She didn't know if she could win— but surely, landing a single hit should be possible, right?
With that thought, Lumine gripped her dull-edged sword and charged straight at Tartaglia with all her might.
An instant later, she was flying backward even faster than she'd lunged forward.
"Lumine!"
Paimon rushed to catch her, helping her sit up.
"Cough… cough…"
Lumine spat a few drops of blood, her expression dark as she stared at the Harbinger.
It had been a long time since she'd felt this utterly powerless.
This Executive was terrifying— and worse yet, his mind was perfectly clear.
Normally, someone like him would just let Ningguang and Keqing retreat, let them regroup, and then deal with a stronger Liyue later.
But no— he wasn't even allowing them the chance to run.
They'd really kicked an iron wall this time.
"This power shouldn't belong to you," Keqing said coldly.
"You won't be able to hold out for long, will you?"
She knew roughly how strong a Fatui Harbinger was.
Stronger than her, yes— but not this overwhelmingly strong.
If the power wasn't truly his, then wielding it would come at a cost— either stamina… or life.
And since he was a Fatui, she was betting on the second one.
Tartaglia grinned.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you," he said, "but I don't feel any side effects.
In fact, I've never felt better!"
Not the slightest burden.
No restrictions.
He could unleash it freely.
And in that moment, he understood why the Genius looked down on the Doctor.
Compared to that failure Dottore, who made Delusions that drained their user's life force— this was perfection.
This power had no cost.
It sharpened his mind.
It strengthened his body.
It raised everything— without limit.
No wonder he was called the Genius.
With talent like this, what else could he be?
Keqing's expression hardened.
Power that strong… with no backlash?
And even on par with a god?
Just when had the Fatui developed such technology?
"You might even be stronger than Su Ran…" Lumine muttered uneasily.
When she'd fought Suran, she'd lost completely too— but at least he hadn't hurt her.
And he'd been afraid of Raiden Shogun, even caught by her.
This man… he might be no weaker than the Electro Archon herself.
At that name, Ningguang's face shifted slightly.
"You're wrong," Tartaglia said, smirking.
"This is Su ran's power—the power he granted me."
He hadn't forgotten his benefactor.
Compared to what his master had given him, this gift from the Genius was far greater— surpassing his own years of effort.
He raised his hand, channeling that unfamiliar energy— not elemental, not Vision-born— and shaped it into a gleaming spear.
"If I destroy the Jade Chamber," he said, "you'd be angry, wouldn't you, Lady Tianquan?"
The Harbinger's tone was mocking as his gaze locked on Ningguang, who stood amidst the raging storm— still composed, still elegant.
"Try it," she said calmly.
Her poise made Keqing's stomach twist.
That serene face— even now, no hint of fear.
"Ningguang!" Keqing called, her voice tight with worry.
She knew how much the Jade Chamber meant to her.
It wasn't just the symbol of Tianquan— it was Ningguang's soul.
"You think I'm bluffing?" Tartaglia sneered, dragging his conjured spear across the deck.
The weapon tore a deep gash through the floor.
Ningguang's heart clenched— but she didn't flinch.
She took a slow breath and lifted her gaze skyward.
"Mr. Su ran," she said softly, "Ningguang is willing to offer the Jade Chamber itself as payment— in exchange for your help, to save Liyue."
Her eyes flicked toward the battle in the distance— the Adepti struggling against the awakened Demon God.
She couldn't afford to wait.
Tartaglia blinked, startled.
"You're offering… the entire Jade Chamber? To him?"
Wait—seriously?
Was her heart made of steel?
That floating palace was her life's work!
And she was giving it away?
To the Genius, of all people?
Keqing's jaw tightened.
She too thought of that mysterious man— but her worry only deepened.
"Ningguang… he's still a Fatui Harbinger," Keqing said.
"You'd have one Executive fighting another?
And expect him to clean up Liyue's mess too?"
Wasn't that just inviting disaster?
Even now, the Adepti were faltering.
Adding another Harbinger to the mix— that was suicide!
"An Executive is only one of his titles," Ningguang said quietly.
"He's also a Messenger, and a member of the Genius Society.
I don't know what those identities truly mean— but I believe he values them more than his Fatui rank.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have offered to trade me information… for the Jade Chamber itself."
When she'd first heard that offer, she'd hesitated.
Now, seeing Tartaglia's godlike power, she realized just how precious that opportunity had been.
"…Decisive," a man's amused voice said.
"I like that."
Another figure appeared beside Tartaglia, standing effortlessly atop the Jade Chamber.
Su ran.
He glanced down at the gouge Tartaglia had carved into the deck.
"If you damage my Jade Chamber, Tartaduck," he said lazily, "you'll pay for it."
Lightning flashed— and beside him, another figure appeared: Ei, the Raiden Shogun herself.
She stepped forward, eyes locked on him.
Her presence alone made the air crackle.
The smile on Suran's lips stiffened slightly.
Too clingy.
She'd followed him all the way here again.
At this point, she was practically attached to him.
Tartaglia stared blankly between them.
"You… made a deal with the Liyue Qixing too?"
"Don't tell me you're planning to help them!" he protested.
"Hey—we're supposed to be on the same side!"
Suran turned his gaze on him.
"You're telling me what to do?"
He raised a hand, pointing toward the distant sea— toward the writhing mass of the Demon God Osial.
In the next instant, a pressure unlike anything before filled the air.
The sea twisted.
The colossal creature froze— then its titanic body crumpled inward, crushed by an invisible force.
A heartbeat later— shattered.
The entire act took mere seconds.
Too fast.
Too brutal.
The Adepti, still locked in midair combat, faltered.
Even the Traveler, watching from the deck, felt her knees weaken.
"Gulp…"
Lumine swallowed hard, staring at Su ran in open awe— and fear.
He's this strong…and he needed me to rescue him back then?
Maybe… maybe she should just refund that six hundred thousand Mora.
~~--------------------------------------
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