The sudden traps caught them completely off guard, and in the very first wave, dozens of the gods' followers were already destroyed.
"Stay alert! They're skilled in mechanisms!" the god leading the charge barked.
After his warning, the followers behind him grew more cautious, and far fewer were taken down by the traps.
However, the mechanisms Cloud Retainer had spent centuries perfecting were not so easily overcome. While they might not kill outright, they severely hindered movement. For now, the enemy forces were ensnared within the trap system.
"Relying on mechanisms alone won't be enough. I don't know when the Emperor and Azhdaha will return. If this drags on too long, the traps will eventually be broken," Moon Carver muttered with a deep frown.
Though the enemy was still far from Tianheng Mountain, gods were not to be underestimated. It was only a matter of time before they broke through.
"We must strike! Kill them all before they get close to Tianheng Mountain!"
"This time, the gods' followers are countless. We must proceed with extreme caution."
The Adepti, joined by Ganyu, flew toward the trapped horde of monsters.
Soon, explosions thundered, the earth quaked, smoke rose in heavy clouds, and deafening roars split the air.
High above, the Adepti clashed fiercely with the invaders. Even bolstered by mechanisms, the enemy had come well prepared, and they were not so easily subdued.
After all, they had spent half a year preparing for this assault on Liyue. They wouldn't have come empty-handed.
The fierce battle quickly drew the attention of Liyue's people. Many watched in terror, their faces pale, while others clenched their fists, restless and desperate to fight alongside the Adepti.
The war raged for seven days and nights, leaving the Adepti utterly drained.
Still, no word came from the Emperor or Azhdaha—only the constant rumble of explosions echoing in the distance. The fighting there must have been just as fierce.
"Die!"
At that moment, a massive one-eyed troll unleashed a staggering leap, hurling itself from the ground into the skies above.
Adeptus Skyward Guide's pupils shrank in shock.
The Adepti's eyes widened as well, but before they could react, the troll's colossal fist smashed down.
BOOM!!!!!!
Adeptus Skyward Guide was blasted away like a cannonball, crashing into the side of Tianheng Mountain with explosive force. A massive crater yawned open where he struck, shaking the mountain to its core.
BOOM!!!
In that brief moment of distraction, the gods' followers seized the opportunity, blasting the Adepti from their positions.
Adeptus Mountain Shaper and Adeptus Moon Carver were both sent hurtling down into Liyue itself.
"Attack!!! Take Liyue, and victory will be ours!!"
With the Adepti overwhelmed, the enemy broke through the mechanisms with unstoppable might and launched their full-scale assault on Liyue.
"The Adepti... they've been defeated!?"
"Where is the Emperor? Where is he!? The monsters are already here!"
"It's over... It's all over!"
Moon Carver coughed blood, struggling weakly to his feet.
"This is bad..." In his condition, he couldn't even protect himself, let alone fight the gods' followers.
"We've failed His Majesty's expectations..." Mountain Shaper groaned, forcing himself upright, his body swaying like an old man at death's door.
Staring at the countless enemies closing in on Liyue, despair crushed their hearts.
But in the next instant, a masked man in black appeared before them.
In his left hand, he carried the battered Adeptus Skyward Guide. In his right, he held the gravely wounded Cloud Retainer. Slung across his shoulder was the unconscious Ganyu.
He gently laid them all down, then infused them with a portion of his divine power.
Without a single word, he vanished.
From appearance to departure, the entire scene lasted no more than two seconds—so brief that the people of Liyue thought their eyes had deceived them.
The Adepti, however, recognized the divine power of Elliot. They understood his intent at once. Their wounds knit rapidly, their strength returned, and even the unconscious Ganyu stirred awake.
"Ganyu, lead them out of Liyue toward Guili Plains! Quickly!" Cloud Retainer immediately commanded.
The enemy was already pressing in. If the battle erupted here, the casualties among Liyue's people would be catastrophic.
Ganyu nodded firmly and transformed into a massive qilin.
"Everyone, climb onto my back! I'll carry you out of here!"
In this form, she was vast enough to carry many people at once.
It was their only chance. On foot, no human could flee the city fast enough to escape the coming battle.
"Hurry!!! Everyone, leave now! Do not stay—war is about to erupt!!"
The Adepti took to the skies, spreading the warning across the land.
Soon, the people of Liyue rushed toward Ganyu, clinging to her fur as they scrambled up onto her back. Parents placed their children down first before leaping back to the ground again.
...