[Apologies for not checking comments recently—noticed the Yakshas' names were misspelled and have now been corrected.]
[Electro, Bosacius —Pyro, Indarias —Anemo, Alatus —Hydro, Bonanus —Geo, Menogias.]
...
"Xianyun, how long do you think Bosacius and the others can hold out?" Moon Carver asked quietly from the side.
"I'd say no more than three moves. We know the Emperor's strength better than anyone. Back in the Dragonspine battle, he fought four gods single-handedly—and didn't lose ground."
Cloud Retainer recalled that scene vividly, still deeply shaken by it to this day.
Back then, Morax hadn't defeated the invading gods outright, largely because they were fighting within Liyue's borders. Morax feared that unleashing his full strength would devastate the land, so even when those gods invaded, he deliberately restrained himself to avoid collateral damage.
"How could His Majesty think of something like this? To have the five Yakshas spar with the Emperor? I think we Adepti would've been enough," said the Adeptus Skyward Guide, puzzled.
Two months after their return from the Dragonspine campaign—once most of Liyue's affairs had been settled—Elliot finally arranged a sparring match between Morax and the Yakshas.
It was, after all, a promise he had made to Bosacius. And truthfully, Elliot himself was also curious to see just how far the Yakshas' strength could go.
The match was set at Cuijue Slope, a small, uninhabited plain with a wide and open view.
Among the spectators were not only the Adepti, but also the Azhdaha and Ganyu.
Aside from the five Yakshas, everyone else's strength was well-known, which only heightened their curiosity toward these new Yaksha guardians of Liyue.
After all, anyone chosen by Elliot was never ordinary. Whether it was Azhdaha, the Adepti, or even Ganyu—they had all been brought to Liyue under his guidance.
"Looks like everyone's ready," Elliot said calmly once both sides had taken their positions.
"We're ready," Bosacius replied firmly, standing at the forefront of the Yakshas.
Turning his gaze toward Morax, Elliot saw the Emperor nod slightly in acknowledgment, signaling for the duel to begin.
"Then…"
"Begin!"
At Elliot's command, Bosacius instantly vanished into the void, while the other four Yakshas spread out, launching their assault from all directions.
"Great Flame Serpent!"
In an instant, a colossal serpent of blazing fire surged forward, twisting violently as it swept across the field. Wherever it passed, the ground was scorched black.
The Adepti were stunned. The sheer intensity of that elemental power was far beyond anything they had imagined.
They had thought the Yakshas' strength was comparable to their own—strong, but not overwhelmingly so—perhaps relying more on mechanical arts to compensate.
But now, with this single attack, Indarias completely shattered their expectations.
No one had imagined that this woman could fight with such ferocity!
Even Morax raised an eyebrow slightly, clearly surprised.
The fiery serpent lunged forward with terrifying speed, engulfing Morax in a single gulp.
"Thorn Rock Tree!"
Menogias crouched low, slamming his massive hand into the ground.
BOOM!!!!!!!!!!
Beneath the blazing inferno, the ground erupted as jagged stone limbs burst upward like living tentacles, each one bristling with razor-sharp spikes. They coiled tightly around Morax, lifting him high into the air.
"Now that's interesting." Even Azhdaha couldn't help but let out an approving rumble.
The Adepti stood frozen in disbelief.
Indarias's opening strike had already astonished them, yet before they could recover, Menogias followed up instantly. Their timing was flawless—one attack flowing seamlessly into the next.
"Canghai Demon Dragon!"
As Morax was hurled to the peak of the sky by the Thorn Rock Tree, a colossal dragon formed from surging water emerged from the void.
ROAR!!!!!!!
Its deafening cry echoed through the heavens as it descended with crushing force, intent on obliterating Morax completely.
At that moment, Azhdaha stomped heavily, raising a massive shield of rock that enveloped the Adepti and Ganyu within it. Otherwise, the dragon's destructive force would have surely reached them.
As the enormous Hydro dragon prepared to swallow Morax whole, a faint blur flashed behind him.
"Piercing Spear!"
While everyone's attention was fixed on the dragon, Alatus, who had been waiting patiently for an opening, seized the moment. Channeling immense power, he launched himself upward from the ground, striking in unison with the descending dragon—an attack from both above and below.
BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!
A deafening explosion erupted from where Morax stood, sending out a tremendous shockwave that tore through the plains.
Violent winds howled, trees bent and snapped, and thunder rumbled through the dark, clouded sky.
Crack… crackle…
The protective shield surrounding Morax was now webbed with fissures, on the verge of shattering.
BOOM!
Under the combined assault of Bonanus and Alatus, Morax's shield finally shattered completely.
"Great Thunderstorm!!!!"