The Anomaly

So you noticed too.

Alyosha, what's going on here? Do you have any idea?

This nail cast down by the Heavenly Principles is glowing. From time to time, it also makes a sound...

I may have been one of the first witnesses, since I happened to be out hunting nearby.

So far, at least, it doesn't seem harmful. I notified the local Druzhna as soon as I came across it, so the Tsaritsa and the Fatui should be aware of it by now.

Do you think... this is Ronova's doing? Some way of getting her revenge?

We'll have to wait and see. All we know is, we defeated Celestia's Ruler of Death, and then the Heavenly Principles' nail started acting strange... However you look at it, it can't be good.

Hopefully, the military's keenest minds will be able to get to the bottom of it. Until then, we should keep a close eye on this area for any other changes.

Traveler, Paimon. I assume you're here for this?

Yeah... Looks like Dragonspine's Skyfrost Nail has changed in the exact same way.

In all my time on Dragonspine, this is the first time I've witnessed a phenomenon like this...

I always assumed that once the Heavenly Principles passed down their judgment, the Skyfrost Nail destroyed the ancient civilization here and its purpose was then complete.

But clearly, it's not quite as simple as that.

I'll remain here and continue my observations, focusing in particular on how this change is affecting the surrounding ecosystem.

It's been a while since I saw you two.

You came to The Chasm too, huh? Looks like Liyue's taking the situation with these nails pretty seriously too.

Yes, both the adepti and the humans are very concerned about this unusual change.

Additional Millelith have been deployed to support the patrols around The Chasm, while Cloud Retainer and the other adepti have begun investigating the phenomenon.

What about you, then? What are you doing here?

Rex Lapis tasked me with monitoring this place. I travel swiftly, so I can notify him immediately of any further unusual activity.

Oh, Paimon figured he probably wouldn't be able to ignore this...

Miko? We weren't expecting to see you here!

That's "Lady Guuji" to you.

Uh, right... Yes, Lady Guuji.

Hehe, I'm only teasing you. You're so obedient.

Someone reported to me that there had been some unusual activity in this area.

I immediately drew a fortune slip... and the result was "Great Misfortune." So I thought I'd better come and see for myself.

Yeah, Paimon has to agree that this whole situation seems kinda ominous... So, what do you think, Lady Guuji? Do you have any sense of what's going on?

Mmm... I'm not sure. Who knows what trick the Heavenly Principles might be playing.

I can faintly sense a power of some sort... I'll have to drag little Kokomi here when I get the chance. Maybe she'll be more familiar with it.

Candace and Dehya?

Hey. You here for some sightseeing?

Surely you mean an investigation? Or observation, at least?

Haha, not if you ask most of my mercs. They're not really the scholarly type — they just came here for the spectacle, like they're on a sightseeing tour.

Oh, your mercs came here too?

Yeah. It feels like Sumeru's been hit by one disaster after another lately. Pretty turbulent times.

My crew's set up camp near here for now to keep an eye on things. Just so we get a heads-up if anything else goes down.

I am here for much the same reasons as Dehya. We Desertfolk ought not leave the Dendro Archon to carry this burden alone.

...

Mavuika?

Hmm? Oh, it's you two. Sorry, I didn't notice you there.

It looked like you were lost in thought, staring at that pillar of light caused by the Heavenly Principles' nail...

Yeah, I was. Whatever it is, and whatever it's for, it's in quite the precarious position here...

It's a tricky one, yeah... Natlan's one is right nearby where everyone lives.

I heard you took out Ronova in Snezhnaya? Pretty impressive work.

Thanks, but... we suspect that this whole situation might be Ronova's way of getting her revenge...

We aren't exactly in celebration mode right now. Hard to be proud of what we achieved when we've dragged everyone into this.

Hey, don't say that. If it weren't for Capitano, it would've been my life that Ronova took back then. I didn't like her either.

Ronova, and the Heavenly Principles she represents, have always treated Natlan as a tool to deal with the Abyss and the world's destruction...

...Most of the disasters Natlan suffered in the past were thanks to them.

Whatever might happen in the future, you won't be the ones to blame. It'll be the usual suspects wreaking havoc as always.

You do have a point... Thanks for being so understanding, Mavuika.

All we can do is focus on the here and now. I'll inform the local population, tell them to be on the lookout for any signs of danger.