Several days had passed since the calamity that had nearly reduced Liyue Harbor to ruins.
The scars of the battle were still visible in a few distant places, but for the most part, the city had returned to its familiar rhythm.
The harbor was alive once again.
Ships sailed through the blue waters, their sails catching the morning breeze. Merchants shouted prices from newly rebuilt stalls. Fishermen returned with their catches, while workers carried crates of goods toward the warehouses. The streets were crowded with people once more, and the familiar sounds of commerce had replaced the screams and explosions that had filled the city only days before.
The Liyue Qixing had worked tirelessly.
Buildings had been repaired.
Roads had been restored.
The damaged portions of the harbor had been reconstructed.
And above the city, something magnificent had returned.
The Jade Chamber floated proudly in the sky once again.
Its golden architecture gleamed beneath the sunlight, serving as a reminder that Liyue had survived yet another disaster.
But beneath the appearance of normality, something much more dangerous was being prepared.
Something that very few people knew about.
Something that had been planned carefully for weeks.
A New Contract
Inside the newly restored Jade Chamber, Ningguang stood before a large window.
She looked down at Liyue Harbor.
Beside her stood Keqing, Ganyu, and several other members of the Qixing.
"The preparations are complete," Ganyu reported.
Ningguang nodded.
"And the evacuation?"
"Completed," Keqing replied. "Every civilian has been moved away from the harbor."
Ningguang turned toward her.
"Every single person?"
"Yes."
"Good."
Keqing crossed her arms.
"I still don't understand why we're doing this."
Ningguang remained silent for several seconds.
Then she answered.
"Because the contract demands it."
Keqing frowned.
"And you trust this contract?"
"No."
The blunt answer surprised her.
Ningguang looked toward the sky.
"But I trust the consequences of breaking it even less."
Several weeks earlier, another contract had been presented to Zhongli.
The Fatui had not abandoned their pursuit of the Geo Gnosis.
Their previous plan had failed spectacularly.
Their schemes surrounding Aether, the attempted manipulation of Liyue, and the release of Osial had produced chaos rather than the result they wanted.
Yet Tsaritsa had not given up.
A new contract had been proposed.
This time, Zhongli had considered the matter carefully.
Very carefully.
Eventually, he had accepted.
The details of that contract remained known only to a select few.
But its consequences were about to become visible.
Far below the Jade Chamber, preparations were underway.
The rocky shoreline overlooking the sea had been transformed into a battlefield.
Huge mechanical weapons stood upon reinforced platforms.
The Guizhong Ballistae had been prepared.
Adeptal energy flowed through their mechanisms.
The Millelith had withdrawn from the area.
The civilians were gone.
Only those involved in the operation remained.
And far out at sea, hundreds of ships waited.
At the center of that fleet stood one particular vessel.
Beidou stood upon its deck, looking toward the horizon.
She rested one hand upon her weapon.
"So this is really happening again."
One of her sailors swallowed nervously.
"Captain..."
Beidou smiled.
"Relax."
She looked toward the distant sea.
"We've faced worse."
The sailor stared at her.
"Have we?"
Beidou's smile disappeared.
"...Perhaps not."
The Lord of the Vortex
At the shoreline, three figures stood together.
One was Zhongli.
The other two were among the most dangerous individuals within the Fatui.
On Zhongli's right stood Capitano.
The Harbinger's imposing figure was covered by his familiar armor. His presence alone created an atmosphere of pressure.
On Zhongli's left stood Arlecchino.
Her crimson eyes remained fixed upon the ocean.
A black-and-red outfit concealed most of her movements, while her weapon remained within easy reach.
Neither Harbinger looked nervous.
Neither looked excited.
They simply waited.
Zhongli stepped forward.
He raised his hand.
Several glowing Sigils of Permission appeared around him.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
The sea began to tremble.
A low rumble rolled across the horizon.
The water started moving.
At first, it was only a gentle disturbance.
Then the entire ocean began to churn.
Waves rose.
