Flames.
Fear.
Screams.
Blood.
The loom of fate turned—
weaving a living hell upon the earth.
Within this inferno, some rose to resist,
some surrendered to despair,
and some fled in cowardice.
But there are always those—
who fear no bloodshed,
who do not shrink from sacrifice,
who walk against the current.
And now—
Cao Zhong was that lone, defiant figure.
[Kaeya]: @Cao Zhong Are you insane?! That's Dvalin—a god-level being! You can't fight it! Run!
[Bennett]: @Cao Zhong Bro, don't do anything stupid! Leave it to us!
[Eula]: @Cao Zhong You idiot! What are you doing?! Get back here! I won't hold any grudges anymore—just come back!
[Venti]: @Cao Zhong Fine, I'll call you big brother! Just stay where you are—I'm coming!
[Xingqiu]: He really… I'm tearing up.
[Hu Tao]: Wuwuwu~ Who would've thought? You people wanted him gone before, and now you're all worried! I'm so moved!
[Kamisato Ayaka]: Wuwu~ Mr. Cao Zhong!!!
[Kamisato Ayato]: …Sister, you—sigh. Fine. Looks like this is the one time he gets everyone's concern.
But Cao Zhong didn't stop.
If anything—
He moved even faster.
Each step was firm, unwavering—
As he charged straight toward the rampaging Dvalin.
With a flick of his wrist—
A golden card appeared in his hand, radiating dazzling light.
This was a reward from his daily system—
[Divine General Card].
And the one he held now—
Was [Divine General: Lü Bu].
With a light squeeze—
The card shattered.
Fragments of golden light burst forth, enveloping Cao Zhong as he sprinted forward.
And in that instant—
He transformed
A phoenix-plumed crown rested upon his head,
golden bells trembling faintly.
A radiant battle robe flowed like divine silk—
his presence like a descending war god.
He could chase the moon, pluck the stars,
cross mountains and rivers like lightning.
In his hand appeared a halberd—
The mere sight of it could shake gods and shatter demons' souls.
[Xingqiu]: Cao Zhong… changed color?!
[Kaeya]: What the—he's insanely strong!
[Yae Miko]: That aura…
[Tartaglia]: This is it—this is it! I want to fight him for real!
[Hu Tao]: Cao thief is this strong?! My legs are weak—Zhongli, help me up!
[Zhongli]: …Indeed, unexpected.
[Venti]: @Cao Zhong I knew it—you can do this!
Deep within the Abyss—
Aether watched in disbelief.
"How… could Mondstadt have someone this powerful?!"
Even the Fatui were shaken.
La Signora's body trembled uncontrollably, her voice tinged with fear.
"Impossible… why does Mondstadt still have such a monster?"
At this moment—
Cao Zhong's divine aura surged outward—
Shaking heaven and earth, sweeping across all of Mondstadt.
Monsters trembled and fell:
Hilichurls faintedMitachurls shiveredSlimes collapsedWhopperflowers burrowed deep underground
Even Andrius, the Wolf of the North Wind, broke into a cold sweat.
Even the maddened Dvalin—
Was drawn to that overwhelming power.
Madness flickered in its eyes.
For a moment—
The world seemed to freeze.
A man and a dragon stood opposed—
A clash of mortal and god,
light and darkness,
life and death.
"Mortal… you dare face me?"
Dvalin's roar shook the heavens.
Cao Zhong grinned.
Dragging his halberd across the ground—
Sparks and lightning trailed behind him as he charged forward.
"With a general against ten thousand—taking victory is as easy as reaching into a bag!"
They rushed toward each other.
Dvalin beat its wings—
Violent winds howled, forming a storm that tore toward Cao Zhong.
Walls of wind rose to block his path.
But Cao Zhong didn't care.
He leapt—
So high he surpassed Dvalin's altitude.
Locking onto the corrupted spike—
He swung his halberd down with unstoppable force.
"Witness divine might—nothing can withstand it!"
The strike—
Ignored all defenses.
Like cutting through empty air—
It tore the poisoned spike from Dvalin's back.
ROOOOAR—!!!
A deafening cry of agony echoed.
That blow—
Struck like tearing out its very lungs.
Dvalin panicked.
It feared.
It tried to flee.
But Cao Zhong wouldn't allow it.
With a light step—
He pressed down with overwhelming force, nearly slamming the dragon from the sky.
Dvalin barely stabilized itself—
Trying to escape again.
But Cao Zhong used the rebound—
To launch himself even higher.
He clasped his hands.
Behind him—
A colossal golden Buddha manifested.
Then—
Like a meteor—
He descended.
The chat exploded.
[Paimon]: Waaaah! What is that?! That's terrifying!!!
[Tartaglia]: This power… I can't even think of challenging it. I'm still too weak… damn it!
[Scaramouche]: Hehehe… yes, yes! This is it—the power of a god!
[Xingqiu]: In the records of the Guhua Clan, there is a lost technique… a palm strike descending from the heavens. It's called the Tathagata Palm.
[Bennett]: Tathagata Palm?! Even the name sounds insanely powerful!
[Hu Tao]: I want to learn it!
From the sky—
Cao Zhong descended.
His armor ignited into blazing flames.
He slowly extended his right hand—
Pressing down toward Dvalin.
ROOOOAR—!!!
A final, miserable cry.
BOOM.
Dvalin was slammed from the sky—
Crushed into the earth.
A massive palm-shaped crater formed beneath it.
The dragon lay there—
Completely defeated.
"I surrender… stop… please…"
Cao Zhong withdrew his hand—
And landed lightly.