Location: The Jade Chamber (Sky above Liyue)
Current Form: Human
Status: Calculating net worth, resisting the urge to steal the furniture
Getting to the Jade Chamber usually required a password and a complex mechanism involving a floating rock. Raiden bypassed that by simply grabbing Aether and Paimon and walking up the air like it was a solid staircase.
They landed on the grand pavilion. The view was spectacular, but Raiden was more focused on the building materials.
"Analysis. Structure: Jade Chamber. Material: Plustrite, float-stone, gold plating. Estimated Value: 900 Billion Mora."
"It's a flying piggy bank," Raiden muttered, impressed. "Ningguang has style."
Lady Ningguang was waiting for them by her desk, her presence commanding and elegant. Standing beside her were her secretaries (Baishi, Baiwen, Baixiao) and the Yuheng of the Qixing, Keqing.
"Welcome to the Jade Chamber," Ningguang said, her red eyes scanning the group. She paused on Raiden. "And you must be Mr. Ragnvaldr. The 'Consultant' who eats jade and terrorizes my secretary."
"I didn't terrorize Ganyu," Raiden corrected, walking over to a vase. "I just reminded her of her place in the food chain. Nice vase. Ming Dynasty equivalent?"
"Qingce Period," Ningguang corrected. "Please, don't eat it."
Keqing crossed her arms. "You have no Vision, yet you flew up here. You treat the Adepti like old drinking buddies. State your business in Liyue. Are you a threat to the Qixing?"
Raiden turned to the electro-cat-girl (figuratively).
"I'm an investment, Lady Keqing. Right now, Liyue is about to lose its God. You want humanity to rule itself, right? That's your whole philosophy."
Keqing blinked, surprised. "Yes. We cannot rely on Rex Lapis forever."
"Good," Raiden sat on a chair uninvited. "Because the training wheels are coming off today. I'm just here to make sure you don't crash the bike."
Ningguang smiled, taking a drag from her pipe. "Cryptic. But I appreciate confidence. We have monitored the Fatui's movements. They are moving toward the Golden House. We believe they intend to seize the Exuvia."
"They want the Gnosis," Aether said.
"Then we should stop them," Paimon pumped her fist.
"Go ahead," Raiden waved his hand. "I'll catch up. I want to discuss a business proposition with the Tianquan about... waste management. Specifically, turning Abyssal sludge into renewable energy."
Ningguang raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening."
An hour later, Aether and Paimon arrived at the Golden House, the mint of all Teyvat.
The guards were unconscious. The air smelled of Hydro and blood.
They entered the massive vault. Mountains of Mora glittered in the torchlight.
"So much money!" Paimon drooled.
"Focus, Paimon," Aether drew his sword.
At the center of the room, staring at the massive dragon corpse (the Exuvia), stood Childe.
"You're late," Childe turned, his friendly mask gone. "I expected you to be faster. But no matter. The Gnosis is mine."
He leaped toward the Exuvia, plunging his hand into the dragon's chest to grab the divine heart.
Squish.
Nothing.
Childe pulled his hand back. Empty.
"What?" Childe's eyes widened. "It's not here?"
He spun around, rage contorting his face. "You... You got here first! You took it!"
"We just got here!" Paimon shouted.
"Don't play dumb!" Childe summoned his Hydro blades. "The only thing I hate more than a boring fight is deception! If you want to play games, let's play!"
Battle Start: Tartaglia (Phase 1).
Aether engaged. Sparks flew as Anemo met Hydro. They danced across the sea of coins. Childe was fast, but Aether had been training.
Suddenly, the doors burst open.
Raiden walked in, holding a skewer of grilled fish.
"Yo," Raiden called out, his voice echoing in the vault. "Am I interrupting a lovers' quarrel?"
Childe parried Aether's strike and jumped back. "Raiden! You're the one! You took the Gnosis, didn't you? That night at the dinner... you and Zhongli!"
"Me?" Raiden finished his fish and tossed the stick. "I don't need a Gnosis. I generate more energy in my sleep than that chess piece holds."
"Lies!"
Childe activated his Delusion. Purple lightning crackled around him.
Phase 2: Delusion Unleashed.
He dashed at Raiden, his spear wreathed in Electro. "Show me your power, Monster!"
Raiden didn't draw a weapon. He yawned.
[Uriel: Absolute Defense].
Childe's spear hit an invisible wall inches from Raiden's nose. The force cracked the floor, but Raiden didn't even blink.
"Sloppy," Raiden critiqued. "You're over-extending. Your stance leaves your left kidney wide open."
Raiden flicked his finger.
THWACK.
An invisible force (compressed air) hit Childe in the gut, sending him flying into a pile of Mora.
"Aether, tag in," Raiden sat on a stack of coins. "I'm just here to watch the show. Don't disappoint me, Traveler."
Childe roared, floating into the air. Water and Lightning merged. His armor shattered and reformed. A cape of starlight appeared.
The Foul Legacy Transformation.
"Not bad," Raiden nodded. "Abyssal transformation. Looks painful though. You're burning your lifespan, kid."
Childe, now a towering armored monster, unleashed havoc. He summoned a massive whale of hydro energy.
"It's a whale!" Paimon screamed.
Aether braced himself.
Raiden looked at the whale.
"Great Sage. Edibility?"
"Analysis. Pure Hydro Energy. High nutritional value. Tastes like salty jelly."
Raiden stood up. "Actually, I'll take that."
As the whale crashed down, Raiden opened his mouth. [Gluttony: Whale Swallower].
The massive hydro beast didn't hit Aether. It warped, twisted, and was sucked into Raiden's mouth like a slurpee.
Gulp.
"Refreshing," Raiden wiped his mouth. "Thanks for the drink, Childe."
Childe (Foul Legacy Form) froze. He stared at Raiden. "You... you ate my whale. That was my ultimate attack."
"It was a bit under-seasoned," Raiden shrugged.
Exhausted and realizing he couldn't win against the anomaly and the Traveler simultaneously, Childe dropped his transformation. He fell to his knees, panting.
"Fine..." Childe laughed weakly. "I lost. But... I have a backup plan."
He pulled out the Sigils of Permission.
"If I can't have the Gnosis... I'll force the Geo Archon to come out and save his city!"
The Sigils glowed. Dark, ancient energy swirled around him.
"Awaken, Overlord of the Vortex! OSIAL!"
The Golden House shook. The ground cracked. Outside, in the harbor, the sky turned black.
Raiden's eyes narrowed. "And there it is."
He walked over to Childe, who was slumped on the floor.
"You really like making a mess, don't you?" Raiden looked down at the Harbinger.
"It's... for Her Majesty..." Childe wheezed.
"Yeah, yeah. Go take a nap." Raiden chopped Childe lightly on the neck. The Harbinger passed out cold.
"Aether," Raiden turned to the Traveler. "Grab the wallet—I mean, Childe. We need to get outside. The main event is starting."
They ran out of the Golden House.
The sight was apocalyptic.
In the middle of the ocean, a massive whirlpool had formed. From the depths, five colossal hydra heads made of water and ancient stone rose up, roaring at the heavens.
Osial.
Tsunamis threatened to swallow the harbor. The Jade Chamber was flying toward the confrontation. The Adepti were gathering.
Raiden cracked his knuckles. His human skin began to ripple, black scales appearing briefly on his cheeks.
"Finally," Raiden grinned, his silver eyes glowing with the light of the Void. "Seafood buffet."