Chapter 142: A Cruel Battlefield and Peaceful Times
On the battlefield, the tide had turned in an instant. With the full might of Stelle, March 7th, Dan Heng, and Phainon thrown into the fray—and especially with Stelle channeling her simmering rage into every swing—the enemy line buckled and broke.
"Haaah—!" Stelle roared, her bat glowing with the raw, untamed power of Destruction. She brought it down with devastating force upon a particularly massive and heavily armored Vanguard of Condemnation.
The elite monster tried to raise its colossal greatsword in a desperate block, but it was a futile gesture. How could mere steel possibly hope to stop the fury of a Trailblazer scorned?
BOOM—CRACK!
Amidst an ear-splitting shriek of tortured metal, the Vanguard's proud armor shattered like a fragile eggshell. The immense force of the impact sent its hulking body hurtling backward, where it crashed through the remains of a ruined wall before collapsing, utterly still.
"Stelle, left!" March 7th's sharp warning cut through the din.
Stelle didn't even need to look. Relying on the unspoken cooperation forged in countless battles, her body instinctively pivoted. She swung her bat in a powerful, sweeping arc that connected with three Philosophers of Condemnation attempting to flank her. The trio was sent tumbling away like scattered bowling pins.
"Thanks, March!" Stelle shouted over her shoulder, her movements never ceasing as she lunged toward her next target.
The addition of four top-tier combatants to the already valiant Okhema guards transformed the desperate defense into a one-sided slaughter. The minions dispatched by the Strife Titans fell back again and again, unable to withstand the coordinated and ferocious assaults.
The battle in the immediate area finally concluded when the last Hunter of Condemnation, attempting a final, desperate ambush from the shadows, was neatly pierced through the chest by one of March's crystalline arrows.
Smoke and dust choked the air, swirling over a battlefield littered with wreckage and fallen foes.
With the fight over, most of Stelle's anger had dissipated. Just then, her gaze was drawn to a group of figures running toward them from the distance.
One… two… three?
Three young women, all dressed in similar styles but with slight variations in color and detail, were rushing their way with anxious expressions. Their faces were almost identical.
Stelle and March 7th immediately recognized the one in the lead: it was Tribbie. But the other two…
"Whoa!" Stelle rubbed her eyes, certain she was hallucinating. She quickly tugged on March's arm. "March! Look! Am I seeing things, or are there three Tribbies now?!"
March 7th's eyes followed Stelle's pointing finger, and her jaw dropped. "It's… it's true! Three of them?! Is this… some kind of clone technique?" She instinctively reached for her camera, a familiar glint in her eye as she considered documenting the phenomenon.
Dan Heng's gaze also shifted to the approaching trio. His brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of deep thought crossing his icy-blue eyes as he silently observed the three identical women. His assessment of Amphoreus, this mysterious and perilous world, grew even more solemn.
Phainon, however, was clearly accustomed to the sight. He calmly sheathed his weapon and stepped forward to meet them.
"No need to be surprised," he explained to the Astral Express crew. "The lively one on the right is Tian. The quieter one in the middle is Ti Ning. And the one on the left is Tribbie, who has been traveling with us."
Phainon's voice deepened, laced with a subtle, complex emotion. "They… were originally one person. But due to some… very special circumstances, they were forcibly split into many parts. Now, only these three remain."
Split? Forcibly? Many parts? Only three left? Each word was heavy, hinting at a painful past and a universe of unresolved mysteries.
Just as Dan Heng was about to inquire further, Tian, who had been running at the very front, finally reached them. She spoke in a rush, her concern evident.
"Xiao Bai! Are you alright? What happened here?" Her gaze swept over the messy aftermath of the battle before landing on Phainon and the others.
Phainon gave a concise reply. "We're fine, Tian. The battle just ended. We were just introducing you and Ti Ning to our new friends."
Tribbie stepped forward as well, her voice tight with urgency. "This is no time for idle chat! Xiao Di is still fighting alone! He's holding back a large portion of the enemy by himself, and the situation is critical! Xiao Bai, you have to go support him, quickly!"
Her pleading eyes turned to Stelle, March 7th, and Dan Heng. "We need to escort these frightened citizens to a safer place first. The task of supporting Xiao Di… we're counting on you!"
Phainon nodded immediately, his expression turning grim. "Understood! We'll go now!" He turned back to the Astral Express crew without hesitation, his gaze as sharp as a knife. "Can you still fight?"
"Of course!" Stelle replied instantly. March 7th gave a vigorous nod, her bow of shimmering ice already reforming in her hands.
Dan Heng said nothing. He simply tightened his grip on Cloud-Piercer, and the golden, geometric patterns of Zhongli's Jade Shield swirled to life around him once more, his actions a clear and resolute answer.
Without another moment's delay, the four of them became a blur of motion, speeding off in the direction Tribbie had indicated—an area already marked by the intense flashes and thunderous booms of a raging battle.
As she ran, Stelle couldn't help but sigh internally. 'This trailblazing journey on Amphoreus is truly… overly fulfilling!' Aside from that brief moment of rest on the back of the Great Land Beast, their time here had been a relentless cycle of fighting, traveling, and more fighting. If they weren't in a battle, they were on their way to the next one.
Meanwhile, in two other worlds, time seemed to flow with a gentle ease, a stark contrast to the bloodshed and chaos of Amphoreus.
In the Wildfire district of Zhitopia, Wise and Ling were helping to plan the layout of a new storefront. A relaxed smile touched Wise's lips. "Speaking of which, have you watched those Teyvat specialty dish tutorial videos Lumine and the others sent over? How are the menu arrangements for this place coming along?"
Ling's eyes lit up. "I've been thinking about it! There's one dish I think is absolutely perfect for our local tastes. It's that Black-Back Perch Stew. Lumine said it's especially good with rice! I even wrote down the steps and want to try making it myself when I have time! But…"
She winked slyly at him. "Brother, you'll be in charge of taste-testing, won't you? What if I mess it up…?"
Wise rubbed his forehead in helpless resignation. "…I knew it."
In Teyvat, at Liyue Harbor, the backyard of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was an oasis of tranquility. Tree shadows swayed gently, and the sweet songs of birds filled the air. Zhongli, dressed in casual attire, was leisurely adding water to a cage that housed a brightly plumed thrush. His movements were slow and unhurried, as if the world's troubles were a distant concern that had nothing to do with him.
"Hey! Zhongli!" a familiar, booming voice called out.
Azhdaha, in his human form, leaned against a corridor pillar with his arms crossed, staring at the former Archon. "That motorcycle from last time was impounded by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. They said they wanted to 'study' it! I'm sure you have something even better stashed away! Hurry up and share it with me!"
Zhongli set down the watering can, picked up a purple clay teapot from the small table beside him, and poured himself a cup of clear, fragrant tea. As the steam rose, he spoke, his voice calm and measured. "Rather than seeking mere playthings, it is better to calmly savor tea and experience the mundane life of Liyue Harbor."
Azhdaha pouted. "I already joined the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to work off my debt; doesn't that count as experiencing mundane life?! I don't care, you have to figure something out for me!"
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