A Lethal Invitation
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Brief
Go to Cloudrest Woods and verify the local situation.
Unlock
Rewards
Operational EXP ×300 Operational EXP ★★★★★ Raises the Endministrator's Authority Level. 
Origeometry ×2 Origeometry ★★★★★★ An extremely rare crystal habit of Originium with many potential uses. 
Advanced Cognitive Carrier ×1 Advanced Cognitive Carrier ★★★★★ A material that provides a lot of EXP for leveling up Lv.61-90 operators. Overview › 
Arms INSP Set ×2 Arms INSP Set ★★★★ A material that provides a lot of weapon EXP. Overview › 
Protohedron ×2 Protohedron ★★★★ A material that upgrades operator skills. Overview › 
T-Creds ×4,000 T-Creds ★★★★ TC for short. This currency is recognized and used in many places. Steps
1 Get on a raft and travel to Cloudrest Woods View on map
Dialogue
Arcane
I'll handle the rift.
Chen Qianyu
YSTF is your go-to specialist for handling Ætherside disasters... This should be a piece of cake for her.
Chen Qianyu
It's Ardashir's Arts—!
Arcane
I'll break it.
Arcane
...It's done.
Arcane
No matter. Just move fast and neutralize Ardashir. That will help Wuling regain the initiative.
Arcane
Let's go to the Lake Islet.
Perlica
Hmm. If this is his attempt to delay us...
Perlica
Then perhaps Tianshi Zhuang and I made the right guess. This is just an obvious feint to lure us to this place.
Chen Qianyu
But his feint hit the Marker Stone and made a rift. We can't just ignore it...
Chen Qianyu
...I have a feeling that he's doing it to get the Endmin to come here.
2 Go to the station and board a raft View on map
Dialogue
Chen Qianyu
Is this Ardashir's power... The color is just so weird... And is that ... a rift?
T
Tianshi (Luo)
Wait! Don't get any closer —
Arcane
YSTF. We'll handle this.
Perlica
A way to contain the rift must be found.
Chen Qianyu
Tianshi Pillar? It can keep the rift contained — Err, I mean, if it still works...
T
Tianshi (Luo)
I, I know a way to restart the Pillar —
Arcane
Get back to the city.
Arcane
Direct contact with the rift is too dangerous for you.
T
Tianshi (Luo)
...Much appreciated. Thank you.
Arcane
If the commander's aim is to keep them safe, then they should leave. It's as simple as that.
Chen Qianyu
......
Arcane
Restarting the Tianshi Pillar can be achieved with just Chen and I.
Arcane
I hope you have not forgotten the training you had.
Chen Qianyu
Hey, stop saying that! My grades were just as good as yours!
Perlica
Seems like it... Depth readings are extremely abnormal. When the Tianshi Pillars were damaged, rifts began to appear. This is definitely the power of Æther.
Perlica
Is this the work of Ardashir's Arts...? Is he now capable of tearing new rifts?
T
Tianshi (Luo)
Sorry about this. We wanted to help too.
Arcane
I know the dangers of the rift ... too well, in fact. The disaster from the past must not strike again.
Chen Qianyu
Wha?
Radio
Perlica
Arcane ... you seem to disagree with saving the people first.
Arcane
I don't question orders.
Arcane
But if we let the foe lead us around, we might lose our opportunity.
Chen Qianyu
So you'll just let people die?
Arcane
If the enemy breaks into the Marker Stone during this rescue operation, the casualties will be worse.
Chen Qianyu
How can you...!
Arcane
You should know that YSTF never questions their orders.
4 Enter the Cloudrest Woods View on map
Dialogue
Arcane
Hold on. Contact.
?
???
You are here.
Chen Qianyu
This thing...?! It talks?!
?
???
Just as I've said at Qingbo Stockade. We meet again.
?
???
Endministrator—
Arcane
Quiet.
Arcane
I'll lead the way.
?
???
An impatient one...
Radio
Arcane
The Tianshi Pillar is right ahead.
T
Tianshi (Luo)
Reinforcements? Take out the Aggeloi first!
5 Verify the situation at Cloudrest Woods View on map
Dialogue
Perlica
The Æther has acquired a visible form... It has become "sword" and "wall"...
Chen Qianyu
These phantoms are closing in on us!
?
???
You should have guessed that my objectives are the Very Large Rift ... and you, Endministrator.
?
???
Come and face me. Accept our inevitable battle...
?
???
Or head back to Wuling, and bring the innocent away from the vicinity of the Rift.
?
???
...Then I shall patiently wait for you at the Marker Stone.
?
???
That being said ... I have yet to personally assess the extent of your vestigial powers.
Endministrator
Take out these phantoms. Then open the entrance!
?
???
Forgive my trespasses, Endministrator.
Endministrator
I think I've ... seen these before...
?
???
If you comply, I shall persuade Nefarith to abandon violence. Killing the Terrans will only impede our enterprise.
Endministrator
You have no right to tell people to leave their homes.
Perlica
Endmin!
Radio
Chen Qianyu
The auxiliary pillars should be activated based on the divinograms from the bottom to the top.
Chen Qianyu
Let's give that a try.
6 Rescue the Tianshi View on map
Dialogue
?
???
I say we should keep hiding in the water...
?
???
We can't hide forever! The entire thing blew up in our faces. Wuling is gonna make us pay —
Arcane
Cangzei pirates? Up to no good again.
