"What happened in Mondstadt…"
"Won't happen again!"
Paimon put her hands on her hips and declared to Childe.
"Good. Then let's see."
"I won't kill you, Traveler… Mr. Qiu Nian."
"I simply want to enjoy the pleasure of battle, so just play along with me."
"You can't beat me, so you don't need to win."
"As long as you enjoy the fight the same way I do."
"You understand what I mean, right?"
Tartaglia looked at Qiu Nian and Lumine with complete confidence.
"I can't beat you?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Lumine looked at him with a strange expression.
Was he bragging?
"Hahahahaha!"
"Alright! Since you're eager to play too, don't disappoint me!"
Tartaglia burst into laughter.
With a flash of light, the bow Polar Star appeared in his hand.
"In that case, we shouldn't disappoint Mr. Tartaglia."
"Let the Traveler go first. After all, a duel should be fair."
Qiu Nian suggested calmly.
Lumine nodded.
A flash of light appeared in her hand, and the Dull Blade materialized.
Without hesitation, she rushed toward Tartaglia!
"Heh…"
"Being underestimated, huh? Fine. I'll deal with the Traveler first."
Tartaglia leapt backward to create distance.
Then he fired an arrow straight at Lumine.
Lumine rolled forward and continued charging.
Wind elemental energy swirled around her sword.
With a swift swing—
She shattered the arrow mid-air.
Then she dashed forward like a gust of wind.
Tartaglia smiled.
His bow transformed instantly into two blades.
Eyes blazing with excitement, he charged forward to meet Lumine head-on.
Bang!
Their weapons collided.
Instead of separating, the two locked into a contest of strength.
Lumine twisted her wrist and slashed toward Tartaglia's leg.
He reacted instantly, swinging his right-hand blade downward to block.
A sharp metallic screech rang out.
Tartaglia stepped back slightly—
Then charged again.
Lumine refused to yield.
Wind energy surged along her sword as she rushed forward once more.
Wind and water clashed violently.
A shockwave erupted between them.
Both were pushed several meters back.
They stabilized themselves—
And immediately rushed at each other again.
Meanwhile, Qiu Nian and Paimon simply watched.
"Qiu Nian…"
"Are you really working for the Qixing?"
Paimon asked quietly.
"Haha…"
"What do you think, little Paimon?"
Qiu Nian replied with a faint smile.
"I don't think you are."
Paimon shook her head.
At that moment, the battle intensified.
Tartaglia activated his Delusion.
A mask appeared on his face instantly.
His outfit shifted colors.
His two blades merged into a single weapon crackling with Electro energy.
He rushed at Lumine again.
Clang!
Wind energy surged around Lumine as she struggled to block the attack.
"Heh…"
Tartaglia suddenly swung hard.
The powerful Electro force blasted Lumine backward!
Her Dull Blade flew from her hand and clattered to the floor.
"Your swordsmanship is interesting."
Tartaglia walked slowly toward her, spinning his weapon casually.
"But that's all it is."
Suddenly—
He thrust his blade straight at Lumine!
She raised one hand.
Wind energy surged outward, barely stopping the blade.
The two locked in a brief stalemate.
Then Tartaglia pushed harder.
The blade began forcing its way through the wind barrier.
Lumine's pupils shrank.
She quickly extended her other hand.
Sliding one foot back—
She unleashed Geo elemental power!
BOOM!
An explosion erupted.
The blast sent Lumine flying backward.
When she landed and steadied herself—
She noticed something strange.
Tartaglia's weapon remained where it was.
But Tartaglia himself had vanished.
Realizing something, Lumine turned toward the Exuvia.
"Hmph… I didn't expect you had that trick."
"You can actually use two elements."
Tartaglia stood atop one of the Exuvia's claws.
His hand pressed against its chest.
"You used your disadvantage…"
"…to get closer to the Exuvia?"
Paimon stomped angrily.
"Don't act so surprised like a rookie."
"For someone who's seen real battle, this is nothing."
Tartaglia sneered.
"Now then… Morax's Gnosis, I'll take—"
He plunged his hand straight into the Exuvia's chest!
But when he pulled it out—
There was nothing.
"…Heh. Hahahaha…"
"So that's it."
"What an unexpected twist…"
"During my fight with the Traveler…"
"You already took the Gnosis!"
Tartaglia glared down at Qiu Nian.
His voice burned with anger.
In the blink of an eye—
He transformed into a bolt of lightning and appeared before Qiu Nian.
Under Qiu Nian's slightly puzzled gaze—
And Lumine and Paimon's shocked expressions—
Tartaglia activated Foul Legacy.
His body grew larger.
A massive dark-purple cloak flowed behind him, speckled with starlike lights.
"Well done…"
"But everything has a price."
Tartaglia summoned his weapon.
Then slammed it violently into the ground!
BOOM!
The entire first floor of the Golden House shattered.
Lumine and Paimon lost their footing and fell through the collapsing floor.
Qiu Nian, however—
Gently drifted downward.
Like a falling feather.
His feet touched the ground lightly as he landed on the lower floor.
Lumine pushed aside some rubble with effort.
Paimon, being able to fly, was unharmed.
Both of them turned toward Qiu Nian at nearly the same time.
Their faces were full of shock.
"D–Did Qiu Nian really take the Gnosis?"
Paimon asked in disbelief.
"I don't think Qiu Nian took it."
Xuehua suddenly began analyzing.
"Didn't you see that look of confusion on his face when Tartaglia accused him?"
[Did you guys notice? Qiu Nian floated down slowly!]
[He's the one hiding the deepest]
[What exactly is his identity?!]
[He's been calm the entire time]
[Maybe he really did take the Gnosis]
[I don't care about the identity—he's just insanely cool]
[Great! It's the Pharaoh of Egypt—we're saved!]
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