Chapter 22: She's Crying?!

Ei launched a rapid assault, slashing two arcs of blinding lightning towards Yu. Caught off guard, Yu was dragged back a considerable distance by the twin lightning strikes, his legs leaving deep grooves across the ground.

"You were the first to use elemental power, so don't blame me for responding in kind."

With that, Yu clasped his hands together, and a massive web of roots and vines instantly spread across the battlefield, surging towards Ei in a relentless offensive.

Seeing this, Ei's naginata crackled with a fierce surge of lightning. The violent bolts cut through the vines in droves but inadvertently amplified the remaining Dendro energy, causing the vine army to grow even more frenzied.

At that moment, a colossal bolt of lightning descended from the sky, reducing most of the vines to charred remains. Taking advantage of the opening, Ei closed the distance between them, pressing the attack.

I have no choice. I didn't expect him to be this powerful—not just physically, but also in terms of elemental mastery. And worse, I can feel my elemental energy being drained in that field of vines. Looks like I'll have to engage in close combat.

Ei was indeed formidable. Within a few exchanges, she managed to knock the Summit Shaper from Yu's grasp, sending it flying across the field.

"It seems Ei has won this round," Makoto calmly observed from the sidelines.

In Makoto's eyes, if one fighter lost their weapon in a duel, it generally meant they had lost.

But Ganyu's heart leapt into her throat. No, don't!

Unbeknownst to Ei, she had just unleashed a beast from its cage.

"You've lost. Without your weapon, how will you fight me now?" Ei declared confidently.

"Is that so?" Yu replied with a mysterious smile that unsettled her.

Ei frowned, sensing that something was amiss.

Scratching his head, Yu remarked, "You really are strong. It's been a long time since I've met someone as powerful—and as beautiful—as you. That lightning bolt just now caught me in its range as well. Since I'm the embodiment of Dendro energy… you've completely energized me."

"You've made me…"

"Absolutely thrilled!!"

Suddenly, yellow lightning-like patterns spread across Yu's face, adding a wild, frenzied aura to his previously calm and handsome features. His hands, now enveloped in a dense green glow of Dendro energy, gleamed ominously.

In an instant, Yu lunged forward, his entire body shooting out like a projectile.

Ei transformed into a streak of lightning to evade, but to her shock, Yu's speed matched her own, and they clashed in a flurry of blows.

Realizing she couldn't keep dodging forever, Ei gritted her teeth and infused her naginata with a tremendous surge of elemental energy before sweeping it in a broad arc.

But Yu had already anticipated her move. His body dropped low—not to dodge, but to strike more effectively.

Yu's hand shot out like a viper, aiming directly for Ei's fair, unblemished neck. Though Ei managed to evade at the last moment, his assault didn't end there.

One of Yu's green, elemental-infused hands slammed into Ei's pristine shoulder, digging in viciously and seizing her scapula.

Knowing he had gained the upper hand, Yu accelerated again, ruthlessly slamming Ei's lithe form into the ground.

It's not a life-or-death fight, Yu thought, so I should hold back a bit. Despite this, he followed up with a rapid barrage of punches, raining down like a storm.

Punch after punch landed before Yu suddenly noticed something was off.

A soft, tearful voice broke through the chaos beneath him.

"Ugh… it hurts."

Yu: …

"It really hurts!!!"

In that instant, guilt flooded Yu's mind. Damn, did I go too far? She's still technically my savior…

Yu halted his assault and looked down at the beauty beneath him. Her once graceful figure was now battered and bruised, though her ethereal beauty still shone through. Her tear-streaked face, mingled with blood, made Yu feel like the worst kind of villain for hitting someone so stunning.

"I… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have hit you so hard."

Yet Ei's sobs only grew louder, with no sign of stopping. Instead, they seemed to escalate.

"I was wrong, okay? Please stop crying." Yu awkwardly pulled her into his arms, attempting to comfort her.

(TL/N - D*mn Bro how dare you do that to my main!!🤬)

"It hurts so much!"

Ei's body suddenly emitted a burst of lightning, crackling violently against Yu. Despite the numbing pain coursing through him, Yu stubbornly held on, whispering increasingly desperate and apologetic reassurances.

---

From the sidelines, Kitsune Saiguu observed the scene with great amusement. "This… this is one of the funniest things I've seen in my entire life. Ei actually cried! And she was beaten to tears by someone else!"

Moreover, Saiguu couldn't help but chuckle at how Yu's demeanor had shifted. Initially, he had exuded the commanding presence of a king who never bowed his head, yet now he seemed utterly humbled and pathetic. She felt like she was witnessing two people's most embarrassing moments simultaneously.

Despite the numbing tingles caused by the residual lightning, Yu continued to hug Ei tightly, knowing that letting her cry indefinitely wouldn't solve anything. He needed a solution.

A slew of melodramatic scenes flashed through Yu's mind. From what he recalled, the most effective way to resolve situations like this was…

…a kiss.

The thought alone made Yu's blood rush to his head. But he hesitated—wasn't it inappropriate to just kiss someone like that? Whether he genuinely liked her or was merely trying to comfort her, they had only known each other for a few days. It didn't seem right.

So, he opted for a compromise.

Gently cupping Ei's slightly swollen, tear-streaked face, Yu leaned in and pressed a deep kiss to her forehead before pulling her into his chest once more.

"Please, don't cry anymore. Okay?"

A powerful bolt of lightning flashed, momentarily illuminating the entire scene as though a massive explosion had just gone off.

---

Later, Yu lay quietly in bed, his entire body charred black. Normally, his regenerative ability would have rendered bed rest unnecessary, but… he had overexerted himself and gone a little too wild, leaving him feeling weak.

Suddenly, he noticed a familiar figure standing in the doorway.

The figure paused, glancing at him.

Both their faces flushed red at once.

Memories of the earlier scene, where he had groveled to comfort her amidst a crowd of spectators, surged back into Yu's mind. The more he thought about it, the worse he felt.

Without a second thought, Yu sprang out of bed and bolted towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Ei called after him.

"I need to shut some people up!"

Ei's mind raced as she recalled the spectators from earlier, reaching a terrifying conclusion: I'm socially dead…

She hurried after him, calling out, "Wait! I'm coming with you!"