This was the first time the people of Liyue had seen Dvalin. Seeing such a powerful green dragon naturally inspired some fear.
But with the Liyue Qixing here to protect them, with Barbatos, the Anemo Archon, also present, and with the mysterious storyteller, there was no way Dvalin could destroy Wangshu Inn.
Now, looking at the furious dragon in the sky, Li Mo had no intention of killing it. Instead, he reached out to the system.
"System, is there a way to cure Dvalin of its poison?"
[Ding! System notification: The following pills can cure the poison afflicting Dvalin, the Dragon of the East!]
[Antidote Pill: Price 300 Storytelling Points—]
[Antidote Elixir: Price 1000 Storytelling Points—]
[Antidote…]
Considering the nature of Dvalin's poison, the Antidote Pill would suffice. There was no need to spend more points than necessary.
Li Mo chose to exchange. "Exchange for the Antidote Pill."
[Ding! Exchange successful!]
[Congratulations, host! You have obtained Antidote Pill x1!]
The next moment, a white pill radiating a sacred glow appeared in Li Mo's hand.
The moment the Antidote Pill appeared, a rich medicinal fragrance spread through the air, intoxicating all who smelled it.
Then, Li Mo stepped forward and began to walk on air, rising into the sky, flying directly toward Dvalin.
When Dvalin struck with its massive claws, Li Mo raised a single hand and stopped them effortlessly.
The crowd was stunned.
Under their astonished gazes, Li Mo flicked his finger, sending the Antidote Pill directly into Dvalin's mouth.
Facing the still-agitated Dvalin, Li Mo said, "I have cured your poison."
"If you want to hear the rest of the story, stay nearby and listen quietly."
"If you continue to cause trouble, I will have no choice but to act against you."
With that, an astonishing aura erupted from Li Mo.
This power did not come from a Vision. It was like Zhongli, the Raiden Shogun, and the others—it came from something akin to a Gnosis.
Then, before everyone's eyes, Dvalin, who had been so furious moments before, began to calm down after swallowing the pill Li Mo had given it.
It slowly nodded its massive head toward the storyteller.
Everyone was dumbfounded. "Just like that???"
No adeptus had arrived. The Conqueror of Demons had not appeared. The Liyue Qixing had stood by and watched. Barbatos had been slacking off.
And yet, with just a few words, the storyteller had subdued Dvalin?
The listeners knew Li Mo was powerful, but they had never imagined his abilities were so great.
Only the Raiden Shogun, Zhongli, Barbatos, and a few other powerful figures had seen the pill. They were equally astonished, wondering what kind of medicine could cure the poison that had tormented Dvalin for a thousand years.
Then, Dvalin, who had been circling the sky, actually descended, landing on a cliff outside Wangshu Inn. It looked toward Li Mo and Barbatos and lowered its head.
Its eyes, once clouded by poison, were now clear and bright.
Seeing Dvalin so obedient, Li Mo smiled. "Little one, it seems you also enjoy my stories."
"Behave yourself and don't cause trouble."
"I need to continue my storytelling."
With that, Li Mo walked back into Wangshu Inn.
Everyone: "???"
The storyteller had some nerve. A mere human, calling Dvalin "little one"?
After dealing with Dvalin, Li Mo ignored the crowd's shock, returned to the stage, took a sip of bitter tea, and continued the story of the black dragon Durin.
As he spoke, the Electro-formed projections above the inn shifted once more.
In the images…
After leaving Rhinedottir, Durin flew straight toward the green land in the north.
As it flew toward Mondstadt, Durin sang joyfully, wanting to share its happiness with everyone.
But its voice was so loud it shook the snow from the mountains, triggering a massive avalanche.
To stop the avalanche from spreading to Mondstadt and destroying that green land, Durin used its massive body as a wall, blocking the snow with its own flesh.
It was buried completely.
As the avalanche ceased, Durin smiled.
It had used its power to protect that green land.
"Mother—"
"I am about to reach that world—"
Durin pushed aside the snow burying it, quickly emerged from the pile, and excitedly took to the sky.
Crossing the boundary between the snowy mountain and the green land, it flew straight toward the heart of Mondstadt, carrying with it the "blessing" of poison.
The moment it entered this world, it heard the calls of birds.
But as the birds drew near, without even touching Durin's body, simply breathing the poisoned air, they fell dead.
What a pity—Durin's body was so vast it could not notice such small birds.
Wherever Durin flew, drops of black poisonous blood fell.
Whether it was the great trees with their thick branches, the fish swimming freely in the water, or the hilichurls wielding clubs—every living thing that touched the black poison died.
And so, with a heart full of blessing, Durin spread poison wherever it went, bringing death to Mondstadt.
Not only that, Durin saw the small animals running on the ground, saw humans trembling in fear.
It was overjoyed.
It naively thought the humans were dancing to celebrate its arrival, that the animals were crying out in welcome.
So it grew even happier, flying straight toward the hill covered in blooming flowers.
But then, carried on the wind, it heard that familiar song again, the harp it had heard so many times.
The singer was nearby?
Durin was overjoyed.
Finally, it could meet them and learn to sing from them.
...
As the innocent Durin was used by Rhinedottir, bringing poison and death to Mondstadt, Mondstadt was at its weakest.
The position of the Knight of Boreas was vacant. The Knights of Favonius lacked strength.
In such dire circumstances, there was no power to resist the black dragon.
So the people of Mondstadt called out to the Anemo Archon, praying once more for his protection.
Hearing his people's cries, Barbatos took to the skies above Mondstadt with his companion, Dvalin.
"Order the Knights of Favonius to fall back."
"I will handle this black dragon."
With that, Barbatos and his companion, Dvalin, flew toward Durin.
Soon, in the sky above Mondstadt—
A black dragon, its body dripping with poisonous blood.
Durin.
A green dragon, radiant with grace and holy light.
Dvalin.
Two dragons born from the same root, brothers who did not know each other.
After growing up, they met again.
Baring claws and fangs.