Inside the massive crater, remnants of scattered Dendro elemental power lingered in the air.
Grass began sprouting from the very center.
Then it spread outward at an incredible speed.
Soon the entire crater was covered in green.
Even the sky gradually returned to its bright blue color.
Xuehua—cosplaying as Ganyu—saw this breathtaking scene and immediately blurted out:
"Holy sh—!"
[HOLY SH*T ×19682]
[WHAT?! ×13290]
[So this is what a god battle looks like?!]
[This is insanely epic!]
[After Osial, I thought my tolerance was high enough… but this still gives me chills]
[My mom just asked why I wet myself watching my phone]
[Hoyoverse is insane, the scale of destruction is maxed out!]
[I now declare Genshin the greatest game ever made!]
[Childe, surviving a single finger from Qiu Nian… you're the GOAT 👍]
[If this is already this terrifying, what was the Archon War like?!]
[How the hell did Rex Lapis seal this guy under Guyun?!]
[This kind of shock pierces straight through your skull]
[Where's my son-in-law?! Don't tell me he's gone!]
[Yeah where is he?! 😭]
[Hoyoverse don't do this to me!! 😭]
[Why isn't Rex Lapis helping?! WHY?!]
The viewers in the livestream had never seen a scene this powerful and overwhelming.
Everyone felt their scalps go numb.
Many began worrying about Qiu Nian.
A few others complained about why the Geo Archon hadn't intervened.
At that moment, a new BGM began playing.
Combined with the breathtaking visuals, it sounded both majestic and tragic.
A melody of guzheng and flute echoed softly.
A woman's voice gently hummed an unfamiliar song.
The camera shifted.
Qiu Nian stood at the center of the crater on a patch of grass, quietly gazing up at the sky.
The wind gently stirred his long hair and robes.
A thin trail of blood ran from the corner of his mouth.
His clothes were torn from the battle.
"Hm…"
Qiu Nian frowned slightly, as if he had noticed something.
His expression became complicated as he let out a quiet sigh.
"Qiu Nian… my Qiu Nian!"
Seeing him injured, Xuehua—who adored both Qiu Nian and Zhongli—felt her heart ache.
[Even battle-damaged Qiu Nian looks handsome]
[Dad you're okay, thank god 😭]
[Son-in-law is insane, surviving that level of destruction!]
"Why go this far…"
Qiu Nian looked at the sky and asked quietly.
Even though he knew the God of Obscuration's fate would ultimately be death,
he had tried to delay that day as long as possible.
That was why he had held back the entire fight.
But he never expected the God of Obscuration to sacrifice his life like this.
The camera zoomed upward.
High in the sky, the God of Obscuration was breathing heavily.
The green glow in his eyes gradually faded.
His divine power—
and his life—
had already been completely exhausted by that final attack.
When he realized Qiu Nian hadn't even used his full strength,
he chose not to prolong the battle.
Instead, he launched one final attack meant to take them both down together.
But seeing Qiu Nian still standing with only minor injuries—
his eyes dimmed.
"Ha… hahaha…"
"You ask me why… you ask why…"
The God of Obscuration laughed weakly.
Then his body fell from the sky.
"I'm sorry… sister…"
"I… still couldn't avenge you…"
Tears welled in his eyes.
Closing them slowly, he quietly awaited death.
At that moment—
Lumine and Paimon landed near Qiu Nian.
They hurried over.
"Qiu Nian! Are you okay?!"
Lumine asked anxiously.
Paimon also looked extremely worried.
Qiu Nian shook his head gently.
"That last attack…"
"The God of Obscuration used up all his life force and divine power."
He looked up at the falling figure.
"What…?"
Lumine and Paimon followed his gaze.
High above them, the God of Obscuration continued to fall.
Qiu Nian raised his hand.
White-and-crimson divine power surged.
A beam of light flew from his palm—
and entered the God of Obscuration's mind.
"…I'm sorry."
Qiu Nian's apologetic voice echoed in his thoughts.
Suddenly—
countless memories flashed through the God of Obscuration's mind.
"So…"
"So that's the truth…"
"Sister… you always lied to me…"
"Why didn't you tell me… why…"
He opened his blurred eyes and reached toward the sky.
His voice carried confusion—
and grievance.
Then a gentle female voice sounded.
"Come with me… little brother…"
"This time… I won't lie to you anymore."
"Let's go home together."
A translucent figure appeared beside him.
She was a beautiful girl with light-blue hair and a long emerald dress.
After speaking softly, she extended her hand toward him.
"Okay…"
"Sister… let's go home…"
The God of Obscuration's fading consciousness reached out.
He took her hand.
At the same time, his divine body dissolved into countless emerald particles of light.
Before he could reach the ground—
he completely disappeared.
The glowing particles drifted throughout the crater.
Qiu Nian reached out and touched one of them.
Lumine and Paimon did the same.
A flash of white light.
The scene changed.
Before them appeared a lush green forest filled with fireflies.
The beautiful girl was holding the God of Obscuration's hand.
Together, they ran toward a distant land filled with Dendro life.
The vision faded.
"Th-That just now…"
Lumine looked at Qiu Nian with a complicated expression.
"Mm."
"Don't worry."
"He's already gone home."
Qiu Nian opened his eyes and looked up at the sky with a faint smile.
"Home…?"
Paimon still didn't understand.
"Yes…"
"A place where there is no erosion… and no cruel fate."
Qiu Nian walked forward slowly, his expression thoughtful.
Lumine and Paimon gazed across the endless field of knee-high grass.
Countless Dendro crystalflies fluttered among the blades.
Under the golden glow of the setting sun, the scene was breathtakingly beautiful.
The BGM softened as it neared its end.
Xuehua felt deeply moved.
Especially when she saw the God of Obscuration take his sister's hand earlier.
For some reason—
she suddenly felt like crying.
But then—
BOOM!
A heavy drumbeat thundered.
The screen went black.
A grand and tragic new melody began.
A male voice softly sang in ancient Chinese.
The screen lit up again.
A forest burned in raging flames.
Then a sword flashing with cold light filled the entire frame.
The camera slowly pulled back.
A young man stood holding the sword.
In front of him—
stood the beautiful girl from the earlier vision.
"Q-Qiu Nian?!"
The moment Xuehua saw that figure from behind—
she instantly recognized him.
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