Big bad frog [1]

"An adventure?"

Nahida was the first to ask after Isaac's sudden bizarre question. She lingered for a bit then added with a curious tone hinted in her voice.

"I can't say much on behalf of everyone here... But yes, I am interested in an adventure."

The crafty fox, Yae Miko, walked over and caressed Nahida's silver hair affectionately after she spoke. Looking at Isaac with the same curious expression, she too questioned him.

"I concur. There are merits in just staying inside one's abode, but that annoying feeling of going on in an adventure at the very back of your mind would surely come and surface from time to time."

"I mean, surely all of us here have had that exact same feeling before, right?"

Klee climbed up a stool and nodded her head vigorously.

"Yeah! I've been on a lot of adventures! There was this one time when I buried one of my Dodoko bombs in the forests of Mondstadt, and me and the traveler went to look for it! That was a fun adventure!"

Hearing Klee's response, Isaac's smile turned somewhat awry. '...I don't think I'd be visiting Mondstadt anytime soon.'

He shivered.

God knows how many landmines are buried there.

Life still has a lot to offer to him, so he'll refrain from visiting the tiny terrorist's nation for the foreseeable future. At least, until someone clears out all the buried bombs there.

As for Xiao, he didn't even need to utter his agreement and merely nodded. After all, the Yaksha was always outside fighting demons— which should count as an adventure itself. That, Isaac understands.

Or was it more fitting to view it as his job?

Either way, the point still stands that the Conqueror of Demons was always out in about, adventuring.

After getting everyone's answers, Isaac nodded before shrugging. Putting a convincing act, he spoke to them nonchalantly.

"Well... I just happen to have this other... job... that asked me to fight a really, really, really big stone frog."

Was it belittling to call the ancient dragon of geovishaps as a mere frog?

...not really.

All things considered, the Geo dragon that Isaac was about to fight was just a really angry stone frog that likes to hop around and hide underground.

Does Isaac fear him? Absolutely. That thing was as ancient as the mountains themselves. It's sheer size alone was enough for Isaac to determine that he would be crushed to death with just it's toe.

Isaac might have grown stronger, acquired unique and useful skills, and even got new weapons— but in the face of something as resilient as an ancient dragon? Even Isaac wasn't crazy enough to fight it alone.

...Well, if he didn't just happen to have a well-rounded group of people to accompany him to this endeavor, then he wouldn't even have thought of it.

Yae Miko shot an eyebrow.

"A... Frog?"

Isaac nodded his head.

"No. A big frog."

Nahida tilted her head.

"A really big frog?"

Klee curiously followed.

"A big, big frog? Bigger than Jumpy Dumpty?"

"..." It seems like the Conqueror of Demons won't be joining this trend. He just sat there, waiting for his almond tofu.

Amused by them, Isaac chuckled lightly before shaking his head.

"Yes, a really big frog."

"So you want us to help you fight this really big frog for another one of your side jobs?" Yae Miko question.

Isaac shrugged. "Pretty much, yeah. And also, it could use the Hydro, Cryo, and Electro elements. It's Geo by default, but it can also switch between them."

Hearing this, Nahida grasped her chin as she pondered about the matter. She then habitually told her thoughts out loud.

"Hmm... From this description, I'm assuming that this really big frog is more than what the name suggests."

"Could you provide more information about it, Isaac?"

As always, the God of Wisdom's curiosity always comes up at the top first. One could say that it's an inherent trait of a true scholar.

Isaac leaned on the counter, lingering for a moment, before responding.

"Sure, I can tell you guys more about it. Basically, in the distant past, this really big frog served the Geo Archon in his conquest against other Gods of Liyue. However, his mind was unable to endure the torment of eternity so he became mad— his mind eroded. In the end, the Lord of Geo fought and sealed him underground. Now he quietly sits there, awaiting his return above the Earth."

Isaac paused for a hit before quickly adding, "Other than that, he's also loud as hell."

For a moment, no one spoke in the cafe. Even the overly energetic Klee took a moment to pause and digest the information given by Isaac. It seemed like the little elf became too engrossed in it.

