In a deserted corner far from the battlefield, Balladeer gazed intently at the giant dragon running in the distance, and the faint, shimmering light.
"God..." Balladeer looked around. Even from such a distance, the mountains here had been flattened by the spreading aftershocks.
As far as the eye could see, it was a mess.
"No... that's not right... that dragon is stronger than a God!" Balladeer shook his head, recalling Azhdaha's battle.
Its massive body, coupled with the terrifying power it contained, was definitely not something an ordinary God could compare to.
At least, the top three Harbingers of the Fatui had never exerted such immense pressure on Balladeer.
"You're right, a God really can't beat that fat dragon." A voice suddenly sounded behind Balladeer, making him shiver.
"Who!" Balladeer spun around, instantly widening the distance between himself and Yu Jin.
"A Fatui with an umbrella on his head, I suppose you're the one who released Azhdaha, then?" Yu Jin looked at the conical hat on Balladeer's head, which could serve as an umbrella if propped on a stick, and couldn't help but retort.
The Harbingers of the Fatui were truly unconventional, each one seemingly afraid that others wouldn't know they were Harbingers.
"Which trash heap did this tin can crawl out of?" Balladeer looked at Yu Jin, whose attire was even more peculiar than his own, his eyes filled with wariness.
When did this guy arrive? He hadn't noticed a thing!
"You released this big fat dragon, do you have any countermeasures, have you thought about what will happen?" Yu Jin ignored Balladeer's insults, pointing to the desolate landscape before them as he asked.
"Of course I have." Balladeer adjusted his slightly tilted conical hat, sneering, "The Geo Archon will have his Gnosis taken by us, and that horned fellow will be trampled to death."
"And we will proceed to the next nation." Balladeer's tone was exceptionally arrogant.
To be honest, he had initially thought Azhdaha was just an ordinary defeated God. Releasing Azhdaha, combined with Osial released by Childe, their combined might would surely overwhelm the Geo Archon.
And they could then seize the Gnosis.
However, plans always change. Balladeer hadn't expected Osial to clash with the released Azhdaha, nor had he anticipated Azhdaha's immense strength.
It had actually pinned the Vortex God to the ground and rubbed it. Balladeer even suspected that the The Seven Archons might not be able to contend with this giant dragon.
Azhdaha's power did not instill any fear in Balladeer. On the contrary, he even felt a thrill.
Because such an Azhdaha would make Morgott, who had once sent him fleeing in panic, suffer an even worse death.
As for the Geo Archon's Gnosis, it was merely an accessory. Balladeer's goal had always been to make Morgott pay the price; the Geo Archon's Gnosis was not within his purview.
If he could obtain it, great. If not, then it was Childe's problem alone.
"Oh, judging by your tone, you really like to feel superior, don't you?" Yu Jin crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow, as if confirming something.
"Superior? Isn't that a fact? Speaking of which, I seem to be naturally much nobler than many people, so much so that they can only look up to me their entire lives."
Balladeer said, even scoffing a few times. He didn't know if he was laughing at himself or at those who were destined never to catch up to him.
"I'm a very enthusiastic person." Yu Jin suddenly said something without context.
"Enthusiastic? It seems doing good deeds has made your brain silly." Balladeer frowned; he didn't know what Yu Jin was talking about.
"You like to feel superior? Then I must make you fly high!!!"
A dangerous aura suddenly enveloped Balladeer, instantly rendering him immobile. Yu Jin, meanwhile, had already appeared behind Balladeer without him knowing.
Along with him was a giant club held high in his hands.
"Take off!"
"Bang!"
The giant club swung, and the air it broke formed white streaks. Then, Balladeer transformed into a meteor; now, he was higher than anyone.
"There's another one!" Yu Jin hoisted the giant club onto his shoulder and disappeared again... "Why is the Jade Chamber flying so fast?!" In Guili Plains, Childe, in his Foul Legacy Transformation state, was sprinting through the crumbling mountains.
Looking at the faintly visible Jade Chamber, the five-headed sea serpent... and the giant dragon in the distance, Childe couldn't help but feel a fine sweat on his palms.
Just moments ago, he had personally witnessed the waters of Guili Plains ascend to the sky, pouring into the higher terrain of Minlin.
At that moment, Childe felt the gap between himself and a God with extreme clarity. He was still far from possessing such terrain-altering power.
"It's just a God, I'll catch up!" Stepping on the dried mud, Childe strode towards the roaring battlefield in the distance.
The might of the God had not shattered his confidence; instead, it had ignited an even greater fighting spirit within Childe.
"Is that so? I doubt it." Beside the sprinting Childe, Yu Jin appeared, running alongside him.
Hearing Childe's spirited words, Yu Jin struck him down without hesitation. If Childe continued to be so meddlesome, Yu Jin would definitely 'knife' him first. Grow to the level of a God?
Wait until next life!
Although Yu Jin himself was also meddlesome, that was based on absolute strength. At the very least, Yu Jin could clean up the messes he himself created.
"Is that so? But before you say that, let me see if you're qualified!" Childe saw Yu Jin approaching and, unlike Balladeer, did not retreat. Instead, he charged directly forward.
He had long wanted to spar with Yu Jin, but Yu Jin either played prop games or launched sneak attacks, leaving Childe no chance to fight him fair and square.
Now that he had the opportunity, Childe naturally wouldn't let it go. Anyway, judging by the situation in the distance, the battle wouldn't end anytime soon, so he considered it a warm-up for seizing the Geo Archon's Gnosis.
Yu Jin shook his head, watching Childe charge with his weapon drawn. This kid is reckless!
"Clang!"
The blade, carrying purple lightning, struck down, but Yu Jin caught it with one hand.
The collision of blade and iron gauntlet did not produce a single spark. This was because Yu Jin had gripped the blade the instant before it touched his gauntlet.
"Hmph!" Childe exerted force with both hands, but found the blade hadn't moved at all.
"Was the last lesson not enough, kid?" Yu Jin exerted force with his arm, and dense cracks immediately spread across Childe's weapon.
"Crack, crack, crack... Bang!"
The blade of flowing starlight only held for a moment before shattering into pieces.
The giant club, larger than a man, was once again in Yu Jin's hand. He looked at Childe, who quickly inverted his twin blades, and said with a sigh:
"Kid, you like to fight?"
"I became a Harbinger precisely so I could contend with more strong individuals!" Childe replied, all the while observing Yu Jin for weaknesses.
"You really ran into one. I just hope that what follows doesn't leave you as disheartened as those Inazuman people." Yu Jin stretched his limbs and said calmly.
"Inazuman people..." Before Childe could fully grasp the meaning of Yu Jin's words, he suddenly felt a tremendous force from behind.
Then he found himself uncontrollably flying high into the sky.
"Although you, kid, had bad intentions but did good, I always judge by actions, not intentions. Good luck with what comes next."
"As for how to punish you all, I'll leave that to the people of Liyue!"
Yu Jin plunged the giant club into the ground, leaning against the upright log as he said with a sigh.
Although Childe's intentions were bad, the ultimate outcome was good. With that in mind, Yu Jin's force was much lighter.
At least, Childe wouldn't have to endure the pain of feeling like his entire body was falling apart.
Looking at Azhdaha in the distance, seemingly chasing something, and the broken, desolate land, Yu Jin stroked his chin.
"A crumbling soul... and equally crumbling earth, a bit troublesome."
Seeing the golden light flickering beside Azhdaha, Yu Jin clapped his hands.
"Tsk, a demigod's strength isn't enough? Then let the king come!"
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