Chapter 23

A storm descended from the sky, and the enormous body of the Stormterror Dvalin circled above, casting a massive shadow over everyone.

"Dvalin!" Venti shouted in surprise, staring at the dragon above.

"Why is Stormterror suddenly here, and it seems like it came from Mondstadt's direction." Jean looked worriedly towards Mondstadt in the distance, then back at the dragon circling above. "Everyone, be careful. It's coming down!"

No sooner had she finished speaking than the giant black shadow dived down. Stormterror's ferocious form appeared before them, jaws wide open, eyes glowing with a red light as wind elemental energy gathered in its maw.

"Wind, guide me!"

A clear voice rang out as dandelion seeds danced in the fierce wind. A large circular barrier formed just in time to block the descending wind bullet.

"By the power of judgment!"

A massive flaming bird shot into the sky, interrupting Dvalin's dive.

Stormterror twisted to avoid the fiery attack, soaring straight into the air. It spread its wings wide, gathering wind that transformed into countless sharp blades, raining down like a storm.

Already damaged, the landscape of Starsnatch Cliff cracked again. The few remaining plants were utterly wiped out, and the ground was riddled with punctures.

Inside the barrier, Klee stared angrily at the ruined Starsnatch Cliff, her cheeks puffed out in indignation. She looked up at Jean, who held her sword across her chest, and demanded, "Master Jean, can Klee use her explosive magic?"

Surrounded by wind, Jean shook her head. Klee pouted, staring at Stormterror high above, surrounded by wind elements, and held out her small hand.

A flame appeared in Klee's palm, compressing and concentrating. Wind gathered around her arm. In a moment, a small cyan orb, tinged with red light, floated above her hand. She crouched down, placing her other hand on the ground. Golden geo elements surfaced and merged with the sphere.

A brand-new bomb appeared in Klee's hand. Happily molding it into the shape of her signature "Jumpy Dumpty," she raised it high above her head and called to Hiroshi, "Big Brother Breeze, look! Klee made a new Jumpy Dumpty bomb. Can we call it Number 4?"

Lost in thought, Hiroshi was interrupted by Klee's shout. He looked down, seeing the little Jumpy Dumpty bomb in her hands, and asked, "Klee, do you plan to throw Number 4 at Stormterror?"

"Mhm!" Klee nodded earnestly. "Starsnatch Cliff is where Mommy and Klee made a promise. Klee promised to blow it up herself, so how can I let that bad dragon destroy it first?"

"Uh, isn't Starsnatch Cliff a bit too pitiful in all of this?" Paimon, who had been nervously eyeing Stormterror, couldn't help but comment. She floated close to Klee's hand, pointing at Jumpy Dumpty Number 4. "And how could this even reach Stormterror? It's at least two thousand meters above us!"

"It's okay, Klee thinks she can hit it." With a determined pout, Klee scrutinized the dragon in the sky, waving her hand. "Master Jean, can Klee throw Number 4 now?"

Jean, struggling to maintain the protective barrier around everyone, glanced at the tiny bomb in Klee's hand and sighed. "Klee... alright, go ahead and try."

"Yay!" Klee cheered, handing her backpack to Hiroshi. Rolling up her right sleeve, she exposed her small, pale arm and fixed her gaze firmly on Stormterror.

Hiroshi grabbed Paimon, who wanted to get closer to see. Klee wound up and threw Jumpy Dumpty Number 4 towards Dvalin.

The bomb vanished instantly, without even making a sound. In the next moment, Stormterror's chest dented inward as the bomb pushed it a few meters upwards.

"Boom!"

Following Klee's excited shout, a massive explosion echoed through the sky. Golden flames engulfed Stormterror, blazing brightly like a new sun. Screeching in pain, the dragon fell straight down.

Diluc, who had been watching the situation seriously, now turned to Klee with a bewildered expression. Klee was pressing her arm against Paimon's, playfully comparing muscles. Her small arm showed no sign of strength, looking soft and dainty.

"Klee, try this." Diluc handed his heavy claymore to Klee.

Klee looked up at Diluc curiously, taking the handle with her small hand. She lifted it above her head, swinging it several times effortlessly. There was no sound of the blade cutting through the air.

Diluc's eyes widened. Watching Klee casually swing the incredibly heavy claymore as if it were a stick, he quietly took the sword back, stepping aside.

Boom!

A tremendous crash resounded as Stormterror hit the ground, creating a massive crater not far from them.

Jean withdrew the protective barrier and turned around to see Klee taking her backpack back from Hiroshi, excitedly running towards the downed dragon. Jean could only sigh as her understanding of Klee was once again redefined.

"Roar!!!"

Suddenly, an angry roar echoed from the crater. Klee immediately skidded to a stop, spun around, and dashed back to hide behind Hiroshi, peeking out to watch the charred dragon roar in fury, extending its neck skyward.

Once its rage subsided, Dvalin lowered its head, its blood-red eyes locking onto Venti. A familiar melody echoed in its mind, a fragment of a time long past.

Rage rekindled in its heart, the curse in its blood boiled. Struggling to stand, Dvalin looked at Venti, mouth agape in a silent scream, questioning why Venti wasn't there during the endless torment of the curse. Why wasn't he there when Dvalin woke to find himself shunned and misunderstood by the humans he once protected? And why now, after all this time, had he come back?

Venti's face was pale as he strummed his lyre, hoping to reach Dvalin.

Ignoring the melody echoing in its mind, Dvalin turned its gaze to Klee, hiding behind Hiroshi. The feeling of salvation—a glimpse of truth—remained with her.

But negative emotions surged once again, drowning out the rationality Venti's music had temporarily rekindled. Dvalin roared, firing several wind bullets at them before soaring into the sky, diving towards Klee.

"Venti, if we get one more of Dvalin's tears, can you activate the Holy Lyre to cleanse the curse and awaken his true self?" Hiroshi asked without turning his head.

Venti, grief-stricken, looked bewildered for a moment, then quickly nodded. "Just don't hit him too hard!"

"Got it."

With a cheerful reply, Hiroshi waved his hand, dispersing the incoming wind bullets. As Dvalin dived at them, Hiroshi flexed his wrist.

"Klee, watch closely! This is a type of strength called 'True Dragon Force.'"

As Dvalin approached, everything suddenly went black. Then, his body went limp, bones seeming to shatter as he collapsed onto the ground.

From behind Hiroshi, Klee saw it all clearly—Hiroshi grabbed Dvalin by the face mid-dive, swung him around, and slammed him into the ground.

Clapping his hands, Hiroshi glanced at the dragon, headfirst in the ground, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Mission accomplished."

**Note**: Hiroshi's strength ability revealed—True Dragon Force. With awakened dragon bloodline, you gain the power of a true dragon, capable of moving mountains and overturning seas.