"Where... is this?"

When Lu Li came to his senses, all he could see was a peculiar world submerged in water.

It looked somewhat like the Opera Epiclese, but underwater. When he moved his limbs, Lu Li felt the exact same sensation as being submerged.

The atmosphere, along with the floating tables, chairs, and decorations, confirmed his theory.

The flooded Opera Epiclese...

Lu Li seemed to realize something, and his expression changed as he looked up.

Sure enough, high above, a massive blade made of shimmering Indemnitium hung in the air—the Sword of Damocles.

And on its hilt sat a woman with long, silver hair.

She wore an open-work dress of black, white, and blue, and possessed the same delicate features as the current Hydro Archon, Furina. At this moment, her heterochromatic eyes were looking at Lu Li—who had suddenly appeared in the space created by her divine power—with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.

Lu Li recognized her at a glance. That slender figure, the dramatic attire, and the familiar face...

She was the Hydro Archon, Focalors!

This was indeed the inner world of the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, a domain belonging solely to the god Focalors.

Lu Li's expression shifted. After a long moment of silence, he spoke softly, "My apologies for the intrusion, Lady Focalors..."

"...You are not from Fontaine... and you should not be here. But, how did you get in?"

The woman sitting high on the sword hilt remained silent for a while before her expression suddenly turned cold and stern, her voice calm as she began her questioning.

A drop of cold sweat trickled down Lu Li's face as he felt the pressure in the atmosphere intensify.

Taking a deep breath, he tried his best to calm Focalors's mind to prevent the situation from escalating.

He could already feel her hostility and warning, and the suppressed anger beneath it all.

It was only natural. A plan five hundred years in the making was about to reach its conclusion. If an unexpected variable appeared at this final, critical step, all her efforts would be for naught, and everything she sought to protect could be reduced to nothing.

Focalors would absolutely not allow such a thing to happen.

It would lead to catastrophic consequences.

"Lady Focalors... I did not intend to intrude upon this place. It was a mere coincidence that brought me here. I bear no ill will, nor am I here on any mission to probe or test you."

"But you shouldn't have come," Focalors said softly, before leaping down from her high perch. She extended her hand, and Hydro energy suddenly condensed, emitting an extreme energy fluctuation tinged with a faint yet chilling killing intent. The Hydro Archon spoke, her voice tinged with sorrow but quickly firming with resolve, "Regrettably, I cannot allow any influencing factors to appear..."

"Wait," Lu Li's expression changed as he took a step back. He said sternly, "I know about the prophecy, Focalors!"

The vast Hydro energy instantly formed into blades. With a casual wave of the expressionless Focalors's hand, the entire domain was filled with countless swords made of water, ready to strike.

At the critical moment, Lu Li shouted, "Are you really going to do this? Focalors! The one you are about to attack is a Descender!"

"If you really kill me, can you guarantee that your plan will succeed, that you can deceive the Heavenly Principles and save Fontaine?"

The moment Lu Li finished speaking, he swallowed hard.

His entire body was now touched by countless water blades.

In a single instant, he would be pierced by a thousand swords.

Is this the [Domain] that only beings of Archon-level power can use, as Lady Arlecchino mentioned?

It's as terrifying as she said!

Within this divine domain, he couldn't mobilize any elemental energy at all.

If it weren't for the faint flame of the Three Thousand Burning Flames still burning within him, and the Warmog's Armor on his body steadily restoring his life force, he would be no different from a powerless mortal.

However, it had to be said, Lu Li's gamble paid off.

A Descender, an existence equivalent to an entire world, had revealed his identity, and it had indeed made Focalors pause.

Her expression changed as she looked at Lu Li. Then, she immediately reached out her hand.

After a moment of sensing, her expression became incredibly complex.

He... he really is...

But why is he so weak?

Although she was puzzled, Focalors decided not to act and offered a sincere and solemn apology, "My apologies. It was my oversight. I did not expect you to actually be..."

"Sigh..."

Lu Li let out a sigh of relief and then said softly, "I understand your anxiety, so I don't blame you for this. But at least let people finish speaking next time... Intruding was not my intention, and I support your plan."

Focalors remained silent.

"To punish and execute an entire nation's people is something so monstrous that I cannot stand by and watch. So, although I know your plan is very dangerous, I am fundamentally willing to help."

"...Thank you. That was my mistake just now..."

Focalors bit her lip and then said softly, "But with your sudden intrusion, I can't be sure if the future of this world will proceed as I have anticipated."

"I know your plan. You intend to sacrifice yourself in exchange for Fontaine's salvation," Lu Li said, looking at the floating, giant judgment blade with a complex expression. "As for your worries, I don't think they are necessary."

"Why?"

