"No way... You are the Qixing and the Adepti, the protectors of Liyue!"
"Isn't there anything you can do?!"
Paimon was shocked by Ningguang's words, clutching her chest as she anxiously asked.
"There is something we can try."
Cloud Retainer lifted her crane-like head and glanced at Paimon.
"Previously, the Qixing took an interest in the Guizhong Ballista and attempted to study it."
"And now, as its creator, I just so happen to be here."
Cloud Retainer's gaze swept over the Qixing, her tone both proud and laced with mockery.
"A mortal studying the mechanisms of the Adepti—what could you possibly hope to learn?"
"But with just a few of my modifications to this outdated ballista, it will evolve into something beyond your imagination."
She gestured toward the numerous Guizhong Ballistae scattered around, explaining in a measured tone.
"If we use the modified Guizhong Ballista, we may be able to fight the Vortex Archon."
"And with the Adepti gathered here, we can infuse them with our power."
Ningguang spoke firmly.
"There is no time to lose. The decisive battle is now."
Closing her eyes, she brought her hands together in focus.
"Activate!"
Ningguang's golden eyes snapped open, and with a sweep of her arms, a massive surge of Geo energy erupted from her body.
In an instant, she teleported into the sky, gracefully extending a jade-like hand. Before her, an enormous golden lotus formation bloomed.
Three overlapping blue magic circles combined, forming a vast translucent platform of pale blue light.
With a precise gesture of her fingers, several massive Guizhong Ballistae materialized atop the formation.
From his distant vantage point on the mountain, Qiu Bai watched the scene unfold, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"I still don't understand why Ningguang is only a four-star in the game."
"The leader of a nation should be this powerful."
He clasped his hands behind his back, admiring the spectacle.
Despite the torrential rain and howling winds battering his surroundings, not a single drop of water touched him.
The fierce gales, which should have been overwhelming, merely ruffled the hem of his robes—his composed figure standing in stark contrast to the apocalyptic chaos around him.
...
Mountain Shaper leaped onto a Guizhong Ballista, his four hooves treading lightly in the air.
Cloud Retainer and Moon Carver spread their wings, descending onto the weapons as well.
The Adepti began channeling their energy, and the Guizhong Ballistae crackled with immense power before launching devastating attacks at the monstrous figure in the sea.
Osial let out a low, guttural roar as the strikes landed, but they failed to inflict any lasting damage.
"What's that?"
Paimon stared at the platform in confusion as dark voids suddenly opened in the air.
From within, a flood of Fatui soldiers emerged, charging straight for the Guizhong Ballistae.
"This is bad! Traveler, the Fatui are trying to destroy the Ballistae!"
Paimon cried out in alarm.
Hearing her, Lumine immediately brandished her sword and dashed forward.
Keqing, standing nearby, also rushed to engage the enemy.
Just then, a small girl with blue hair leaped into battle, wielding a sword. The aura around her was unmistakable—she was an Adeptus as well.
"You—you're Qiqi?!"
Lumine and Paimon, mid-sprint, suddenly recognized the little girl beside them.
Qiqi turned her head, blinking at them.
"Traveler... Paimon..."
"Qiqi remembers you."
Her soft, delicate voice reached their ears.
"I never knew Qiqi was an Adeptus!"
Paimon stared at her in shock, uncertainly asking,
"Are you really...?"
"Qiqi... wasn't always an Adeptus."
"It was Big Brother who turned me into one."
"He brought me to my sister's side... and taught me the ways of the Adepti."
Qiqi spoke softly, her tone gentle.
"B-Big Brother... Qiu Bai?! Qiu Bai?!"
Paimon gasped, covering her mouth in disbelief.
She had just stumbled upon an unbelievable secret.
Lumine's brow furrowed in shock—Qiu Bai could turn people into Adepti?!
And the "sister" Qiqi mentioned... Could she mean Madame Ping?
But she's just an old lady!
Now wasn't the time to dwell on this.
First, they had to deal with the Fatui. Once this was over, they could question Qiu Bai properly.
