Lu Heng woke up early, but Navia was still out cold.
This was only natural.
At the moment, Lu Heng was carefully observing Navia's physical condition.
This was how rookies were after their first battle—it was hard not to worry.
Once he confirmed there were no issues, he relaxed and sat beside her, scrolling through the news while waiting for her to wake up.
There were only twenty-four hours in a day, but thanks to the card shop, explosive headlines appeared daily.
And with those headlines often came a certain young woman's byline—Charlotte!
How did she manage to appear in seven out of ten breaking news stories?
How could anyone be this relentless?
Lu Heng didn't get it.
But then again, this was exactly why Charlotte was so famous—she worked hard enough to bury her competition.
Plus, the news she wrote was actually entertaining.
Even serious topics had a humorous twist when she covered them.
After browsing for a while, Lu Heng stumbled upon a short video.
Beidou was filming inside the command tower of the new Mora Star flagship.
The robotic voice of the AI assistant sounded stern as it reported various parameters.
Through the video, the ship's artillery could be seen undergoing inspections.
Noticing the red halo pulsing around Beidou's profile picture, Lu Heng hesitated.
Was she live-streaming now?
Without thinking, he immediately switched to stealth mode and entered the stream.
If he didn't, his presence alone would steal Beidou's spotlight.
Everyone's attention would shift to him, completely overshadowing her.
Inside the live stream:
Kaedehara Kazuha was holding the phone, filming as Beidou bustled about, occasionally barking orders into her walkie-talkie.
Why so serious?
Wait, if the Mora Star had an AI system, who was Beidou giving orders to?
Lu Heng pondered for a moment.
Beidou still had some sense of secrecy.
No matter how advanced or powerful the new Mora Star was—even if it were just a pile of scrap metal—its exact specs couldn't be casually leaked.
It was like publicly announcing your bank balance down to the last decimal point.
If the wrong people found out, trouble would follow.
The analogy wasn't perfect, but when it came to security, discretion was crucial.
Lu Heng checked the time.
10:20 AM.
"Alright, everyone!" Beidou strode toward the camera.
She pointed into the distance.
Kazuha immediately understood, adjusting the shot.
In the distant sky, the Jade Chamber floated like a small island, slowly approaching.
"Some of you might already know what's going on, but for those who don't, let me explain."
Beidou might seem rough around the edges, but she was sharp where it counted—otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to command the mighty Crux Fleet, let alone deal with the complex politics of Liyue.
In her stream, viewers weren't there for her looks or charisma—they were there for her bold, unflinching attitude.
In just a few sentences, Beidou laid out the situation.
"Right now, our sensors have detected Osial's mate, Beisht, lurking about thirty-two kilometers ahead of us!"
As the saying went: You can guard against a thief for a thousand days, but you can't guard against a thief for every day.
Leaving a threat out there was unacceptable.
Even if, in this day and age, Beisht posed no real danger to Liyue Harbor, people still hated being pestered by nuisances.
Like mosquitoes—their bites might not be deadly, but the constant buzzing was infuriating.
Especially when you couldn't see them but could hear them.
That was exactly the situation now.
"Osial and Beisht have been at odds with Liyue for thousands of years. Negotiating peacefully isn't an option, so we're going to show them our strength first—let them understand the reality before we talk!"
"But will Osial and Beisht even agree? One's been sealed away for ages, the other hasn't seen her husband in centuries. Their resentment must be off the charts!"
"Doesn't matter if they agree—they'll have to answer to Liyue's military might!"
"Yeah, it's basically strong-arming them, but here's the thing—Liyue doesn't actually want to kill them. They're still ancient gods. If they die, their remains would pollute the ocean, and that'd ruin countless fishermen's livelihoods!"
"This guy gets it!" Beidou grinned. "We can't just go all out, wreck the place, and leave the people who depend on the sea to suffer, right? Marine ecosystems shouldn't be messed with too much—otherwise, it's the coastal communities that pay the price."
"Logically speaking, we just have to beat them into submission first!"
"It's just the Vortex Archon and his not-even-an-Archon wife. Honestly, from a national perspective, these two seem like relics from a bygone era."
"Just nuke them with a planet-buster!"
