"Osial, the Overlord of the Vortex, was defeated by the Geo Archon Morax during the Archon War and sealed beneath the ocean by stone spears. What do you think will happen if we unleash an ancient god to attack a Liyue that has lost its god to guard it? Do you think that Rex Lapis, who has made fools of us all, can continue to sit back and watch the show in peace?"
[Paimon: An ancient god! Childe actually wants to release an ancient god! I wonder if the adepti can handle it.]
[Ei: Merely an ancient god.]
[Yae Miko: My dear friend here has slain quite a few such beings herself.]
[Nahida: Ancient gods are merely rather powerful elemental beings. Their strength varies greatly.]
[Cloud Retainer: Ganyu was once swallowed by one. Back then, she was quite... rotund. The being couldn't swallow her and she got stuck in its throat. That's how she subdued it. However, Osial, the Overlord of the Vortex, is a truly powerful ancient deity. I am not confident of victory myself.]
[Ganyu: Master...]
[Furina: A battle against an ancient god, this is a major spectacle! I'm really looking forward to it.]
Paimon was so shocked she could barely speak: "B-but... the Archon War ended over two thousand years ago. In today's world, how can you possibly revive such an ancient being..."
"Of course, I've already prepared the means of awakening." As he spoke, Childe summoned a multitude of Sigils of Permission, which began to revolve slowly around him.
"The one I gave you before was merely a byproduct of our research. With this many Sigils of Permission, combined with the power Her Majesty the Tsaritsa has bestowed upon her Harbingers, temporarily lifting the seal of the stone spears is not an impossible feat."
"Frankly, for me, resorting to such power at this stage is already rather dull and goes against my creed. However, the thought that not only the Geo Archon but also you will be forced to respond to this... is quite amusing."
Outside Liyue Harbor, on the sea, a massive vortex of water surged skyward. Dark clouds gathered for miles, plunging the midday into darkness.
"Hahaha!" Childe's arrogant, hearty laugh rang out. "Watch and see! Will a nation bereft of its god be swallowed once more by ancient malice? But if you wish to drown alongside the people of Liyue, then I wish you a pleasant swim!"
With that, Childe was enveloped in a surge of Hydro energy and vanished from the spot.
Lumine and Paimon also rushed out of the Golden House in pursuit.
[Paimon: Childe's smug face is so punchable!]
[Furina: Exactly, exactly! Give him a good thrashing! Neuvillette, could you defeat Childe?]
[Neuvillette: I am not skilled in combat, but defeating Childe instantly should not pose significant difficulty.]
[Paimon: This... this... I don't even know what to say.]
[Lumine: Neuvillette always answers questions directly and honestly. He's likely not boasting; he probably genuinely possesses the power to defeat Childe instantly.]
[Paimon: A straightforward dragon! Looking at it this way, Childe's strength seems rather weak!]
[Ningguang: The Fatui Harbingers are ranked by strength. Childe holds the last seat.]
[Childe: The words 'last seat' are truly heartbreaking. But I will fight my way up.]
[Paimon: I remember, The Knave is the Fourth Harbinger, meaning her combat power is even higher.]
[Arlecchino: Evidently, Paimon.]
Paimon looked around frantically but couldn't find any trace of Childe: "We lost him!"
In the sky above, the Jade Chamber drifted slowly past.
On the water's surface, a massive serpent with four heads emerged from the depths, its height seemingly connecting sea and sky.
After considerable effort, Lumine and Paimon finally boarded the Jade Chamber.
"Whew, whew." Paimon gasped for breath. "What a tiring journey!"
"If we hadn't seen the Jade Chamber flying in the sky right after leaving the Golden House, we wouldn't even know which way to run now."
"Right now, the Overlord of the Vortex hasn't reached Liyue Harbor yet, has it?"
Xiao: "Why are you here?"
Paimon and Lumine turned to find many adepti standing on the Jade Chamber: "Ah! It's the adepti! Why are you all on the Jade Chamber? We heard you were arguing with the Qixing. Have you finished?"
Ningguang answered: "The esteemed adepti believe that in this time of crisis, adepti and Qixing should temporarily set aside their differences and face the enemy together."
