The narrow canyon leading to the Stormterror's Lair ruins was a stark contrast to the vibrant fields of Mondstadt, its rocky walls rising high on either side, casting long shadows as the sun dipped below the horizon. The air was cool and heavy, carrying the faint scent of moss and the acrid tang of dark magic that lingered like a storm cloud. The ground was uneven, littered with jagged stones and the remnants of ancient Anemo sigils, their faint glow a reminder of the ruins' storied past. The canyon was a natural choke point, its winding path dotted with Qiuqiu camps—crude tents of hide and wood, bonfires flickering with Pyro energy, and the guttural chatter of the creatures echoing off the stone walls.
Xander led the way, his cloak billowing slightly in the evening breeze, the Shadowfang Blade at his side humming with a quiet power. As the only male member of the team, he felt a sense of responsibility to take the lead, his recent acquisition of the Phantom Sword Simulation · Power Blade (A) skill card giving him a newfound confidence. Jean, Eula, Ying, and Paimon followed close behind, their footsteps a steady rhythm against the rocky ground. Jean's blue cape fluttered as she walked, her Anemo Vision glowing at her waist, her blonde hair catching the last rays of sunlight. Eula's silver-blue hair shimmered like frost, her Cryo Vision glowing at her hip, her claymore strapped across her back. Ying's golden eyes were sharp with focus, her blonde hair shimmering in the fading light, her sword at the ready. Paimon hovered beside her, her starry cape fluttering as she muttered complaints about the long journey.
The canyon's entrance was guarded by a group of Qiuqiu thugs, their massive forms towering over the smaller archers and shamans that flanked them. The brutes wielded crude axes, their wooden masks glinting in the firelight, their guttural roars a challenge to the approaching group. "Looks like we've got company," Xander said, his tone casual as he summoned the Power Blade. The spectral greatsword materialized in his hand with a shimmer of blue magic, its massive blade crackling with energy, its weight perfectly balanced in his grip.
"Let's clear them out quickly," Jean said, her voice steady as she drew her sword, her Anemo Vision glowing with a soft green light. "We can't afford to waste time—the Abyss Order is already ahead of us."
Eula stepped forward, her claymore shimmering with Cryo energy. "I'll take the brutes—consider this vengeance for slowing us down," she declared, her tone sharp as she charged into the fray. Ying followed, her Anemo powers swirling as she summoned a vortex to pull the archers together, her sword flashing as she struck with precision.
Xander grinned, his dual blades a blur as he leaped into the battle. "Time to test this new toy," he muttered, channeling the babbling swordsmanship he'd learned from the Power Blade's moveset—a technique reminiscent of Dante's chaotic style from another world. The Power Blade, unlike the Shadowfang Blade's sharp precision, was a weapon of raw strength, its strikes designed to shred through enemies with devastating force. He targeted a Qiuqiu thug, the creature's axe raised to strike, and unleashed a flurry of attacks. "Yah!" he shouted, the Power Blade piercing the thug with a single thrust, followed by a rapid series of strikes—hundreds of millions of pokes in an instant, turning the creature into a pincushion of spectral energy. The thug let out a guttural cry, its body collapsing in a heap of ash and broken wood.
Not content to stop there, Xander threw the Power Blade forward, the spectral greatsword spinning like a massive windmill as it tore through the Qiuqiu camp. The blade's blue energy shredded through enemies more than ten meters away, their wooden masks splintering as they fell, the camp erupting in chaos. The Power Blade returned to his hand with a flicker of magic, its glow undimmed by the carnage it had wrought.
Eula's fighting style was a stark contrast, her movements a graceful dance of destruction. She wielded the Song of Broken Pines, a ceremonial greatsword passed down through the Lawrence family, its blade shimmering with Cryo energy. Each swing was a work of art, the icy aura freezing the Qiuqiu thugs in place before shattering them with a single blow. One thug, caught in her strike, was reduced to a mosaic of ice and ash, its height diminished by more than ten centimeters as it crumbled to the ground. "Hmph, you dare stand in my way? I'll remember this grudge," she muttered, her tone sharp but her movements fluid, a testament to her noble upbringing and her unyielding resolve.
Jean's swordsmanship was equally formidable, her Anemo powers enhancing her strikes with a whirlwind of energy. She targeted a group of One-Eyed Little Treasures, the small automatons whirring as they prepared to fire energy blasts. Her blade danced through the air, the wind blades she summoned shredding the machines into scrap metal with ease. The Qiuqiu of flesh and blood stood no chance against her, their bodies torn apart by the sheer force of her attacks. "We need to keep moving—stay focused!" she called, her voice a rallying cry over the chaos.
Ying's combat prowess was no less impressive, her Anemo powers swirling around her like a protective storm. Though she currently wielded only the wind element, her skill was more than enough to handle the Common Qiuqiu and their thugs. She summoned a vortex, pulling a group of archers together, their arrows clattering uselessly to the ground as she struck with her sword, her movements precise and deadly. "Take that!" she shouted, her golden eyes blazing with determination as she dispatched the last of the group.
Paimon, true to form, hovered at the edge of the battlefield, her tiny fists pumping in the air. "Come on, come on, come on!" she cheered, her voice a mix of encouragement and exasperation. "You guys are doing great—keep it up!" Her role as the team's cheerleader was both endearing and amusing, though Ying couldn't help but roll her eyes at her companion's lack of contribution.
