Gu Sanqiu scoffed, amused at Tartaglia's subtle implication that he wasn't using his full strength.
As if you've been going all out from the start, he thought, rolling his eyes.
Seriously—fighting hand-to-hand with a bow at this range? Was that really something someone who "respected their opponent" would do?
And let's not forget, Gu Sanqiu knew Tartaglia's biggest weakness was the bow. It was common knowledge for anyone who had paid attention.
"Not bad, I'll admit. But before I show my true strength, shouldn't you show a little sincerity first?" Gu Sanqiu said, a slight smirk tugging at his lips.
Tartaglia froze for a second, then grinned.
"So, you saw through it, huh?"
The surrounding Fatui soldiers and Cicin Mages who were watching the fight wore stunned expressions. The Cicin Mages covered their mouths in shock, while the rest of the vanguard had a collective "Did I just hear that right?!" expression.
The intensity of the battle so far had already seemed off the charts to them, and yet the two fighters were now implying… that this wasn't even their full power?
Who are they trying to fool? the onlookers thought in disbelief.
Is this supposed to be for dramatic effect or something?
"I feel like if either of those two hit me directly, I'd be lucky to walk away alive…" muttered one of the Cicin Mages, hands covering her cheeks as she gazed dreamily at the combatants. "This is the power of an Executor? It's incredible~"
"And that Liyue guy… maybe all those stories about Liyue being full of talented people were true after all~" another mage added.
"Ah, I kind of want to get to know him better~"
Gu Sanqiu, who had been focusing on Tartaglia, suddenly shivered, feeling an odd chill crawl down his spine. He glanced suspiciously at Tartaglia.
Does this guy have some weird curse ability I don't know about?
"No more talking. From now on, you'll see my full strength!" Tartaglia bent low, raising his dual blades. "Let's continue!"
Gu Sanqiu rolled his eyes again. As if you're really going to pull out your Foul Legacy right here, stop pretending, he thought.
Still, since Tartaglia was getting serious, there was no reason for Gu Sanqiu to hold back either.
A long spear, intricately engraved with images of mountains, birds, and beasts, materialized in Gu Sanqiu's hand. The sharpness in his eyes grew fiercer as his grip tightened around the weapon.
"Attack!"
This time, Gu Sanqiu made the first move, his spear and body merging into one as he charged forward like a golden blur. The very ground beneath his feet was torn apart by the sharp aura emanating from the spear.
So strong!
The tip of the spear was still a distance away, but the force behind it was enough to shred Tartaglia's sleeves into tatters.
With a weapon in hand, he really is a different person!
Tartaglia's eyes gleamed with excitement, a trace of violet elemental energy flickering in his gaze. Holding his short swords tightly, he dashed toward the incoming golden light without hesitation.
If he's coming at me head-on, there's no way I'm backing down!
Boom!
Golden and blue light clashed, setting off a chain of explosions that sent waves of earth and wind rippling across the battlefield. The newly constructed Fatui camp was reduced to rubble in a single exchange.
Windbreakers and Geomancers quickly formed thick shields, protecting their comrades from the shockwaves, while the Cicin Mages giggled behind the safety of their Elemental barriers, floating just above the chaos.
At the center of the battlefield, the golden light shattered, and the twin streaks of blue energy dissolved at the same time. Both combatants were thrown back from the impact.
Tartaglia tumbled across the ground, managing to catch himself after several rolls, while Gu Sanqiu dug his spear into the earth, using it as leverage to hold his position, his entire body suspended upside down on the spear's shaft.
Though it appeared as if Gu Sanqiu had the advantage, the bluish-purple glow swirling around his other arm told a different story. It looked like something sinister was wreaking havoc inside his body.
"Phew—so you used your Delusion. I guess I should consider that a sign of respect from an Executor?" Gu Sanqiu landed gracefully on his feet, pulling out a dagger and making a clean cut along his arm, forcing out the corrupted, bluish-purple blood.
"If I hadn't used the power of elemental fusion in time, you might've landed a real hit on me just now." Tartaglia panted heavily. In their previous clash, he'd barely managed to avoid being overwhelmed by using his Delusion. The lightning from the Delusion had mixed with the water already in Gu Sanqiu's body, creating a devastating counterattack.
"No matter what happens, this fight has been exhilarating." Gu Sanqiu broke into a grin, the kind of pure, unrestrained joy Tartaglia had shown earlier.
"It's been a while since I've had someone I could really go all out against."
"Heh, same here!" Tartaglia's grin twisted into something wild and predatory as he shifted his dual swords back into a spear, charging at Gu Sanqiu once again.
Gu Sanqiu tightened his grip on his own spear, his body once again becoming a golden blur as he met Tartaglia head-on.
At this point, the reason for the fight no longer mattered. Whether Tartaglia had wanted to test him or whether Gu Sanqiu wanted to gauge his own strength—it didn't matter anymore.
What mattered now was the pure thrill of battle. The rush of blood, the clash of steel—this was all that mattered.
"Kill!"
In perfect synchronization, they both roared, unleashing their killing intent. Gu Sanqiu's spear glowed with a golden light, splitting into multiple afterimages, each one like a dragon's maw ready to tear Tartaglia apart.
"Like a raging tide!"
Tartaglia dug his heels in, switching to a one-handed spear stance. Instead of dodging the dragon's maw, he charged forward, aiming directly at Gu Sanqiu with a deadly thrust.
The haunting call of a whale echoed across the battlefield as Tartaglia summoned forth his elemental creation. Both men had long since reached the point where they could no longer hold back, their ultimate attacks colliding with no restraint.
A golden dragon surged toward the sky, clashing with a massive spectral whale, both creatures of pure elemental energy. Their respective roars filled the air, creating an otherworldly spectacle.
The sheer force of their collision sent waves of energy across the camp. Both men wore twisted grins of pure exhilaration, as if witnessing such a grand scene was the greatest pleasure they could experience.
"Everyone, heads down! Anyone who can form shields, get up front! Group together!" one of the Fatui vanguard captains shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Windbreakers, Geomancers, even the Electro and Hydro Gunners—everyone moved in unison, forming thick elemental shields. If they didn't, they wouldn't stand a chance of surviving the aftermath.
BOOM!
A massive pillar of light erupted from the ground, as the dragon and whale collided in a blinding explosion. It was as if the earth itself had torn open, releasing an unstoppable force. The heat, the pressure, the overwhelming intensity—it was as if a volcano had erupted at the center of the battlefield.
For a full thirty seconds, the pillar of light blazed in the sky before slowly fading. The soldiers, who had all been using every ounce of strength just to stay grounded, realized they had been pushed back a "mere" ten meters.
"Where are the two commanders?!" the Fatui captain shouted, his voice betraying a hint of panic. Even in his haste, he referred to both Gu Sanqiu and Tartaglia as "commanders," showing the respect that Gu Sanqiu's strength had earned him.
One of the Electrohammer soldiers spoke up, his voice trembling slightly. "Sir… I think… we need to report this to Liyue officials and have the Millelith come over."
Huh?
The captain blinked, confused for a moment. He was ready to reprimand the soldier for suggesting such a thing, but then he looked around—really looked—at the now-destroyed camp.
Damn… he thought, that actually makes a lot of sense.
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