"One hit can do this much?"
"This guy is really unbelievably strong."
Seele glared fiercely at Cocolia, who looked like a puppet. The next instant, her figure disappeared from her original position. She charged straight towards the two giant ice spikes and Cocolia.
"Disappear with the butterflies, phantom of the past!"
Seele's figure had already arrived near the two ice spikes. In just the blink of an eye, Seele's scythe blade had already delivered dozens of slashes on the two ice spikes. The ice spikes fell in response. However, Seele did not feel happy about this. According to her original plan, dealing with the ice spikes shouldn't have required so many slashes. She had originally intended to use most of her slashes on Cocolia, but in reality, most of them were used on the spikes.
Seele didn't have time to think about how troublesome the two ice spears summoned by Cocolia would be. After slashing the spikes, while her skill was not yet on cooldown, she aimed her scythe blade at Cocolia again. However, just as she flashed in front of Cocolia at extreme speed and delivered a slash stronger than any previous one, Cocolia simply lightly swung the ice spear in her hand and sent Seele flying back from her original position. Relying on her agile figure, Seele finally managed to return to Bronya, Natasha, and the others' side unharmed.
[Moon Carver: How is that possible? That woman actually repelled Seele so easily!]
[Cloud Retainer: Truly astonishing! After Seele obtained the light cone from Takagi, her speed and slashes are clearly much stronger than when she dealt with the Trampler in the outlying Snowy Plains before. However, even so, she was repelled by Cocolia so easily! This Cocolia's power is even stronger than I anticipated.]
[Ningguang: Even two Adepti have given such evaluations. Does that mean the Cocolia before us truly possesses the power of a god?]
[Xiao: The speed and power Seele displayed after obtaining the light cone are nearly equal to mine. Yet she couldn't easily shatter the giant ice spear Cocolia summoned casually. Furthermore, she was repelled by Cocolia so easily! If I haven't miscalculated, Cocolia indeed possesses the power of a god.]
[Kaeya: Although I already thought of it, it is indeed very surprising.]
[Mona: I seem to somewhat understand why the Stellaron tempted Cocolia. With the power Cocolia possesses, it's natural for the Stellaron to choose her first for temptation.]
[Amber: Acting Grand Master Jean and the others won't be unable to defeat the Cocolia before us, right? Cocolia couldn't have already reached the level of the Seven Archons, could she?]
[Furina: The Seven... the Seven Archons wouldn't just be at this level.]
[Venti: The power Cocolia displays indeed has the level of a god. But she is merely a relatively weak one.]
[Furina: See, I told you. The Seven Archons of Teyvat are absolutely not as simple as the power Cocolia is currently displaying.]
[Venti: However, it's just that the power Cocolia has displayed at this stage cannot rival the Seven Archons. Cocolia clearly still has untapped power; perhaps she will be even stronger than we imagined.]
[Furina: Venti, are you going against me?]
[Venti: I'm just speaking the truth... Speaking of which, Jean, Barbara, and the others should be able to win, right...]
Venti watched Paimon's live stream, his brows furrowed tightly. From his perspective as the Anemo Archon, undoubtedly, even though Acting Grand Master Jean, Natasha, Seele, and the others are already very strong, compared to a god, there is still a certain gap—even the weakest tier of gods. Therefore, from a rational standpoint, it was difficult for Venti to believe that Acting Grand Master Jean and the others could defeat the Cocolia before them. Even if Lumine were to step onto a Path and become a warrior as strong as Acting Grand Master Jean, she would still have no way to defeat Cocolia. But from an emotional standpoint, Venti still hoped a miracle could occur.
[Takagi: Acting Grand Master Jean and the others are not facing the real Cocolia right now. Instead, it is an existence similar to a monster created by the Stellaron simulating Cocolia. The Stellaron is likely planning to use Cocolia's phantom to stop Bronya and the others, and to stop me, right?]
Others on the Teyvat Forum couldn't tell, but Takagi, who was strong enough and was himself in Belobog, could naturally see the situation of Cocolia's phantom. The phantom of Cocolia standing before Lumine and the others at this moment is definitely quite a bit stronger than the phantom of Cocolia in the memory data. With the power of the current Cocolia phantom, she could definitely defeat Bronya and the others very easily. But she did not do so. Instead, she occasionally glanced towards the energy shield in the sky, as if she had some reservations about it. It was clear that Cocolia's phantom planned to save most of her strength to stop Takagi himself, who might arrive.
