This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [41]
Suddenly, amidst the shattered ice and swirling seawater, a solitary figure appeared atop the fractured icebergs.
The Adepti and Shenhe turned to look, recognizing the mysterious man who had destroyed the Guizhong Ballista.
Believing that he was there to cause more trouble, Shenhe leapt from the broken ice, racing toward him.
Just as she was about to reach him, she caught a glimpse of those golden eyes beneath the hood once more.
But in the next instant, the golden eyes darkened, turning a deep, blood-red, with a strange black pattern spreading across the pupils.
Her spear hesitated, and Shenhe paused mid-attack.
"It's you…"
"Fancy meeting you again, Miss Shenhe," the man said calmly.
"Aren't you supposed to be one of the Qixing? Why are you doing this?" Shenhe demanded, her voice cold.
Seeing how Shenhe still believed he was the Qixing member "Li Feiyu," Luo Qing felt a twinge of guilt. If he had known things would turn out this way, he wouldn't have deceived her back then.
"That's a secret," he replied with a smile, then turned to face Osial. "You've fought hard enough. Leave the rest to me."
Without waiting for a response, Luo Qing leapt high into the air. A single thought echoed in his mind:
[Using Susanoo Skill Card (Single-use)]
Shenhe's confusion only deepened. What did he mean by "leave the rest to me"?
Suddenly, a vast and dense purple energy burst from Luo Qing's body, enveloping him and rapidly expanding. A skeletal frame formed first, followed by flesh, a head, limbs, armor, wings, and twin blades…
In mere moments, a colossal armored figure, resembling an Inazuman warrior with wings and dual swords, stood towering above the sea.
The enormous entity was nearly equal in size to Osial, and with those massive, razor-sharp blades, it even seemed to overshadow the ancient sea god.
"What… is that?"
The Adepti above were stunned.
They had barely managed to hold off the combined assault of Osial and Beisht, and now the mysterious figure who had destroyed the Guizhong Ballista had transformed into something they had never encountered before.
Exhausted and on edge, they couldn't help but wonder—if only Rex Lapis were still here...
Yet instead of the expected chaos, they saw the massive purple figure spread its wings and charge directly at Osial.
On another part of the battlefield, Ganyu—who had not taken on her true form in ages—was beginning to falter. Battling both Osial and Beisht alone, she had sustained multiple injuries, and her movements had slowed.
In a moment of distraction, Ganyu failed to evade Osial's powerful water vortex and was struck, plummeting toward the ocean below.
She couldn't maintain her true form, and as she fell, she reverted to her human self.
Watching Osial's three-headed form loom above her, Ganyu was certain that this would be the end.
But then, a gentle pressure enveloped her back.
Looking over her shoulder, she saw a giant purple hand catching her mid-fall, and through the translucent energy, she glimpsed a familiar figure at the giant's core.
Relief washed over her, and exhaustion pulled her consciousness into darkness.
Meanwhile, Luo Qing was grateful he had arrived in time—otherwise, Ganyu's fall into the ocean would have complicated things greatly.
With a thought, he directed the Susanoo to absorb Ganyu into its protective field, bringing her safely to his side.
After confirming that she had only fainted from fatigue, Luo Qing finally exhaled in relief.
In the Susanoo state, his colossal body felt as natural to him as his own. It was as if the giant and he were one, and there was no discomfort at all.
Unfortunately, he couldn't use the power of Susanoo and his speech-based abilities at the same time; otherwise, his Temporal Zero skill could have been even more potent.
He cast his gaze toward Osial and Beisht, drawing his twin blades before letting out a thunderous roar:
"The Qixing's Li Feiyu of Liyue is here! You shall not trample this land any longer!"
His proclamation stunned Ningguang, the Adepti, and everyone present. Was this "Li Feiyu," the name they'd heard from the rumors?
Was this the same man who had defaced Osial's body with those ridiculous drawings and destroyed the Guizhong Ballista?
Hadn't he been the one causing trouble?
Why was he now standing against the ancient sea gods?
In the distance, atop the mountains, many of the evacuating civilians had never even heard of Liyue's Qixing member named "Li Feiyu." Yet, seeing the giant spirit clad in brilliant purple armor, they were convinced and began to cheer:
"Go, Lord Li Feiyu!"
"Li Feiyu… you've been hiding for so long, and now you dare show your face? Be crushed beneath the waves!" Osial roared with rage, raising his massive arms to summon another tidal wave aimed directly at Luo Qing.
The display convinced Ningguang and the Adepti even more that "Li Feiyu" truly existed—there had to be some truth to it if Osial's fury was directed at him.
The Susanoo, with its powerful wings, effortlessly dodged Osial's attacks, and Luo Qing soared into the sky, slashing his twin blades in a swift motion.
Already wounded from the earlier strike of the Jade Chamber, Osial's enormous frame lacked the agility of Luo Qing's nimble giant form.
In just one move, Osial's right head was severed, crashing into the sea below.
The remaining two heads howled in agony, gathering a swirling blue energy in their maws, while Beisht did the same, preparing a combined assault.
In response, Luo Qing's right blade vanished, replaced by a glowing, ethereal shield—the legendary Yata Mirror.
The mirror, capable of changing its attributes to nullify any attack, absorbed the two monstrous beams of energy, rendering them harmless without forcing Luo Qing back even a single step.
Once the attack subsided, Luo Qing spread his wings again, darting toward Osial.
Another flash of blades—and Osial's left head was gone, falling to the ocean below.
Against Luo Qing, Osial's movements seemed slow and clumsy, his massive body like an easy target.
With two heads down, only the central one remained—the most crucial. If that head fell, Osial's fate would be sealed.
But just as Osial braced himself for a final, devastating blow, Luo Qing did the unexpected. He lowered his blades and said in a cold voice:
"Return to Guyun Stone Forest, and I'll spare your life."
Though things had deviated from the original course—especially with Beisht's unexpected involvement—Luo Qing still wanted to steer events back on track, to avoid any major disruptions in the timeline.
"Li Feiyu, do you mock me with your mercy?!" Osial's remaining head roared furiously.
"Answer me—yes or no."
"…"
Glaring at Luo Qing, Osial gave a furious roar before sinking back beneath the waves.
As Osial retreated, the effects of the Sigils of Permission began to wear off, and the seals of Guyun Stone Forest slowly reactivated. The turbulent waves calmed, and the storm began to subside.
And as for Beisht—Luo Qing only gave her a single, piercing glare. With one frightened glance, she fled, not daring to linger a moment longer.
She had heard that Rex Lapis was dead, which was why she had dared to join Osial in his rampage.
But after witnessing Liyue's defenders fight with such ferocity, capable of defeating a God, she decided this was one grudge that didn't need to be avenged.
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T/N: Redemption arc for Li Feiyun...