"BAALZEBUL! COME OUT AND DIE!"
The roar shook all of Liyue Harbor, echoing across the city like thunder.
It was midday— yet somehow colder than the darkest winter night.
The chill sweeping through the harbor even surpassed the storm Osial had unleashed when he was first unsealed.
Those still quietly eating melon suddenly turned toward the door.
Outside—snowflakes drifted gently down over the harbor, blanketing it in white.
Such power. Such fury.
"She's here."
Ei's brow furrowed, her tone frosty.
The sight of those falling snowflakes made her distinctly unhappy.
But after a breath, she forced herself to calm.
And in that instant— the sorrowful, lovestruck Raiden Shogun vanished.
What replaced her was a god.
A warrior radiating a killing intent so sharp it froze the air.
The divine pressure rolling off her was suffocating.
"Another Archon…?" Keqing whispered, shivering despite herself.
How could so much happen in one year?
First, a low-ranked Fatui Executive displayed the strength of a demon god.
Then, an actual demon god nearly destroyed Liyue— only to be instantly obliterated by that same man.
Too sudden. Too simple.
It had all ended before she could even process it.
And just when they learned the truth about the Geo Archon—
another god appeared?!
A blade shimmered into being in Ei's hand, lightning dancing along its edge.
She moved forward like a general marching to war.
All of Liyue Harbor was covered in snow now.
The streets were empty—everyone had fled indoors.
They'd barely survived one calamity, and now another god had come calling.
"General of Winter," Ei said coldly, staring at the silver-haired woman descending from the sky,
"it's been years. Your temper's gotten worse."
"You have the nerve to talk about temper?" the Tsaritsa snapped.
"You man-stealing witch!"
Her icy gaze could've shattered mountains.
In her arms was a small, silver-haired girl— a miniature version of herself— who glared up at Ei with the same righteous fury.
"You bad woman! Let go of my master—no, my dad!"
Even the little one was yelling.
"See that?" the Tsaritsa said, voice dripping with mockery.
"He already has a daughter!"
Two gods— two women of equal power, equal beauty, equal pride.
Their eyes locked, sparks (and snowflakes) flying.
What could possibly settle such a fight?
Strength, beauty, wits— when all those were evenly matched, it came down to the smallest details.
Ei's expression, however, didn't waver.
"Just a child," she said icily.
"Who doesn't have one or two lying around?"
The Tsaritsa's heart skipped a beat— her composure faltered for the briefest moment.
Then she saw Su Ran step calmly out of the Jade Chamber, and her glare sharpened to daggers.
"Don't tell me…" she hissed.
"You made another doll in Inazuma?!"
Ei's glare in return said it all:
Bluff all you want. It won't work.
Two gods. Neither backing down.
"You're dead!" the Tsaritsa shouted, and the sky exploded.
Ice and lightning clashed.
The first victim was, naturally, the Jade Chamber.
Luckily, Su Ran reacted instantly, shielding his assets before they were obliterated.
He watched the Tsaritsa and Ei lock into a full-on god battle and sighed helplessly.
Really? Couldn't she at least warn me before showing up?
Perhaps out of respect for Morax, the two goddesses took their fight out to Guyun Stone Forest over the sea.
"The Tsaritsa…"
Ningguang's voice trembled slightly.
The Cryo Archon—long unseen, rarely spoken of— was known to all but glimpsed by none.
Even she, who had portraits of almost every known figure, had no likeness of the Tsaritsa.
Only by their argument did she realize who the newcomer was.
But that topic of contention… was a bit too outrageous, wasn't it?
Meanwhile, snow blanketed the Jade Chamber's deck.
Footsteps crunched softly.
A tiny figure in a white dress hopped through the drifts, and with a bright smile,
she jumped right into Su Ran's arms.
A miniature Tsaritsa, nestled quietly against his chest— the image of perfect harmony.
The sight left everyone around utterly speechless.
Especially Keqing.
One god was bad enough.
Now there were two?!
Just what kind of charm did this man have to make even the gods fall for him?
"Are you really just a Fatui Executive?" Ningguang asked at last.
Her eyes narrowed.
A child who looked exactly like the Tsaritsa, personally delivered by the Tsaritsa herself…
How could this man possibly be "just" a Second Seat?
Unless the First Seat… was the girl's father?
"Authentic," Su Ran replied lazily.
"You think I'm lying? Just because of this little duckling?"
He ruffled the girl's silvery hair.
She let out a pleased hum, leaning closer.
"Come on," he added with a smirk.
"I'm already special enough. What's a little more absurdity going to hurt?"
Fair point.
Everything about him was already absurd beyond belief.
What was one more impossible detail?
Cloud Retainer, watching silently,
thanked the heavens she hadn't actually fought him earlier.
This man wasn't just strong— he was connected.
Two goddesses tied to him already…
If Morax had been a woman, she didn't even dare imagine what might've happened.
Out at sea, streaks of purple and white light crashed together again and again.
The ocean didn't surge— because it was frozen solid before it even could.
Lightning seared the heavens, but the surface of the water stayed eerily calm.
The poor fishermen of Liyue would have to give up their catch for a while.
No living creature could possibly survive beneath that battlefield.
Two gods—neither holding back— their powers colliding with the fury of an ancient war.
Even watching from afar was enough to make every mortal heart tremble.
If it had been Osial again, the Adepti might have dared to fight.
But this— this was beyond them.
This was a war of gods.
And all they could do was watch in awe.
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