The sky darkened.
A tremendous column of water erupted from beneath the sea.
"Brace yourselves!" shouted one of the Qixing soldiers.
The sea exploded.
A massive serpent-like form rose from the depths.
Then another.
And another.
Several enormous heads emerged from the water, followed by the colossal body of an ancient god.
The ocean itself seemed to recoil from his presence.
Osial, Lord of the Vortex, had returned.
His roar shook the harbor.
Birds fled from the surrounding cliffs.
The ships rocked violently.
Even the floating Jade Chamber seemed to tremble.
Osial lifted his enormous heads.
His many eyes scanned the shoreline.
Then they stopped.
Every head turned toward the same person.
Zhongli.
For several seconds, neither moved.
The ancient god recognized him.
The memories of their previous battle returned.
The mountains.
The spears.
The seal.
The humiliation of being imprisoned beneath the sea.
Osial's anger began to rise.
A deep growl emerged from his throats.
The sea surrounding him began to boil.
But he did not attack.
Zhongli noticed this.
"Interesting."
Osial's eyes narrowed.
"You."
His voice sounded like several storms speaking simultaneously.
"Morax."
Zhongli remained calm.
"Lord of the Vortex."
Osial's heads moved slightly.
"You dare summon me again?"
"I have."
"For what purpose?"
Zhongli looked toward the two Harbingers beside him.
"I have summoned you to participate in a trial."
"A trial?"
"A Trial of Death."
Silence followed.
Osial stared at him.
Zhongli continued.
"You have been sealed for centuries. You have fought Liyue before. Today, you have been given an opportunity."
Osial's eyes narrowed.
"An opportunity?"
"If you win this trial, you shall be granted your freedom."
The ancient god remained silent.
"And if I lose?"
Zhongli's expression became serious.
"You will accept your death for the sake of the people of Liyue."
The water surrounding Osial suddenly rose.
"And who believes they possess the strength to kill me?"
Zhongli stepped aside.
"These two."
He gestured toward the Harbingers.
"Capitano."
The masked warrior stepped forward.
"And Arlecchino."
Arlecchino walked forward as well.
Osial's heads slowly turned toward them.
Several of his eyes examined Capitano.
Then Arlecchino.
His expression changed.
"So."
His voice became colder.
"You have brought mortals to challenge me."
Arlecchino smiled faintly.
"Mortals?"
Capitano calmly interrupted.
"Do not underestimate them."
Osial's attention returned to him.
Capitano raised his weapon.
"You and I are not so different."
Osial remained silent.
"We are both prisoners of fate."
The ancient god's eyes narrowed.
Capitano continued.
"You were defeated because fate demanded it."
"I was cursed because fate demanded it."
"We both continue to exist despite everything."
His sword slowly pointed toward Osial.
"My people and I are fighting against that fate."
He paused.
"And perhaps this battle will determine what comes next."
Arlecchino looked at him.
"Quite poetic."
Capitano ignored her.
His gaze remained on Osial.
"Step forward."
The ancient god stared at the sword.
"Fight us."
Capitano's voice echoed across the harbor.
"Fight us like a true warrior."
Silence.
Then all of Osial's heads rose.
The ocean became completely still.
For one brief moment, everything seemed frozen.
Then—
ROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAR!
Osial's combined roar exploded across the sea.
The windows of nearby buildings shook.
The surface of the ocean erupted into enormous waves.
Capitano lowered his sword slightly.
"I shall take that as a yes."
He looked toward Arlecchino.
She nodded.
"Then let's begin."
The two Harbingers started walking toward the ancient god.
Osial moved forward.
The sea exploded.
The Trial Begins
Osial attacked first.
A gigantic wave rose behind him.
It towered above the battlefield like a moving mountain.
"Hydrokinesis," Capitano muttered.
The wave crashed forward.
Arlecchino vanished.
Capitano thrust his hand forward.
A massive wall of ice erupted from the ground.
The tsunami collided with it.
