This was Khaenri'ah's distinct advantage. Unlike Liyue and the other nations, whose exploratory focus lay within the block world while their societal foundation remained anchored to Teyvat, Khaenri'ah was completely unburdened. The five nations balanced exploration and resource extraction here with the survival of their homelands.
Khaenri'ah needed no foothold in Teyvat. Every single citizen stood ready for total, permanent migration into this realm.
Consequently, mobilizing their workforce was both effortless and vast.
Furthermore, as the future permanent denizens of this universe, they felt no frantic urgency to monopolize immediate materials. This realm was boundless, its veins of resources stretching on without end.
Even if their initial extraction moved slower and allowed nations like Liyue to claim the first share, they could simply venture onto other continents.
With the spatial waypoint network established by Ryen, crossing vast ocean expanses to return home was a matter of a single heartbeat.
Once the gates opened, the people of Khaenri'ah could focus entirely on following Ryen's directives to build and refine the world, setting resource competition aside for the time being.
They had no need to rush.
Their homeland was transitioning across the threshold, and the Heavenly Principles was not nipping at their heels in this reality. What reason was there to panic?
Aether fixed Ryen with an eager, expectant gaze. Ryen pondered the logistics in silence for a few long moments before offering a slow, deliberate nod.
"In that case, let us proceed. Return and bring through another three thousand... no, five thousand workers."
"Send all five thousand directly to the Millelith Primary Training Facility. Ensure their baseline orientation and survival training conclude within five days."
"During these five days, direct the two thousand troops currently stationed on the New Continent to pause work on the port city and take over construction of the forward base here."
"Once your people complete their training, send them forward to assume base construction."
"The New Continent will require numerous outpost facilities. We need to secure obelisks representing every elemental discipline."
"The distances separating these monuments remain unmapped, so we must establish our defensive logistics well in advance."
"The five thousand Khaenri'ahns you bring through will be assigned to base construction across the continent. Once that assignment concludes, and assuming no urgent operational demands arise..."
"You may redeploy them to construct your capital and advance your restoration. However, when global construction calls, priority remains with the realm's development."
Aether felt a jolt of exhilaration. Five thousand workers represented a massive leap. In the Abyssal depths, the surviving population of Khaenri'ah numbered barely thirty to forty thousand souls.
Even factoring in the reclaimed hilichurls, the total census sat under fifty thousand.
Integrating five thousand citizens across the threshold completed more than a tenth of their total migration blueprint.
With sustained momentum, their grand plan for complete resettlement could reach realization within the second half of the year.
Eager to seize the moment, Aether caught Endis's eye, gesturing for him to deliver the instructions immediately.
Ryen casually flicked his wrist, opening a spatial rift beside them.
A few moments later, Endis hurried through the swirling gate, his stride brisk and filled with renewed purpose.
Even with rapid mobilization, organizing that volume of personnel would demand at least a full day.
Ryen turned toward Ningguang, his tone quiet and measured.
"Have the two thousand troops advance here first. The Imbuement Altar holds higher strategic priority. Have them construct a fortified perimeter around it to keep the altar secure."
A subtle shadow of fatigue crossed Ningguang's features, though she gave a quiet nod.
Ryen reached out, gently resting his hand against her cheek.
He understood her thoughts without a word. As his partner, seeing Liyue unable to supply the immediate workforce for this stage of expansion weighed on her sense of pride.
Yet the structural reality was plain to see.
Opening an entirely new continent meant taming a landmass no smaller than the continent of Teyvat.
At bare minimum, proper development required a standing force of ten thousand pioneers.
Even distributing the quota across the alliance, Snezhnaya was currently incapable of fielding large surplus divisions.
The burden fell almost entirely upon the shoulders of Liyue and Mondstadt.
They would need to draft at least six thousand soldiers between them.
Pulling military divisions of that scale from domestic service was no trivial matter.
Once stationed in this world, those units were committed to long-term operations and could not easily return.
The administrative, agricultural, and defensive ripple effects across their homelands were immense.
Only Khaenri'ah, operating under Aether's absolute command and preparing for total migration, possessed the luxury of deploying thousands of workers without hesitation.
"Without magical dust, this Imbuement Altar remains inert," Ryen noted, looking away from the stone platform. "There is no purpose in lingering here."
"Let us head toward the obelisk."
Ryen glanced toward Venti. "Lead the way. Let us see what elemental affinity this monument holds."
Venti offered a breezy grin and turned down a narrow forest trail.
The obelisk was situated relatively close to the library ruin, spanning a distance of roughly four to five kilometers.
After a short trek, the dense timber began to thin out, opening into rolling terrain.
In the distance, the silhouette of the obelisk resolved against the horizon.
The towering monolith gleamed with dark obsidian and crimson tones, its surface pulsing with a fierce, molten glow that resembled slow-flowing magma.
Hovering in slow, erratic patterns around the monument were numerous floating geometric entities, resembling hollowed-out, shifting puzzle cubes.
"Right there!"
Venti dropped his voice to a whisper, pointing toward the drifting entities.
"I originally assumed they were atmospheric particle effects. The moment I drew close, the entire cluster swarmed me like mad."
"Their damage is surprisingly heavy. If not for my enchanted diamond armor, a single strike would have shaved off three full hearts."
Ryen studied the floating cubes for a moment before nodding in recognition.
"A Pyro Obelisk and Fire Spirits."
Hearing the classification, Diluc and the other Pyro-aligned Vision wielders straightened their posture, eyes sharpening with focus.
Though they carried functional Pyro staves, none among them aside from Hu Tao possessed a complete set of tailored robes.
Fire Spirits yielded Fire Magic Dust upon defeat.
Securing sufficient dust meant the Pyro combatants could finally weave and attune their specialized wizard attire.
