When Yilan returned home, although it was just after 7 o'clock, the sun had already set. After all, it always gets dark early in winter.
Noelle was gone.
Just as he had said before, Noelle was not his personal maid, so naturally, she didn't live there.
He was the only one left in the huge garden villa.
"Then it's time to start the second simulation."
The reason Yilan didn't simulate constantly—unlike others with the simulation system who did so nonstop except for eating and sleeping—was that their cooldown was time-based.
For example, they could simulate once every few hours or once a day. Missing a simulation meant losing out on rewards.
But his simulation system required positive energy points to activate.
Since the positive energy points were finite, no matter how hard he worked, the number of simulations wouldn't increase. Naturally, he wasn't in a hurry.
[Simulation starts.]
As Yilan's thoughts formed, the system's prompt echoed in his mind.
[Generating a simulated instance...]
[Current simulation instance: Death of Raiden Makoto]
[Death of Raiden Makoto: The flowers of the World Tree bloom and wither, the ley lines flow endlessly, and everything seems predestined. Your task this time is to alter the outcome of Raiden Makoto's death in the Cataclysm and reduce Inazuma's losses during the event.]
[Ding. Detected that this mission is extremely difficult. Special permissions will be granted to the host.]
[Special Permissions: The system can randomly generate a character for simulation, or you may possess any character from Inazuma for the simulation.]
[Please select.]
"Of course, I'll possess an Inazuma character for the simulation!" Yilan didn't hesitate. "I choose to possess Raiden Ei!"
Extremely difficult?
Shouldn't it be extremely easy?
Logically, he knew the plot, had foresight, and was possessing Raiden Ei. He couldn't even imagine how he could lose.
When the simulation began, he entered full sensory immersion, becoming Raiden Ei. He left a note for Raiden Makoto, then answered the call of the heavens and joined the Seven Archons in their assault on Khaenri'ah.
In the game's plot, Raiden Makoto had gone to Khaenri'ah alone without informing Inazuma and ultimately died there.
Now, as a "Raiden Ei" who knew the plot, had formidable combat power, and was more adaptable, participating in the Khaenri'ah war gave him a strong chance of survival.
Besides, he was curious about what had truly happened during the Seven Archons' attack on Khaenri'ah. He wanted to see it for himself.
Then, his mission failed.
Before he even reached Khaenri'ah, the system suddenly notified him:
[Detected that Raiden Makoto is dead. Simulation mission failed. This simulation ends.]
Yilan: "???????"
No way, sister you can really die just staying at the base?
[Continue the current instance, or end it and start a new one?]
The system's voice echoed in his mind.
"Continue the current instance!"
Of course, Yilan wasn't willing to give up.
First, completing every instance was a player's compulsion. Second, he genuinely wanted to save Raiden Makoto. Third, he also hoped to gain Electro abilities through this simulation.
—Even though Electro was considered weak in the game and only saw a slight rise after Dendro's release, Yilan firmly believed that in the real world, Electro would be the most practical element.
So, he spent another 100 positive energy points and started another simulation.
This time, he chose to possess Yae Miko.
As the head shrine maiden of the Grand Narukami Shrine, Yae Miko was undoubtedly the most influential and powerful figure in Inazuma after the Raiden sisters. She was also highly trusted by the people.
He became Yae Miko, entered sensory immersion again, and privately sought out Raiden Ei. He selectively revealed the plot he knew.
The Raiden Ei in the game was already somewhat naive, and this version—500 years earlier, still coddled by her sister Makoto—was even more so.
Plus, Yae Miko had always played the role of the wise advisor among Inazuma's elite, so Ei didn't doubt her words.
As a devoted sister-con, the moment she heard Makoto would be in danger in Khaenri'ah, she grabbed her naginata and rushed off to confront the Heavenly Principles without hesitation.
Meanwhile, Yae Miko (Yilan) stayed in Inazuma, protecting Raiden Makoto and helping fend off the monster invasions.
If all went well, everyone would be happy. Even if the mission failed and Raiden Makoto died, he'd at least learn the real cause of death, allowing him to adjust his strategy in the next simulation.
But he forgot—he and Raiden Makoto weren't sisters or spouses, so he couldn't follow her 24/7.
Especially during the Abyssal beast tide sweeping the continent, as the second-most-powerful figure in Inazuma, he and Makoto were often separated, each leading armies to defend different fronts.
All he could do was instruct Sasayuri and Chiyo to protect Raiden Makoto.
Then, predictably, Makoto died again.
He tried possessing Chiyo, Sasayuri, and even creating an original character, but nothing prevented Raiden Makoto's death in the simulations.
Finally, he grew desperate. Ignoring Inazuma's survival, he possessed Raiden Ei, abandoned the nation to the beast tide, and secretly followed Makoto to Khaenri'ah.
This time, under his protection, Raiden Makoto survived. But as they dealt with Khaenri'ah and prepared to return, disaster struck.
"You are a wandering soul that should have returned to the cycle. You do not belong in this world. The Sustainer of Heavenly Principles shall fulfill her duty here and end your existence."
With those words, the Heavenly Principles struck.
Unsurprisingly, both he and Raiden Makoto perished at the hands of the Heavenly Principles.
Only then did he realize the true reason for Raiden Makoto's death—it was her **predestined fate**.
Fate.
For modern society, fate is an abstract concept.
But for the people of Teyvat, fate is real.
The ley lines connect to the World Tree, which records all information on the continent—past, present, and future.
The destinies of all living beings are etched into the ley lines.
As Mona once said when using her ultimate:
"The destiny is laid out."
—If fate weren't fixed, how could Mona predict the future?
"Must Raiden Makoto die?"
This thought crossed Yilan's mind, but he dismissed it immediately.
Mona had said she couldn't predict the fate of the Traveler (Aether/Lumine), and those connected to them also became unpredictable.
The game's introduction also stated that the Traveler possessed "the power to defy this world," as they came from beyond Teyvat.
In other words, the Traveler could alter the fates of Teyvat's inhabitants.
As an outsider himself, Yilan should have the same power.
But…
"What should I do?"
His enemy this time was the Heavenly Principles—an opponent he couldn't defeat.
Could it be…
"Do I really have to give up on saving Raiden Makoto?"
Frustrated, Yilan stepped outside.
When faced with an unsolvable problem, he liked to take walks. The fresh air always helped him think more clearly.
But this time, as he reached the fountain plaza, he heard an argument ahead.
Glancing toward the noise, he saw a girl with long, ice-blue hair and a slender, alluring figure surrounded by Knights of Favonius.