The moment I stepped into the Golden House, the atmosphere shifted. It wasn't just the weight of the building, or the massive stone walls, or even the exuvia of the Geo Archon hanging overhead like a forgotten relic. No, it was something deeper. The kind of feeling that crept up your spine and whispered in your ear, a low, guttural voice in the back of your mind.
"You're about to get your ass kicked—or kick someone else's. No in-between."
I grinned.
I didn't know whether it was the room or the situation that made me feel like I was about to step into the ring with fate itself. The Millelith soldiers hustled around me, their faces etched with concern, eyes flicking between me and the giant floating Exuvia. The tension in the air could have been sliced with a knife, but I didn't flinch. Not yet.
We were ahead of schedule. Way ahead. The grind, the countless commissions, the absurd amounts of time I'd spent collecting mora—it had all led to this. Not for glory. Not for praise. I wasn't a hero. Nah, I was just here to get paid. But today? I am the fucking hero.
Lumine? She called it "efficient."
Paimon? She thought I was "hardworking."
But honestly?
I was just cheating.
And now? Now, I was about to cash in.
Because before we even tackled the Liyue Archon quest, I may or may not have power-leveled our Adventurer Rank by grinding commissions like a maniac. Lumine and Paimon thought I was "motivated." Hah. They didn't know I was planning to cheat the system so hard even the Abyss Order would cry.
I moved deeper into the hall, boots clicking against the cold, polished marble floor. My sword rested on my shoulder, more out of habit than necessity. The sound of my steps echoed, amplifying in the vast space, reminding me of how alone I was in this moment.
The Exuvia hung above me like a silent observer, its massive empty shell a hollow reminder of the Geo Archon's absence. A fallen titan. A once-great figure who had been discarded. It almost looked... sad.
I sat at the base of the staircase, crossed my arms, and let the weight of the room settle over me. Sword balanced across my lap, I relaxed, even as the tension tightened like a drumskin around us. This was it. The next phase of the game.
And then, footsteps.
Measured. Calm. Purposeful.
A voice—smooth as poisoned honey—cut through the air.
"You have finally fulfilled your task as guides. Why do you still linger here?"
I didn't answer. Not immediately. My eyes lifted slowly, my gaze cutting through the dimness of the room. My lips curled into a smirk as I locked eyes with him.
The space between us crackled with something electric.
Childe.
He stood there, tall and imposing, his blue eyes sharp with something dark behind them. And for a brief second, I could've sworn I saw something akin to a smile cross his face.
"You came alone?" he asked, his voice a mix of surprise and amusement.
I cracked my knuckles, the sound sharp in the silence.
"I'm more than enough to handle you," I said, the flat of my sword tapping gently against the floor. The sound was almost taunting.
His eyebrow quirked, but he didn't reply. Instead, he just watched me with that calculating gaze. His hand flexed, fingers twitching around the grip of his bow, and for a moment, there was nothing but the sound of our breathing, the quiet hum of tension between us.
Then he spoke again, his voice soft but resolute.
"The Tsaritsa's will is absolute."
"Yeah, I know," I said with a casual shrug. "You're after the Gnosis, right?" I stretched my arms out lazily, like I was preparing for a light jog. "Take it from me, then."
I pounded my chest with a grin, daring him.
"Pass through me first."
And just like that, it was on.
The air hummed with anticipation. The world paused, holding its breath.
His bow appeared in a flash of light. Blue energy crackled across the string. He didn't hesitate.
The first arrow flew, singing through the air like a banshee.
I sidestepped. It whooshed past my ear. Too easy.
Another. Then another. A barrage of hydro-charged arrows rained down on me. I twisted and darted through the oncoming storm of arrows, my sword cutting through the air with precision, deflecting two of them in quick succession.
"Is that all you've got?" I taunted, my voice almost a whisper as I closed the distance between us, boots kicking up stone dust with each step.
He grinned, a glint of something dangerous flashing in his eyes. With a smooth motion, he spun, another volley of arrows launching.
Hydro mines popped into existence, glowing with a soft blue light.
Clever.
I weaved through the mines, cutting one in half with a swift slash, sending water vapor spraying into the air. I didn't stop. Didn't give him the time of day.
We were dancing now. A back-and-forth that was pure instinct.
Then he was on me. His weapons shifted, dual hydro blades materializing in his hands, the tips gleaming with the promise of pain.
He moved like lightning.
One slash, two—each one faster, more brutal than the last. I ducked under the first, but the second barely missed me, grazing the side of my ribs. The third came down hard—parry. The force nearly sent me stumbling back.
"Not bad," I muttered through gritted teeth.
He only smiled, a flash of satisfaction in his eyes.
"You're fast," he admitted between blows, his breath sharp but controlled.
"You're decent," I shot back, grin never faltering, despite the growing ache in my arms.
