On the surging sea surface.
Massive sails had been billowed up by the gale, and the enormous ship was cutting through the waves.
Huge ballistae were mounted at the bow and stern. Just looking at those thick bolts gleaming with chilling light revealed their terrifying destructive power—hunting massive whales or deep-sea beasts was a mere trifle!
It was less a ship and more a warship!
This was a fleet—or an armada.
The flagship alone was over a hundred meters long and dozens of meters wide.
At the prow stood a woman with an eyepatch over one eye, clad in a modified qipao suited for close combat, a greatsword gripped in her hand.
The Southern Cross Fleet—Beidou!
Beidou planted her greatsword and pointed at Osel. "Take it down!"
In the eyes of the world, the Southern Cross Fleet's main job was transporting cargo.
Few knew that beyond hauling goods, under Beidou's command, it was also a hidden naval force!
At her order, countless arrows rained from the fleet.
In this world of supernatural powers, the ballistae's range was extreme, and their lethality horrifying.
In an instant, Osel was under attack from both flanks.
To the current Osel, the Southern Cross Fleet astern was nothing but insignificant ants—their damage negligible.
The effect of the Talisman Free of Taboos wasn't permanent. He wanted to seize this chance to charge into Liyue Harbor and exact brutal revenge for his millennium of suppression!
With the Jade Chamber yet to recover, Osel began advancing toward the shore.
In Liyue Harbor at this moment, the other Qixing were rapidly evacuating the crowds, with swarms of Millelith deploying to hold the line on portside land against the fallen god!
The intensely oppressive, bustling Liyue Harbor was filled with countless figures.
Baizhu, Qiqi, and Yaoyao urgently treating the wounded.
Hu Tao standing at the seaside with her Staff of Homa, her expression hostile.
Xingqiu mobilizing his guild to aid the evacuation.
Yelan darting through alleys, assassinating Fatui troublemakers.
Xiangling, Chongyun, and Yun Jin arriving at the South Wharf.
Yanfei casting aside her law tomes and taking up arms.
Xinyan rushing to the shore with her claymore.
And Shenhe, standing high above, her face expressionless.
Along with the Millelith!
Behind the Millelith were fervent youths, terrified yet unyielding!
[Jean]: So this is Liyue facing crisis? (Amazed)
[Alhaitham]: United as one—in their eyes, the god doesn't seem so fearsome.
[Neuvillette]: Why do humans, at the brink of life and death, choose death over life? I truly struggle to understand human emotions...
[Nahida]: You have to win! (Nahida · Anticipating)
[Paimon]: Go Liyue!!
[Klee]: Go Liyue! Need Klee's help? Klee can make Bounce Bombs!
[Jean]: Klee, stay put in confinement. This is past-life Liyue's affair—current Liyue should be fine.
[Alhaitham]: Hate to ruin the mood, but sorry—not trying to dampen spirits, just the odds of victory are slim!
[Heizou]: Used to not get what made gods so formidable. Now I do: ten thousand, a million, even ten million people are just swarms of ants to Osel. Men might fear ant hordes, but gods won't!
[Zhongli]: Such a scene of unity warms the heart.
[Hu Tao]: @[Zhongli] Guest Consultant! Why haven't I seen you? You didn't really assassinate Rex Lapis, did you? (Terrified)
[Paimon]: Yeah! Why aren't you in the video?! (Nahida · Pointing)
[Furina]: So my guess was right after all! (Excited)
[Zhongli]: Let's not dwell on me for now—watch the video. Vortex Demon God Osel is closing in on Liyue Harbor.
Just as Zhongli said, in the video, Osel was frantically trying to approach Liyue Harbor.
The adepti had exerted themselves to stabilize the Jade Chamber.
Aboard the Jade Chamber, Ningguang glanced at the heedless, rampaging Osel, then at the situation in Liyue Harbor, her eyes drooping with a hint of sorrow.
But soon, that sorrow vanished. Ningguang's face hardened with resolve. "There's one last way!"
"What way?"
"I'm... abandoning the Jade Chamber!" Ningguang declared gravely.
"Abandoning... the Jade Chamber?"
Paimon was stunned.
After a moment's thought, Lumine grasped Ningguang's intent.
[Dori]: Huh? The Jade Chamber means everything to the Tianquan Star—it witnessed her rise. And now she has to give it up? (Confused)
[Heizou]: Analyzed it seriously: the Jade Chamber's huge and heavy. Don't get the floating part, but dropping it could indeed smash Osel back into the depths!
[Osel]: Impossible!
[Neuvillette]: Normally, slim chance—but not zero. If Osel's gravely wounded first, odds skyrocket. Pity the Jade Chamber's Endseeker array is destroyed; pair it with heavy damage to Osel, and the crisis ends!
[Paimon]: Wait! Gu Chen and Zhongli's voices!
The video lingered on the Jade Chamber but carried two voices in conversation.
"Do you think their plan will work?"
"By common logic, if Osel's badly hurt, yes—it's possible."
Implying the Jade Chamber alone might not pin Osel back underwater!
"Seeing this spectacle, are you satisfied?"
"Naturally!"
"Good. If one strike fails, Osel will rage. I won't let Lumine get hurt—don't blame me if I kill him then."
"Try to spare his life."
"That depends on his strength."
The scene shifted.
Zhongli stood at Yujing Terrace's heights, hands behind his back, gazing into the distance.
Gu Chen, in pristine white robes, gripped his silver-white spear and strode forth.
[Paimon]: Yay! It's Gu Chen!!
[Ningguang]: Doesn't that mean I'm losing the Jade Chamber for nothing?
[Keqing]: Yep.
[Ningguang]: ...
In the real world.
Aboard the Jade Chamber, Ningguang stared at the vast structure, at a loss for words.
As the video once noted, the Jade Chamber held immense significance to her.
Smashing Osel with it would be worthwhile if it worked.
But failure meant losing it for naught!
"Jade Chamber, oh Jade Chamber... I beg you, my old friend..."
In the video.
"Farewell, my old friend..." Ningguang sighed wistfully.
Lumine struck the mechanism with her sword. The Jade Chamber plummeted toward Osel.
Boom!
An earth-shaking explosion roared deafeningly.
With the blast came a roar brimming with endless fury!
"How is it not over?!" Paimon cried in shock.
Even Lumine was horrified.
Osel launched mad retaliation.
Its five heads unleashed terrifying elemental beams.
Lumine dodged desperately in the air with her Wings of the Wind and Anemo power.
One misstep—her wings shredded. Intense weightlessness seized her, sending her plummeting toward the sea.
"Lumine!!!"
Paimon screamed.
Lumine panicked too. Without wings, mere Anemo couldn't slow her fall.
Just as she despaired, she landed in a warm embrace.
Looking back—it was Gu Chen!
[Your Highness]: Heh, not early, not late—right on time. Hero saves the beauty? So corny! You disgust me!
[Kaeya]: Mr. Gu Chen, your haters are here smelling the scent! (Hilarious)
[Paimon]: Great! Everyone on the Jade Chamber's fine—saved by the adepti! (Klee · Yay)
[Osel]: Wait, what're you doing, Gu Chen?
In the video, after setting Lumine and Paimon on the wharf, Gu Chen said, "Wait for me."
His expression icy, he gripped his silver-white spear and strode across the waves toward Osel.