Chapter 38: Aether: This Power... Honkai Energy?

"Located in three different parts of the lair?" Paimon was stunned, then looked horrified. "Does that mean we have to go back down, then climb up again?"

"Ehe!" Venti stuck out his tongue.

"What does 'Ehe' mean?!"

In the end, the group decided to split up. While sticking together would be safer, it would also waste time and energy. Dividing into teams would be more efficient.

"Mr. Yun Fan, who would you like to team up with?" Jean asked after the groups were roughly formed.

Yun Fan shook his head. "You go ahead. I have some matters to attend to."

Yun Fan looked toward a cliff in Stormterror's Lair. In his perception, someone was watching them—more specifically, watching him.

"Ugh, you're just slacking off, aren't you..." Paimon grumbled as the group walked away, leaving Yun Fan alone on the tower.

"It's this way, right?" Yun Fan said, disappearing from the spot, leaving only the empty tower behind.

"Your Highness, that person suddenly disappeared!" The Abyss Mage panicked upon seeing Yun Fan vanish.

"I know," Aether said, his face darkening. Did you think I didn't see that?

"Let's head back. As for that person..." Aether shook his head and turned to leave with his subordinates.

"Yo, good morning!"

"Ah, good morning!" Aether instinctively replied, but he quickly realized what had happened. His eyes focused on the silver-haired youth who had suddenly appeared before him, trying to discern something from his presence.

"Judging by your appearance and attire, you look a lot like Lumine. You must be Aether, right?" Yun Fan adopted a scrutinizing posture.

"You know Lumine?" Aether's tone was hard to read, his emotions hidden.

"Hahaha, so it's my brother-in-law! Nice to meet you!" Yun Fan dropped his previous demeanor and laughed, stepping forward to shake Aether's hand vigorously.

Aether was stunned, then his expression darkened. He pulled his hand back and stepped away, drawing his golden sword. Yun Fan simply smiled, as Aether's reaction was exactly what he had expected.

"What did you just say? Say it again!" Aether's face was dark, his voice icy. Had this guy made a move on his sister? The thought made Aether tighten his grip on his sword, ready to strike at any moment.

"Haha, I said, brother-in-law!"

Clang!

The sound of metal clashing echoed, accompanied by sparks flying through the air.

The moment Yun Fan finished speaking, he summoned his weapon. He knew Aether wouldn't tolerate such provocation and would attack. His assumption proved correct.

"Brother-in-law, don't be mad!"

Clang! Clang! Clang! The sound of weapons clashing continued relentlessly as Yun Fan blocked Aether's attacks with his glaive.

"Don't call me brother-in-law!!" Aether's face was almost black with anger. He wanted nothing more than to kill this guy who had dared to approach his sister.

Hum—

A soft hum echoed as Aether's golden sword was enveloped in a sinister purple aura—the power of the Abyss he had gained in this world.

"Interesting," Yun Fan stepped back, holding his glaive vertically like a spear and unleashing the "Rain of Stone" spear technique taught to him by Zhongli. Countless spear shadows rained down, forcing Aether to retreat.

During the exchange, Aether repeatedly tried to use the Abyss's power to corrode Yun Fan's weapon, but he failed. The Abyss's power had no effect on him.

Clang!

Another clash, and the two were locked in a stalemate, neither gaining the upper hand.

Yun Fan was surprised by Aether's strength. Earlier, Aether's emotions had disrupted his rhythm, but now that he had calmed down, he was fighting at full strength, matching Yun Fan blow for blow. As expected of a traveler who had journeyed through countless worlds.

Of course, the worlds Aether and Lumine had traveled to weren't conventional worlds. They were still within the scope of the Imaginary Tree and the Quantum Sea, which could even be considered part of the same worldview.

True Gods, however, could transcend this worldview and soar freely beyond it.

"Your Highness, we'll assist you!"

As the two were locked in combat, the Abyss Mages grew restless. The Cryo Abyss Mage fired ice spikes, while the Hydro Abyss Mage summoned a bubble, both attacking Yun Fan simultaneously.

"Don't get in the way!" Yun Fan's voice was cold. A black vortex appeared behind him, and the "Star of Eden: World Inscription" emerged, charging and firing in one smooth motion, reducing the two Abyss Mages to ash.

"What is this?!" Aether, still locked in combat with Yun Fan, felt the energy emanating from the cannon and immediately disengaged, retreating.

"Where did you get this power?" Aether asked, his expression grave and uncertain.

"Oh? Have you seen this power before?" Yun Fan asked curiously. Aether had traveled through many worlds. Had he encountered Honkai before?

"This power... is it Honkai energy?" Aether's words confirmed Yun Fan's suspicions.

"So, you do recognize it. Have you been to a Honkai world before?" Yun Fan retracted his weapon, ready to have a proper conversation.

Seeing that Yun Fan no longer intended to fight, Aether also put away his sword.

"The world I once lived in was also destroyed by Honkai. Honkai's power affects many worlds. I don't know which world you're referring to," Aether explained.

"I see," Yun Fan nodded thoughtfully. He had hoped to learn the coordinates of a Honkai world from Aether so he could visit it after his journey in Teyvat. It seemed his plan had fallen through.

"Though I don't know who you are, since you, like me, are a traveler from beyond this world, I advise you not to use Honkai energy excessively here. It may attract the Honkai. That's all I have to say," Aether said, turning to leave with his surviving subordinates. Now that he understood the power Yun Fan wielded, there was no need to continue fighting.

"Goodbye, brother-in-law!"

The voice from behind made Aether stumble. He opened a portal with the Abyss's power and stepped through, leaving Yun Fan with one final remark.

"I will never hand my sister over to you!"