Lumine and Paimon were bursting with questions about him.
"Protect the Adepti! Don't let them be interrupted!"
The Qianyan Army captain bellowed as he led his troops into battle.
"All Qianyan soldiers who can fight—move out with me!"
Keqing waved her hand, gritted her teeth, and charged forward.
"The Adepti and Archons haven't clashed in millennia."
"Hmph. Come, let me see if you still have any strength left."
Cloud Retainer's sharp, mocking words carried through the battlefield.
Even the Qianyan soldiers who had been struggling to stand found renewed strength, charging into battle.
...
"Wh-what is that?!"
Paimon's voice trembled as she pointed toward Osial.
Despite taking relentless fire from the Guizhong Ballistae, the ancient god barely seemed affected.
Then, as if in response, another of its heads rose from the sea.
Now, with five massive heads towering above, a terrifying surge of divine energy began to coalesce.
The sky itself reacted to the overwhelming force—lightning crackled, thunder roared, and storm clouds twisted violently above.
Then, in one earth-shattering moment, Osial unleashed its divine energy.
The impact sent a shockwave tearing through the heavens, scattering the clouds with its sheer force.
"The Vortex Archon, Osial... I recognize this power all too well."
"Brace yourselves—dodge!"
Xiao, locked in combat with the Fatui, shouted toward Paimon and Lumine.
A massive blast of water shot forth, slamming into the platform with brutal force.
Even the Fatui soldiers were caught in the impact, some sent hurtling into the depths below.
"Watch out! The Fatui are getting even more aggressive!"
A Qianyan Army soldier, locked in combat with the Fatui, shouted toward the rear,
"Not bad... After this is over, not a single diplomat from Snezhnaya will be allowed to escape!"
Ningguang's calm yet commanding voice echoed in the air as she continued maintaining the floating platform.
Beside her, Ganyu wielded her bow, channeling Adepti energy to strike down the invading Fatui forces.
Lumine was struggling against an onslaught of enemies when, from the distance, a Fatui Thunderhammer brute came charging in.
With a single, devastating swing of his hammer, he sent Lumine flying.
She barely managed to stop herself upon landing, driving her sword into the ground with all her might.
"Haa…"
Lumine panted, her gaze fixed on the endless wave of Fatui soldiers. Her strength was waning.
"I... I can't…"
Paimon, seeing Lumine's exhaustion, was about to speak when a gentle voice called out from behind them.
"Silly child, were you about to say you can't hold on?"
"Take this."
Madame Ping's kind voice carried over.
"That's Adepti power!"
"It's Madame Ping's energy wave—Madame Ping is so strong!"
Paimon shouted in amazement.
"True name—Lord of Tribulation Crossing!"
At that moment, Qiqi's Adepti energy flowed into Lumine as well.
"It's Qiqi!"
Paimon turned toward the little girl in the distance, watching as she channeled her own Adepti techniques.
"The name Yaksha signifies speed."
A pure surge of Adepti power, untouched by karmic corruption, infused Lumine's body.
"Whoa, it's Xiao!"
Lumine took a step forward and immediately felt the difference—her movements were much faster now.
And yet, it wasn't over.
"The blood of the Qilin shall shield you from evil!"
"Let go of your fear of pain and unleash your full strength! This is what I did during the Archon War!"
Ganyu's power surged into Lumine next.
"I never expected Ganyu to have been like this during the Archon War…"
Paimon gazed curiously at Ganyu as she unleashed her Adepti arts.
"Oh? So everyone's giving her power."
"If I don't… wouldn't that be a little rude?"
A familiar, playful voice suddenly echoed in Lumine and Paimon's minds.
"Qiu Bai!"
Lumine and Paimon exchanged glances before scanning their surroundings, smiles forming on their lips as they searched for him.
"Don't overthink it—just focus on fighting."
"Heh~"
A dark-white aura suddenly flared up around Lumine.
Feeling the immense power coursing through her, she clenched her fists.
At this moment, she was certain—she could cut down Childe in his Foul Legacy form with a single strike.