Genshin Impact, I'm Slime

"Cheer... if this keeps up... chewer... that kid Chongyun... is definitely doomed."

On the viewing platform of the arena, Famas leaned comfortably against the railing, holding a large bag of freshly bought crispy dried fruit in his hand. He munched on the fruit with relish while giving incoherent comments on the battle on the arena below.

Beside him, Paimon was even busier, the little guy holding a string of hawthorn gourds coated with glistening sugar high in his right hand, while his left hand tightly gripped a mozzarella meat pie that had been bitten off halfway, revealing its tempting filling.

Paimon's little mouth was stuffed full, like a greedy squirrel, chewing diligently. Hearing Famas's words, he could only nod frantically, squeezing out muffled sounds of agreement from deep in his throat:
"Mmm...uh...of course...mmm..."

The two of them, one chewing loudly and the other mumbling incoherently, made sounds that blended together like some kind of encrypted otherworldly language.

If there were other people around, they probably wouldn't be able to understand a single word, but these two clowns can communicate exceptionally smoothly, even engaging in in-depth discussions about the battle situation.

This scene made the traveler next to him put his hand to his forehead, looking helpless and unable to bear to watch.

What amused and exasperated the traveler even more was that, despite the fact that the two were uttering syllables that were completely incomprehensible, she was able to miraculously understand what they were trying to say.

This strange tacit understanding...

The traveler sighed silently in his heart, but the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up slightly.

Indeed, some things are etched into one's bones, and time and distance cannot erase them.

As for Famas's comment that Chongyun couldn't defeat him, the Traveler felt nothing, and even wanted to roll his eyes.

nonsense!

This is a classic example of Famas having his mouth stuffed full and still trying to find something to say. Even if... let's assume that Chongyun really did have divine assistance and miraculously broke through Zhongli's indestructible jade shield.

So what?

Could it be that by breaking the shield, Chongyun would be able to defeat the Martial God who stands at the pinnacle of the mortal world?
This thought instantly evoked an incredibly clear memory in the traveler's mind: when she was carried by the winter wind, protecting Dvalin, breaking through the clouds and reaching the highest heavens, she glimpsed a battlefield that made the world pale in comparison.

Especially Zhongli's pair of bright, golden eyes, which suddenly opened during the fierce battle, were like two condensed ancient star rivers.

The light was pure, vast, and majestic, carrying a divine radiance that sent shivers down one's spine; mortals simply could not look directly at it.

Or rather, the power of the gods is like a prison or an abyss, how could mortals possibly desecrate it?

"Ugh, crunch crunch... Ying."

FAMAS's indistinct voice, accompanied by the crisp sound of the snacks being crushed, forcefully squeezed into the edge of the traveler's highly concentrated thoughts.

"Do you want to see Chongyun... crunch... smash Zhongli's tortoise shell?"

As Famas asked, he shook the greasy snack bag in his hand to make sure the last crumb had slipped into his mouth. Then, he smacked his lips with lingering satisfaction and crumpled the empty bag into a ball.

The boy's eyes gleamed with a mischievous light as he looked intently at the blonde girl beside him, who was watching with unwavering focus. His face was full of anticipation.

"Ok?"

The traveler looked up blankly, briefly pulled from her reverie. Her amber eyes still held the subtle analysis of a particular move she had just observed, and her focus was somewhat unfocused on Famas's face, which was full of eager anticipation.

The girl's attention was not on Famas at all, and she didn't even hear what he mumbled with his mouth full of food.

The traveler's left hand gripped a worn-out adventurer's handbook, while his right hand held a charcoal pencil, scribbling rapidly on the pages.

Just now, her gaze swept rapidly between Zhongli and Chongyun, who were engaged in fierce combat, capturing every minute detail of their movements, the trajectory of their elemental energy flow, and the flaws in their attacks... although she could find almost nothing in Zhongli.

The pen tip scratches across the paper with a soft rustling sound, accompanied by the occasional furrowed brow of a traveler in thought.

Great adventurers often have this habit: they will record in detail any new and interesting things, powerful opponents, or exquisite skills they encounter on their journeys.

