Without a moment's hesitation, the debt collectors launched their deadly attack directly toward Venti.
"Venti! Watch out!"
In the split-second before the attack struck, Jiang Bai hastily cast a shield around Venti.
Their initial strike thwarted, the debt collectors immediately melted back into the shadows, poised for their next assault.
Aether and Jiang Bai drew their weapons swiftly, forming a protective circle around Venti.
There was no doubt—their target was Venti!
"It's the Fatui!"
"They waited until now to strike!"
Previously, their intentions had been unclear, but now the Fatui's objective was laid bare.
The skies abruptly darkened, the previously clear weather giving way to a fierce blizzard.
High heels clicked ominously against the pavement as La Signora strode forward, her long cloak trailing behind her. An overwhelming chill radiated from her, an oppressive aura suffocating the area.
Two Electro Cicin Mages carrying lanterns followed closely behind.
A fierce gust sent Paimon spinning helplessly away, and frost rapidly spread from their feet upward. Even the protective shields were ineffective against this overwhelming cold.
Jiang Bai struggled fiercely to free his legs, but the ice encased him like cement, utterly immovable.
For the first time, Jiang Bai experienced overwhelming power—a pressure far surpassing even Dvalin's presence.
This woman… She's incredibly dangerous!
He desperately searched for help. Jean was just inside the cathedral, and if she noticed something amiss, she could possibly fight back.
Yet it seemed as if the area was sealed within some sort of barrier; no sound from the outside could penetrate the howling winds.
"Damn it!" Jiang Bai gritted his teeth.
These attackers were clearly here for Venti. And yet, this lazy, drunken god had almost no combat ability—even relying on the Holy Lyre to communicate with his own familiar!
A surge of desperation filled Jiang Bai. His eyes briefly flashed crimson. Without hesitation, he gripped his greatsword tightly and slammed it down onto his legs.
With a deafening crack, the ice shattered instantly. Jiang Bai stumbled, almost falling to his knees from the intense pain.
He was certain he'd fractured his leg bones.
Yet he didn't pause. Ignoring the agony, he gripped his greatsword, charged headlong through the blinding blizzard, aiming straight for the woman commanding the storm.
He didn't know exactly who she was, but he knew nothing good would come of Venti falling into her hands!
No fancy techniques—facing such an overwhelming enemy, Jiang Bai poured every ounce of strength he possessed into a single devastating strike.
Golden light surged around his [Snow-Tombed Starsilver] as it crashed down violently.
"You dare face me head-on? How courageous."
La Signora didn't flinch. She casually snapped her fingers, and thick ice instantly covered the space above her.
Yet, to her surprise, the ice shattered upon impact.
A brief flash of astonishment crossed her eyes, but her battle instincts reacted immediately.
Sidestepping the blow gracefully, she conjured ice from the ground, immobilizing Jiang Bai who had yet to regain his footing.
However, a moment later—
The ice web shattered explosively, and Jiang Bai lunged again, blade slicing toward her face!
Seeing Jiang Bai break through her ice again, Signora dropped her amused demeanor. Though she had no idea who this insignificant boy was, his surprising strength forced her to take him seriously.
Massive ice spikes instantly materialized, descending rapidly to surround Jiang Bai. Protected by a shield, Jiang Bai pushed forward without hesitation, the ice spikes shattering his defenses in moments, only for another shield to quickly replace it.
Amid the relentless barrage, Jiang Bai conjured a rock prison from the earth, pillars of Geo energy surging upward, trapping Signora within.
The ground rumbled violently, mimicking the earthquake attacks of the Geo Hypostasis—though weaker, still formidable enough to shake the entire area.
Signora's expression darkened further. At this rate, the Knights would surely notice. She needed to end this quickly!
Without holding back, she spread her enormous ice wings, unleashing a devastating surge of energy that shattered the stone pillars instantly.
From the sky descended massive ice spears, smashing Jiang Bai's shield to pieces and encasing him firmly in ice.
This was Jiang Bai's first time since waking up facing such an overwhelmingly powerful enemy. His desperate counterattack had been futile, like throwing himself against an unstoppable force.
Trapped in ice, Jiang Bai's crimson eyes burned fiercely, but the ice held him firmly, utterly immovable.
Helplessly, he watched as Aether was restrained by the debt collectors. Watched as Venti's desperate resistance was easily swatted aside, watched as the arrogant woman stepped disdainfully upon a god.
Signora gripped Venti's face roughly, studying him like an insignificant stray cat. A mocking smile twisted her lips as she openly sneered at the weakened god.
"The Archon who abandoned his throne over Mondstadt… Is this pitiful display really all your strength amounts to?"
Venti struggled to lift his head, a defiant smile on his lips. "Funny you mock me when your power's borrowed from your master."
"Impudent little worm!"
Signora's expression hardened sharply. Discarding Venti like garbage, she thrust her pale, icy hand straight into his chest, brutally extracting the glowing divine heart from within.
She lifted the [Gnosis] high, admiring its radiant, crystalline glow beneath the sunlight.
"So, this is a [Gnosis]? Hardly as exquisite as my treasured chess pieces," she scoffed dismissively.
Venti gasped weakly, clutching his now empty chest. Yet even in this desperate state, he refused to yield.
"Maybe that's just because your taste is horrible."
Signora gave the battered god a contemptuous glance before cruelly kicking him into the cathedral wall.
"Let's go." Without another glance at them, Signora and her subordinates turned and walked away.
It took an agonizingly long time for the ice to finally melt away. When it did, Jiang Bai stumbled and collapsed to the ground.
"Damn it… hurts so bad…" He hissed, the intense pain radiating through his legs. Despite usually being insensitive to pain, this was unbearable.
Ironically, his worst injury wasn't inflicted by Signora, but by himself when he desperately shattered the ice.
Earlier, adrenaline had suppressed the pain, but now it surged violently, leaving Jiang Bai barely able to stand.
"Are you alright?" Venti asked gently, helping Jiang Bai up.
Compared to Jiang Bai, the Archon—humiliated and stripped of his Gnosis—somehow looked remarkably better off.
---
T/N: damn...