Chapter 13

Rin awakens on a Republican dirigible with Daji tending her and learns they are bound for the Chuluu Korikh. Daji claims Rin’s army has abandoned her and insists they need a powerful ally sealed in the mountain: Jiang. Despite Rin’s disbelief, Daji escorts Republican soldiers to the entrance and orders them inside.

Within the mountain, Rin is overwhelmed by the severed connection to divinity and is forced onto a plinth. Realizing Daji’s plan does not require her, Rin tries to leap into the abyss but cannot; the stone consumes her, trapping her in conscious, airless stasis. She cycles through memories and pain, then probes Nüwa’s lingering Seal, confronting a vicious hallucination of Altan berating her failures.

Tremors crack the stone; Rin shatters free and gulps air. Jiang stands beside Daji, newly released. Rin accuses Jiang of abandonment; he apologizes imperfectly, saying he sealed himself to protect others, and declares the story must end. Outside, Rin notices Daji and Jiang look renewed and stronger; Daji coolly reveals she eliminated Nezha’s troops once Rin was secured.

That night, by a campfire, they discuss next moves. Rin insists they first rescue Kitay, her secret anchor, from Nezha. Jiang and Daji agree but argue that to lead she must act decisively against the Southern Coalition’s leadership, even killing rivals like Souji and Gurubai to prevent dissent. Daji frames power as myth-making beyond morality, urging Rin to seize command.

They settle on a ruthless path: retrieve Kitay to restore Rin’s power, then confront the Southern Coalition from a position of fear and legend. Finally, Daji and Jiang hint at the next step—after securing Kitay, they will go “wake” their own ally.