Focalors frowned slightly and asked softly.

"Because the current Heavenly Principles have fallen into slumber. But the prophecy's destined fate will not be delayed or advanced because of it. Therefore, my intervention should not have any impact."

"And, since the matter is of great importance, I will keep it a secret, just like your human persona."

Focalors's body trembled, and she looked at Lu Li with a complicated expression.

After a while, she said softly, "You really know a lot, Descender... But what do you mean by help?"

"Well, the prophecy of Fontaine states that the Primordial Seawater will rise until it submerges all of Fontaine. And the people of Fontaine, who bear the original sin, will all be dissolved in the water."

Focalors's body trembled again.

"And fate has three arrangements for this. The first is the All-Devouring Narwhal that shatters the false sky. It loves to devour the Primordial Seawater, and its arrival will ultimately cause the sealed Primordial Seawater to break free and flood all of Fontaine."

"The second is the humans who, by a twist of fate five hundred years ago, deduced that Fontaine would be destroyed. They later founded the Narciankreuz Ordo, which has survived to this day. As people of Fontaine, they will not sit idly by. The solution they ultimately come up with is to gather the consciousness of the people of Fontaine, sacrificing nearly half of them to fight against fate."

"The third is the remnants of the Remurian Dynasty, who seek to use the power of Phobos to restart the seals scattered throughout the former Remurian territories, causing the seawater to flow back and flood Fontaine, thus restoring their dynasty."

Focalors's expression turned incredibly grim.

"Your solution is good, but it can only deal with the first one. As for the third, I had already resolved it before I came here, so there's no need to worry."

"As for the second, I will also begin to track it. So, no matter what, I believe my help is indispensable."

Focalors nodded lightly and then rubbed her temples with a helpless look. "You're right. Your help is indeed indispensable... I never imagined that fate's arrangements would be so unpredictable, with so many obstacles and dangers... In that case... if you are willing to do so much for Fontaine, is there anything I can do to help you?"

Help me with something?

Lu Li, who originally sought no reward other than a clear conscience, fell into thought.

-------

Enjoying the story? Support the author and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!

Find me at My : pat*eon*com/RuneA

I, Herta's Fiancé, the Universe's Number One Male Fist (114 Chapter (Simulpub-Full) )

Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Succubus in Sixth Street (320 Chapter)

Reborn in Type-Moon, My Sister is Aoko Aozaki (250 Chapter)

MyGO!! A Story Voiced by Me (120 Chapter)

BLEACH: Blade of Purification (130 Chapter)

Konoha: Starting the Game as Yoriichi (320 Chapter)

My Real Job is Spying on Konoha, but I'm Also its Hokage (130 Chapter)

The Pinnacle of the Navy! Starting from Being Captured by Garp (150 Chapter)

Watching Yu-Gi-Oh! short videos is making the veteran players lose...(75 Chapter)

Uma Musume : The Trainer Who Just Wants to Live (196 Chapter)

Zenless Zone Zero The Random Kamen Rider (160 Chapter)

Genshin Impact: It All Began With Me Being Stepped On by Arlecchino (110 Chapter)

Naruto: I Can Synthesize Summoning Beasts (80 Chapter)

Demon Slayer: The Great Swordsman's System, Disciple of Yoriichi (120 Chapter)

My Wife is a General, but I'm an Emanator of Abundance! (130 Chapter)

Type-Moon: My Nine-Fold Path (130 Chapter)

Uma Musume: They're Peeking at My Diary, and All of Tracen is Panickin (87 Chapter)

The Wild History of Type-Moon world (60 Chapter)

Reborn in Conan, But I Refuse to Be the Bad Guy (70 Chapter)

Ruan Mei is begging me to go back? But there's no going back anymore (130 Chapter)

Just a Slacker at Tracen Academy (130 Chapter)

Survival in Blue Archive (60 Chapter)

Kimetsu no Yaiba: Doma Wasn't Hated Today, Either (90 Chapter)

The Vibe of This Chat Group is a Little Off (90 Chapter)

Heartbreak Simulator: I Broke Them and Made Them Cry (70 Chapter)

The Talentless Trainer Doesn't Want to Restart (70 Chapter)

A Journey Starting as a Quincy (70 Chapter)

Uma Musume: The Master of Romance Obstruction (70 Chapter)

Uma Musume: You Can't Be a Hero Without a Little Chemical Enhancement (30 Chapter)

Honkai Impact 3rd Your Boyfriend is Really Amazing (30 Chapter)

Warhammer 40K: My Fiancée, Fulgrim (60 Chapter)

Classroom of the Elite: Trying to Capture Me! (60 Chapter)

Genshin Impact My Named Senji Muramas (60 Chapter)

If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it.