BOOOOOOM!
Water exploded in every direction.
The ice wall cracked.
Arlecchino appeared above Osial.
Her crimson scythe ignited.
"Too slow."
She descended.
CRASH!
Her scythe struck one of Osial's heads.
A crimson slash traveled across the ancient god's body.
Osial roared.
Another head snapped toward her.
Arlecchino twisted through the air.
The jaws closed where she had been.
She landed on another head.
"You're going to have to do better."
Osial answered with a blast.
A massive sphere of Hydro energy formed inside one of his mouths.
Arlecchino's expression changed.
"Ah."
The sphere fired.
She launched herself sideways.
The blast struck the shoreline.
A tremendous explosion followed.
Rock shattered.
Water surged through the air.
Capitano moved through the debris.
Ice formed beneath his feet.
He accelerated forward.
His sword became surrounded by freezing energy.
Osial struck with one of his enormous heads.
Capitano blocked.
The impact sent him sliding backward.
The ground beneath his feet cracked.
But he remained standing.
"Impressive."
Osial's head lunged again.
Capitano raised his sword.
Ice exploded outward.
The serpent's head became surrounded by enormous frozen chains.
Osial pulled.
The chains shattered.
Capitano smiled beneath his mask.
"So you're strong."
Osial roared.
"YOU HAVE SEEN NOTHING!"
Several heads attacked simultaneously.
Capitano's eyes moved rapidly.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
He calculated the trajectories.
Then moved.
His body disappeared beneath a wave of water.
A second later, he emerged above Osial.
An enormous ice sword formed in his hands.
He swung downward.
The blade struck.
At the same time, Arlecchino appeared from the opposite direction.
Her crimson scythe cut through the air.
Two attacks struck Osial simultaneously.
The ancient god roared.
"ENOUGH!"
His entire body erupted with elemental energy.
A gigantic whirlpool formed beneath the battlefield.
The sea began spinning.
Ships in the distance struggled to maintain position.
Beidou shouted.
"Hold your course!"
"Captain! The waves are getting worse!"
"I know!"
Back at the shoreline, Arlecchino was dragged toward the whirlpool.
She spread her crimson wings.
Her body lifted into the air.
She hovered above the battlefield.
"Let's see how you handle this."
Her crimson aura intensified.
A strange mark appeared around her.
The Bond of Life manifested.
Her health began to fluctuate as she converted her own strength into destructive power.
Her scythe became engulfed in crimson flames.
"Bloodtide Banquet."
She vanished.
Osial's heads looked around.
A crimson streak crossed the sky.
Then another.
Then another.
Arlecchino moved with incredible speed.
She struck one head.
Then another.
Then another.
Osial retaliated.
His mouths opened.
Multiple magical energy blasts fired simultaneously.
Arlecchino twisted through them.
One blast passed beneath her.
Another passed above.
A third exploded behind her.
She continued forward.
"Come on!"
She descended.
Her scythe struck.
A tremendous crimson explosion erupted.
Osial recoiled.
But the ancient god answered immediately.
One of his heads swung sideways.
Arlecchino crossed her arms.
The impact sent her flying.
She smashed into the ground.
Before she could recover, a second head attacked.
An ice wall appeared between them.
BOOM!
Capitano stood behind it.
"Get up."
Arlecchino stood.
"You're starting to sound like a commander."
"I am one."
"Fair enough."
They attacked together.
The battle continued.
Hours passed.
The sun disappeared.
Night covered Liyue Harbor.
But the battle did not stop.
Osial summoned waves.
Capitano froze them.
Arlecchino burned through them.
Osial created whirlpools.
Capitano constructed enormous ice platforms.
Arlecchino used them as stepping stones to attack from above.
Osial fired energy spheres.
Capitano redirected some with ice barriers.
Arlecchino destroyed others with crimson flames.
But Osial refused to fall.
His divine strength was immense.
Every time the Harbingers damaged him, the sea itself seemed to restore his power.
