Omniscius II [Genshin Impact]

72: A Point Where None Converges

Kokomi stumbled with a yelp when the portal spat her out. She raised her head, a small gasp escaping her lips.

"This place..." she muttered. Soleil looked behind her and frowned displeasingly.

"Oh, you're a stubborn one. When will you leave me alone?" she said irritably. But Kokomi could not hear her.

Her gaze stuck to what she saw before her. A sea of thunderstorms and clouds rolled beneath them, stretching out into the horizon with no hopes of ending.

They stood atop a platform of jarred rocks held together by networks of sparking lightning. Above them was an inverted crater, hovering above them like a destroyed chandelier.

It was a familiar sight but it was also foreign. Kokomi was appalled.

"How... How in the world is this place upside down?" she muttered. This place was exactly like Amakumo Peak, but inverted eerily.

Soleil adjusted to the view, having been to many places like this one before. But seeing Kokomi's ghastly reaction, she could only shake her head.

"You shouldn't have followed me," Soleil said, "Go back, Kokomi."

"I will not," Kokomi replied. "I wasn't asking," Soleil turned to her with a sharp look in her eyes, "Go back."

Kokomi met her stare just as fiercely, "No."

"So be it. I will just have to force you out instead," Soleil stated seriously, "You're a healer, Kokomi. You don't stand a chance."

Kokomi summoned her catalyst and positioned herself with a firm stare, "Don't underestimate me."

Soleil stared at her observantly. She harrumphed and slid one foot back, lowering her body and ready to pounce.

"What a joke," she snorted and shot forward like a bullet, leaping in the air.

Kokomi met her straight on as Soleil performed a roundhouse kick, only to be blocked by an arc of water.

Kokomi's Hydro Vision glowed ardently. Soleil doubled down by following up with another kick, forcing Kokomi to jump back and cast out two water jets in retaliation.

Soleil summoned her bronze fan and slashed it against each water jet, dispersing them into small splatters and bubbles.

"Hah!" Kokomi raised her hand, causing water to converge beneath Soleil, who jumped upward and twirled mid-air, avoiding the ribbons of water trying to strike her.

Soleil let her hand be touched by the water, causing it to turn into dust. Soleil slammed a kick towards it, blowing the dust towards Kokomi.

The Divine Priestess encased herself in a water bubble, letting the dust rush past her. Her eyes widened when Soleil emerged from the dusty smokescreen and swiftly sliced her battle fan against her shield.

The bubble erupted in a splash, soaking Soleil's coat. She stood up when Kokomi disappeared from her sight, only to reappear behind her mid-air.

Kokomi's body was enveloped by a ceremonial robe made from translucent water, and it floated behind her as if it were her very own halo.

Waters converged nearby as she gestured with a hand. Soleil looked up at her, snapping her fan shut.

"That's cheating," she pointed at her airborne figure. "Soleil...I implore you to stop chasing this destructive goal of yours," Kokomi said with creased eyebrows.

"Here we go again... You really don't take 'no' for an answer, do you?" Soleil snorted, "This doesn't concern you."

"It concerns me just as the next person does! Soleil, you're...you're trying to provoke the gods with every single thing you do! You've desecrated the secrets of the divine in your search for knowledge and you're about to do it again," Kokomi frowned.