Genshin Impact: Transmigrated as Furina's Second Personality

"This is the situation in brief," Zhongli explained, recounting the loosening of the seal on Azhdaha, the emergence of its benevolent aspect, and its plea for death as a means of liberation.

Naturally, Zhongli omitted the fact that Azhdaha's awakening was triggered by the anomalies in Fontaine's Primordial Sea.

After all, admitting this would imply that he had long been aware of the interaction between Azhdaha and the Primordial Sea, which would be… awkward.

Not that it made much difference—Felina could already guess Zhongli's intentions.

"So, this guy knew all along about the connection between Azhdaha and the Primordial Sea," Felina thought, her eyes narrowing.

"He must have been waiting for me to bring it up myself. That way, he could avoid offering too many concessions. After all, fighting a Dragon King isn't an easy task."

Finally, it dawned on her why Zhongli had handed over the Gnosis to her so readily. It wasn't pure generosity—he had been counting on this moment all along!

Tsk, what an old fox!

Liyue harbored two latent threats: Osial, the Overlord of the Vortex, and Azhdaha, the Dragon King.

Should either of these immensely powerful entities break free from their seals, Liyue would face unparalleled calamity.

Zhongli's desire to step down as the Geo Archon naturally came with the responsibility of addressing these threats first.

Felina had previously negotiated using the construction of a power station as leverage to resolve the Osial issue. However, she had deliberately avoided bringing up Azhdaha.

She understood the deep bond between Zhongli and Azhdaha. In her view, Zhongli would never willingly harm his old friend.

Using Azhdaha as a bargaining chip was neither practical nor polite.

For that reason, Felina had never considered leveraging Azhdaha in her plans.

However, Felina's arrival seemed to have altered the course of fate.

The anomalies in Fontaine's Primordial Sea had accelerated far beyond expectations, triggering tectonic shifts that awakened Azhdaha prematurely.

Even more surprising was that Azhdaha's benevolent aspect had appeared, actively seeking Zhongli's help to end its suffering.

In hindsight, this development made sense.

In Zhongli's second story quest from the game's narrative, the Traveler, Zhongli, and the benevolent aspect of Azhdaha had worked together to reseal the dragon.

While it appeared the situation had been resolved, in reality, they had only reinforced the seal, temporarily delaying the inevitable conflict between Azhdaha, Zhongli, and Liyue.

How long could the seal last? A century? A millennium?

Eventually, Azhdaha would break free, forcing Liyue to confront this monumental threat again.

As Azhdaha had said, resealing it merely postponed the problem for future generations to bear while prolonging its own torment.

From a ruler's perspective, eliminating such a looming threat was undoubtedly the best course of action.

From the perspective of an old friend, granting Azhdaha its requested release was an act of compassion.

Publicly or privately, Zhongli had no grounds to refuse.

As a fellow ruler, Felina empathized deeply with Zhongli's plight.

She turned to him and asked, "Are you certain about this?"

Zhongli's expression revealed his inner turmoil.

After a heavy sigh, he replied, "For the sake of my people and an old friend, I have no other choice."

He looked directly at Felina, his tone resolute. "But Azhdaha's strength is immense. Even at my peak, I could not defeat him alone, let alone while protecting Liyue."

"For the future of Liyue and Fontaine, I hope to enlist your aid, Lady Furina."

Felina fell silent, feigning contemplation.

In truth, she wasn't genuinely deliberating. Her silence was a deliberate act of dissatisfaction.

Clearly, Zhongli had long known about the connection between Azhdaha and the Primordial Sea, yet he had withheld this information, waiting for her to bring it up first.

This was undoubtedly to avoid offering her too many benefits.

On a personal level, Felina had great admiration for both Zhongli and Azhdaha. She would have been willing to help without asking for anything in return.

But as Fontaine's ruler, she had to prioritize her nation and its people over personal feelings.

In all her prior dealings with Liyue, Felina had ensured her proposals were as fair as possible.

Now, being met with such calculations left her feeling somewhat displeased.

Zhongli noticed Felina's silence and understood it as a subtle expression of her dissatisfaction.

He sighed, acknowledging her unspoken critique.

"My apologies," he said sincerely. "But beyond the Gnosis, Liyue has little left to offer as collateral."

After a brief moment of thought, he added, "How about this: after this matter is resolved, I will agree to assist Fontaine twice, within reason, and without compromising my principles."

"In addition, all goods imported into Liyue from Fontaine will have their tariffs reduced by 8%. Does this satisfy you?"

As the God of War, Zhongli's assistance carried immeasurable weight. Agreeing to help Fontaine twice was no trivial offer.

Furthermore, an 8% tariff reduction on Fontaine's imports into Liyue would significantly boost Fontaine's economy and employment.

For instance, a Fontaine product worth 100 Mora would incur a 15% tariff in Liyue, bringing its cost to 115 Mora before profit margins were added.

With additional costs for labor, transport, and retail markups, a 100 Mora product from Fontaine could sell for over 200 Mora in Liyue.

High prices made Fontaine's goods less competitive, reducing consumer interest.

Lower tariffs would allow Fontaine's merchants to sell their products at more attractive prices, stimulating demand, boosting the economy, and creating jobs.

Zhongli's apology and concessions ensured the terms were fair. Satisfied, Felina nodded in agreement to join him in battling Azhdaha.

With the plan finalized, they went their separate ways to make the necessary preparations.

Azhdaha's power, rooted in Geo, was a formidable force to reckon with.

A battle between three god-tier combatants could reshape the land itself, so precautionary measures—such as evacuating civilians—were crucial to minimizing casualties and damage.

At the entrance to the desert from the rainforest near Caravan Ribat, a tall, scantily dresssed woman appeared.

She was none other than the Fatui Harbinger La Signora, the Eighth of the Eleven.

