As All Falls to Emptiness
Last updated 2026-09-10
Wisdom also seeps into every dream, for better or for worse, flowing like a stream, projecting itself as the shadow of a tree over every corner of the world.
Thus, the catastrophe that lurks in dreams manifests itself...
Now, it is descending.
As All Falls to Emptiness is the ninth act in the Song of the Welkin Moon chapter of the Archon Quests.
Recommended Quests
Players are highly recommended to complete the following quests first for a better experience:
- Archon Quest
- Interlude Chapter: Act III - Inversion of Genesis
- Story Quests
- Sapientia Oromasdis Chapter: Act II - Homecoming
- Lupus Aureus Chapter: Act II - Oathkeeper
- World Quests
Quests
Summary
- Where Flowers Awaken
The Traveler and Paimon stop by the Nod-Krai Adventurers' Guild, where Katheryne hands them a letter from Collei, beginning a flashback sequence from Collei's perspective.
Collei was writing in her diary, describing her current, peaceful life and her plans to go shopping in Sumeru City with Tighnari. Just then, someone told her it was time to leave, but the voice was not Tighnari's — it was Sethos'. After playing along with what she initially thought was an unusual prank, she soon discovered that the identities of everyone in Sumeru City were switched around, with herself as the only person who acutely remembered how things originally were. She eventually found Tighnari, but even he failed to remember the truth and did not recognize her at all, causing her to break down in tears.
Tighnari's voice woke Collei and she discovered that she fell asleep while writing in her diary. Just as she was about to dismiss these events as a mere dream, an unknown voice — Nicole's — spoke into her mind, telling her that this was a premonition of things to come and advising her to recount the dream to Nahida and the Traveler.
After reading the letter, the Traveler and Paimon immediately set off for Sumeru City, where they find the entire city preparing to move. Collei and Tighnari explain that after learning of the dream, Nahida and the new Sages of Sumeru Akademiya ordered the immediate evacuation of the entire rainforest's population to Caravan Ribat, having sensed that an unknown danger was approaching. Upon learning that Nahida invited them to visit her in the Sanctuary of Surasthana after their arrival, the Traveler and Paimon go to pay her a visit. They are initially stopped by Mu'tasim, who is high-strung due to Nahida's "very vulnerable state." Concerned, the two immediately head inside and find Nahida hovering inside a Dendro field, with several important figures including Alhaitham, Cyno, Cyrus, Naphis, and Wanderer nearby.
They learn that something is preventing Irminsul from recording and processing information, creating a bottleneck which affects the ley lines' functions; if this continues, new information would go unrecorded and recorded information would be thrown into disarray, causing people's memories and cognition to become warped. This reminds the Traveler of Capitano's decision to store his people's souls within himself, and of the catastrophe that would occur if all nations were affected. To try and handle the backlogged information, Nahida personally took over Irminsul's recording and processing functions, despite the physical and mental strain it placed on her.
Wanderer discovers that Irminsul was not being attacked from the outside like originally suspected. Cyrus and Cyno speculate on the origins of the problem, with Cyno noting that a suspicious number of "merchant caravans" recently entered Sumeru through Bayda Harbor. Wanderer, however, believes that resolving Irminsul's current situation is far more pressing than trying to figure out the cause. Just as he says this, the Dendro field dissipates and Nahida collapses, unconscious. With her breathing weak and elemental energy levels dangerously low, the group turns to their backup plan: move Nahida to Caravan Ribat along with everyone else, so her connection to Irminsul weakens enough to allow her to recover. As they set about finalizing the move, Cyrus bemoans that the situation seems to be moved according to the whims of an "invisible hand."
Meanwhile, in the Great Red Sand, a Fatui military detachment heads towards an unknown destination. A hooded man tells his subordinates that disrupting Sumeru City is a "necessary step" and that the Irminsul situation would not harm them, alluding to a certain client of theirs. Afterwards, he muses on the nature of Visions and why some may have powerful ambitions yet fail to receive one.
