Genshin Impact: Awakening in the Darkness

"Young Master": "Well done, but—everything comes at a price!"

The "Young Master's" demonic weaponry was indeed incredibly powerful; it shattered the floor of that entire building. Kong was startled and fell without warning. Paimon immediately flew down to grab Kong's hand, but her strength was too weak, and she fell down with him…

Amidst a pile of rubble, Paimon laboriously removed the slab of stone from his head, shook his head, which was still dazed from the impact, looked around, and immediately flew over to help Kong remove the slab of stone that was pressing down on him.

The young master descended from the sky, coldly staring at the traveler who had once again taken up his sword, and said, "You were the one who got the 'Heart of God' first, weren't you?"

"Young Master": "Did you act faster than me, or... did you deliberately leak information about the 'Golden House' to me? Either way, hand over the Heart of God now, don't make me come to get it myself!"

Paimon was terrified: "No, we didn't take it!"

But it was clear that the young master didn't believe it. His attack was already aimed at the traveler, but Kong pushed Paimon away and then stumbled backward himself.

Sora: "Hide well!"

The next second, wind elemental energy enveloped the sword, while rock elemental energy surged from beneath the young master's feet. A massive rock wall propelled the young master from his original position, and their weapons clashed once more…

After fighting for an unknown amount of time, the young master was the first to succumb to the pressure and side effects of the Demon King's armor. Sora was also on guard, watching for a sudden counterattack from the Fool's Enforcer who had collapsed to the ground.

"Young Master": "Huff...huff..."

"Ah, he's back to normal." Paimon then flew out from the Mora pile behind him.

"Young Master": "It's time...to calm down. That 'Demon King Armor' I was wearing really took a toll on my body, leaving me no time to stop and think...but upon reflection, you really don't have a chance to obtain the 'Heart of God' before me."

"Young Master": "Wherever the 'Heart of God' goes... it should be none of your business."

Paimon: "Yeah, we already said we didn't take it!"

"Young Master" enters: Traveler, the strength you displayed today surpasses even the "Lady's" assessment of you in Mondstadt. Why is that?

Sora: (Because I'm collecting seven elements...) Sora couldn't possibly tell this to the enemy in front of him. The young master also saw through this. He smiled indifferently: "Judging from your expression, it seems like you have the answer in your heart? Sigh, but if it's a secret that can't be told to me, then I can only reluctantly suppress my curiosity."

The young master shrugged and said, "I'm already very satisfied with this battle. People who also strive to become stronger are friends, even if this friendship can only take the form of mutual struggle..."

Paimon couldn't help but complain, "What a strange friendship..."

"Young Master": "But now, I have no choice but to temporarily put aside my conversation with my confidants and return to my mission."

"Young Master": "—Since the 'Heart of God' wasn't taken away by someone, could it be... that it wasn't even in the 'Immortal Ancestor's Manifestation' from the beginning? And thinking further, could the 'Immortal Ancestor's Manifestation' itself just be a smokescreen?"

Paimon: "Ah, you mean..."

Kong: "The Rock King Emperor isn't dead?"

"Young Master": "I'm afraid that's true. That's... quite interesting. As expected of the guardian deity of the commercial capital, you're quite adept at 'trickery outside of contracts.' In that case, we'll have to activate the 'backup plan.'"

Paimon: "A backup plan?"

"Young Master": "I didn't originally want to use this plan because it would affect the weak. In the end, the world belongs to those of us who strive to become stronger. I usually don't bother with boring and weak people."

The young master spoke with a hint of helplessness, but he quickly added, "Unfortunately, as an executor of the Fools, one cannot be picky about the 'methods.' It's like a child sometimes having to learn to eat carrots they don't like."

Paimon: "So... what exactly do you want to do?"

"Young Master": "I must awaken the slumbering demon god beneath the Lonely Cloud Pavilion."

Paimon: "A demon god?!"