[Paimon: At least at this moment, the Fatui's plan has failed.]
[Ningguang: Indeed. Both adepti and Qixing desire what is best for Liyue's future. The disagreement lies only in the specific methods.]
[Xiao: Regardless of the negotiation's outcome, I will continue to eliminate monsters near Liyue. That will not change.]
Paimon: "I see. So, what's the defense plan now? Just looking at that Overlord of the Vortex from this distance makes it hard to breathe."
Keqing: "Some new recruits in the Millelith can hardly stand straight. The oppressive aura of an ancient god seems very harmful to ordinary people. But precisely because of that, we must not let that monster get near the civilians of Liyue Harbor."
Paimon: "The Overlord of the Vortex is terrifying. Was the Archon War two thousand years ago fought against enemies like this?"
[Furina: Even through the screen, I can feel the ancient, oppressive aura. What a powerful being.]
[Focalors: Hahaha, actually, it's not that bad. Your other half—me—possesses power no less impressive.]
[Furina: I'm that powerful too?]
[Focalors: Of course. After all, we are the God of Justice.]
[Arataki Itto: Hahaha! Something of this level is nothing to fear in Inazuma! The Shogun's single strike would be more than enough! The sight of Musoujin Gorge still gets my blood pumping every time!]
[Paimon: Looking at it that way, this giant god suddenly doesn't seem so scary anymore.]
[Lumine: The Overlord of the Vortex was just another contender who lost the struggle to become one of The Seven.]
"So, with the combined strength of the present Qixing, the Millelith, and the several adepti here, can we defeat that ancient god in the sea?"
Ningguang sighed: "The esteemed adepti have already discussed this. The answer is... not necessarily."
Paimon was shocked: "No way! You are the adepti who protect Liyue! The Qixing who protect Liyue! Can't you think of something?"
Cloud Retainer spoke up: "There is a method. The previous incident with the Guizhong Ballista gave the Qixing the idea to research it. And now, its original creator—this one—happens to be present. What could you mortals possibly comprehend of adeptal machinery? But with but a few improvements from this one to these antiquated ballistae, their evolution will be beyond your mortal imagination."
[Paimon: Keqing said the adepti were arrogant. She really wasn't exaggerating at all.]
[Ningguang: Keqing never speaks idly.]
[Keqing: Hmph! Land tenure, commerce, finance... what do the adepti know of these?]
[Cloud Retainer: Mere novelties conjured by humans. This one could comprehend them in an instant.]
[Keqing: We too can manufacture machinery of immense power.]
[Paimon: They're arguing again.]
[Lumine: One who shows little reverence for adepti, another proud and aloof. It's normal for them to clash, isn't it?]
Ningguang: "This can also be considered a kind of adeptal providence. This way, we can utilize the new Guizhong Ballistae to oppose the ancient god. All the esteemed adepti present will also be able to channel their power into them."
As she spoke, Ningguang formed a seal with one hand: "There's no time to lose. The decisive battle is now! Begin!"
As the seal took effect, patterns lit up across the Jade Chamber, constructing a platform in the space before it. One after another, Guizhong Ballistae rose from the platform, launching a furious assault upon the Overlord of the Vortex.
---
On the Platform
A spatial vortex swirled to life, and a squad of Fatui emerged from within.
Keqing and Lumine led the charge, swords in hand, rushing forward.
[Paimon: The Fatui are just too despicable! Even at a time like this, they come to cause trouble!]
[Childe: Merely adding a touch of excitement.]
[Paimon: Looking at The Knave now, she seems more and more impressive. Childe seems less and less so.]
[Childe: Little Paimon, I'm quite handsome, you know?]
[Paimon: Your heart is black!]
[Furina: The sea is churning violently! Will Liyue be submerged?]
[Ningguang: If we fail, the disaster facing Liyue Harbor will be far greater than mere flooding.]
[Zhongli: Should that happen, I would naturally intervene.]
The various adepti also infused their power into Lumine and Keqing, augmenting their combat prowess.
After a significant struggle, they finally eliminated all the Fatui.
An adeptus's voice resonated: "The interference has been eliminated. Focus your minds... you may now exert your full power..."