- A Divergence Leading to Oneself
At Caravan Ribat, Cyno and Tighnari solemnly discuss Nahida's health and the complications caused by her interconnectedness with Irminsul. Naphis and the other five sages arrive, and Naphis introduces them to the Traveler and Paimon: Baladhuri (Vahumana), Alkindi (Spantamad), Firnas (Kshahrewar), Shakir (Rtawahist), and Rushd (Haravatat). As the sages discuss their next course of action, Rukh Shah arrives to inform them that some civilians tried to return to Sumeru City, only to be affected by the Irminsul anomaly around Yasna Monument, descending into psychosis and killing one another. By the time he and Cyrus reached the scene, only two of the original twelve were still alive. Cyno, Alkindi, the Traveler, and Paimon decide to meet up with Cyrus while the others continue their discussion.
At Cyrus' location, the group finds Tawfiq still in a maddened state, while Cyrus turns their attention to an abnormal Ley Line Blossom nearby. Sekkura explains that more had blossomed further up ahead, ascertained by Vision-bearing mercenaries. Cyrus, Cyno, and Alkindi begin dissecting the Ley Line Blossom, while the Traveler, being unaffected by Irminsul, decides to continue scouting further ahead. Seeing a group of Fungi reminds them of how they and Nahida revitalized the Dendro Dragon Sovereign Apep's Heart of Oasis using the Fire Seed, and believes it could be used to restore Nahida's Dendro power without relying on Irminsul.
Upon returning to Caravan Ribat, Cyno, Alhaitham, Kaveh, Dehya, and Sethos give them an update on the current situation. The Ley Line Blossom dissection showed that Irminsul can still be connected to from the outside, which has led to a new plan: Restart the Akasha System, which was originally created to cleanse Irminsul of Abyssal forbidden knowledge. However, they needed a substitute for the Dendro Gnosis originally used to power it, so the scholars and sages would head to the Temple of Silence to search its records and find a suitable alternative power source, while the Eremites would take the civilians further west to Aaru Village to avoid the Irminsul anomaly.
As for Nahida, the Traveler gets permission to seek an audience with Apep and takes the still-comatose Nahida to the center of the Desert of Hadramaveth, where Apep already awaited them, having sensed the Irminsul anomaly. Apep is convinced to assist Nahida as repayment for Nahida's past actions and takes them to the Heart of Oasis, where she begins sharing her Dendro energy to Nahida. Her reminder about Nahida's connection to Irminsul prompts the Traveler to ask Apep about her own relationship to Irminsul, who tells them that Irminsul was among the many things the Heavenly Principles usurped and repurposed from ancient dragonkind. Apep then senses a disturbance from outside, identifying the sandstorms as the work of the Jinn, and tells them that Nahida would be safe with her. Just as Apep is about to send them back, Nahida briefly regains consciousness and sends a flower-shaped key to the Traveler. Upon touching it, the following information enters their mind: "The statues of the gods hang inverted from the heavens, but one alone is unique among them. Its location is □□□□□□□. Remember, tell no one."
Apep drops the two off outside the Temple of Silence, where a massive sandstorm caused by the Jinn blocks the entrance. Alhaitham speculates that the sudden influx of Jinn relates to the ancient city of Gurabad, which sparks the Traveler's memories of Liloupar, and they decide to split off from the others once more to search for her. Inside the temple, they are simultaneously attacked by Jinn and the Fatui, and they find strange machines further into the ruins. After disabling them, the hooded man appears before them, calling himself Dottore's subordinate and stating that he is here to carry out the fallen Harbinger's will. While the Traveler does not fall for the man's first ambush, they discover that they played directly into his hands after he traps them inside the ruins. When questioned why he continues following Dottore, the man states that it was less a matter of "following" and more a matter of "friendship," and that he and Dottore both wished to create a set of rules for the world. With that, he departs, but not before triggering a dark, all-consuming wall that begins closing in on the two.
Meanwhile, at Aaru Village, Tighnari, Collei and Dori are guarding the northern entrance from a Jinn attack. Dori comically tries to get her Jinni partner, Plumpy, to negotiate with the Jinn, only for Plumpy to be beaten up instead. Dori attempts to avenge Plumpy, only to get knocked unconscious right next to Plumpy. Tighnari and Collei then engage in battle against the Jinn, although Dori quickly rouses and joins the fight. After fending off the first attack, Baladhuri and Firnas inform them that the southern line has collapsed. Before the group is forced to make a difficult decision, Nicole's voice reemerges in Collei's mind, offering her assistance. Under Nicole's instruction, Collei recites a prayer written by Nabu Malikata, which causes the Jinn to submit to her. It is quickly proven that she alone is capable of this, for reasons unknown to the others.
