"Transformation into [Giant of Light] successful."
"Current transformation duration: 3 minutes."
"All attributes greatly enhanced."
"New skill obtained: [Form Transformation]."
"New skill obtained: [Cross Beam]."
"New skill obtained: [Instant Teleportation]."
"New skill obtained: [Flash Explosion]."
...
After transforming, Xia Zhi found that, temporarily, he could see again.
Before him was the tumultuous oceanic scene he had once witnessed in Ningguang's dream.
Osial's five massive heads glared at him, releasing furious roars.
Through Xia Zhi's vision, he noticed a shimmering diamond progress bar hovering over Osial's body.
Progress: [1%].
This surprised Xia Zhi.
Osial had been sealed by Morax for over a thousand years, yet its power hadn't diminished to platinum tier. This either meant Osial was incredibly powerful in its prime or that it had already broken free of the seal, spending time beneath the ocean recovering its strength.
Based on Xia Zhi's previous encounters with a certain slime, as long as he killed Osial, the progress bar would instantly fill.
However, Xia Zhi considered another problem: Osial didn't seem easy to kill.
After all, if Morax had chosen to seal rather than destroy Osial, it likely possessed some form of immortality.
If that were true, defeating it would be tricky... especially since the [Shop] was still updating, preventing Xia Zhi from purchasing items.
While the Giant of Light came with numerous skills—some of which might counter immortality—the transformation only lasted three minutes, leaving him little time to experiment.
For now, Xia Zhi decided to focus on filling the diamond progress bar.
Instead of engaging Osial in close combat, as seen in certain television shows, Xia Zhi opted to avoid grappling with its massive heads. Close combat might fill the bar faster, but with five heads, the fight would be unfairly one-sided.
A radiant light coalesced in Xia Zhi's hands, forming a long, luminous spear.
Sorry, but I'm also a [Spear Master].
Apprenticed to Morax.
"Osial, let me remind you of the fear you felt when pierced by Morax's Geo Spear a millennium ago."
With the limited transformation time, Xia Zhi avoided targeting specific weak points like Osial's eyes, opting instead for swift, relentless attacks.
The result? A bizarre scene of a glowing white giant wielding a light spear, relentlessly beating a colossal squid-like creature.
On Beidou's ship, on the shores where Keqing and Ganyu stood, atop the Jade Chamber where Ningguang observed, high in the distant mountains where Zhongli and other Adepti watched, and among the ranks of the Millelith—all eyes were on this absurd sight.
Everyone was stunned into silence.
Only Shenhe's eyes sparkled as she watched the giant.
Two minutes passed. The crystal embedded in Xia Zhi's chest began flashing red.
"Progress bar filled to 100%. Diamond Treasure Chest awarded."
Xia Zhi stepped back and hurled the spear in his hands toward Osial. As the creature dodged, Xia Zhi raised his arms in a classic cross-shaped stance. From his palms erupted a peculiar beam of light that obliterated one of Osial's heads.
The skill was devastatingly powerful, but its energy consumption was immense. Xia Zhi's mana dropped by half in an instant.
No wonder the Ultramen on TV rarely used their ultimate attacks.
Utilizing the [Embrace of the Vampire] effect (which healed 20% of damage dealt and allowed conversion between health and mana), Xia Zhi converted his health into mana, refilling his energy pool before blasting away a second head.
His mana depleted again, but the lifesteal replenished his health, which he promptly converted back into mana.
In quick succession, Xia Zhi unleashed five beams, obliterating all of Osial's heads. Yet, the creature's body continued to writhe, with its neck stumps regenerating rapidly, threatening to grow five new heads.
The resilience of deep-sea entities was beyond comprehension.
With his transformation nearing its end, Xia Zhi decided against killing Osial. Morax must have had his reasons for sealing, rather than destroying, the creature. It seemed prudent to maintain the seal.
As for Beisht, seeing as the pair shared such a profound bond, they might as well remain imprisoned together.
Using [Instant Teleportation], Xia Zhi grabbed Beisht and dragged it into the fray. Employing [Ultra Seal], he bound both creatures beneath the ocean. For added security, he layered a [Radiant Seal] on top. This seal absorbed light to self-repair, though its utility in the deep sea was limited.
With the sealing complete, Xia Zhi turned toward Shenhe on the Jade Chamber and nodded to her in a manner reminiscent of an Ultraman before soaring into the sky. Activating [Hat of Secrecy], he concealed himself, ended the transformation, and teleported back to Shenhe's side.
Shenhe, still gazing skyward, seemed mesmerized by the disappearing figure of the white giant.
So, I'm the benefactor in your fortune reading.
Xia Zhi couldn't help but chuckle. Gently, he reached out to stroke her hair.
Shenhe flinched slightly, tidying her hair with a faint blush. "Was there wind just now?"
Xia Zhi stood silently on the Jade Chamber, watching as Ningguang coordinated post-battle efforts and prepared to return to Liyue Harbor. Only then did he teleport back to Summer's Store.
By now, it was nearing noon.
Descending the stairs into the kitchen, Xia Zhi found Chi Yu washing cups.
"Boss!"
"Mm."
"Did you finish your work?"
"All done."
"Oh, that's great!"
"Chi Yu."
"Yes?"
"Come to my room tonight. I have something important to discuss."
"Can't you say it now?"
"I can't. It's a secret."
"Oh..."
---
"Is the battle... over?"
"It seems so."
"What was that giant's origin?"
"Unknown."
"Was there such a deity in ancient times?"
"Not that I recall."
"It looked like it was aiding Liyue..."
High in the mountains, the Adepti exchanged puzzled glances.
Zhongli, with a contemplative expression, asked calmly, "What did you think of the Qixing's response this time?"
"Without Shenhe's intervention, it wouldn't have gone so smoothly."
"Still, Shenhe isn't an Adeptus, so it makes sense."
"The modified Final Mechanical Construct showed some promise. It's a shame that Cloud Retainer wasn't here to analyze it further."
"They learned from past failures, prepared in advance, and responded better to the crisis. Compared to before, they've improved significantly."
"Let's consider this a passable performance. There will undoubtedly be more challenges ahead, and we will continue watching."
"Indeed." Zhongli nodded. "Let us return."
"Shall we have tea at the Feiyun Tea House this afternoon?"
"Agreed."
"Xiao, will you join us?"
"No."
Xiao shook his head and vanished into thin air.