To be honest, Beidou picking a fight made perfect sense.
A few days prior, she had already spotted a Fatui ship passing through this area. It was fast, lightly loaded, and clearly not a merchant vessel—so she let it go, merely sending the information to Ningguang. After analyzing the situation, Ningguang concluded that the ship was an advance scout, and a cargo fleet would likely follow. So Beidou waited here at Guyun Stone Forest, lying in ambush.
Though Liyue and Snezhnaya had signed a diplomatic agreement, everyone who understood geopolitics knew better—no two nations were ever truly on the same side. A figure like Beidou, who operated outside the official system, was the perfect choice for throwing a wrench in Fatui plans without making it a state affair. This wasn't her first time doing it, either. Fatui ships she'd intercepted before had tried to resist, only to be sunk to the bottom of the ocean, joining the slumbering remains of Osial.
But today, she'd run into something she hadn't expected.
With practiced instinct, she leapt backward out of Saphir's range, her expression turning grim.
She suddenly remembered a report Ningguang had given her just days ago:
"Twelfth Harbinger of the Fatui, codename: Dark Shepherd. Female. Background: unknown. Actions: unknown. Combat style: unknown. Aside from her name, we know nothing."
Ningguang had rubbed her temples in frustration as she said it.
"I've been tracking the Fatui's movements, but this woman showed up out of nowhere. Becoming a Harbinger isn't something ordinary people do. Take Pantalone, for example—the Northern Bank took over half of Liyue's financial sector, toppling several local merchants in the process. Every Harbinger has hidden fangs. And now there's another one we know nothing about. Truly troublesome."
Beidou narrowed her eyes at the calm, smiling girl in front of her.
"Your name—is it Saphir? Afurola?" she asked, solemnly.
Saphir raised her eyebrows in mild surprise. "Didn't expect your intelligence network to be so up-to-date. Let me guess—Ningguang told you? Seems I should pay her a visit soon. Reckless, sending you to face me like this. Good thing it's me you met. If it were one of the others, you'd be dead already."
That confident tone—and the fact she accurately guessed Ningguang's involvement—sent a chill down Beidou's spine. Clearly, this girl had done her homework.
And Beidou understood—if she didn't fight with everything she had, she might not even make it back alive.
"Lightning strike from the southern seas—Haishan's end!"
Electric energy surged over Beidou's body as her Vision flared. The Blackcliff greatsword crackled with blinding lightning.
She had to break through. At the very least, she had to ensure her crew could escape—if she couldn't return, they had to deliver the intel to Ningguang.
Saphir calmly watched the elemental burst unfold. As an outsider to this world, she had never received a Vision of the traditional seven elements. Instead, she possessed two mysterious gems—one of light, one of darkness. Neither aligned with any of the Seven Nations or the Fatui. Her abilities didn't follow the rules of elemental skills or bursts, but instead manifested as divine abilities and awakened arts—diverse, powerful, and rarely shown in public. These were the foundation of her strength—and why she could become a Harbinger.
"Everyone, stand back. I'll handle this alone," she ordered her subordinates, without taking her eyes off Beidou.
Beidou didn't hesitate either.
"Chongzo! Get everyone out of here. If I don't make it, tell Ningguang everything!"
"Captain!" Chongzo wanted to object, but she cut him off.
"I said go! Don't get in my way!"
Under Chongzo's command, the Crux Fleet began retreating. Some Fatui soldiers stirred, considering pursuit, but Saphir gave a subtle shake of the head—let them go.
She had no intention of wiping out the Crux. That would only provoke a larger conflict once she reached Liyue Harbor. If the Southern Cross was destroyed here, the Millelith would be waiting for her with blades drawn before she ever stepped onto the pier. And as for silencing witnesses? Please—Ningguang wasn't a fool. No way something like this could stay hidden.
"Heh… so touching, Captain Beidou. Already composing your own epitaph?" Saphir mocked lightly, as a soft golden glow radiated from the pendant at her waist.
Beidou said nothing. She charged forward, her claymore cutting through the air like a thunderclap.
"Tidal Cleave!"
Her blade slammed into Saphir's Holy Light's Ward once more. But this time, lightning serpents sparked violently, coiling through the divine barrier and striking Saphir's body.
Saphir had just opened her mouth to compliment the move when Beidou struck again—and again. Blow after blow crashed into her radiant shield, thunder writhing around her.
Most would have been paralyzed under that sustained assault—but Saphir remained steady.
Just as the barrier was about to shatter, she lifted her hand.
In her grip appeared a long golden weapon. At first glance, it resembled a normal spear—except the tip was not a blade, but a radiant cross of unknown material. It lacked an edge, and didn't appear designed to kill. Yet in Saphir's hands, it radiated an undeniable pressure.
She lifted the cross-shaped weapon easily, blocking Beidou's overhead swing. Then, with a sudden pull of her right arm, Beidou stumbled forward—off-balance.
Saphir's counterattack was swift and brutal. With a reverse swing, she slammed the cross against Beidou's chest, sending her crashing to the deck. Her greatsword flew from her hands, skidding across the planks.
Before Beidou could rise—
A spear made of pure light formed in Saphir's hand, and in a blink—
Impaled.
Straight through the chest, pinning her to the ship's deck.
—
[Spear of Victory]
Throws a spear formed from divine light that pierces and binds the enemy. After a delay, the spear detonates, dealing additional damage. Charged throws extend the duration of the bind.
—
Onboard the Death Omen Star, the lookout Xu Liushi had been watching the battle from afar. When he saw Beidou skewered to the deck, his face went deathly pale.
Then he collapsed to his knees and began to sob uncontrollably.
"What happened?! What's going on?"
Below the crow's nest, Huixing and the others grew more anxious by the second.
Xu Liushi choked out the words, voice trembling.
"T-the Captain… she's… she's dead. That Fatui woman—she killed the Captain…"
"What?"
The news hit Huixing like a tidal wave. She crumpled to the deck, disbelief etched across her face.
Their invincible captain—the Dragon King of the Southern Sea—defeated just like that?
The rest of the crew erupted in fury, shouting to turn back and avenge their fallen leader. Chongzo stood frozen, mind blank with shock.
And then, unexpectedly, it was Qianyan'er—their accountant—who stepped forward.
She stood in front of everyone, voice low but unwavering.
"What are you doing? Did you all forget what the Captain told us?"
"But that woman killed her!" cried a sailor—Hailong, the helmsman.
Without a word, Qianyan'er slapped him across the face.
"And what then? You want to drag the rest of us into a suicide mission? The Captain's gone—but the Crux Fleet hasn't disbanded. The Death Omen Star is still afloat. As long as that's true, I'm still your accountant. And I'm telling you—back to your posts. We're returning to Liyue Harbor. We bring this news to Lady Ningguang. That's an order."
Hailong, eyes red, stammered, "But… but I can't accept this! The Captain gave her life so we could run like rats—I can't—!"
"I can't either!" Qianyan'er snapped. "But that's exactly why none of you are dying here. You want to make her sacrifice meaningless? You want to spit on the life she gave up for you?
We will go back. We'll report every detail to Ningguang. Let her bring justice for Beidou. That's the only way we can make this right."
Her voice cracked at the edges, barely holding back tears—but her will was unshakable.
The Southern Cross Fleet would not die here.
They would return home.
With Beidou's legacy in hand.