Back in Gurabad, the Traveler and Paimon are still stuck in the same room, having failed to break the barrier to the next chamber. Jeht and Benben overhear the ruckus and emerge on the other side, disabling the barrier. After escaping the ruins, the two parties catch up with each other, with Jeht informing them that she settled their old grudge against Tanit elder Masseira.[1] Although Jeht is unenthusiastic to hear that the two are searching for Liloupar, she goes with them to Safhe Shatranj, where they unlock the entrance to Gurabad and find Liloupar nearby. Liloupar awakens and explains what happened after she descended into Gurabad, which involved fighting against the Abyss up until Gosoythoth's defeat in Natlan quelled the Abyssal forces in Gurabad as well, allowing her to fall into a deep slumber. After learning about the current situation in Sumeru, Liloupar pacifies the Jinn and stops the sandstorms. The group then moves to reunite with the others.
- Ancient Shadows Re-Emerge
With the threat contained, the group heads to the Temple of Silence, reuniting with the others. Kaveh and Alhaitham greet them and are filled in on what happened by the Traveler and Paimon. Jeht goes to talk with Dehya, while the group fills them in on their plan. Kaveh also reveals that two women from Nod-Krai also came to help, revealed to be Nicole and Nefer. Nicole explains that they had come just before they would have been locked out, explaining that a barrier has appeared around Sumeru, preventing anyone from entering or leaving the nation. She clarifies that this was one of the ley lines' means of defense to isolate Irminsul from the rest of the world, and convinced Nefer to come help.
The group begins to make preparations to head to Aaru to look for an item called "Aaru's Shut" to begin their plan. Nicole introduces herself to the group, and her voice causes Collei to realize she was the one who had been helping her. She agrees to answer her questions in a secluded spot, but to her surprise, most of them have also followed suit. Nicole reveals that the god remains that Dottore had injected inside her were actually from Nabu Malikata, surprising everyone present. Cyno reassures her that no matter how many fragments are in her, she'll still be who she is. As the Traveler makes their way to the Great Hall of Truths, they run into Firnas, who asks Nicole about her sculpting skills. Nicole manifests a squirrel from thin air and the three scholars are amazed by it, calling Faruzan over. Faruzan suggests adapting the sculpture's stance to a heroic pose and matching it with the first one. She quickly bonds with Nicole, though the others agree to keep Nicole's angel identity a secret from her for now.
Entering The Mausoleum of King Deshret, the group investigates Aaru's Shut and run into Thoth. Liloupar is amused by the situation the three are in while Naphis calls for order and asks the three if they could help the Akademiya in return for their freedom. Thoth quiets Heryshaf and Sobek before asking Nefer about the question he gave her, since her submitted answer was false. Nefer reveals the answer she gave him wasn't what Deshret wanted, but was her own, and she clarifies the answer to all three questions as "time." This causes the three to be released and regain their true forms. Cyno apprises the three Pillars of the situation. They ask if they're willing to accept the risks, which Cyno confirms, and thus they agree to help. Heryshaf calls the two other Pilars, King Deshret's constructs Shesepankh and Bennu. With Cyno's entreaty as Hermanubis' representative, and Apep already helping Nahida on her own volition, they declare the Seven Pillars to officially be in agreement to open Aaru.
As Aaru opens, one of the first souls that comes out is Jebrael, who is pleased to see Jeht's growth and is deeply gratified for the chance to see her one last time before dissapating into the form of a Sacred Ibis and returning to the Ley Lines. Nefer asks if they have the technological capabilities to modify Aaru, and Naphis tells her that the scholars are making their way to the mausoleum.
