"What is that?"
"Wasn't it just a clear sky? Why did it suddenly get so dark?"
"Maybe a storm is coming!"
The fishermen chatted idly. Without Visions, they were completely unable to sense the rapidly condensing Hydro element in the air.
At this moment, the Millelith appeared. They announced to all the fishermen and captains, "Everyone, retreat back inside Liyue Harbor! No one is allowed to go out to sea!"
"It's the Millelith! Let's go, back to shore!"
The current citizens of Liyue had unconditional trust in the Millelith. Since they were told not to go out to sea, something major must be happening.
Subsequently, the Black Blade units all arrived to guard the perimeter of Liyue Harbor.
A woman in a tight-fitting blue outfit looked at the turbulent sea, her expression grave. "This is bad. Something big is happening. What's the status of the Jade Chamber?"
"Reporting to Lady Yelan! The message has been sent. We should have a response soon!"
"Mm. Tell the Black Blade units, no matter what happens, they must protect Liyue. This is a dead order. Even if we have to sacrifice ourselves, we cannot let Liyue Harbor fall!"
"M-my lady, is the situation that serious?" The leader of the Black Blade unit was shocked. He never thought the situation would be this terrifying.
Yelan looked at the dark sea surface and said in a low voice, "The most dangerous situation has occurred. An Archon has appeared, for some unknown reason."
Hearing the word "Archon," even the Black Blade unit, which had experienced the Stormterror incident, couldn't help but draw in a cold breath.
An Archon!
An existence like that had actually broken free from Rex Lapis's restraints. Could they really handle this?
On the Jade Chamber, Ganyu, Shenhe, Keqing, and Mona had all gathered on the platform. Looking at the emerging thunder in the distance, which had already turned the world pitch black, they all felt their scalps tingle.
"So this is the pressure of an Archon? Heh… even from this far away, I can still feel the pressure being transmitted from beneath the deep sea," GANYU said. Her Observation Haki was the strongest among them, so she could feel it even more clearly. She could sense what a terrifying existence was breaking free from its restraints beneath the sea.
Shenhe nodded, tightening her grip on her Calamity Queller. "No wonder Su Han said the Archon War was incomparably brutal. If this power wanted to destroy Liyue Harbor, it would probably be very simple."
"It is precisely because of this that we have been training so hard," Keqing said. "Although I don't know why an Archon has appeared, the us of today already possess the power to resist."
At this moment, Ningguang walked out from inside the Jade Chamber. She looked at Ganyu and asked, "Has Su Han been informed?"
"Mm. He has received the message and is returning at full speed."
Ningguang nodded. "It seems the enemy timed his departure to choose this moment to release the Archon."
"What? Lady Ningguang, you're saying the Archon was released by someone on purpose?"
"That's right. Not long ago, Ganyu mentioned that monsters had appeared near Liyue. Recently, the frequency of their appearances has increased. I knew then that there was something fishy. I just didn't expect that the enemy's methods would be able to loosen an Archon's seal!" Her eyes were filled with hatred.
At the same time, she understood even more why Su Han was always trying to strengthen Liyue. Because if they were not strong enough, the enemy would always be staring at them. After this battle was over, Ningguang felt that she had to purge all the Fatui from Liyue's borders! She could not give them a single chance.
A few minutes earlier, in Mondstadt City, Su Han, who had been planning to stay a little longer, had an incredibly grim expression the moment he received the news. He had been planning to linger in Jean's room for a while, then take her for a ride and teach her Haki. Who would have thought that Liyue's Vortex Archon would be released?
"Damn it all!" Su Han couldn't help but curse.
The nearby Jean, seeing his expression, couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"
"The Fatui Harbingers have released the Vortex Archon in Liyue. I have to go back."
"Then… do you need my help?"
"No. This is a battle of a level you can't interfere in."
He was suddenly embraced from behind. Jean pressed her cheek against his back. "Then you must be careful. I will wait for you to return."
"Mm." Su Han gave her a small smile, then commanded his Tessusaiga, flying towards Liyue at full speed. He swore that if he encountered the Fatui, he would definitely kill them. How dare they release an Archon? They truly had a death wish!
Within Liyue's borders, the reawakening of the Vortex Archon attracted the attention of countless individuals.
In Jueyun Karst, the three adepti simultaneously looked in the direction of Liyue Harbor.
"Not good! Someone has released the Vortex Archon!"
"Old friends, let's go!"
"Mm, we are ready!"
