Chapter 51. Osial?
Beisht's appearance caught both Albedo and Director Hu completely off guard. Who could have imagined that letting a child fish with bombs would actually drag out something like this?
Still, what was done was done, and neither Albedo nor Director Hu intended to shirk responsibility.
It had been Director Hu's idea to let Klee enjoy a peaceful day of fishing, which was why she had specifically brought her to the remote outskirts of the Guyun Stone Forest.
Albedo was no different. In the end, as Klee's older brother, he had softened and agreed to accompany her in bomb fishing.
Even after Zhongli warned him that danger might still lurk within Guyun Stone Forest, Albedo deliberately avoided venturing too deeply into the area.
Instead, he remained near the outer perimeter, allowing Klee to continue her fishing.
After all, if danger truly existed deeper within the stone forest, then the outskirts should have been safe…right?
And even if something did happen, they were still close to Futsu Mitama and the others. Albedo was confident that if he could hold out for even a single minute, both Zhongli and Futsu Mitama would be able to arrive in time.
Even if those two failed to make it, Guizhong should still be capable of responding.
"You take Klee and leave." Albedo raised his sword with one hand as a faint golden radiance surfaced around him, his stance already prepared for combat.
"You take Klee and go. I'll hold her back instead." Director Hu refused to yield. Pulling out homa alongside several talismans, she spoke with unusual seriousness. "I'm the Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
"I've fought demons, ghosts, and monsters for years. Don't argue with me. And I've already sent off at least three generations of people. I don't want to send off a friend like you too."
Director Hu knew Albedo was an Alchemist, but in her understanding, could an Alchemist truly fight properly, even with a Vision?
Alchemists were researchers. Scholars. Not frontline combatants.
Even if his sword stance looked decent, if he rushed forward only to be torn apart by the enemy, then what would be the point?
Director Hu, however, was different. As the Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, she had traveled all across Liyue, encountering countless dangers along the way.
Her combat experience was anything but lacking.
Moreover, Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's lineage stretched all the way back to the Archon War itself, carrying remnants of Adeptus heritage within its traditions.
Although Director Hu was not an Adeptus disciple, the Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor had always maintained deep ties with the Adeptus. Even the talisman arts she wielded ultimately originated from Adeptus techniques.
Faced with such a terrifying enemy, if not for her concern over Klee and Albedo standing behind her, she would have already charged forward with homa in hand.
Albedo fell silent for a moment. He suddenly found himself unsure how to explain that although he appeared scholarly and restrained, he was not weak at all.
Since when did being an Alchemist mean one couldn't fight?
Just as the two remained locked in a stalemate—
"Wow!!"
Klee's eyes sparkled brightly as she stared at the enormous Beisht with unconcealed excitement.
"What a huge water snake!!!!! Acting Grand Master Jean and Brother Futsu Mitama will definitely love it!!!!!"
As she spoke, Klee happily pulled another Jumpy Dumpty from her backpack.
This one was black and crimson in color, its unhappy expression almost appearing angry.
"Hm?!"
The moment Albedo saw the black-and-red Jumpy Dumpty, his expression changed slightly. Without another word, he immediately retreated backward before quickly speaking.
"Get back beside Klee. Quickly."
"Klee just took out a bomb modeled after Aunt Alice's. This thing is extremely dangerous!!! We need to avoid the blast radius."
As Klee's older brother, Albedo understood very clearly just how terrifying Klee's bombs actually were.
More specifically, he understood exactly how frightening the bombs modeled after Alice's designs could become.
That was precisely why he immediately urged Director Hu to retreat with him.
"Huh?" Director Hu froze briefly, but her instincts still moved faster than her thoughts. Trusting Albedo's judgment, she rapidly retreated toward Klee's side.
At that moment, Klee swung her arm and threw the black-and-red Jumpy Dumpty directly toward Beisht.
The bomb arced through the air, appearing deceptively harmless.
"..."
Beisht barely spared the tiny object a glance.
How much damage could something that small possibly cause?
Compared to that insignificant little bomb, Beisht was currently trapped in confusion.
She had emerged intending to destroy everything before her.
After sensing that her existence had likely been exposed to Liyue, she had decided that even if she needed to retreat afterward, she would still leave behind a lesson they would never forget.
As the wife of Osial, the God of the Vortex, she possessed her own pride and arrogance. Even knowing Liyue was difficult to oppose directly, she still wanted to vent her fury.
Yet after emerging from the sea, the scene before her was completely different from what she expected.
There were no Millelith.
No Adeptus.
Only three humans.
And one of them was merely a child.
These people did not even seem like enemies. They looked more like travelers playing nearby.