Pouring himself another cup of tea, Isaac smirked, finding their silence amusing. 'Can't blame them. I basically described a dangerous creature that no normal humans can confront.'

'Of course, none of us here are truly... Normal, by definition.'

Isaac felt like doing the infamous chuuni pose right now, but brushed that thought off, finding it ludicrous.

A good couple of moments would pass before the silence was broken by, unsurprisingly, the Yaksha who had been silent for a while now.

"You're not... talking about Azhdaha, are you?"

Isaac smirked behind his cup of tea.

"Oh, I'm a hundred percent talking about the King of the Geovishaps— the ancient Geo dragon personally sealed by Morax himself."

Having their suspicions confirmed by Isaac, all three invited characters didn't know whether to be impressed or not. Except Klee, of course.

"Who's... Hayshdaha?" She questioned.

Isaac was just about to satisfy the little elf's curiosity when another person took that role from him.

Shifting her opulent emerald-green eyes to Klee, Nahida, as any proud scholar and educator, happily taught her.

"Azhdaha is an ancient Geo dragon that was said to have accompanied the Geo Archon, Morax, in the past. And if what Isaac had said was true, then it explains why it was sealed."

"You can just think of him as... A big bad dragon, Klee."

Hearing this, Klee's face slightly frowned— even her elongated ears fell down, seemingly losing their enthusiasm.

"So it's just like Storm Terror?"

Isaac nodded. "Yeah, something like Storm Terror."

Xiao, who had been listening for a fair bit for a while now, soon opened his mouth and spoke.

"If it's truly the sealed king of the Vishaps you're after... I recommend you to step down now. I'm not sure if you know this but..."

Isaac smiled wryly.

"I'm weak?"

Xiao nodded without hesitation.

"Indeed."

Well, it wasn't much of a secret anyway. If Isaac was facing a mundane enemy, then he could easily overpower them. However, what they were facing was above the mundane.

His most powerful skill, [Evernight], can't even help him since it was practically a glass cannon. It could give him unreasonable power, yes, but it would come at the dire price of his sanity and mental state.

Hell, despite being careful with its use, he was still being tainted by its adverse effects. Even a simple use of its Nightmare function would taint him a tiny bit.

As for his physical prowess... There wasn't much to talk about on that aspect. Besides his inherited experience from the First Hunter, there really wasn't that much.

As for his elemental power, indeed, it was a great boon, but in the face of an ancient being such as Azhdaha... It could only get him so far.

Perhaps his luck manipulation could help, but again, he still needs to put in an effort.

If Isaac were to describe himself game-wise, then he was like an under-levelled solo character facing a max-level world boss.

Of course, that would have been the case...

If not for one mere fact.

Yae Miko, emerging from seemingly her amused silence, suddenly chuckled. Her soft laugh had broken the tense atmosphere, instantly making everyone's attention turned to her.

Isaac glanced at her before also smirking. 'She gets it.'

Sitting down on one of the stools, the crafty Kitsune finished her amused chuckle then looked at everyone else.

"Indeed, Isaac is weak. But have you already forgotten about Isaac's original proposal?"

Upon hearing this, the other two members of the cafe suddenly realized what Isaac had meant.

Seeing them realize this, Isaac also burst into a soft chuckle. Looking at Yae Miko, he mentally saluted her. 'Well done, my friend.'

He then turned to the other three.

"That's right, I'm weak. However, if you were to add in an Anemo Yaksha with countless battle experiences, a crafty Kitsune that could command electricity, a terrori— I mean a pyromancer with tons of bombs, and a scholar with nigh limitless knowledge..."

Isaac, still smirking, then spread his arms, as if presenting a grand and ambitious plan.

"...then wouldn't it make a wonderful well-rounded team?"

That was what mattered the most— teammates! Fortunately, Isaac doesn't have to be alone on this quest and gets to bring everyone with him.

With the help of other people that are specialized in other fields than him, then wouldn't beating Azhdaha seem a little more easier?