He pivoted, launching a kick toward my ribs. I caught his leg midair, the force pushing against me as I threw him back, sending him sprawling. But like a damn gymnast, he twisted mid-flight and landed perfectly on his feet.
I rolled my shoulders, summoning a geo spear from the ground, launching it at him with pinpoint precision. He slashed it in half with a single, clean cut, sparks flying as the two forces collided.
The battle shifted—picking up speed, intensity, and raw energy. We collided again, weapons meeting with the sound of thunder. His blades were fast, deadly. Mine were heavy, punishing.
Clash, parry, slash.
The Golden House was an arena now. The walls shook with every strike, the air thick with the hum of elemental power. The floor cracked under our feet, debris shooting up as we continued our deadly waltz.
"You don't have to do this," he said, his voice rough from the exertion, but still filled with that unmistakable determination. "The Fatui could use someone like you."
I grinned, the blood singing in my veins.
"The Fatui couldn't even afford me," I said, pressing forward with a series of brutal strikes, each one pushing him back.
The ground beneath us cracked further, the weight of our fight tearing through the very foundation of the Golden House.
And then—he was gone. A blur of motion.
His Delusion flared to life.
The air around him shimmered with electricity. His weapons glowed brighter, more powerful. Electro energy crackled across his skin, feeding into the twin blades.
Phase two.
He came at me with the speed of a storm. A blur of blades. I barely raised my geo shield in time to block the first strike, the sheer force sending me skidding backward across the floor.
Time to get serious.
I summoned a geo-infused claymore from the ground, the weight of it heavy in my hands, but just right. With a roar, I swung it with both hands, slamming it down with all my might.
The ground cracked beneath the impact. Pillars of stone erupted around us, forcing Childe to leap and twist in midair, his body a lithe dancer of death, as he avoided the falling debris.
He hurled a spear of hydro-electro energy at me, the bolt crackling with devastating force. I deflected it just in time, the explosion sending shockwaves through the room, dirt and rocks scattering in every direction.
But I didn't flinch.
Not even when we crashed into each other again. Sword against blade. Geo against hydro. Strength against strength.
It wasn't about winning anymore.
It was about survival.
Childe shouted, his voice raw as he channeled even more energy into his attacks.
"Why do you fight so hard?!" he roared, his eyes burning with desperation.
"Because," I growled, barely keeping my footing as I pressed forward, "I won't let you summon that thing."
He glared, fury lighting his features.
"You can't stop it!" he screamed, launching another devastating assault.
Watch me.
The final clash was a blur of motion. I ducked under a high slash, sidestepped a thrust, and pivoted inside his guard. And with all the strength I had left, I slammed the pommel of my sword into his gut.
The wind rushed out of him, his breath escaping in a sharp gasp. He doubled over, and I didn't stop.
With a scream, I brought my geo sword down, every ounce of my will behind the strike. The sound of metal meeting resistance filled the room. His blades came up, but they weren't fast enough.
The force of my blow drove him to one knee, his arms trembling as he tried to keep his ground. Cracks spiderwebbed across the floor beneath him.
I stood over him, sword poised, chest heaving with each labored breath. My body screamed in protest, every muscle screaming for relief.
But I wasn't done yet.
He looked up at me, defiant, even in his weakened state.
"Not bad, Shigeru" he rasped, his voice raw with the effort.
I lowered my sword, my grip loosening slightly.
"Stay down," I said quietly.
For a long moment, he just stared at me, his chest rising and falling, his face hard with unspoken thoughts.
And then, unexpectedly, he laughed. A low, broken chuckle that echoed in the emptiness of the Golden House.
"You win," he said, falling backward, his arms spread wide as if surrendering to the inevitable.
I stood there, panting, staring down at the fallen Harbinger.
And as I watched him nearly collapse onto the shattered floor, I realized something.
Winning wasn't about strength.
It was about will.
And mine was stronger.
I felt the tension in the air crackle. Childe was glaring at me, fists clenched, his eyes filled with the kind of fire that could scorch a city to the ground. And me? I just stood there, grinning like I'd just stolen the last slice of pizza.
He stared at me like I'd just kicked his dog.
"You let your guard down," Childe sneered, "and now the Gnosis is mine."
I tilted my head, tapping the side of my sword with my finger, pretending to think.
"Yeah, about that," I said, my voice too casual for the situation, "I already grabbed it. Bet you didn't even notice. Sorry, man."
The look on his face was priceless. His eyes narrowed, and for a second, I thought he might throw another temper tantrum. But then, it happened. His grin faltered, replaced by an almost feral snarl.
"No way," he growled.
I just shrugged, stepping back like I was about to stroll through a park.
"Guess what? You're way too slow."
