First Spark of Riot

The two strongest beings in Teyvat were now facing against each other. Drew their weapons. After hundreds of years, this is the first time where an archon will face another archon.

-No backing down then? It would be a shame for the sevens if they lost their strongest member so early.

-I feel like you are still underestimating me. I have no reason to hold back either.

-Then prove to me that I am wrong...

With those words, Neroth was the first one to attack. He started to spin his scythe. It contacted to ground for only a little time but it was enough to send a devastating attack of black flames towards Zhongli from the ground.

Yet it was easy for Zhongli to dodge since it was an attack from far away. Zhongli however, could use his powers to lift a column of rocks from where Neroth was pressing his feet. Neroth already knew this situation and he was still carrying his composure while dodging those columns calmly again and again.

-What will you do if you are even able to hit me with those columns? You don't have a follow-up attack Zhongli.

Zhongli suddenly appeared behind Neroth and started striking with his spear.

-As long as I can get your feet off the ground. I will hold the advantage!

Together with spear attacks, pillars were still rising from where Neroth steps. Zhongli was trying to catch the slightest glimpse of him losing balance. But Neroth dodged his attacks with a stylish backflip.

-It's a strange way to think. But you are missing the part where you hold your advantage if I am on the ground. What's the purpose of trying to cut my feet from the ground?

Zhongli realized that Neroth's scythe was getting close to hitting him with every attack. And in the end, he had a moment where it would be too late to block or dodge the attack. But he was still holding tricks in his palm.

A pillar rose between him and the scythe. But it was strong enough to destroy the pillar and launch Zhongli back. Even if the pillar softened the hit, it was still so strong. He landed without a problem but Neroth was out of his sight suddenly.

A whisper from behind sends shivers down his spine...

-Focus...

Zhongli was able to block a scythe attack from behind but he lost control for a second which caused Neroth to land a kick on his stomach.

Even if he was in pain he couldn't give up that easily. He ducked and dodged Neroth's next scythe attack and caught a slackness. Zhongli realized that Neroth wasn't even holding his scythe that harshly which was letting Neroth attack faster. But it was the slackness Zhongli was waiting for. So with a correctly angled hit to it, the scythe finally swiped out of Neroth's hands.

He swung his spear with all his power one last time to him Neroth. But with Neroth's swift move, black flames appeared between them. Even if Zhongli's spear pierced through the flame curtain, the lack of sight area of Zhongli caused him to miss and almost get a punch from his chin. He was able to block but punch launched him back. Which caused him to lose the advantage of Neroth's weaponless time for a second.

Neroth's lifted his hand and his scythe took a curve to come back to his hands. He spoke calmly again.

-Your moves are to put me at a disadvantage, not to end me. Are you scared to attack me directly?

-I am aware that I can't win a fight head-on.

-I see, maybe you weren't an idiot as much as I thought...

While the fight was going on Tighnari, Cyno, and Aether were trying to reach a machine ruin...

-We have to get in somehow...

-Follow me, if I remember right these robots have a place to get in from their arms.

Said Tighnari, this ruin was huge, and the lower part of the robot was lost too. It was obvious they couldn't use such a thing for a long time. But if it can help Zhongli one last time it can change the fight at all.

After they get in the huge robot, they realize it has a huge control room too.

-Ugh, how are we even gonna find something to make it work?

-There, that thing seems like a power unit...

-Can you fix it Tighnari?

-I will try my best...

While all of this is happening Nahida and Paimon were trying to think of something, sending letters to other archons.

-Nahida, there is another letter from Hydro Dragon. It says that he can't leave his country...

Nahida sighed with a worried face.

-I understand him too. Their archons died just a few weeks ago and now these things are happening. He has to make sure that their regions are safe...

Suddenly, a soldier gets in. He seems to be in a hurry too.

-Archon! There is a Fatui harbinger saying that she needs to meet you!

-A fatui harbinger..? In a situation like this? ...Let her come.

-L-Let her come? Nahida, are you sure? Paimon is worried about this...

-If she was seeking a bad purpose she wouldn't send a message with a soldier. Plus remember Geo Archon's words. Even Fatui can seen as an ally towards this threat.

-Even so, Paimon is worried...

