"What did that girl just say? She wants to be… our god?"
"Too arrogant! Even if she beat Master Diluc, she can't replace a god."
"Such a pretty face wasted on such a person…"
"Don't worry, the Knights will handle it."
"But her abilities are strange… can the Knights really—"
"Strange or not, the Knights aren't pushovers."
Even though the Knights had pushed the crowd far back, everyone clearly heard what Su Mo said, and murmurs spread like wildfire.
They hadn't seen their own god in ages—but that didn't mean anyone could just take his place.
"What a naughty child… wait, that— is that a magic circle? What is she planning?"
Lisa had already been stunned when the white-haired girl shattered the ground with a stomp. Now she saw huge chunks of stone swallowed by a glowing sigil and felt her heart tighten.
She had never seen magic like this—certainly not from a human.
Whatever that circle was, it definitely wasn't done.
"I don't know if it's magic," Diluc said. "But what I do know is that she can swallow something and spit it back out exactly as it was—and wherever she wants. If she decides to drop those boulders on Mondstadt, nothing will stop her."
Hearing Su Mo's tone earlier, a heavy sense of dread built in Diluc's chest.
He knew exactly what she wanted.
She was forcing Barbatos to appear.
If the Anemo Archon didn't show himself soon, this girl might actually rain destruction on Mondstadt.
But why?
Was she an old enemy returning for vengeance?
Diluc couldn't help thinking it.
"What? Diluc, is that true?"
Jean went pale. She had seen how large those rocks were—if they fell into Mondstadt, the city wouldn't survive.
"So that phoenix earlier… it was swallowed the same way?"
Kaeya finally understood what had happened.
"I understand if they don't get it," Diluc muttered. "But you? If you still don't understand, I've got nothing to say."
"At a time like this you're still mocking me? Give me some face."
Kaeya sighed and drew his rapier.
He had dealt with petty trouble every day—but this was different.
This was a threat that could wipe Mondstadt off the map, and he wasn't ready for it.
Even so, he would fight to the end.
"No, seriously!" Jean snapped. "Explain! Is what Diluc said true or not?"
She was desperate—these two were talking like riddles, and she was losing her patience.
"Yes, Acting Grand Master," Kaeya said quickly. "Diluc is right. And whether this lovely lady really plans to drop those rocks on us… well, you'll have to ask her directly."
Seeing how stressed Jean was, he didn't dare stall any longer.
"Looks like I don't need to waste time explaining," Su Mo said, stepping forward with a smile. "But—I can give you a chance. If you can defeat me, I'll leave Mondstadt unharmed. If not… you and Mondstadt will disappear together."
The timing felt perfect, and Su Mo finally laid down the terms.
He knew Venti was Barbatos, but the system required forcing the Archon to appear—not directly attacking him.
So he had to create a big enough scene.
But Venti was nowhere to be seen.
Was he still drunk somewhere?
Or still asleep?
Su Mo had no choice but to stall. He couldn't actually destroy Mondstadt. Worst case, he'd go bother Morax in Liyue instead.
Speaking of which—how did he even get teleported from Liyue to Mondstadt?
This broken system…
"Wait, wait! Didn't you say you wanted to be our god? Why are you trying to kill us now?"
Kaeya protested. He'd been thinking that if they lost, maybe they could pretend to accept her as a god—but apparently not.
"Sorry. I changed my mind."
Su Mo spread her hands, smiling innocently.
"What an unpredictable child."
Lisa sighed, though her voice held tension. She knew full well this "child" was likely a demon-god.
"All of you, come together. I'm starting."
With that, Su Mo vanished on the spot.
"Careful! She can teleport!"
Diluc shouted.
Damn it. She's getting serious?
His unease spiked. He glanced rapidly around.
Teleportation? This little girl has too many tricks…
Lisa had thought she misheard, but Diluc's expression made her swallow her doubt.
BOOM—
A heavy thud rang out as Su Mo suddenly appeared in front of Diluc and drove a fist straight into his stomach.
He flew back like a severed kite.
"Human, you're too slow. Unfortunately, you're eliminated."
She flicked a finger, sending a Void Spear shooting toward the fallen Diluc.
"Not happening!"
Kaeya threw up an ice wall between them.
"Heh."
Su Mo barely reacted. She knew the wall couldn't stop her spear.
BOOM—
The Void Spear punched through the ice effortlessly, still speeding straight for Diluc—
What? How—? That wind—?
Just as Kaeya was about to watch the spear impale Diluc, a sudden violent gust slammed in from nowhere, knocking the spear off course.
You're finally here, Barbatos.
Su Mo grinned. The mission was finally ending.
"Sustainer, what do you mean by this?"
A gentle, drunk-like voice echoed through the wind.
Su Mo: "?"
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