Kapitel 59: A Crisis for Beidou, Shenhe Steps In to Save!
At Liyue Harbor, dark clouds loom over the city.
In the various shelters, the crowd is dense and heavy, with a deep sense of unease in everyone's hearts.
Although the earthquake in Liyue has ceased, the restless sea still leaves the people feeling anxious.
Many are clasping their hands in prayer, hoping Liyue can safely weather this disaster.
"Please, Lord Rock God, manifest and protect Liyue." "O Rock God above, please show yourself and safeguard Liyue." "We humbly request the immortals to summon the Rock God and defeat that monstrous creature." During this time of frequent calamities, the people are fervently praying to the Rock God.
Even though the Rock God has fallen, the people of Liyue realize after these disasters that Liyue cannot exist without him.
As a result, many ignore the fact of the Rock God's demise and continue to pray earnestly.
Just when the citizens of Liyue are filled with anxiety,
a vast expanse of black mist is seen surging toward Liyue Harbor from the horizon across the sea.
The already overcast sky, combined with the gradually engulfing black mist on the sea, creates the illusion of a dark world swallowing Liyue.
The immortals standing in the void immediately notice the black mist rising from the sea and exclaim in surprise:
"The power of this evil is overwhelming, and it is heading straight for Liyue from all directions."
"This level of active evil power cannot simply be the remnants of a fallen deity; it must be controlled by some malevolent presence." "We must block this evil force; otherwise, the entire population of Liyue will be tainted." The immortals sharply sense that there must be a great demon hidden behind this black mist.
However, there is no time to investigate; they must first protect Liyue.
If this black mist pours into Liyue, it will begin to corrupt the very essence of its people...
Even with the boundless powers of the Adepti, it was nearly impossible to fully cure ordinary people who had been tainted by the Black Mist. Therefore, they had to intercept the Black Mist at sea.
Just as several of the Adepti were about to take action, Baizhe suddenly erupted with fury from beneath the sea. Its enormous body, intentionally infused with the power of evil, launched a massive water cannon at the Adepti.
"How dare you!"
Xiao roared in anger, immediately casting an Adeptus art to block Baizhe's attack.
Baizhe let out a furious howl, its strength bolstered by the evil power, and in an instant, all three of its heads unleashed even more powerful jets of water.
The three Adepti each used their own methods to fend off Baizhe's attack.
"This is bad! How could it push us to the edge?"
Although Baizhe's attack couldn't overpower the three Adepti, they found themselves unable to swiftly defeat the strengthened creature.
Baizhe was fully aware of this, which is why it focused its assault on the three Adepti, attempting to hold them off and allow the Black Mist to encroach upon Liyue from the sea.
"We must eliminate this fiend quickly, or Liyue will fall!" Xiao declared.
The Adepti unleashed their arts relentlessly, bombarding Baizhe with fierce attacks. However, Baizhe's vitality was extraordinarily strong, and the sea was its domain. With the added power from the evil forces, the Adepti could inflict only minimal harm on it.
For a time, Baizhe endured the Adepti's onslaught while continuously counterattacking, creating a stalemate. The Adepti were unable to break free.
Meanwhile, as the battle raged between the Adepti and Baizhe, the Black Mist from the distant sea rapidly approached Liyue Harbor.
The Alcor, positioned at the outermost edge, was the first to face the Black Mist as it rapidly approached. Beidou, standing at the bow, peered through her telescope at the swiftly spreading darkness. Suddenly spotting something alarming, she shouted:
"Everyone, be careful! Ahead of the Black Mist, there's a swarm of sea beasts leading the charge—they're heading straight for us!"
Indeed, before the encroaching Black Mist, numerous sea creatures of bizarre shapes were swimming swiftly. Each of these beasts was entwined with the Black Mist, their strength bolstered by the power of evil.
The terrifying sight was something that even the seasoned sailors aboard the Alcor, who had long dealt with the dangers of the sea, had never witnessed. Many began to wonder if the end of days had truly arrived.
Just after Beidou's warning, the Black Mist and the sea beasts surged forward with incredible speed, closing in on the Alcor within just a few breaths. The sea beasts, driven by the Black Mist, began their assault on the ship.
Boom! Boom!
The cannons of the Alcor fired continuously, bombarding the swarm of sea beasts that filled the waters. However, some of the creatures had already dived deep beneath the ship, leaping out of the water and landing directly on the deck.
These sea beasts, resembling fish or shrimp, were shrouded in Black Mist. Empowered by the Mist, their bodies had grown to a staggering two or three meters in height.
In an instant, over a dozen sea beasts appeared on the deck, and the crew shouted in terror:
"The sea beasts are aboard! Grab your weapons and fight!"
Although the sea beasts were fierce and menacing, the crew of the Alcor had undergone rigorous training.
The crew of the Alcor, no strangers to battle, especially against other pirates, quickly adapted to the situation. Armed with swords and blades, they charged at the sea beasts that had leaped onto the deck, engaging them as they would in a boarding skirmish.
