Chapter 207: The Dramatic Finale

Death?

Furina's face paled. "I... I've been sentenced to death?"

Yes, she had deceived the Fontainians for five hundred years, but did that truly warrant capital punishment?

"Holy crap, the death penalty?!"

"So the death penalty actually exists..."

"But she was found innocent! How can she be sentenced after being acquitted?"

The audience was baffled, and even Neuvillette struggled to comprehend the verdict. Furina and Luna had won the defense; she should have been acquitted.

Luna, however, showed no surprise. She merely glanced at the Oratrice.

This must be part of the plan.

Furina wasn't the true Hydro Archon, yet the verdict declared, "The Hydro Archon is guilty." This must refer to the entity within the Oratrice.

The real Hydro Archon.

"Wh-what do we do, White Cat?" Furina tugged at Luna's sleeve.

Could their hard-won victory be overturned by the Oratrice's verdict?

Luna whispered, "The Oratrice isn't judging you."

"Huh?"

Not me?

Before Furina could react, a faint voice echoed from the edge of the stage.

"Um... excuse me... sorry to interrupt, but I found what 'Father' asked me to retrieve..." Freminet had appeared seemingly out of nowhere.

He glanced back at Arlecchino.

Arlecchino gave a subtle nod, and Freminet visibly relaxed—he hadn't disappointed "Father."

The Fatui carried a stone slate onto the stage.

Navia frowned. "A slate?"

Paimon gasped. "Isn't that the missing first piece of the slate we saw in the ruins?"

"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Freminet," Neuvillette said earnestly. "This may finally provide the answer we've been searching for."

The Judgment had concluded, yet the mysteries had only deepened. The key, he believed, lay within these prophetic Slates.

He approached the Slates.

"I see."

Navia asked eagerly, "Have you discovered something?"

"Yes."

Neuvillette paused thoughtfully. "I previously discussed the contents of these Slates with Miss Navia and Miss Luna. However, there's a hidden message 'etched' within them by a certain energy."

"Now that all the Slates are assembled, the truth stands revealed."

Neuvillette turned to face the audience.

"First, the First Slate reveals the origins of the Fontainians... All Fontainians were created by the previous Hydro Archon, fashioned from Oceanids."

Lynette remained speechless for a long moment.

Lyney asked in disbelief, "Does this mean... we're not human?"

"Exactly. This is the fundamental reason why Fontainians dissolve in the Primordial Seawater."

"And the act of transforming Oceanids into humans was the previous Hydro Archon's sin."

Furina was utterly shocked, hearing all of this for the first time!

But wait a minute...

Could it be that the Oratrice's judgment of the Hydro Archon's guilt wasn't actually referring to her?

Furina pondered this, knowing she was indeed guilty of something... a disease.

Neuvillette gently stroked the slate.

"In the earliest days of Fontaine, the original Hydro Archon sensed the yearning of her vassals, the Oceanids, to live on land."

"The Oceanids envied humans and longed to become like them."

"However, even as the Hydro Archon, she lacked the authority to create humans. So, Egeria stole energy from the Primordial Sea and transformed them into humanoid forms."

"The Oceanids' veins became vessels, containing the Primordial Seawater within their bodies as they mimicked humanity."

"And when Fontainians come into contact with the Primordial Sea again, the power within them breaks free, reverting them back to their original Oceanid forms."

This was the truth behind the Dissolution.

Neuvillette sighed. "Thus, the original sin of Fontainians—the indelible sin foretold in the Prophecy—is none other than the theft of the Primordial Sea's power."

The truth had been revealed.

Yet the audience still struggled to comprehend.

"We're not human?"

"I... I'm an Oceanid?"

"But without the Hydro Archon, we wouldn't exist at all!"

The audience turned their gaze back to Furina.

"Lady Furina, what should we do?"

"Huh?"

"This ineradicable sin... what are we to do?"

Even if you ask me... Furina was momentarily speechless, unable to answer. She glanced at Luna, who simply returned a faint smile.

Why are you so composed at a time like this?

Everyone else was still reeling from the shock, but Neuvillette and Luna remained utterly calm.

Furina knew Neuvillette well enough to recognize that his unchanging expression was merely a mask, hiding a deeper turmoil.

"It's not over yet," Luna announced, drawing everyone's attention back to her.

"The third Slate depicts humans surrounding the Hydro Archon, not Oceanids. Mr. Neuvillette, don't you think..."

"...it bears a striking resemblance to our current situation?" Neuvillette finished, his gaze fixed on Luna.

"You..."

You knew all along that everything would unfold exactly as the Prophecy foretold.

Who exactly are you?

Furina couldn't comprehend. "What does that mean?"

