Rumble—
Dark clouds swelled. Thunder rolled. Torrential rain poured down, carrying the wrath of a primordial demon god, warping heaven and earth.
Several waterspouts rose over the sea, pillars linking sky and ocean.
Beneath the surface, a massive creature swam toward Liyue Harbor, bearing ancient malice.
Amid the storm, countless serpentine, water-blue forms surfaced, seemingly made of Hydro itself, coiling around the Jade Chamber.
"So this is Osial?" Ningguang furrowed her brows. The oppressive pressure alone made it hard to breathe.
In the Archon War two millennia ago, this was the kind of monster humanity faced? Just imagining it made her scalp numb.
Even the immortals present wore solemn expressions.
Such power could not be overcome by mortals alone.
"Old man, you worried I'll flood Liyue Harbor?"
On Mt. Tianheng stood Venti, Zhongli, and Guizhong.
Guizhong, having reclaimed her authority from her old remains, did not possess her full former strength, but still stood at demon-god level.
"The Qixing already evacuated the people. As long as Liyue's folk remain, spring will return," Zhongli said slowly.
"Drunkard, your Knights of Favonius' expedition captain, Varka—he should be at demon-god level too, right?"
"More or less. Lord Varka is indeed strong," Venti admitted.
Meanwhile, atop the Jade Chamber, the immortals poured their power into Guizhong's great mechanism, hurling it against Osial. Only adeptal force could make the construct show its full might.
"Wait—what's that?"
Just as they thought they were gaining ground, Osial began to gather a crushing tide of Hydro.
"Not good. The Vortex God is launching an attack!"
Madame Ping frowned. Guizhong's machine had limits. It alone could not slay a demon god.
Boom, boom, boom—
Meteoric torrents of Hydro fell from the sky, smashing the construct to pieces, the glowing blue arrays shattering to dust.
"Wind…"
Koji spread his arms. Blessing of Elements activated. An endless surge of Anemo swept through heaven and earth. Millelith soldiers, about to plunge into the sea, were all borne safely onto the Jade Chamber.
"…Who's the Anemo Archon again?" Venti's mouth twitched. Koji's control of wind bordered on absurd.
"Ningguang, should we step in?" Koji asked.
"No. I have one last plan—abandon the Jade Chamber." Ningguang's tone was firm. She would part with her longtime companion, but it was time to let the Vortex God see the strength of humanity.
"Such resolve. I see you differently now, Tianquan Star," the immortals said, nodding in recognition of her decision.
"Farewell, my old friend."
Ningguang guided the Jade Chamber above Osial. With combined power, they broke its levitation systems.
The enormous palace plummeted. Humanity's ultimate weapon, forged without reliance on the adepti, struck with apocalyptic might.
Boom!
Like a nuclear detonation, a massive mushroom cloud surged skyward, its energy smashing into Osial.
The Jade Chamber was built from the finest materials, powered by immense cores. Its explosion equaled a demon god's blow.
"The baleful aura hasn't dispersed."
Moon Carver spoke gravely. Osial still lived.
"The Vortex God is enraged," Cloud Retainer felt it too.
The strike had hurt him, but not crippled him.
"Yare yare…"
Koji stepped forward. When Zhongli released Osial, it was clearly different than when Tartaglia did.
Buzz—
The air grew suffocating. Koji's hand grasped Divine Sword: Dawn's hilt and slowly drew it free.
As the blade emerged, even the air stilled. The storm-tossed sea went calm as glass.
Madame Ping gasped. The faint sword-qi alone could rend the heavens.
Divine Sword: Dawn unsheathed. Its blazing radiance outshone the sun. In that instant, elemental power ceased its flow. Space itself warped, narrow cracks splitting open.
Ningguang and the others felt it—the elements no longer answered them. It was as if all bowed to the sword in Koji's hand.
"We underestimated that blade," Zhongli admitted in awe.
Just the act of unsheathing warped the world's framework. The seven elements bent willingly, eagerly, to its call.
Even Zhongli felt an extreme threat. No blessing of his could block that edge.
At this moment, it transcended the world's limits.
Across Teyvat, the gazes of countless mighty beings turned toward Liyue.
Even certain existences in Celestia stirred, though none yet moved.
"Hm?"
Beyond Teyvat, others noticed as well. A power worth investigating.
Shu—
Koji swung lightly. A streak of sword light tore forth, no elemental reaction, only pure sharpness.
The ocean split, parting to reveal the seabed. Osial was hewn cleanly in two. Not even residue remained. The demon god was annihilated.
Clang.
The sword slid back into its sheath. Koji's face was calm, unhurried—like an invincible Sword Saint.
The Divine Sword's might surpassed even his imagination. And this cut had not unleashed its full power. If it had, Teyvat itself might have been cleaved in half.
"Hiss—"
Lumine and the others all sucked in cold breaths. One sword, and the Vortex God Osial was gone. Overpowered beyond reason.
"This is too broken," someone muttered.
"Koji, are you cheating?" Lumine asked, her tone complicated. Same Traveler, yet the gap was monstrous.
"If I didn't cheat, how could it be called cheating?" Koji replied with a straight face.
Truth was, after taking the Jade Chamber's nuke to the face, Osial had been near death. Koji had just executed the last hit.
"Be honest. Did you use your full power?"
"No."
Koji shook his head. With his blessings, he was immortal. Unmatched in combat. Even if slain, he'd revive. What could anyone do about that?
"Thank you. Payment will be delivered," Ningguang stepped forward.
"Glad to hear it," Koji replied casually.
(End of Chapter)
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