"This is good too; it can give Lumine and the others some good training. If Lumine is instantly defeated, she won't be able to step onto a Path. As the Traveler, Lumine should at least step onto a Path, right? I just don't know if it will be the Trailblaze Path." Takagi muttered to himself.
In Takagi's heart, Lumine was someone very suitable to step onto the Path of Trailblaze. Her potential should be higher than Jean, Klee, and Barbara. But by now, Jean, Klee, and Barbara had successively stepped onto Paths, while Lumine had not. Takagi even began to wonder if it was because the Aeon of Trailblaze had disappeared and couldn't cast a glance towards Lumine. That was why Lumine hadn't successfully stepped onto a Path until now, even at this moment when his Blessing was about to expire.
[Venti: Huh?! This Cocolia isn't the real Cocolia?]
[Raiden Shogun: No wonder she acted like a puppet.]
[Yae Miko: Looks familiar, doesn't it, Raiden Shogun?]
[Raiden Shogun: ...]
[Furina: So, does that mean Cocolia hasn't actually reached the level of a god?]
[Takagi: No, the Cocolia tainted by the Stellaron is stronger than the Cocolia phantom before you.]
[Furina: Stronger?! No... no way?!]
....
"Seele, are you okay?" Bronya looked at Seele, who had been forced back by Cocolia, and asked worriedly.
"I'm fine." Seele stood up. "It's just that this guy is a bit too strong, isn't she?" Especially when she saw Cocolia summon two more ice spikes, Seele's expression became even uglier. What a joke—she had to use her ultimate skill to shatter the first two. As a result, the other side easily summoned two more? Can this battle even be fought?
Seeing the two ice spikes gathering power again, Acting Grand Master Jean quickly stepped forward and applied a layer of sturdy wind shield to everyone. Seeing Jean's action, Gepard also quickly stepped forward and created a huge ice shield in front of everyone, just enough to block one frost impact from the spikes.
"Mother, do you have no intention of speaking with me at all?" Bronya called out with a pained expression. As expected, Cocolia still showed no sign of answering. Instead, she began to continuously gather energy, seemingly intending to summon more spikes.
"In that case, I will defeat you first!" Bronya's expression was complex, but her eyes revealed determination. Just then, Paimon's voice came through.
"Everyone, Takagi said that the Cocolia before you is not the real Cocolia! Instead, it is a phantom created by the Fragmentum based on Cocolia. Everyone, don't hold back, beat her to death!" Paimon flew in the air, shouting loudly.
"So that's it; she's not the real Cocolia. But beating her to death... that seems a bit difficult." Serval spoke with a forced tone. Although being able to act against the "Cocolia" in front of her without reservation made her feel relaxed, thinking of the strength "Cocolia" had previously displayed, that relaxation vanished in an instant. Beside her, Bronya also had similar thoughts.
At this moment, Lumine stepped forward, saying with determined eyes: "No matter what, let's give it our all. If we just stand still because the opponent is too strong, or wait for Takagi's rescue, then we would be too useless. Sometimes, the future still needs to be trailblazed with our own hands."
As everyone looked at Lumine's fearless figure, a flame seemed to ignite within their hearts. Even though Cocolia had summoned ten ice spikes, everyone still resolutely picked up their weapons and gathered Path Power.
"Lumine is right; we have already stepped into the storm!" Bronya took a deep breath, her body glowing brightly because of Path Power. She raised her spear, pointing it at the spikes that had already shattered Gepard's ice shield, and said resolutely: "For the sake of Preservation and defense, defeat them!"
As Bronya played the Belobog March, powerful strength instantly surged from within Lumine, Acting Grand Master Jean, Natasha, and the others. At this moment, Cocolia also began to order the ice spikes to launch a sudden attack. Everyone leaped up simultaneously to meet them. Although the spikes created by Cocolia's phantom were even stronger than the Tramplers, the group's power at this moment was not weak either. Coupled with Lumine, the only one who was not a Pathstrider, seeming to gradually regain her past strength in battle, the ten ice spikes were soon shattered.