R
Rusty Hook
HOLD ON! We're just trying to help!
Chen Qianyu
Hmm. You look familiar... Oh! It's you! The pair of sneaks who ran away from Qingbo Stockade!
Arcane
Working for Ardashir?
I
Iron Boatswain
Huh? Arda who...?
Arcane
Got no time to question them. I'll just eliminate the risks.
Chen Qianyu
Just, don't! They're definitely not working for him!
R
Rusty Hook
Yeh-YEAH! We're trapped here too!
R
Rusty Hook
We sneaked through the secret tunnel to find our grampa's stuff...
R
Rusty Hook
Ahem, yeah, we, uh, dug that tunnel back when the Stockade Fam planned to raid Wuling...
R
Rusty Hook
Err... Hah... It's hard to believe, but I can't do nothing about it...
R
Rusty Hook
We were trying to visit grampa one last time ... before we hightail out of this place. Curse our luck...
Perlica
So you were trying to activate the auxiliary pillar?
I
Iron Boatswain
And I saw Tianshi fiddling with something similar! If we switch it on, a path will definitely appear!
Chen Qianyu
Did you... just let them go like that? You used to be way less forgiving...
Arcane
I do not question the Endmin's orders.
Perlica
Ahem. Endmin, let's activate the auxiliary pillar.
Chen Qianyu
Wait, wait, wait!
R
Rusty Hook
We gotta make it work or there'll be no way out!
Arcane
...Head down the way we came from. There will be a raft station. The raft should still be there.
R
Rusty Hook
Oh, thank you so much! We mean it!
I
Iron Boatswain
Once again you've saved our lives!
Radio
Chen Qianyu
It's working!
Arcane
Good... Time to find the next one.
7 Re-activate the Tianshi Pillar in Cloudrest Woods View on map
Radio
Arcane
All auxiliary pillars have been activated.
Chen Qianyu
Now we can re-activate the Tianshi Pillar. Let's go!
8 Activate the Tianshi Pillar View on map
Story update
Activate the auxiliary pillars in a specific sequence to re-activate the Tianshi Pillar affected by Ardashir.
Radio
?
???
'Sit working?
?
???
Grampa taught me the tricks. This should work...
Chen Qianyu
People?! Here?!
9 Activate the auxiliary pillars in the right sequence View on map
Radio
Perlica
Æther energy... Is that the Arts he wields?
Chen Qianyu
That dude is really trying to destroy the Marker Stone on his own...
Arcane
There's no time to waste.
11 Re-activate the Tianshi Pillar in Cloudrest Woods View on map
Radio
Perlica
You used a power that resisted the rift. Is it derived from the device on your arm?
Arcane
Yes.
Perlica
Its working principles look similar to Xiranite...
Arcane
The Feranmut power it can use is limited, unlike the Xiranite with its "regenerative" property.
Perlica
I suppose it's why we need the power of the heart in the restricted area. Glad to have a trump card on our side.
12 Board a raft and travel to Lake Islet View on map
Story update
Enter the Marker Stone via the Lake Islet, and chase down Ardashir.
13 Board a raft and travel to Lake Islet View on map
Radio
Arcane
The Marker Stone is close.
Arcane
If the Endmin is with us, we may have a chance to capture Ardashir alive.
Perlica
Have you fought him before?
Arcane
No. He always kept a safe distance, but...
Arcane
Of all the casters I've met, very few of them are on par with Ardashir.
Chen Qianyu
You think he's very powerful?
Arcane
He's very "strange". He might be wearing a bodysuit to conceal his true looks.
Arcane
It's raining harder...
Chen Qianyu
...I can't hear anything except for the rain.
15 Reach the Lake Islet View on map
Story update
Follow Arcane to the entrance of the Marker Stone.
Radio
Arcane
Activate the Tianshi Pillar first.
Arcane
Avoid the traces Ardashir left.
16 Keep advancing View on map
Radio
?
???
As long as you hunt for your memories ... and as long as you wish to fulfill your supposed duties...
?
???
We shall meet again.
17 Defeat the enemy View on map
Radio
Arcane
The defeated phantoms will rise again. Don't drop your guard.
Chen Qianyu
Make an opening for the Endmin!
Arcane
The raft station to the Woods is outside. We should verify the situation ASAP.
Chen Qianyu
Could it be Ardashir? I thought he was busy sabotaging the Marker Stone.
Arcane
Wuling City lost a whole area to this one guy. A rare sight indeed.
Arcane
...But not unexpected.
19 Defeat the enemy View on map
Radio
?
???
As for this member of the YSTF... You are quite unlike the others.
?
???
Your rejection of the rift is rooted in ... hatred. I have seen people like you. Eons ago, the ranks of warriors were filled with your kind.
21 Re-activate the Tianshi Pillar in Cloudrest Woods
Other dialogue
9 Game scripting dialogue not tied to a specific quest step.
?
???
Fragments and phantoms never stood a chance against the successor of Originium.
?
???
This hard-earned initiative of mine should be used for proper discourse...
Arcane
Stay close. I'll cut a way through.
Endministrator
These phantoms aren't attacking us...
Endministrator
He's controlling these phantoms remotely. Has he already breached the Marker Stone?
Arcane
Tsk... I'll take him to the Sui Regulator to stand trial.
Arcane
......
Endministrator
Where's your move, Ardashir?
Arcane
...I see the entrance.