"Young Master": "The 'Whirlpool Demon God,' Oser, was defeated by the 'Geo Demon God,' Morax, during the Demon God War. If a former Demon God were to attack Liyue Harbor, which has lost its divine protection... do you think the Geo Archon, who has tricked us all, would still be able to sit back and watch the show peacefully?"

Kong's eyes sharpened: "Liyue still has a god protecting it, so how do you think your plan can succeed and force the Rock King to show himself!"

Upon hearing this, "Young Master" couldn't help but laugh: "Hahahaha, that God of 'Order'?! Since your return from Jueyun Pass, we've investigated multiple times. There's no pressure from other demon gods. The Fatui's internal information network also reports that the immortals have admitted that Mingye Tianjun is now powerless to fight. So, Liyue is essentially a godless kingdom."

Paimon: "But...but the Demon God War ended two thousand years ago! With only seven gods remaining in the world today, how are you going to deal with the ancient demon gods..."

"Of course, the means to 'awaken' have been prepared." The 'Young Master's' divine eye shone brightly, and countless talismans flew out from it. The ones they had seen before were the "Talisman of No Taboos"!

Paimon exclaimed, "Ah! That's the 'Unfettered Talisman'!"

Kong remembered that they had investigated the research site of the Fools and found countless talismans and yellow talismans. It turned out that they had been plotting against the demon god since then.

"Young Master": "It seems you guessed it, that's right! With so much 'Unrestricted Talisman' power gathered together, plus the power bestowed upon the 'Executor' by the Empress... temporarily unsealing the power of the Rock Spear's suppression isn't something impossible."

"Originally, for me, reaching this point and using the power of an ancient demon god was already quite boring and didn't align with my beliefs. However, the thought that not only that rock god, but also you all have to deal with this... makes it quite interesting." After saying this, "Young Master" didn't give them time to react and immediately activated the magic circle. Countless talismans glowed and dissipated together, causing a series of resonances.

The weather outside began to change drastically; the once bright sky darkened, and there were even faint flashes of lightning.

At the Jade Pavilion —

"It's coming." Xuan Yue Shao Yang already held it in his hand, constantly on guard. The sea began to surge, waterspouts shot straight into the sky, and the demon god's oppressive aura began to manifest.

Ningguang: "The residents in the vicinity have all returned home, and the fishing boats at sea have all returned to Liyue Harbor."

Keqing also reported: "The Thousand Rock Army is ready for battle. They are on standby to protect the people of Liyue."

Xiaoyue nodded after listening, but was still a little worried, and asked Jin Xuan, "Lord Xuanyue, with your current strength, are you able to suppress the Vortex Demon God?"

Ningguang and Keqing were secretly alarmed. This immortal who claimed to be the representative of "order" actually possessed the fighting power to fight against a demon god.

Xuan Yue knew their expectations, but simply replied truthfully, "Times have changed, and I cannot do it now."

Liu Yun: "Then... we can only do our best to repel him..."

Xiao: "The Yaksha clan is worth fighting for."

Grandma Ping sighed helplessly, "Only 500 years have passed, and I never imagined... we'd have to recreate a corner of the 'War of the Demons' now..."

Inside the "Golden House," unlike the traveler's worried mood, the "Young Master" laughed heartily: "Haha, just wait and see. Will this kingdom, devoid of its gods, be swallowed up again by the malice of the ancients?" After saying this, he prepared to leave, adding before departing, "However, if you also wish to drown with the people of Liyue, then have a good time!"

Seeing that Young Master Kong had left, he realized the seriousness of the situation: "Paimon, let's chase after him quickly!"

As soon as they ran out of the "Golden House", they saw waves of oppressive power coming from the "Lonely Cloud Pavilion".

Paimon: "Chase him, we lost him! That guy... he's so fast."

Kong: "Paimon, we don't have time to chase that guy now, look over there!"

Suddenly, a monster with many dragon heads appeared on the sea, roaring. Paimon was so frightened that he hid behind Sora, while Sora searched for something that could quickly take them there…

At that moment, the "Qunyu Pavilion" flew overhead...