A woman with red piercing eyes and sleek silver hair gets in suddenly. Her walk was elegant but gave an aura of danger. Yet her actions spoke that she wasn't here to be an enemy...

-Dendro Archon, Nahida. I am the fourth harbinger of Fatui, Arlecchino. I have heard about things on Natlan. I am not here for hostile purposes of course.

-I see, can I ask why were you seeking me can I ask?

-The letters you sent to Snezhnhaya have reached to Archon of Cryo. She couldn't attend to this type of alliance herself but she preferred to send me here. I would like to say that Fatui seeks an alliance too. Yet don't see it as a friendship request. Our bonds will fall when our enemy is defeated. My children will explain the situation to other archons too. Yet I wonder what type of enemy we have...

And another argument began. With Arlechino and Fatui at their side, Nahida and Paimon felt a bit relief but it was only beginning...

-You are getting tired already? I thought a powerful archon like you could last longer.

-That was only the beginning!

The battle between Zhongli and Neroth was going on harshly. It was obvious Neroth was holding the advantage. But Zhongli had a huge determination to fight against him.

-Fine then, you wanted it.

Suddenly a small stone appeared from the ground. Came towards Neroth, seeking to pierce through his body. He was able to dodge but he realized that the rock was sharpened with magic.

-So you are changing plans. How rude of you...

Neroth said with a humiliating hint in his voice. But the ground around him was breaking and hundreds of stones and even small rocks appeared around him, and started to go towards him with an incredible speed.

-Impressive...

Neroth spun his scythe over his head, creating a black flame around him again which made every stone and rock scatter into the air. Then all fire started to gather in his palm preparing for an attack. In milliseconds black flame suddenly launched from his hand, going towards Zhongli. Zhongli was able to realize it and raised another pillar to lower its speed. But unlike the assumed, instead of destroying the pillar and slowing down, flames suddenly shattered into air when it crushed to pillar.

-You had a nice way of using your magic, I wonder if I can have a try too.

This time Zhongli was the target of hundreds of small flame parts. But he was still calm and collected.

-I knew you do like to steal techniques. Yet I didn't think that you would steal even how I use my skills. Yet it won't be enough to take me down.

While flames were coming towards him, Zhongli murmured the word "Solidify" . And an unbreakable geo shield appeared around him. Nullifying flames that were coming towards him.

-I see, so that was one of your cards. But you know it won't last long...

Neroth grasped his scythe more, charging to make a strong attack. Zhongli was about to prepare for a strong hit but with a blink of his eye, Neroth was in front of him and already landed the strike. Luckily Zhongli's shield did protect him but with attacks power, it shattered completely.

They both tried to land another attack, where their weapons clashed and sent both of them back with its effects.

-Are you sure that's how it works?

Cyno asked with an annoyed voice, he seemed like he was bored of waiting for Tighnari.

-Give me a little more timeee, and done! Try to switch that lever up Aether it should work now.

Aether who was listening to them reached for the lever and tried to pull it up. Lever was rusty and he had to use some power but he did it. Though, nothing seems to happen in robot.

-Nothing... Happened-?

-AAGH! I HAD ENOUGH OF IT!

With Cyno's outrage, he hit the power source with his electro-vision, sparking the first energy needed by the robot.

-Cyno..... I hate your luck.

Cyno smirked with a victorious face. Energy sparks go through the robot's body, reaching its control room.

-Now someone needs to target him, Aether I trust you for this.

-Okay... Be careful then, It's going to be a bumpy ride!

The giant ruin guard put its hands on the ground to get up from the ground in Aether's lead. Its legs were underground and unuseable which made it harder for Aether, but all it took was one hit for him. So he gave his all focus, turned the laser of ruinguard towards the battle. Looking for a moment of calmness where he will be sure to not hit Zhongli.

After a minute another clash of their weapons happened which sent both of them back. And Aether saw that Neroth started to talk to Zhongli again, at that moment Aether fired the laser with all his focus, hoping it would affect Neroth.

-Give up, Zhongli. This is a fight you can't w-

At that moment Neroth saw the incoming laser. He lifted his right arm to block and it all gone dusty when the laser landed. A huge explosion came with a laser's effect and dust took time to settle. Zhongli wasn't waiting for him to be dead of course. But he was hoping that laser weakened him a bit.

