"Ha! And I thought it was impressive on the outside!"
Paimon's eyes glittered. "Maybe they wouldn't notice if just a few Mora went missing..."
Roxas glared at her. "Don't touch them. You wanna be on the run from the Millileth again?"
"Fair enough, fair enough. Paimon won't touch any."
"Keep in mind why we're here," Roxas chided. "We've gotta check on the Exuvia, and make sure they haven't gotten to it yet..."
Paimon nodded, understanding what he meant. "It's quiet...too quiet."
"I know," said Roxas. He summoned his Keyblades.
The Exuvia was a sort of snowglobe, around which the motionless body of Rex Lapis spiraled. Roxas approached with caution and with Oathkeeper and Oblivion at the ready.
He stopped before the Exuvia.
"Roxas, look over there!" Paimon pointed. "The Millileth! They've been knocked out!"
"You're still here," said a familiar voice. "You've already done what you needed to do. Haven't you caused enough trouble?"
Roxas whirled around to see none other than Childe approaching. He gritted his teeth. "Childe. I knew it was you all along, you soulless ginger."
Childe sighed. "If you were one of us, you'd be entitled to a great reward from the Tsaritsa herself. But now, you're useless. And you're in my way."
A Corridor of Darkness appeared behind Childe. Braig emerged.
"You, too?" Roxas seethed.
Braig laughed. "Thanks for the not-so-anonymous tip on the Exuvia! But don't you think that you're just delaying what's bound to happen at this point?"
Childe glared at Braig. "You stay out of this. If Roxas survives here, you're free to hunt him down. But this...this is personal."
Braig glared back. "C'mon, ginger boy! You know he and I have history!"
"And you know that I outrank you," said Childe. "Leave. That's an order."
Braig sighed, leaving through a Corridor of Darkness.
Childe laughed. "Stopping the mints, hiding the Exuvia...guess the Qixing went and pulled out all the stops."
"You're after the Gnosis," Roxas deduced. "Is that it?"
"Well, as the eleventh of the eleven Fatui Harbingers," said Childe, "it's my duty to make sure that the Tsaritsa's will is fulfilled. She will get that which she desires, one way or another."
"Tell your Tsaritsa to shove it." Roxas pointed Oblivion at him.
"I'm not asking for your blessing," Childe retorted, "and it's not like there's anything you can do to stop me. The time for talking is over. I mean, hell, if I'd had it my way, we'd have skipped that stage altogether...but if the Tsaritsa deems it appropriate, I'll do whatever she asks. But either way, we're getting to my favorite part now. It's a simple pleasure, but it's one I've been dying to share with you. The battle."
"So you're a thrill-seeker, too," Roxas laughed.
"You could say that," said Childe. "But regardless, when Signora and Braig did their whole sacrilege thing outside the cathedral in Mondstadt, they just left the scene quietly. Instead of confronting you directly, they hindered you from following them and fled the scene. Like cowards. I know you could've followed them, by the way. I know what those coats you and Braig wear are for."
"Yeah, well, There's a fine line between bravery and stupidity. Signora was just choosing not to make a scene."
"She was," said Childe. "When Signora faces a worthy opponent, she prioritizes her mission, weighs the outcomes, and considers the consequences...but as for me, the greatest pleasure of being a Harbinger lies in the thrill of crossing blades with strong opponents."
"News flash," Roxas seethed. "What happened in Mondstadt - it's not happening here."
Childe laughed. "Oh, so you are a thrill-seeker! Good. But don't worry...I won't kill you. I'll just play along...after all, I'm here for the thrill. Even so...you'd never defeat me. Not even in your wildest dreams, no matter how powerful those little Keyblades of yours are. But hey, try to enjoy yourself. What else can you do?"
"You know, Childe," said Roxas, "the problem with you is...you're completely delusional."
Childe laughed. "Ooh, the fight talk! Love it! But the question is...can you live up to it?"
BGM: Sinister Shadows - Kingdom Hearts 2.5 ReMix
Blades of water met those of light and darkness as the Harbinger dueled the Keyblade Wielder.
"This opportunity is hard to come by, ya know!" Childe said as he unleashed waves of water from his bow. "So don't you dare hold back!"
"Like I'd plan on it!" Roxas sent his XIII Beams at his opponent.
Childe darted away in a burst of water. "Celestial Voyager!"
A watery apparition of a gargantuan narwhal leaped from the floor in a burst of waves. It dove towards Roxas.
Roxas shot out of the way with a beam of alabaster light. He bolted towards Childe and let loose an aerial flurry.
Childe let off another barrage of water arrows.
Roxas dodged. "Come on!" He hovered into the air and unleashed Magic Hour - a barrage of meteors made of glowing white light.
Childe staggered back. "Not bad..." he said in a strained voice. "Guess it's time I do this!"
With a burst of Electro, Childe's mask covered his face as his clothes darkened.
"No wonder Signora was so wary of you!" Childe laughed as he locked blades with Roxas.
A blast of Electro sent Roxas flying. Childe leaped at him. The two Electro blades became a single, double-bladed Electro polearm.
Roxas pushed off the wall. He barely avoided what would've likely been a killing blow.
End BGM
Both combatants staggered back.
Childe laughed. "Not bad, Roxas. Your swordsmanship is impressive, to say the least. But...that's as far as you're gonna get."
Childe lunged with his Electro polearm. Roxas barely raised his right hand, blocking with an orb of white light. "Ngh!"
Roxas swept his leg. A burst of darkness erupted beneath Childe's feet, knocking him away.
The Harbinger was gone. Roxas turned around. Childe stood atop the Exuvia, his hand upon the body of Rex Lapis.
"Why you little-!"
"Hahaha! So you really are a wielder of both light and darkness."
