The morning sun cast a pale golden light over the Stormterror's Lair ruins, its rays filtering through the jagged remnants of ancient stone towers that stood like sentinels of a forgotten era. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of dew and the acrid tang of dark magic that clung to the ruins like a shroud. The ground was uneven, littered with broken cobblestones and patches of moss that had crept over the centuries-old debris, a testament to the passage of time since Old Mondstadt had fallen. The wind howled through the ruins, a mournful wail that seemed to echo the sorrow of the city's past, its gusts stirring up dust and leaves that danced in the air like restless spirits.
Xander led the group, his cloak billowing slightly in the breeze, the Shadowfang Blade at his side humming with a quiet power. The Power Blade, a spectral greatsword he'd recently acquired, had already proven its worth in the canyon, its raw strength a perfect complement to the Shadowfang Blade's precision. He felt a sense of purpose as he stepped into the ruins, the weight of their mission to save Teucer, the Wind Dragon, pressing down on him. Jean walked beside him, her blue cape fluttering, her Anemo Vision glowing at her waist. Her blonde hair caught the sunlight, a few strands escaping her tight ponytail to frame her determined face, her sword at the ready. Eula followed, her silver-blue hair shimmering like frost, her Cryo Vision glowing at her hip, her claymore strapped across her back, its blade shimmering with a faint icy sheen. Ying brought up the rear, her golden eyes sharp with focus, her blonde hair shimmering in the sunlight, her sword in hand. Paimon hovered beside her, her starry cape fluttering as she muttered nervously about the eerie atmosphere.
The Stormterror's Lair ruins, once known as Old Mondstadt, were a haunting reminder of the city's turbulent history. The dilapidated structures—crumbling towers, shattered walls, and broken arches—stood as relics of a time when the Tower King, Decarabian, had ruled with an iron fist, his storms imprisoning the people within the city's walls. The rebellion led by Barbatos, the Anemo Archon, had overthrown the tyrant, but the city had been abandoned in the aftermath, its people founding the new Mondstadt in the plains below. Over the centuries, the ruins had become a sanctuary for Teucer, the Wind Dragon, who had taken up residence in the central tower. But the ruins had earned their current name for a different reason—a "hot woman" named Alice, Klee's mother, had once visited the area and left her mark in a way only she could.
Alice, a legendary figure in Teyvat, was known for her chaotic exploits, her penchant for destruction rivaled only by her boundless creativity. When she had come to the ruins, she had turned the already dilapidated city into a true ruin, her experiments with explosives leaving craters in the ground and toppling what little remained of the ancient structures. She had even proposed treating the Qiuqiu people as slaves, using the young ones as free labor and the old ones as rations—a plan so horrifying that it had left Xander reeling when he first read about it. Black question marks had filled his mind as he processed the sheer cruelty of the idea. Fortunately, Jean and the Knights of Favonius had kept Alice in check, ensuring that Mondstadt—and the world at large—remained intact. Without their intervention, Xander mused, there might not be a Mondstadt on the map at all, just another set of ruins to mark Alice's passage.
The group pressed deeper into the ruins, their footsteps echoing off the broken stone. The area was teeming with Qiuqiu camps, their crude tents and bonfires scattered across the landscape, the creatures chattering in their guttural language. The Abyss Order had stationed a large number of Qiuqiu here after taking control of Teucer, using them as a first line of defense against intruders. The central tower loomed ahead, its massive structure surrounded by a swirling wind barrier, the Anemo energy crackling with a visible intensity that made it clear a direct assault would be impossible.
Xander paused, his senses tingling as he scanned the area. He had noticed a presence following them since they left Mondstadt—a faint rustle in the trees, a glimpse of green that blended with the foliage. He had his suspicions, and now, as they stood at the edge of the ruins, he decided it was time to confront their shadow. Turning sharply, he called out to a nearby stone pillar, his voice carrying over the wind. "Hi, Lord Barbatos, our Wind God. After following us for so long, it's time to come out, right?"
The group froze, their eyes darting to the pillar as a figure stepped out from behind it. Venti, the Anemo Archon in disguise, emerged with a sheepish grin, his green cape fluttering in the breeze, his twin braids swaying as he rubbed the back of his neck. His teal eyes sparkled with mischief, his Anemo Vision glowing at his waist, the lyre slung across his back a telltale sign of his bardic persona. "Ehe, you caught me!" he said, his tone light but tinged with a hint of nervousness. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised—you've got sharp senses, Xander."
