As the colossal sword came crashing down, the surrounding sea surged violently.
Vast volumes of seawater rose and took shape, forming two enormous palms that lifted high before slamming down upon the bodies of Osial and Beisht.
Carrying an irresistible, absolute force, the giant hands once again drove the two ancient gods—who had broken their seals using the "Talisman of No Restrictions"—deep into the ocean's depths.
This time, it was the suppression of the Hydro Archon herself. Unless the seas were to dry up completely, every drop of water would instinctively act to bind them.
Rain continued to fall, yet the sky slowly began to clear.
Lora glanced upward, then retracted her divine power. By the time she returned to the Jade Chamber, she had already reverted to her former appearance.
Ningguang bowed deeply to her. "Thank you for your assistance."
The Adepti did not expose Lora's true identity, but they too inclined their heads in gratitude.
Paimon stared at Lora in amazement, exclaiming nonstop, "Wow! Lora, you're incredible! You knocked those two sea monsters down just like that!"
Keqing looked at Lora as well, her brows furrowing slightly.
She knew Lora was an Adeptus—but the gap between her and the other Adepti was far too great. Lora had nearly suppressed two ancient gods by herself. Could an ordinary Adeptus really accomplish something like that?
Was Lora… truly just an ordinary Adeptus?
Just then, the earth suddenly shook. Even the Jade Chamber suspended high in the sky felt the terrifying shockwave. The crowd, who had only just relaxed, felt their hearts tighten once more.
Paimon asked in alarm, "What now? Don't tell me the sea monsters are coming back again?!"
Lora frowned deeply, her expression grave, and shook her head. "No. It's not Osial or Beisht. This tremor is coming from the direction of Mt. Hulao."
"Mt. Hulao…? You mean—" At her words, several of the Adepti immediately understood.
"You all assist the Liyue Qixing in stabilizing Liyue Harbor. I'll go to Mt. Hulao," Lora said, making her decision without hesitation.
Among everyone present, her standing was the highest. Once she gave the order, the other Adepti raised no objections and immediately moved to carry it out.
Lumine wanted to say more, but in the end she only told Lora to be careful.
Lora acknowledged her words and swiftly set off toward Mt. Hulao.
As she flew, cracked mountains and fractured land stretched out below her. The closer she drew to Mt. Hulao, the more severe the devastation became.
The Millelith stationed in the area had already evacuated to safety—this level of destructive power was far beyond what they could withstand.
Upon arriving, Lora gazed solemnly at the Sealed Tree below.
With her keen perception, she could clearly see that the seal suppressing Azhdaha had already shattered—and it was tainted with the aura of the Abyss.
"Those Abyss Order bastards again… damn them," Lora muttered, her brows tightly knit.
As Azhdaha's power revived, the Sealed Tree began to crack apart before collapsing with a thunderous roar. From Mt. Hulao all the way to the Southern Heavenly Gate, the earth split open with a deep, gaping fissure, and a terrifying roar echoed up from the depths.
Standing atop Mt. Hulao, Aether noticed Lora in the distant sky, surrounded by surging waters.
"Your Highness the Prince, shall we intervene?" an Abyss Herald behind him asked.
Aether shook his head.
"No need. You're no match for her. Being suppressed by Rex Lapis would be far easier for you than it was for those two gods. I've already obtained what I wanted. What's happening at Qingce Village won't delay the Geo Archon for long. We only need to watch from the sidelines. The thousand-year hatred of Azhdaha, the Geo Dragon Sovereign, isn't something even a god can easily endure."
"Yes!" the Abyss Herald replied, bowing in acknowledgment.
Aether withdrew his gaze, turning his attention back to the depths beneath Mt. Hulao.
By now, the land had completely ruptured. Chaotic elemental energy erupted from the ley lines, spreading rapidly in all directions. Lightning ran rampant, and subterranean flames surged violently.
Lora's expression remained heavy. Vast Hydro elemental power rose around her as well.
High above, one massive sphere of water after another condensed and fell to the ground, acting as a binding agent to stabilize the fractured ley lines.
Azhdaha's towering body emerged from deep underground. He threw back his head and roared, the sound booming like winter thunder and shaking heaven and earth.
Rocks tumbled down Mt. Hulao, trees snapped apart, and a massive fissure tore from the mountain's base all the way to its peak as the entire mountain began to split.
In his frenzied state, Azhdaha's terrifying pressure spread outward from him in waves.
The scene resembled the end of the world. Even with Lora using her divine power to maintain stability, she was ultimately not the Geo Archon—using water to reinforce the land was, at best, a strained solution.
Azhdaha lifted his head. His jade-like eyes fixed upon Lora in the sky, and an ancient, desolate voice echoed in her ears.
"You… are not Morax! Where is Morax?!"
"Azhdaha, return to your seal," Lora said coldly, her gaze unwavering. Surrounded by countless waters, she was no longer the approachable, carefree figure who wandered the mortal world. She was the Queen of All Waters, All Lands, All Peoples, and All Laws—Egeria.
"You… are Morax's accomplice? Standing with traitors makes you my enemy as well!"
Azhdaha roared.
The earth trembled violently as countless rocky peaks shot upward, blasting toward Lora.
The stone spires pierced the clouds as they surged skyward.
Vast torrents of water erupted from Lora's hands, crashing directly into the oncoming stone.
The collision of water and rock turned the sky into a surreal, chaotic spectacle.
As Lora continued to release her power, the region stretching from the base of Mt. Hulao toward the Southern Heavenly Gate rapidly flooded, becoming a vast expanse of water.
The sunlight dimmed in the heavens, yet the radiance of water alone continued to shine.
Azhdaha strode through the air, his mountain-like body rising rapidly under the support of elemental power until he reached the same height as Lora.
A millennium sealed beneath the earth had fused his power with the ley lines themselves.
He could freely draw upon every element coursing through them—dark clouds gathered overhead, lightning flashed, and whether raging winds or biting frost, all were wrapped in crushing stone and earthfire as they surged toward Lora in a relentless assault.
Lora gripped the "Judgment of the Raging Sea," summoning all the Hydro elemental power between heaven and earth, and slashed forward with a single strike.
The might of a god flattened the stone. The rapidly rising waters boiled violently as countless water tornadoes were drawn skyward, spiraling around Azhdaha and restricting his movements.
The entire northwestern region of Liyue became a battlefield.
The power of the gods was laid bare.
Aether raised his sword, pointing it toward Lora, and murmured, "Consider this… my return gift for what happened in Mondstadt."
As his words fell, his blade burst forth with black-crimson light, shooting straight into the sky.