If that was the case… then why had she exposed herself so dramatically?
Why had she even released her Authority and announced her existence to all of Liyue?
Buzz—!!
At that moment, the black-and-red Jumpy Dumpty suddenly began glowing ominously.
An indescribably terrifying aura erupted from within the tiny bomb.
"?!"
Only then did Beisht finally notice something was wrong.
Even she instinctively sensed danger from that tiny object. Her massive jaws immediately opened, clearly intending to deploy some kind of defensive measure.
Boom—!!!
The Jumpy Dumpty exploded apart instantly.
A destructive shockwave erupted from its core, swallowing everything around it.
Blinding light consumed Beisht's enormous body as a small mushroom cloud rose into the sky.
All of it—
Caused by a seemingly adorable spherical bomb.
"This…"
Director Hu's eyes widened in disbelief.
She genuinely had not expected the bomb Klee casually threw out to possess such terrifying destructive force.
Seeing Director Hu's stunned expression, Albedo silently raised a Geo barrier before them, shielding everyone from the spreading shockwaves.
At the same time, he calmly remarked, "Now you understand why I don't let Klee fish with bombs."
Looking at the horrifying range and power of the explosion—
Director Hu slowly nodded.
She finally understood.
If Klee accidentally grabbed the wrong bomb one day—
The consequences would truly be catastrophic.
ROAR—!!!
An enraged roar exploded outward.
Beisht burst through the smoke in a miserable state, her massive body visibly battered.
Clearly, Klee's attack had genuinely injured her.
She had never imagined that a weapon thrown by a human child could contain such terrifying destructive force.
Damn it!
She had underestimated them!!!
Beisht roared furiously as blue light rapidly condensed within her mouth.
This time, she clearly intended to erase Albedo, Director Hu, and Klee all at once.
"You two leave first! I'll stop her!"
Director Hu swung Homa forward as several talismans appeared between her fingers before flying toward Beisht.
"Arise!! Spears shall open the road to the netherworld, while butterflies guide the dead across the bridge beyond life!"
Crimson Pyro flames erupted around her body as she charged directly toward Beisht with homa in hand.
"Sigh…"
Watching Director Hu rush forward so recklessly, Albedo quietly glanced toward the Chat Group and noticed that Futsu Mitama was already on his way.
A trace of relief surfaced within his heart.
Now that Futsu Mitama possessed power comparable to a God, everything would naturally settle itself once he arrived.
Turning toward Klee, Albedo spoke calmly.
"Stay here, Klee. I'm going to support Director Hu."
Klee nodded seriously before immediately pulling out even more Jumpy Dumpties from her backpack.
"Klee wants to help too."
Albedo instantly shook his head.
Although Klee was undeniably powerful in battle, the current opponent was fundamentally different from Abyss Mages or Hilichurls.
This was not an enemy Klee should recklessly face directly.
To prevent her from getting hurt, Albedo firmly rejected her request.
At the same time, he manipulated Geo energy to create another protective barrier around Director Hu, minimizing the risk of injury.
Boom—!!
The talismans Director Hu released transformed into blazing flames that surged toward Beisht.
But at that exact moment, the Hydro energy gathering within Beisht's mouth had already finished condensing.
A massive torrent of blue energy erupted outward, roaring directly toward Director Hu.
Gripping Homa tightly, Director Hu showed no fear whatsoever.
As long as she could dodge it, she still had room to maneuver.
"This is the moment of genesis."
At that instant, Albedo activated his Elemental Skill—
Abiogenesis: Solar Isotoma.
A Geo blossom surged upward from the earth before rapidly ascending into the sky.
At the cost of its own destruction, it forcefully intercepted Beisht's Hydro breath head-on.
The Geo construct possessed a peculiar nature.
Born from the earth, yet endlessly yearning toward the heavens above.
Though Albedo created the Solar Isotoma through his own methods, its essence differed little from the original technique.
The genius Alchemist known as Kreideprinz might not specialize in direct combat, but that hardly meant ordinary opponents could contend with him lightly.
"Oh my~ Impressive."
Director Hu shot Albedo another glance, clearly surprised by how many combat methods he possessed despite being an Alchemist.
Albedo said nothing further.
Another Geo blossom formed beneath Director Hu before rapidly lifting her upward.
Stepping onto the Geo construct, Director Hu leapt into the air as blazing Pyro flames enveloped her body.
Swinging homa downward, she struck directly toward Beisht.
Pfft!
Homa pierced into Beisht's body successfully, though the strike landed somewhere near the neck.
Still, Beisht's body was simply far too massive.
