"The same goal?" For a moment, Danika couldn't understand what he meant.
"The Tsaritsa is trying to seize the Gnoses of the other six nations' gods right now, isn't she?" Tang Wang casually revealed a plan that was still a secret.
"...Indeed." Danika was noncommittal.
"Then, Danika, look at what the Fatui have done..." His expression suddenly turned much colder. "Do you really want an organization like that to claim so much of the credit?"
"What do you mean?" Though her tone was wary, Danika's eyes lit up instinctively.
As one of the Tsaritsa's close aides, how could she not long to help her resolve her troubles? Unfortunately, she didn't believe she had the ability.
"I mean, I want you to take charge of sending the Gnoses back to Snezhnaya."
That brief sentence left the other three present utterly speechless with astonishment.
"...If you want to seize the Gnoses, count me in." Ronavа immediately picked up on Tang Wang's words.
After thinking it over for a long while, she no longer concealed her hatred for the Heavenly Principles. Since they were opposing the Heavenly Principles, she naturally had no reason to refuse.
"Seize them? No need for so much trouble." Tang Wang shook his head. "When the time is right, I'll have a way to get the Gnoses."
"When that happens, I'll have to trouble you, Danika."
"If you can really do that," she said, her expression still maintaining an almost indifferent calm, though anyone could hear the delight in her voice, "then I'm the one who should be thanking you."
"All right, now that we've settled the alliance..." He turned to Linaya. "Lili, I should explain what happened just now."
"Do you remember what I told you before... about Lunar Reactions?"
"Mm." Linaya nodded eagerly. "You said that when someone with a Wheel of the Moon like me controls an element and causes it to react with Hydro, the ordinary elemental reaction is elevated into a Lunar Reaction."
"Lunar Reactions are reactions involving Teyvat's origin." Ronava's gaze grew much more serious. Though her memories were hazy, she voiced the impression she instinctively had. "In a sense, they're the reactions closest to Light Realm Power."
"And Lunar Reactions have an extraordinarily powerful suppressive effect on the Abyss." Tang Wang nodded slightly.
"Like the Wild Hunt in Nod-Krai?"
"Right. Linaya, as long as you can trigger Lunar Crystallize with Hydro, you can suppress the Abyss. That naturally includes the Wild Hunt."
"But among us..." Danika looked around. "There doesn't seem to be anyone with a Hydro Vision, does there?"
"Yeah, that's the awkward part." As he spoke, he looked at Danika again. "But besides that, there's something else I want to study."
"Danika, the Star's Wedge you have is Electro, right?"
"What? You want me to trigger Lunar Superconduct?"
"Yes." He nodded more emphatically. "Just now, when we were fighting the Abyss Herald... the Lunar Crystallize Linaya triggered strengthened and accumulated the Gang Qi around me."
"Speaking of which, what exactly is Gang Qi? Is it that layer of golden light around you?" For the first time, Danika's eyes showed... desire?
"Yes."
"It seems to be a very practical art. So, Mr. Tang Wang, could you teach it to me?"
"Unfortunately, only people without Visions can learn this technique."
"Can I learn it, then?" Ronava looked curious.
"I don't know. I'm not sure. Let's give it a try later."
Then, with one more person in their party, they set out on the delivery commission.
As it happened, the job Danika had been hired for also included ensuring the transport of supplies throughout Mondstadt. In a sense, it was another way of killing two birds with one stone.
"What the hell?" On the road to Mondstadt City, Tang Wang thrust his spear through yet another enormous Lawachurl. "Is this Mondstadt or Natlan?"
"Since when did the Abyss become so rampant?" Ronava also swept aside the monsters that had turned to ash.
"Recently, according to intelligence from Snezhnaya..." Danika leaned on her Bell, panting. "The Abyss's power has become far stronger and more violent than before."
"Nod-Krai may be where it started, but its effects have spread throughout Teyvat."
"I see." He nodded. "Then we'd better pick up the pace."
With no intention of hiding it from Danika, he used Shrinking the Ground to an Inch to its fullest.
Seconds later, they arrived outside Mondstadt City. Such astonishing speed naturally made Danika notice something was amiss.
"What was that?"
"Shrinking the Ground to an Inch." Linaya gave her the name directly. "It's very useful, isn't it?"
"I see..." After a moment of surprise, Danika suddenly understood a great deal. "So you were hired by Mondstadt as adventurers?"
"That's right." Now that they had returned to Mondstadt City, Tang Wang revealed another need of his.
"Danika, did you buy that Bell of yours through legitimate channels?"
"No. It came from the black market in Snezhnaya." She shook her head.
"Good." Tang Wang explained his Epitome Invocation ability and his need to reclaim that ability to her as briefly as possible.
"As payment in advance," he said, holding out his hand, "I'll teach you some traditional martial arts secret techniques."
The effects of the dragon's rampage had subsided somewhat for the time being, perhaps because the Abyss Order was trying to manipulate Dvalin further.
He had to seize this opportunity to quickly improve his team's combat strength. Naturally, Ronava and Danika were first on the list.
The former possessed powerful Elemental Power but couldn't put it to use, while the latter didn't seem to have fully mastered her Elemental Skill and Elemental Burst...
Besides that, Tang Wang also had to investigate whether both Star Reactions and Lunar Reactions could provide him with Gang Qi. Thinking about it, there really was no shortage of things to do.
"Cough, cough, cough..." At the foot of Dragonspine, Paimon, who had just made it through the cold wave, was wrapped in a small blanket and shivering.
"Are you all right, Paimon?" Albedo, who was beside her, handed her a bowl of hot carrot soup.
"I-I'm fine." Paimon managed a somewhat strained smile. "Dragonspine is way too cold! How can a place like this even exist in this world..."
"Deep within the mountain, there seems to be some kind of power affecting its environment." Albedo turned his head toward the tallest peak.
"But the immediate priority is to return to Mondstadt City first. Don't worry, everyone in Mondstadt will take good care of you."
"What about you, Albedo?" Paimon asked anxiously. "Are you going back to Dragonspine?"
"Yes. I still have my own projects and research to complete." Recalling the face of his nominal "mother," Gold, "Rhinedottir," Albedo couldn't help clenching his fist.
The fate of the world, history looping back upon itself-the Primordial One reversed destruction, Celestia burned the nation of the earth, the future saved the past, and Chalk pursued Gold...
But this time, the end of the loop would lead to a new light, or endless darkness.