"Outsider! Your journey ends here!"
The moment Zhongli stepped into Inazuma, Su Ran had already sensed his presence.
When Zhongli was pulled into the dream, Su Ran gained an even clearer understanding of the Geo Archon's might.
He had to admit— as expected of the oldest of the gods!
The sheer level of elemental energy within him far surpassed Ei's.
No wonder he had been able to build Liyue.
But compared to the blessing Su Ran had received— this elemental force wasn't worth much.
"…"
Standing before Tenshukaku, Zhongli studied the strange young man carefully.
He was certain—this was no god.
And yet instinct made his every nerve tighten.
That instinct was carved into him during the Archon War.
Even centuries of peace could not dull it.
This man wasn't a seasoned warrior, but Zhongli could still feel it:
a power greater than his own.
When did Teyvat give rise to someone like this?
Could he have descended from Celestia?
"I am an old friend of Baalzebul's. I only came to meet with her."
Zhongli spoke his purpose.
The people of Inazuma only knew the name Baal— not Baalzebul.
If this was someone close to Ei, he should recognize that name.
This was no ordinary human, after all, but someone who stood above even gods.
Su Ran crossed his arms, face cold, with the Orobashi followers behind him glaring at the intruder.
"I wasn't aware Ei had any friends from Liyue. She is Inazuma's rightful god! What's next—you'll claim to be Morax himself?"
"Indeed."
Zhongli did not deny it.
For him, bringing Liyue's trapped citizens safely home from Inazuma was his final duty as the Geo Archon.
After this, he could finally put everything down and live as a mortal.
"Hahaha!"
Su Ran burst out laughing, slapping his thigh.
"You say you're Morax? Then I say I'm Celestia itself!"
Zhongli: …
Really? Speaking the truth, and no one believes me.
Were it not for the fact this was a dream, and his Gnosis couldn't be brought inside, he might have simply pulled it out as proof.
Su Ran's laughter stopped, his expression turning stern once more.
"You want to prove you're Morax?"
"How would I prove it?"
"By defeating me."
Zhongli: …
Once again, at a loss for words.
"I am the second strongest under Ei. If you can't even defeat me, how dare you claim to be Morax?"
The lie rolled off Su Ran's tongue without a flicker of shame.
So natural, so proud— that Zhongli could only fall silent.
But his instincts could not be deceived.
Su Ran was undeniably stronger than himself.
Could someone so powerful really be Ei's subordinate?
Impossible.
Her follower stronger than her? And the second strongest?
Then who was first?
"And the strongest is… who?"
If this was only second, then the first was unthinkable.
What on earth had happened in Inazuma?
"Why, none other than the beautiful and brilliant Yae Miko of Narukami Shrine."
Even as he spouted such nonsense, Su Ran stood firm in his belief: his wisdom and charm outshone all others.
Zhongli was utterly thrown off.
That little fox who played so often with Ganyu… a power above my own?
How could I believe that?
And yet the man's solemn expression revealed no cracks.
But how could either side prove their words?
Neither had fought the other, and Baalzebul herself was absent.
"Must we really fight?"
Zhongli hesitated.
If their strength was close, he would not mind a duel.
But if the other truly was beyond him… the odds were poor.
"This is your choice, outsider: prison… or prove yourself against me. Which will it be?"
There was no choice at all.
"…Then let us fight."
The moment Zhongli agreed, Su Ran vanished.
A hand fell on Zhongli's shoulder.
In the next instant, he was dragged into a strange realm.
It was vast, empty, and silent.
Not only were the two of them there— a third figure stood waiting.
The Raiden Shogun.
"Baalzebul, you are here as well?"
Zhongli exhaled in relief.
If she was present, he need not explain further.
"General, do you recognize this man?"
Su Ran asked smoothly, as though to make the coming battle seem legitimate.
The surrounding space was even shaped like the Plane of Euthymia.
The Raiden Shogun rolled her eyes.
Wasn't it Su Ran who dragged her here?
Otherwise she would still be roaming the dreamscape.
"I do not know him."
It was Ei who had known Morax, not this puppet.
She had never once laid eyes on him.
In fact— from her birth until now, she was not even a year old.
She had already "died" once, after all.
Zhongli opened his mouth, but closed it again.
The dream blurred the truth.
He could not see that this "Shogun" was a puppet, nor distinguish her from Baalzebul herself.
Unless he learned more, he could not tell the difference.
Su Ran radiated fighting spirit, the realm itself urging the clash.
Was this truly to be a battle?
"Then please, show me your strength."
Zhongli conjured a spear of stone.
"You use a spear? Then I shall use one too."
Eight floating cannons formed around Su Ran.
Everyone knew: a cannon was just a big rifle.
And rifles were just another kind of spear.
So it was perfectly fair. Perfectly balanced.
Too bad Zhongli, the old man,
had yet to understand the terror of such "spears."
~~--------------------------------------
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