Zero-frame startup

[*Main Quest* completed. Reward obtained: Manifestation Art, unlocked.

Manifestation Art: A combat art that materializes power through elemental (spirit) circuits, instantly constructing physical armaments.

Tip: It's not that we can't afford Longinus; something whipped up on the spot is simply better value!]

...Did something weird sneak in there?

"...Gabrielina?"

Elemental... circuits? Nice, that freak of a system even installed a local mod...

"Gabrielina?"

"Huh?"

The angel stopped and looked up to find both of them turned toward her. The blonde girl's lips were slightly parted as she gave her a meaningful look.

"...I'm listening! What happened next? What happened to you?"

Was she really listening?

No.

Fortunately, Gabrielina wasn't a dialogue skipper. She knew most of the story from before her transmigration.

Lumine sighed softly, but continued in her gentle voice. "After that, the god sealed me away too, and I lost my original power. We, who had once crossed so many worlds, were trapped here...

"...How many years ago was that, exactly? I don't know, but I'll find a way to find out. After waking up, I wandered alone until two months ago, when I met Paimon."

Of course, Gabrielina knew who the god Lumine spoke of was.

The Sustainer of Heavenly Principles.

The Ruler of Space-Asmoday.

Perhaps the strongest being in the world today beneath the [Heavenly Principles], a deity above the Seven Archons who had long since become an integral part of Teyvat.

But... Gabrielina wasn't worried in the slightest!

There was nothing a single Heaven's Strike couldn't solve. If there was, she'd just crank it up to full power.

Besides, a fight to the death wasn't necessarily required... what if...

Gabrielina stared at Paimon, her cross-shaped pupils flickering ever more brightly, as though molten lava flowed within them.

Paimon: Feels like countless eyes are staring at me.jpg

"I see... Sorry, Lumine, I really don't know the god you mentioned, or the Anemo Archon," Gabrielina replied dejectedly. "If only I could remember a little more, but..."

"It's okay, Gabrielina! There's no need to apologize for any of that..."

Yes, Gabrielina, who kept calling her a "scummy little sister," not only couldn't be bothered to listen to her, but had also slapped together a classic excuse for herself: "I can't remember."

She hadn't even bothered to put any more thought into it, yet the kindhearted Traveler hadn't challenged her at all.

The system spat indignantly as well. "Pah! You're the real 'Scum of Humanity'!"

"Then what do you want me to do?! Why not tell me to broadcast 'Before Sun and Moon' at the village entrance?"

"I don't care! I want to see rivers of blood!!"

Ignoring the system's racket, Gabrielina curled her right hand into a loose fist and held it out toward Lumine.

"Lumine, I have a gift for you."

Gabrielina slowly closed her right hand. A pitch-black fluid suddenly welled up in her palm, twisting and flowing between her fingers as though alive.

Lumine and Paimon both widened their eyes-the substance twisted and shifted in the air, gradually solidifying into the outline of a blade.

"This is..." Lumine involuntarily took half a step forward.

With a clear metallic ring, the black fluid instantly hardened.

Gabrielina smiled and opened her hand. A jet-black longsword, its edge traced with dark gold patterns, hovered silently above her palm.

Lumine took the black sword from the girl, then held her right index and middle fingers together and gently stroked the blade.

A strange warmth reached her, faint ripples of energy brushing affectionately against her fingertips. It felt like stroking a piece of living metal.

"This is a weapon forged with my ability. It should be better than... uh..." The angel scratched her forehead sheepishly.

"Better than your old sword."

As for why she'd said "old," don't ask. If anyone did, the answer was, "You startled me, so I disarmed you!"

"Wow! Gabrielina, c-can you make one for me too?!" Paimon clenched her little fists excitedly, her white cape bobbing with her movements.

"Paimon..."

Lumine quickly glanced at Gabrielina beside her, then gave Paimon a somewhat helpless look.

"Haha... It's fine, Lumine." The girl smiled gently, the feathers by her ears seemingly swaying of their own accord. Perhaps she was in a good mood?

Looking at those two soft tufts of golden feathers, which looked wonderfully touchable, Lumine suddenly felt an itch in the hand that wasn't holding the sword.

...Mm, the wings look nice to touch too.

"Paimon, weapons forged with this ability are very heavy. You won't be able to fly if you carry one~"

"...I-is that so? I'll just... keep flying, then."

Having easily dealt with Paimon, Gabrielina turned to Lumine again and gestured for her to raise the sword in her hand.

"Lumine, want to give it a try?"

"...Okay."

Lumine gripped the hilt with both hands. Even bathed in the warm sunlight, the black blade had no sheen at all.

She looked around, her gaze soon settling on a group of Slimes nearby-

The round little creatures had gathered around a burning flower and were bouncing about, looking for all the world as though they were high out of their minds.

Yet just as the girl was about to charge forward, she abruptly stopped.

As though something had occurred to her, she adjusted her stance slightly, held the sword horizontally before her chest, and gently closed her eyes.

"...Wind, carry you away!"

Lumine immediately leaped into the air, flipped, and unleashed a surge of Anemo power.

The instant she swung the longsword, a tornado six or seven meters tall sprang up on the path before her.

The howling storm swept up every Slime in its path. Whether it was because reality differed from the game or because of some property of creations made with the Manifestation Art, even the large Slimes were sent flying!

In just a few seconds, those cold Slimes had become warm drops in her inventory.

"Look at her. Now that's efficiency!"

The angel, who had been in a sunny mood watching the sweet girl, instantly felt sour.

"Didn't she use her ult straight off with zero-frame startup too?! Hers just made a little less noise than mine, that's all. Hmph."

Just then, the girl came running back with the sword.

"Thank you, Gabrielina! It works great!" Lumine looked genuinely happy, and even the slight wariness she'd shown on the road earlier had almost vanished.

"Before, I'd always feel unwell for a while after using my Elemental Burst. This time, I barely felt anything..."

"Did you feel really bad before?"

Could it be... she was out of energy and waiting for the cooldown?

"Mm~" The girl shook her head. "Not really bad, just a little weak. Oh, Gabrielina, does an ability like this... put a strain on you?"

Gabrielina: She cares about me. I matter to her!

"No~ Using it is just like using my own hands and feet. Of course... wait."

The angel suddenly raised a finger to her lips, signaling for the two of them to be quiet.

Some strange sound seemed to be drawing ever closer, like... a very strong wind.

"...Traveler, does yours last this long now?"

"I-"

Gabrielina abruptly spread her wings, shielding Lumine and Paimon from the raging gale as her cherry-blossom-colored hair danced in a rainbow halo.

High in the heavens, a piercing dragon's roar rang out.