Boom!!!
Bahu's attack was forcibly blocked by a girl who suddenly burst into the scene.
In that instant—whether it was the Millelith, the three adepti in the midst of casting their arts, or even the mortals—
All of them widened their eyes in shock.
And among them, the one closest to the battlefield, Xiao, stared in disbelief.
His shock came from a single reason.
That silhouette was far too familiar.
So familiar… that it made his chest ache with longing.
As for the mortals, their astonishment stemmed from confusion.
In their memories, only a few adepti still remained in Liyue Harbor.
Could this be an adeptus from another nation?
And even for adepti, directly tanking a demonic beast's attack was an incredibly foolish act.
Many of Liyue's adepti had perished during the Archon War—their stories preserved only in ancient tomes and long-forgotten scrolls.
As time passed, people remembered only those who still walked the world.
But regardless of who she was—
The fact that she had shielded Liyue Harbor from that attack meant one thing.
She stood on Liyue's side.
---
Bonanus's Perspective
The girl who endured Bahu's devastating strike was none other than Bonanus.
It was not because she was unusually durable.
It was because she had just acquired something very useful from the system.
---
Half an hour earlier, near the exit of the Chasm
"Wooo! Big Brother Bosacius—we're out!"
Bonanus threw her arms into the air, breathing in the fresh air as a sense of relief washed over her entire body.
Although the Chasm contained breathable air, it was perpetually mixed with curses, resentment, and deathly miasma.
If an ordinary person stayed down there too long, they would certainly go mad.
"We really made it out… Little sister, what kind of ability was that?"
Bosacius stared in disbelief at the surrounding rock formations, letting droplets of water fall against his body.
Setting everything else aside, that level of adeptal power was far beyond what his sister should have been capable of wielding.
The god who had helped her must be extraordinarily powerful.
"Little sister… could you tell me about the god who saved you?"
Bosacius wanted to understand more.
A being capable of extracting two Yaksha without even touching the seal—
Such power was dangerous.
Saving his sister alone was not enough to determine whether they were friend or foe.
Bonanus stroked her chin thoughtfully before answering.
"Big Brother Bosacius, I personally witnessed that god perish during the Archon War. Everything I'm using now comes from the relics they left behind."
"…Huh?"
Bosacius froze.
A god with such abilities dying during the Archon War was strange.
But thinking from another angle—
What if that god specialized only in healing, teleportation, and similar arts?
If so, it would make sense.
A god ill-suited for combat would have had little chance of surviving that war.
"That truly is… regrettable."
Bosacius sighed.
If such a god had formed a contract with Lord Morax, they would have been a tremendous asset to Liyue.
"Oh, Big Brother Bosacius, don't think too much about it."
Bonanus stretched lazily, then took a deep breath.
"Let's hurry back to Liyue! I can't wait anymore!"
"Wait."
Bosacius stopped her.
"I don't think this rain is normal."
He caught a few raindrops in his palm, his expression turning grave.
Bonanus turned back in confusion, staring at her brother as question marks filled her head.
"This feeling… it's familiar…"
Bosacius narrowed his eyes, a trace of disgust surfacing.
Boom!
A violent explosion echoed from afar.
Both of them froze.
What was going on? They had just come out—and already someone was causing trouble?
"I remember now!"
Bosacius's eyes widened as he looked toward Liyue Harbor.
"Little sister—come with me. Something's wrong!"
The moment he finished speaking, he leapt forward, soaring toward Liyue.
Even after centuries of slumber—
Even after losing memories—
There was one thing he would never forget.
The place he was meant to protect.
And now, that place was under attack by something dangerous.
No matter the situation, he had to see it for himself.
"Hey—wait for me, Big Brother!"
Bonanus hurried after him.
Bosacius's jumping ability was absurdly strong.
Were all Yaksha like this?
For a Hydro Yaksha, such leaps were effortless—
But she was originally from another world!
Even with inherited memories…
She was afraid of heights.
Yaksha could fly, sure—but right now, she really didn't want to experience that firsthand.
She'd leave the flying for when they reached the battlefield.
But to keep up, she clenched her teeth, squeezed her eyes shut, and jumped forward, relying purely on instinct.
"I'm on a trampoline… I'm on a trampoline…"
She muttered to herself.
Every leap felt like she was about to soar into the sky—far too thrilling.
Along the way to Liyue Harbor, Bonanus nearly slammed into mountains multiple times, narrowly avoiding disaster each time.
Bosacius, on the other hand, moved with practiced ease.
After all, even after centuries of sleep, he hadn't forgotten such fundamentals.
...
A Few Minutes Later
Bosacius landed atop a mountain peak.
Arms crossed, he narrowed his eyes, gazing at the youth battling Arrogance (Bahu) in the sea below.
At first glance, he froze.
Then joy surged through him.
He would never mistake it.
The one entangled with Arrogance was the Golden-Winged King (Alatus).
Just as his sister said—
He was still alive.
And he was still honoring the contract, still protecting Liyue after all these centuries.
That child had truly suffered.
"Huff… huff… Big Brother, why are you running so fast…"
After a nerve-wracking sprint and series of jumps, Bonanus finally reached him.
Hands braced on her knees, eyes shut, she gasped for breath.
I'm exhausted to death…
For someone that big, he's way too agile.
"Little sister—Alatus is over there!"
Bosacius grinned so widely it nearly reached his ears.
To awaken and immediately see two of his family—
If champagne existed, he would have opened a bottle on the spot.
"Alatus?"
Bonanus looked up.
Sure enough, she saw a young man fighting a massive, water-serpent-like monstrosity.
That creature resembled Osial—but she knew it wasn't him.
Its aura was far too weak.
Osial's power far exceeded this.
"Looks like we won't need to step in. The adepti have arrived."
Bosacius crossed his arms, watching the three Adepti channel power into the Guizhong Ballistae, then nodded slightly toward Xiao.
Alatus had grown tremendously.
As his elder brother, Bosacius felt deeply gratified.
"He really is strong."
Bonanus nodded in agreement.
After all, this was her chosen fictional husband.
Of course he wasn't ordinary.
But even so, she could sense Xiao's aura weakening rapidly.
If those three old timers didn't finish charging soon—
Things would get bad.
Just as they assumed they could continue spectating from the mountaintop—
Arrogance unleashed another attack capable of massive explosions.
"Not good—we have to stop him!"
Bosacius's pupils shrank as he prepared to rush forward.
He had been careless.
That serpent-like thing was a god-level entity.
And here he was, watching instead of assisting.
What a disgraceful marshal.
But Bonanus moved faster.
The moment she sensed danger, she spent 500 Karma in the Water-Moon Ring to purchase a shield.
[10,000 / 50,000]
--+--
[Shield Effect]
Blocks one instance of fatal damage.
Can be purchased up to three times per year.
Passive item.
--+--
"Little sister—wait!"
Bosacius was horrified.
Since when had she become so reckless?
That was the enemy's final attack!
Even if it wasn't a true god, it was still lethal!
This could get her killed!
But it was already too late.
The instant Bonanus charged forward, Bosacius followed.
If he could make it in time—
He would take the blow in her place.