"You were just playing us to get to the Exuvia!" Paimon exclaimed.
"Shut up," Childe scoffed. "You've seen how this world works...you of all people should know that this was inevitable!"
Childe shoved his hand into Rex Lapis's body. "I'll be taking Morax's Gnosis now, thanks!"
He pulled back his arm. He opened his hand.
Nothing.
Childe laughed. "Well, that's a twist, isn't it? You...Roxas, you beat me to it, didn't you!?"
Childe lunged forward. Roxas barely dodged a choke-slam.
Childe's body hovered as Electro crackled and Hydro swirled. The Harbinger began coating himself in armor.
Tartaglia, the Eleventh Harbinger, had revealed himself.
"Not bad," said Tartaglia. "But...this is gonna cost you!"
BGM: L'Impeto Oscuro - Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
He slammed his Electro spear into the floor, shattering it. Roxas fell to the basement of the Golden House.
"YOU GOT TO THE GNOSIS AHEAD OF ME, DIDN'T YOU!?" Childe's - Tartaglia's - voice had become demonic as he descended to meet Roxas.
The Harbinger swung his polearm. Roxas dodged. He summoned Oathkeeper and Oblivion. "DID YOU JUST OUTRUN ME? OR DID YOU INTENTIONALLY LET THE EXUVIA'S LOCATION SLIP!?"
"Keep your privates in your own pants!" Roxas quipped. "That's none of your business!"
"NO MATTER." Tartaglia went for a rapid attack rush. Roxas blocked. "JUST HAND IT OVER AND I WON'T HAVE TO TAKE IT FROM YOU BY FORCE."
But I didn't take it! Roxas's mind raced.
Tartaglia unleashed a barrage of compressed water arcs in all directions. Roxas leaped overhead, slashing at the Harbinger's scalp before jumping up again and letting loose his XIII Emblems. The Emblems covered Roxas's advance, staggering Tartaglia to give Roxas an opening. The former Nobody seized that opening and started laying in.
"NGH! HAHAHA...CLEVER BASTARD. BUT TRY AND DODGE THIS!"
Tartaglia sent down a torrent of Hydro arrows, nearly covering the entire basement floor. Roxas cast Reflega just in time, sending the arrows to whence they'd come - that is, right into Tartaglia.
The Harbinger was left wide open for Roxas to let loose with all his might.
End BGM
Tartaglia, now restored to his normal human form, fell to the floor, panting. "Ngh...! Guess it's time to cool off. Should've thought twice before whipping out Foul Legacy...needed to think things through...and now that I can do that...Roxas, you never really did beat me to the Gnosis, didn't you?"
"I don't even know where it is."
"You didn't," said Tartaglia, "and your show of skill today is much greater than what Signora and Braig said about you after Mondstadt. ...How can that be?"
...My heart? Roxas wondered.
"You already know the answer, don't you?" Tartaglia staggered to his feet. "I can see it. But if you wanna keep a secret...I'll curb my curiosity. Besides, our battle has already satisfied me. Anyone who strives to grow stronger the same way I do - they're a friend. Even if that means our friendship can only be strengthened through the crossing of blades."
"Last Paimon checked, that wasn't how you're supposed to make friends," said Paimon.
"I'd hate to cut this conversation short," said Tartaglia, "but my quest beckons me. Given I don't know the whereabouts of the Gnosis, I've thought back to the beginning of it all. Maybe it was never in the Exuvia to begin with. Maybe the Exuvia was a trap altogether."
"What?" said Paimon. "Does that mean..."
Roxas finished for her, "Rex Lapis is alive?"
"It appears so," replied Tartaglia. "An interesting turn of events, to say the least. I guess the guardian deity of Teyvat's capital of commerce is also skilled in...other things besides contracts. As such...it's time for Plan B." He sighed. "I'd hoped it wouldn't come to this. After all, if there's one thing I despise more than any other, it's having to work with those weaker than I. The truth is, the world only belongs to those of us who desire to become strong. I don't willingly mingle with any dull weaklings who think otherwise."
"Then you might not wanna mingle with me," Roxas muttered.
Tartaglia ignored him. "But sadly, we Harbingers can't be picky about our methods. Kids have all gotta learn to eat their veggies at some point."
"Then what's your big plan?" said Paimon.
Tartaglia straightened himself. "I will awaken the god that lies beneath Guyun Stone Forest."
Guyun Stone Forest... Roxas remembered Ningguang telling him of its origin.
"That god is Osial, Overlord of the Vortex," Tartaglia continued. "He was defeated by Morax during the Archon War, pinned beneath the waves by pillars turned into spears. There he has remained ever since...but that'll soon change. If such a god were released upon Liyue Harbor without the Geo Archon to retaliate...I'm guessing you can already imagine the destruction."
"And how exactly do you plan on getting a whole god to listen to you and your funny accent?"
"Simple," said Tartaglia. "I've already prepared the means to awaken it." He produced something from his pocket - several familiar talismans.
"Sigils of Permission!" Paimon exclaimed.
"So that's why you and your kind were researching them," said Roxas. "You really were trying to copy it, weren't you?"
"That we were," said Tartaglia, "and the one I gave to you was just a by-product. With the power of all these Sigils in one place...along with my own power, which our Tsaritsa bestowed upon me...freeing Osial will be no problem at all. It's a shame that I have to go against my principles...but doing so will not only force the Geo Archon to show his hand...but you, too."
Tartaglia laughed. "Will the now-godless nation of Liyue be swallowed up by an ancient god? If you want to drown with Liyue, feel free to stay and enjoy the show!"
He disappeared in a blast of water.
Roxas didn't hesitate in summoning his Naught Glider and soaring out of the Golden House.