Genshin 5.7 Preview Discussion: Confluence of Spacetime and the Outlandish Swordmaster

Genshin Impact: Traveler's Quest Act- As expected, the annual update delivers substantial revelations and surprises! While the visually overwhelming version PV, true to tradition, employs spliced voiceovers that currently hinder effective analysis and prediction of specific plot developments, it remains entirely feasible to run through the new version's content and highlight noteworthy details. This article will delve into several key aspects of personal focus.

1. Traveler's Quest Act-"A Space and Time for You"

First, one must acknowledge that miHoYo has truly mastered the craft of trailer editing. It's utterly impossible to discern which voice lines belong to Traveler's Quest and which originate from Skirk's Story Quest. The dialogue is very likely deliberately presented out of sequence, making detailed plot speculation based on this PV impractical-we might as well await the official release. Here, I primarily aim to briefly discuss certain noteworthy details and their connections to previous lore by analyzing the PV's visual sequences alongside information revealed during the official preview showcase.

In last year's Version 4.7 Traveler's Quest Act: Bedtime Story, we witnessed Caribert's noble soul, warm as the blazing sun, observed him conveying love and compassion through the world's fabric, and ultimately, with sorrow, bore witness to his passing. Moreover, the pivotal plot mystery seeded since Version 1.4's Traveler Chapter: We Will Be Reunited-the truth of the Loom of Fate-was unveiled in that narrative: the so-called Loom of Fate is an extraordinary machine capable of weaving authentic Ley Lines, a "world-class tool."

Back then, with Caribert serving as the cornerstone, the prototype of the Loom was successfully constructed through the combined influence of three elements: extreme sorrow and anguish, the hopes and regrets flowing through Khaenri'ah's bloodline, and Abyssal power of a magnitude beyond mortal comprehension (as depicted in Version 3.5's Traveler Chapter: Caribert). Later, with the recovery of the crucial component-the "First Field Tiller's Core"-from Dainsleif during Bedtime Story, the Loom was ultimately brought to completion.

Within the profoundly moving reunion dialogue between the Twins, the Sibling refrained from clarifying the Loom's intended purpose, offering only vague remarks about "not yet discovering how to fully utilize the Loom's functions," while simultaneously declaring unwavering resolve in the war against the Heavenly Principles. This new Traveler Chapter narrative will revolve around subsequent actions taken by the Sibling to activate the Loom in pursuit of "a certain objective."

Natlan proves a rather unsettling stage for this Traveler Chapter. Having only recently prevailed against the Abyss at great sacrifice, Natlan now witnesses the Abyss Order operating with unprecedented audacity across its lands-seemingly poised to wage another Abyss war against the entire nation (note: the Abyss and the Abyss Order are distinct entities; the previous conflict fought against the Abyss Legion led by Gosoythoth represented a projection of the Abyssal force's inherent destructive will, whereas the Abyss Order is a Khaenri'ah restorationist faction that voluntarily embraces and wields Abyssal power).

The Order's aberrant activities are demonstrably linked to new advancements within the Sibling's grand scheme. Significantly, the territories seized by the Order encompass the former capital Ochkanatlan-a site historically ravaged by Abyssal corruption. This location was likely chosen for specific reasons.

As a people forged in frontline confrontation with the Abyss, Natlans will never stand idly by before the Order's maneuvers. This rings especially true for our longstanding comrade Dainsleif, who has relentlessly pursued the Order. He will engage in this incident with unprecedented commitment, joining the Traveler in deep incursions into the Order's controlled heartland for punitive operations. Offering direct combat support with his unique powers, Dainsleif will finally unveil his prowess in battle-a prospect thrilling to behold. After all, the Sibling attested that this former Captain of the Khaenri'ah Royal Guard, the "Twilight Sword," possesses unmatched prowess where a single blade can halt an entire army. Whether five centuries past or in the present day, the Sibling could never overcome a fully serious Dainsleif in direct combat.

Additionally, a pivotal character will debut in this Traveler Chapter. The Traveler will "chance upon" a peculiarly dressed maiden within an inconspicuous Natlan cavern. Based on casting records, the maiden's name appears to be "Deliere." Crucially, her distinctive starlit pupils indicate she is a pure-blooded Khaenri'ah descendant. Certain voice lines in the PV further suggest she may not exist in the current era, but rather appears as an apparition transcending spacetime in the present-in truth, an ancient who has traveled through time from "that day," the cataclysm that consumed Khaenri'ah.

