"Very well."
Morax raised his right hand, summoning countless Geo Spears that filled the sky.
His golden eyes gleamed as he pressed his hand down, sending the endless spears crashing down upon Azhdaha, the Dragon Sovereign.
The Dragon Sovereign coiled low to the ground, channeling the Ley Line's energy into a protective shield that enveloped its body.
BOOM!
The clash between what could be considered Teyvat's strongest spear and its strongest shield sent shockwaves rippling outward, their residual force easily shattering mountains and splitting rocks.
The Dragon Sovereign's shield shattered, and the Geo Spears dissipated upon impact.
Morax swiftly suppressed the aftershocks, condensing another Geo Spear in his hand before diving downward.
Liyue was facing crises on all fronts. The Azhdaha he confronted had been greatly empowered by the Abyss, and Venti was likely facing the same with Osial.
The Adepti at Qingce Village were no match for their foes, able only to delay them. Moreover, the situation in The Chasm remained unknown...
He couldn't afford to waste time tangling with Azhdaha.
-
The sea off Liyue Harbor.
Osial paid no heed to the volleys of arrows and cannon fire from the mortals, their attacks utterly harmless against his immense power.
Millennia of accumulated rage had driven his hatred for Morax and his Liyue to its peak!
All five of his heads opened their maws wide, furiously gathering energy, intent on obliterating Liyue in a single strike.
Aboard the Jade Chamber, Ningguang, witnessing this spectacle, had no time to spare for the earth-shattering tremors emanating from the Dragon-Queller Tree.
"Everyone, evacuate the Jade Chamber immediately! We can't let him unleash that attack!"
"Lady Ningguang, what are you planning?"
"I'm going to ram the Jade Chamber into him!"
Ningguang's gaze turned icy. The situation was dire, and the Adepti had yet to arrive. With no other options, she refused to stand by and watch Liyue Harbor be destroyed.
"Lady Ningguang!"
Without another word, Ningguang channeled her Elemental Energy, manipulating the Jade Chamber to charge directly at Osial.
Suddenly, as she fixed her gaze on Osial, a gentle breeze brushed past her, instantly calming her turbulent emotions.
"Little girl, it's not time yet. Morax is dealing with Azhdaha, and the Adepti have gone to Qingce Village to handle the crisis. Leave this place to me."
An ethereal voice, filled with divine authority, echoed in Ningguang's ears. She quickly looked up and saw Venti, clad in Divine Regalia.
"Lord Barbatos, the Anemo Archon!"
Venti gave Ningguang a slight nod before immediately turning back and firing an arrow directly at Osial, who was still charging up his attack.
Many Mondstadtians were in Liyue Harbor. As Osial charged his attack, they had resigned themselves to their fate, never imagining they would witness their Anemo Archon's arrival here!
"It's Lord Barbatos!"
"Lord Barbatos has come to save us!"
"..."
Seeing the Anemo Archon's arrival, Madame Ping withdrew the hand seals she had been forming. After a glance at the Jade Chamber high above, she immediately set off for Qingce Village.
Cloud Retainer and the others might not be able to handle the situation there alone.
As a key member of the Geo Archon's forces in the past, Madame Ping excelled at defense. With her support, Qingce Village might be able to hold out longer.
-
Qingce Village.
A colossal Chi coiled around the surrounding mountains, its massive form terrifying the villagers into a desperate flight.
Among the fleeing masses were Xingqiu and Chongyun, who had been visiting the area to gather inspiration for their writing.
The pair weren't foolish enough to confront such a massive creature; they knew it was far beyond their capabilities. Rather than offering themselves as easy prey, they chose to escape and await the Adepti's intervention.
"What exactly is that thing? Where did it come from?" Xingqiu asked, his voice tinged with urgency.
Knowing quite a bit about local lore, he explained to Chongyun, "This creature strongly resembles the Chi slain by the Geo Archon in legend. But... wasn't it already killed?"
As they spoke, several streaks of light streaked across the sky. Chongyun looked up and exclaimed in surprise, "It's the Adepti!"
Xingqiu slapped Chongyun on the back of the head. "Run first, you idiot! Admire them later when we're safe!"
-
When Cloud Retainer and the others arrived, the sight of the infamous Chi made them gasp in unison.
"Who... who resurrected this thing?" Cloud Retainer demanded, her usual fiery temper flaring.
Xiao: "Most likely that one. The mastermind behind the chaos in Mondstadt."
The manner and method of Chi's resurrection were identical to how that fiend had revived the Fell Dragon during the Mondstadt Dragon Crisis!
Mountain Shaper: "We didn't even sense its presence!"
Moon Carver: "Enough talk! Let's engage. Our mission is to stall for time, not confront it directly. We must await the Geo Archon's arrival!"
Xiao silently charged forward, spear in hand, with Cloud Retainer and the others close behind.
Instantly, streams of light swirled around Chi, darting in to strike with fierce blows whenever the opportunity arose.
Controlled by Malice, Chi's true purpose was simply to delay the Adepti. It was perfectly content to play along, occasionally unleashing bursts of power to keep them on their toes.
After a brief skirmish, Cloud Retainer's voice rang out, filled with surprise:
"This creature... it lacks sentience!"
"I've noticed as well," Moon Carver replied. "Even so, we mustn't let our guard down. Its strength is immense!"
-
The Chasm.
As the Abyss Monsters swarmed in greater numbers, the protective shield erected by the Millelith could no longer withstand the assault, its surface cracking with a dense web of fissures.
"All troops, retreat to the camp! Form ranks! Fight to the death!"
Qingge stood at the vanguard, commanding her soldiers.
For the first time, Lumine and the players truly witnessed the Kaiyang's true mettle. Gone was the courteous demeanor she had shown them earlier, replaced by the commanding presence of a formidable battlefield general.
"Understood!"
The Millelith immediately broke formation and swiftly retreated.
Without the shield to restrain them, the Abyss Monsters surged forth in a frenzied horde, roaring as they charged toward Qingge and the Millelith ranks.
Lumine drew her sword and stepped to Qingge's side.
Clutching the Vortex spear, Qingge thrust it forward with explosive force. Enhanced by her Geo Attribute, the spear tip pierced straight through the heart of a humanoid monster.
Yet even mortally wounded, the creature remained animated, retaliating with a spear thrust of its own.
Qingge kicked the monster aside and swung her spear backhand, smashing it into another monster's head.
With a bang, the monster's head shattered, instantly rendering it immobile.
"Attack their heads!"
Boom!
The Millelith clashed with the Abyss Monsters, a brutal battle inevitable.
War always claims lives. Qingge would do her utmost to minimize casualties, but she couldn't eliminate them entirely.
She had already dismissed over half of the troops for the Lantern Rite, leaving only those who volunteered to stay behind.
If such a massive clash resulted in only her death, it would feel too contrived, too unrealistic.
She would fight alongside them. After it was all over, she would see if a perfect resolution was still possible.
After all, the System had promised her there would be no regrets.
Overwhelmed by the sheer number of monsters, the Millelith were gradually forced to retreat. Qingge moved like a whirlwind through the fray, constantly shifting across the battlefield to rescue one soldier after another.
"Heh, how could I miss out on a scene like this? Fighting is what I do best!"
Tartaglia leapt from a high vantage point, his twin blades merging into a long spear as he joined the fray.
"Riptide—"