The battle between Childe and Lumine raged on for quite some time.
But finally Childe could no longer withstand the immense burden that Foul Legacy: Devil's Armament placed on his body.
With a heavy gasp, the form dissipated, and he collapsed to his knees, his vision slightly blurred.
"It's about… time to calm down."
"That form really does take a huge toll on my body…"
"It left me with no time to even think properly."
Bracing himself with one hand on the ground, Tartaglia muttered breathlessly.
"Oh? Is it over already?"
From where he lay on the ground, Qiu Bai mused internally.
And then—
As if suddenly regaining breath, Qiu Bai took in a sharp inhale—
"AHH!"
Paimon yelped in shock, nearly jumping out of the air.
"Qi-Qiu Bai! Y-You're okay! That's great!"
Tears welled up in Paimon eyes as she hurriedly wiped them away.
"Cough, cough…"
Qiu Bai used all his remaining strength to push himself up, his movements sluggish.
Forcing a weak smile, he reached out and gently patted Paimon head.
Even under Paimon worried gaze, Qiu Bai clutched his chest and limped toward Lumine and Childe.
As he approached, Childe coughed weakly, lifting his head to gaze at Lumine.
"If you think about it carefully… there was no way you could have gotten the Gnosis before me."
"No matter where the Gnosis has gone… it probably has nothing to do with you."
By this time, Paimon and Qiu Bai had arrived at Lumine side.
"Qiu Bai! Are you okay?"
Lumine immediately reached out to support him, worry evident in her expression.
"Heh, what could possibly happen to me?"
A faint white glow emanated from Qiu Bai body.
Under Lumine and Paimon's stunned gazes, the injuries on his body began to heal.
But in reality Qiu Bai wasn't injured at all. He was just acting.
"I never expected Qiu Bai to be this strong."
Childe slowly pushed himself up, looking at Qiu Bai with intrigue.
"Heh… I'd love to spar with you again sometime."
Qiu Bai expression twitched violently.
"Spar? No thanks."
"If I accidentally killed you, I'd have to go through the trouble of reviving you."
He inwardly sighed in exasperation at Childe fighting obsession.
Then, Childe turned to Lumine, waving a hand slightly.
"And Traveler… the strength you displayed today…"
"It's even greater than what Lady La Signora described when she assessed you in Mondstadt. Why is that?"
Lumine, still supporting Qiu Bai, furrowed her brows.
She puffed up her cheeks slightly, her anger still evident.
Childe had nearly killed Qiu Bai just moments ago.
So, she simply glared at him without answering.
"Uh…"
Childe awkwardly scratched his head at her silent, pouty reaction.
"Don't look at me like that. Giving it my all in battle is a sign of respect for a strong opponent."
Childe waved his hand awkwardly, trying to explain himself to Lumine, who was glaring at him with puffed-up cheeks.
He had a feeling that the man beside her, Qiu Bai, was not as simple as he appeared.
That was why he had fought with his full strength—because he believed that a true battle between strong opponents was the greatest form of respect.
"Those who strive for strength are all friends."
"Even if that friendship only takes the form of combat..."
Childe spoke slowly, directing his words toward Qiu Bai, who stood beside Lumine.
"What a strange concept of friendship."
Paimon waved her hands in confusion, finding it hard to understand Childe reasoning.
"But for now, I have to set aside this exchange between comrades and return to my mission."
"If the Gnosis cannot be taken, then... what if it was never inside the molted husk in the first place?"
Childe crossed his arms and continued speaking.
"Furthermore, what if the molted husk itself was nothing more than a decoy?"
Hearing this, Paimon thought for a moment.
"You... you mean to say..."
"The Geo Archon isn't dead?"
Lumine gazed at Childe and slowly spoke.
"That seems to be the case... now that is quite interesting."
"If the Geo Archon is alive, then how could the Adeptus in question have gone missing?"
Childe glanced at the three before him and continued explaining.
It was possible that the other Adeptus of Liyue had never actually disappeared.
"As expected of the guardian deity of the nation of contracts—he's even well-versed in tricks beyond the scope of contracts."
"Sigh, this means I'll have to resort to my backup plan."
Childe spoke with a mix of admiration and self-mockery, as if resorting to this plan was an insult to his pride.
"Backup plan?"
Paimon asked in confusion.
"I really didn't want to use this method, since it will drag innocent people into the conflict."
"I despise underhanded tricks like this... but unfortunately, it is the Tsaritsa command."
Childe sighed as he explained, looking at Paimon puzzled expression.
"So, what exactly are you planning to do?!"
Paimon couldn't hold back her curiosity and shouted at Childe.
"I will..."
"Awaken the slumbering God beneath Guyun Stone Forest."
Childe spoke without hesitation as he looked at the three in front of him.
"A God?!"
Paimon eyes widened in shock. She never expected that Childe would go as far as to release an ancient God.
"Osial, the Vortex God, was defeated by Morax during the Archon War and sealed beneath the ocean by the stone spears of Geo."
"Now imagine—what would happen if an ancient god were to attack Liyue Harbor, a city that has lost both of its divine protectors?"
"Do you really think that the Geo Archon, who played all of us for fools, can just sit back and watch the show unfold?"
Childe looked at the three before him and spoke in a calm yet confident tone.
Hearing this, Qiu Bai twitched the corner of his mouth—Morax really was capable of pulling such a stunt.
"B-But... the Archon War ended two thousand years ago."
"In today's world, where only eight gods remain, how do you plan to awaken an ancient deity...?"
Paimon asked in shock.
"Eight gods? Aren't there only seven? are you including me in that count?"
Qiu Bai mouth twitched upon hearing Paimon explanation.
A nation with two deities,no wonder the Tsaritsa had sent the Doctor to investigate.
"Of course... I already have the means to awaken it prepared."
Childe extended a hand, and several glowing golden Talismans of Unwavering Principles materialized around him.
"T-Those are Talismans of Unwavering Principles!"
"I... I remember now! We did find evidence that the Fatui were researching them!"
Paimon eyes widened in shock as she stared at the talismans floating around Childe.
"And you were even trying to replicate them..."
Lumine shifted into a battle-ready stance, one hand steadying Qiu Bai as she watched Childe warily.
Meanwhile, Qiu Bai gaze remained fixed on the talismans surrounding Childe, deep in thought.
"Strange... I don't see any of the Doctor's Forbidden Gaze Talismans."
"These Talismans of Unwavering Principles should only be able to temporarily unseal Osial."
Qiu Bai stroked his chin, a peculiar thought crossing his mind.
"Could it be that the Doctor isn't aligned with Childe on this matter?"
As the idea formed, Qiu Bai mouth twitched again.
It seemed even Childe had been reduced to nothing more than another test subject in the Doctor eyes.
"That's right. The talisman I gave you was merely a byproduct of this research."
"With the power of so many Talismans of Unwavering Principles gathered together..."
"And combined with the authority granted to me by the Tsaritsa as a Harbinger..."
"Temporarily undoing the Geo spears' seal? That is well within my capabilities."
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