Under the determined leadership of Aether, Furina, and their steadfast allies, the last thirty mercenaries who had fiercely resisted were ultimately and completely annihilated. The sounds of clashing steel faded, replaced by the distant groans of the dying and the murmurs of soldiers tending to the aftermath. The desert winds blew softly across the battlefield, sweeping away the dust and the final whispers of violence.
As the dust settled, the battlefield lay strewn with fallen enemies and shattered armor. Soldiers moved through the area, recovering the wounded, checking the dead, and securing the perimeter. Amid the methodical rhythm of cleanup, Furina approached Kevin, flanked closely by several of her vigilant knights.
Her expression was radiant with pride, clearly still riding the high of battle. "Kevin! Was I handsome just now? Hehe~" she said with a playful twirl, her cape fluttering behind her.
Kevin chuckled, nodding. "Very handsome! But... there were a few flaws."
Furina tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "Oh? Do tell."
Kevin grinned. "Since you're already pretending to be cool, you should commit fully. Think about that dramatic line you shouted earlier. It felt a little weak, don't you think? Maybe next time, try something more impactful—more befitting of a Water Archon making her grand entrance."
Furina laughed melodically as the two strolled side by side, arms gently linked. Their banter lightened the tense atmosphere around them, a brief moment of normalcy amidst the chaos.
Suddenly, a chilling roar broke the calm. One of the seemingly dead mercenaries surged to his feet behind Furina, face twisted in hatred, blade gleaming as he lunged directly at her.
Time seemed to slow.
But before the attacker could strike, a brilliant flash of steel sliced through the air. A knight, moving with the precision of countless drills and instinct, intercepted the blow. His rapier clashed with the enemy's sword, knocking it aside with a metallic scream. With a practiced twist of the wrist, the knight drove his blade forward, plunging it into the mercenary's heart. Blood burst from the wound, and with a mighty kick, he sent the dying attacker crashing to the ground.
The remaining knights sprang into action instantly, forming a protective barrier around Furina, their weapons drawn, eyes scanning for further threats.
Aether, who had seen the whole incident from a short distance away, rushed forward. His expression was grim as he turned to Rahman, who stood nearby.
"Rahman! Order another full sweep! I want every inch of this place searched again!"
Rahman, equally alarmed, slammed his fist into his palm. "Damn it! These dogs are more deceitful than I thought. We got lucky this time. If Lord Furina had been injured..."
He turned to the desert mercenaries, his voice booming with authority. "Brothers! Double-check everyone on the ground! Anyone still breathing gets a blade to the neck. No chances!"
With a unified shout, the mercenaries got to work again, this time with even more caution and ruthlessness.
Furina, though shaken, composed herself quickly. Her eyes lingered on the corpse of the would-be assassin, her breath unsteady but her expression resolute.
Lancelot, her lead knight, approached and dropped to one knee. "My Lord... I failed in my duty. I let this danger get too close."
Furina's expression softened. "No, Lancelot. You reacted perfectly. You and the others saved me. That's what matters."
Lancelot bowed lower. "We will not let our guard down again."
He rose and ordered the knights to remain in tight formation around Furina, not letting her out of their sight.
More than an hour passed. The battlefield had been fully secured, and the remaining army, now on high alert, began to reorganize. Aether gave the order, and they began the march toward Xumi City.
Furina summoned her magnificent seahorse chariot, adorned with pearls and glistening coral. She ushered Yuri, the six little Nashidas, and others aboard, the vehicle gliding smoothly over the terrain as they advanced towards their destination.
Meanwhile, deep beneath the grand Jingshan Palace in Xumi City, inside a dimly lit, high-tech laboratory, chaos of a different sort was brewing.
A mercenary, face pale and voice trembling, burst into Azar's private office, gasping for air. "No!!! My Lord, terrible news!"
Azar scowled, his quill freezing mid-stroke. "You dare barge in without knocking? Get out and do it properly!"
The mercenary, cowed, stepped back, composed himself, then knocked.
"Enter," Azar muttered, rubbing his temples.
The mercenary stepped in again and bowed deeply. "Report! A complete defeat at Kawanyi! The Desert Mercenaries are en route to Xumi City!"
Azar rose slowly, his face contorting with disbelief and fury. "What did you just say?!"
"Kawanyi has fallen! Our forces have been overrun! Lord Azar, the situation is dire!"
Azar slammed his desk. "Impossible! We had fifty thousand troops there! Fifty thousand! They couldn't have been wiped out in a single day! This is treasonous deception! Guards! Arrest this man and his conspirators!"
Two soldiers stormed in, grabbing the messenger and his companion.
"Wait! Please, Lord Azar! It's the truth! The enemy will reach us any moment!"
But Azar dismissed them with a wave. "What absurdity. The Desert Mercenaries have always been weak. And Nashida? She's but a child—a forgotten, powerless god."
What Azar failed to understand—what most of Xumi had forgotten—was the true power behind a Demon of Teyvat. Though Nashida had been imprisoned for centuries, her divine authority had not waned. She was capable of turning the tide of war with but a whisper of her will.
As the mercenaries were dragged away, Azar began to pace. He knew something was wrong. Even if he wouldn't admit it, dread crept into his heart.
He made his way to the factory.
There, the massive apparatus hummed with unnatural energy. Inside its heart, Sanbing stood in containment, only a breath away from becoming a god. Her eyes shimmered with unholy light. Anger and malice poured off her in waves.
"Baalzebub... you will pay. I will rise. I will hunt you down for what you did to me."
Far to the east, in Liyue Harbor, life was calmer.
Barnabas walked toward the Wangshengtang Internet Cafe, its entrance modest but warm. Outside, Zhongli sat sipping tea under the shade, his demeanor as composed as ever.
As Barnabas approached, Zhongli gave him a single glance. "She's in the eSports room."
Barnabas nodded and ascended the stairs, accompanied by a young man and a noble lady, both recognized as super VIPs. The staff greeted them with respectful bows and allowed them through without hesitation.
At the door to Asmodeus' private room, Barnabas turned to the two. "Wait here. I need to speak with her alone."
The young man looked at the lady. "Madam, the Queen seems disturbed lately. Have you noticed?"
She nodded solemnly. "I have. But I don't know the reason."
Inside the room, Asmodeus had just clinched a flawless victory in her latest match. She leaned back in her chair, satisfied, her crimson eyes sparkling with amusement.
She turned to Barnabas. "You may speak."
Barnabas bowed. "Mirror Stream has infiltrated Solstice. The Doctor is dead."
A flicker of confusion crossed Asmodeus' face. She frowned. "I don't understand. Let me make a call."
She pulled out her phone and dialed Hu Tao.
"Master, where are you?"
Hu Tao's cheerful voice rang through. "Wuwangpo! Just finishing up! Huo Huo and I are heading back. She caught tons of little ghosts this time!"
Asmodeus cut in. "Do you know why Jingliu is after the Doctor?"
"Of course! The Doctor tried to use Bai Lu for experiments. Kevin reported it, and then General Jingyuan, Danheng, Diandao, and Jingliu all moved in to deal with him."
Asmodeus sighed, the pieces falling into place. "Thanks. Be careful. Talk later."
She hung up, her gaze turning serious.
"So... the game has begun in earnest. Let's see how this all unfolds."