???
Nearly face-planting, Tartaglia froze.
Where was his cool, powerful Foul Legacy?
How did it cut out mid-transformation?
Even if it strains him, it shouldn't fail halfway.
Like charging into battle with confidence… and going soft in three seconds.
Shaking, he tried again—but no matter what, he couldn't activate it.
"That talisman…"
Realizing belatedly, he thought of the golden talisman and understood.
It had to be that.
Otherwise, how could he… fail?
"Heh… that's right. You won't be using Foul Legacy against us!"
Seeing his impotence, Paimon gloated.
She didn't expect Ken's talisman to work so well—effortlessly interrupting his Foul Legacy.
Even if he transformed, Lumine could win.
But why waste the effort?
"How long does it last?" he asked urgently.
If he could be interrupted every time, how would he ever show off again?
"That's not important," Lumine said coolly. "What matters is—are you calm now?"
Calm?
He was very calm now!
He couldn't do it—how could he not be calm?
His mouth twitched. Annoyed, but his earlier rage had diminished.
"I was controlled by anger and didn't think. Now… you clearly just got here—no way you took the Gnosis before me."
He calmed quickly.
Paimon's smugness showed they'd anticipated his move and prepared the talisman.
If so, why fear his obstruction?
Thus, if Lumine had the Gnosis, there'd be no reason to deny it—with that talisman, he couldn't stop her.
Why waste words?
Also, the mechanisms were intact when he arrived—not sabotaged.
Meaning they'd only just come.
"We said it wasn't us. You were the one who lost your cool," Lumine pouted.
He pondered, then sneered. "No… no… perhaps from the start, my thinking was wrong—or rather, we were all being guided."
At this, things clicked.
Upon learning Morax was "assassinated," his first thought was to sow chaos and fish out the body to take the Gnosis.
But thinking again—
As one of the Seven who ruled in the Archon War era, even if he'd waned over millennia, Morax wasn't someone easily killed.
To assassinate him so easily, without even a chance to resist—such power not even their Tsaritsa possessed.
Much less the Qixing or anyone else.
Even that enigmatic Mr. Ken couldn't silently kill the Geo Archon.
So the truth could only be—
"Well played… Liyue's guardian god of commerce is adept at off-contract methods too. Seems we were all played—Morax must be watching from the shadows."
"Fortunately… I have a backup plan! Traveler, you interrupted me once—can you interrupt me twice?"
As he spoke, golden talismans flared around him.
They shone with a mysterious, powerful force.
His clothes fluttered in windless air; his voice turned cold: "I didn't want to use this—innocents will be affected. But as a Fatui Harbinger… I must, when necessary. Morax, let's see how long you hide!"
With that, he vanished.
Like a streak of light, he went toward the Guyun Stone Forest.
Being toyed with angered him.
He would force Morax out!
"Stop!"
Lumine shouted, but didn't chase.
Tsaritsa's power wasn't something she could catch.
"Hmph… try to chase me?"
He ran with confidence, no longer worried about another trick.
Once he released the demon god, Morax would have to appear!
…
Rumble…
The once-clear Liyue sky turned black.
Vast clouds rolled in with oppressive force. Hurricanes and lightning churned; the world dimmed under the weight.
Gale-force winds raised the sea into mountains; waves roared, terrifying the people.
"Drop anchor!"
"Tsunami incoming! Evacuate the docks!"
…
Liyue's coastal folk were used to storms.
But this was excessive.
The hurricanes and thunderclouds exuded a crushing pressure.
And the source—
Guyun Stone Forest.
Most knew the legend:
Long ago, to suppress Osial, the Geo Archon carved mountains into spears and hurled them, pinning Osial beneath the sea; the standing stones of Guyun were his spears.
True or not, seeing the spectacle, the legend resurfaced.
Could it be…
With the Geo Archon gone, the thing in the sea was breaking free?
If Morax were still here, people would be uneasy but not despair.
But he was gone…
Who would guard Liyue today?
The Qixing? How could mortals compare to gods?
In an instant, bustling Liyue fell into chaos. The mere stirrings of Osial breaking free terrified everyone.
Even the Adepti and Qixing turned pale.
They hadn't expected such a disaster right after the Archon's "death."
…
Jade Chamber.
"Malice from antiquity… Osial!"
Xiao shot out of the hall to the platform.
Black clouds churned; rain pounded. The cloud-deck pressed so low that the Millelith guarding outside felt faint and could barely stand.
