Moving the time slightly forward, when half the sun was embedded in the hills, Jean, Clara, Lumine, Venti, Diluc, Rosaria, and the little Paimon (who was just there to make up the numbers) arrived together at the edge of Stormterrors Lair.
From the blown-up bridge, they could see a solitary tall tower standing in the distance. It stood like a lone monarch against the backdrop of the orange-yellow sky, while the low houses clustered at its base stretched continuously toward the edge of the basin, blocked only by the high mountains in the distance.
It was like the people of Old Mondstadt, surrounded by soldiers, bowing and kneeling before Decarabian, the Solitary King of the High Tower.
Lumine gazed into the distance, where the landscape was nothing but ruin as far as the eye could see. Some relatively intact architectural remains had been occupied by the monsters of the area and converted into settlements.
"Is this... Stormterrors Lair?" Lumine murmured.
Beside her, Paimon shielded her eyes from the overexposed sunlight with her tiny hands, exclaiming in a voice filled with shock, "This, this is practically like a destroyed country!"
"It's not 'like'," Jean said, her voice sounding like she was recalling a piece of history. "The entirety of Stormterrors Lair is the ruins of Old Mondstadt.
At that time, Mondstadt was ruled by the God of Storms, Decarabian. That God enveloped the entirety of Old Mondstadt in fierce gales. The howling winds prevented people from seeing far or working, forcing them to kneel and pray daily to the Solitary King of the High Tower. But all they received was a brief glimpse of Him seated in the frosty sky."
Speaking of this, Jean looked at Venti: "Later, it was a group of heroes who, together with Lord Barbatos, saved the citizens of Mondstadt, overthrew the tyranny of the Solitary King, and led our ancestors to establish New Mondstadt."
Lumine also looked at Venti, but Venti shook his head: "I didn't do anything. It was them—the heroes of humanity—who overthrew Decarabian's tyranny."
"And Decarabian... He was just a poor fellow who loved people the wrong way..."
Venti's voice carried a rare hint of solemnity and seriousness, unlike his usual state, but he suddenly dropped all previous emotion as if taking off a mask, reverting to his usual annoying demeanor: "But let's not dwell on those old dusty matters. Shouldn't we first figure out how to enter the High Tower?"
Diluc rarely agreed with Venti's point of view: "Whether you are being humble or not, given the current situation, we had better not pass through the architectural cluster below. This place is already ruins, and Ms. Alice's personal demolitions have turned it into a maze. Therefore, I suggest we try to stick to the high ground and enter via that broken bridge over there."
After Diluc finished speaking, he pointed toward a large bridge in the distance that Alice had also blown up.
Clara touched her delicate, moist little lips with her small hand and whispered, "So, all these ruins have been 'cared for' by Auntie Alice?"
Jean shook her head again: "Not all of them." She then selectively pointed out several locations, explaining that these spots were originally relatively intact structures, but for some reason, Alice found them pleasing and blew them up into performance art.
Jean sighed while pointing: "I truly wonder if it's because she is a Elves species, whose values differ from humans. Many events that seem ancient to me, she might have experienced firsthand.
Some artifacts or buildings are 'antiques' and 'ruins' to us, but to her, they might just be dilapidated little houses she used as a secret base when she was young, nothing rare or special.
Never mind, thinking about it won't help. Let's hurry up and move out!"
With Venti's assistance, the group quickly found a path among the many bridges demolished by Ms. Alice that allowed them to enter the High Tower.
However, that wasn't the end of it. Children who frequently play the main story know that entering the High Tower requires one more step: solving the puzzle.
"I don't know how Dvalin moves in and out freely when there's a Protective Formation in place, because judging by his current state, he clearly doesn't possess the rationality required to create complex barriers," Paimon secretly complained behind Lumine, who was frantically solving the puzzle.
Jean, the Acting Grand Master, and the others beside her were also dazzled by the sight.
In just a moment, the complex decryption was soloed and speed-run by Lumine, giving the Acting Grand Master Jean no chance to offer hints as in the original storyline.
Lumine wiped the sweat from her brow and turned back to give everyone a peace sign: "It's solved!"
Clara clapped happily: "Wow! You're so good at solving puzzles!"
Lumine: "Clara, who taught you to talk like that?"
"Huh? Before, on the Astral Express, Orion raised a little beast called 'Sun-Eater'. I learned it from him. Every time someone finished something, it would say that exact phrase. I thought it was cute."
