Childe was still stalling for time.
The power of the talismans was gradually being unleashed.
"To be honest, reaching this point and resorting to the power of an ancient god is quite dull. It goes against my principles."
"But when I think about that so-called Geo Archon and the Adepti."
"Even they have to respond to this crisis… now that is rather interesting."
With that, Childe fully released the energy of the talismans.
A massive surge of Hydro energy enveloped him, forming a swirling sphere of water.
"Let's see what happens!"
"A nation that has lose its gods, will it be swallowed whole by the malice of the past?"
Spreading his arms wide, Childe tilted his head back and laughed toward the stormy sky.
Then, carried by the water sphere, he ascended into the air.
"But if you want to drown alongside the people of Liyue. Then by all means, enjoy yourselves!"
With those words, Childe figure vanished from sight.
Lumine and Paimon stood there, dumbfounded, unable to process what had just happened.
But their instincts screamed at them, they needed to get outside immediately.
"Go, Lumine."
"I'll be fine. Just do what you believe is right."
Qiu Bai gave Lumine a reassuring smile, despite her still supporting him.
She stared at him for a moment, uncertainty in her eyes, but then nodded.
Grabbing Paimon, she sprinted toward the exit.
As their figures disappeared from view, Qiu Bai lips curled into a small smile.
Then, in an instant, he straightened up. A faint glow enveloped his body, and his once-dirtied clothes became pristine once more.
The wounds that had marred his skin vanished completely, and the wound in his leg disappeared as if it had never existed.
With a slight movement of his hand, several streaks of white light shot out, sinking into the unconscious Millelith soldiers scattered across the ground.
After scanning his surroundings and glancing at the unconscious guards, Qiu Bai gave a slight nod.
Then, his figure disappeared.
Qiu Bai now stood atop a mountain.
His gaze was calm as he looked into the distance.
From this vantage point, he had a clear view of the harbor of Liyue and the vast ocean beyond.
But the sea… it was no longer calm.
Massive whirlpools formed as towering pillars of water rose into the sky, stretching beyond sight.
Dark clouds rapidly consumed the sky, and violent winds howled as heavy rain poured down.
Lightning crackled across the heavens, illuminating a scene of pure chaos—an apocalyptic storm.
And then, from above Liyue Harbor, something began to emerge.
A colossal structure slowly ascended into the sky.
It was none other than the Jade Chamber.
Meanwhile, deep within the storm-ravaged ocean, a shadow stirred beneath the waves.
A massive creature moved past a small island—so small in comparison that it looked utterly insignificant next to the behemoth.
Finally, the monstrous being rose from the depths.
From the churning sea, a gigantic head slowly broke the surface—an ancient terror returning to the world once more.
Like a group of giant water eels, four enormous serpentine figures slowly lifted their heads from the turbulent ocean.
Their pale blue bodies radiated an aura of ancient divine oppression, the sheer presence of a primordial god.
As the colossal creature fully raised its head, the storm clouds above began to swirl, parting slightly to let beams of sunlight illuminate its massive form.
Its eyes locked onto Liyue Harbor—a city insignificant in size compared to its vast, towering body.
The sheer pressure from its presence alone sent waves of fear through the Millelith soldiers and the citizens of Liyue, causing some to tremble and struggle to stand.
Yes, this was the Vortex God.
The ancient god of the abyss, Osial.
"Osial body is still nailed to the seafloor. Only a few of its heads have surfaced so far."
Qiu Bai swept his divine sense over the ocean, his tone carrying a hint of surprise.
It seemed that the Doctor had yet to act.
"What is he waiting for?"
"System, scan Osial!"
A familiar [Ding!] echoed in his mind as the system responded:
[Identity: Vortex God Osial]
[Status: A former deity, currently suppressed beneath the sea.]
[Due to the influence of the Rite of Unchanging Rules, its heads have temporarily broken free from the seal. Its body remains immobilized, pinned to the ocean floor by the Geo Archon Morax's stone spears.]
[Power Level: Mid-Tier God (Sealed)]
Note: Demon gods are categorized as Lesser, Low-Tier, Mid-Tier, High-Tier, and Peak-Level, with immense gaps in power between each rank.
"Mid-Tier God?"
"Osial's power is stronger than I expected."
Qiu Bai stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"I assumed it was only a Low-Tier God at best."
Qiu Bai was not the only one watching the unfolding catastrophe.
Every citizen of Liyue Harbor, from commoners to nobles, stood frozen in terror.
The Fatui, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, and even Zhongli and Hu Tao had all turned their gazes toward the sea.
On the Jade Chamber
Lumine had just arrived, breathless, alongside Paimon.
"Hah… That was exhausting…"
"If we hadn't seen the Jade Chamber floating in the sky when we left the Golden House…"
"We wouldn't have even known where to run!"
Paimon panted heavily, casting a tired glance at Lumine.
"Did we make it in time?"
She turned to the sea, watching the massive figure of Osial.
"It's still in the water… It hasn't reached Liyue Harbor yet, right?"
Behind them, Xiao observed their arrival with a furrowed brow.
"Why are you two here?"
His calm, indifferent voice broke the momentary silence.
Lumine and Paimon turned to see Xiao, as well as several familiar figures—
Ganyu, Madam Ping, Keqing, Cloud Retainer, Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper
And stepping forward with an air of authority—Ningguang.
Paimon's eyes widened.
"Eh?! The Adepti?!"
She blinked in confusion before turning to Ningguang.
"Wait… Weren't you all arguing with the Liyue Qixing before?"
"Did you finish your fight already?"
Her highly diplomatic question hung in the air, directed at both the Adepti and Ningguang.
"The Adepti believe that in this time of crisis,"
"The Adepti and the Qixing should set aside their differences and stand together against our common enemy."
Ningguang turned to the Traveler and Paimon, explaining calmly.
"Hmph."
Cloud Retainer let out a prideful snort from the side.
"I see. Then what is our current defense strategy?"
Paimon swallowed nervously before glancing back at the Vortex Demon God, Osial.
"Ugh… Just looking at it from this distance is making it hard to breathe…"
Her voice trembled slightly.
She and the Traveler had faced many powerful foes before, but nothing on this scale.
"Some of the Millelith recruits can't even stand properly."
Keqing stepped forward, glancing at Paimon and Lumine.
"It seems that the sheer presence of an ancient demon god is extremely harmful to ordinary people."
She folded her arms and spoke with unwavering resolve.
"That is exactly why we cannot allow that monster to reach Liyue Harbor."
"So terrifying… The Archon War two thousand years ago…"
"Is this what the gods were fighting against?"
Paimon fear deepened at Keqing words.
Xiao remained silent, arms crossed, deep in thought.
"So… with the current forces present—the Qixing, the Millelith, and the Adepti—"
"Can we even defeat the god lurking in the sea?"
Paimon looked at the assembled Adepti and Qixing, fear evident in her voice.
Ningguang's golden eyes remained steady as she answered without hesitation.
"The Adepti have already discussed this."
"The answer is… uncertain."
Even with the combined power of the Qixing and the Adepti, they might not be able to defeat Osial, a god whose true body remained sealed beneath the ocean.
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