"Say, Mr. Zhongli, have you considered what happens if this rapidly rising water floods the buildings and houses near the coastline?"
"This is part of the disaster assessment. Liyue's leaders must demonstrate how quickly they can react to various situations and provide concrete responses that satisfy the affected populace. The test isn't just about examining the cohesion and resilience of the Liyue people when disaster strikes, but also showing how they should respond after the disaster ends."
"A civilization's progress isn't solely defined by military might."
Xin Yu nodded. He had initially considered intervening if the waves threatened to swamp the shore, stopping them somehow. After all, people worked hard to buy their homes, possibly saving for half their lives. Seeing them destroyed by a natural disaster would surely cause unbearable heartache for many.
But this was inherently part of the 'parent's' test for the 'child'. As an outsider, it seemed inappropriate for him to interfere, especially since lives weren't directly threatened yet.
As someone who had been through loss, he knew that as long as people were alive, losing a house wasn't the end. But if the people were gone, what use was repairing a damaged house, no matter how perfectly restored?
Xin Yu and Zhongli watched together as enormous waterspouts rose from the distant sea surface, followed by several massive, serpentine creatures composed of water emerging from the depths.
Upon closer inspection, however, one would realize these giant serpentine forms were merely parts of a single, colossal creature – the heads it extended above the sea, while its even larger body remained hidden beneath the waves.
Looking at the enormous sea monster, Xin Yu silently wondered if this was the kind of situation where one should call Ultraman.
Then, he saw the Jade Chamber floating in the air, slowly drifting towards the sea monster.
"...I have a feeling that thing is going to fall."
Xin Yu suddenly uttered this, causing Zhongli to briefly shift his gaze back from the distance to look at him.
"I don't know why, but based on my experience, it feels like any kind of aerial vehicle or flying object confronting a giant creature always seems to end up crashing."
Xin Yu rested his chin on his hand, musing how miscellaneous the things his past self seemed to have watched were. Why did he even possess this kind of random knowledge?
Zhongli didn't respond to Xin Yu's comment, but inwardly, he knew Xin Yu might be right. After all, the forces Liyue had gathered thus far to face the Overlord of the Vortex, Osial, were insufficient to deliver a decisive blow.
After observing for a moment, they noticed that shortly after the battle began, spatial portals opened one after another upon the Jade Chamber. Fatui members emerged from these passages, launching attacks on the people above, seemingly intending to disrupt the Adepti's actions.
"Doesn't this basically count as the two nations declaring war?"
Xin Yu looked at Zhongli beside him. He certainly knew which faction the notoriously infamous Fatui of Teyvat represented. For one nation's military force to directly attack another while it was suffering a calamitous disaster – there was no difference between this and a declaration of war.
"After departing from their god, Liyue faces not only the remnants of past Archons but also comparisons and pressure from other nations on various fronts."
"But won't this genuinely lead to war between the two countries after the disaster is over?"
"Liyue is already in a precarious state, having experienced the passing of their Lord and the unsealing of an ancient god. If Liyue's leadership still possesses reason, they will not use this incident as a pretext for war. Instead, they will use it as leverage to demand substantial reparations from the Fatui to aid in post-disaster reconstruction."
"As for Snezhnaya, the nation behind the Fatui... the Archon's death is not as simple as I portrayed it. She undoubtedly knows I am not truly dead, so she will not act rashly either."
"So you're just retiring behind the scenes. I thought you were planning to withdraw completely."
While the two conversed, the Millelith soldiers on the Jade Chamber were clearly struggling against the Fatui, who wielded novel weapons and possessed partial physical augmentations.
Ultimately, it relied on Kong. Blessed with a portion of power granted by several Adepti, he carved a path through the Fatui ranks, drawing the majority of their fire and alleviating the pressure on the others.
Just as the Fatui, seeing their efforts were futile, began a full retreat, and just when everyone thought the tide had turned and saw the dawn of victory, Zhongli, standing on the pier, suddenly frowned.
Xin Yu hadn't noticed this, still focused on the shifting battle. With the Fatui withdrawn, the Adepti no longer needed to divide their attention and could fully operate the mechanism beneath their feet, sending streams of light-like arrows raining down on Osial.
Hit by these attacks, Osial didn't howl in pain. Instead, it reacted like someone jolted awake by a slap. Fury was evident in its eyes. Its multiple heads roared towards the sky simultaneously, and beams of blue light surged from its mouths, converging into a heaven-piercing pillar of light.
The light pillar merged with the clouds above. Subsequently, the falling raindrops transformed into blue arrows, raining down rapidly onto the Jade Chamber, shattering the formations and mechanisms deployed by the Adepti and sending everyone tumbling chaotically from the sky.
"That sea monster's power hasn't been weakened much. Although the seal you placed was only partially broken, this level of attack isn't enough to suppress that thing again."
A sheathed long blade materialized in Xin Yu's hand as he turned to look at Zhongli beside him.
"Do you need me to step in?"
"...Wait a little longer."
For the first time, Zhongli's voice carried a distinct tone of gravity and authority.
Elsewhere...
"Princess, Beisht has already led the former subordinates of the Overlord of the Vortex, Osial, to the coastal waters ahead of schedule. They previously detected signs of the seal breaking and have almost arrived."
Atop a high mountain, a humanoid creature, over two meters tall, dressed in strange attire and holding a book, reported to a woman beside him.
"Mm. That entity capable of devouring the power of the Abyss... is currently in Liyue?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Hmph. Withdraw. This probe has served its purpose. We only needed to ascertain that entity's stance."
With that, a purple rift suddenly split open behind the young woman. She turned, stepped into the violet fissure, and vanished, leaving only the humanoid lifeform behind to continue observing the situation.
"Someone capable of accepting and absorbing the power of the Abyss... Truly unimaginable."