"...Guess why it's called Sun-Eater?"
With the puzzle solved, Venti immediately opened the seal completely.
Venti withdrew his hand and said, "Now, all we have to do is stand on the Magic Array, and we will be teleported inside the High Tower."
Paimon nodded nervously: "Are we finally going to face the final battle? Suddenly, I feel a little nervous."
Led by Venti, everyone stepped onto the Magic Array.
Jean held a standard issue longsword of the Knights of Favonius, and Diluc stood there with his arms crossed, carrying a two-handed claymore on his back.
After all, unlike in the game, Five-Star Weapons are legends among legends in this world and are not commonly seen everywhere.
Lumine held Clara's small hand to prevent any accidents for the little girl, and Rosaria also pulled out the spear she carried with her, ready to fight at any moment.
Paimon flew to Venti's side: "Hey, Bard, after we defeat Stormterror, what will happen to him? Will he stay here?"
Venti spread his hands, and anemo element gathered in his grasp. The Five-Star Weapon, the "Skyward Harp," appeared in his hands—a bow shaped like a harp with slightly verdant strings.
Holding the Skyward Harp, Venti smiled: "I hope he can live a life of 'freedom'."
Jean, Rosaria, and Diluc all looked over.
"freedom is the fundamental color of the Mondstadter, and the soul of Mondstadt itself.
I hope that Dvalin will no longer live for duty, no longer live for protection. He should have his own thoughts, interests, and hobbies. He should live for himself.
I hope he can be free."
The Magic Array shone brightly—a sign that they were about to enter the decisive battlefield.
In the final moment, Lumine turned her head to look in a certain direction.
On the edge of the High Tower, a Ruin Guard that had ceased activity sat alone, staring blankly at the Sky Island above.
"Are you also watching over someone's freedom?"
A flash of bright light passed, and the figures atop the High Tower vanished... Inside the High Tower, all internal structures had been hollowed out, leaving only the circular platforms on the tower's periphery intermittently preserved.
A flash of light shimmered, and Venti and Lumine's group reappeared.
After steadying themselves, everyone looked around. They were indeed inside the High Tower, but a massive storm enveloped the entire structure, preventing them from seeing anything outside the tower while perfectly clarifying the internal arena.
"This situation is somewhat similar to Andrius's side. Do all Anemo Archon's Retainers like this kind of atmosphere?"
Lumine teased Venti, and Jean also looked forward after surveying the surroundings.
Diluc, standing at the very front of the group, was currently standing at the edge of the platform, looking down without saying a word.
"Senior Diluc? Is something wrong?"
Jean asked as she walked forward, and the others followed closely behind.
Before the group could reach Diluc, he spoke first.
"Perhaps—not bringing Orion along wasn't a rational choice."
Everyone looked down, finally understanding the reason for his words.
In just half a day, Stormterror, whose wings were previously only slightly red, had changed again.
Its body, which originally bore verdant feathers and dragon scales, was now largely covered in dark purple crystals, seemingly cladding the giant dragon in a thick layer of armor.
Flesh and crystal were mixed together, and dark red blood flowed from the parts where the skin was pierced. The blood quickly scabbed over, forming new crystals.
The giant dragon also noticed the new arrivals, and its scarlet eyes suddenly lifted to look at the group.
This was the omen of war beginning.
[Name: Dvalin
Species: Elemental Dragon
Identity: Dragon of the East Wind (Under Forced Coronation)
Affiliation: Mondstadt/Teyvat/Abyss
Sovereign Dragon Authority (Incomplete - Coronation not yet finished): anemo element / Wild anemo element
Introduction: Once the Dragon of the East Wind of Mondstadt, the East Wind Guardian of Mondstadt.
Now, through the charity of the Abyss Prince, the bottomless Abyss has sown, rooted, and grown upon his body. The great power of the Void Realm is corroding the Light Realm. That usurped throne must be reclaimed, and one-seventh of the Supreme Crown shall be placed upon you by the Abyss itself.
The Authority of the Sovereign Dragon is about to return to its place. The anemo element must revert to the planet's original form. When the Wild Wind covers Mondstadt and destroys the Anemo God's Throne, the complete Authority will forge the Perfect Dragon.
Barbatos, I ask you:
Is freedom commanded by the God of Freedom still true freedom?]
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