"I believe Miss Navia, Mr. Neuvillette, Lumine, and Paimon all understand the significance of the third Slate."

Navia murmured, "It's... the people's Judgment of the Hydro Archon."

Paimon exclaimed in disbelief, "So, by organizing this Judgment to avert the Prophecy's crisis, we've inadvertently fulfilled the very scenario it described?!"

"Not only that," Lumine whispered, "we actively pushed it forward."

It was as if everything were controlled by fate, every action dictated by its unseen hand.

There was no escape, no possibility of altering the course.

Now, according to the Slate's fourth act—the final stanza of the prophecy passed down through generations—they were about to face their ultimate doom.

"The sea will engulf Fontaine, dissolving everyone within. Only the Hydro Archon will weep upon her Throne..." Lynette murmured.

Neuvillette turned away.

"But we've confirmed the true source of this calamity."

"And it can no longer be contained."

Rumble! The entire space shook violently. Chevreuse immediately organized an evacuation, as the terrified audience scrambled for the exits.

Then, the floor fractured.

A massive chasm opened in the center of the room, and from it emerged...

"A whale?" Navia exclaimed in disbelief.

It was a creature that resembled a whale!

"What is that thing...?" Furina's eyes widened.

The "whale" floated in the air, writhing.

Its immense form threatened to crush everything in the chamber, and the fierce winds it stirred forced Furina to close her eyes.

Luna shielded Furina behind her, narrowing her eyes at the monstrous creature that had materialized before them.

Could this be what caused the sea levels to rise?

The "Whale" writhed, as if searching for something. Finally, it caught the scent it craved most—the fleeing Fontainians.

It plunged downward, its massive jaws gaping wide.

Bullets from the Special Task Force rained down upon it, but the creature remained unfazed.

Seeing the civilians about to be devoured, Chevreuse grabbed her long spear and planted herself between the "Whale" and the crowd.

Even if we can't defeat it, we have to stop it!

The Special Task Force wouldn't retreat an inch in this crisis.

Crack... Suddenly, the "Whale's" speed plummeted.

That sensation... White Cat?

In the blink of an eye, a crimson beam of energy slammed into the "Whale," knocking it off course. Instead of Fontainians, it swallowed rows of empty seats.

"Commendable resolve, but alas..."

Arlecchino stood atop the "Whale's" head, her scythe glinting. She glanced back at Chevreuse. "Your strength still lacks, but I understand why she holds you in such high regard."

Chevreuse muttered, "The Knave..."

The "Whale" shrieked piercingly, rising once more and thrashing wildly.

Arlecchino's brow furrowed slightly. Her scythe flashed, carving crimson gashes into the "Whale's" hide and completely diverting its attention.

Just then, another figure burst from the cave entrance—Tartaglia, transformed into his Foul Legacy form!

"Get out of the way, Knave! It's mine!" he roared.

Childe, despite his apparent injuries, remained remarkably lively. Arlecchino glanced at him and leaped back.

Tartaglia roared furiously, plunging his weapon into the Whale's head.

Now!

Seizing the opportunity, Neuvillette gathered his Hydro power, compressing it into a torrent, and unleashed it!

A surge of Hydro energy struck the Whale, piercing its body.

But Neuvillette frowned.

The effect was minimal.

Realizing it wouldn't be able to fully savor its meal this time, the Whale flipped over and plunged back into the cave.

Tartaglia cast one last glance at Neuvillette, Lumine, and Paimon before following it into the darkness.

Silence returned.

But the gaping Void remained at the center, a constant reminder that the loathsome creature could resurface at any moment.

Furina, still with her eyes tightly shut, asked, "W-what's happening now?"

"Rest assured, Lady Furina, you are safe."

She slowly opened her eyes, a flicker of relief washing over her face.

"What... what was that thing?" she murmured.

Neuvillette silently observed the cave entrance as Navia and the others approached, their eyes warily scanning the opening.

He turned to Luna. "...Miss Luna, your earlier hypothesis was correct. This 'creature' is indeed responsible for the rising sea levels."

"You seem to know something about it," Navia remarked.

"Yes, I couldn't be certain before, but now that it has revealed itself, I understand its purpose."

Neuvillette explained, "That 'Whale' doesn't belong to Teyvat. It's a monstrous entity that roams between planets, constantly shedding tears."

"It greedily devours the energy of the Primordial Sea, growing larger and larger, which is why the sea levels are rising."

"But one day, the Primordial Sea's energy will be completely depleted."

Clorinde murmured, "Fontainians possess the power of the Primordial Sea within them..."

Navia crossed her arms and whispered, "Is it trying to eat us now?"

