"Wooo—!!!"
The resounding blare of horns echoed across the parade grounds. Immediately after, a stirring, hot-blooded symphonic piece imbued with Liyue's unique style rang out across the entire area
(Azhdaha Weekly Boss background music, instrumental version).
As the music rose, the earth itself began to tremble violently.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
From the distance came the steady thunder of synchronized footsteps. Soon after, ranks upon ranks of soldiers clad in gold-and-silver battle armor advanced slowly along the passageway before the reviewing platform, their formations precise and their steps perfectly unified.
The Liyue Millelith spears in their hands gleamed with a sharp, icy light, killing intent coalesced in their eyes.
These soldiers were all elite veterans forged through countless campaigns of monster suppression!
The sky-piercing aura of slaughter alone was enough to make the gods seated on the platform instinctively sit up straighter.
"So this is… Liyue's pride, the Millelith Army~!"
Raiden Makoto murmured softly.
She had once believed that the naval soldiers Jiang Yan had brought with him to Inazuma already represented the elite of his nation.
But after seeing the Millelith Army—and sensing the terrifying presence emanating from them—she realized one thing clearly.
She had been completely wrong.
The troops Liyue sent abroad when visiting the six nations were merely ordinary soldiers. Their true elite force had never even been revealed.
Even the Pyro Archon, a god who revered war, couldn't help but click her tongue at the sight of the Millelith.
Back then, Jiang Yan had led just five thousand ordinary Millelith soldiers and routed Natlan's elite forces, sending them fleeing in panic.
If it were these elite troops in front of them instead… the Pyro Archon didn't dare imagine what that battlefield would look like.
The other gods were likewise filled with astonishment at the overwhelming military power of Liyue.
"The units advancing before us are five formations of Liyue's Millelith Army!"
"They represent Liyue's five major military districts: the Guili Millelith, Qingce Millelith, Tianheng Millelith, Minlin Millelith, and Lisha Millelith!"
"They safeguard the peace of Liyue's lands, defend the stability of our borders, and lay a solid foundation for the peaceful and happy lives of Liyue's people!"
Jiang Yan continued his introduction. At that moment, the leading officer at the front of the formation suddenly shouted:
"All units!"
"Forty-five degrees—turn heads left!"
The formation responded with absolute uniformity. Like machines receiving a command, every Millelith soldier turned their head sharply toward the reviewing platform—yet their marching pace never faltered.
"The Five Millelith Armies—salute the Geo Archon and the Immortal Lord!"
"As solid as a thousand rocks, an unshifting bulwark!"
With the commander's shout, all Millelith soldiers raised their spears to their chests and roared in unison:
"As solid as a thousand rocks, an unshifting bulwark!"
"As solid as a thousand rocks, an unshifting bulwark!"
Wave after wave of shouts surged forth like thunder from the nine heavens, shaking the clouds apart!
Countless citizens nearby wore expressions of deep pride.
Look—this is our Liyue's army!
With such an elite force standing guard, how could our nation ever fall into chaos?!
Jiang Yan raised his hand high above his head, returning the salute to the Millelith soldiers.
As the Millelith formations passed the platform, a series of long cries echoed across the sea, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
Upon the gently rippling surface of the ocean, a warship burst forth first, cleaving through the calm waters and charging straight ahead.
Close behind it, countless ships of the same size emerged one after another, forming a triangular formation as they advanced.
Dense and numerous, they resembled a pack of wolves prowling across the sea—vast in scale, overwhelming in presence.
Then, a deep and resonant horn sounded once more.
Behind the fleet, an enormous warship suddenly appeared.
This massive vessel was more than three times larger than the surrounding ships. On its deck stood rows of soldiers clad in blue-gold armor.
Immediately afterward, countless other ships emerged, tightly encircling the giant vessel at the center.
They were none other than one of Liyue's three great fleets—the Tianheng Fleet!
"What you see before you now is one of Liyue's three great fleets—the Tianheng Fleet!"
"They defend the peace of Liyue's maritime borders and safeguard our people as they travel the seas!"
"Their protection is the strongest guarantee of our maritime trade!"
Jiang Yan's voice rang out loudly, and the surrounding citizens erupted into excited cheers.
On the flagship Tianheng, the fleet commander stood tall, facing the reviewing platform, and shouted at the top of his lungs:
"Tianheng Fleet—salute the Geo Archon and the Immortal Lord!"
"May Liyue endure for ten thousand generations!"
At the same moment, across ships large and small alike, nearly every soldier placed their right hand over their chest and shouted in unison:
"May Liyue endure for ten thousand generations!"
After the soldiers finished shouting, the commander turned around and issued a hand signal.
"All units of the Tianheng Fleet!"
"Fire a salute!"
"Fire—!!!"
Signal flags were raised aboard the Tianheng. Almost instantly, Guizhong ship-mounted cannons and energy-focusing artillery across the fleet began to glow.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!!!"
With thunderous explosions, countless beams of light shot forth from the warships like a meteor shower, crashing into the distant sea and triggering massive explosions.
The awe-inspiring sight of a full fleet volley made every citizen present shudder.
Some children were so frightened they covered their ears, tears glistening in their eyes.
Aside from Inazuma, Mondstadt, and Sumeru—nations that had already witnessed Liyue's naval might—the attendants of Snezhnaya, Natlan, and Fontaine all changed expression.
This level of bombardment was terrifying enough to annihilate an entire region in any nation.
Unless a god intervened personally, even divine attendants like them could not guarantee they wouldn't be gravely injured.
After the navy passed by, waves of thunderous sounds echoed once more from the distance.
"According to what Jiang Yan said, this is a grand parade of land, sea, and air…"
The Hydro Archon of Fontaine murmured.
"The army and navy have already appeared,"
the Cryo Archon of Snezhnaya said gravely.
"Which means what comes next… must be the air force."
"Has Liyue truly conquered the skies?"
The Pyro Archon of Natlan narrowed her eyes, waiting for Liyue's aerial forces to make their entrance.
The wait wasn't long.
As the navy withdrew, the moment for the air force to appear finally arrived!
Not only the gods, but even the common people were eagerly anticipating it.
Because ever since the air force was established, it had never once shown itself in public!
They were all curious—how exactly was combat supposed to be conducted in the skies?
And now, the answer was about to be revealed.
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