The skies above Liyue Harbor had become darker than any storm the people of Liyue had ever witnessed.
The sea trembled.
The mountains trembled.
Even the air itself seemed to groan beneath the pressure of an ancient god that should have remained buried beneath the ocean forever.
From the raging waters emerged Osial, Overlord of the Vortex.
Its colossal serpent heads towered above the sea like living mountains. Every movement of its enormous body created gigantic waves that spread across the ocean.
Its countless eyes glowed with divine hatred.
A hatred that had survived thousands of years.
A hatred aimed at the nation created by Rex Lapis.
A hatred aimed at Liyue itself.
"ROOOOOOOOAAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!"
The terrifying roar echoed across the entire nation.
Citizens looked toward the sea with pale faces.
Children cried.
Families prayed.
Soldiers gripped their weapons despite knowing they were facing a being far beyond human understanding.
Above the ocean floated the pride of Liyue.
The magnificent Jade Chamber.
Standing at its front balcony was Ningguang.
Her white robes danced violently in the storm winds as she stared directly at the ancient god.
Beside her stood the Adepti.
Cloud Retainer (Xianyun).
Moon Carver.
Mountain Shaper.
And Xiao.
All of them wore grim expressions.
Below them, Osial continued rising from the ocean.
Ningguang narrowed her eyes.
"We cannot allow it to reach the harbor."
Moon Carver nodded.
"Agreed."
Cloud Retainer spread her wings.
"The Guizhong Ballistae are prepared."
Xiao spun his spear.
"Then let us begin."
Ningguang raised her hand.
"Fire."
Immediately, the floating platform transformed into a massive fortress.
Rows upon rows of Guizhong Ballistae activated.
The Adepti infused the weapons with their divine energy.
Golden light illuminated the entire Jade Chamber.
The atmosphere vibrated.
Then—
BOOM!
The first volley launched.
Hundreds of gigantic energy projectiles shot toward Osial.
The sky became filled with streaks of golden light.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The attacks struck Osial's massive body.
Explosions erupted across its serpent heads.
Several of its scales shattered.
Water exploded into the sky.
The ocean shook violently.
Yet Osial continued advancing.
The ancient god endured everything.
One of its heads lifted itself higher.
Its eyes glowed.
Then another head.
Then another.
All of them focused upon the Jade Chamber.
Cloud Retainer frowned.
"It is resisting the bombardment."
Mountain Shaper growled.
"Again."
Another volley launched.
More explosions.
More destruction.
Yet Osial continued moving.
The creature was injured.
It was in pain.
But it was not stopping.
The ancient god roared furiously.
The sea exploded around it.
"ROOOOOOOOAAARRRRRR!"
Xiao tightened his grip on his spear.
"It still isn't enough."
Ningguang nodded.
"Then we use everything."
The Adepti exchanged glances.
Then all of them stepped forward simultaneously.
Their powers surged together.
Golden energy gathered above the Jade Chamber.
The clouds parted.
The sea below illuminated.
A massive spear-like projectile of pure Adepti energy formed above the floating palace.
Its size rivaled entire buildings.
Even Osial seemed to notice the danger.
Moon Carver shouted.
"Launch it!"
The projectile descended.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
The attack struck directly into Osial's chest.
The explosion lit up the night sky.
A shockwave swept across the entire sea.
The harbor shook.
Windows shattered throughout Liyue.
For a brief moment—
Everyone thought they had won.
Then—
Osial screamed.
A roar filled with pain.
A roar filled with rage.
Its gigantic body emerged from the explosion.
Blood flowed from countless wounds.
Several scales had been ripped away.
Yet it still lived.
Its hatred only grew stronger.
Ningguang's expression darkened.
"...Impossible."
Then Osial retaliated.
Every serpent head opened its mouth.
Massive Hydro energy gathered.
Cloud Retainer immediately sensed danger.
"Take cover!"
It was too late.
Dozens of gigantic Hydro spheres shot toward the Jade Chamber.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The Guizhong Ballistae exploded one after another.
Entire sections of the floating fortress were destroyed instantly.
The support platforms shattered.
Defenders were thrown through the air.
Fire erupted everywhere.
The artillery network that had been Liyue's greatest weapon was annihilated within moments.
At the same time—
Another crisis emerged.
"Fatui troops!"
"The Fatui have boarded the Jade Chamber!"
Dozens of Fatui soldiers suddenly appeared.
Their objective was clear.
Prevent the Adepti from attacking Osial.
Ningguang clenched her fists.
"Defend the Jade Chamber!"
The Adepti immediately engaged the invaders.
Meanwhile, Osial continued advancing.
The ocean around it began spinning.
Everyone watching could feel something terrifying approaching.
Huge whirlpools formed.
Massive waves rose higher and higher.
Then—
A tsunami appeared.
Its height rivaled mountains.
Its shadow covered the entire harbor.
The people of Liyue looked upward in despair.
"How can we stop that?"
"We're finished..."
"It's over..."
The tsunami moved toward Liyue.
And behind it—
Osial struck again.
Its gigantic serpent necks extended toward the sky.
Toward the damaged Jade Chamber.
Toward Ningguang and the Adepti.
The heads struck simultaneously.
CRASH!
One head bit the eastern side.
Another bit the western side.
Another seized the lower foundation.
The remaining heads wrapped around the floating palace.
The entire Jade Chamber shook violently.
Ningguang grabbed a railing.
"No!"
The Adepti immediately tried to free it.
Mountain Shaper unleashed powerful attacks.
