Liyue's Internet cafe glowed under the morning sun—its 400 rigs a sprawling testament to Liam's ambition, the night's chaos yielding to a new dawn—and upstairs, steam curled from his bath, his mind a forge, "Mondstadt looms—games, staff, scale," his plans a tide swelling in the warm haze.
Emotional points burned—he tapped the system, "Real-time strategy—LAN, multiplayer," his intent a spear—and the draw flared, "Congratulations: Red Alert 2 acquired," a classic from his old world, its tanks and tesla coils a brutal hymn, now optimized for Teyvat's melon-eaters to taste war's sting.
Red Alert 2 gleamed—simpler than StarCraft's cosmic sprawl, less whimsical than Warcraft's maps, its Soviet-Allied clash a raw thrill—and Liam grinned, "My favorite—direct, bloody," the system tweaking flaws, "No more tank-killers punked by conscripts," a gift to unleash on Liyue's glowing den.
Goggles beckoned—"Real mode: command live," a visceral plunge into bases of steel and smoke—and he imagined, "Melon-eaters as generals—feel my world's wars," Teyvat's peace a canvas for Red Alert's chaos, its barracks and refineries a mirror to his past, now theirs to conquer.
Random draw flared—"Second game, blind pull," his points a gamble—and the system chimed, "Congratulations: Monopoly acquired," a dice-rolling romp of greed and guile, "Not my jam—still hot back home," its grids a battlefield of wallets, perfect for Teyvat's schemers to bicker and bankrupt.
Monopoly sprawled—players diced their fates, buying land, bleeding foes dry, "Cheat, win, laugh,"—and Liam mused, "Hu Tao'd fleece 'em—Ningguang too," its social sting a spark for the cafe's LAN, a lighter foil to Red Alert's iron roar, a duo to hold Liyue for weeks.
Film called—30,000 points plunged, "Big swing—epic scale," his bet a blaze—and the system sang, "Congratulations: Romance of the Three Kingdoms acquired," a system-tuned masterpiece, 200+ episodes of Han's fall, "Better than Teyvat's tales," its heroes a tide to drown the cafe in glory.
Cheers erupted—screens flashed the news, "Red Alert 2, Monopoly, Three Kingdoms—live now!"—and melon-eaters roared, "New wars! New scams! New sagas!" their rigs a chorus, Liam's gifts a balm, "No horror—just thrills," their joy a wave in the cafe's lantern-lit sprawl.
Staff loomed—"Tier Harribel needs kin," his pity a thread, points a hoard—and he set, "Humanoid, female—no beasts," his taste a line, "Furries? Pass," his draw a dice-roll, the system humming, "Sink or soar—let's see," his breath held in the steamy quiet.
Draws stumbled—"Cecilia flower—cute, useless," a bloom in his palm, "High-end figurine cabinet—fancy junk,"—and he groaned, "Mei's apron? Raiden Shogun's rice cooker—Green two-star?" her corroded pots a jab, "Even her cooking's cursed," his haul a tease of misfires.
Blue flickered—"Sealing Magic Amulet—Blue Samsung," a talisman to banish evil, "Not for me—Mondstadt's ghosts might bite,"—and he pocketed it, "Road trip fodder," his draw sinking, "Trash pulls—points bleeding," his patience a frayed rope in the system's game.
He doubled down—"Designate again—humanoid, female," his points a desperate tide—and the system spun, "Ezio's Hidden Blade—sharp, not staff," "Spiral sword prop—cosplay bait," his groan a growl, "Cannibal's cleaver—Green two-star? Grim," the haul a taunt, his hope a flicker.
Purple flared—"Eternal Kaleidoscope Sharingan—Purple four-star," his eyes widened, "Power—mine?"—and then, "Employee: Ayanami Rei—Purple four-star," a name from his past, "Rei?!" his howl a storm, the bath's soundproof veil sparing Liyue his glee, "Jackpot—finally!"
Downstairs pulsed—Hu Tao spawned in Red Alert, "Tanks—charge!" her Soviet swarm rolling, a conscript crying, "For Hu Tao!"—and Ningguang countered, "Allied prism towers—hold!" her base a fortress, their LAN clash a blaze, Monopoly boards simmering nearby, dice clattering.
Action surged—Tartaglia slipped outside, "Bracelet—test two," his whisper a dare, orange-red light flaring—and he morphed, a warrior girl slashing, "Hydro Burst!" a geyser splitting stone, "Stronger still!" his laugh a tide, melon-eaters gaping, "He's back at it!"
Hu Tao pounced—"Caught ya—gorgeous again!" her cackle a spark as he reverted, "No—off me!"—and their chase flared, Liyue's streets a stage, Tartaglia's blade clashing her staff, "Transform or bust!" her pyro flair a dance, his dignity a frayed shield in her wake.
Zhongli mused—"Ayanami Rei—another soul from beyond," his geo gaze tracing Liam's draw, "Mondstadt's gain,"—and he sipped tea, "Tartaglia's shift intrigues—power in whimsy," his retirement a veil, the cafe's gifts a riddle he'd ponder, a god's calm amid the storm.
A subplot twisted—Liam's Mondstadt trek loomed, "Rei and Harribel—my duo," his staff a shield—and Tartaglia's bracelet burned, "Use it right—Fatui edge," his Fatui soul plotting, Hu Tao's chase a spur, "Zhongli'll crack him," their game a thread in Liyue's glow.
Emotion surged—Liam's thrill clashed with dread, a gambler's win after sinks; Tartaglia's pride wrestled whimsy, a Harbinger's might reborn; Hu Tao's fire craved chaos, her hall-master's guile a lever—and the cafe trembled, their saga a blaze in its lantern-lit sprawl.
Rei materialized—blue hair, red eyes, her EVA calm a stark foil to Tier Harribel's teal ferocity—and Liam grinned, "Welcome—400 rigs, yours to guard," her nod silent, "Understood," her presence a balm, the cafe's pulse quickening, Mondstadt's call a tide she'd join.
Tartaglia sulked—"Girl form's mine—secret weapon," his hydro pulse a vow, Hu Tao scheming, "Next clash—he'll cave!"—and Liam emerged, "Red Alert, Monopoly, Three Kingdoms—Rei's here," his den a forge, Liyue's LAN a tapestry of war, greed, and epic hearts.
***
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