Director Hu lacked effective methods for dealing heavy damage against targets of this scale. Right now, her objective was merely to stall for time until the Millelith and Adeptus arrived. The disturbance here was far too large. She was certain Liyue's forces would eventually notice.
Until then, she needed to hold the line.
And the best way to keep the enemy focused on her…
Was naturally to continue attacking relentlessly.
ROAR!!
Beisht let out another furious howl.
Pain spread from the spot pierced by Homa.
Although the attack itself was not enough to seriously injure her, the humiliation alone was enough to drive her into fury.
Now even ordinary humans from Liyue dared attack her?!
Did they even understand who she was?!
She was the wife of the God of the Vortex!
A follower of a Demon God!
Within Liyue's ancient era, she would have been regarded as an existence comparable to an Adeptus.
Yet these people showed not the slightest fear toward her.
They actually dared wound her.
Were they truly unafraid of death?!
As that thought surfaced—
Another head suddenly emerged from Beisht's body before lunging directly toward Director Hu.
"Hmph!"
Hu Tao's combat instincts reacted immediately. Drawing homa back, she stepped onto Albedo's Geo flower and launched herself high into the air, narrowly evading the incoming attack.
At the same moment, several crimson talismans flew from her fingertips, transforming into blazing flames as they surged toward the head that had just attacked her.
Beisht endured the attack directly, releasing an irritated growl as a third head emerged from her massive body.
The instant it appeared, pale blue Hydro energy gathered within its maw before erupting outward toward Hu Tao.
Whoosh—!!
The distance was simply too close.
Hu Tao had no room left to evade.
And even Albedo had no time to support her.
"Oh my~"
Even while staring directly at the incoming attack, Hu Tao showed no fear whatsoever.
A blazing soul spirit drifted out from behind her.
She threw homa downward before grabbing the spirit with both hands and hurling it forward.
"Eat your fill, drink your fill, and have a pleasant journey!!!"
Crack—!!!
The Geo barrier Albedo had previously created around Hu Tao shattered instantly beneath Beisht's breath attack.
Then—
The blazing soul spirit collided directly against the roaring Hydro torrent.
Sizzle sizzle sizzle—!!!!
Water and fire violently clashed against one another as dense steam exploded outward, swallowing both Hu Tao and Beisht within it.
The next moment, Hu Tao herself was blasted backward by the remaining force of the Hydro impact.
"Wahahaha!!!!"
Her energetic laughter still echoed through the air, clearly proving she remained unharmed for the moment.
Meanwhile, Albedo's gaze remained fixed firmly on Beisht ahead.
His grip around his sword tightened slightly.
He understood that it was finally his turn to step forward.
"Bad Snake! You actually sent Sister Hu Tao flying!!!"
Klee puffed up angrily as she immediately pulled out several more Jumpy Dumpties from her backpack, clearly intending to bombard Beisht directly.
Yet Beisht no longer intended to waste any more time fighting them. Her colossal body twisted violently beneath the sea, stirring up enormous waves.
With Osial's authority woven into the surging waters, a violent storm rapidly descended upon the sea.
The raging whirlwind merged together with the tsunami, forming a scene akin to a natural catastrophe.
A sight capable of making ordinary people fall into despair.
However, both Albedo and Klee were far from ordinary. Neither of them showed fear.
Still, there was no reason to confront such force head-on.
There were no civilians nearby, nor anyone requiring protection here.
Retreating temporarily was simply the wiser choice.
Thus, Albedo and Klee withdrew at once.
But what neither of them expected was—
After creating the tsunami and storm, Beisht did not continue attacking.
Without hesitation, she plunged directly back into the sea and fled.
Clearly, she had already achieved her objective.
The disturbance she caused was large enough.
If she remained here any longer, then Morax or Liyue's Adeptus would inevitably arrive and surround her completely.
Beisht was not foolish.
She understood perfectly well that staying behind after causing such a commotion would amount to seeking death. Therefore, after creating chaos across the sea, she decisively retreated without even looking back.
Whoosh!
At that moment, Futsu Mitama arrived through spatial transit.
The instant he appeared, he saw Hu Tao falling through the air alongside the enormous tsunami roaring in the distance.
After a brief glance toward Albedo and Klee—who clearly were not yet in immediate danger—he moved without hesitation.
In a flash, he appeared beside Hu Tao and caught her effortlessly with one hand before she could fall further.
"Hi Futsu Mitama Wahahaha Why are you here"
Hu Tao's expression became strangely subtle.
Not because her current state was embarrassing.
But because the moment she saw Futsu Mitama, she immediately realized the crisis was already over.