The canyon was long and treacherous, its winding path filled with more Qiuqiu camps as the group pressed deeper. By the time they reached the entrance to the Stormterror's Lair ruins, the sky had darkened completely, the stars above obscured by a thick layer of clouds. The ruins loomed ahead, their crumbling stone towers a stark contrast to the rocky canyon, their surfaces etched with ancient Anemo sigils that glowed faintly in the moonlight. The air was thick with the scent of decay and dark magic, a palpable tension that set everyone on edge.
Xander's constitution, bolstered by his A-rank strength, left him relatively unfazed by the long journey, but Jean, Eula, and Ying were visibly exhausted, their breaths heavy as they paused at the entrance. "We should rest here for the night," Jean said, her voice steady despite her fatigue. "We'll need our strength to face Teucer and the Abyss Order tomorrow."
"Agreed," Eula said, sheathing her claymore as she surveyed the area. "This spot is defensible—we can set up camp and take turns keeping watch."
Ying nodded, her golden eyes softening with relief. "A break sounds good—I'm ready to collapse," she admitted, her tone a mix of exhaustion and determination.
Paimon, however, was quick to voice her own concerns. "Phew, I can finally rest! Paimon is hungry—starving, even!" she exclaimed, her tiny body drooping dramatically as if she'd been the one fighting.
Ying knocked Paimon on the head with a playful scowl. "The four of us were fighting the whole way—why are you so tired?" she asked, her tone a mix of amusement and exasperation.
Paimon crossed her arms, her cheeks puffing out in indignation. "Cheering is exhausting, okay? And I'm not a combatant—I'm moral support!" she declared, her confidence unshaken despite her lack of contribution.
Xander chuckled, the sound a warm contrast to the desolate surroundings. "Spoken like a true emergency food," he teased, earning a glare from Paimon that only made him laugh harder.
The group set up camp near the entrance to the ruins, using the storage space in their Visions to retrieve their supplies. Sleeping bags were laid out on the ground, their fabric a patchwork of colors against the rocky terrain, while a bonfire was lit in the center, its flames casting a warm glow that pushed back the darkness. The scent of burning wood mingled with the cool night air, a comforting contrast to the tension that lingered in the canyon.
Xander remembered the Meidesike set meal he'd received from the lottery draw—a fast-food feast of fried chicken burgers and soda, a rare treat in Teyvat. He pulled out the meal, the aroma of crispy chicken and tangy sauce filling the air as he shared it with the group. "A little taste of something different for a midnight snack," he said, his tone warm as he handed out the burgers.
Paimon's eyes lit up, her exhaustion forgotten as she grabbed a burger and a soda. "This is amazing!" she exclaimed, her tiny mouth somehow managing to devour the meal with alarming speed. Despite her small size, her appetite rivaled that of a bear, and she quickly claimed the lion's share of the food, leaving the others to laugh at her enthusiasm.
As they ate, Eula sat on her sleeping bag, her expression pensive as she gazed into the fire. "Do you think there'll be a second creation broadcast tonight?" she asked, her tone curious as she tilted her head.
Jean thought for a moment, her brow furrowing as she considered the pattern. "Based on the recent schedule, there likely will be," she replied, her voice steady. "The broadcasts have been consistent lately."
Ying smirked, her golden eyes glinting with mischief as she glanced at Paimon. "I wonder who the unlucky one will be tonight—maybe Paimon?" she teased, her tone playful.
Paimon crossed her arms, her cheeks puffing out in indignation. "Hmph! If it's me, you won't escape either—we're partners, remember? We're a package deal!" she declared, her confidence unshaken despite the potential embarrassment.
Xander leaned back against a rock, his expression thoughtful as he took a sip of soda. "As long as it's not me, I don't care who gets picked," he said, his tone casual. "Though if I am chosen, I'd prefer to be a supporting role—no more making a fool of myself like last time." His mind, however, was already racing with ideas for the next second creation video. The broadcasts had become a source of entertainment for Teyvat's denizens, and as the one behind them, Xander took a certain pride in crafting each spoof.
He considered his options, his thoughts drifting to the many characters he could feature. There were so many possibilities, each with their own potential for chaos and humor. But as he watched Ying share a laugh with Paimon, an idea sparked in his mind. It was time to feature Ying—or rather, "Yingbao," as the community affectionately called her. And who better to pair her with than Liyue's famous chef, Xiangling, whose culinary creativity and fiery spirit would make for a perfect comedic foil?
"Yingbao it is," Xander decided, a grin tugging at his lips as he imagined the chaos that would ensue. "And Xiangling as her supporting role—two culinary forces in a second creation that'll have the whole continent laughing." He made a mental note to set the broadcast for later that night, ensuring the group would be able to watch it after their rest.
The campfire crackled, its flames casting flickering shadows on the canyon walls as the group settled in for the night. The stars above were obscured by clouds, but the glow of the fire and the warmth of their camaraderie pushed back the darkness. Tomorrow, they would face Teucer and the Abyss Order in a battle for Mondstadt's soul—but for now, they rested, their bonds strengthened by the journey and the promise of a new day.
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