"Phew, finally finished them off. Now it's your turn. This time, don't think about repelling me." Seele pointed her scythe at Cocolia's phantom, saying coldly.
"I really want to curse Cocolia right now. You monster, don't think about stopping me." Although Serval was panting, she spoke to the phantom with great confidence.
"Don't stop me from meeting Mother. No matter what, I must speak with her," Bronya said.
The phantom Cocolia did not pay attention to Bronya and the others. Instead, she looked up at the energy shield in the sky. Just when they thought she was about to do something to the energy shield Takagi was maintaining, a blizzard of extreme cold surged from beside her, forcing Bronya and the others to temporarily stop. The phantom Cocolia slowly lowered her head, looking at the group.
"The one who controls Preservation... has not arrived. Since that is the case, there is no need... to remain vigilant."
Lumine's eyes widened. "This guy—she was always wary of Takagi? This isn't good!"
"Feel the bitter cold!" Phantom Cocolia suddenly ascended slowly as if she had lost gravity. With her at the center, a massive blizzard suddenly fell from the sky. An even more bone-chilling cold instantly invaded the bodies of Lumine, Seele, and the others.
"This isn't good! It's Mother's ultimate skill, 'Endless Winter's Punishment'!" Bronya exclaimed in surprise.
"Is it very strong?" Paimon landed behind Lumine, asking in fear. The moment the blizzard rose, she had no way to fly and could only return to everyone's side.
"Mother once used this move to instantly freeze an area the size of the Administrative District plaza. Everyone must be careful!" Although Supreme Guardian Cocolia does not often go to the front lines, Bronya had seen her display her ultimate skill. The current phantom displayed even greater strength, making Bronya particularly worried about the impending impact.
Upon hearing this, Acting Grand Master Jean immediately mobilized Path Power and once again cast Wind's Protection, forming a more resilient wind shield over everyone. Gepard also stepped forward, preparing to use his own body to defend. Barbara and Natasha pushed the power of Abundance to its limit, ready to heal. Seele, Klee, Serval, and Bronya also gathered their strength.
But no matter how well everyone prepared, when the ultimate skill truly arrived, only then did everyone realize how difficult it was to defend against this attack. Gepard's defense was the first to be shattered by the raging blizzard. Barbara's healing was close behind. Immediately after, Jean's wind shield and Natasha's healing power began to face immense challenges. In just the blink of an eye, the wind shield seemed about to shatter. Natasha's healing power also seemed unable to keep up.
Barbara, Klee, and the others, who were themselves Pathstriders, were alright. But Lumine, who did not possess Path Power, was gradually turning into ice. Within Teyvat, Aether watched as in the blink of an eye, only Lumine's head could still move. Lumine, whose other body parts were already frozen, instantly had bloodshot eyes. The rest of the Teyvat group also became so tense they couldn't breathe.
Meanwhile, Lumine used all her strength to widen her eyes, looking through the wind and snow at the phantom. Could it be that I am only this strong? Am I going to be frozen by Cocolia like this? Jean and the others have clearly stepped onto a Path, but I am still like this! Could it be that I have to wait for Takagi's aid?! No! I clearly said I would trailblaze the future with my own hands. How can I so naturally rely on others?
Lumine worked hard to encourage herself. She gritted her teeth, using all her strength to urge the power within her body to shatter the ice. Just then, the ice on her body suddenly disappeared. Lumine, due to using excessive force, stumbled and fell forward. However, to her surprise, she did not fall onto the ground. Instead, she fell into a void.
"Such a familiar environment. Wait, is this…?" The Traveler suddenly raised her head. There, a massive pillar of light was emitting dazzling radiance. "As expected, it's the mysterious space where one can meet an Aeon. This is truly excellent."
The Traveler let out a long sigh of relief, resolutely stood up, and stepped towards the pillar of light. "I wonder which Aeon I'll meet. Which Path will I embark on? Is it Preservation, Destruction, or Abundance? Or perhaps another Aeon that Takagi hasn't mentioned yet?"
"Huh! Inside this pillar of light… is that a train?"
"Wait, why does this look somewhat like Takagi's Star Rail Train?!"