Which also meant—
Once everything settled down, it would probably become her turn to be "settled" for letting Klee go bomb fishing.
"The disturbance here is large enough that ignoring it would be impossible."
Futsu Mitama calmly looked toward the massive tsunami ahead before narrowing his eyes slightly.
"So it really was her. But why is she here? Logically, she shouldn't even approach this area."
Futsu Mitama genuinely had not expected Beisht to appear here.
Because according to the original course of events—
Although Beisht's exact location was never explicitly stated, it could still be inferred that she originally had not been near Liyue Harbor.
If she truly had remained near Guyun Stone Forest, then when Tartaglia released Osial during the events surrounding the Jade Chamber, Beisht should have appeared as well.
Yet she never did.
She only watched as Osial was forced back beneath the sea.
Of course, Futsu Mitama understood that reality and recorded history were not always identical.
Still, within Teyvat itself, Beisht logically should not have appeared here.
Which meant—
Some unforeseen variable had already altered the flow of events.
And when Futsu Mitama considered that possibility, he immediately recalled the violent storm encountered half a year ago at sea.
Could that storm have been caused by Beisht?
If so—
Then the distant slash sent by the Raiden Shogun back then may very well have struck her directly.
Following that line of thought, it suddenly made perfect sense.
An injured Beisht returning to the waters surrounding the seal of her husband—
That was entirely reasonable.
After all, beneath the waters of Guyun Stone Forest lay the sealed body of Osial himself.
As Osial's wife, being inexplicably struck by the Electro Archon while wandering near Inazuma would naturally leave her furious and aggrieved.
Returning here to recover would not be strange at all.
"Unfortunately for her…"
Futsu Mitama murmured softly.
"She's simply unlucky."
He had no intention whatsoever of letting Beisht escape.
Since she had already appeared—then she might as well stay.
"You know her?" Hu Tao blinked curiously while looking at Futsu Mitama.
"Yes." Futsu Mitama nodded slightly. "Her name is Beisht. She is the wife of Osial, the God of the Vortex…and his final follower."
"The God of the Vortex?"
Hu Tao's eyes widened slightly as she instinctively glanced toward the surrounding stone forests.
"Isn't that the ancient demon god sealed here by the Rex Lapis?"
As the Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Hu Tao knew far more hidden truths than ordinary people.
The existence of the God of the Stove.
The history of Azhdaha assisting the Geo Archon before eventually falling into erosion.
The stories of the Yakshas endlessly slaying demons.
The secrets surrounding the Adeptus.
These matters were not unfamiliar to her.
Thus, the moment Osial's name was spoken, she immediately understood what kind of existence he represented.
"Yes."
Futsu Mitama gently placed Hu Tao back onto the ground before turning his gaze toward the distant sea where Beisht was escaping.
"I'll teach her a lesson."
"But first…"
He looked toward the approaching tsunami.
"Let's deal with this."
As his words fell, Futsu Mitama reached into the void and drew forth Seven Thunder of Retribution: Narukami.
Then—
He swung downward.
A pale violet slash erupted outward instantly.
Whoosh—!!
The massive tsunami that resembled a natural disaster itself was split apart effortlessly by a single strike.
This…was the power of an Archon.
Although Futsu Mitama had only recently stepped into that realm, even a casual strike from him now possessed enough force to rival a catastrophe.
"T-This…"
Hu Tao's mouth parted slightly in disbelief as shock filled her eyes.
This was far too outrageous.
Futsu Mitama's strength had risen yet again.
No—
It wasn't simply "again."
His growth had become absurd. How much time had even passed since they last met?!
Without the Chat Group constantly updating her perspective, Hu Tao's understanding of Futsu Mitama still remained fixed around half a year ago—
Back when he joined forces with the Adeptus to defeat a Primo Geovishap and that Harbinger commotion.
Even if he had already been recognized by the Geo Archon as a future successor—
What kind of successor's strength could rise this monstrously within only half a year?!
"Next…"
Futsu Mitama's gaze shifted toward the distant sea.
"It's her turn."
Purple lightning flickered within his eyes.
At the same time, Seven Thunder of Retribution: Narukami released a faint divine radiance as traces of Electro authority spread outward from the blade.
Rumble—
Thunderclouds gathered overhead as purple lightning tore through the heavens.
Divine pressure descended upon the sea.
The Adeptus who originally sensed Osial's authority and were rushing toward Guyun Stone Forest suddenly paused.
Because they now sensed another aura.
An aura belonging to an Electro Archon.
The moment they realized Futsu Mitama had already arrived, several Adeptus immediately turned back toward their own abodes.
There was no longer any need for urgency.
