Not all gods sought retainers.
Those of immense power disdained such attachments, fighting alone from beginning to end.
In the vast ocean dwelled a monstrous being known as Chi.
This creature, born of the Abyss, was of such staggering size that when it merely surfaced, it could stir towering waves that engulfed the horizon.
Chi had existed in those waters long before the Archon War began. Morax had defended Liyue from its floods many times. But now, Chi's movements had grown increasingly frequent. Every few days it surfaced again, bringing disaster after disaster to Liyue.
At last, Morax's patience snapped. He summoned the colossal Rock Whale he had never abandoned and drove it straight toward Chi's lair.
The clash between Chi and the Rock Whale was evenly matched, churning the seas into chaos. Whirlpools yawned across the ocean, and waves rose higher and higher, each one greater than the last.
When the Rock Whale failed to subdue Chi, Morax shaped a mighty hawk. The moment it formed, it plunged into the depths, carrying overwhelming force.
With a final wail, Chi was pinned forever in the dark trench of the sea.
...
Word of Morax's strength spread. Refugees poured into Liyue, seeking its protection. But with them came more gods, eager to claim a piece of this tempting land.
On this day, two gods appeared within Liyue's borders, attacking from opposite directions.
"Your Majesty, let us head west to fight that god!" Skyward asked urgently.
"Just hold him off. I'll be there shortly."
Leaving only those words behind, Morax vanished, rushing at blinding speed toward the other god.
As soon as he departed, the immortals set off westward.
"Wait! Master, I want to go too!"
To everyone's surprise, Ganyu—who had taken little part in the Archon War so far—spoke up.
"What for? Just stay and guard our home," Cloud Retainer immediately denied her request.
"Don't forget, I wield elemental power too! I can help!"
"With your size, you'd only become a target," Mountain Shaper teased.
"That's even better! Don't underestimate me—my defenses are more than strong enough!" Ganyu declared with confidence.
"It's fine. Let her come." Elliot cut through their bickering. "With me here, nothing will happen. And if she truly has the strength, she could be a great help."
He wasn't interested in seeing some grand moment of Ganyu's. He simply suspected that only such an event could finally push her to commit to the weight loss she had boasted about before.
After all, she had promised him she would slim down, but after arriving at Tianheng Mountain, her resolve had lasted only a few days before she gave up.
Perhaps this battle—against a god—would be the catalyst she needed.
The others fell silent at Elliot's words and, reluctantly, agreed.
...
A bizarre and comical scene soon unfolded.
Beneath a massive blue sphere, two immortal deer stood in the air, straining to support it. Above, two cranes clutched Ganyu's hair, flapping their wings desperately to keep her aloft.
It took four masters working together just to carry a single disciple.
Only then did Elliot understand why they had been so reluctant to bring Ganyu into battle.
If they didn't carry her like this, her slow pace would mean the enemy reached their doorstep long before she did.
And every time, it took all four immortals exhausting themselves just to move her into position. If she failed to contribute meaningfully, how crushing would that be?
So of course they resisted bringing her to fight the gods.
...
Soon, the immortals arrived at the god's location, hauling Ganyu along.
Seeing such a massive sphere descending from the heavens, even the god was startled.
"Why bring a ball to a fight?"
Realizing they had come to challenge him, he frowned, his gaze settling on the blue orb.
But those words struck directly at Ganyu's reverse scale.
"You're the ball! Your whole family's the ball!!!"
Furious, Ganyu channeled her elemental power, conjuring a storm of hailstones that rained down on the god.
"A talking ball that can wield elemental power?"
The god looked mildly surprised, but dismissed her attack with ease.
Then, without wasting another word, the immortals launched themselves into battle.