After fighting for so long, neither side had gained the slightest advantage. The god couldn't land a single hit on the adepti, while their attacks were nothing more than scratches to him. It was, at best, a deadlock.
The adepti didn't regret bringing Ganyu along. Though she seemed of little use, she had actually helped them a great deal.
The god grew increasingly impatient, his attacks becoming more violent. The adepti immediately stopped attacking, focusing solely on evasion.
But none of his powerful blows landed—every strike missed.
It was like when you're about to fall asleep, and a mosquito starts buzzing relentlessly in your ear. You wake up furious, turn on the light, and try to swat it, but no matter how hard you smack, you can't kill it. Each time, it slips away by the narrowest margin.
Then, just as you try to ignore it and go back to sleep, it returns—buzzing right in your ear, even provocatively landing on your nose.
That was exactly how the god felt at this moment.
"I'LL KILL YOU ALL!!!!"
The god roared, his fury exploding. His body swelled rapidly, growing larger and larger until he transformed into a colossal six-armed black ape.
His size was terrifying—nearly that of a mountain itself. A true beast!
Seeing this, the adepti became even more cautious.
Though the god's strength and speed had increased, his massive body now left plenty of blind spots to hide in: his back, the nape of his neck, behind his thighs, under his arms…
It wasn't that the god was weak, but the adepti' agility was nearly maxed out. This was the cultivation path that Elliot had taught them—max out evasion.
They were never born fighters like the Yaksha. All they could do was delay and hold back as many gods as possible.
The six-armed ape couldn't land a serious blow on them, and the more he failed, the more furious the god became, rage prickling at his scalp.
Each furious stomp of the colossal beast sent the ground quaking violently.
"Stop stomping! Stop stomping!"
Ganyu, unable to fly, was at a huge disadvantage. Her massive body already made her balance unstable—she often slipped even when climbing hills. Now with the earth shaking, staying upright was nearly impossible.
With a heavy thud, she inevitably toppled to the ground.
The enraged god suddenly noticed the little sphere had fallen and was struggling to get up. Her comical flailing dulled his anger somewhat.
The furious god strode toward Ganyu. What once seemed like a massive blue sphere now looked tiny compared to his true form.
"You… what do you want…?"
Feeling his gaze, Ganyu's heart skipped a beat. Something felt terribly wrong. Her four stubby legs trembled even more violently.
"I can't catch them… but surely I can catch you!"
The god grinned savagely and reached out a massive black hand toward her.
"Damn it! I forgot Ganyu's still over there!"
Cloud Retainer's eyes widened in alarm.
In that instant, the adepti charged at the god. But he had clearly found his target—his grin widened even further.
"I'll show you the price of mocking a ancient god!"
He snatched Ganyu up and opened his abyssal maw. His razor-sharp teeth gleamed, ready to crush her whole.
The adepti unleashed all their elemental power in desperation, but it was already too late.
"No…"
"Don't eat me…"
"Noooooooo!!!!"
Ganyu was terrified as the gaping maw loomed closer.
"Ice Crystal Armor!"
On the brink of despair, she summoned her last hope—a layer of ice to protect her body. In an instant, the furry Ganyu was encased in thick frost.
The god had held her tightly, but the sudden slick ice made his grip slip.
With a sharp whoosh, Ganyu flew through the air in a perfect arc—straight into the god's throat.
Like swallowing a whole egg without chewing, his throat couldn't handle it. He immediately choked.
The adepti' pupils shrank in shock, and they rushed forward with everything they had.
But before they reached him, the six-armed ape instinctively clutched his throat, writhing in pain. He squeezed at it desperately, trying to force Ganyu down with sheer pressure.
Boom… Rumble…
Trees and mountains around him collapsed as he thrashed. Suffocating pain overtook him.
"What's going on? Why did he become like this after swallowing Ganyu!?"
Mountain Shaper asked in confusion, watching the god's suffering.
None of them dared get close now—the god was thrashing wildly in complete chaos. No one knew where his next strike might land.
One hit from him would crush them like mosquitoes—instant death.
"Could it be… that Ganyu is poisonous!?"
Cloud Retainer suddenly blurted out, watching the beast roll in agony. The thought only grew more certain.
"I'm not poisonous!!!!"
"I'm just stuck in his throat!"
At that moment, Ganyu's voice rang out from inside the god.
The adepti: "??????????"