With Futsu Mitama present, the situation was essentially already resolved.
At most, going there now would merely amount to spectating.
Moreover, both Cloud Retainer and Guizhong frequently visited Guyun Stone Forest.
A disturbance of this scale meant the two of them had likely already noticed as well.
Above the sea, Beisht continued fleeing desperately. Her emotions had already descended into panic. Because she could clearly feel it—
A pair of eyes glowing with violet light had firmly locked onto her.
And that familiar sensation—
It resembled the Electro Archon far too closely.
But this was Liyue, not Inazuma.
Which meant the being pursuing her was most likely the Archon's familiar.
Beisht cursed inwardly.
Near Inazuma, she had already been struck once by an inexplicable slash descending from afar.
And now—
The Archon's familiar was about to strike her again?!
Worse still—
This aura felt even more terrifying than before.
Instinctively, Beisht raised her head.
Then she saw it.
A massive spatial rift tore open high above the sky.
Within it stood an enormous Chakra Desiderata overlooking the sea below like a divine manifestation.
And it was staring directly at her.
An overwhelming sense of danger instantly engulfed Beisht completely.
Danger.
Extreme danger.
The existence making this move—
Was absolutely an Archon-level being.
As someone who survived the Archon War and once followed Osial in attacking Liyue Harbor, Beisht recognized that oppressive authority immediately.
Even though this attack originated from afar—
The might behind it belonged to a true Demon God.
The previous slash launched by Beelzebub had merely been a remotely transmitted strike infused with Electro authority.
Even then, it still injured her badly.
But this time was different.
This being was attacking personally.
The concepts were not remotely comparable.
The previous strike merely wounded her.
This one—could very well kill her.
Beisht still could not understand why a Demon God existence kept targeting her specifically.
But she no longer had time to think about such matters.
With a furious roar, she surged upward from the sea and activated Osial's authority completely.
Storms instantly descended upon the ocean.
Hydro energy condensed within all three of her mouths simultaneously.
Beisht understood clearly—
If she wanted even the slightest chance of survival, then she needed to fight with everything she had.
Above the heavens, a gigantic hand formed entirely from Electro energy extended outward from within the Chakra Desiderata.
That hand reached into the spatial rift and slowly drew forth an enormous tachi resembling Seven Thunder of Retribution: Narukami itself.
The moment the blade emerged—
Beisht attacked.
Three torrents of blue Hydro breath erupted simultaneously before merging together into a single massive stream whose power increased exponentially.
As though responding directly to her attack—
The giant tachi swung downward.
A pure violet slash descended from the heavens like divine punishment itself.
Boom—!!!
The slash collided directly against Beisht's combined Hydro attack.
An overwhelming explosion erupted instantly as terrifying shockwaves spread across the sea.
Below, Beisht's colossal body was forced backward dozens of meters by the impact alone.
Realizing her attack failed to stop it completely, she immediately plunged downward into the sea without hesitation.
But the divine slash only slowed briefly before continuing downward relentlessly.
Beisht felt an unimaginable sense of crisis engulf her entire being.
At maximum speed, she dove deeper into the ocean while frantically activating every ounce of power she possessed alongside Osial's authority.
At this moment, her only thought was survival.
She absolutely could not allow herself to be split apart by this unknown Archon.
ROAR—!!!
Suddenly—
A roar resembling that of an ancient beast erupted from the depths of the sea itself.
A massive pillar of water surged upward carrying an overwhelming ancient aura before colliding directly against the descending Electro slash.
Boom—!!
An earth-shaking explosion echoed across the ocean.
The divine strike was finally dispersed.
"Hm?"
Standing upon the shore, Futsu Mitama's brows furrowed slightly.
Clearly, he had sensed something unexpected. Gripping Seven Thunder of Retribution: Narukami tightly, his figure vanished instantly.
The next moment, he appeared directly above the sea itself.
Looking downward into the depths, he spoke calmly.
"Osial?"
Within the dark ocean below, ancient golden characters flickered one after another beneath the sea.
This was a seal—
Or more precisely, merely one part of a far greater seal.
Back then, when Zhongli cast down his Geo spears during the Archon War, those divine constructs eventually became what was now known as the Guyun Stone Forest.
And within the deepest parts of the sea beneath Guyun Stone Forest, another section of that ancient seal still remained.
What Futsu Mitama had not expected, however, was that Osial actually possessed the ability to temporarily interfere with the seal itself after its weaking over the years.
At that moment, the ancient golden characters flickering beneath the sea gradually began dimming one after another.
The violent fluctuations subsided rapidly.
Clearly—
The seal had stabilized once more.