"Bro, chill. If we blow up Teyvat, where are we gonna live?"
"Rein it in! A hydrogen bomb should be enough—less pollution!"
"What does Archon meat taste like?"
"I see it's a Liyue IP—I bet it's Xiangling asking!"
Beidou ignored the chat and pressed her walkie-talkie.
"All hands, prepare!"
Voices from various crew members crackled through the device.
"Target located eighty meters below sea level. Lethal force authorized," the AI reported.
"Lock onto it!"
"Target locked."
"FIRE—!" Beidou commanded.
The three triple-barreled main turrets, already primed, roared to life.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The sheer force of the artillery discharge made the entire warship lurch sideways by over three meters.
No man could resist the allure of massive warships and their colossal guns!
Especially guns of this caliber!
The deafening blast was enough to make ears ring and hearts skip a beat.
For a split second, everything seemed to blur.
But once the moment passed, the sheer exhilaration of raw firepower took over.
Just look at this!
This was the new Mora Star in action!
"Holy—!"
Even Lu Heng couldn't help but swear.
He wasn't just watching through the stream—he could observe everything from an omniscient perspective.
The sheer immersion made even someone as powerful as him feel that primal rush.
Damn!
He really wanted to try firing those guns himself!
Meanwhile, in the Sea of Clouds—
Thirty-two kilometers.
In the World War II era of Lu Heng's old world, hitting a target at that range would've required divine intervention.
But for the Mora Star, with its over-engineered fire-control system, thirty-two kilometers was practically point-blank—the only difference was the reaction time.
The AI had already predicted Beisht's trajectory.
The seconds ticked by in the command tower, each one crisp and clear.
One… two…
Thirty-six seconds.
Thirty-nine.
Forty-one.
Then—
SPLASH! SPLASH! SPLASH!
Shells plunged into the ocean, followed by the shrieking whistle of their descent.
The water's resistance didn't stop the nine projectiles immediately.
Deep below, a colossal creature swam lazily—until the shells struck its spine.
THUD!
The underwater explosions were muffled but devastating.
Bubbles erupted as shrapnel tore through the depths.
The shells, infused with Electro energy, were far deadlier than conventional ordnance.
Four of the nine shells found their mark.
The other five missed due to water currents or other factors.
A pained, guttural roar echoed through the abyss.
SPLASH!
The sea erupted.
Three draconic heads burst from the waves, howling at the sky.
In the sunlight, four bloody wounds were visible along its back.
Just as Beisht roared, another volley of nine shells streaked toward it.
Beisht reared back, elemental energy gathering in its maw.
With a furious blast, it unleashed a torrent of energy, sweeping through the air like a laser.
Six shells detonated mid-flight.
The remaining three slammed into Beisht's Hydro shield.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The shield shattered instantly.
Fortunately, this time, Beisht wasn't heavily injured.
It had already sensed the source of the attack.
Enraged, it dove beneath the waves and surged forward.
"Welp, this just got tricky."
Beidou clicked her tongue.
She had expected this—some backup was necessary.
Beisht clearly understood that water resistance weakened the shells, so it dove deeper—now nearly three kilometers down!
The Mora Star was undeniably powerful.
But against an enemy lurking at such depths? There was nothing she could do.
Enhanced shells could penetrate maybe a hundred meters at most.
Depth charges couldn't reach that far either.
"Folks, I'm out of options here."
Beidou shrugged.
"But don't worry—I've got allies. They'll handle the rest… Honestly, this is kinda anticlimactic."
She felt unsatisfied.
But she also knew this was a problem she'd face in the future.
If enemies could just hide in the deep sea, she was powerless.
There was only one solution—
Gacha.
Beidou grinned. "Guess I've gotta hustle for more Mora. Time to spend at Lu Heng's shop—otherwise, I'm screwed in situations like this."
"Captain's got power-level anxiety."
"Warships operate at sea, and so do battles. If enemies can just dive deep, that's a major weakness."
"The solution's simple—just pull better cards! Spend! Spend! Spend!"
Lu Heng wholeheartedly agreed.
Worried about strength?
Just pull gacha. Get good cards, and the anxiety vanishes!
