"Brother Taro, are you serious with that?"
Madame Ping couldn't hold back her question.
"Osial and Azhdaha will really break free of their seals and return to the world?"
With the Emperor here, how could that be possible?
She instinctively glanced at Zhongli at her side.
"..."
Meeting her eyes, Zhongli's expression was the same as ever.
No change, not even a ripple.
"Indeed," Zhongli even nodded calmly, cooperating. "By reason, such a thing should be impossible."
Azhdaha wouldn't.
But Osial… if left unchecked, that would be another matter entirely.
If he kept to the original plan…
"Emperor~"
Ping didn't even bother acting anymore. "It seems you're still hiding something from us."
"But fine. I'll only tell Liuyun and the others later. The rest…"
"Ahem~"
Zhongli coughed lightly. "This matter I will find time to explain in detail. For now, our focus should not be here."
No helping it. He was feeling guilty.
Fortunately, the plan hadn't yet begun.
"As long as the Emperor has it in hand."
Ping had confirmed beyond doubt that this old fellow was hiding things from them. But she didn't press.
As he said, their focus had to lie elsewhere.
Seeing her relent, Zhongli quietly breathed out in relief.
They'd been comrades for thousands of years. For him to plan something this big without telling them—dragging them into it instead—wasn't easy to justify.
Good thing. Good thing.
"Brother Taro, I believe the Yuheng has learned a deep enough lesson. Shall we leave it here?"
Looking down at the increasingly flustered Keqing, Zhongli sighed.
She was a child he admired.
Better she not have her resolve broken.
Brother Taro really didn't understand the meaning of holding back.
Look at the state he'd scared her into.
"That's fine~"
Taro's eyes flicked, and with a wave he split the space, sealing off the scene below, cutting off her view. Then he looked at Zhongli with a smile that wasn't a smile.
"Since we're here already, how about the two of you play a round too?"
He could feel Zhongli's unfathomable depths.
But this man had acted only a handful of times.
Taro had never seen him fight with his own eyes.
Since the arena was already open, why not… test him?
"Not me~"
Madame Ping immediately shook her head. "I haven't fought in years. Leave this one to the Emperor."
With that, she flashed beside Taro, leaving Zhongli alone before the three Seraphim at full manifestation.
Watching them both stand aside like spectators, Zhongli only shook his head helplessly.
"So be it."
Fixing his eyes on the strange "monsters" not of Teyvat, Zhongli let a faint smile appear.
"It has been long since I moved in earnest. My hands itch. Let's see if my skills have grown rusty."
Once, he too had been a battle fanatic.
If Brother Taro wanted a show, so be it.
At his words, golden light spilled across the sky.
Zhongli's amber eyes flared with brilliance, the braid at his back glowing faintly.
A divine blade wrapped in golden radiance broke through the clouds, falling from the heavens.
That colossal blade, carrying incomparable might, descended upon the three Seraphim.
Crushing with sheer force!
Locked by enmity, the three Seraphim instantly entered combat mode.
Their vast white wings flared open.
Holy light consumed half the sky.
Staffs raised, three beams of radiance merged as one, colliding head-on with the golden blade from the heavens.
Light and blade clashed with a sound like a resounding bell.
Dong—!
Space rippled in waves.
The aftermath of the clash spread outward, tearing the clouds to shreds.
The blue sky cleared.
Before their eyes, the divine blade smashed through the tri-beam of light and drove straight down at the angels.
Vmmm—
The holy light shattered.
The three Seraphim shifted.
In unison, they crossed their staffs before them.
Murmured prayers, indistinct, filled the air.
The dispersed radiance condensed sharply, forming a blazing phantom of a Seraph.
Chant of Light, Song of Angels.
Projection of the Highest Seraph!
The staffs in their hands shattered into motes of holy light, pouring into the phantom.
The phantom raised its hand, and a pure white spear formed, thrusting upward to meet the blade.
Clang!
The ringing of steel upon steel shook the heavens.
Crack!
In the midst of their stalemate, a faint shattering sound arose.
The space around them was beginning to collapse.
It was the precursor to breakdown.
The clash had surpassed what this space could endure.
With a wave of his hand, Taro grabbed the dazed Keqing.
The space crumbled, the super-tier spell broken.
Light flashed, and the four returned to their original place.
"Good thing the food hasn't been served yet~"
"Otherwise it'd be hard to explain where we just went."
Three people vanishing at once?
Anyone with a weak heart would think they'd seen ghosts.
"Truly an eye-opener~"
"Brother Taro's strength commands respect."
Ping's eyes sparkled, roaming over Taro.
She knew well how strong the Emperor was.
During the Archon War, she had fought as one of his generals.
That divine blade—how many gods had it once struck fear into?
Yet Taro had matched it with mere summons.
And he himself had not even fought…
"Just so-so~"
Taro said lightly. "That was just taking advantage. Another time, let's do it properly?"
Summons were summons. He was himself.
Not the same thing.
Their mechanics were too simple.
If he had been the one moving just now…
Forget it. No point saying that now. Better to try it for real another time.
"Forgive me for refusing."
Zhongli shook his head with a small smile, declining without hesitation.
For him now, the less he fought, the better.
No need for sparring.
"Alright then, pity."
Seeing him refuse, Taro wasn't surprised.
This man wasn't as straightforward as before.
He preferred to keep his strength hidden.
"Hey, girl, wake up. It's over. Time to come back."
Looking at the dazed Keqing, Taro waved a hand before her eyes.
Uh oh.
Don't tell him this kid had broken down?
Better fix it quick.
A white glow gathered on his fingertip. He tapped toward her forehead.
"Ah~!"
Keqing startled awake with a cry, stumbling back two steps, still shaken.
"Good, you're awake…"
Taro calmly drew his hand back, unfazed.
So long as she wasn't broken, all was fine.
"You… I…"
Keqing pointed at him, wanting to speak but failing for a moment.
After a few seconds, she ground out between her teeth:
"This was bullying! What kind of sandbox game plays like that?"
"Click~"
Taro looked at her like she was an idiot.
"Child, who said I was playing a sandbox game with you?"
"I was playing reality."
"..."
(End of Chapter)
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