The Oceanids loyally carried out Felina's orders.

It had been half a month since the desert mercenaries blocked Caravan Ribat's entrance, barring the Rainforest people from entering the desert.

Now it was deep into the night.

Emerging from the river flowing through Aaru Village, Aishi surfaced gracefully.

Water can take any form, and so can the Oceanids.

Felina had not only gifted them bodies resembling Oceanids but also granted them the ability to strengthen themselves autonomously.

A single droplet of water may be insignificant, but countless droplets flowing together can form streams.

The Oceanids could immerse themselves in rivers, lakes, and seas, absorbing the power of water to grow stronger.

As creations of the Hydro Archon, their absorption rate far surpassed that of ordinary Oceanids.

Felina had given them bodies and a path to strength—what came next depended on their own diligence.

Driven by their profound remorse, Aishi and Vigneire were the most diligent of the 26 Oceanids. As a result, they were the first to achieve the ability to transform their bodies into human forms.

During these two weeks, Aishi, Vigneire, Aurelie, and the other Oceanids tirelessly worked to improve the lives of the desert people while also employing various means to sow discord between the desert and the rainforest.

The desert dwellers believed the desert was their home. Since the rainforest had rejected them, they felt justified in barring the Rainforest people from entering their land.

Blocking the entrance, however, affected many livelihoods and drew significant opposition. Yet, the opposition achieved nothing.

With unwavering determination, the desert people stood firm, fueled by the belief that they were fighting for the future of their land and descendants.

This steadfastness resulted in over 30 skirmishes at Caravan Ribat's entrance within just two weeks.

The stance of the desert leaders—Vigneire and Aishi—and the Sumeru Akademiya, who led the rainforest's side, remained remarkably subtle.

Caravan Ribat was the sole passageway between the desert and the rainforest, and its entrance was narrow, only wide enough for a single cart to pass at a time.

Even with large groups from both sides gathered at the choke point, the narrow space prevented large-scale battles and limited casualties.

Both Felina, leading the Fontaine faction, and the Akademiya, guiding the rainforest faction, tacitly agreed to let these skirmishes take place in such a carefully controlled environment.

The location was perfect—not enough to trigger a full-blown conflict, but sufficient to stoke resentment between the two groups with each clash.

When tensions and mutual dissatisfaction reached a boiling point, it would signal the final act of Felina and the Akademiya's cooperation.

The Akademiya would conduct a referendum on the desert's independence. With the rainforest people's frustrations and the desert people's faith in Felina, transferring the desert to Fontaine's jurisdiction would be a foregone conclusion.

During the day, Aishi was busy working, teaching, and helping the desert dwellers. Only at night could she immerse herself in the river to cultivate and grow stronger.

Tonight, as usual, she stepped ashore after training.

The desert, under clear skies, offered a breathtaking view of the starlit heavens. Aishi enjoyed gazing up at the stars, her mind brimming with thoughts on how best to assist the Hydro Archon in her plans.

This night was no different.

However, close to four in the morning, Aishi noticed something amiss.

During the shift-change period from 4 AM to 8 AM, the guards being relieved should have passed through by now on their way home to rest. Yet, there was no sign of movement.

Having made the decision to drink the water of the Primordial Sea, Aishi had long abandoned her naivety, becoming a cautious and meticulous individual.

Every action she took was for one purpose: loyalty to Lady Furina.

Her experiences of betrayal—when she was lured, coerced, and ultimately fell into a trap, betraying Lady Furina and plunging into an abyss of despair—had forged her current disposition.

Now, she trusted no one except Felina and her fellow Oceanids. Even the desert people she had cared for and guided, she treated with surface-level kindness while remaining wary deep down.

Haunted by her past mistakes, Aishi scrutinized every situation with a worst-case scenario in mind, instinctively attributing the most malicious intentions to others.

This mindset might seem extreme, but it stemmed from her refusal to ever betray Felina again.

Acting on her vigilance, Aishi set off to the shift-change point.

Her caution would prove crucial, preventing Felina's plan to annex the desert from falling apart and stopping Sumeru's situation from spiraling out of control.

Upon arriving, Aishi was met with a shocking scene.

The previous guards lay lifeless on the ground, their bodies pierced by icy spikes. No blood flowed from their wounds, as the injuries had been instantly frozen.

The assailant was a tall, blonde woman in Akademiya attire. She had just killed one of the arriving guards and was poised to dispatch the last remaining one.

As the icy lance shot toward the final guard, Aishi darted in front of him, her palms thrusting forward to conjure a barrier of surging water.

The frost-tipped projectile collided with the watery wall, freezing it instantly but failing to penetrate.

"Lady Aishi!" the rescued guard cried out in alarm.

But Aishi's expression was grave. She seemed to sense something from the attacker and immediately commanded:

"Go! Run back to the village and warn Vigneire. Tell her that a powerful enemy has arrived. Everyone must evacuate immediately!"

Aishi rarely displayed such seriousness. Sensing the gravity of the situation, the guard bolted toward the village without hesitation.

The blonde woman in Akademiya garb attempted to attack the fleeing guard again, but Aishi intercepted each strike.

"Don't waste your efforts. With me here, you won't stop him from delivering the message!"

Aishi's gaze hardened as she scrutinized the woman. "This aura… the power of a Delusion?"

Delusions were standard equipment for the Fatui Harbingers, gifted by the Tsaritsa. With a Delusion, the user could harness an additional element beyond their Vision.

For example, Childe's Vision allowed him to wield Hydro, but his Delusion granted him access to Electro as well.

However, the method of creating Delusions imbued the elemental energy they emitted with a disquieting, malevolent aura.

The unsettling energy emanating from this blonde woman made her identity unmistakable to Aishi.

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