The Perfect Susanoo charged toward Beisht.
With its left hand, it seized the middle head of the sea monster and hurled her violently into the sky.
Under the stunned gazes of everyone present, Beisht was flung high into the air.
The Perfect Susanoo drew its blade once more and slashed toward the airborne monster.
Several strikes flashed in succession.
In the blink of an eye, Beisht was cut into eighteen pieces, her severed body falling back into the sea.
When the sea beasts saw their god fall, most chose death over retreat, launching suicidal attacks against Liyue's adepti.
A small portion dove into the depths and fled.
Ren Kai looked at the remaining few sea beasts and unleashed another sweeping slash.
Hundreds more were killed instantly.
The attack carefully avoided the Liyue adepti, though the sheer force of the blade's aura still startled them.
With Susanoo's relentless attacks, living sea beasts quickly vanished from the battlefield.
Far away on Mt. Tianheng behind Liyue Harbor, a lone figure watched Beisht's death.
He slowly lowered the spear in his hand and turned away.
"My goodness… we almost had to say goodbye to life."
The bird adeptus—Cloud Retainer—wore the expression of someone who had narrowly escaped death.
Moments earlier, while flying through the sky using adeptal arts to hunt sea beasts, one of Susanoo's sword waves had nearly struck her.
"Are you alright?"
"Do you think that might be the God of the Samurai?"
Guizhong walked over to Cloud Retainer, staring at the towering Susanoo with amazement.
"Perhaps it's the Giant God."
Ping'er appeared beside them, smiling playfully.
Guizhong and Ping'er chatted cheerfully, while Cloud Retainer remained stern-faced.
The other two adepti soon joined them as well—
Mountain Shaper and Moon Carver.
Meanwhile, the five Yaksha had gathered together, their masks removed.
"Do you think that blue giant warrior is stronger… or the Geo Archon?"
The Yaksha general Bonanus stared in disbelief at Susanoo.
"Watch your words."
"The Geo Archon is not someone we should discuss casually."
Bosacius, the Yaksha leader, spoke sternly.
His body was drenched in blood, though none of it appeared to be his.
"Little sister, you must be careful with your words."
"Whether it's the Geo Archon or that warrior, neither is someone we should judge."
Indarias said calmly, though her tone held mild exasperation.
Xiao and Menogias simply watched the others chatting.
Both wore faint smiles.
After every battle, seeing everyone alive and well was the greatest relief.
At that moment, Ren Kai dismissed Susanoo.
He could already feel the mysterious power within his body slowly fading.
Defeating Beisht so easily had largely been thanks to Rexas's authority as the War God.
He then walked toward the docks of Liyue Harbor.
After confirming that the Feiyun Commerce Guild's ship was approaching safely, he turned to look at the people of Liyue.
"See? Lord Ban is the strongest!"
The pink fox's happiness overflowed.
She strutted proudly across the ship's deck.
She wanted to be the first to leap into Ren Kai's arms.
"My heavens…"
"Could Mr. Ban actually be a god?"
"That level of power is terrifying."
The guard captain on the ship felt deep regret.
He had once tried to ambush Ren Kai.
Now—even if given a hundred times the courage—he would never dare again.
"Liyue has won!"
Uncle Fu shouted excitedly to the workers and guards aboard the ship.
Cheers erupted across the deck.
"Thank you, Mr. Ban."
Mingyun gazed at the intact harbor with emotion, wiping tears from the corner of his eyes.
For a moment, he had truly believed Liyue would be destroyed.
That harbor was his home.
The sea gradually returned to calm.
"The war is over."
"We have won."
Guizhong returned to Liyue with the adepti and the Yaksha, announcing the victory loudly.
"Waaah… that scared me to death."
"It's finally over… I survived…"
"The people of Liyue cannot be defeated!"
"Father, who was that blue giant?"
"Which adeptus was it? I've never seen them before."
"It doesn't matter who he was."
"But we must remember that he saved us today."
The people of Liyue were immersed in the joy of survival.
Many simply celebrated being alive.
Only the Millelith remained solemn.
They quietly began cleaning the battlefield and collecting the bodies of fallen comrades.
"The Millelith truly are remarkable."
Ren Kai looked at them with deep respect.
Mortals who dared to face gods.
Guizhong instructed the Liyue Qixing to calm the people and begin assessing casualties and damage.
Afterward, she led the adepti toward Ren Kai.
Seeing that Guizhong and the others were only lightly injured, Ren Kai felt relieved.
But the situation was strange.
A group of characters he admired from the game was now walking straight toward him.
The excitement made his heart race uncontrollably.
By the time Guizhong stopped in front of him—
His heart was beating two hundred times per minute.
"Honored warrior, please accept Liyue's gratitude."
Guizhong spoke sincerely.
She and the adepti prepared to bow in thanks.
Ren Kai's brain immediately triggered its survival instincts.
When overwhelmed—
Retreat!
"Just lending a hand when I saw injustice."
"No need for ceremony."
"Perhaps we'll meet again."
After speaking quickly, he turned and jumped straight into the sea, running toward the Feiyun Commerce Guild's ship.
"…"
Guizhong and the adepti stood frozen, watching him flee across the ocean.
"He'll come back."
Guizhong smiled while looking at the approaching merchant ship.
"Lady Guizhong, it seems he doesn't wish to be disturbed."
"Perhaps we should leave."
Ping'er understood Ren Kai's intention, though she was still curious.
"It's your fault."
"You all followed me here and scared him away."
"Go on, go on—leave."
"I'll stay."
Guizhong waved her friends away impatiently.
"…"
Faced with their lively and adorable friend, the adepti simply left.
Only Ping'er remained where she stood.
"He probably ran away because there were too many people."
"You should go back."
"I'll try to invite him to a gathering later."
Guizhong explained her plan.
"Fine."
"I can never refuse you."
Though Ping'er wanted to learn more about Ren Kai, Guizhong's reasoning made sense.
She finally turned and left.
Meanwhile, Ren Kai truly felt overwhelmed.
If they had surrounded him, they would surely ask countless questions.
With his emotions in such chaos, he might accidentally reveal something.
Running away had been the safest choice.
By now, the Feiyun Commerce Guild's ship had nearly reached Liyue Harbor.
Ren Kai quickly arrived before it.
As he leapt onto the deck—
He caught the pink fox who had jumped straight toward him.
Yae Miko nestled happily in his arms.
Lord Ban's embrace is so warm, she thought with a satisfied smile.