Chapter 29: Phoenix

Kyouya's body trembled as the demonic voice in his head grew stronger, its dark presence enveloping him completely. A sense of power, both exhilarating and terrifying, surged through him, and he could feel the heat coursing within, ready to be unleashed.

In his mind, he felt the chains binding him, trapping him within his own consciousness as the demon's presence overwhelmed him, searing his soul with its infernal essence. He was now a passenger in his own body.

As the EXELCIUS brought down its colossal arm, the impact shook the very ground beneath them, stirring up a cloud of dust that covered the battlefield. In the midst of the chaos, Childe watched in horror.

As the dust settled, there stood Kyouya, his once familiar form now burning with intense pyro energy. He stood firm, pushing back against the giant automaton's arm with incredible strength.

The EXELCIUS, an unstoppable force just moments ago, now seemed to meet an immovable object. Flames danced around his body, their scorching intensity melting away the automaton's defenses.

"MUAHAHA! THIS VESSEL IS WORTHY OF ME!" the demon shouted as he pushed the giant Ruinguard's arm away.

"Ugh… what are you doing," Kyouya groaned from inside his mind.

All he could do was watch while the demon wreaked havoc. Kyouya's body, now controlled by the demon, moved with an otherworldly grace, his movements controlled entirely by the demon that held dominion over him.

Childe's heart raced as he witnessed the transformation, torn between awe and dread.

"Those flames… now you're cooking," he cheered.

This was not the Kyouya he knew, but an entity of raw power and chaos. The battle raged on, with Kyouya and the EXELCIUS locked in a fierce struggle for supremacy.

The demon's power surged through his veins, igniting his fists with fire. Leaping into the air, he landed on top of the EXELCIUS sending tremors through the automaton's metallic frame. He began repeatedly slamming his fists onto the robot with immense force.

"FEEL THE INFERNAL BARRAGE!" he shouted.

Each strike he delivered was infused with scorching flames, and there was no hint of mercy in his blazing eyes. The EXELCIUS slowly shattered, its defenses faltering with each fiery blow.

Sandrone, piloting from within, began to panic as she struggled to regain control. But the demon within Kyouya reveled in the chaos.

"THE HUNTER BECOMES THE HUNTED!" he laughed maniacally.

With every punch, the EXELCIUS seemed to crack apart ever so slightly. The demonic assault was unrelenting, as he danced around the automaton, dealing blow after blow.

Kyouya spoke to the demon in his head.

"Y-you… you've fought countless wars already, haven't you?"

"THAT'S RIGHT, BOY! I'M A FAR MORE EXPERIENCED WARRIOR THAN YOU'LL EVER BE. TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE OVER THIS WORLD. SO JUST SIT BACK AND WATCH!"

Sandrone desperately tried to create some distance between them so she could use her lasers but Kyouya wasn't budging. His body showed no signs of slowing down. Possessing otherworldly stamina and unmatched strength, he was a force to be reckoned with. This wasn't something she had anticipated.

He leaped onto the top of the automaton and landed a few inches from the pilot's seat. Sandrone panicked upon seeing him through the barrier, realizing that they were now closer than ever. Grabbing onto its metallic frame, he began pulling it apart slowly with sheer force.

"ALMOST THERE… SAY YOUR PRAYERS!"

If this were to continue he would be able to pull Sandrone out of the seat. She panicked and pulled the gear, managing to forcefully slam Kyouya away, sending him soaring through the air. But he made a quick recovery mid air, and dashed back to the ground, his fiery fists ready for another beatdown.

"GET OVER HERE"

Kyouya instantaneously dashed towards the Ruin Guard's feet. Sandrone was already at her wit's end and simply couldn't react to his swift moments. He reached out and grabbed hold of the EXELCIUS, hoisting it up with raw power.

"No way, comrade!"

Childe was shocked to see that a mere human could carry a giant robot that was ten times his size. In a stunning display of strength, Kyouya spun the automaton around before hurling it towards a nearby pile of rocks.

The collision shattered the rocks, and the EXELCIUS crashed to the ground in a heap of metal and debris. Sandrone's fear intensified as she realized the dire situation she was in.

She tried to pilot the damaged automaton, but the damage it sustained was far too much. Kyouya was also rapidly sprinting towards the fallen EXELCIUS, ready to continue his relentless assault. As the battle raged on, it was clear that there was no going back. His fate was now sealed with the darkness that had consumed him.

"LET'S WRAP THIS UP!"

Kyouya's body blazed with the intense Pyro energy as he summoned an ancient claymore in his hand while running towards the giant robot. It seemed like a relic from wars fought centuries ago, yet its power was unmistakable.

"This thing again…" he groaned.

"THAT'S RIGHT. FINISH HER OFF"

"Whatever.. I'm in too deep at this point," he sighed.

With a swift leap, he descended upon the fallen EXELCIUS, its helm just within his reach. Sandrone closed her eyes, a tear trickling down her cheek as she accepted her fate.

"Burn."

Taking a deep breath, Kyouya focused his immense Pyro energy into a single decisive strike. The helm of the EXELCIUS bore the brunt of the attack, causing a massive explosion that pulsated through the desolate lands.