Regarding the purpose of the sibling's current operation and their aspiration to utilize the Loom of Fate to achieve certain objectives, while it remains challenging to propose substantiated concrete conjectures at this juncture, certain dialogue fragments featured in the PV coupled with pivotal visuals depicting the twins and the Khaenri'ah maiden evidently traversing back to the cataclysm of Khaenri'ah's destruction strongly suggest an unfolding scenario of "the future attempting to redeem the past." This precisely resonates with the declaration in the Travail trailer: "Then, proceed to reweave all destinies."

Khaenri'ah's summoning to the heavens beckoned the Twins' descent, leading the Sibling to become Khaenri'ah's Crown Prince. People anticipated a radiant future, only to be met with annihilation. (Ref.: We Will Be Reunited PV showing the Sibling witnessing Khaenri'ah's fall in despair.) The current PV opens with the Sibling standing amid Khaenri'ah's flames of ruin. The cries of despair-pleading for salvation and roaring "Never trust outsiders!"-represent an agonizing ordeal for the Sibling, cementing their resolve to embark on a "salvation" path. While the contents of the two vessels the Sibling holds remain unclear, they appear critically significant. Judging by the eight-pointed star sigil on the vessels, these are likely Khaenri'ah-produced/encapsulated artifacts.

While the contents of the two vessels held by the Sibling remain unclear, they are evidently items of critical significance. Judging by the eight-pointed star sigil adorning them, these are undoubtedly artifacts produced or encapsulated by Khaenri'ah.

Finally, regarding the information in the PV that seemingly startled many-the "spaceship hibernation pod" and the "spaceship used by the Twins when arriving in Teyvat"-the game has actually hinted since its early stages that Teyvat is not a traditional sword-and-sorcery fantasy world. Since Sumeru, I have repeatedly expressed in lore articles that Genshin Impact leans more toward being a "soft sci-fi" story.

After witnessing the Ancient Dragon Civilization in Natlan-which once reached a space-age level with technology surpassing that of modern humanity-I believe you all have gained deeper insight into this point. The recent special program Let's Start With Nod-Krai directly addressed Teyvat's technological prowess, revealing that within the Nod-Krai region, we will encounter even more unimaginable technological constructs and uncover more truths about the world's nature.

The story of Nod-Krai will unveil the secrets of the Lunar Sovereigns, while the paleo-lunar structures clearly correlate with ancient dragon technology-likely serving as planetary defense arrays formed by the three natural satellites retrofitted by the ancient dragons. The special program even showcased concept art of a "statue," built by the Fatui, resembling an antenna designed to harness paleo-lunar energy.

In the future, when we ascend to Celestia, discovering abundant technological elements-or even Phanes' interstellar mothership used upon landing in Teyvat-should not come as a surprise. Phanes' identity itself resembles that of a survivor whose homeworld was devoured by the Abyss, carrying the blueprint of their original world in search of a beacon to preserve civilization. This logically explains why Phanes, after colonizing Teyvat, conservatively transformed the planet into an "Ark" to withstand the apocalypse spreading through the cosmos.

Notably, the closed beta opening animation of Genshin Impact already contained scenes where what appears to be the pod door of the Traveler's spacecraft opens with a sci-fi flourish-truly a foreshadowing callback spanning years.

2. Skirk's Story Quest

Following her startlingly brief but vivid appearance in Version 4.2's Fontaine Archon Quest, we have finally welcomed the implementation of Tartaglia's master, Skirk. Beyond her exceptionally striking appearance and dazzling combat animations, I believe many lore enthusiasts share my curiosity about this enigmatic swordswoman whose martial prowess remains unfathomable and whose origins are shrouded in profound mystery.

Trained under Surtalogi the Foul-one of the Five Sinners of Khaenri'ah-Skirk wields the power of the Abyss in battle. Not only does she roam freely through abyssal rifts, but she also demonstrated overwhelming strength within the Primordial Sea, sufficient to subdue cosmic titans like the All-Devouring Narwhal. As an existence that has already transcended this world, Skirk possesses knowledge regarding Teyvat's deepest enigmas. During her last appearance, her revelations concerning "the essence of Gnosis" and "the remains of the Third Descender" proved thoroughly astonishing, yet they also spawned further questions-heightening anticipation for our next encounter with her.

