"Swoosh!" Smith and the others landed atop Hokage Rock, surveying the chaos below.
"What a massive creature!" Keqing exclaimed as she watched the Nine-Tailed Fox rampaging through the village. She felt an overwhelming pressure emanating from the beast and turned to Zhongli. "Emperor, were the opponents you faced during the Demon God War this terrifying?"
Before Zhongli could answer, Ganyu spoke up. "This creature is our target, the Nine-Tailed Fox. Its strength rivals some of the demon gods from the past."
After a moment of hesitation, she added, "I don't think I could defeat it."
Hearing this, Ningguang and Keqing both exhaled in relief. It was understandable that Ganyu might not be strong enough, but that also meant the beast was no match for the Rock King Emperor.
"This is not Teyvat," Zhongli observed, closing his eyes briefly to sense his surroundings. "There are no ley lines here, only a different type of energy. This Nine-Tailed Fox is a condensed manifestation of that energy—similar to how our demon gods embody elemental forces. However, these beings don't seem to suffer from erosion like we do. The humans here also wield this energy."
"They call it chakra," Smith explained. "This world is filled with people who gain power without the need for objects like the Eye of God. Many of them are as strong as the most powerful beings in Teyvat."
"Chakra... It is indeed an interesting concept," Zhongli mused. "But I've noticed something odd—why do these powerful warriors, these so-called ninjas, willingly serve the powerless?"
Smith shrugged. "It's just the way their world works. You could compare it to how the scholars of Sumeru imprison even gods for the sake of knowledge."
Keqing gasped. "Imprisoning gods?! That's unthinkable!"
"They're quite skilled at wielding power," Zhongli admitted. "As for why these ninjas obey their weaker rulers, it likely stems from some deeply ingrained rules."
Smith frowned. "That reminds me... In this world's history, the Six Paths Sage supposedly created a system of governance. If that's true, maybe he ensured that his own descendants—those without chakra—would still hold political power."
"However, that's irrelevant right now. It's time for us to act." Zhongli's tone turned serious. "Aside from Ganyu and me, none of you can participate in this battle. Ganyu, your priority is to protect them."
"Understood!" Ganyu nodded, determination in her eyes. She wasn't sure about Smith's true strength, but she understood the importance of his abilities. If he could traverse different worlds, then protecting him was crucial for Liyue's future.
Meanwhile, the Nine-Tails, growing more enraged by the second, had been forced out of Konoha by Hiruzen Sarutobi, who wielded his staff to push the beast back. But this only provoked the fox further. With a deafening roar, it opened its mouth, gathering an immense amount of chakra.
"It's preparing a Tailed Beast Bomb!" someone shouted in despair.
"No...!" Hiruzen's heart clenched as he realized that this attack would decimate Konoha. His aging body could do nothing to stop it.
Then, just as the village braced for destruction, a deep, commanding voice rang out: "All shall be gathered!"
A golden barrier formed around Konoha, its intricate design glowing brilliantly as the Tailed Beast Bomb collided with it. The devastating energy dissipated harmlessly, not even creating a ripple in the barrier's surface.
Hiruzen's eyes widened in shock. "What... What is this technique?!"
"Look! There are people in the sky!" a Hyuga ninja shouted, pointing toward Zhongli and his companions.
"So many bystanders..." Zhongli sighed, glancing at the battle below. "I would rather not intervene in another world's conflicts, but I cannot ignore the innocent."
His gaze shifted to the Nine-Tails' eyes. "This beast—an entity comparable to our demon gods—is under someone's control. Fascinating. This world is unique in ways I did not anticipate."
Smith watched intently. "In a full-scale war, if we exclude the gods, Teyvat might not win against this world so easily. Their widespread use of chakra makes them formidable."
"An interesting thought," Zhongli agreed. "Perhaps, in the future, we will encounter even stronger worlds. The possibilities are endless."
Meanwhile, below them, the battle raged on, but Konoha had unknowingly gained powerful new allies.
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