The adepti channeled their power ceaselessly into the Guizhong Ballistae, coalescing it into a massive beam of light dozens of meters in diameter that shot forth.
Osial took the hit head-on, letting out a roar of pain. It then retaliated with a blast of its own energy, destroying the ballista platform.
Cloud Retainer: "The Guizhong Ballistae are destroyed. Without their suppressive fire, mounting a counterattack will be difficult."
Ganyu said with concern: "But the Jade Chamber is our final line of defense. No matter what, we cannot retreat a single step further."
[Paimon: What can be done now? Even the combined power of the adepti channeled through the ballistae couldn't harm it. What other method is there to defeat this ancient god?]
[Arataki Itto: Compared to the sea god, the adepti of Liyue seem like tiny specks.]
[Xiao: Such disrespect for the adepti!]
[Cloud Retainer: Such disrespect for the adepti!]
Ningguang retracted the formation, returning to the main deck of the Jade Chamber: "I have one final method."
Ganyu: "Lady Ningguang, you mean...?"
Ningguang looked up at the sky, her gaze growing resolute: "I will sacrifice the Jade Chamber."
The Jade Chamber then began to drift slowly towards the airspace above the Overlord of the Vortex.
Xiao donned his mask: "I understand."
Ningguang also looked at Lumine: "Traveler, I need your assistance."
"Farewell, my old friend. This parting is so we may have the chance to meet again in the future."
The power of the adepti and the Qixing converged upon Lumine. Finally, Lumine, bearing this immense energy, drove her sword into the deck. The Jade Chamber instantly lost its ability to float and began to plummet with ever-increasing speed, crashing down squarely upon the Overlord of the Vortex.
A cataclysmic explosion followed, and then... peace returned.
[Paimon: The Jade Chamber... it's destroyed...]
[Furina: What a terrifying explosion! An explosion like that could shatter mountains.]
[Paimon: I remember... this was the most important thing to Ningguang, her spiritual pillar since childhood.]
[Lumine: It seems now that the Jade Chamber was not the most important thing in Ningguang's heart. The people of Liyue Harbor are.]
[Ningguang: I don't know why, but seeing this... my heart aches.]
[Lumine: It was the work of so many years, after all. Your old friend.]
[Dori: Such a huge Jade Chamber, so many antiques and treasures... that must have cost so many Mora!]
---
Liyue Harbor
The group returned to the harbor. The dark clouds had dispersed, and the sea was calm once more.
Paimon asked curiously: "So... is it finally over?"
Moon Carver: "That exceedingly fierce and ominous aura has indeed faded. The effect of the Sigils of Permission was never permanent. Now, suppressed once more beneath Guyun Stone Forest by the Jade Chamber, even the Overlord of the Vortex should be unable to stir up trouble again."
Ningguang stepped forward: "Thank you for your invaluable assistance, esteemed adepti. Had you not coincidentally been here, the future of Liyue Harbor would have been difficult to predict."
Cloud Retainer replied bluntly: "Hmph, there's no need for opportunistic flattery. Moreover, our presence here was no coincidence. Do you intend to pretend you've already forgotten our purpose for coming?"
[Paimon: I really didn't expect them to be at odds again so soon.]
[Keqing: On matters concerning Liyue Harbor's governance, we will absolutely not yield.]
[Paimon: And for the sake of their pride, the adepti surely won't yield either, right?]
Madame Ping stepped in to mediate: "Cloud Retainer, there's no need for such immediate confrontation. I have heard that when Lady Ningguang first began learning business, she started using her very limited income to fund the Jade Chamber project. Initially, it was only the size of a small room. Now, it had become a palace of such scale... It was the pillar of her life as a merchant, as a member of the Qixing, and as an individual."
"The Jade Chamber was destroyed for Liyue's sake. This holds immense significance for her. I believe such cooperation and sacrifice deserve at least a word of acknowledgement."
Ningguang: "No. It would be more accurate to say it can at least serve as a bargaining chip in negotiations. That would be more in line with my intentions."
"Thank you, esteemed adeptus, for speaking on my behalf. In truth, we are all well aware of the purpose of the adepti's visit today. But you must also forgive us for being unable to concede."
Moon Carver turned to look at Ningguang: "Oh?"