Volume 5 – Chapter 32(Stormterror II)

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Author Note:

[ ] = When Twilight is speaking.

{ } = When talking through Telepathy.

' ' = When thinking in your mind.

<<  >> = When talking with your Pokémon or Tamed Beast.

--- --- = When describing a certain period of time OR Another place.

** ** = Point Of View i.e., POV

/// /// = In Call

" " = System and when talking to it.

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SHIN!!

With one last slash, the eye of the storm disappeared as Lumine put away her sword and returned to Venti and Paimon.

Venti: Extraordinary.

Paimon: Of Course, Lumine is very strong.

He nodded while giving it some thoughts.

'Venti: That monster might not be as strong as that beast we fight in Dragonspine but it can still give Elite Knights some challenge. Yet, this traveler not only took care of it with ease, she didn't use any Elemental power the whole time. She just used her swordsmanship.'

Compared to Paimon who was nodding her head as if she was the who defeated the monster, Venti could clearly see the fineness and precision in Lumine's attack. There were no wasted movements. Every move was calculated.

'Venti: I don't think anyone in Mondstadt could defeat her in a sword fight.'

Returning back to himself, Venti smiled spoke.

Venti: Looks like there are many other things affected by the change in wind.

Lumine: It seems so. Anyway, I think there were some externals factors responsible for Stormterror's hate.

Venti: Oh?

Feeling surprised, Venti asked.

Venti: Why do you say so?

Looking down, Lumine put her index finger and thumb on her chin, pondered about it for a few seconds from replying.

Lumine: When I fought against it for the first time, I saw some blood colts on its back. Those colts were releasing some kind of power different from Elements. Not only that...…

Raising her head, she looked seriously at Venti.

Lumine: I felt that the elemental energy of Stormterror was fighting against that 'dark' energty inside him. Maybe that's the cause of its behavior.

Venti: You never failed to amaze me, Traveler. That's some sharp senses you got.

He said with narrowed eyes. Venti thought except for him, others wouldn't to able to find the cause of Dvalin's pain.

Lumine: So…

Venti: You're right. His hate did not arise from the people not making tribute to the Four Winds. Nor was it born from his nature, but instead came about as a product of his degration.

Paimon: Degradation? Of his body or something?

Venti: Something like that. You see, there's black blood flowing through his heart which has been torturing him for years.

'Lumine: Black Blood. Huh. Must the blood of the Vile Dragon which it killed.'

Venti: That's what allowed him to be led astray by the lies of Abyss Mage.

Paimon: Abyss...…what?

Venti: Abyss Mage. They are from the Abyss Order, an organization comprised of non-human beings. They despised mankind, though I don't know where they came from. All I know is that they hold deep hatred towards the human.

'Lumine: So, they are like Terrorists.'

Venti: Many Hilichurls out in the wild take orders from them and act as their weapon. Before arriving here, I too like Dvalin, cursed and left to waste. But now, before us stands the Symbol of Mondstadt's Hero, the place from which Mondstadt rose.

He turned and faced the tree before continuing.

Though Lumine ignored it as her expression turned solemn and she thought of something.

'Lumine: Abyss Order can give orders to Hilichurls...…Does that mean that unusual Hilichurl was also given order by this Abyss Order to kill us...… And it would have succeeded if Mr. Erste didn't make his move.'

At this, the feeling of weakness started to haunt Lumine again. But then she hurriedly shook her head and threw those thoughts away.

'Lumine: No, Mr. Erste warned me not to be hasty to become strong. I must solid my foundation before going ahead. Thanks to that very thing, I was able to fight against that Hilichurl for so long even when its level was more than twice from mine.'

The corner of her lips raised a little as she relaxed herself.

Paimon: So...how exactly did you get poisoned?

Venti: Ah…That would be because I tried to communicate with Dvalin earlier, but was...interrupted. As a result, not only did I not manage to help Dvalin break his curse, but instead, was also infected myself.

'Lumine: I am sure Mr. Erste will be able to purify it without any issue.'

Paimon: That was us, didn't we?

Venti: Exactly! Hehe, so to make up for it, Lumine, you're coming with me to the Cathedral.

Paimon: The Mondstadt Cathedral? What are we gonna do there?

Venti: To claim a certain "Holy Lyre der Himmel".

'Lumine: I am suddenly having a bad feeling about it. I hope he won't ask me to do something like......stealing it'

.

.

.

.

.

.

--- Goth Grand Hotel, Mondstadt City ---

On the top floor of the Hotel, a red lady was sitting on sofa and was looking at the Fatui agents that were kneeling in front of her.

They were trying their best to suppress the fear in their heart because they all were fully aware of the temper of the Eighth of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers.

Signora: Is there any news of Anemo God?

She asked in extreme cold tone. This made the Fatui flinched before one of them reported.

Fatui 1: No, Lady Signora. We have agents in every corner of Mondstadt, yet there was no one talking about it. The only think we get in our hands is that Anemo God disappeared long time.

Signora: Tell me something I don't know!

They trembled at her shout.

Signora: What about the Stormterror? Did that Acting Grandmaster still not willing to accept our 'assistance'?

Fatui 2: S-She is still saying that s-she needs some time.

