Genshin Impact: Pool Character, Nirvana of the Demon God

Nasida finally made up her mind to wield the sword of judgment against the royalists.

In her own words, this decision should have been made much earlier.

If time could be turned back to the beginning of the Sumeru Revolution, to an era when idealism still lingered, she might still have shown some tolerance and understanding towards the royalists.

At that time, although they did not acknowledge her divine status and insisted on calling for the return of the Great Compassion Tree King, their initial intention was ultimately out of concern and anticipation for the future of Mount Sumeru.

What they sought was not personal gain, but the pure land in their hearts that had never been eroded by the sand and dust.

At that time, the royalists could still be called "dissidents" rather than "enemies".

Like the reformers, they rallied and championed their beliefs, all for the same goal—

We are striving for a more prosperous and peaceful Sumeru.

Different stances and divergent paths do not necessarily indicate inherent evil. In theory, no one can easily judge who is right and who is wrong.

However, times are different now.

When the royalists cast their greedy gaze upon innocent civilians and extend their conspiracies into the homes of ordinary people, their souls are already rotting in sin.

They were no longer there to welcome back the Great Compassion Tree King, nor for the well-being of Mount Sumeru;

What they seek is nothing more than to use the name of the gods to exercise absolute power, so that the feast of power can never be stopped.

Faith has become a facade, loyalty has been reduced to a tool, and the ideals of the past have long been devoured by desire.

That's why Naxi Da finally cut off her last bit of hesitation.

Even though she is a goddess, she is kind by nature, abhors killing, and is unwilling to cleanse the road with blood; even though the heart of the demon god always yearns for peace and coexistence and rejects the heaviness of staining her own hands with blood.

But she was not born a ruler. During the five hundred years she sat on the throne, she pieced together the world from the memories of countless mortals and learned the wisdom of strategy and decision-making from Caesar's cold and profound teachings.

She knew that kindness without a sharp edge would become a breeding ground for evil.

She understood that a moment of weakness today could become a sharp blade piercing the hearts of millions of innocent people tomorrow.

She could silently lay flowers at the grave of an enemy to show respect for their past ideals; but she could never weep softly before the remains of a commoner, regretting her indecisiveness for the rest of her life.

It was this clear understanding that supported her will like a rock, enabling her to finally make that heavy but necessary choice.

However, making a decision is only the first step on a long journey.

Whether it can be truly put into practice is another cruel test.

Although Nasita has resolved to purge the royalists, the situation she faces is extremely difficult.

Firstly, unlike other elemental gods who excel in combat, she, as the goddess of grass, wields the power of wisdom and knowledge, rather than swords and spears.

Her battlefield lies in the realm of thought, in the depths of the human heart, not on the battlefield. In direct combat, she does not possess an overwhelming advantage in military force.

Secondly, her most trusted ally and mentor, Caesar, is currently embroiled in a conflict with the second executor of the Fools, "The Doctor," and is missing and his fate is unknown.

Without this pillar of wisdom and strength, her political and military plans suddenly became isolated and helpless.

Thirdly, their group is currently under the siege of a large mercenary army hired by the royalists, and they are facing danger at every turn.

To safely return to the central leadership of the Church, seize control of the narrative, and thoroughly purge the old party, one must first escape unscathed from this persecution.

“If we really want to deal with the royalists,” Ying said calmly, gazing at the faint flickering torchlight in the distance, “the first thing we need to solve is this current predicament of fleeing.”

Yi Ya sighed softly, scratching his messy white hair, his voice tinged with helplessness and self-mockery: "If it were a normal chase, with our skills, we wouldn't be in such a sorry state."

"I alone can hold off a hundred, and Sister Ying is no ordinary person either... but the problem is—"

His gaze swept across the dark wilderness. "They've mobilized almost the entire mercenary system of Sumeru, as if they want to wipe us out of this land."

Paimon flew up angrily, his little face flushed: "This is outrageous! Demons roam the official roads all day long, and merchants are robbed, but they never send a single person to do anything about it!"

"But as soon as our existence threatens their power, they can immediately mobilize mercenaries from across the territory to encircle and annihilate us! What kind of governance is this? It's utterly driven by greed!"

Indeed, the security system in Sumeru was inherently fragile.

Without its own army, it can only rely on adventurers' guilds or private mercenary groups to maintain order.

Yet this very force, which should have been meant to protect the people, was arbitrarily conscripted by the royalists in order to eliminate dissidents.

At this moment, the mask of justice has shattered, revealing the naked ambition for power behind it.