Jean's eyes widened, her hand tightening on her sword as she stepped forward. "Barbatos? You're… the Anemo Archon?" she asked, her voice a mix of shock and reverence. As the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, she had always revered the Wind God, but she had never imagined meeting him in person—let alone in the guise of a carefree bard.
Eula's expression hardened, her icy blue eyes narrowing as she studied Venti. "So the bard who's been hanging around Mondstadt is actually a god," she said, her tone dry but her posture tense. "I'll remember this… deception."
Ying's golden eyes flickered with curiosity, her grip on her sword loosening as she tilted her head. "You've been following us since Mondstadt—why?" she asked, her voice calm but probing. Paimon hovered beside her, her tiny fists clenched as she glared at Venti. "Yeah, what's the big idea, sneaking around like that?!" she demanded, her voice a mix of indignation and suspicion.
Venti raised his hands in a placating gesture, his grin widening as he tried to diffuse the tension. "Now, now, let's not get too worked up!" he said, his tone cheerful. "I've been following you because I'm worried about Teucer. He's an old friend, you see, and I wanted to make sure you weren't planning to… well, harm him. The Abyss Order's influence has made him dangerous, but I believe he can still be saved."
Jean's expression softened, her reverence for Barbatos tempering her initial shock. "We're here to save Teucer, not harm him," she said, her voice steady. "The Abyss Order has corrupted him, and we intend to break their hold. Your presence… it's an honor, Lord Barbatos."
Venti waved a hand dismissively, his grin turning playful. "Please, call me Venti—I'm just a bard these days!" he said, his tone light. "And I'm glad to hear you're here to help Teucer. I was planning to steal the Skyward Harp to summon him myself, but it seems you've got things under control. I'll lend a hand—let's free my old friend together!"
Before the group could respond, a guttural roar echoed through the ruins, the sound reverberating off the stone walls as a group of Qiuqiu emerged from the shadows. The creatures were led by a massive Qiuqiu thug, its wooden mask glinting in the sunlight, its axe raised as it charged toward them. Archers and shamans flanked the brute, their arrows and elemental attacks already glowing with Pyro and Hydro energy.
Xander drew the Shadowfang Blade, the Power Blade materializing in his other hand with a shimmer of blue magic. "Looks like we've got company," he said, his tone calm but his eyes sharp with focus. "Let's clear them out and get to that tower."
Jean nodded, her Anemo Vision glowing as she drew her sword. "Agreed—stay sharp, everyone!" she called, her voice a rallying cry as she summoned a gust of wind to lift the archers into the air, disrupting their aim.
Eula charged forward, her claymore shimmering with Cryo energy as she targeted the Qiuqiu thug. "I'll take the big one—consider this vengeance for interrupting us!" she declared, her tone sharp as she swung her blade, the icy aura freezing the thug in place before shattering it with a single blow.
Ying's Anemo powers swirled, her vortexes pulling the shamans together as she struck with her sword, her movements precise and deadly. "We can't let them slow us down!" she shouted, her golden eyes blazing with determination as she dispatched the enemies with a flurry of strikes.
Venti strummed his lyre, the notes weaving a melody that summoned a gust of Anemo energy, the wind blades slicing through the remaining Qiuqiu with ease. "A little music to lighten the mood!" he said, his tone cheerful as he winked at the group, his Anemo Vision glowing with a soft green light.
Xander teleported into the fray, his dual blades a blur as he slashed at the enemies. The Shadowfang Blade's dimensional energy cut through their wooden shields like paper, while the Power Blade's heavy strikes sent them flying, the blue energy crackling with each blow. He targeted a group of archers, their arrows clattering uselessly to the ground as he struck, the Power Blade spinning like a windmill to clear the area. "Not bad for a warm-up," he muttered, a grin tugging at his lips as he surveyed the battlefield.
The group made quick work of the Qiuqiu, their teamwork seamless despite Venti's sudden appearance. As the last enemy fell, its body collapsing in a heap of ash and broken wood, Jean sheathed her sword, her breath heavy but her expression resolute. "Good work, everyone," she said, her voice steady. "But we're not done yet—that wind barrier around the tower is our next challenge."
Venti stepped forward, his expression turning serious as he studied the barrier. "That's Teucer's Anemo energy, corrupted by the Abyss Order," he said, his tone somber. "I can weaken it, but we'll need to work together to break through. The Abyss Order won't let us reach him without a fight."
Xander nodded, his gaze fixed on the tower. "Then let's do this—together," he said, his voice firm as he tightened his grip on his blades. The ruins of Old Mondstadt stretched out before them, a battlefield steeped in history and sorrow, but the group stood united, their resolve unshaken as they prepared to face the challenges ahead.
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