I, the Geo Archon Morax with 2.1 Billion Mora, Have Joined a Chat Group [235]

"Hmph, you called me Lumine."

The Traveler girl seized the flaw in the prince's words.

"Aether, you said you didn't recognize me, but you slipped up after just two sentences."

"Uh..." The blond prince froze for a moment, then shook his head slightly without responding.

Then, in the next second, his eyes snapped open, and the deep purple longsword in his hand slashed forward in an instant—like a violet blossom blooming amidst a vast white snowfield, or a streak of purple lightning flashing across the sky.

Faced with her brother’s sudden strike, the Traveler girl reacted instantly.

Her own sword unsheathed in a fraction of a second, the breeze gathering around it before transforming into a raging storm. With a fierce gust, she swept the attack toward the ground ahead.

[Wind Vortex Sword]

A spiraling sword wind tore through the battlefield, sending snow and dark soil flying. Using the counterforce of the whirlwind, the Traveler girl twisted her body midair, narrowly evading her brother’s strike. At the same time, her blade curved in a half-moon arc, slicing toward the wrist that wielded his sword.

Clang!

A crisp sound echoed as metal clashed against metal.

The blond prince spun his body and sword as well, dodging the slash to his hand while parrying with his blade.

"You really tried to cut my hand off!" he couldn't help but complain. "Didn't you see that I deliberately missed just now? You actually went for it?"

"You were the one who said we should take this seriously. And I am serious."

The Traveler girl answered without hesitation.

Then, without giving her brother a chance to breathe, she swung [Festering Desire] once more. At her feet, a vibrant green storm took shape in an instant, sweeping her up and turning her into a raging tempest.

[Gale Blade Surge]

The blond prince quickly composed himself. His mind flashed back to their past duels—back then, she had always fought with this same determination, doing everything she could to win.

Of course, he was the same.

Even in a battle without lasting wounds, he wanted victory.

—Looks like I won’t be able to leave here today unless I defeat Lumine.

—Master and the Witch are struggling a little. Just who are the people with Lumine? To think they can put both of them at a disadvantage...

—One of them seems to be an avatar of the Geo Archon from Liyue. As for the other two women, even Master doesn’t recognize them.

—What should I do?

His thoughts raced, but his grip on his sword only tightened.

Staring at the sister standing ten steps ahead, he shook his head slightly, his voice calm and cold. "Lumine, this is not something you should interfere with."

"And just because you say so, I should stay out of it...?" Lumine let out a soft hmph, raising an eyebrow. "Aether, I never expected you to turn into such a domineering brother after all this time apart."

Ever since reuniting with her brother, the number of long sentences she had spoken had already exceeded what Paimon had ever heard from her before.

"...Lumine, I'm serious. This isn’t a joke." Aether furrowed his brows in frustration. "Don’t take my words as if they were just playful teasing from when we traveled together before."

"I am seriously warning you."

"Warning me about what?" The Traveler girl lowered her sword, a hint of dissatisfaction in her expression. "You’re my brother, I’m your sister. We are two fates bound as one. What is it that you can't let me share with you?"

"You expect me to just listen to some vague warning without you telling me what’s going on? Do you really think I’d just accept that?"

"Do you really think cryptic riddles will stop me from searching for you?"

"Riddles don’t bring people joy—they only make them more frustrated. So, if there’s something I need to know, just tell me directly, Aether."

The blond prince listened to her words, his gaze lingering on her familiar, delicate features. After so long apart, she was still the same. A heavy feeling settled in his heart, and he withdrew his sword.

He let out a quiet sigh.

"...Hah."

But his voice soon turned cold again, devoid of emotion as he looked at his sister.

His words drifted through the air.

"I awoke far earlier than you did, Lumine. Five hundred years ago."

"I began traveling across Teyvat in search of you."

"And one of the most significant places I visited was the underground kingdom of Khaenri'ah—home to my teacher, Gold, the master alchemist."

"I was drawn in by Master’s alchemy and eventually settled in Khaenri'ah, sending its people across Teyvat to search for news of you."

"But good times never last."

"Khaenri'ah was attacked by the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles. No matter how powerful my master’s alchemy was, it could never compare to a force that could cast down Skyfrost Nails and erase entire civilizations. In the final war, we lost. Khaenri'ah was destroyed."

His words were half-true, half-fabricated.

"The people of Khaenri'ah were stripped of their knowledge and civilization by the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles, turning them all into Hilichurls. The once-gallant palace knights became Mitachurls. The court alchemists became Abyss Mages. Only a few of the strongest alchemists managed to escape."

"That once-glorious kingdom, thriving on the power of ley lines, was annihilated before my very eyes. The people I had known and admired were reduced to hideous forms, cursed to wander as monsters."

He paused for a moment, exhaling a heavy breath.

"The hatred of sealing you away. The hatred of sealing me away. The hatred of destroying Khaenri'ah. The hatred of turning all its people into monsters."

"All that hatred piled together—this is what I have become."

"This is nothing like our old journeys."

Pain flickered in Aether’s golden eyes as he continued.

"And so, my teacher and I chose to walk the path of vengeance against Celestia and the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles. No matter how arduous, we are prepared for it."

"But you, Lumine—you are different. You have not experienced what I have. You have not watched the friends you made in Teyvat turn into Hilichurls. So you don’t need to walk this path with me."

"The road I walk is one of revenge and flames, of rage and suffering, of death and even more death."

"Lumine, you should not step into it."

"...So that’s it? That’s why you refused to recognize me just now?"

The Traveler girl seemed entirely unfazed by the heartfelt warning in her brother’s words. Instead, she cut straight to the point.

"...What do you mean, just because of this?" Aether was momentarily dumbfounded. This is a path of near-certain death!

"So, just because of this?"

Lumine raised an eyebrow, almost disdainfully, as she repeated herself.

"Just because of this... you didn’t even dare to acknowledge me?"

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This is a fan translation of 我，21亿岩王帝君加入聊天群 by 大一统. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!