"Yes, it likely wanted to surface long ago, but Childe's constant battles against it delayed its emergence until now."

At this, Neuvillette nodded respectfully to Arlecchino. "My deepest gratitude to Madam Arlecchino for her timely assistance earlier."

Arlecchino said calmly, "There's no need for thanks. After all, the children are here. Besides, even if I hadn't intervened, someone else would have."

Paimon scratched her head. "Are you talking about Childe?"

"No."

Neuvillette turned to Luna. "I'm referring to you, Phantom Thief White Cat."

Luna smiled faintly, offering no denial.

"What?! She's the Phantom Thief? That means the person we were arguing with in court earlier was—" Paimon clutched her head, feeling overwhelmed.

"Not only that," Lyney said earnestly, "but she probably replaced Luna while we were discussing the case."

Lynette glanced at him sideways. "Mm, I think so too," she murmured in agreement.

"Well, we can't blame her. Her performance was flawless," Chiori, who had been mostly silent until now, chimed in.

At this point, no one bothered to question Luna's actions.

The Phantom Thief White Cat had indeed served as Furina's stand-in defense attorney, a legally impermissible act. Yet she had won the Judgment fair and square.

Besides, this wasn't the time to dwell on such formalities.

Still...

Neuvillette narrowed his eyes slightly. "Phantom Thief White Cat, you knew everything would unfold according to the Prophecy, didn't you?"

"Huh? What do you mean...?" Furina blinked in confusion.

"You know of Egeria's sins, that the Hydro Archon will face Judgment, and that the Oratrice will ultimately deliver this absurd verdict."

"Just who are you?" Furina demanded, turning to Luna.

Is this... real?

Luna chuckled softly. "Does it matter? I believe the most pressing issue right now is this 'Whale.'"

"Y-yes, you're right!" Furina nodded. If it was indeed the source of the Prophecy's crisis, it had to be dealt with.

"...Unfortunately," Neuvillette sighed, "this 'Whale' has absorbed so much Primordial Sea energy that it has nearly become one with the Sea itself."

"Even if we destroyed all of Teyvat," he added, "it might still survive, swimming on to other worlds."

"Is there truly no way to stop it?" Furina asked anxiously.

"Not at present."

Does that mean Fontaine will still be destroyed? And everyone will die?

This is too absurd... After everything we've endured, you're telling me the ending is still predetermined? That everyone will still die?

Furina slumped onto the Throne, her mind reeling.

"Then..."

What was the point of everything I've done so far? What was the purpose of these past five hundred years?

This is too much... A chill ran through Furina's body, even as a burning heat gathered in her eyes.

"This is too much..." she sobbed, clutching herself tightly, tears streaming down her face.

No one was surprised by her reaction, nor did they have the energy to question it.

Navia clenched her fists. "I... I refuse to accept this! How can anyone accept this?!"

"We've come so far, finally cornered the mastermind, only to be told they're an unbeatable enemy?"

"The Prophecy... it will still come to pass," Paimon said dejectedly, hanging her head low.

"Exactly."

Luna's voice made them look up.

The Oratrice suddenly activated, bathing the entire stage in a dazzling light.

Bathed in this radiance, Luna transformed, donning a mask.

"If the world is a stage, then everything must unfold according to the script of Fate."

"Humans and Archons alike are merely actors on this grand cosmic stage, bound by the 'script' and destined to reach the story's end."

"Yet even so, every actor must deliver a flawless performance."

Luna turned gracefully, bent down, and gently lifted Furina's tear-streaked face.

Furina's eyes overflowed with tears, her gaze shattered.

"White Cat..."

Luna leaned close to Furina's eye, pursing her lips to catch the overflowing tears. The touch of Luna's lips at the corner of Furina's eye only made the tears flow even faster.

"Lady Furina, please sit here and wait."

"Wait? Wait for what..."

Luna straightened up, the Oratrice behind her whirring rapidly, its light growing ever more dazzling.

This could only mean one thing: the justice against the Hydro Archon was about to begin.

It was also Luna's cue to take the stage.

Luna handed Furina a card. "Wait for the curtain to rise on the final act."

Furina opened her mouth to protest, but a blinding light instantly engulfed her vision. The last thing she saw through tear-blurred eyes was Luna's retreating silhouette.

Then, Neuvillette opened his eyes.

An unfamiliar space stretched before him.

It was the interior of the Opera House, yet not quite the real thing—more like a stage on the verge of collapse, tinged with an impossible, dreamlike quality.

A conspicuous "sword" hung above the figure before him.

"Furina? And..." Neuvillette's gaze shifted to Luna, standing beside "Furina." "Phantom Thief White Cat..."