Chapter 35

"Elements exist in every corner of the world, forming the foundation of reality..."

Zhongli’s gentle, deep voice echoed.

"I purified the elemental force and obtained a new power—purer, resonating more deeply with the world than elemental force itself."

"This power can be gentler or more violent, entirely at the user’s discretion..."

The others listened as he explained the origin of this world’s power system, gaining a preliminary understanding of Teyvat’s immortal force.

Zhongli extended his right index finger; a brilliant, shimmering golden force drifted from his fingertip.

"Such profound magical energy!" Su Lin, seated closest to Zhongli, leaned forward, his face nearly touching the manifested immortal force to examine it closely.

Ye Fan pondered deeply, lost in thought.

According to Zhongli, Teyvat’s spiritual energy is inert, and due to the extreme activity of elemental forces, spiritual energy often becomes muddled and mixed with elemental power.

Without refinement, using it is extremely difficult.

Zhongli discovered this power while seeking more efficient methods of elemental force usage, and began researching refinement techniques.

Over the long centuries that followed, the Immortals who mastered immortal force began to emerge.

But

this did not mean the Immortals were merely ordinary cultivators.

Starting from such a high level and training for countless ages, they were surely true immortals in their own world.

"Sorry I'm late."

A teleportation gate flickered to life.

Emiya Shirou stepped out first, one foot still outside the gate, pulling something behind him.

"Don’t be afraid, just come over."

"I’m not afraid!" A clear voice rang out.

A little girl in a purple dress, wearing a purple bonnet, with silver-white peach-colored hair and crimson eyes, stepped through the gate under Emiya Shirou’s guidance.

It was Illya, the adopted daughter of Emiya Shirou’s father.

Su Lin did not know about Emiya Shirou’s private conversation with Xiao Yan; seeing this, he forgot to set down his teacup.

"Damn."

Of course, he was joking.

Illya looked around in awe, realizing Emiya Shirou had not been lying.

Swish—

A massive, pitch-black figure appeared, blocking the girl’s path.

Wild battle aura surged uncontrollably; the berserker, now radiating intense hostility, carried a battle-hardened will so fierce it could make the weak faint.

Fortunately,

few here were truly weak.

Lu Mingfei, who was busy taking photos on his phone, made no comment.

His carefree demeanor suggested he was certain someone taller would hold up the sky if it fell.

He was, in fact, the most relaxed among them all.

Though initially startled, Lu Mingfei quickly grabbed his phone and started snapping pictures.

This was a rare chance to see the real thing.

He had to take photos to commemorate it—he didn’t know when he’d ever see the real Saber again.

Fate/Zero had only recently premiered in their world and was still quite popular.

Originally, Lu Mingfei had planned to buy some figurines in Akihabara this trip.

Holding the stone axe-sword horizontally across his chest in a defensive posture, he eyed the group gathered around the stone table with suspicion.

"Berserker?" Illya asked, puzzled.

Zhongli rose, surprised, studying the hostile warrior before him.

"A soul-body, yet seemingly possessing flesh."

Ignoring the hostility, he strolled calmly toward the giant.

"Fierce battle intent, exceptional reflexes—but why is your soul branded with madness?"

"Fascinating."

Watching the man approach step by step,

the giant nearly lost control.

"Wait, Berserker!" Illya commanded. "Who are you? Where is this place?"

"No need to rush. Let the one who brought you explain."

Zhongli stopped ten meters away.

"Hmm." After a moment’s thought, Zhongli asked, "May I first awaken this warrior from his frenzy?"

Illya glanced at Emiya Shirou beside her.

It was all utterly inexplicable.

Everything was inexplicable.

Emiya Shirou had somehow learned about her condition, claiming he could take her to a place like paradise to heal her body.

If he hadn’t played with her so joyfully and promised to live like a family, she wouldn’t have believed such a lie.

To be honest, the teleportation-like magic had surprised her.

Emiya Shirou also said if she was worried, she could bring Berserker along, or even use magic to control his life force.

With him saying all this, she finally decided to come and see for herself.

Once here, her connection to the Greater Grail was severed.

Keep in mind that, no matter where on Earth she is, her connection as the Lesser Grail to the Greater Grail can never be severed.

Then there were these people before her.

They had made Berserker instinctively assume a defensive stance.

"Don’t worry, Illya, they’re not bad people."

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

"Ow—"

Illya nodded.

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

Golden talismans formed from empty air, becoming a stream of golden light that flowed into the berserker’s body.

Slowly, the madness in the black giant’s eyes faded; his mind, long ravaged by frenzy, gradually calmed.

"Berserker?"

The berserker nodded. "Who are you, incarnation of which deity?"

A faint divine aura—so subtle, only because he himself was the mythic Hercules, inherently divine, could he perceive it.

Yet this faint divinity resonated perfectly with the man before him; the only conclusion was that he was an incarnation of some god.

"When I once served as one of the Seven Archons, I was known as Morax. You wouldn’t know that name—call me Zhongli, as everyone else does."

Zhongli observed the berserker’s current state; he was deeply intrigued by this soul-body manifestation.

Remembering the others were waiting, he suppressed his urge to study the phenomenon further.

"The one among the Seventy-Two Demons of Solomon?" Heracles’ tone held surprise. "I never imagined that in the age after the myths ended, you would still walk the earth."

Zhongli paused, realizing the misunderstanding.

"I am not the one you mean," Zhongli added. "I was once the god of earth and wealth on Teyvat, and also the God of Contracts. I only recently stepped down from my role as the Geo Archon."

"To you, I am a god from another world."

"Another world?!"

"Come, sit down," Su Lin called to the group. "Don’t stand there—you’ll tire yourselves out."

"Indeed, let us all sit," Zhongli said, returning to the group and using Geo elemental power to conjure several stone chairs.

Confused, Illya and Heracles reluctantly sat, analyzing the situation before them.

With everyone seated, the earlier discussion on immortal force resumed.