Chapter 144

Dotore's plan was simple.

Since he knew he was going to die, he decided to take as many of his attackers down with him as possible. He focused most of his power on activating two 'cone nails' capable of penetrating the body of a god.

When he was given authority by the Ice Queen, Dotore had studied the nature of divine power. The truth was that the powers granted by gods were only borrowed. The essential aspects, such as the body and spirit, remained fundamentally unchanged.

Thus, he believed his 'cone nails' would still be effective. They could pierce the body of any god, ensuring an instant kill. Once he took down two or three of the executives, the rest would be easier prey. Eventually, even the Ice Queen, who had lent her divine power to the executives, would meet her end.

To the gods who overlook the world, there is no greater disgrace than to see those they have bestowed with divine power killed. Being struck down personally by one of the Seven Archons was an honor enjoyed only by demon gods during the Archon War.

Dotore chuckled at the thought.

In his eyes, time seemed to slow down as the two 'cone nails' drew closer and closer to the chests of Arlecchino, the "Servant," and Sandrone, the "Puppet." He imagined the nails tearing through them like soft clay, with the demon's resentment and elemental energy simultaneously exploding within, reducing them to nothing.

But in the next moment, Dotore's expectations were shattered. He saw his 'cone nails,' forged to penetrate the bodies of gods, enveloped by an icy blue light just before they struck. The energy and demonic resentment they carried were instantly frozen.

Barnabas, who had granted Dotore authority, was well aware of his trump card. She had long prepared for it. From the beginning, Barnabas had been keeping an eye on the battlefield, ensuring the mission's success. There was no way the Seven Archons would fail to protect themselves from mere god-level humans.

Human arrogance, as it often does, had led Dotore to overestimate his own capabilities.

Before he could react, Dotore felt a sudden numbness in his waist and neck. The sensation of pain faded quickly, and his field of vision began to spin wildly.

Then, it stopped. His eyes were level with the ground, and two pairs of feet were all he could see.

His pupils trembled.

Had he fallen to the ground? No... it wasn't just that. He realized with a horrifying clarity that his head had been severed from his body.

Even if he wielded the power of a god, Dotore was still just a human. If a person's head was removed, they would die.

The only reason he remained conscious was because his life force, immense as it was, had not yet entirely drained away.

As the original Dotore was killed, all of his clones fighting elsewhere felt the repercussions immediately.

"Ahhhhh!" one clone screamed, consumed by blue flames that reduced him to ash within seconds.

Another melted into a liquid state, managing only a terrified shriek before dissolving completely.

The remaining two clones were slain within seconds of the original's death.

Returning from his 'Demon King' state, Tartaglia—also known as Childe—kneeled on one knee, gasping for air.

"Huff... If not for the Queen's divine power, I'd have dropped dead fighting like that for so long. But... I feel stronger now than ever before."

Catching his breath, Tartaglia glanced around at the other executives.

"Oh, right. Dotore has finally been eliminated. The threat to the Winter Kingdom is over... It's been a draining three days, hasn't it? Without Her Majesty's power, I wouldn't have lasted this long."

Arlecchino, the "Servant," folded her arms and looked down at Dotore's severed head, his pupils still trembling.

"Although I don't care much if Snezhnaya disappears," she said coldly, "I do need money to care for the children. They would cry if there wasn't enough to eat."

Sandrone, the "Puppet," spoke without expression. "The task is complete. My energy levels have dropped by 73%. Replenishment is necessary to maintain optimal function. Goodbye, colleagues. If you need me, come to the Adventurers' Guild and use the code with Katheryne."

Flames burst from the thrusters of her giant puppet, and in an instant, Sandrone disappeared into the sky.

La Signora, Rosalyne, twisted her waist and turned away. "Now that it's done, I'll return to Snezhnaya and report to Her Majesty." She knew the Queen must have been observing them, but protocol demanded a formal report.

Pantalone, the "Regrator," smiled amiably. "The Queen's divine power was truly intoxicating, but unfortunately, it will soon be withdrawn now that our mission is complete." He sighed. "The Winter Kingdom has undergone quite the transformation. I must attend to the capital turnover at 'Northland Bank.'"

Arlecchino looked at Tartaglia, still kneeling on the ground. "Mr. Tartaglia, I'll be off now. Try not to get eaten by a wild beast. Although I suppose no beasts would dare approach this battlefield... Good luck."

Feeling the divine power fading from his body, Tartaglia nearly wept.

If he had known the battle would end so soon, he wouldn't have activated his 'Demon King' transformation. Without divine power to suppress the backlash, he'd be stuck here for days. He had no choice now but to call in his subordinates to carry him back.

One thing was for sure: he didn't want to owe favors to any of the other Harbingers. He knew that when the time came for repayment, it would likely be beyond his ability to give.

---

In Snezhnaya...

Sitting on her throne, Barnabas breathed a sigh of relief. She had completed everything with only five hours left before the deadline.

Lord Tenri had given her exactly three days, and had she exceeded that, the punishment would have been severe. The 'nail of punishment' would have fallen, annihilating everything.

Barnabas patted her chest, her eyes full of a strange sense of gratitude. "Three days... and it's done."

Now, her next task was to stand by for further instructions from Lord Tenri. She looked longingly in the direction of Liyue.

Lord Tenri had given Liyue an opportunity for greatness. She knew Morax, the Geo Archon, would deliver results that would exceed expectations, a triumph among the Seven Nations.

---

In Liyue Harbor...

"Today's performance is my new song, 'Goddess of the Sea.' If there are any shortcomings, please feel free to correct me..."

Takumi sat in the Heyu Tea House, listening to Yun Jin perform alongside Zhongli. Though opera wasn't usually to his taste, watching Yun Jin's performance left him deeply satisfied. There was something transcendent in her skill—a spiritual and visual pleasure that felt remarkably fulfilling.

He now understood why Zhongli enjoyed opera and tended to his pet birds so often.

Noting Barnabas' completion of the task he had assigned, Takumi nodded approvingly.

"Barnabas did quite well. If the full score is 100, let's say she gets a 65. Barely passing, but enough." He smiled, then looked at Zhongli.

"Your turn now, Zhongli. Show me what you've prepared."

Zhongli's hand, which held a cup of tea, trembled slightly. His golden eyes, harboring an ancient aura, glimmered with a hint of the wild ambition that marked his younger years.

"The Yakshas, the Qixing, and the Eight Gates will convene at Mount Hengshan soon."