"He's regenerating through the water," Arlecchino observed.
Capitano nodded.
"Then we separate him from it."
"How?"
Capitano looked toward the sky.
"I have an idea."
He raised both hands.
The temperature suddenly dropped.
Snow began falling.
The sea froze.
The surrounding water became covered in ice.
Osial's movements slowed.
"What—"
Capitano slammed his hands downward.
A colossal wave of Cryo energy spread across the battlefield.
Ice climbed over Osial.
His first head froze.
Then another.
Then another.
The ancient god struggled.
"No!"
More ice covered him.
His enormous body disappeared beneath a rapidly growing glacier.
Within moments, an enormous iceberg stood in the sea.
Osial had been completely trapped.
Arlecchino hovered high above.
Her crimson flames intensified.
She looked down.
"That's quite impressive."
Capitano stood below.
"Finish it."
Arlecchino smiled.
"Gladly."
Her crimson wings spread.
Flames erupted around her.
The entire night sky turned red.
The sea reflected her burning aura.
She raised her scythe.
"Then let us end this."
She began descending.
Her speed increased.
The crimson energy surrounding her became enormous.
Below her, Osial remained frozen.
Arlecchino raised the scythe above her head.
"Bloodtide—"
Something moved.
Fast.
Extremely fast.
Arlecchino's eyes widened.
"What's—"
BOOOOOOM!
An invisible force struck her weapon.
Her entire body was thrown sideways.
She flew across the harbor.
One hundred meters.
Two hundred.
Several hundred.
She twisted in midair.
Her wings opened.
She managed to regain control.
Her feet struck the ground.
She continued sliding.
Her scythe remained embedded in the ground as she used it to slow herself.
Finally—
She stopped.
Arlecchino remained bent forward.
She breathed heavily.
"What..."
She slowly looked up.
Something was moving around the frozen Osial.
A blur.
It was moving so quickly that even her eyes struggled to follow it.
Capitano looked upward.
"What is that?"
The blur moved again.
Then—
CRACK!
The enormous iceberg shattered.
Pieces of ice exploded outward.
A powerful gust swept through the harbor.
Arlecchino raised one arm to shield her eyes.
The wind roared around her.
Capitano remained motionless.
His cape whipped violently behind him.
The frozen prison continued breaking apart.
One massive section collapsed.
Then another.
Finally, the entire iceberg exploded.
Osial was free.
The ancient god emerged from the shattered ice.
He lifted all of his heads.
And roared.
The sound shook the sea.
Then, unexpectedly, his enormous body began descending.
The ancient god collapsed into the ocean.
A tremendous splash followed.
Silence returned.
Arlecchino slowly lowered her arm.
"What just happened?"
Capitano did not answer.
He was staring upward.
His instincts told him that something had changed.
Something powerful had entered the battlefield.
He looked toward the sky above the sea.
There—
A figure hovered in the darkness.
Two enormous golden wings were spread wide.
Lightning flashed behind him.
Rain poured from the storm clouds.
Tornadoes twisted across the distant ocean.
Thunder rolled continuously through the night.
The figure remained perfectly still.
His clothes moved violently in the wind.
His expression was cold.
Serious.
His eyes looked down upon the battlefield.
Capitano stared at him.
For the first time during the entire battle, the Harbinger said nothing.
Arlecchino slowly raised her eyes.
Her expression became unusually serious.
"Who..."
The figure slowly lowered his gaze.
The storm continued raging around him.
And then the lightning illuminated his face.
Aether had arrived.
His golden wings stretched across the stormy sky.
He looked down at Osial.
Then toward Capitano.
Then toward Arlecchino.
There was no smile on his face.
No hesitation.
Only a cold, unwavering determination.
Capitano tightened his grip on his weapon.
"So."
His voice was barely audible beneath the thunder.
"The storm has finally arrived."
The rain continued falling.
The ocean churned beneath them.
And somewhere beneath the waves, Osial slowly opened his eyes.
The true battle had only just begun.