"I've got something fun up my sleeve."
Beidou smirked. "Haishan, you take over too. Deploy those drones—let's give everyone a front-row seat!"
Deep beneath the waves, silence reigned.
Only the currents stirred by Beisht's massive body disturbed the abyss.
Beisht was… frustrated.
It had wandered these unclaimed waters for centuries.
It longed to free Osial from Guyun Stone Forest, but with Morax still alive, it dared not approach.
If it got caught and sealed too, there'd be no hope left.
So it waited. And waited.
Until a few days ago.
A divine battle erupted in these waters.
A terrifying clash of power—far beyond even Osial's might.
One of the auras was unmistakable—Morax's divine energy.
Who was He fighting?
Beisht didn't stick around to find out. It suppressed its presence and fled.
Only after the battle ended did it cautiously return.
In these waters, Beisht never attacked humans, fearing rumors might reach Morax's ears.
After all, that ruthless god had slaughtered countless deities and monsters just to avenge a friend and protect His people.
But recently…
Beisht overheard sailors talking.
Morax was dead.
It hadn't even confirmed the news yet.
But its heart pounded wildly.
This was its chance to save Osial!
Beisht crept toward Guyun Stone Forest.
It moved slowly, plotting its next move.
Then—just minutes ago—as it inched forward, lost in thought, something pierced the surface and struck it.
The explosions were agonizing.
Furious, it blocked the attacks and charged toward the ship.
That vessel might look sturdy, but it wouldn't survive its assault!
Closer… closer…
Just fifteen kilometers away, Beisht's heart suddenly seized.
A primal fear gripped it.
Death loomed.
Its massive body pressed against the seabed, all three heads staring upward.
The terror came from above.
Its gaze pierced the lightless depths, through the waves, and locked onto the Jade Chamber hovering kilometers in the sky.
There, standing at the edge, was Ningguang.
Dressed in regal finery, she looked down upon the empty sea.
Her eyes seemed to pierce the depths, meeting Beisht's own.
Drones above and below captured the moment.
After two seconds, Ningguang looked away.
Her voice was calm.
"Where is the Golden Armor?"
Before the words faded—
Behind the Jade Chamber, golden light coalesced from the void.
In an instant, countless golden fragments formed into a towering, godlike figure.
Clad in majestic golden armor, a tiger-headed helmet upon its head, its massive sword planted firmly before it.
"Your servant awaits!"
The Golden Armor General's voice boomed like thunder.
Like a celestial general descending, its divine might radiated in all directions.
The sheer presence of the colossal golden warrior stunned all who witnessed it.
And deep below—
Beisht's eyes widened.
Its heart stopped.
Ningguang glanced back at the Golden Armor General.
This was her first time summoning it.
Towering. Majestic. Divine. An unshakable aura of authority.
The sword in its hand was a gift from the Heavenly Emperor.
Its duty was to guard the celestial palace.
Any being worthy of being a "gate guardian" was undeniably powerful—and a ruler's most trusted.
Now, as Ningguang's summoned entity, its loyalty was hers alone.
"Spare its life. That is all."
"As you command."
The Golden Armor General acknowledged the order.
Standing upon the sea, it raised its colossal sword—then brought it down toward the depths!
Move! Move!
Beisht's instincts screamed.
But it couldn't.
Its body refused to obey.
Under the crushing weight of a higher existence's power, Beisht was as helpless as meat on a chopping block.
"Uuuu—"
A low, despairing whimper escaped it.
Osial… I can no longer follow you…
Far away—
Beneath Guyun Stone Forest.
A pair of azure eyes snapped open in the abyssal darkness.
Osial's heart clenched with sudden dread.
It thrashed violently.
Its immense power slammed against the corroded stone spears.
The seabed trembled.
Golden sigils flickered—bright, then dim—struggling to maintain the seal.
The more desperate Osial grew, the more frantic—and sorrowful—it became.
"Had you known it would come to this, would you have acted differently?"
A voice spoke beside it.
Zhongli stood there, untouched by the surrounding waters, as if encased in a bubble.
Osial froze.
Then—
It lowered its head in submission.
"Spare her… I will bow to you…"
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T/N:
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