Genshin Impact: The Road to Reversal

Chapter 552 Returning to Modern Times

Rek'o's gaze swept over the chaotic arena, finally settling on Peruvieri and Clévius, and he nodded slightly.

"Do you need me to call someone to help you out?"

“No need.” Peruvieri’s voice was hoarse, but her eyes were firm.

She rejected Rek'Os and, supporting each other, stubbornly stood firm with the strength of one another.

Despite their faltering steps, each one aggravating their wounds and causing excruciating pain, they refused assistance from others, determined to walk out of this battlefield on their own.

This is the dignity they earned with their blood and sweat.

Rek'os watched their staggering figures as they supported each other, a barely perceptible hint of approval flashing in his icy blue eyes, but he said nothing more.

Only after the two had completely left did he gradually lower his hands and glance at Sugniel behind him.

“I know you must be very unhappy with my decision and have a lot of doubts.”

"Hmph." Sugnir snorted coldly, then crossed his arms and turned away. "I wouldn't dare. You are the Ice Emperor. Who in the Ice Age would dare to question your decisions? But I do have some doubts. Didn't you go to Rinki with the other Guardians because of Sang Yang's problem? Why did you come back so quickly?"

“Because I sensed the fall of ‘Han Tian.’ Although he rushed here, he was still too late.” He paused for a moment, “Phoenix… sacrificed himself.”

Rek'os's voice remained calm, but beneath that calmness surged a barely suppressed rage.

The displeasure and mockery on Sugnir's face vanished instantly, replaced by incredulous shock: "Phoenix? Are you kidding me? With her strength, who could kill her?"

After a moment of silence, Rek'os explained, "It was the Sangyang people. They tore open space, attracting dimensional monsters. Phoenix sacrificed himself to build the city in order to repair the rift and prevent the monsters from flooding into the glacier..."

Sugnir's facial muscles twitched slightly, and for the first time, a look of seriousness and... a barely perceptible pain appeared in his usually carefree, icy blue eyes. Although there were occasional frictions between them, as the three saints of the glacier, their hundreds and thousands of years of companionship and coexistence had forged a bond that ran deep in their bones.

"These... scum!" Sugnir spat out the words through gritted teeth, his aura suddenly becoming dangerous and violent, with blood and coldness uncontrollably emanating from him. "Where are they now?"

"The invaders from the Frostlands have been eliminated, but the chaos in Sangyang is not over yet. The most important thing now is to establish new paladins for the Glacier, so that the Glacier's defenses will not be breached due to Phoenix's departure. And they have proven that they have the qualifications and potential to inherit this responsibility."

Sugnir remained silent for a moment, the agitated aura around him gradually calming down. He understood that Rek'os was right. Anger and revenge were important, but protecting the glacier was their top priority at this moment.

“I understand,” he said in a deep voice, his gaze once again turning to the direction where Peruvieri and Clévius had left. The contempt and amusement in his eyes had disappeared, replaced by scrutiny and… a barely perceptible hint of approval.

"Then do as you say."

Rek'os nodded slightly and said no more.

At this moment, Kailin and Mo Yan were hiding in the shadows of the spectator stands, taking in everything below.

“Phoenix… really sacrificed himself.” Karin’s voice choked with emotion. Although she already knew the ending, hearing the confirmation with her own ears still weighed heavily on her heart.

Mo Yan remained silent, then nodded. The wheels of history relentlessly rolled on, and no matter how much they observed, what was destined to happen would ultimately happen.

“But Peruvieri and Clementine succeeded at least.” Karin wiped her eyes and tried to cheer herself up. “They really became paladins!”

“Hmm,” Mo Yan responded, his gaze deep. He looked in the direction where Peruvieri and Krevi had left, then looked towards the high platform where Rek'os and Sugniel were.

Peruvier's wish—to witness and participate in this history, and to bid farewell to her teacher—seems to have been fulfilled. So… shouldn't the Time Stone react as well?

He instinctively reached into his pocket, but it was empty. The jewel had been on Arecino the whole time.

"Let's go find Peruvieri. It's... time for us to go back."

Karin nodded, and then quietly left the spectator stands with Mo Yan. However, as soon as the two of them came outside, they bumped into Peruvier, who had already rushed back.

She was still wearing that blood-stained battle robe, her face somewhat pale.

"Peruvian!" Karin ran quickly to her side.

She wanted to ask about her condition, but was afraid of touching on the pain she had just experienced, and was speechless for a moment.

Peruvieri looked at them, her eyes showing a hint of weariness, but also a calm that came after everything had settled.

"I'm fine," she said first, her voice a little hoarse but steady. Her gaze fell on Mo Yan, as if she knew what he was thinking.

She slowly raised her hand, and the Time Gem, which had been dormant all along, now lay quietly in her palm. Unlike before, a soft and steady light flowed within the gem, flickering like breath.

“We…can go back now,” she said softly.

A soft light emanated from within the Time Stone, flowing gently as if infused with life. The light was not dazzling, but it possessed a strange allure, as if connecting to a distant shore.

Looking at the gemstone, Mo Yan took a deep breath and remained silent.

Yes, they can go back now. Indeed, Peruvieri's true wish has been fulfilled.

Peruvieri gazed at the gem in her palm, her eyes filled with complex emotions. This twenty-year "temporary stay," this reunion and farewell that transcended time and space, had finally come to an end.

Her gaze swept across the familiar snow-covered world, then over the majestic castle in the distance, her eyes filled with complex emotions. This place held her most painful memories, and also her most precious bonds. But this was ultimately not her time.

Seeing this, the two stopped talking and slowly approached each other.

There was no grand ceremony, no further words. The three stood together, Arecino held the Time Stone in her palm, closed her eyes, and focused her mind on returning.

The gemstone's light suddenly intensified, completely engulfing the three figures. The light rippled outwards like water, distorting and blurring the surrounding scenery, like a faded oil painting.

When the light faded and they opened their eyes again, they were back in front of the ice monument, and the environment here was no different from when they left.

The cold wind still howled, stirring up fine snow dust that pattered against the icy surface of the monument.

The ice monument inscribed with "Snow Phoenix" stands silently in the same spot, exactly as it was when it was left. It's as if those twenty long years, that farewell and battle that transcended life and death, were all just a dream that felt too real.

Only the lingering warmth of the Time Stone in my palm, and the deep sorrow within, both soothed and forever etched, prove that it was not all an illusion.