[Ding!]
[System Task!]
[Put on a performance of an evenly matched battle in front of Lumine!]
[Reward: Unknown!]
A notification from the system echoed in Qiu Bai mind.
A subtle smirk appeared on his lips as he turned to look at Lumine, who was currently locked in battle with Tartaglia.
Suddenly, Childe summoned a bow, drawing back its string as dense Hydro energy gathered in the middle. In the next instant, an arrow of pure water shot toward Lumine in the distance.
With a swift flip, Lumine evaded the incoming projectile.
Placing one hand on the ground, her other hand gripped her Nameless Sword as emerald Anemo energy surged around it. Without hesitation, she launched herself toward Childe with an aggressive strike.
Childe remained unfazed. His bow shifted into dual blades as an intense battle lust gleamed in his eyes. With a reckless grin, he lunged forward to meet her attack head-on!
Boom!
The moment their weapons clashed, neither backed down, engaging in a direct contest of strength.
Lumine twisted her wrist, redirecting her Nameless Sword in a swift motion, aiming straight for Childe waist. Reacting instantly, he swung his right blade downward to deflect the strike.
A sharp, grating sound rang out as sparks flew upon impact!
In the next moment, Childe swiftly retreated before launching another aggressive assault toward Lumine.
Refusing to yield, Lumine reinforced her sword with Anemo energy and charged forward once more!
Clang!
A shockwave, an explosive mixture of wind and water erupted between their attacks, sending both combatants skidding several meters backward.
Undeterred, they immediately dashed toward each other again, their battle intensifying.
"Qiu Bai, do something already! They really seem evenly matched!"
Paimon anxiously tugged at Qiu Bai sleeve as she watched the fierce duel unfold.
In her mind, if Qiu Bai stepped in to help right now, wouldn't they be able to defeat Childe easily?
Qiu Bai patted Paimon head before turning his gaze toward the ongoing battle.
"Alright then… I'll go!"
With that, he grabbed his sword and dashed toward the fight.
Lumine, seeing Qiu Bai suddenly charging in, was momentarily stunned before quickly leaping back.
Childe's pupils shrank as he noticed Qiu Bai approaching at high speed.
"Wha—?! Qiu Bai?!"
Qiu Bai swung his sword, sending a massive black-and-white energy slash hurtling toward Childe!
"A flaw—gone in an instant!"
Childe swiftly combined his dual blades, forming a long Hydro-infused polearm. The tip of the weapon, where his two blades met, resembled a spear.
Without hesitation, he unleashed a powerful Hydro Slash, slicing horizontally to intercept Qiu Bai attack!
The Hydro wave and black-and-white sword energy clashed violently, momentarily locking in a fierce struggle for dominance…
However, Qiu Bai black-and-white sword energy was clearly no match for Childe attack. The Hydro slash cut through his energy wave with ease.
"Not good!"
Qiu Bai pupils contracted as he watched Childe attack rapidly approaching.
"Qiu Bai!!!"
Lumine rushed toward him at full speed, but she was a second too late.
The powerful Hydro slash struck Qiu Bai head-on!
The sheer force sent him flying backward, smashing straight through the stone wall behind him!
Dust and debris fell over his body, creating a cloud of smoke.
"Qiu Bai!"
Lumine no longer cared about Childe presence, she sprinted toward the rubble, her delicate hands frantically searching for Qiu Bai figure.
"Qiu Bai, Qiu Bai!"
She called out desperately, but no response came.
Still, she refused to give up.
With trembling hands, she kept digging through the debris, her tears falling drop by drop. Her once beautiful hands were now scraped and bloodied from the sharp stones.
Childe, seeing this scene, surprisingly did not attack while she was distracted. Instead, he turned away and walked toward the Molted Husk of Geo Archon.
Paimon quickly flew over to help, using her small hands to search as well.
Meanwhile, beneath the rubble—
Qiu Bai lay there, completely unharmed.
"Damn, even Yun Jin would praise this level of acting."
He internally muttered with amusement.
"I wonder if this counts as performing an evenly matched battle?"
[Ding!]
[No, it doesn't!]
The system's voice echoed in his mind.
"What?!"
With a sudden sit-up, Qiu Bai shattered the pile of rocks above him.
Lumine, her tear-streaked face filled with grief and Paimon her hands scraped raw froze in absolute shock.
They stared blankly at the Qiu Bai, who had just risen from the dead.
"Qiu Bai?"
Lumine, still holding a small stone in her wounded hand, looked at him in disbelief.
Qiu Bai, seeing her expression, was briefly stunned.
Then, with a gentle smile, he spoke, "I'm sorry, Lumine. I made you and Paimon worry."
"But didn't I tell you? I'm really strong, you know."
Taking Lumine injured hand, he channeled a soft white light over it.
She felt a sudden warmth spread through her palm, the wounds instantly healed.
Then, he patted Paimon head, and with another flash of white light, her hands were restored as well.
As the two girls stared at him in astonishment, Qiu Bai casually stood up, dusted off his clothes, and not a single injury remained on his body.
"I'll be taking Morax Gnosis now!"
Suddenly, Childe voice rang out from a distance, snapping Lumine and Paimon back to reality.
Turning toward the source, they saw that Childe appearance had changed.
A crimson-colored mask covered his face, and something resembling a Vision hung from his waist.
Suddenly, lightning crackled in his palm as he thrust his hand toward the Molted Husk of Geo Archon!
A moment later, Childe pulled his hand back—empty.
Turning around, he locked eyes with Qiu Bai and the others.
"I see now."
"So you were one step ahead of me!"
Before Lumine and Paimon could react, Childe activated his full armor transformation.
The massive black cloak behind him shimmered with dark, star-like specks.
Losing all sense of reason, Childe slammed his blade into the ground shattering the first floor of the Golden House!
With the floor collapsing beneath them, the three fell.
Qiu Bai effortlessly pushed away a massive boulder blocking his path.
Lumine struggled to push aside the debris near her, while Paimon, of course, floated to safety.
Even so, she still flew over, anxiously checking on them.
Amid the dust-filled air, a purple energy orb descended from above, its form obscured.
As the impact wave rippled outward, a figure was revealed within the light.
There was no doubt, this was Childe in his strongest form!
"You took the Gnosis before I could, didn't you?!"
"Did you really act faster than me? Or was the Golden House's information deliberately leaked to lure me here?!"
Childe's furious gaze bore into them.
"N-No! We didn't take it!"
Paimon frantically waved her hands at the berserk Childe.
Without hesitation, he lunged toward them.
Lumine prepared to fight, but before she could react Qiu Bai had already charged forward, wielding his Yin-Yang Chaos Sword!
Childe unleashed a full-force slash at Qiu Bai.
Qiu Bai sword met his head-on!
CLANG!
Sparks flew in every direction!
"Tch. This is such a hassle… Do I really have to keep up this act?"
Qiu Bai had already adjusted his strength to match Childe's.
He was careful—not wanting to accidentally kill him.
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