Chapter 32: A Small Demonstration of Skill

Setting aside her minor obsession with the [Cleansing Spell], Celeste immersed her entire focus into the changes rippling through her body.

She twirled the pink staff in her hand, the movement as smooth and swift as ever, yet something fundamental felt different.

It wasn’t a simple increase in strength or a boost in speed.

This was a more deep, qualitative evolution.

She could now clearly perceive the world around her with each motion.

As she swung the staff, the surrounding airflow was no longer a source of resistance; instead, it felt as if it were being guided, commanded by a unique rhythm she now controlled.

Every channel of power circulating within her, every ounce of ‘momentum’ gathering at the tip of her weapon—it was all as clear and distinct as the lines on her palm.

The staff sliced through the air.

The sound was no longer a sharp, crisp whistle, but a dull, heavy thrum that carried the weight of shattering stone.

Involuntarily, the explosively shameful scenes from the previous day surged into her mind.

That dignified, black Rex Lapis robe.

That vast, immovable, mountain-like aura of majesty.

And that… “I will have order!”—a line that, even now, made her toes curl so hard inside her shoes she felt she could dig out a new foundation for Liyue Harbor.

An absurd guess began to form in her heart.

‘Could it be… because Zhongli’s title is the “God of Martial Arts,” that even a single cosplay session gave me an intangible bonus to my spear intent?’ The thought sent her mood into a tailspin.

On one hand, the excruciating price of social death had actually yielded tangible, powerful benefits.

But on the other hand… the source of this power was just too damn shameful!

Gaining insight into the Spear Intent of Rock by transforming into a female version of Rex Lapis?

If she ever said that out loud, people would either think she was a lunatic or suffering from a terminal case of eighth-grade syndrome.

She’d have to sit at the same table as Fischl during mealtimes.

‘If I want to get stronger in the future, does that mean I have to go on a touring cosplay circuit at anime conventions to unlock new skills?’ [Ding!

Detected that the Host has successfully comprehended “Spear Intent of Rock (Rudimentary Form)”!

It seems social death is not only a source of joy but also a catalyst for power.

╮(￣▽￣)╭] Celeste’s eye twitched.

“…” ‘Shut up!

Can I please refuse this catalyst!’ She forcibly suppressed the urge to flame the system, focusing her mind instead on integrating this mysterious “intent” into the most basic forms of the Thousand Rock Spearmanship.

She executed a plain, unremarkable straight thrust.

The power was highly concentrated at the tip of the staff, and the sound of it breaking the air grew even duller.

Where the weapon passed, the very air seemed to be crushed into a viscous state, carrying an immense, crushing force.

Next, a simple sweep.

The trajectory was still sharp and swift, but it now possessed the unyielding aura of a great stone that stood firm against any wind or rain.

“Sis, your spearmanship… it seems to have gotten stronger again?” Selene’s voice drifted over from the side.

She had accurately perceived the shift in her sister’s presence.

Even though Celeste was still holding that ridiculously girlish pink staff, her stance now exuded a heavy, majestic aura, like a lone warrior guarding a mountain pass against ten thousand foes.

It was an intimidating pressure that made it hard to breathe.

“Mm, just had a few new insights,” Celeste replied vaguely, not daring to meet her sister’s eyes.

She couldn’t very well admit this power-up was the fruit of her recent, soul-crushing social death.

Just then, a violent rustling erupted from the bushes along the riverbank ahead.

A few Swamp Crocodile Lizards, each Lv.19, dragged their mud-caked, heavy bodies into the open.

Their crimson, slitted pupils instantly locked onto the pair of seemingly delicious prey.

“Just in time!” Selene’s eyes lit up, her face alight with battle fervor as she immediately snapped into a combat stance.

“This is the perfect chance to test the quality of my new shield!” Without even activating a skill, she planted her feet and held the shield, Immovable Mountain, steady before her, directly facing a lunging crocodile lizard.

The moment the beast’s snout slammed into the shield’s surface, she dipped her wrist slightly, precisely angling the shield to deflect the blow.

Bang!

Bang!

A series of dull thuds echoed out as two of the lizards collided with what might as well have been a mountain wall.

Selene used the momentum to take half a step back, her figure as steady as a boulder, having perfectly dissipated the impact.

The two crocodile lizards, however, reeled back as if they had just headbutted a cliff face.

Dazed by the terrifying rebound force, they stumbled away with mournful cries.

“The force dissipation is excellent, and the shock absorption is perfect!” she reported excitedly, already following through with a swing of the Light of Dawn in her other hand.

A milky-white arc of sword light flashed, easily tearing through the more fragile scales on one lizard’s neck.

Celeste, naturally, wasn’t about to stand idle.

This was the perfect opportunity to use these mindless beasts to verify the true power of her “social death legacy.” She raised the pink staff high and brought it down in a simple chopping motion.

The movement appeared slow, almost casual, but it carried a strange, penetrating force that landed precisely on the crown of another crocodile lizard’s head.

Puff!

It was a soft, wet sound, like a ripe watermelon being crushed.

The crocodile lizard’s skull seemed to be suppressed by an invisible mountain.

Its entire head was smashed violently into the ground, splashing up a shower of muddy water.

It twitched twice, then fell completely still.

The corpse appeared undamaged from the outside, but its intracranial tissues had been shattered by that supremely condensed force.

Its brain was now little more than pulverized mush.

“Huh?” Selene, while effortlessly blocking the bite of another lizard, turned her head to comment in surprise.

“Sis, that hit of yours… it felt so strange.” “It looked so light, but how was the power so ruthless?

And it didn’t even splash any blood?” Celeste looked down at the “clean” crocodile lizard corpse, the corners of her lips curling into a satisfied arc she couldn’t suppress.

She had deliberately controlled her strength, pouring all the thick, solid power of the “Spear Intent of Rock” directly into the target’s body to destroy it completely from the inside out.

This method not only ensured maximum killing efficiency but also avoided the annoyance of being spattered with gore after a fight.

“Mm, just some new insights,” she said, her tone much lighter now.

“It’s much cleaner this way, isn’t it?” After all, what girl who valued her appearance wanted to end up covered in blood and stench after every battle?

Being able to fight cleanly and efficiently was, in itself, a form of ultimate elegance.

Celeste thought happily that this “Spear Intent of Rock” not only possessed amazing power but also came with a hidden “keep clean” attribute.

It was a gift from the heavens.

‘This… can also be considered a harvest from social death, right?’ she silently added in her heart, feeling that the lingering shame didn’t seem quite so hard to accept anymore.

After easily dealing with the appetizers, the two sisters continued along the river.

Along the way, Selene had transformed into the most professional equipment reviewer imaginable, carefully testing every performance aspect of her new shield.

Celeste, meanwhile, was having the time of her life, constantly familiarizing herself with her newly awakened “Spear Intent of Rock.” She began to experiment, trying to fuse the stability and weight of the Rock Intent with the lightness and swiftness of her Wind’s Blessing.

Her combat style started to evolve, becoming increasingly unpredictable and versatile.

And with every clean, decisive strike, she grew more and more fond of this elegant fighting style—killing the enemy without a trace, leaving not a single leaf to touch her body.

[Elysian’s Note: Having a good time with the story?

Every single bit helps immensely: