Several people hurried to Rex Lapis's body, gazing at the massive, awe-inspiring dragon form.
"As expected of the Geo Archon—even in death his might still presses down on us."
Bianca lifted her head, respect and regret filling her eyes as she studied the dragon.
She could sense that Rex Lapis Morax had reached the pinnacle of martial mastery, and she regretted not meeting him sooner.
Perhaps, if they had met earlier, she could have helped and prevented this tragedy.
"Sis, you really didn't notice…?"
Kiana arched a brow at her sister's words.
It was obviously just a lifelike replica Morax had casually whipped up.
Her sister, who cultivated Divine Breath, hadn't seen through it?
A careful scan would reveal the subtle disharmony.
"Hm? Notice what?"
Bianca was puzzled—could such lingering pressure be faked?
"Sigh… Your Excellency, rest assured: Hu Tao, the 77th-generation director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor (Genshin Impact), vows to send you off in style."
Hu Tao sighed deeply, pressed her palms together, closed her eyes, and bowed piously to the dragon.
Niúmǎ Nà stared at the body, frowning; an inexplicable sense of wrongness gnawed at her.
"This body… is fake."
The shocking words slipped from Niúmǎ Nà before she realized it.
"!!?"
"Huh…? Why's everyone looking at me?"
Feeling the stares, she blinked and rubbed her cheek in confusion.
"You're saying His Excellency is fake?"
Hu Tao stepped forward, grasped Niúmǎ Nà's hand, and asked gravely.
She knew her childhood friend and employee—there'd been no joke in those words.
As a Liyue native, she clung to the hope that Rex Lapis hadn't truly passed.
Bianca, Lumine, and Paimon all looked to her for answers.
Only Kiana remained unruffled, as if she'd known all along.
"It just feels off—this corpse looks hyper-realistic, yet it's only a replica."
A spark flashed in Niúmǎ Nà's eyes as she folded her arms and studied the dragon.
Her instincts screamed that something was wrong.
"If that's true, then we've all been played…?"
Paimon hugged herself, pouting, her tiny brows knit tight.
Lumine focused, sweeping the body with elemental sight.
"…"
Lumine fell silent.
The body was condensed pure elemental energy; no flaw showed through elemental sight.
The grisly wounds looked horrifyingly real.
"…"
Chin in hand, Lumine lowered her gaze, replaying the Rite of Descension in her mind.
A vortex had swirled in the sky; Rex Lapis had dropped from it, lifeless.
Dropped…!!!
Her eyes widened—she'd caught a tiny detail.
Before the fall, the body had borne no wounds!
Those gruesome injuries had appeared only after landing!
She'd been close enough to hear Kiana's remark—right after which the scars had erupted.
Confirmed: Liyue's Geo Archon had staged the whole show!
Just as she was about to speak, the Golden House's doors creaked open.
"Traveler, quite the lively gathering—yet here I am, suffering…"
Tartaglia rubbed his shoulder, complaining as he approached the body.
"We've discovered something…"
Lumine began, but Tartaglia waved her off.
"Details later—something more important now."
With a flash he leapt atop the dragon, stunning everyone.
"The Gnosis…"
A triumphant smirk curled his lips as he reached inside—then froze.
"Where's the Gnosis?"
He opened his empty palm, brows knitting, voice low.
He'd been played; Nameless fury flared.
"Heh… hahaha… Brilliant performance—fooling even me."
He dropped to the floor, laughing behind his hand.
Only now did Lumine realize his goal matched that "lady" from Mondstadt: the Gnosis.
She'd been used—her eyes darkened as she glared at the unhinged Tartaglia.
"Hand it over, Traveler; then we can talk peacefully."
His stiff smile returned as he stretched a hand toward her.
"What? I never touched it."
Lumine answered coldly, furious at the accusation.
He clearly suspected her of taking the Gnosis—perhaps because she'd arrived first.
The baseless charge ignited her own anger.
"Really? Then I'll make you hand it over!"
His mask snapped into place; violet lightning crackled around him.
Dark armor laced with purple enveloped him, a violet scarf at his neck.
Horn-like spines jutted from his back; a starry cape billowed without wind.
He shot forward as a violet bolt; Lumine gripped her dull blade, ready to dodge.
"Watch out!"
Bianca dashed in with Black Abyss White Flower.
She thrust the spear in a fierce strike at the violet lightning.
Zzz—clang—
Sparks flew; Tartaglia was hurled back several meters.
"Seems I underestimated you."
His dual-tone voice wavered, surprise in every syllable.
His Foul Legacy power hadn't forced her back a single step—yet he hadn't gone all-out either.
"Stand down, or I'll crush you by force."
Bianca leveled her spear; thorny miasma of death coiled around her, her gaze ice-cold.
Tartaglia's eyes narrowed behind his mask—this crushing aura rivaled his mysterious, mighty master!
Those death-laced thorns were no power any Vision holder should possess.
"You're… a God?!"
He clenched his fists, voice certain.
If she wasn't a God—then he, Tartaglia, 11th Harbinger of the Fatui, would eat shit.
Three helpings!
"I'm not a God—more like… a Herrscher?"
Bianca answered, unsure.
After all, she carried the same Death Herrscher core as Rita—so she must be a Herrscher too.
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