Qiu Bai, Who Couldn't Beat Childe

Lumine stared blankly at Qiu Bai, who stood in front of her.

She couldn't understand why Qiu Bai, who had been so weak moments ago, had suddenly become so strong.

Childe and Qiu Bai seemed evenly matched, Hydro and Electro erupting wildly on Childe's side.

On Qiu Bai's side, an inky-black and white aura erupted just as fiercely. For the moment, neither could gain the upper hand!

And just then...

"Qiu Bai, I'll help you!"

With the Dull Blade in hand, Lumine used Geo to create a Starfell and sent it crashing toward Childe.

She infused the Dull Blade with Anemo and thrust it at him!

Locked in combat with Qiu Bai, Childe spotted the Starfell falling from above and abruptly sprang backward.

The Starfell slammed into the ground, leaving a crater.

Then he turned toward the charging Lumine and slashed out a wave of Electro and Hydro!

Lumine darted aside, dodging the attack.

Then, with Anemo coating the Dull Blade in her hand, she charged at Childe!

Watching Lumine rush toward him, Childe charged forward with his long bladed weapon, refusing to back down!

Clang!

A metallic clash rang out!

Sparks flew, and Lumine and Childe exchanged several more blows.

"Seriously, Lumine, don't steal my mission!"

Standing behind them, Qiu Bai's mouth twitched.

Then he sprang forward with his sword as well, slashing at Childe!

Childe raised his long bladed weapon and blocked Qiu Bai and Lumine's combined strike!

Sparks showered between their weapons. Suddenly, Childe retreated sharply.

Hydro gathered furiously around his weapon as he watched Lumine and Qiu Bai before him.

"Foul Method: Whale-Devouring Annihilation!"

An ethereal voice rang out, as though from the depths of the sea.

A massive whale formed from Hydro burst from Childe's weapon and lunged at Qiu Bai and Lumine!

Qiu Bai smiled faintly at the whale formed from Hydro.

Back when he played the game, this whale had one-shot him plenty of times. But now...

Yin-Yang Energy rose from Qiu Bai's hands, swirling continuously.

Then he launched it at the whale before him. The Yin-Yang Energy revolved around itself in midair, spinning faster and faster!

From the beginning arose the two polarities; the two polarities gave rise to the four images, and the four images to the eight trigrams-all in an instant!

Qiu Bai's attack transformed into an eight-trigram formation, blocking Childe's enormous whale.

The inky-black and white aura radiating from the formation collided violently with Childe's giant Hydro whale!

A shock wave erupted between the two attacks!

Standing beside them, Lumine was forced several steps backward by the blast.

Farther away, Paimon was nearly blown away.

"I never imagined you possessed such formidable combat strength, Mr. Qiu Bai!"

"In that case, I won't hold anything back either!"

Childe watched Qiu Bai hold him at a stalemate, his voice brimming with fighting spirit!

Then he drew on his Delusion, pouring Electro furiously into the whale!

The pale blue whale instantly turned purple, violent Electro coiling around its body!

Qiu Bai gritted his teeth and braced his hands against the attack. Even the stone floor beneath his feet sank under the pressure!

Childe is much stronger than he used to be.

Is it because of my younger sister's authority to extend lifespans?

Qiu Bai was puzzled. After all, back in the game...

Childe had never used this move-a whale wreathed in Electro.

"Qiu Bai, I'll help you!"

Lumine rushed up from behind, gathering Anemo in both hands to help withstand Childe's attack!

She shouted to Qiu Bai beside her, who seemed almost out of strength.

Qiu Bai's mouth twitched at her words.

Lumine, do you know how hard it is to control my strength...

...so I don't kill someone?

Now that you've joined in, I have to lower my strength again.

Qiu Bai felt rather helpless, but warmth still stirred in his heart.

"Mr. Qiu Bai!"

"You should just give up. You can't beat me!"

Childe taunted them as he continued pouring out his power.

"N-never!"

"I will never give up!"

With an expression that suggested he was using every last ounce of strength, Qiu Bai held Childe at a stalemate.

The three remained deadlocked for about five minutes.

Partway through, Lumine's stamina gave out. She braced one hand against the ground, panting.

Qiu Bai, however, continued holding Childe off with that same expression of desperate exertion.

Childe stared in bewilderment at Qiu Bai, who had been wearing the same constipated expression for the past five minutes.

Why does he have so much stamina?

Damn it, my power is almost gone.

Childe was on the verge of a breakdown. He couldn't understand how Qiu Bai had lasted so long.

Just then, as Qiu Bai stubbornly resisted on the other side, a voice sounded in his mind.

Ding!

Congratulations, host! System mission completed!

At the sound, Qiu Bai's constipated expression actually relaxed into a smile.

It was as though getting hit by Childe's attack wouldn't matter at all.

"Now!"

"His power has run out!"

Childe's face lit up. He could feel Qiu Bai's attack weakening considerably.

Then Childe steeled himself.

The Hydro whale, mixed with violent Electro, smashed through Qiu Bai's eight-trigram formation!

Qiu Bai's face went pale as he watched the whale before him.

He looked at Lumine beside him, who was still staring blankly at the enormous whale.

Almost instantly, he pushed the stunned Lumine several meters away through the air.

"Q-Qiu Bai!!!"

Lumine screamed from midair, reaching out to pull Qiu Bai back.

As Lumine's pupils contracted, the attack that had built up for so long slammed into Qiu Bai!

The tremendous momentum sent Qiu Bai crashing into the wall on the second floor of the Golden House.

He smashed through the stone behind him before finally crashing into a rock!

His clothes were in tatters. Clutching his chest, Qiu Bai forced himself upright, his body trembling.

He slowly walked toward Childe and Lumine.

Qiu Bai had just caught sight of Lumine, Childe, and Paimon.

"Pfft."

Under Lumine and Paimon's deeply worried gazes, Qiu Bai spat out a mouthful of blood.

He managed a weak smile at Paimon and Lumine in the distance.

Thud!

Then Qiu Bai's body sagged, and he collapsed heavily onto the ground.

Paimon seemed to startle, her eyes widening as she covered her mouth.

Then she flew toward Qiu Bai as fast as she could.

Her two little hands kept shaking his body, but Qiu Bai showed no response at all.

"Qiu Bai, Qiu Bai, don't die!"

"Waaah! Paimon won't ever say bad things behind your back again!"

Paimon held one little hand beneath Qiu Bai's nose.

"Ah!"

Unable to feel any breath, Paimon froze in midair with fright.

Lumine, too, stared blankly at Qiu Bai lying on the ground.

An indescribable rage exploded in her heart.

She turned toward Childe, coating the Dull Blade with Anemo and gathering Geo in her right hand.

She launched a fierce attack at him!

Meanwhile, Childe...

Already had little power left. He froze for a moment at the sight of Lumine charging toward him.

But he still forced himself to maintain Foul Legacy and engaged Lumine in combat.