Genshin Impact: I, Heavenly Principle, Will Make Teyvat Supreme

Snezhnaya

Although Snezhnaya is a nation shrouded in ice and snow, it does not resemble the lifeless, frozen expanse of Dragonspine. Instead, it is remarkably prosperous, with its people enjoying the bounties that the cold climate brings. Apart from being unable to achieve self-sufficiency in food production, Snezhnaya's commerce is second only to Liyue in activity.

Snezhnaya's advancements in civilian technology have created an exceptionally convenient transportation system. Steam-powered transport machines can be seen everywhere, giving the nation an aesthetic reminiscent of a steampunk world. Due to its reliance on imported food and various civilian necessities, Snezhnaya maintains extensive trade relations with the other six nations.

From a military perspective, the Cryo Archon Tsaritsa is not among the strongest of the Seven Archons. However, in civilian matters, Tsaritsa has built an extensive influence that spans the entire continent of Teyvat. A prime example of this is Snezhnaya Bank.

Although the Snezhnaya Bank does not hold the authority to mint Mora, it operates with the wealth of an entire nation, establishing branches across Teyvat. Virtually every inhabited town has a branch of the Snezhnaya Bank. Even the largest bank, the Northland Bank in Liyue belongs to Snezhnaya.

Complementing the Snezhnaya Bank is the Snezhnaya Trade Guild, an organization composed of merchants from across the nation. It generates revenue primarily through the buying and selling of goods across borders, thriving on profit margins without needing to rely on Snezhnaya's own local specialties.

Beyond banking and commerce, Snezhnaya also holds control over Teyvat's largest organization—the Adventurer's Guild. While the guild's public mission is to support adventurers across the continent, its underlying goal is to collect information, forming an immense intelligence network. The Guild's Grandmaster is none other than Sandrone, the Seventh Harbinger of the Fatui.

Mentioning Sandrone leads naturally to the story of the Narzissenkreuz Institute in Fontaine. It began as part of a grand plan devised by five individuals to save Fontaine. Disagreements over how best to save the nation eventually caused a rift among them.

During a climactic confrontation between the Lord-Artificer Alain and Rene inside Erinnyes, an explosion occurred, taking the life of Alain's sister, Mary-Ann. After her death, Alain used the body of a Oceanid, which had been provided by the institute's director, Lyris, to extract Mary-Ann's consciousness.

However, both Alain and Rene were gravely injured during their duel. Mary-Ann's divided consciousness scattered—one part becoming the Oceanid Ann, while the other part was taken by Rene and sealed within the ruins of the Narzissenkreuz Institute.

Determined to revive his sister, Alain resumed his abandoned research into mechanical lifeforms, seeking to retrieve Mary-Ann's consciousness from the amniotic waters and house it in a mechanical body. Although he successfully created a mechanical body for her, Alain succumbed to his injuries before completing his plan.

Years after Alain's death, the mechanical body he crafted for Mary-Ann activated and left Fontaine. The new consciousness within this body inherited Alain's wish to revive his sister. Soon afterward, the Adventurer's Guild began spreading from Snezhnaya to the entire Teyvat continent.

Sandrone's ultimate goal is to discover a way to revive Mary-Ann. Providing intelligence to Snezhnaya is merely a secondary objective.

Half of the Fatui Harbingers joined the organization with personal motives. As a result, most of them are self-serving and do not consider each other colleagues in any meaningful sense. Each Harbinger operates with their own agenda, and the Fatui as a whole is rife with internal conflicts and competing ambitions.

...

Snezhnaya City

The scene in Snezhnaya is unlike that of the other seven nations.

In this world of snow and ice, steam-powered transport vehicles traverse the wide streets—not only cargo trucks but also public steam buses. The residents of Snezhnaya City go about their daily lives as peacefully as ever, their lifestyle not much different from that of Fontaine's citizens.

At the heart of the city stands a palace resembling a cathedral, its icy blue tones shimmering under a thin layer of frost covering its surface. Despite its grand appearance, there are no guards stationed here. In Snezhnaya, no one would dare desecrate the revered Tsaritsa's palace, not even travelers or merchants visiting the land. Entry is permitted only when summoned by Tsaritsa herself.

The functioning of Snezhnaya is managed entirely by Pulcinella, the Fifth Harbinger of the Fatui, who acts as the city's mayor. Pulcinella oversees all aspects of the nation's governance and reports to Tsaritsa at regular intervals. Alongside Harbingers like Tartaglia, Pulcinella is wholly loyal to Tsaritsa. He also serves as Snezhnaya's chief diplomat, akin to Ningguang of Liyue Qixing.

Currently, Pulcinella is reporting to Tsaritsa on the latest intelligence gathered by the Adventurer's Guild and the Fatui.