Working in groups of three or four, the sailors coordinated their attacks on each sea beast. Their weapons struck the creatures' bodies, leaving shallow wounds, but then the blades stopped—clamped down by the beasts' muscular frames, which had been greatly strengthened by the Black Mist.
The sea beasts, enraged by the pain, retaliated fiercely. With a violent twist of their bodies, they sent several sailors flying across the deck.
"These sea beasts' skin is too tough! Our swords can't cut through them!" one sailor shouted in frustration.
"These monsters aren't ordinary sea creatures anymore! I'm not sure we can kill them with just our strength!" another added, fear creeping into his voice.
"Fear nothing! We're holding the line for Liyue! Even if we die, we'll take a few of these beasts with us!" came the determined reply of a veteran sailor.
The crew had seen the immense power of the beasts, and panic had initially set in. But they quickly regained their composure. Liyue was just beyond them, and if they didn't stop these creatures here, the people of Liyue would suffer greatly. With that realization, they fought with renewed determination, embracing the idea that sacrificing their lives to take down even a few sea beasts was worth it.
The battle between the dozen or so sea beasts and the crew intensified. Strengthened by the Black Mist, the sea beasts had become powerful, monstrous beings. Though the sailors fought bravely, leaving scars on several creatures, many of them were struck down. One fierce swipe of a sea beast's tail was enough to send sailors flying, their bones shattered, rendering them unable to fight any longer.
Despite their injuries, the crew remained resolute, knowing that the safety of Liyue depended on their efforts.
Seeing one of her crew about to be crushed under a sea beast's foot, Beidou leapt onto the deck, her massive sword raised high. With a powerful swing, a bolt of purple lightning shot out, slashing through the air. Several already wounded sea beasts had their heads cleanly severed by the strike.
The crew erupted with cheers, their morale soaring.
"That's our Captain Beidou! She's incredible!"
"With Beidou leading us, we'll definitely hold back these sea beasts!"
"Our Captain can cut down mountains and seas, these creatures are nothing!"
However, Beidou's expression remained stern as she barked out, "Stay sharp! More of them are coming aboard. Everyone, fight back-to-back! I won't be able to protect all of you!"
Immediately, the crew fell into formation, backs pressed together, weapons at the ready. Just as Beidou finished speaking, even more sea beasts vaulted onto the deck, each exuding a powerful aura. The sheer number of them was overwhelming, with the waves around the Alcor teeming with countless more, all surging toward the ship.
The sailors swallowed nervously, feeling an unprecedented sense of danger. Even Beidou's face was set in a grim frown. Though these sea beasts weren't as formidable as the great serpent Shanhai, the sheer quantity of them made the situation dire. Even if she fought with all her strength, Beidou knew there was a limit to how long she could hold them off.
As the newly arrived sea beasts launched their fierce assault, Beidou met them head-on. Wielding her greatsword, crackling with purple lightning, she struck down ten sea beasts at once, cutting through their thick hides and fending off their relentless attacks. But the battle was far from over, and the situation continued to grow more dire with each passing moment.
Every few seconds, Beidou would use her greatsword to dispatch several sea beasts. However, the number of creatures on the deck didn't diminish; in fact, they were increasing. The crew, battered and bruised, found themselves in perilous situations, narrowly escaping death with each attack.
In this desperate moment, Beidou's gaze hardened. She laughed defiantly, "Even if I die here today, I'll take all of you monsters with me!"
Just as the sea beasts began to overwhelm the deck of the Alcor, a white-haired figure leaped down from the sky. With an ice-elemental talisman in hand, it seemed as though a phantom appeared behind her.
Crack! Crack!
A chilling aura enveloped the deck, and a layer of thick ice suddenly spread across it, freezing every sea beast in an instant. Even the creatures in the surrounding waters were caught in the icy grip.
The sailors stared in disbelief, turning their gazes toward the figure. They saw a woman with long white hair and eyes shimmering like a rainbow, her demeanor exuding an icy chill. It was Shenhe, the one who had just quelled the tempest.
Beidou let out a hearty laugh, relieved to have escaped disaster. "You must be the friend who came with the immortals earlier! Thank you for your help. May I ask your name?"
"Shenhe," the woman replied coldly, her gaze shifting toward the encroaching black mist not far from the Alcor. "The true threat lies in the evil that plagues us."
At this moment, the black mist had reached the bow of the Alcor, advancing ominously toward everyone on board.
Shenhe immediately called out, "Everyone, move away! Otherwise, you will be contaminated!"
Beidou's expression turned grave as she shouted, "Get far away from that black mist!"
Shenhe then produced a genuine yellow talisman and stepped forward, pressing it against the encroaching mist. The talisman emitted a brilliant golden light, and the black mist illuminated by it began to melt away like snow under the sun.
"Is it working?" Beidou's eyes lit up. The black mist was formless and boundless, making it nearly impossible for her to attack. But seeing Shenhe's talisman in action gave her hope.
Shenhe replied coolly, "It can only temporarily fend off some of the mist. You need to escape."
The scale of this evil power was vast, and even Shenhe felt helpless against it. Beidou's gaze hardened as she asserted, "What do you mean 'escape'? The word isn't even in my dictionary! If we're going, we go together."