Childe's teeth gritted. He stomped forward, drawing his weapons with a flourish. Hydro and Electro energy rippled off him like a thunderstorm waiting to happen. His eyes burned with hatred, and I could feel the temperature drop a few degrees as his fury turned the air heavy.
I couldn't help but laugh.
"Round three," I said, cracking my knuckles. "This time, I'm not holding back."
Childe didn't say anything. Instead, he lunged forward, his blades singing through the air. Hydro blades, slick and fast. But me? I was ready.
I summoned a Geo shield just in time, deflecting his first attack with a satisfying clang. The impact pushed me back a few steps, but I just smirked.
"Is that all you got, big guy?" I taunted, spinning my sword in my hand like it was a toy. "C'mon, let's have some fun."
Childe's eyes twitched with irritation. He was fast—damn fast—but I was faster. The ground beneath me cracked as I shot forward, slashing my sword diagonally, sending waves of Geo energy through the air. Childe dodged, spinning out of the way just in time.
"Nice," I said, grinning. "You're better than I thought."
He just snarled, his eyes glowing with a maniacal edge.
"You've got no idea what you're dealing with, idiot."
That was it. The moment he called me an idiot, I knew it was time to end this. His foul legacy was about to get a taste of my own.
Without warning, I summoned a series of Geo constructs—spikes, walls, and pillars—each one flying toward him with deadly precision. He slashed through some of them, but I wasn't finished. My Anemo element flared to life, and with a sweeping motion, I unleashed a gust of wind that sent debris flying at him like a storm.
"Caught ya," I muttered under my breath.
Childe had to leap backward, narrowly avoiding the barrage. But just when he thought he was safe, I slammed my sword into the ground, sending a shockwave that cracked the marble beneath our feet.
This time, he didn't dodge in time.
The shockwave sent him tumbling, and I didn't waste a second. I closed the distance, summoning a massive geo spear and hurling it straight at him. The air vibrated with energy as the spear whistled through the air, aimed right at his chest.
He barely managed to catch it with his blades, the force of the impact knocking him to one knee.
"Getting tired already?" I asked, voice dripping with sarcasm.
Childe growled, standing back up. His body crackled with more energy than before. I could feel the surge of power, the delusion inside him starting to take over.
"Alright," I said, cracking my neck. "Time to step it up."
The ground beneath me exploded as I sent a wave of Geo energy surging outward, blasting Childe off his feet. Before he could even react, I followed up with a full-throttle Anemo barrage—wind so sharp it could slice through steel.
He barely managed to block some of the gusts, his weapons flicking in the air, but I wasn't done. I summoned another Geo spear, this time even larger, and sent it rocketing toward him with a yell.
"Here's my favorite move!"
Childe's eyes widened. He jumped to the side, but it was too late. The spear hit him square in the chest, sending him sprawling to the ground.
But that wasn't the end of it.
Before he could even catch his breath, I appeared above him, sword raised. The wind picked up around me as I twisted, my sword glowing with a mixture of Geo and Anemo energy.
"Ready for this?" I asked with a grin.
I slammed down with everything I had, the energy of both elements crashing together in a symphony of destruction.
Childe didn't even have time to react. My blade collided with his defenses, and the force of the impact sent him flying backward, crashing through a column. The dust billowed around him like a cloud of chaos.
I landed with a soft thud, watching as Childe struggled to get back up. His armor was cracked, his breath ragged, but his eyes still held that fire.
"You… You son of a bitch," he spat, wiping blood from his mouth. "You actually beat me."
I stood there, letting out a dramatic sigh. "Eh, what can I say? You're tough, but you just don't know when to quit. A little annoying, really."
Childe glared at me, but the fire in his eyes was fading. He dropped his weapons, and I couldn't help but laugh.
"Not even gonna finish the fight?" I asked. "Come on, Childe, you're better than that."
He chuckled darkly, even as he dropped to one knee. "You're not… what you seem. I'll give you that, idiot."
I grinned, stepping closer. "Yeah, yeah. Tell me something I don't know."
He looked up at me one last time, that defiant smirk still playing on his lips.
"I'll be back," he muttered, then staggered backward, disappearing into the shadows.
I stood there for a second, catching my breath, before letting out a satisfied sigh.
"Well, that was fun. Time for a nap, I think."
____________________________________
End of Chapter 27
Quest completed: Defeat Childe, pretend to steal the Gnosis, and make sure to look ridiculously cool while doing so.
Rewards: +100 Primogems, 50,000 mora (Stolen at the Golden House), Anemo Mastery +50, Geo Mastery +100, One Free Round of Taunting, and Gnosis of Unclear Location (Still sitting on Zhongli's pockets.)
Achievement Unlocked: "Do I Look Like a Hero to You?"
-(A perfect score in dramatically looking cool in front of an exploding battlefield.)