Was it her arrival that altered the course of the future?
But now, there was no one left who could answer Lora's question.
Osial and Beisht joined forces and quickly broke free from the suppression of the three Ghizhong Machines.
They roared toward the sky as massive blue pillars of light surged upward, plunging into the dark clouds above.
In the next instant, an overwhelming barrage of blue water projectiles poured down from the heavens, crashing toward the Jade Chamber.
The enormous water spheres, like chunks of blue chalcedony, smashed down with terrifying force. Even the Millelith soldiers reinforced by Adeptus power dared not remain under such an onslaught.
They retreated rapidly to the Jade Chamber plaza, while the platform Ningguang had constructed was completely annihilated.
When the water projectiles struck Liyue Harbor, the Millelith who were locked in bitter combat with the sea monsters were forced to fall back.
Shenhe clenched a talisman in her hand and unleashed her power, freezing the raging waves in their tracks. At her side,Yunjin channeled Geo elemental energy, forming a protective barrier around Shenhe to help her withstand the attacks raining down from the sky.
"We can't retreat! Everyone, hold the line! Behind us are the people of Liyue!!"
The Millelith quickly reorganized their defenses, enduring the relentless bombardment from above while continuing to resist the invasion of sea monsters.
Watching the Millelith fight so desperately, Shenhe fell briefly into a daze.
Most of these soldiers didn't even possess Visions—yet they were still willing to give their lives without hesitation for the people of Liyue. For Shenhe, who had spent her life cultivating in the deep mountains, the sight was profoundly shocking.
She suddenly recalled the words Cloud Retainer had once spoken to her.
"When you learn to use your power for others, only then will you truly integrate into human society."
So this… was what it meant to use power for others?
This was human society?
For the people of Liyue!
A chilling frost flashed through Shenhe's eyes
. Vast Cryo elemental power erupted from her body, instantly freezing a wide expanse of the sea ahead. Any sea monster tainted by Hydro elemental power was frozen solid on the spot.
"Miss Shenhe…"Yunjin stared at her in awe.
Surrounded by an aura of noble, icy elegance, Shenhe looked like a true divine maiden.
"With me here, the line will hold," Shenhe said quietly to the Millelith beside her.
The Millelith soldiers tightened their grips on their spears and charged once more.
On the Jade Chamber, the atmosphere grew heavy.
"This is bad! Without the Ghizhong Machines, how are we supposed to suppress those two sea monsters?!" Paimon cried anxiously as she stared at the destroyed mechanisms.
At that moment, a deep, oppressive presence slowly spread between heaven and earth. It was subtle, not overtly violent—and among everyone present, only Lora could sense it. She frowned, lifting her gaze toward the sky.
"Lora, what's wrong?" Lumine asked quickly when she noticed her expression.
Lora didn't answer. She turned her gaze northward and murmured, "That direction is…"
"Qingce Village."
By the shoreline, Zhongli set down his fishing rod. All around him, sea monsters were pinned lifelessly to the ground by stone spears.
"Could it be the 'Chi'? That's impossible… it shouldn't be able to revive," Lora said grimly. Beisht's appearance alone was already unexpected—now even the 'Chi' was stirring?
"Egeria, leave the Qingce disaster to me. Osial and Beisht—I'll entrust them to you."
Soon, Zhongli's voice reached Lora's ears. He addressed her as Egeria, not Lora—a rare and solemn form of address.
The 'Chi' reviving under abnormal circumstances was far too strange. This was something he had to investigate personally.
Lora gave a slight nod. "Leave it to me, Morax."
In a corner no one noticed, an orange-yellow light shot into the sky and sped toward Qingce Village.
Lora turned to the others and said calmly, "Everyone, fall back. I alone am enough here."
"Eh? Lora?" Paimon looked at her in surprise.
Lumine frowned. "Lora, don't push yourself…"
Ningguang and the other Adepti, who understood Lora's true nature, all stepped aside and made room for her.
"Don't worry. I'm not forcing anything," Lora said gently to reassure Lumine as she walked to the very front of the Jade Chamber.
There was nothing ahead—no ground to stand on.
Yet she stepped forward all the same.
"Lora!" Lumine cried out in alarm.
Hydro elemental power gathered beneath Lora's feet, lifting her into the air.
Her delicate sea-blue low heels dissolved with each step. Bare, pale feet touched a crystalline plane of water as her Liyue-style attire transformed.
Countless streams of Hydro elemental power surged around her, weaving themselves into a sacred robe tinged with deep azure.
The tips of her flowing blue-white hair glimmered with divine light, and a cold radiance surfaced in her water-colored eyes.
Endless waters answered her call, waves rising sky-high.
Then, in an instant, the raging sea fell silent.
The dark clouds overhead seemed to be swept away by half, and the rain of water projectiles vanished without a trace.
The Oceanids maintaining the balance of Liyue Harbor's waterways sensed the overwhelming divine power of the Hydro Archon permeating the world, and all of them bowed in reverence.
Rhodeia placed a hand over her heart, gazing skyward with deep respect.
Osial and Beisht writhed uneasily. The moment Lora took that step, they felt hostility emanating from the sea itself. That dreadful sensation sent panic through the two gods who relied upon the ocean for their power.
Standing before the Jade Chamber, Lora became the axis of heaven and earth—the sovereign of the seas.
The loss of that foundation was unbearable. Overwhelmed by extreme unease, Osial and Beisht launched their attacks at the same time. Two colossal beams of light, each larger than the Jade Chamber itself, blasted toward Lora.
Lora raised both hands.
The sea obeyed her will, waves surging upward to form an immense crystalline barrier before her. A blue, radiant array flared across its surface, effortlessly blocking the combined assault of Osial and Beisht.
Between her palms, Hydro elemental power converged. Streams of water as thick as forearms rose from the sea and gathered in her grasp.
Countless currents merged, forming the "Judgment of the Raging Sea."
Lora's gaze settled on Osial and Beisht.
The two gods thrashed wildly, as if sensing something utterly terrifying, roaring at Lora in fury.
But their rage was meaningless. As beings of the water, they were fated never to be her match.
The sea—once their domain—thrust forth spears of water, piercing straight through the bodies of Osial and Beisht. Towering waves surged upward, yet were tightly confined by Lora, never spilling toward Liyue Harbor.
Then Lora raised the "Judgment of the Raging Sea" high above her head and brought it down in a single decisive strike.
Within the swirling vortex of dark clouds, a colossal sword manifested and fell from the sky, cleaving directly into the bodies of Osial and Beisht.
The agonized howls of the gods shook the heavens.