Whether crafting the standard Wizard Set, Sage Robes, Battlemage Garb, or Warlock Vestments, donning the gear would dramatically amplify their personal combat indices.
For masters of elemental energy, such attunement offered combat advantages far outscaling standard enchanted diamond plating.
Diluc shifted his grip on his firearm, glancing toward Ryen.
"Do we eliminate them?"
"We do, but put away the heavy firearms."
Ryen shook his head, keeping his voice low.
"Remember what I explained earlier?"
"Spirits are immune to most forms of magic, their flight patterns are erratic, and they phase through solid blocks with ease."
"More importantly, their baseline drop rate for magic dust is exceptionally low."
"You must finish them with Looting-enchanted swords."
"Their respawn cycle is slow, so we cannot afford to waste a single target."
Ningguang murmured thoughtfully, "Phasing through solid matter... That presents an obstacle."
"Does that mean constructing standard mob pens around the obelisk to automate farming is out of the question?"
Ryen nodded.
"It matters little. The erratic movement patterns of spirits make them excellent live-fire training targets for the standing army."
"It hones their reaction speed while steadily accumulating magic dust, serving two functions at once."
Lisa offered a sultry chuckle, her lips curving with amusement.
"You always manage to find the silver lining in tedious labor."
Ryen shrugged, offering no denial as he gestured for the fighters to draw their enchanted blades.
Drifting around the obelisk were roughly twenty Fire Spirits, with faint wisps of energy indicating new entities slowly forming in the air.
After assessing the layout, Ryen stepped back.
"Divide the targets among yourselves. I will sit this one out. Secure as many as you can so we have enough material to craft several sets upon our return."
The fighters nodded, whispering quick tactical assignments before lunging into the clearing in coordinated unison.
Ningguang, Jean, and the other women remained beside Ryen, showing no desire to join the scramble.
Among Ryen's close circle, only Hu Tao aligned with the Pyro element, and she already possessed a refined set of robes.
Rather than exhausting themselves in an erratic melee, staying close to Ryen was infinitely more appealing.
Ningguang activated her communication device, speaking softly for a moment before turning back to Ryen.
"Of the two thousand troops, five hundred remain to maintain basic harbor construction. The remaining fifteen hundred have teleported to the Imbuement Altar to begin fortifying the perimeter."
Ryen gave an approving nod.
Ningguang continued in a quiet tone, "Lord Azhdaha contacted my office earlier. He mentioned a minor matter that required your awareness."
Ryen offered a wry smile, spreading his hands.
"If it is a minor matter, was there really a need to bring it forward?"
"Azhdaha considers it minor, but others might view it quite differently," Ningguang replied with fond exasperation, shifting her gaze toward the Tsaritsa.
"The Snezhnayan forces led by Arlecchino successfully linked up with Candace. They are currently marching across the desert toward Liyue."
The Tsaritsa let out a quiet breath of relief.
"They made it through..."
"Not without complications," Ningguang clarified, shaking her head.
"When Arlecchino's detachment reached the frontier of Sumeru, the Jester deployed ten thousand augmented soldiers in a coordinated ambush to wipe them out."
"Fortunately, Candace and the Abyss Order arrived in time to provide fire support. Even so, the column suffered several hundred casualties before the line stabilized."
The Tsaritsa's expression turned frigid, the temperature around her dipping sharply.
Several hundred lives lost...
Snezhnaya had mobilized barely three thousand soldiers for this crossing.
Every single loss cut deeply into their national recovery.
"According to reports from the Abyss Order, their hunting units successfully struck and scattered the strongholds belonging to Pierro and Dottore," Ningguang continued smoothly.
"They are currently tracking the remaining traces in the north. Domestic conditions in Snezhnaya should stabilize significantly, allowing your administration to accelerate recruitment and modernize the military."
"Additionally, following the suppression of the augmented soldiers at the border, the Hydro Archon manifested on the field. Lord Azhdaha stepped through the gate to mediate the friction and formally invited her to join the alliance."
"Focalors declined. According to Azhdaha, her refusal was firm and unwavering."
Hearing the resolution, the Tsaritsa managed to steady her thoughts. So long as Pierro and his circle were kept on the run, Snezhnaya had room to breathe.
As for the Hydro Archon...
The Tsaritsa let out a soft, weary sigh.
"Focalors witnessed the wrath of Celestia firsthand five hundred years ago. Among the Seven, she remains the most terrified of the heavenly throne."
"Though her stance is driven purely by fear and self-preservation, bringing Fontaine into the alliance in the short term remains impossible."
"Such convictions must be dismantled from within. External persuasion cannot sway the sovereign will of a god."
Ryen kept his eyes on the fighters skirmishing with the spirits, finding far more entertainment in the clumsy sword swings than the distant politics of Teyvat.
Noticing Ningguang's inquiring look, he waved a hand dismissively.
"It matters little. Whether she joins is her own affair; I have no intention of pleading for her cooperation."
"If your coalition still lacks confidence in facing the sky, adding Fontaine to the ledger will not tip the scales."
"Rather than brooding over foreign courts, focus on calculating how many workers you will deploy once this expedition concludes."
"If your nations cannot muster the numbers, the New Continent will belong entirely to Khaenri'ah."
Ningguang gave a slow, deliberate nod of agreement.
"Fontaine's stance is of little consequence now. My original ambition was merely to unite the Seven Nations and let the Heavenly Principles experience absolute isolation."
"At present, our supreme directive remains the exploitation of the New Continent. I intend to draft additional regiments the moment we return."
"With the Wizardry mod bound to this soil, our forces must establish an unshakeable foundation here."
Chapter 796: 795: 795: Harvesting the Monolith
10 min read