The wind and sand swept across the withered branches, as if whispering of the approaching storm. In this turbulent night, Nasita stood quietly, her eyes no longer hesitant, but shining with a firm light like the stars.

She knew that the real war had only just begun.

Naxida lowered her eyes slightly, a calm light shining in her emerald eyes.

The night breeze brushed against her hair, and a few strands of silvery hair floated gently in the moonlight, as if her thoughts were flowing with them.

A moment later, the corners of her lips lifted slightly, as if she had parted the fog and found the path hidden in the chaos.

She turned around, her gaze sweeping over everyone, her voice clear yet gentle: "Xumi... cannot go back for the time being. We must find another way out."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yiya raised his hand high, his eyes gleaming with eager anticipation: "How about we go to Liyue? As long as we find my brother and explain the situation—hey! Any problem can be solved!"

[Great idea! Let's turn around and head back to Liyue immediately!]

[The crown prince and princess are returning to their hometown together to seek help? This plot is so exciting!]

[Imagine Iya tearfully recounting his ordeal with Sumeru, while the Rock King dons his armor once more, his divine power shattering the heavens...]

[↑Just a side note about the relationship between Naxi Da and Kong: the Emperor is probably going to summon the Eight Immortals and declare war on Sumeru directly.]

[↑The royalists thought: Oh no, we haven't raised a god, we've raised a troublemaker who's caused all sorts of disaster!]

Stop kidding, you're not that weak.

Ying and Paimon exchanged a glance and nodded in agreement. This was indeed a reliable alternative.

With their connections in Liyue, plus the prestigious title of "King Bai's blood relative" for Yi Ya, it wouldn't be difficult for them to invite a few immortals to come out of seclusion.

As for mobilizing the main force of the Chiiwa Army? That would be a bit troublesome—

Long-distance expeditions are time-consuming and labor-intensive, and the provisions, supplies, and marching routes are all matters of great importance.

But how about summoning an immortal, or even... a demon god?

That's completely different.

Those above the level of immortals are always detached from worldly affairs and rarely get involved in mortal conflicts. But once they decide to take action, it is the beginning of a dramatic change in the weather and a reversal of the situation.

Not to mention the Rock King Emperor who once wielded the power of contracts.

If he were to intervene, not to mention the mere royalists, even the "artificial gods" that the Fools are secretly developing would be nothing more than paper giants, reduced to ashes by a single thunderbolt.

Hell difficulty? Instantly switch to easy mode, even the boss is so scared that it automatically surrenders.

Nasita listened to the crowd's discussion, a flicker of emotion crossing her eyes. But she ultimately shook her head gently, her brows revealing a hint of determination and restraint:

"This is an internal political entanglement within Sumeru, involving a change of power within the Divine Council... If we rashly involve foreign deities, it may cause even greater turmoil."

Her tone was gentle yet firm: "If it were truly an invasion of the abyss, causing widespread suffering, then seeking help from outside would be understandable."

"But that's not the case now."

Everyone fell silent. They all understood the reasoning—if a deity interferes in the internal affairs of another country, it could at best trigger a diplomatic crisis, and at worst ignite the fuse of war.

“However…” Nasita raised her eyes, her gaze falling on Iya, “we can use this as our last resort.”

“Iya, you have wings; you can fly across borders. If things deteriorate to the point of no return—”

Her voice was a little softer, but exceptionally clear: "You should set off immediately to Liyue to get reinforcements."

Iya puffed out his chest, patted his heart, and laughed with boundless pride: (σ≧▽≦)σ "Leave it to me! Just give the order, and I'll take flight without hesitation!"

Naxida finally revealed a smile, like moonlight falling on a lake, its gentle glow rippling.

She took a step forward slowly, her fingertips lightly touching the air, as if she were drawing an invisible picture.

“I have an idea,” she said softly. “Would you like to hear it?”

The three nodded in unison, holding their breath.

Then she spoke, her tone gentle yet profound:

Even on a moonless night, the starlight alone is enough to pierce through illusion and lies.

[Here comes another special edition of Naxi Da's Riddler Time.]

Wait a minute… “The moon”? “Starlight”? Aren’t these the images used for divination during the Flower Goddess’s birthday festival?

The people on the other side of the desert seem to be called "Children of the Stars"...

[There are only a few of us here now, is it really necessary to be so subtle?]

You don't understand; for her, metaphors are like breathing.

Paimon scratched his head, looking bewildered: "Nassida, you're spitting out riddles again... Do we really understand you?"

Iya suddenly narrowed her eyes, her expression momentarily dazed, before she murmured, "No... I think I understand what you're saying, sister."