Childe covered his eyes from the blinding light as the shockwave rippled through the surroundings. When the smoke finally cleared, he could see that the once formidable automaton had been split into two pieces by his comrade's fiery blade.

Only Kyouya was standing in the middle, his body still engulfed in flames. His eyes met Childe's and there was a glimpse of the demonic power that had taken over him during the battle. Childe felt a shiver run down his spine as he met his gaze.

Kyouya coughed out blood as the flames around him finally began to wane.

"Comrade..?"

Childe slowly approached him and tried to put a hand on his shoulder but Kyouya pushed him away.

"Fuck off."

He could see the pain etched on his comrade's face, a clear indication that the demonic influence still lingered on his mind.

Kyouya's head felt like it was melting. Ignoring the throbbing headache, he limped toward the shattered automaton, the remnants of Sandrone's body unrecognizable in the aftermath of the explosive battle.

As he stood over the wreckage, he noticed a glimmer of something amidst the debris, a powerful Geo delusion at the helm of the EXELCIUS. It was sturdy enough to survive the explosion, a testament to its true power.

"TAKE IT BOY. THAT'S OUR NEXT STEP TO GLORY!"

The demon in his head shouted at him to reach out and claim the crystal before him.

"B-but…"

"STOP BEING A WEAKLING. YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO FIGHT BACK IF YOU REFUSE TO TAKE WHAT'S TRULY YOURS. GRAB IT. GRAB IT NOW"

"No…."

"YOU JUST KILLED A HARBINGER. THE FATUI WILL COME FOR YOUR HEAD. AND WHEN THAT TIME COMES, DO YOU WANT TO BE A SITTING DUCK? OR DO YOU WANT TO LIVE?"

Its allure was undeniable, promising an even greater source of power than what he currently held. He witnessed how sturdy Sandrone's automatons were. If he could absorb this specialized Geo delusion, he could potentially become indestructible himself.

"But… isn't this too much?"

Yet, he kept thinking about the consequences. Furina warned him that he may lose his humanity if he absorbs too many delusions.

Childe stood behind him, silent and watchful, sensing the internal struggle his friend faced. Being a delusion user himself, he knew the temptation of these contraptions were immense. As much as he wanted to help, he knew that this was a decision his comrade had to make on his own.

Kyouya's hand hovered over the Geo delusion, his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel the dark energy tugging at him, drawing him closer to the source of power. But deep within his conscience, a glimmer of his true self fought back, reminding him of the dangers that lay ahead.

"Fuck it."

With a heavy heart, he reached out and grabbed the delusion amidst the wreckage. The moment his fingers touched the pulsating crystal, an intense surge of power coursed through him, causing him to wince in pain.

"HAHAHA THERE WE GO!" the demon shouted in joy.

The absorption process began, and Kyouya felt the raw elemental energy merging with his own. It was both exciting and terrifying, as if he were channeling the very essence of the earth itself. The demon inside him stirred, its presence growing stronger with each passing moment.

"THAT'S IT! I FEEL ALIVE!"

Childe watched in awe as Kyouya's body convulsed with the strain of the newfound power. As the absorption process neared completion, his screams echoed through the desolate wasteland.

"AGHHHHHHHHHH!" he screamed out in pain.

The ground trembled beneath him as the process reached its climax. Kyouya released the delusion, panting heavily as he fell to his knees. He now possessed the power of Geo as well.

He could wield four elements at the same time, a feat that only a handful could achieve all over Teyvat. The immense power he now possessed was evident, but it came at a steep price.

The influence of the demon inside him had grown stronger than ever.

"MUAHAHAHA, BOY. YOU'VE DONE IT NOW!"

Childe rushed to his side.

"Comrade?"

"Leave me alone!" he shouted.

Childe stepped back slowly, unsure of what to do.

As Kyouya struggled to stand, the overwhelming power flowing throughout his body took a toll on him, causing him to pass out. Childe reached out and caught him just in time, preventing him from falling to the floor.

He stood there, holding his fallen comrade in his arms.

"Comrade? You okay? Hey, don't die on me here!" he yelled desperately.

Within the next hour, the Gardes arrived with reinforcements. They swiftly loaded Kyouya onto a waiting van. Without wasting a moment, the van sped through the desolate wasteland, racing towards the city. Inside, Childe stared at his comrade's lifeless body.

He felt restless thinking that Kyouya needed immediate medical attention but they might not even make it in time. Upon reaching the Fontaine General Hospital, the medics loaded him off the van and placed him on the stretcher as they rushed off to the ER.

Childe wasn't allowed to follow him as he was quickly placed under restraints by the Gardes.This was the nature of his deal with the Hydro Archon. Freedom was still out of his reach.

"Fuck….."

Clorinde and Kazuha sprinted alongside the stretcher on both sides.

"Kyouya!?" she shouted.

There was no response. The stretcher finally reached the ER and they entered inside. Clorinde stood there with a worried expression. Kazuha placed a hand on her shoulder.

"We can only wait now. I truly believe our friend will make it through this. He isn't one to give up so easily."

"I hope you're right, Kazuha."