That wind was exceedingly gentle.
Like the touch of a lover's fingertip, it lightly brushed over each terrified face.
Yet, the moment it touched the residual waves of Abyssal energy, it suddenly became vast, tenacious, and unshakable!
A screen of cyan light unfolded in the sky above Liyue Harbor.
The shockwaves from Dain and Osial's battle crashed against this cyan light screen.
Like mud oxen plunging into the sea, they only stirred rippling circles before completely dissipating into nothingness.
Within Liyue Harbor, the citizens who had already felt their skin stinging and closed their eyes awaiting death, opened their eyes in confusion.
"Huh?"
"The... the wind is picking up?"
"It's over? We're safe?!"
The relief of surviving a catastrophe spread among the crowd.
A cyan figure silently appeared in mid-air.
A green cloak, white stockings, and the Cecilia flower pinned to the brim of his hat gently swayed.
His emerald-green eyes curved into crescents, a leisurely smile playing at the corner of his mouth.
The arrival was Mondstadt's God of Wind, the free-spirited Bard — Venti, or rather, Barbatos.
"Hmm~ Let me see~"
Venti's gaze first swept over the unharmed Liyue Harbor below, and he patted his chest as if relieved.
"Phew, phew, just made it."
"If such a beautiful harbor were gone, there'd be one less place to freeloa..."
"Ahem, one less good place to savor fine wine~"
His tone was as relaxed as if he were on an outing, but a rare flicker of killing intent passed through those jade-like eyes.
He had sensed it.
His own statue, standing in Mondstadt's Windrise, bearing freedom and blessings.
Had been inverted, desecrated, and embedded into Osial's head!!
This was not merely a provocation against his authority, but a complete trampling of his dignity!!!
Had he not taken action for too long?
Did so many people think he, the illustrious God of Wind, was a pushover without a temper?!
"Some guys are playing a bit too rough..."
"Do they want to die?"
Venti murmured softly, his gaze turning towards the defiled God battling Dain on the distant sea surface, his brow furrowing imperceptibly.
So this was the Abyss Order's plan.
Using an inverted statue to corrupt a God's state, transforming it into a pure combat puppet.
Then, blending Khaenri'ah's machinery with the power of the Abyss to create this kind of war machine capable of easily slaying an Archon, or even shaking the foundations of Celestia?
A truly insane plan.
However, now was not the time to delve into this.
His use of power was time-limited.
This was the "time" authority borrowed from the Archon of Time, Istaroth, in the past.
This authority allowed him to barely step half a foot into the threshold of "world-class."
Yet it was also like wearing heavy iron armor; each use consumed a massive amount of divine power.
Time was running out... Venti reined in his thoughts, his figure transforming into a wisp of gentle breeze, instantly appearing where Zhongli had fallen.
"Old man, sleeping here isn't proper, you know."
He said softly, extending a finger to lightly tap the unconscious Zhongli's forehead.
"Hum—"
Pale golden fragments of time flowed from his fingertip, merging into the terrifying wound on Zhongli's chest.
The authority of time began to take effect.
Shattered bones, torn internal organs, dissipating divine power... all were being "reversed" under a power that transcended normal logic.
The wound closed at a visible speed.
Zhongli's paper-pale complexion quickly regained its color.
Venti's face, however, turned pale in turn.
But he did not rest.
The next moment, the gentle breeze moved again.
Venti appeared at the edge of the crater created by Raiden Ei's impact, looking at the purple figure embedded in the rubble, its lightning dim and its shell covered in cracks, and sighed.
"Little sister of Inazuma, you're also a bit stubborn, aren't you."
He extended his hand, the power of time flowing into Raiden Ei's body, repairing the puppet form on the verge of collapse.
And slowly "expelling" the Abyssal corruption that had invaded the puppet's core back to its state from not long ago.
After doing all this, Venti hovered in mid-air, panting slightly.
Fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead, the faint golden halo surrounding him noticeably dimmed, even showing signs of unstable fluctuations.
This authority belonging to "time" was, after all, not his own power.
Using it continuously in such a short time, especially to heal two top-tier Gods' severe injuries, consumed far more than imagined.
He could feel the divine power within him rapidly draining, and the borrowed authority made his divine body groan like an overloaded machine under the strain.
"...Really, seems like I have even more reason to pester the old man for wine next time."
Venti shook his head, trying to dispel the feeling of weakness, and turned his gaze back towards the Corrupted Ocel entangled with Dain on the sea surface, especially that inverted statue. Anger flashed in his jade-green eyes.
At the same time Venti appeared and saved Zhongli and Raiden Ei.
Below Liyue Harbor, within the dark spatial rift.
Several figures cloaked in black robes, with obscure auras, were watching everything happening outside Liyue Harbor through a large water mirror constructed from Abyssal energy.
At the forefront was a petite figure with a youthful face and golden hair.
He silently watched Venti's appearance in the water mirror, his eyes in the darkness as deep as an ancient well.
"Barbatos..."
"Taking his statue indeed made him angry."
Beside him, an Abyssal Mage reported in a low voice, tone filled with fanaticism and awe:
"Your Highness, the plan is operating perfectly."
"The inverted statue has successfully merged with the God of the Vortex, Osial, and the 'Eye of the Ruin Guard' has been embedded as the energy core."
"The Corrupted Ocel's strength has preliminarily acquired the potential to'shake the throne.'"
"If we replace Osial with Barbatos, who possesses the authority of time, we will surely accomplish our revenge against the Heavenly Principles!!"
"However, there has been a deviation in the plan."
"The appearance of Dainsleif was expected; this Twilight Sword has been relentlessly pursuing us."
"The problem is that Fontaine's Strongest Man."
Aether's voice was exceptionally calm, tinged with regret: "A variable from outside this world, the 'Great Guardian,' King."
The water mirror's image shifted, showing the black-haired man standing by the Jade Chamber window, holding the unconscious Paimon in his arms, his expression calm.
He remained unmoved by the divine battle outside the window, somewhat overly composed.
"His existence is a huge anomaly, Your Highness."
"He is the Fifth Descender; there has never been any trace of him in Teyvat before."
The Abyssal Mage's voice grew grave, "He easily defeated Inazuma's Raiden Shogun, possessing power far surpassing that of an Archon. Whether our 'weapon' can successfully capture Barbatos in his presence remains unknown."
"The plan must proceed." Aether's tone held no wavering; those golden eyes, extremely similar to Lumine's, held the obsession of five hundred years. "This is the closest we've been to our goal. The authority within Barbatos is Istaroth's [Time]."
"Corrupting Barbatos and obtaining that authority is necessary to initiate the plan."
"Only by dragging the lofty 'throne' down into the Abyss can the people of Khaenri'ah be freed from the torment of the immortality curse and attain true rest."
He paused, his sharp gaze sweeping over Venti in the water mirror, who was panting slightly with a dimmed halo.
"Mondstadt is the nation of wind."
"There, the faith of countless Mondstadters is the source of his divine power."
"If we act against him in Mondstadt, it might inevitably agitate those Mondstadters, causing some unnecessary complications."
"But Liyue is different. This is Morax's land; here, Barbatos is merely a 'friendly nation's God.'"
"The power he consumes here cannot be replenished in time."
"And Barbatos and Morax are on very close personal terms; if Liyue faces disaster, he will certainly come."
"Now, Barbatos has expended most of his accumulated divine power to save Morax and Beelzebul."
"This is his weakest moment."
"As for King..."
"I'll be the one to face him!"
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Greyhounds
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"