He murmured to himself, “The words ‘moon,’ ‘illusion,’ ‘lie’… these words appeared in the alchemical prophecy of the Flower Goddess’s birthday.”

Upon hearing her mention it, Paimon suddenly slapped his forehead:

"Oh! I remember now! 'Starlight'! Nasita once said that the people of the desert are like scattered starlight; though not dazzling, they can illuminate the entire night sky!"

Ying had been listening silently, but now she finally opened her eyes, her gaze sharp. She looked at Nasita and explained, word by word:

"The moon is yourself."

"Starlight" represents the people of the desert.

"And 'illusion and lies'... refers to the false order woven by the Church."

A slight smile played on her lips: "So, you mean—we're going to the desert, to gather those forgotten starlight, and together tear down the veil of lies?"

Naxi Da smiled, her smile like a new bud breaking through the soil in early spring, carrying the light of wisdom and hope.

“Yes,” she said softly, “let us go and awaken the sleeping stars.”

Everyone nodded and resolutely headed towards the desert.

The sun was scorching and the air was dry.

The ground beneath my feet gradually changed from the moist scent of grass and trees to the rough texture of gravel, as if I were stepping into another world.

As mentioned before, the security management in Xumi is poor, and the so-called "official road" is more like a path full of thorns and dangers.

With each step forward, a new threat emerges—

It could be a monster that suddenly leaps out, or a gilded bandit group lying in ambush among the shadows of the trees.

They held scimitars and had sinister eyes; they were clearly not there for justice.

Even more unsettling is that the mercenaries sent by the royalists are still relentlessly pursuing them, like a persistent, invasive disease, closing in step by step.

Bearing the shadow of wanted posters, the group traverses the rainforest, where a single misstep could lead to their capture.

This journey to the desert was fraught with peril and numerous setbacks. Had Iya not been able to transform into a phoenix engulfed in flames, the group would likely have perished along the way.

(Of course, that's impossible, since Nasita was watching from the shadows.)

As their enormous wings unfurled across the sky, crimson light pierced the clouds, and they were finally able to escape the danger on the ground, taking flight and soaring through the heavens.

High in the sky, the wind howls, and below are endless rainforests and a green ocean that recedes into the distance, while ahead lies an unknown land of swirling yellow sand and vast expanse of sky and earth.

It was thanks to Iya's flying ability that the group was able to reach their destination—Kawan Station—without any major incident.

Kawan, a remote border town perched on the edge of an oasis, is the only entrance into the desert region and the last supply station for travelers.

It stands like a guardian between civilization and desolation, bearing the hopes and weariness of countless adventurers.

The city is flanked by towering "sand barriers," massive natural barriers that isolate the desert sands from the life of the rainforest.

From a distance, the sand-blocking wall resembles a forest of withered trees, gnarled and twisted, with weathered textures, as if it were formed from the remains of ancient giant trees, exuding a mysterious aura that has been silent for thousands of years.

Legend has it that this is a miracle left by the Great Tree King, a barrier built with the power of life, protecting the Sumeru Rainforest from being swallowed by the yellow sand.

Upon entering the city, everyone felt a sense of relief, and their tense nerves finally relaxed.

The buildings here are mostly constructed of sandstone and palm wood. The streets are narrow yet bustling, with vendors' shouts rising and falling, and the clear sound of camel bells echoing through the alleys.

However, due to its remote location, Kawan Station was not valued by rainforest scholars, resulting in limited access to information and extremely slow knowledge dissemination.

Even those wearing the Void Terminal have extremely limited access, can only access a very small amount of data, and are almost unable to connect to the core intelligence network.

This is why they, who were wanted by the royalists, could walk openly in the city without constantly worrying about their identities being exposed.

Paimon sighed softly and patted his chest: "Finally arrived at Kawan Post Station! I didn't expect it to be so lively here."

She tilted her head back, gazing at the towering wall in front of her, a hint of curiosity in her eyes: "Is the desert just beyond that wall?"

"I remember it was called the 'Sand Barrier,' used to block the wind and sand, right? Such a magnificent project... could it really be a 'miracle' built by the Great Tree King himself?"

Ying stood beside her, her gaze fixed solemnly on the barrier that seemed to connect heaven and earth, and slowly nodded: "Indeed astonishing. Such a vast scale is beyond human capability; only the hand of a god could have created such a miracle."

Her voice was deep and firm, as if responding to an ancient whisper from the depths of this land.

The wind blew from the direction of the desert, carrying the smell of heat and dust, foreshadowing an even more arduous journey ahead.

At this moment, in the brief tranquility of Kawan Post Station, everyone did not relax, because everything was just about to begin.