With that, Beidou swung her greatsword, striking at the black mist. A flash of lightning lit up the area, and a small breach was created in the mist. However, it was quickly filled in by more black fog.
Seeing this, Shenhe fell silent, preparing herself for the worst. Just then, the black mist, avoiding the yellow talisman, began to swirl around from other directions, surging toward Beidou and Shenhe.
In Shenhe's cold gaze, a hint of helplessness flickered. Was she really going to die here? Just as the black mist was about to engulf Beidou and Shenhe, a pair of wings spread wide from above, and a blue light shone down, enveloping the entire Alcor.
The black mist touched by the blue light emitted a hissing sound and began to dissipate rapidly. The encroaching mist behind it hesitated, retreating in fear from the azure radiance pouring onto the ship.
"Master, Winter, has made her move!" Shenhe regained her cold demeanor, retracting the yellow talisman.
The other crew members erupted in cheers. "The Adeptus have intervened! These bizarre black mists will be eliminated!"
"Wonderful! The Adeptus truly haven't given up on us!"
"The spells of the Adeptus are amazing! With their help, we can hold on!" Although everyone had been prepared to sacrifice their lives in battle, the prospect of survival lifted their spirits.
Beidou smiled and said, "So you're a disciple of the immortals? If they're intervening, they should be able to eliminate this black mist, right?"
However, Shenhe shook her head and replied, "No, the evil power hasn't ceased."
Beidou's smile faltered, and she turned her gaze to the area covered by the azure light.
The black mist hesitated at the bow of the ship, unwilling to enter the realm of azure light. Instead, it circled around the Alcor, continuing its advance towards the rear of the vessel.
In no time, the Alcor was surrounded by the black mist, with only the area protected by the blue light remaining untouched. From the ship, the crew could see the endless black mist rapidly encroaching, twisting and rolling like a dark tide.
The cheers that had erupted moments ago from the crew suddenly halted, replaced by panic.
"Not good! The black mist is approaching Liyue Harbor!"
"It's over! The black mist is moving too fast! How can we make it stop?"
"Are the Adeptus unable to do anything about it?"
"The Adeptus don't need to protect us anymore! Hurry and protect Liyue!"
Even though the crew was under the protection of the Adeptus, they would rather see the Adeptus shift their focus to saving Liyue. They would choose their own deaths over allowing Liyue to be destroyed.
Beidou gritted her teeth and shouted, "Turn the helm! We need to block these evil forces!"
The crew quickly sprang into action, trying to steer the ship towards the encroaching black mist. However, the speed of the mist was overwhelming, and it was already at the entrance to the harbor.
Despair clouded everyone's eyes as they witnessed this scene. Just as the black mist was about to reach Liyue Harbor, several immortals in the sky launched their attacks, temporarily suppressing the powerful Bazhe.
An Adeptus, freed her hands and immediately cast a layer of protective golden light over Liyue Harbor.
At that moment, the surging black mist collided violently with the immortal barrier, continuously battering against it. The golden light twisted and warped under the relentless assault, at risk of being breached at any moment.
Xiao intended to unleash more techniques, but another attack from Bazhe interrupted her.
"Bold creature! Dare to obstruct us? I shall reduce you to ashes!"
The Adeptus were filled with fury. Even they, with their immense power, found it challenging to withstand such a massive scale of black mist. With Bazhe holding them back, they could not focus entirely on stopping the encroaching darkness.
The black mist intensified its assault against the golden barrier, coalescing into a dense mass that resembled a thick, pure black sludge. This ominous mist appeared even more destructive than before.
Within a few breaths, it breached the golden light, and the thick black mist surged over the ocean towards Liyue Harbor.
Seeing this, Beidou and the others were overwhelmed with despair.
On the nearby island, Ganyu was focused on protecting the entire Qianyan Army while keeping a watchful eye on the rapidly approaching black mist that threatened Liyue.
With the other Adeptus held back by Bazhe, no one remained to halt the advance of the dark forces. Soon, the black mist would engulf Liyue Harbor, eroding the vitality of its people and leaving them lifeless.
It seemed that this time, they truly had reached a dead end.
In this moment of crisis, Ganyu instinctively thought of the young dragon she had cared for days prior. I wonder how the Little Divine Dragon True Monarch is faring? Even if it were here, as a young dragon, it would hardly be able to do much.
Ganyu could only hope that Lin Yuan was safe outside.
As Liyue faced its crisis, Lin Yuan descended from the skies, hovering above the rock formations of the Azhdaha. He quietly merged with the dual nature of good and evil that surrounded the dragon king.
Beside him, Lottia and Zhongli watched as the core of Azhdaha began to emit a bright white light, the once menacing aura slowly dissipating.
"Is it really going to succeed?" Lottia said, her eyes filled with hope.
Zhongli's gaze shifted slightly as he responded, "The essence of Azhdaha has already changed; he is on the path to rebirth."
Could it be true? His dearest friend, Azhdaha, was truly about to be reborn?
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T/N:
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