Characters
99 Characters appear in this Act:
- Aarav
- Akram
- Alhaitham
- Alkindi
- Alrani
- Amid
- Amir
- Apep
- Aryadeva
- Ashru
- Avena
- Baladhuri
- Balashov
- Barmak
- Benben
- Bennu
- Bortnikov
- Capitano
- Collei
- Cyno
- Cyrus
- Daneshvar
- Dehya
- Dori
- Dunyarzad
- Elemental Being: Floating Anemo Fungus
- Elemental Being: Grounded Hydroshroom
- Erfan
- Farid
- Fariha
- Farooq
- Faruzan
- Feresht
- Firnas
- Halva
- Hamawi
- Harim
- Hatim
- Heryshaf
- Hisham
- Housein
- Ilyas
- Isak
- Jahoda
- Jebrael
- Jeht
- Kamal
- Kareena
- Karkata
- Kashif
- Katheryne
- Kaveh
- Khaldun
- Khalid
- Kolomiyets
- Layla
- Layth
- Lemta
- Liloupar
- Mu'izz
- Mu'tasim
- Nabiya
- Nahida
- Naphis
- Nawid
- Nefer
- Nesterova
- Nicole
- Nidal
- Nilou
- Nizam
- Paimon
- Pantalone
- Plumpy
- Qasimi
- Qishan
- Rahman
- Rima
- Ruha
- Rukh Shah
- Rushd
- Sanad
- Sedova
- Sekkura
- Setaria
- Sethos
- Shakir
- Shesepankh
- Siraj
- Sobek
- Tanamart
- Tawfiq
- Thoth
- Tighnari
- Traveler
- Vereshchagina
- Wanderer
- Zakariya
- Zohreh
Achievements
There are 4 Achievements obtainable from As All Falls to Emptiness:
|
|
Achievement | Category | Description | 
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Upon a Speck in the Eye, the Illusions Bloom |  Wonders of the World
|
In Sumeru, dreams often foretell danger. | 5 |
|
|
All Your Waves and Breakers Have Swept Over Me | Wonders of the World
|
The forces of life shall always find their resonance. | 5 |
|
|
The Pen Uplifted, the Scrolls Dried | Wonders of the World
|
Parting is but a long-drawn reunion. | 5 |
|
|
As All Falls to Emptiness | Wonders of the World
|
Complete "As All Falls to Emptiness." | 10 |
Soundtracks
Gallery
Other Languages
| Language | Official Name | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | As All Falls to Emptiness | — |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 身土坏空，五蕴识转 Shēntǔ Huàikōng, Wǔyùn Shízhuǎn | Body and Land Declines and Disintegrates, the Five Aggregates and Consciousness Transform[• 1] |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 身土壞空，五蘊識轉 Shēntǔ Huàikōng, Wǔyùn Shízhuǎn | |
| Japanese | 身土壊空、五蘊識転 Shindo Kaikuu, Goun Shiten | |
| Korean | 멸망 속에서 피어난 지혜 Myeolmang Sogeseo Pieonan Jihye | Wisdom Bloomed Amidst Destruction |
| Spanish | Todo cae en el vacío | All Falls Into the Void |
| French | Alors que tout sombre dans le vide | As All Sinks Into the Void |
| Russian | И всё возвратится в прах I vsyo vozvratitsya v prakh | And Everything Returns to Dust |
| Thai | สังขารโลกิยะดับสูญ จิตเบญจขันธ์แปรเปลี่ยน Sangkhan Lokiya Dapsun Chit Bencha Khan Praeplian | Wordly Formations Extinguished, Mind's Five Aggregates Transform |
| Vietnamese | Thân Thổ Tiêu Tan, Ngũ Uẩn Chuyển Biến | |
| German | Wenn alles in die Leere fällt | When All Falls Into Emptiness |
| Indonesian | Ketika Segalanya Menjadi Kosong | When All Becomes Empty |
| Portuguese | A Forma se Desfaz, os Cinco Agregados se Transformam | The Form Dissolves, the Five Aggregates Transform |
| Turkish | Her Şey Boşluğa Sürüklenirken | As All Drifts to Emptiness |
| Italian | Tutto cade nel vuoto | All Falls Into the Void |
- ↑ Chinese: 坏空 refers to the Kalpa of Decline (坏, or Decay) and Kalpa of Disintegration (空, or Empty) in the Four Kalpas (四劫 / 成住坏空) in Buddhist philosophy.
转识 is another Chinese Buddhist term that refers to the transformation of consciousness (Sanskrit: प्रवृत्तिविज्ञान pravṛttivijñāna).
Change History
References
- ↑ Interactable, Gavireh Lajavard: Nameless Researcher's Notes (IV)
...Their leader is a girl with blue-purple hair and dark skin. [...] Her real target is someone called "Masseira." Some friend of hers has an old vendetta against him [...]
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