Signora: Useless Garbage! All of you!

No one dare to spoke for some time and let Signora vent her anger. When she clamed down for a bit, one of them spoke again.

Fatui 3: L-Lady Signora, it seems that t-there is this thing called H-H-Holy Lyre der Himmel. The Lyre which A-A-Anemo God seemed to have used in order to contact S-S-Stormterror.

Fatui 4: If there is a chance to stop that dragon without killing him is by using that L-Lyre. So, we think someone might try that method.

Signora: Hmph! Why didn't you tell me about it before?

Fatui 3: T-That's---

Signora: Where is it?

Fatui 4: The C-C-Cathedral.

Signora: Then what are you waiting here for!? Take it away and hide it in our Hideout before anyone else get their hands on it!

All Fatui: Y-Yes, My Lady!!

Without this all of them hurriedly left the room as if they were pardoned.

Snorting coldly, Signora stood up and walked to the window before looking down on the city.

Signora: If not for the politics I would have burned his place to the ground before getting rid of that dragon.

???: Buring down the very city in which you were born. I guess I can expect nothing else from the Crimson Witch of Flame.

Hearing this unfamiliar voice, Signora abruptly turned her and saw a man with dark hair and bluish-black eyes sitting on her sofa.

Signora: Not only you entered someone's room without their permission but you also sat on their seat...…so uncivilized. Truly a behavior of a bottom feeder.

Primis: In my eyes you are not someone I need to show respect too. So, it doesn't matter what I do.

Signora: What did you say! Filthy rat!

The anger she had been suppressing till now came running as, Signora charged towards Primis.

Her speed far surpassed something a vision holder could do.

Even after seeing her coming, Primis didn't say anything or made any move.

Though, just when she was about to touch him, a hand came out of nowhere and slapped Signora on the face before she could even react.

SLAP!!

The force behind the attack threw the red lady back as she rolled on the ground before hitting the wall under the window from where she was looking.

???: If all the people under Tsaritsa are like you then it's truly disappointed to see how low Snezhnaya had truly fallen.

The Crimson witch who raised her body in fury to glare at the person who dared to hit her. But, in the next instant all of her rage disappeared as shock appeared on her face.

Signora: I-Impossible! What is mighty Shogun doing here in low city like Mondstadt!?

Primis: As my maid, its her duty to stay by my side no matter where I go.

Instead of Makoto, Primis was the one to answer her.

The red lady of course didn't believe Primis. She looked at Makoto and was astonished seeing how Makoto was not denying Primis claim.

On the contrary, she stood in front of Primis like a guard.

After calming herself, Signora started laughing and looked down at Makoto.

Signora: Hahahahaha. To think Archon has fallen to a mere slave. Pathetic. How truly Pathetic. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

While she was laughing hysterically, Primis and Makoto just gave her a blank look as if looking at a clown.

Hence, they let her enjoying a few moments of happiness.

A minute or so later, Primis moved his head at looked at the wall. But in truth, his gaze penetrated all the obstacles and showed him what the situation outside.

'Primis: Hmmm. Now that Venti way of asking politely have failed, they will infiltrate the Cathedral to steal the Lyre...I am sure Lumine won't be happy about fulfilling the role of thief.'

Primis: We don't have much time to waste here. Put her in her place.

Makoto: Um.

Nodding Makoto walked towards Signora who noticed this and stopped her laughter. Her expression also turned serious.

Even though she looked down on Makoto just now, she knew Electro Archon was very strong. And she was not her match even if she used her full power.

Signora: I am a Snezhnayan diplomat. I already forgive you when you lay your hands of me once. But if you strike me, I swear I will make sure---

Primis: Noisy.

SWOOSH!!

SLAP!!

At Primis word, Makoto appeared in front of Signora and gave her a back-slap this time. Making her fell again.

CRACKLE!!

While falling Cryo elements gathered around Signora before she launched icicles at Makoto.

FWOOSH!!

FWOOSH!!

FWOOSH!!

FWOOSH!!

...

…

Makoto easily dodged all of them with hardly any efforts. Just after that, electro element gathered in her palm and she hit Signora on her chest.

BAM!!!

ROAR!!!!!!!!

Signora: Aargh!!!!!!!!!!!

The Harbinger got engulfed in thunder and slammed at the wall very hard.

In case this room was not covered by Primis power at the moment, then Signora would have been thrown through some buildings before plastering in the wall of Mondstadt.

THUD!!

She fell on the ground without any strength to get up again.

The battle was over. Just one move of Makoto was enough to defeat the Crimson Witch of Flame and left her in near death state.

In reality, if not because Primis wanted Signora alive then Makoto would have easily killed her in that one move.

It's been hundred years since the Archon War came to an end and people forget the strength of the Gods. They even gained confidence thinking they can defeat them. But now, Makoto had shown what a true strength of Archon really is. Not something people can reach just like that.

Standing up from his seat, Primis made his way towards Signora.

Once reaching her, he crouched down, grabbed her hair and pulled them up, making Signora raised her head.

The red lady grunted in pain before opening her eyes.

Primis: Now then, shall we have a civilized talk?

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*A/N: Please throw some power stones.

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