This was not only to accumulate knowledge, but also to have a better chance of success in future perils. At this moment, the Traveler was completely focused on fulfilling this duty, trying to preserve the Rock God's near-perfect defensive stance and Chongyun's all-out ice magic as detailed as possible on paper. Because the Traveler was so focused, Famas's earlier chatter, interspersed with chewing sounds, was nothing more than blurry background noise to her.

Hearing Famas seemingly asking him something, the Traveler subconsciously and absentmindedly responded with two "uh-huhs," his gaze not even completely leaving the arena, his charcoal pencil still instinctively sketching the flowing rock patterns on Zhongli's shield.

To Famas, those two perfunctory responses sounded like absolute affirmation and fervent anticipation.

"Alright! Watch closely!"

Famas' spirits lifted, as if he had received a great encouragement. He rubbed his fingers together and a smile that was a mixture of excitement and mischief appeared on his face. His eyes were instantly fixed on the arena below.

At this moment, Chongyun is launching a new and fierce attack.

With a shout, the young Fang Shiqing rapidly condensed ice elemental power in front of him, transforming into three giant ice blades that gleamed with a chilling light and were incomparably sharp.

Guided by the sword technique, the three ice blades, accompanied by a piercing shriek that tore through the air, formed a triangular shape and slashed fiercely at the seemingly indestructible jade shield in front of Zhongli with overwhelming force.

Wherever the ice blade passed, fine frost flowers condensed in the air, creating a terrifying sight.

Zhongli remained standing still, his hands behind his back, his eyes calm and unwavering.

The jade shield shimmered with a warm, ever-flowing light, like an ancient rock, ready to once again obliterate the raging power of ice.

Just as the tip of the largest ice blade was about to touch the jade-like light flowing across the shield's surface, a split second passed.

FAMAS snapped his two fingers, which were poised to strike, with an extremely crisp sound and an indescribable rhythm in the air.

"clatter!"

The sound wasn't loud; it was almost immediately drowned out by the clamor of the audience and the piercing whistling of the ice blades cutting through the air.

But at the very moment the fingers snapped.

A subtle, almost imperceptible force adhered to the sharpness of the Chongyun Ice Blade.

"Crack!"

The sound of the explosion, as if the finest glass had been crushed by a tremendous force, resounded abruptly throughout the entire Jade Capital Terrace.

The jade shield around Zhongli, which flowed ceaselessly and remained as steady as a rock, was struck precisely from the inside by a giant hammer. Countless spiderweb-like cracks instantly covered the entire surface of the shield, and the warm jade-colored light flickered wildly and uncertainly within the cracks.

"Splash splash splash!!!"

Then came the cataclysmic destruction. The jade-colored barrier, which had withstood countless full-force attacks from Chongyun and remained indestructible, disintegrated before everyone's eyes as Chongyun's ice blade struck down. It shattered into countless shimmering fragments of rock element, which fell in a flurry and vanished into the air in an instant.

On the arena, Zhongli, who had been as still as a pond, had his golden eyes, which had been as calm as an ancient well, contract slightly the instant the shield shattered.

The resolute expression on Chongyun's face, which had just been filled with all his might when he unleashed that sword strike, was instantly replaced by disbelief and astonishment.

The young sorcerer's spirit blade lost its footing due to the sudden disappearance of its target. With tremendous inertia, it narrowly missed Zhongli's side and crashed heavily onto the jade floor of the arena, sending up a cloud of ice shards.

The entire bustling Yujingtai seemed to have been put on pause.

The cheers that had been erupting in the audience just moments before for Chongyun's earth-shattering attack were now stuck in their throats.

Those martial artists who were originally certain that Zhongli's shield was indestructible suddenly widened their eyes, their faces filled with disbelief.

Paimon let out a scream in fright, and the traveler's charcoal pencil drew a long, out-of-control mark on the adventurer's handbook.

Yingmei lowered her head, her eyes fixed on Zhongli, who had suddenly lost his barrier and stood alone in the center of the icy storm on the arena. Then, she abruptly turned to Famas beside her, whose face wore a smug expression, her focused attention replaced by helplessness. (End of Chapter)