35: Anemo Hypostasis — Beth

"Anemo Hypostasis has a wide range of abilities, so I won't go over every single one," Lin Yi explained as the group made their way up the hill. "But you need to remember a few key points."

He turned his head slightly, speaking as he walked.

"All elemental hypostases share a trait: their core is protected by inert cubes. Attacks on those cubes are ineffective—you can only damage them by hitting the core directly. This goes for Anemo, Electro, and any others."

Paimon quickly raised a hand in alarm.

"But what if it just hides behind those cubes the whole time? Wouldn't it be invincible then?!"

Lumine and Barbara both nodded.

That sounded like a nightmare boss—indestructible, constantly attacking.

Saphir chuckled, tugged Paimon over with one hand, and gave her cheeks a firm squeeze.

"Hypostases always expose their cores when they attack. They're mindless—every time they fight, they burn through all their power and reveal a moment of weakness. That's your opening."

"Mrmmf! #&%$!"

Paimon flailed indignantly as she squirmed out of Saphir's grasp and floated away.

"No pinching my face! I'm serious!"

Absolutely no one took the warning seriously.

So of course, Saphir pulled her back and started pinching again.

"Get used to it, little one. You and I are the audience today."

As Saphir continued her "gentle torment," her smile blossomed with genuine warmth—so dazzling that even Lumine stared in surprise.

It was beautiful.

…Though for Paimon, that smile was pure evil.

Soon, they reached the battle arena: a wide, stone platform.

Suspended in the center was a dormant emerald cube.

[Target Identified: Anemo Hypostasis (Beth)]

Level: 26

HP: 35,000

Skills: Unknown

Status: Standby

Lines of data streamed across Lin Yi's vision.

"Thirty-five thousand HP—not bad. It's about what I expected at this level," Lin Yi said calmly, then turned to check on the others:

[Name: Lumine]

Level: 7

HP: 1,341

Skills: Palm Vortex, Gust Surge

Constellation: Traveler

[Name: Barbara]

Level: 5

HP: 1,052

Skills: Let the Show Begin, Shining Miracle

Constellation: Crater

[Name: Noelle]

Level: 17

HP: 2,282

Skills: Breastplate, Sweeping Time

Constellation: Parma Cordis

After a full morning of battle, both Lumine and Barbara had leveled up.

Noelle, having trained previously, had gained less—but she was still the strongest among them.

Lin Yi's own level, however, remained stuck at 20.

No matter how many times he tried to break through, a strange force blocked him.

He knew it was World Level Suppression.

Only the Archons and perhaps one particular monster beside him—Saphir—could ignore that.

"In the fight, Noelle, you shield Barbara. Barbara, prioritize dodging and keep healing. Follow my lead," Lin Yi instructed.

Just to be safe, he glanced at Saphir.

She gave him a small nod—barely noticeable—and quietly cast Guardian's Blessing on Noelle and Barbara.

Satisfied, Lin Yi extended his right hand.

In a swirl of shadows, a sleek black longsword materialized.

Saphir's eyes narrowed.

"Well, well… the Black Sword?"

Paimon, now slumped in Saphir's arms like a deflated plush toy, looked up in confusion.

"The Black Sword? That one Lin Yi's using? It doesn't look that special…"

Saphir kept her eyes on Lin Yi.

"That sword has no other name—just The Black Sword. It's a cursed weapon. It absorbs the life force of anything it strikes. Even elemental beings aren't immune."

Lumine blinked.

She'd always used the Dull Blade and assumed swords were mostly about looks. She couldn't help but feel a little jealous.

Seeing her expression, Saphir continued,

"But its power comes with a cost. The sword feeds on bloodshed. If the wielder lacks willpower, it consumes them—reduces them to a mindless killer."

"Then isn't that dangerous for Lin Yi?"

Paimon's voice trembled with worry.

Saphir shook her head.

"He'll be fine. He's strong enough to control it."

Meanwhile, Lin Yi and the other two had stepped into the arena.

The cube stirred.

Wind gathered.

The Anemo Hypostasis—Beth—rose into the air, a glow of pure elemental energy swirling around it.

Its defenses activated.

"Stay sharp! Don't get hit!" Lin Yi shouted, raising his sword.

"Yanling: Coagulate."

The wind suddenly… stopped.

Everyone froze in shock.

The Anemo Hypostasis—the very embodiment of wind—was forcibly muted.

Lumine's eyes widened.

"He stopped the wind? Just… like that? Is that one of his Elemental Skills?"

Saphir shook her head gravely.

"No. Yanling: Coagulate isn't a skill—it's a law. Lin Yi altered the very nature of the air around the Hypostasis. He's cut it off from its element."

Her tone shifted—this wasn't just admiration anymore.

For the first time, she realized: Lin Yi could pose a threat… even to the Fatui.

Sword in hand, Lin Yi charged.

His blade struck the shielded core, but the Hypostasis spun away, vanishing into mist and reappearing in front of Noelle.

Immediately, Noelle activated Breastplate and stood tall between it and Barbara.

"Barbara, fall back!" she shouted.

Barbara didn't hesitate and retreated, giving Noelle room.

The Hypostasis morphed—its outer blocks forming two massive panels, like doors slamming shut.

WHAM!

The impact sent shockwaves across the arena.

Even with her shield, Noelle staggered back, her armor shimmering with strain—but she held.

The core was exposed.

Lin Yi wasted no time.

"Now! Hit the core before it recovers!"

Noelle nodded, raising her sword.

"Time to clean up!"

Golden light surged around her greatsword—it elongated, widened. She spun and slashed with practiced grace, combining raw power with elegant momentum.

Her movements had a kind of violent beauty.

For a moment, Noelle was glad her Geo Vision was so different from Anemo.

She didn't have to worry about elemental resistance like Lumine.

She focused only on one thing: cutting down the enemy.

Barbara joined in too, casting Let the Show Begin and attacking with her Hydro catalyst.

Her damage was low, but every bit helped.

You never know when a tiny blow will tip the scales.

And Lin Yi?

He hurled the Black Sword—straight into the Hypostasis core.

A horrible cry echoed from the elemental being…

And then—a fourth figure appeared.

Saphir's eyes widened.

A gloved hand grabbed the sword's hilt and pulled it free.

"Swift as lightning!"

The newcomer threw a Thunder Mark and drew their blade.

"With blade in hand, I carve the heavens—begone, all impurities!"

A dozen bolts of lightning exploded across the core.

Starshatter—Yuheng of Liyue, Keqing.

She landed, activated the Thunder Mark—

"Hah!"

A massive bolt cleaved downward, causing massive damage to the Hypostasis core.

As the final crack of thunder faded, the silhouette vanished.

The Black Sword reappeared in Lin Yi's hand.

Everyone stared in awe.

"What the hell was that?"

"Some kind of ultimate summon?"

"A chaos-grade secret art? The trump card of the Yuheng Star—Keqing?!"

Saphir: 😳

Lumine: 😲

Paimon: 🤯

Lin Yi: 😌

"And that's just the warm-up."

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