The other two adepti had naturally also sensed the endless convergence of Hydro elemental power and were rushing towards Liyue. And at that moment, from the Wangshu Inn, a jade-green light transformed into a meteor, shooting towards the Liyue coast.
On Yujing Terrace, Madame Ping looked at the commotion in the distant sea and asked the person beside her, "This time, you're not planning to intervene either?"
"That's right. Since they have experienced Stormterror, this Vortex Archon is, naturally, another test. He is no longer the Osial of his peak, but has just come out to get some air because his seal has loosened. I believe Su Han and the others can resolve it," Zhongli said, sitting elegantly and sipping his tea, not the least bit concerned about Osial's appearance. So what if he was at his peak? He was just a defeated general.
On the contrary, he was rather looking forward to it. In the face of such a monster, how would Su Han and the others perform?
When the three adepti arrived, they all received Zhongli's voice. They could assist Liyue, but they could not truly intervene. This included Xiao!
Moon Carver frowned. "Lord Emperor, why do you not let us act? Those mortals are no match for such a terrifying existence!"
"I believe there is a deeper consideration at play," Cloud Retainer said. For some reason, she thought of her "disciple-in-law," that magical little fellow. Would he have a way to deal with the Vortex Archon?
At this time, the Jade Chamber had already flown over the sea. The members of the group had all gathered here.
It was Hu Tao's first time facing an Archon, and she felt it was hard to even breathe. She looked at the churning sea and smiled. "Good grief, I didn't know our Liyue had this kind of thing. It seems I can finally show my skills."
"Don't worry, we still have defensive capabilities! And the Guizhong Ballista was repaired in advance at Su Han's request. If that doesn't work, I still have a backup plan. I just don't know how much of its original strength this Vortex Archon still has," Ningguang said.
Just as she spoke, the rain began to pour. The entire Liyue Harbor was inundated. The sky was dark, and the rain swept in. All of Liyue was without light.
The people looked helplessly at the sea. In fact, they could already guess: the calamity this time was likely from an Archon. In that case, when would Rex Lapis appear? With him here, this Archon shouldn't be a problem, right?
On a certain mountain peak in Liyue Harbor, Tartaglia was pouring all of his power into the Talisman of No Taboos.
"Rage! Roar! Show your terrifying side as an Archon! Let Liyue be completely drowned!"
As his power was poured in, the turbulent sea suddenly began to churn. A giant monster appeared in the world. It had several heads, and the wind became even more violent.
"ROAR!"
With that deafening roar, the Vortex Archon, Osial, appeared before everyone's eyes.
"Morax! The rage I have endured for countless eons of suppression will now be borne by your city!"
The terrifying voice echoed throughout Liyue Harbor. The people's faces turned white. This voice was clearly that of an Archon. The only one who could call Rex Lapis by his true name was another Archon.
Inside the workshop, Xiangling held her polearm, guarding all of Su Han's belongings. She knew she didn't have the strength to stand on the Jade Chamber and fight, but protecting Su Han's property was the only thing she could do.
But what made her puzzled was that Guoba, who was usually so boisterous, was now staring blankly at the sea. His gaze was no longer dull, but had a hint of gravity to it.
"Don't worry, Guoba. Brother Su Han will come back. I believe we can defeat this Archon."
Guoba did not reply, his gaze still fixed on the beast that was rampaging in the sea. It was as if some memories had been triggered. Once, it seemed, he had also fought this kind of thing, but he couldn't quite remember clearly.
But his ears were filled with the cries of the people of Liyue. Is there really nothing I can do?
A trace of unwillingness flashed in his eyes. Then, while Xiangling wasn't paying attention, he began to walk towards the sea.
The waves churned. As the Vortex Archon approached, the storm grew even more violent.
Ningguang watched the waves continuously crash against the buildings, and the rising tide, and finally gave the order to attack.
"We cannot let this big guy reach the shore! Otherwise, Liyue Harbor will be destroyed by this tsunami!"
"Then let me go first," Ganyu said with a smile to the others, unleashing her Qilin form. Then, she leaped and flew directly into the sky.
Since Su Han doesn't mind my appearance, then what else do I have to care about? I must buy time for him. In the time it takes for him to return to Liyue, I absolutely cannot let anything happen here. This time, it's my turn to protect Liyue.
In the sky, a silver light attracted everyone's attention, because Ganyu was actually displaying her true form. A giant Qilin bloomed with a misty light.
"I will not let you destroy everything I love!" the Qilin roared, and a terrifying power of frost froze the entire coastline of Liyue Harbor!
The churning, giant waves were finally stopped!