Dressed in formal attire, complete with a top hat and cane, and sporting a distinctive mustache, Pulcinella appears to be a man in his sixties or seventies. However, he is not a true human but a member of a race similar to goblins. Bowing deeply, he respectfully addresses the god seated on the high throne in the grand hall.

"Following the two incomprehensible phenomena that have occurred in Teyvat," Pulcinella begins, "the environment and ecology of the continent have undergone significant changes, as though the heavens and earth themselves were altered."

"The abyssal corruption, remnants of the gods, and countless other troubling matters were completely eradicated under the effects of the two instances of the prismatic aurora."

"Moreover, three nations—Inazuma, Fontaine, and Sumeru—have experienced the following major events…"

The Cryo Archon, Tsaritsa, listens intently, her long silver hair cascading to her waist, her gentle features exuding a calm warmth. Her demeanor immediately conveys the impression of a kind and gentle god to anyone who beholds her. Yet, despite Pulcinella's thorough report, her thoughts are heavy with concern.

Though her subordinates may not sense the world's changes, as Snezhnaya's Archon, how could she not?

The world of Teyvat had already undergone a seismic transformation during the first appearance of the prismatic aurora. Following the second occurrence, every ailment and flaw in the world had been purged entirely.

The world had become unimaginably resilient and powerful, with the false sky replaced by genuine starlit skies. Furthermore, Teyvat now possessed a new Ice Rule, yet Tsaritsa found herself unable to wield it—the rule itself rejected her as the Archon of Cryo.

Before the prismatic aurora manifested, a pillar of light had often appeared, bridging heaven and earth and leading to an unknown realm. In the aftermath of the light's arrival, each affected nation witnessed the activation of the Loom of Fate, bringing back those who had perished centuries ago, including long-dead gods.

This power, she understood, belonged solely to the authority of the Heavenly Principle.

Tsaritsa's mind grew heavier with worry. She raised her head, gazing out the skylight toward the heavens above.

"The Heavenly Principle has awakened," she murmured, "and it has grown even stronger… is that so?"

As if in response to her thoughts, a sudden, cataclysmic change occurred.

Boom!

Rumble!

Thunder rumbled across the skies above Snezhnaya City. The once snow-filled, overcast heavens began to churn violently, spiraling into a vortex. Blinding flashes of lightning and deafening roars of thunder engulfed the entire city and its surrounding regions. The affected area stretched far, comparable in scope to Mondstadt's Dragonspine.

From the ground, the phenomenon appeared as though the entire sky was spinning.

Tsaritsa stood frozen, her gaze locked on the spiraling heavens outside her window, her mind blank with shock.

"Wait…"

Tsaritsa hurriedly rose from her throne, panic flashing across her face. In an instant, she appeared outside the palace, standing before the swirling vortex that now consumed the sky above. The heavens spun ominously, and the cold winds howled, carrying with them a pressure so immense that it froze everything in its path, suffocating even a god.

She understood the unmistakable weight of the presence in the sky. It was the manifestation of the eternal authority of Heavenly Principle. This was no ordinary phenomenon but the harbinger of judgment.

In this supreme will, everything on the ground was insignificant, akin to debris to be swept away at will. This was the cold and unyielding judgment of the Eternal Throne. Any defiance of Heavenly Principle's authority would bring about the descent of the Divine Nail, an absolute and devastating punishment.

Humans, gods, nations, and civilizations—all would be annihilated the moment the Divine Nail struck.

...

Tsaritsa cried out in desperation, her voice trembling as she gazed into the spiraling heavens.

"Lord Heavenly Principle! Please wait! The people of Snezhnaya have not defied you, nor would we dare! Please, I beg you, hear my plea!"

Her voice quavered with panic, a mix of regret and horror as memories of ruins flashed in her mind—ruins that bore the scars of a Divine Nail's descent.

Though she had never seen the Divine Nails fall herself, she had seen the desolation left in their wake. Whether in the deserts of Sumeru or Mondstadt's snow-capped mountains, those regions once held thriving civilizations, only to be reduced to barren wastelands under the Divine Nails' merciless judgment.

Recently, Tsaritsa had felt a chill akin to the one emanating from above.

She had sensed it from afar—though she was in Snezhnaya, two nations away from Sumeru, the frozen desert transformation had not escaped her notice. The Adventurers' Guild reported that in an instant, an arid wasteland had been engulfed by snow and ice.

Now she understood. Heavenly Principle had awakened, and its authority was purging the Seven Nations of those who had dared defy it.

...

Tsaritsa watched, her eyes brimming with despair, as a brilliant icy blue light began to coalesce at the center of the swirling vortex above.

It was a pillar shaped like a nail, its form unmistakable.

She could see it clearly—the Divine Nail.

