"That direction... could it be Azhdaha?!"
Ningguang's face paled. As a native of Liyue, the legend of Azhdaha, the Dragon Sovereign, was deeply ingrained in her mind.
Why?
Why has Azhdaha, who was sealed by the Geo Archon, broken free from his bonds?!
With the Geo Archon gone, who in Liyue could possibly withstand Azhdaha's wrath?
Overwhelmed by these thoughts, Ningguang could no longer remain seated. She instructed her secretary to summon the other vision holders while preparing to mobilize the Jade Chamber herself.
But just as the Jade Chamber began to power up...
On the sea...
The once-calm surface suddenly churned into towering waves. Recalling Osial's earlier attack on Liyue Harbor, the fishing villagers frantically raced back to shore as soon as the first swells appeared.
Moments later...
The sea recoiled violently, and dark clouds blotted out the sky—a scene straight out of doomsday.
Today was the Lantern Rite, traditionally a time for families to stay home. Yet many still lingered by the coast.
Witnessing the apocalyptic scene, the people rushed home, abandoning all else.
Led by Feng Yan, a massive force of Millelith soldiers began gathering along the coast. Unaware of the terrifying enemy they were about to face, they remained steadfast, vowing never to retreat for the sake of Liyue behind them!
On the sea, colossal whirlpools spiraled skyward, mirroring the scene from Osial's initial invasion.
Streetward Rambler, still in Liyue Harbor, hurried to the coast. Her usual composure had vanished, replaced by a grim intensity in her eyes.
"The Overlord of the Vortex... Why has he returned?"
ROAR—!
With a deafening roar, Osial's colossal form resurfaced from the depths.
Unlike their previous encounter, this time his five heads were wreathed in swirling black-purple patterns—manifestations of Abyss Power.
Osial, a mighty God, had been tainted by the Abyss?!
-
Player World
The moment Osial's colossal form materialized, the live stream's chat exploded with comments:
[Holy shit! One Dragon Sovereign wasn't enough—now Osial's here too? How are we supposed to fight that?!]
[I knew the Lantern Rite would bring some big events, but I never imagined it would be this huge!]
[What's that blackish-purple stuff on Osial's head...?]
[Damn it, the Abyss! I bet I know who's behind this!]
[Hold on, does that bastard really have the power to pull this off?]
[Zhongli can't hide now—he just retired!]
[I wanna see the Geo Archon in his Divine Regalia!]
[Me too...]
Atop the Jade Chamber.
Ningguang had only just opened the Jade Chamber when she noticed the commotion on the sea.
Staring at the all-too-familiar scene, Ningguang felt her composure begin to crumble.
Osial?!
Wasn't this creature supposed to be sealed away?
If even a Dragon Sovereign struggled to withstand him, how could Liyue possibly defend itself against another Osial?
Ningguang suddenly glanced down at the Jade Chamber beneath her feet.
Could...
Could the Jade Chamber alone possibly accomplish this?
Thoughts raced through her mind, but Ningguang acted swiftly. She immediately redirected the Jade Chamber, steering it toward the open sea.
Compared to the threat posed by Azhdaha, Osial's location represented the far greater danger.
One misstep, and the entirety of Liyue Harbor would be annihilated.
Such a massive disturbance couldn't have escaped the Adepti's notice. They must already be on their way to confront Azhdaha.
Even the Adepti couldn't defeat the Dragon Sovereign. Osial, the Overlord of the Vortex, could only be handled by the Qixing.
But...
Last time, they barely managed to seal Osial back with the combined might of the Adepti and the Jade Chamber. Could they possibly win this time?
As Ningguang gazed at Osial, whose power seemed far greater than before, her heart sank like a stone.
Regardless of the outcome, they were Liyue's last line of defense. If they failed, only annihilation awaited their nation.
In this battle, even if death claimed them, the Qixing would be the first to fall!
On the beach:
"Everyone, prepare for battle!"
With Qingge absent, Keqing took command of the Millelith. Row upon row of massive military siege crossbows were lined up, their bolts aimed directly at the sea god.
Beside Keqing stood Shenhe and Ganyu.
Beidou's fleet had been scattered by Osial's influence. The Alcor, her flagship, remained at a safe distance, awaiting orders.
-
At the Dragon-Queller Tree, Zhongli arrived first. Seeing his former friend now in such a frenzied state, Zhongli's gaze gradually turned cold.
"The Abyss..."
He immediately recognized the Abyss Power swirling around Azhdaha. This explained why Azhdaha, who should have been sealed, had suddenly erupted in rage.
"Morax!"
Azhdaha the Dragon Sovereign roared, the earth-shattering roar causing nearby rocks to tumble and the lake to ripple violently.
Without a word, Zhongli ascended into the air. His mortal garments dissolved, replaced by the Divine Regalia identical to that worn by the Geo Archon statue. His once gentle features hardened into a cold, murderous expression.
No longer was he the refined Zhongli, but Morax, the God of War who had displayed boundless slaughter during the Archon War!
Morax knew that Azhdaha in this state was beyond reason. His only option was to beat him into submission until he couldn't rise again, then devise a way to reseal him.
-
Player World
The sight of Zhongli in his Divine Regalia sent the players into a frenzy.
Chen Xiyao screamed with excitement, "Geo Archon! Ahhh, so cool! So badass!"
Morax's gaze toward Azhdaha was particularly intimidating, practically turning Chen Xiyao into a love-struck fool.
[The Old Man's coolness is making me cry!]
[Oh my god, Zhongli's Divine Regalia is exactly as I imagined!]
[Goosebumps, brothers!]
[Woooooow!]
[Is this the state the Old Man was in when facing other gods during the Archon War?]
[War God indeed! Just looking at him, I can tell he's a powerhouse!]
Mondstadt
Venti, who had been napping in a tree at Windrise, suddenly shot to his feet.
"What has stirred the Old Man to reveal his martial might?"
Venti's eyes darted around as he considered the possibilities. Without another moment's hesitation, he vanished from the tree.
-
Liyue.
The Adepti rushed toward Liyue Harbor, but halfway there, they suddenly heard Morax's telepathic message.
"Assist Ningguang immediately. I'll handle things here."
With renewed urgency, the Adepti sped towards Liyue Harbor.
Just then, Cloud Retainer suddenly stopped.
"Is that Qingce Village over there?"
"I sense the aura of a God. Could something be happening there too?"
Cloud Retainer gritted her teeth in fury. "Damn it! With so many incidents occurring simultaneously, someone must be scheming behind the scenes!"
Moon Carver was equally enraged:
"This is outrageous! Utterly outrageous! We must find that little thief and inflict the most extreme punishment!"
Xiao: "Mountain Shaper and Moon Carver will head to Qingce Village. Cloud Retainer and I will proceed to Liyue Harbor."
Just as Xiao finished speaking, a cyan figure materialized before them.
"All of you go to Qingce Village! Leave that one at Liyue Harbor to me!"
"The Anemo Archon..."
Xiao cast a grateful glance at Venti before immediately calling out to the still-stunned Venerable Adepti.
"Move out!"
Venti watched Zhongli battling Azhdaha. "Old Man, I'll block that sea beast for you. He seems to have grown stronger."