Cloud Retainer launched waves of energy.
Xiao cut at the serpent heads.
Nothing worked.
Osial's divine strength overwhelmed everything.
Slowly—
The Jade Chamber began descending.
Pulled downward.
Pulled toward the sea.
Pulled toward destruction.
"Everyone evacuate!" Ningguang shouted.
The Adepti immediately moved.
Golden light surrounded Ningguang and the others.
One by one they were transported away.
Just moments later—
Osial dragged the entire Jade Chamber into the ocean.
The magnificent floating palace disappeared beneath the waves.
A symbol of Liyue's prosperity.
Gone.
The people watching could hardly believe it.
Ningguang stood upon the harbor cliffs.
Her eyes widened slightly.
For the first time in many years—
She was speechless.
Then the tsunami arrived.
The mountain-sized wave approached the city.
People screamed.
Millelith soldiers prepared themselves despite knowing it was hopeless.
Then—
A single figure stepped forward.
Shenhe.
Her white hair danced in the wind.
Her expression remained calm.
She raised her hand.
Cryo energy exploded outward.
The temperature dropped instantly.
The ocean began freezing.
The tsunami froze.
The gigantic wall of water transformed into ice.
The entire harbor stared in shock.
Shenhe narrowed her eyes.
Then struck forward.
CRACK!
The frozen tsunami shattered into countless fragments.
Cheers erupted across the harbor.
Hope returned.
But the battle was far from over.
Osial emerged from beneath the ocean once more.
Its eyes burned with fury.
The destruction of the Jade Chamber had not satisfied it.
The ancient god opened all of its mouths.
Hydro energy gathered.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!!!
A devastating magical blast shot toward Liyue Harbor.
The attack struck the docks directly.
Ships exploded instantly.
Wooden piers vanished.
Entire buildings near the harbor entrance were obliterated.
Flames erupted.
Smoke filled the sky.
The city trembled again.
Elsewhere—
Keqing, Ganyu, and Yelan worked tirelessly.
"Move!"
"Get to safety!"
"This way!"
Families were escorted away from danger.
Children were carried to safety.
The Millelith formed defensive lines.
Yet Osial still wasn't finished.
Massive vortexes appeared above the city.
Then gigantic tornadoes descended.
The storms tore through streets and buildings alike.
Roofs flew away.
Walls collapsed.
Market stalls vanished.
Liyue Harbor suffered unprecedented destruction.
The Adepti could no longer remain defensive.
Xiao pointed his spear toward Osial.
"We end this now."
Cloud Retainer nodded.
"Agreed."
The Adepti launched into the sky.
Shenhe joined them.
The battle moved into the air.
Xiao landed upon one of Osial's heads.
His spear struck repeatedly.
Cloud Retainer unleashed powerful energy blasts.
Moon Carver rammed directly into another serpent head.
Mountain Shaper attacked from above.
Shenhe froze entire sections of Osial's body.
The ancient god retaliated violently.
Its mouths snapped toward them.
Energy blasts erupted.
Hydro spheres exploded throughout the battlefield.
Yet the Adepti continued fighting.
They dodged.
Counterattacked.
And fought with everything they had.
Meanwhile—
Far away atop Mt. Tianheng—
A lone man stood watching.
Zhongli.
The former Geo Archon.
The true Morax.
His golden eyes observed the battlefield quietly.
The destruction.
The suffering.
The courage of his people.
And the uncertainty of the future.
Yet he was not watching Osial.
He was waiting.
Waiting for someone else.
"Aether..."
The name escaped his lips quietly.
Zhongli folded his arms.
"You have every reason to abandon Liyue."
He looked toward the prison district.
Toward the city that had wronged the traveler.
"You were imprisoned."
"You were tortured."
"You were falsely accused."
His expression remained calm.
Yet there was concern in his eyes.
"If revenge guides your decision..."
"I cannot blame you."
The former Archon sighed.
"But if you truly are the person I believe you to be..."
His gaze shifted toward the distant city.
"Then perhaps..."
"...you will make a different choice."
And so he waited.
At that same moment—
Inside a damaged prison room in Liyue Harbor—
Aether sat alone.
The prison door had long since been destroyed.
Yet he remained seated.
The distant roar of Osial echoed throughout the city.
Explosions shook the walls.
People screamed outside.
The battle was reaching its climax.
Aether lowered his head.
His fists tightened.
Memories surfaced.
The insults.
The rotten eggs.
The accusations.
The beatings.
The starvation.
The endless torture.
Every single memory replayed inside his mind.
"They called me a murderer..."
"They never listened."
"They never cared."
Another explosion echoed.
The city shook again.
Aether closed his eyes.
For the first time since arriving in this world—
He felt truly conflicted.
He wanted to help.
Yet part of him resisted.
Why should he save people who hated him?
Why should he fight for those who tortured him?
He was not a hero.
He never wanted to be one.
All he had ever wanted was a peaceful life.
To travel.
To explore.
To take commissions.
To live freely.
That simple dream had been shattered.
Aether slowly stood.
Then sat back down again.
His gaze drifted toward the floor.
Outside, Osial roared.
Inside, silence remained.
After a long moment—
Aether spoke quietly.
"...No."
His voice was calm.
Tired.
And filled with disappointment.
"I won't do it."
He leaned against the wall.
The battle for Liyue continued.
The city screamed.
The sea raged.
The Adepti fought desperately.
And Aether remained where he was.
Choosing not to move.
Choosing not to fight.
Choosing not to become the hero everyone desperately needed.
For now.