Meanwhile, on another front.
Consciousness slowly surfaced, as if emerging from the depths of an endless ocean. Her eyes opened, bleary and unfocused.
"This feeling... it's familiar..."
Kiana understood immediately.
She had taken over someone else's account again.
Thanks to her convergence of the future and the specific adjustments she'd made, the likelihood of this happening was now much higher than before.
It wasn't even limited to just alternate versions of herself anymore.
But she still had no way of knowing exactly when this phenomenon would occur.
Nor could she tell which world she'd ended up in, or more precisely, whose body she'd just hijacked. Figuring that out was obviously her top priority right now.
One could say she'd left things open on purpose, not locking it to a specific world, just for a bit of that random blind box thrill.
But that didn't stop her from wanting to quickly grasp her current environment and situation. It was like a role-playing game; you still had to figure out the background setting first, right?
Wasn't that so?
The only thing she could be sure of was this!
Usually, the ones whose accounts got taken over were girls connected to her by some thread of causality.
Maybe an alternate self. Or perhaps someone she'd come into contact with in the future.
"System, you there?"
[I am.]
Kiana couldn't be bothered to figure it out herself.
Rather than exploring bit by bit, it was easier to just ask the System directly.
She could feel she was currently sitting on a throne, which suggested her status here wasn't low.
Her surroundings were modeled after medieval Greek architecture, with towering cylindrical pillars carved with intricate patterns. The vaulted ceiling resembled an endless starry sky, draping over this sacred hall.
Simple, austere, yet still full of style.
It was just a bit... lonely. And deathly still.
"What's my situation now?" Kiana asked.
[Host.]
[You have arrived in a specific Genshin Impact world. You are currently occupying the body of your alternate self in this world: The First Throne, Heavenly Principle, Phanes.]
The System's reply was calm.
Succinct, but sufficient.
[In this Genshin Impact world, the main storyline has already begun and has progressed to the Natlan chapter.]
[In other words, the arcs for Mondstadt, Liyue, Inazuma, Sumeru, and Fontaine have all concluded.]
[The Traveler is Lumine.]
[Aether is the Prince of the Abyss.]
"Hmm..."
Kiana raised her hand, gently clenched it into a fist, then slowly relaxed it.
She stood up, gradually acclimating to this body.
It was quite similar to the last time she took over Kiana's body!
Her power as the Herrscher of Finality was completely accessible.
Moreover, since this version of Phanes was already severely injured, practically in a vegetative state with no conscious will to resist her, she had taken over this body completely and utterly.
It was even easier than last time with Kiana.
But then again, thinking about it...
Back then, Kiana's will was utterly exhausted, pushed to the brink of collapse from overexertion, which was why she fell into a coma.
But!
Inside her, there was the Queen, Fu Hua, herself, and later, Kiana.
Enough to start a mahjong game, all of them interfering with each other.
Even though Kiana had held overwhelming dominance and absolute control at the time.
It still couldn't compare to the comfort of this simple, unoccupied vessel.
Of course, this isn't to say that Phanes was completely gone.
Or rather, if Kiana had arrived any later, she probably would have been.
Right now, it felt like that unique Ultraman-style shared consciousness situation.
With Kiana now at the helm.
Phanes could slowly recover from her spiritual wounds.
As for the physical body? The severe injuries and Abyssal corruption were nothing major.
The Abyss... it's just degraded quantum energy.
What can it even do besides bully elemental energy?
Honey, this is Honkai energy!
You're out of your league. Go call your big brother, proper quantum energy, if you want to play!
Hmph!
Kiana casually checked the body's current state.
Power surged within, and all impurities instantly dissolved and vanished as if ice and snow melting, completely turning to dust.
It didn't feel strenuous at all.
As easy as breathing.
[Host.]
[According to calculations, your stay in this world will last approximately one week.]
[This system has adjusted the time flow rate between the two worlds.]
[Upon your return, only a single night will have passed.]
[There is no need for excessive concern.]
"That's good!"
Kiana began walking towards the main hall's exit. After all, last time she took over Kiana's body, everything was very rushed.
Time was tight.
It was fortunate that she only occupied Kiana for about half an hour, not too long. Even so, several hours had passed in the main world by the time she returned.
This time discrepancy might be related to the distance between worlds, or perhaps connected to their respective world levels.
But Kiana didn't want to gamble on anything.
Since it was like a dream, she'd treat it as one.
Just sleeping for one night.
That should be about right!
"Only... one week, huh..."
"Time's a bit tight."
Kiana muttered to herself.
She started making mental calculations.
She could set aside the other nations and their storylines for now.
Sumeru and Fontaine, however, definitely needed consideration.
First.
In Sumeru.
The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's existence had been erased.
The current Lesser Lord Kusanali had grafted the former's achievements onto herself, but without having experienced any of it herself, she'd ended up merging into some kind of monstrosity.
The humble little Dendro Archon was gone.
Replaced by this... 'Canon' King.
One could argue the original Lesser Lord Kusanali lacked the capability to rule, but at least she had self-awareness. She knew her own limitations, knew she had much to learn, which is why for centuries she let the Akademiya handle things on their own.
It was only when the Akademiya went too far.
That she finally got angry.
But this 'Canon' King? What exactly is she?
Unable to distinguish priority, utterly arrogant.
Can't see her own place clearly. She's the protector and manager of the Irminsul, equivalent to a database administrator.
The Heavenly Principle entrusted her with managing the Irminsul not so she could arbitrarily alter it. It was so she could prevent any and all threats, and stop anyone from accessing the Irminsul.
And what did she do?!
Even though in her past life, it was the fault of the game developers and the writers having a few screws loose.
But this is reality! Since it exists, since it happened, it's a problem!
Even the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata only dared to look up information within the Irminsul, to consult it, never daring to arbitrarily tamper with its contents.
And you, 'Canon' King, you think you're better than the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, is that it?
The moment you gained power, in order to win over Scaramouche, you helped him alter the Irminsul, letting a war criminal stay.
What kind of logic is that?! It's laughable.
If you wanted him to turn over a new leaf, why give him back his original memories?
You say even prisoners have the right to rehabilitation.
That's even more nonsense.
You claim that with Scaramouche around, Sumeru gains an extra combat asset, and you yourself aren't skilled in fighting. But without the Gnosis, what can Scaramouche even do?
Keep him around to be a nuisance?
If that's not having a few screws loose, what is?
--+--
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