The Confrontation - Chapter 15

MEANWHILE, OUTSIDE OF LIYUE...

The scene was intense. Madara and Zhongli were locked in a fierce battle, but it was clear that Zhongli was struggling.

No matter how precisely he aimed his attacks, Madara seemed to dance around them with ease, dodging every attempt with a frustrating smirk.

Zhongli, known for his strength and strategy, found himself in a rare situation - being outmaneuvered.

Despite his efforts, landing a hit on Madara was proving to be a hard challenge.

(Madara) : "Let's get this more interesting, shall we?" Madara said, a challenging tone in his voice.

Zhongli watched closely as Madara's red eyes started to spin, the world around them blurring briefly before they were suddenly standing in the vast expanse of a desert.

The shift in scenery didn't seem to faze Madara at all, but Zhongli couldn't help but feel the tension rise.

Zhongli, though taken aback by the sudden shift, quickly regained his composure.

(Zhongli) : "There's no need to be concerned about holding back?" He asked, his voice steady despite the uncertainty of their new environment.

"Of course," Madara replied, his smirk deepening. The word was a promise of the unrestrained power they were about to unleash upon each other.

In this vast desert, away from anything and anyone, there was no need to hold back. Zhongli could fully showcase their abilities without the worry of collateral damage.

(Zhongli) : "In that case..." Taking a deep breath, he gathered his strength and commanded, "Order guides you!" With those words, a meteor tore through the sky, its path set squarely on the battlefield below where Madara is.

Madara, watching the scene unfold, couldn't help but laugh with genuine excitement. The sight before him was thrilling, to say the least.

A meteor, summoned from the sky, that promised to deliver a challenge he felt worthy of his attention.

(Madara) : "You are truly the Geo Archon!" He exclaimed, his voice laced with admiration and eagerness. Using his Gunbai, Madara aimed to block the meteor.

It was a bold move. When the meteor met the Gunbai, something unexpected happened.

The meteor exploded upon impact, sending shockwaves through the area.

Unknown to Madara, the meteor carried a secondary effect – anyone caught in the blast radius would be turned to stone.

And unfortunately for Madara, he was right in the middle of it all. The explosion's aftermath left a scene with Madara petrified.

Just as Zhongli was about to release a sigh of relief, assuming the chaos was over, petrified Madara unexpectedly transformed into a piece of log.

(Madara) : He suddenly appeared behind Zhongli, catching him off guard. "All is fair in war, Zhongli," he declared, wielding his Gunbai with menacing precision. "Uchiha Reflection!"

With these words, Madara unleashed a powerful technique, reflecting all the explosive impact absorbed from the meteor back at Zhongli.

The explosion that followed was colossal, dwarfing the one Madara had previously used against Dehya.

Zhongli, caught by surprise, faced the brunt of the explosion head-on.

As the dust began to clear, Zhongli was spotted a few meters away from where Madara stood, shielded by a glowing yellow barrier.

Despite the shield, signs of bruising were evident on him. It was a close call, but it seemed Zhongli had managed to mitigate the worst of the blast's force.

(Madara) : He watched him, an unsurprised look on his face. "I expected you to survive that, and I was right," he remarked casually, acknowledging Zhongli's resilience.

(Madara) : "Alright, time to end this nonsense. It was fun playing with you, Zhongli," he said, his voice betraying a hint of excitement for the grand finale he was about to unleash.

He decided it was time to wrap things up. He brushed off his armor nonchalantly, as though he were just dusting off after a stroll rather than a fierce battle.

(Madara) : Without much of a warning, he called upon his devastating technique, "Tengai Shinsei," summoning a meteor so massive it dwarfed Zhongli's own attempt from earlier.

The sight of the colossal rock hurtling down from the sky was something else, making it clear escape wasn't an option.

This left Zhongli in a tight spot, needing to find a way to counteract or somehow survive the impending doom heading straight for him.

The scale of Madara's meteor set the bar high, challenging Zhongli not just with its size but also with the implicit message: "Try and top this if you can."

Zhongli, caught in the shadow of the looming meteor, was forced to confront the reality of the situation.

It was a do-or-die moment, one that called for something extraordinary. The challenge was clear – either find a way to stop this monster of a meteor or become a footnote in Madara's long history of conquests.

In the end, with its colossal size, dodging it seemed like a fantasy. So, Zhongli did the only thing he could—he closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable impact.

However, when the meteor landed, there was no pain whatsoever.

Opening his eyes, Zhongli found himself back where he first encountered Madara. But this time, the scene had shifted dramatically.

There he was, kneeling on the ground, drenched in sweat. Madara, on the other hand, was the picture of nonchalance, seated comfortably and munching on an apple, his eyes devoid of their earlier madness.

(Madara) : "I have no interest in eliminating someone not at their peak," Madara declared, standing up. With those words, he made his intentions clear. "I'll leave Liyue undisturbed for now." Without another word, Madara walked away, leaving Zhongli to process the unexpected turn of events.

Zhongli had somehow managed to pull himself up, but his body felt like it was made of jelly, wobbling uncontrollably.

It was a strange sensation, one that he couldn't immediately place. What exactly happened to him? That question buzzed annoyingly in his head, a puzzle missing too many pieces.