"Lord Heavenly Principle! I beg you, please listen to me! Let me explain!" she wailed, tears streaming down her face.

Tsaritsa had wished to oppose the Heavenly Principles, yes—but only in defense of ordinary people. The innocent should not bear the sins of the powerful. Yet, she knew the truth: The Heavenly Principle does not allow rebellion.

The Executives of the Fatui, with their blatant disdain for the Heavenly Principle's authority, had made the nation a beacon of defiance. Tsaritsa had no illusions about what this meant. The Heavenly Principle's wrath would not distinguish between rebels and innocents.

...

Inside the palace, Pulcinella, the Fifth Harbinger, froze as he processed the meaning of the Empress's panicked cries echoing through the grand hall. His trembling steps carried him outside, where he too stared up at the swirling heavens.

He was stunned, struck by the realization. The Heavenly Principle had awakened, and the Eternal Throne was now poised to deliver its judgment on Snezhnaya.

...

Pulcinella, as the city's administrator, knew the truth. The Fatui Harbingers were not united under the Empress. Many Harbingers saw their position merely as an opportunity—a partnership rather than allegiance. Some even exploited Snezhnaya's resources for their own ends.

This fractious leadership had earned Snezhnaya an abysmal reputation across Teyvat. In places like Mondstadt and Inazuma, the Fatui were hated and hunted, their atrocities leaving scars that would not soon heal.

Pulcinella's thoughts raced as the reality dawned on him. This judgment is the price we must pay for the Harbingers' actions.

...

In the capital of Snezhnaya, the citizens had no idea that the rotating sky above them signaled the imminent descent of the Divine Nail. Instead, they mistakenly believed it was a display of their beloved Tsaritsa's divine power.

The phenomenon did bear similarities to the elemental powers of ice wielded by the Cryo Archon, so it was understandable that the uninformed masses would be confused.

The people gazed upward, their voices rising in awe and speculation:

"The sky is spinning—what's happening?"

"It's suddenly much colder than usual. So cold!"

"This must be Her Majesty's divine might! Has something angered her?"

"I don't know, but everything we have in Snezhnaya is thanks to her. If someone's upset her, I won't stand for it."

"Could it be one of the Harbingers? Our reputation abroad has taken a hit because of some of them."

"True. When I was doing business in Mondstadt, as soon as they heard I was from Snezhnaya, they looked like they wanted to beat me up. I couldn't sell a thing."

"Yeah, and some Harbingers aren't even from Snezhnaya, yet they claim to be diplomats of our country. It's infuriating. Last time in Liyue, some kid spat on me while I was adventuring."

As the crowd murmured and debated, Noah strolled leisurely through the throng. His golden eyes fixed on the palace at the end of the road.

Despite Tsaritsa's defiance of Heavenly Principles, Noah couldn't help but admire the prosperity she had brought to her nation. Though the frozen lands of Snezhnaya were unsuitable for agriculture, the Cryo Archon had ensured her people thrived through trade, providing ample food and clothing.

"She certainly has talent for governance," Noah thought as he ascended the icy steps to the palace. His gaze fell on the Cryo Archon, Tsaritsa, standing at the palace entrance.

...

Tsaritsa was striking—a cascade of snow-white hair flowing to her waist, her face gentle and serene, her figure an exquisite golden ratio of perfection.

Like all Archons who chose humanoid forms, she was breathtakingly beautiful, a flawless creation of divine power.

Yet, at this moment, her body trembled as she gazed at the young man walking slowly toward her. Her eyes reflected his cold, indifferent face.

When their gazes met, it felt as if her very soul had frozen.

Through the divine resonance of a god, Tsaritsa felt it clearly—this young man was the Heavenly Principle. Though he was not Phanes, the authority he radiated was unmistakable.

Realizing he intended to hear her explanation, Tsaritsa lowered her head and knelt before him.

A sinner had no right to stand before the Heavenly Principle. To do so would be a grievous act of hubris, an affront to the Eternal Throne.

Her action mirrored that of the former Hydro Archon, Egeria, who once knelt and pleaded to the Primordial One for forgiveness when she sought to transform her followers into imperfect humans.

"Sinner Tsaritsa humbly greets Lord Heavenly Principle."

Behind her, Pulcinella dropped to his knees as well, trembling.

How could he not kneel when the Cryo Archon herself knelt and addressed this youth as Lord Heavenly Principle?

...

Noah watched Tsaritsa with amusement.

So quick to bow and call herself a sinner—perhaps because she felt the threat of the metaphorical Damocles' sword hanging over her head. With the Divine Nail poised to descend, she had no choice but to adopt such humility.

With a faint smile, he said, "Tsaritsa, you're not seriously planning to defend yourself by claiming you haven't defied the Heavenly Principles, are you?"

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