In the forthcoming Version 5.7 update, the Traveler will reunite with Skirk within her Story Quest. Surprisingly, this encounter unfolds in Liyue. Spurred by the Traveler's sudden, inexplicable "nightmares," we will join forces with Skirk to investigate the source of reality-distorting anomalies. Throughout this collaboration, glimpses of the warrior's hidden, emotional depths will emerge beneath her frostlike exterior-revealing fragments of her past and uncovering pivotal clues about the nature of Teyvat.

Certain lines delivered by Skirk in the PV also warrant closer scrutiny. Her statement, "Forty-two of them have died out in the past few months alone, something has been leeching power from this world like a parasite steals nutrients from a host," directly echoes the phrase from her character introduction: "Sin infests the firmament, calamity unfurls across the universe."

In truth, earlier clues within the game have hinted at cosmic devastation afflicting realities beyond Teyvat. The seminal lore book The Little Witch and the Undying Fire, released alongside the Imaginarium Theater, explicitly notes: A great disaster appears to be spreading across the cosmos. All that exists externally is withering toward an end, consumed by some phenomenon. Stars and civilizations throughout the universe are extinguishing at an accelerated rate, vanishing into nothingness.

The archive entry for the All-Devouring Narwhal similarly contains phrasing evoking the "Fermi Paradox," further revealing anomalies within the universe beyond Teyvat. Moreover, within the artifact set "Finale of the Deep Galleries" - which chronicles the history of the Golden Realm - the immortal intergalactic voyager hailing from a god-like civilization forewarned Nibelung of the advent of the Finality.

Cosmic events must have transpired; even the realm of Teyvat, enveloped by the False Sky, cannot evade their impact. This narrative arc will likely unveil glimpses of the cosmos's current truth. Yet, even facing external threats, hiding within the "egg's shell" through rigid, unchanging order-pursuing so-called "eternity"-remains an illusory endeavor. Life refuses eternal confinement and forever yearns for freedom. As Skirk declares, Teyvat will surely shatter the firmament and ultimately embrace its return to the stars.

Additionally, Skirk's mentor-Surtalogi, the Foul-will make his debut within this Story Quest. For reasons yet unknown, a ferocious duel erupts between master and disciple. The precise catalysts and consequences await the quest's official release.

Skirk's Master: "The Foul" Surtalogi

The name of Skirk's master, "The Foul" Surtalogi, draws inspiration from Lævateinn-the flame-wreathed demonic sword wielded by Surtr in Norse mythology, symbolizing all-consuming inferno. Legend holds that during Ragnarök, Surtr would storm Asgard to battle fiercely against Freyr, the "God of Fertility," and ultimately hurl his blazing sword skyward in the climax of combat. The ensuing conflagration unleashed would engulf and incinerate the old world.

Tartaglia's transformation form-"Foul Legacy" (Demon King's Armament)-along with his Hydro whale-summoning finishing move "Foul Legacy: The Devouring Deep" (Extreme Malice Art: Leviathan's Annihilation)-derive their naming directly from the grandmaster "The Foul". Given the high probability of mentor-disciple emulation, Skirk's skill nomenclature likely follows suit through an identical semantic lineage.

For further background research on Skirk, please refer to this article.

3. Skirk Animated Short: "Star Odyssey"

Genshin Impact will release Skirk's animated short "Star Odyssey" next week, with its theme song performed by Suzuki Airi.

Regarding this preview, roughly this much is what I wished to discuss. Admittedly, numerous contents remain unaddressed-such as the forthcoming Genshin Auto-Chess event in the next update.

Additionally, the new permanent challenge "Stygian Onslaught" will debut, offering up to 450 Primogems and 2 units of "Dust of Enlightenment" per phase. The open-world character encounter activity "Travelers' Tales" will also unveil its new installment-"Gilded Chapter"-with the permanent implementation of such activities now formally scheduled.

For now, we patiently await Version 5.7's update. Are you, like myself, anticipating this new chapter and the fresh Genshin merchandise? Certainly, remember not to miss our upcoming Genshin articles and merchandise releases-we shall step through the gates of Version 5.7 alongside every Traveler!