Aether, Cyno, and Tighnari didn't have time to see the explosion. The moment they launched the laser, the ruin guard already started to malfunction and its huge body started to fall slowly. Their visions helped them to get them out but they couldn't help Zhongli anymore...

When finally dust was settled, Neroth's figure was still there. But something hopeful to Zhongli seemed to happen. Neroth's right arm was destroyed completely! Seems like that powerful laser was enough to deal him damage! Zhongli finally saw a way to win this fight, but his hopes were interrupted by Neroth's cold voice...

-You are powerful... Yet you are trusting your "borrowed powers" so much.

Then Neroth's arm started to regen with a black liquid like the one he used to fight. It can be seen with every nerve, every blood vessel growing back and taking its color from black liquid. Creating a new arm that's completely the same as the previous one...

-No... No type of Archon had this level of regeneration! What type of monster are you..?

Zhongli murmured... He was still holding his position but his eyes showed a bit of fear now. Then Neroth started to talk calmly again.

-The difference between you and me is simple. You are chosen to control an element. An element that was already existing. I am born with the element. Born to be with hate.

With those words, Neroth charged up to Zhongli. This time he didn't even use his scythe, he was going with his bare hands.

-You are getting too excited...

Zhongli murmured again, clearly not backing away. He took advantage of his lack of focus and suddenly raised a column under him sending Neroth flying.

-You have asked me about what would I do if I took your feet off from ground right?

He threw his spear as fast as possible towards Neroth. Even if Neroth was able to block it Zhongli ordered his spear to make a move and the spear suddenly pushed Neroth toward the ground, crashing Neroth to the ground with all its strength. Another dust cloud came up but Neroth was starting to get bored of this. He swung his hand carelessly, causing dust to settle. There were no visible signs of wounds on his body...

Zhongli was filled with determination to take him down though. When Neroth looked at the sky, he saw Zhongli, standing there and preparing for one of his last attacks. Giving his all to a single attack... Neroth's eyes were still composed though.

-You are brave Archon of Geo, I will remember your name...

Neroth stepped on the ground and that corruption-like liquid started to spread through the sands, covering almost everything on the ground. While Zhongli had huge spears above him, ready to strike towards Neroth. Those spears were so big that even Sumeru people could see them from so far away.

-That attack...

Aether was looking towards the fight, they had already started to back away from the battlefield since they couldn't do anything to help Zhongli anymore. But Aether remembered that attack. That legendary attack which defeated Osial in one shot who was known as the Overlord of the Vortex...

-WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR AETHER WE HAVE TO LEAVE! QUICK!

Cyno rushed before him, taking his arm and trying to get out of the range of this attack clash.

-But we have to end this fun here. Sorry, I am not sure if you can consider sand as Geo. But let me show you the true extent of geo power.

Neroth murmured, and huge black tentacle-like structures appeared from "corrupted sand", rising towards Zhongli. Two huge attacks clashed in the air, causing a huge shockwave that was enough to shake the ground even in Sumeru.

But Zhongli wasn't going to give up that easily. While spears were dropping down towards Neroth like rain, he rushed among spears and started to slide between tentacles, dodging them one by one. Neroth summoned his scythe one last time, ready to clash weapons with Zhongli one last time. Finally, Zhongli has reached to Neroth and screamed.

-DIE...

Their blades have clashed with one last huge explosion... Sending everything to dust...

...

...

They both were still standing. But Zhongli was tired from all this fight... Seeing that Neroth survived even that type of attack, he didn't want to try his chance again.

-You bleed, so you can be killed...

Zhongli said. But Neroth wasn't even out of breath...

-I bleed because I allowed to, because I wanted you to see.

Zhongli couldn't believe his ears, but the time for his withdrawal had already come. He lifted his spear one last time. And stabbed the ground with it. A huge sand wall circled Neroth supported by a sand storm. Neroth was waiting for him to leave... Letting him escape.

After a few minutes, the dust has settled. And Zhongli was nowhere to be seen... Neroth started to walk and thought to himself.

-Yeah, seems like sand is Geo too in a way...