It's just like what a certain infamous adventurer says— Team work makes the dream work!

After Isaac's words fell on all of them, Nahida was the first to contemplate over the matter.

"If you put it that way..." Her eyes then glanced at everyone present, analyzing them. "Then... This might work..."

"Still, this is an ancient dragon. How are we sure that we can completely kill it?" Xiao asked, still unsure of the plan.

"Hehe, isn't that easy to answer, Mister Xiao? We just throw more bombs at it!" The little terrorist, Klee, looked at Xiao with a smile.

...a little too enthusiastic smile.

"..." Faced with such a logic by a child, Xiao couldn't help but cover his face with his palm in pure disbelief. In the end, he didn't argue further since he knows the odds were already against him.

'Wise choice.' Isaac smiled at the Yaksha. He then turned to the rest of the ladies.

"Well then, do you all want to participate?" He hesitated before quickly adding, "Of course, you're free to refuse. I—"

However, Isaac didn't need to do such a thing.

"I'm free. " Yae Miko faintly smiled. "Just make sure to treat me to a dinner date after, alright?"

'That doesn't sound too bad...' Isaac thought for a moment before nodding, completely oblivious to the deeper meaning behind that request. "Sure, I can arrange that."

"Perfect." Her smile widened. Her eyes, however retained a certain... suspicious gleam.

He then turned to the other two elves. "How about you two? Do you also need rewards to be persuaded?"

Klee and Nahida looked at each other for a moment and seemed to be having a private conversation only privy to them. Then, both of them turned to him at the same time and responded.

"I don't know if I can do much... But I'm more than happy to go. It just means that I can get to explore more, after all." Nahida's voice carried a sense of curiosity and wonder. She was looking forward to it.

"I can go too! I've been wanting to try this new prototype that I and Albedo created. We made plenty, but I haven't gotten to try them yet!" As usual, the little elf had nothing but pyromancy in her precious little mind.

"That's all wonderful to hear."

Seeing that the two of them also agreed, Isaac nodded his head lightly. He lingered a bit then picked up a teapot.

"Well, before we set out..."

"Does anyone want a cup of Joe?"

They were gonna need it.

---

All of them had a filling breakfast— all cooked by Isaac, of course— to make sure they had enough energy for the upcoming raid. As for the cafe, he decided to close it for half a day and would later open when he comes back.

As they ate, he discussed with them their roles as well as the details for the frog they were going to fight. He made sure to impart as much knowledge as he can to increase their survival.

Soon, Isaac had successfully formed a party composed of differentiating people with their unique abilities.

Nahida would serve as a strategist and support, while Klee and Yae Miko would be the rear. As for Xiao and Isaac, they were gonna be the vanguards.

Xiao was perfect for direct onslaught with his vicious fighting style in the battlefield. In a sense, he was the perfect soldier, or rather, General. Despite his youthful appearance, the Yaksha was still two thousand years old and once held the title of General.

As for Isaac... There really wasn't much to say. Although he wasn't as capable as Xiao, he still had tricks up his sleeves. Moreover, there really wasn't much he could do in other positions since most of his abilities are focused on direct confrontation.

As such, after an hour of preparing themselves, they were finally ready to go.

Just then, Xiao's words reached their ears.

"Just a moment... How would we even be able to get to the Dragon-Queller? Liyue is thousands of miles away."

Nahida looked at the Yaksha and smiled lightly.

"Hehe, you seem to have been getting a bit too forgetful today, Mister Xiao."

"Yeah." Beside Xiao, Isaac smiled enigmatically. "How could you forget that..."

He then walked over to the door of the cafe as he spoke, his smile never leaving his face. Then, with a simple pull, the door opened and...

The usual normal door of the cafe opened to reveal a large cavernous space outside. It was completely different from the usual scene of Fontaine they were familiar with.

Isaac then continued speaking as he turned towards him, his smile turning wider.

"I always have ways!"

The raid had now officially begun.

What they did not expect to also be in that cavern, however, was a certain blonde traveler.

...and a certain consultant.