But then, like a flash of lightning cutting through a foggy night, he remembered Gojo's specific warning about Madara.

(Mizu as Gojo) : "His eyes are unique, so try not to look at them, alright?"

How could Zhongli have forgotten such crucial advice? It was almost as if the memory had been erased, carefully plucked from his mind without leaving a trace.

It all clicked when he realized that Madara, the very person Gojo warned him about, might have been responsible for this lapse in memory.

When he saw Madara and those eyes, those unmistakably red eyes, it was as if everything around him—the world, his thoughts, his memories—slipped into a void.

Zhongli was certain now; it had to be Madara's doing. Those unique eyes didn't just serve as a mark of his power but possibly held the ability to manipulate memories, and Zhongli had walked right into his trap.

Caught off guard and unprepared, Zhongli felt a chill run down his spine. The memory of Gojo's warning, now restored, made him realize the gravity of his mistake.

Madara's red eyes weren't just a threat; they were a weapon, one that Zhongli had underestimated.

MEANWHILE, IN INAZUMA..

At Watatsumi Island, a curious conversation unfolded between a soldier and Paimon.

(???) : "So you can use the ability of a Vision without having one? That's great! Priestess Kokomi would be glad that we have more soldiers on our side!" The local voiced with a mix of surprise and excitement.

This revelation seemed to spark hope in the air, as the notion of having additional support in their struggle was always welcomed.

(Paimon) : She chimed in cheerfully, "Sure, of course! We were told to come here to hide and assist with your goal to abolish the Vision Hunt Decree!" Her words were filled with determination, showing their readiness to stand against the oppressive decree that had troubled so many.

(Teppei) : "My name is Teppei, by the way! I'm just an ordinary soldier, but once I tell this news to our general, I hope I can get a rank up!" Teppei, brimming with anticipation, shared his thoughts, eyes sparkling at the potential future that lays ahead.

Beside him, the ever-energetic and slightly whimsical Paimon couldn't help but introduce herself in her unique, cheerful manner.

(Paimon) : "Oh! Paimon's name is.. Well, Paimon!" She declared, her voice a mix of pride and joy. She then pointed at Lumine and added, "She's Lumine! But you can call her Traveller!"

(Paimon) : "We also have a friend who has white hair and is blindfolded. His name is Gojo. Have you seen him?" She asked, the hint of hope in her words barely masking her anxiety.

Paimon was visibly worried, her voice tinged with concern as she described their friend.

(Teppei) : Being optimistic, shook his head with a gentle smile. "Oh, I haven't, unfortunately," he admitted with a shrug, but his tone quickly shifted to one of determination. "But leave it to me! I'll keep my eyes wide open!" He declared confidently.

With that promise, there was a sense of reassurance. Teppei's confidence, albeit based on nothing but his will to help, offered Paimon and Lumine a glimmer of hope.

In a world filled with uncertainties, sometimes, a promise to keep searching was the best form of comfort one could offer.

MEANWHILE, IN FONTAINE...

Over in Fontaine, Byakuya found himself in a rather unusual situation. He was sitting on a chair in a somewhat antiseptic waiting room, mentally replaying the events that led him here.

It all started when Neuvillette, through what could only be described as a bizarre twist of fate, stumbled upon a tale involving a man who was reportedly being harassed by a Fatui Harbinger every single day.

Concerned and perhaps a bit intrigued, Neuvillette felt it was his duty to do something about it.

So, he did what any concerned citizen of Fontaine would do—he alerted the guards.

The guards, following protocol, had no choice but to escalate the matter, which involved dragging Byakuya into it; after all, Byakuya might have insights or connections to the situation given his unique position in the community.

Therefore, here Byakuya was, waiting to be called before the Iudex of Fontaine—a figure of considerable authority and judgment within Fontaine.

He shifted in his seat, trying to prepare mentally for the conversation ahead. Byakuya knew that dealing with the Iudex would require tact and possibly some quick thinking.

After all, Fontaine was known for its pursuit of justice and truth, and the Iudex, being the embodiment of these principles, would not take lightly to any matter involving the Fatui, especially one as serious as harassment.

As he waited for his name to be called, Byakuya couldn't help but wonder about the man at the center of the story.

Who was he, and why was a Fatui Harbinger harassing him? Was there a bigger picture he was missing?

But those questions would have to wait. Byakuya's primary concern now was to navigate this unexpected meeting with diplomacy and, hopefully, to clear up this misunderstanding before it spiraled even further out of control.

Sure, everyone in Fontaine knows Byakuya is quite the looker and brawn are just part of the package, nothing too extraordinary in his world where strength often defines one's status.

No, he believes there's something else, something deeper that's got The Knave so relentlessly on his tail.

Out of the blue, a Melusine sidled up to him. There was a sense of urgency in her demeanor, blended with an intriguing charm.

(Melusine) : "Chief of Justice has called you to go in, attractive stranger," she mentioned, her voice carrying a melody, as she gestured towards Neuvillette's office.

The unexpected address and her captivating presence caught him off guard, but the message was clear: he was summoned, and it was time to see what Neuvillette wanted.