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### **Chapter 5: Tartaglia's Defeat and the Power of the Q&A System**
Like a duck being choked by the neck, Tartaglia's laughter came to an abrupt end. His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the words on the screen.
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**[Tartaglia: "I actually answered wrong? How is that possible?!"]**
**[Tartaglia: "If Paimon isn't a toy, then what else could she be?!"]**
Tartaglia couldn't make sense of it. By his reasoning, that was the correct answer. Could this tiny, doll-like creature truly not be a toy? How could that be?
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Meanwhile, in Mondstadt, Paimon—who had just recovered from her double loss of being called "emergency food" and not being able to taste the local cuisine—saw Tartaglia's comments.
The little creature immediately became furious!
Paimon kicked her feet angrily in the air.
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**[Paimon: "Hey! Tartaglia, that's rude!"]**
**[Paimon: "Paimon is Paimon, not a toy!"]**
**[Paimon: "I'm going to curse you! I hope you're punished a hundred times worse than Paimon was!"]**
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With her hands clasped, Paimon muttered curses under her breath, wishing Tartaglia would receive a terrible punishment from the Q&A system.
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Over in Liyue, inside the Northland Bank, Tartaglia paid no attention to Paimon's outburst. Based on his observations, her combat power didn't seem to amount to even one-fifth of a boar's strength.
**"Could she really pose a threat? No chance!"**
He laughed to himself. There was nothing to worry about from Paimon.
Instead, it was the mysterious Q&A system that intrigued Tartaglia.
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**[Tartaglia: "Hmph! Want to punish me?"]**
**[Tartaglia: "Go ahead, try it! I've been waiting to test myself against this Q&A system!"]**
**[Tartaglia: "As the Eleventh Harbinger of the Fatui, 'Childe' Tartaglia fears no challenge!"]**
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As a battle-hardened warrior, Tartaglia hadn't fully grasped what this strange Q&A system was, but that didn't matter. His thirst for battle was all that fueled him. He had faced far worse situations—taking down entire dragon lairs alone, conquering perilous domains, and even toppling powerful noble families.
He feared nothing.
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**[Xingqiu: "Wow! Mr. Tartaglia, I have to respect you! Challenging the Q&A system so boldly!"]**
**[Kujou Sara: "Fatui Harbinger? I wish you a swift downfall!"]**
**[Diluc: "Agreed. Let him fall!"]**
**[Hu Tao: "Ohoho! Mr. Tartaglia is mighty and fearless! But just in case, how about booking our afterlife services at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor? We'll make sure everything's taken care of so you have no worries!"]**
**[Kaeya: "Sounds like a good idea to me."]**
**[Venti: "Can I have a meal then?"]**
**[Klee: "Is the feast ready?"]**
**[Xiangling: "If we do have a feast, let me handle the cooking! I'll create dishes that will blow everyone's mind!"]**
**[Diluc: "Dawn Winery will sponsor the drinks for free—whether it's for a banquet or a funeral!"]**
**[Yun Jin: "My rock music can provide the atmosphere for both the funeral and the banquet! Call me!"]**
**[Yoimiya: "The Naganohara Fireworks Shop will handle the fireworks for the occasion! I guarantee it'll be grand and lively!"]**
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**[Tartaglia: "Hey, hey! I'm not dead yet! Why are you all talking about eating and celebrating like something's happened to me?!"]**
**[Tartaglia: "No funerals, no feasts!"]**
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Back in the Northland Bank, Tartaglia stared at the chat interface, his face turning green as messages poured in one after another.
**"What's wrong with these people? Can't they wish me well?"**
**"I'm still very much alive, and they're already planning to eat!"**
Tartaglia shook his head, vowing not to die so easily. **"The business of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor won't be needed anytime soon!"**
But despite his bravado, his expression grew serious. The Q&A system had displayed an unsettling ability to connect the consciousness of everyone across Teyvat—a feat he had never encountered before.
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**"Let's see what kind of power you really have!"**
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With that, Tartaglia prepared himself. Finally, the Q&A system moved again.
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**[Ding! Tartaglia has answered incorrectly and will be punished!]**
**[Punishment: Tartaglia will be deprived of his Demon King's Armament.]**
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In Teyvat, when a human's desire is strong enough, it can attract the attention of the gods, who grant them a **Vision**—an external source of elemental power.
Tartaglia possessed a water-based Vision. But in addition to that, he also wielded the **Foul Legacy**, an imitation Vision created by the Tsaritsa herself.
When Tartaglia fully activated the Foul Legacy, he entered a state known as the **Demon King's Armament**, a form that allowed him to channel the power of both his Vision and the Foul Legacy while using the martial arts he had mastered in the Abyss. However, even now, Tartaglia hadn't fully mastered the Armament, and using it came with severe side effects.
Now, this mysterious Q&A system was claiming it would strip him of that ability entirely.
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Tartaglia's expression turned cold. The Demon King's Armament was a power he had refined through countless battles, and he had no intention of losing it so easily. Although the Q&A system seemed powerful, he refused to believe it could take his strength away with just a few words.
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**"You want to deprive me of my Demon King's Armament? Keep dreaming!"**
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But just as Tartaglia was about to dismiss the system and ignore its punishment, a wave of weakness suddenly surged from deep within his body. Before he could react, it overwhelmed him.
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**Thud!**
Tartaglia collapsed to the ground.
He struggled, feeling his strength drain away, replaced by a deep and growing sense of weakness. His face twisted in horror.
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**"How is this possible?!"**
**"My strength... the Demon King's Armament... it's really gone!"**
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Tartaglia lay there, completely drained of power, as the full force of the Q&A system's punishment hit him.
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