Massive spoilers for the latest Fontaine Archon Quest, Version 4.2Before this final Fontaine Archon Quest, Genshin Impact players debated if Furina was truly the Hydro Archon or not. Some speculated that it would be Hydro catalyst Neuvillette, but this was disproved by his title as the Hydro Dragon Sovereign. Instead, the chapter revealed that Furina more akin to a human, playing out an act requested by the divinity of the Archon, Focalors. She spent 500 years carrying this lie around and convincing her people she was truly divine. Not to say she wasn't, but it's more complicated than that. Her bravery to carry this out so consistently shows her to be one of the strongest women in the game, if not the strongest flat-out.

Furina kept her secret tucked closely to her chest, never once faltering even when it looked like, for a moment, she could have some reprieve. She took no gamble with the chance to potentially vent to the Traveler when prompted, keeping the act up to the very end. She did her best to keep the act of the Genshin Impact Hydro Archon up so that she could fool not only Fontaine, but Celestia as well. However, she and Focalors were always one and the same; she was just the body and spirit of the Archon.

RELATED: The Unwritten Rules of Playing Genshin Impact’s Furina Explained

One of Genshin Impact's Strongest Women: Furina

The latest Fontaine chapter showed Furina "as naive and bewildered" as when Focalors had first become a human. She might have played the role of Hydro Archon, but she had to endure that role the way the average person would. When Focalors, the divinity of the Hydro Archon, approached her, saying that Furina could save everyone from the prophecy at the cost of her own suffering, Furina barely hesitated. She expressed her concern about having to be the one to suffer, but was ready to take it on, saying, "If there were scales, with all the people of Fontaine on one side, and my pain on the other... is it not obvious where the scales should tilt?"

Why Furina's Humanity and Resilience Matters

Focalors split herself into two: the body/spirit of herself and the divinity of herself. This may make things confusing, as some may interpret this as Furina being human and Focalors being the "true Archon." This is because of how human Furina was: she had the bravery and strength required to bear this burden for centuries, not that she ever knew when her role would be relieved. Sometimes, when female gamers ask for "strong women," they're presented with a woman who is physically strong and composed—someone like Genshin Impact's Beidou, for example. However, Furina showed strength in a way that many wanted: she was resilient and never let her guard down for a second.

Physically strong female characters, though still appreciated, aren't what everyone is looking for. Anyone can be buff, cool, and well-trained. Rather, it takes a mentally strong individual to be able to take on the task of protecting a nation as a god when they're so fragile. The bravery and diligence of Genshin Impact's Furina in trying to fill out the role assigned to her speaks volumes about her character. She represents those who've had to take on more than they can chew, who might buckle under the pressure, and who fear failure. But even with everything weighing on her and her alone, she pushed through and refused to bend.

Furina represents the strength that truly matters in a person and the kind of strength people look for in a strong female character. And though she had her scared moments, making her appear almost cowardly, she was actually nothing of the sort. Her entire life's purpose was in danger when Fatui Harbinger Arlecchino approached her in the night, looking for the Gnosis. Furina begged for her life like anyone would have if given the task of pretending to be a god in order to save the nation from a prophecy.

However, Furina showed strength in a way that many wanted: she was resilient and never let her guard down for a second.