"This aura can't be mistaken… the seal is broken…"
Other Adepti followed, eyes blazing at the tidal fury.
Ancient malice had returned—even they were shaken.
"Even if the Archon is gone, the seal should last a thousand years. How did Osial break free?"
Cloud Retainer, in her crane form, raged.
Before they could settle the Archon's matter, Osial broke free.
"For now, we must set aside our dispute and deal with Osial first."
Moon Carver said solemnly.
"Adepti, how much chance do we have?" Ningguang walked out, Geo forming a canopy to ward the rain.
She stared at the distant turmoil, crimson eyes solemn but unafraid.
Even in this unprecedented trial, she must remain composed.
As Tianquan, she must not panic.
"Less than forty percent," Mountain Shaper said honestly. "But win or lose, we will fight to guard Liyue. This is our contract with the Archon. Even if we fall today, we will not retreat."
The others said nothing—but felt the same.
Even if Morax was gone, their contract remained, lasting through the ages until they too faded.
"Your righteous hearts do you honor," Ningguang said.
She took a deep breath, her resolve unbreakable. "But in this battle, we stand with you. Liyue is not only the Archon's Liyue—it is the people's Liyue. For this land, for the millions of citizens, we the Qixing will never shirk our duty!"
Keqing gripped her sword, amethyst eyes firm. "Right… With this pressure, even the Millelith will struggle. We cannot allow it to reach the harbor and harm the people!"
Though the pressure shook her heart,
Her hands did not tremble.
In peace and prosperity, they were respected as the Qixing. In disaster, they were Liyue's first line—no retreat.
Though the Adepti had issues with the Qixing, they held their tongues now.
Ningguang gestured; her confidants activated the Jade Chamber's mechanisms.
The heavenly palace began to move, heading toward Guyun.
Whatever the outcome, they would fight for Liyue.
…
Meanwhile.
Northland Bank.
La Signora, newly arrived, hadn't even sipped tea before the oppressive force shook her.
From the high balcony, feeling the crushing pressure, her red eyes blazed with fury: "That idiot Childe—good-for-nothing!"
Ekaterina frowned slightly.
Among Snezhnaya's warriors, Childe was far more liked than Signora.
But because of Signora's cold temper, Ekaterina dared not speak.
Otherwise—best case, a beating; worst, death.
"The deal was nearly done, and that fool released an ancient demon!"
She wished to punch Childe.
The Tsaritsa and Morax had struck a deal—once Morax successfully abdicated, he'd hand over the Gnosis.
She'd come to collect it.
Who knew that at such a critical moment, that blockhead used the Sigils of Permission to temporarily unseal Osial.
If the Adepti and Qixing couldn't handle it, Morax would have to reveal himself to save Liyue.
Then their carefully planned abdication would fail.
Morax would keep guarding Liyue; the deal with the Tsaritsa would be void.
Worse—
If Liyue suffered because of Childe, Morax would never spare the Fatui, possibly souring relations with the Tsaritsa.
"It's too late to stop it now…"
Feeling the mounting power, Signora recalled Ken's advice in Mondstadt:
Don't act so arrogantly.
She hadn't thought much then. Now… a demon god suppressed by a god is this strong—how much stronger is an Archon like Barbatos?
Her original plan was to take Barbatos's Gnosis with her own hands.
Looking back—good thing she didn't.
She had underestimated ancient powers!
…
Liyue Harbor docks.
After lunch, Ken and Zhongli returned via the vortex gate.
At the docks, they saw storm-dark skies.
Hurricanes churned the sea; rain poured; though it was noon, the harbor was night-black; the pressure bowed trees.
"Right on time."
Ken looked at the sky and said, "Zhongli, stay here. I'll bring my girl."
Klee had always wanted to try bomb-fishing, but neither Mondstadt nor Blue Star let her go wild.
Now, Liyue would do nicely.
"Mm. That's fine."
Hands behind his back, Zhongli stared at Guyun, eyes deep.
Back then, he suppressed Osial not to let its death taint Liyue.
But times are different.
Regardless of whether the Qixing and Adepti pass the test, Osial cannot remain.
Seafood… he hates it most.
Fortunately, Ken would help.
"Morax…"
Perhaps sensing an old foe's familiar aura, a sullen roar came from the sea; rage suppressed for ages sent the ocean into towering waves.
The force made even the floating Jade Chamber sway.