manner made it seem as though he had already decided that if the sky fell, someone bigger would hold it up.

Instead, he was the most relaxed person there.

Though he had indeed been startled at first, Lu Mingfei hurriedly pulled out his phone once he recovered.

This was an incredibly rare chance to see the real thing.

He had to take a picture to commemorate it. Who knew whether he would have another chance to see the real Saber?

Fate/Zero had only recently been released in their world, and it was quite popular.

Lu Mingfei had originally planned to buy some figures during this trip to Akihabara.

With the stone axe-sword held horizontally before his chest, Berserker remained in a defensive stance, warily watching the people gathered around the stone table.

"Berserker?" Illya looked puzzled.

Zhongli rose to his feet, somewhat surprised as he examined the hostile Warrior before him.

"A soul body, yet it seems to possess a physical body."

Ignoring Berserker's hostility, he slowly walked toward the giant.

"Rin's chilling fighting spirit and exceptional reactions, but why does your soul seem to have been branded with madness?"

"Interesting."

Watching the man approach step by step—

The giant was about to lose his restraint.

"Wait, Berserker." Illya stopped him. "Who are you? And where is this?"

"There is no rush. Let the young man who brought you here explain first."

Zhongli stopped ten meters away.

"Mm." After considering it, Zhongli asked, "May I first awaken this Warrior from his madness?"

Illya turned to glance at Shirou Emiya beside her.

It was all so inexplicable.

Everything was inexplicable.

Shirou Emiya had somehow learned about her physical condition. He had said he could take her to a place like a fairyland and cure her body.

If Shirou Emiya had not been so much fun to play with, and if he had not suggested that they live like family, she would never have believed such a lie.

Honestly, the portal-like magecraft had surprised her quite a bit.

Shirou Emiya had also said that if she was worried, she could bring Berserker along. She could even use magecraft to control Shirou Emiya's life first.

Only after he had gone that far did she decide to come and take a look.

After arriving here, her connection to the Greater Grail had actually been severed.

One had to know that no matter where on Earth she was, her connection to the Greater Grail, as the Lesser Grail, could not possibly be cut off.

And then there was this group of people before her.

They had actually made Berserker take up a defensive stance on his own.

"Don't worry, Illya. They aren't bad people."

Illya kicked Shirou Emiya's foot. "Don't treat me like a child!"

"Hiss—"

Illya nodded.

Berserker lowered his stance and stood silently in place, allowing Zhongli to approach.

Golden talismans formed from Aether, turning into a golden streak of light that burrowed into Berserker's body.

Gradually, the madness vanished from the black giant's eyes, and his mind, eroded by insanity, slowly calmed.

"Berserker?"

Berserker nodded. "Which God's incarnation are you, Your Excellency?"

The divinity was exceedingly faint. If he had not been the mighty Heracles of myth and possessed divinity himself, he likely would have found it difficult to notice.

Yet that faint divinity matched the man before him perfectly. The only conclusion was that this man was the incarnation of some God.

"When I was one of the Seven who ruled the mortal world, I was called Morax. I doubt you know that name. Like everyone else, simply call me by my present name, Zhongli."

Zhongli observed Berserker's current state. He had developed a strong interest in this materialization of the soul.

Remembering that the others were still waiting nearby, he temporarily restrained his urge to study the phenomenon.

"One of King Solomon's seventy-two demons?" Heracles sounded slightly surprised. "I never expected that you could still walk the world in an age after mythology had ended."

Zhongli was slightly taken aback, realizing what Heracles had misunderstood.

"I am not the one you speak of," Zhongli added. "I was once the God who governed land and wealth on the continent of Teyvat, as well as the God of Contracts. Not long ago, I stepped down from my position as the God of Geo."

"To you, I should count as a God from another world."

"Another world?!"

"Come sit down and talk first. Aren't you tired from standing around?" Su Lin beckoned to the group.

"Indeed. Why not take your seats first?" Zhongli walked back toward the others, thoughtfully creating several stone chairs with the power of Geo.

Completely bewildered, Illya and Heracles could only follow and sit down first, analyzing the situation before them as they did so.

Once they were seated, the earlier discussion of Adeptal Power resumed.

(End of chapter)