Chapter 253: Abyssal Countermeasures
"Something's not right..." Stelle shook her wrist, the faint, jarring sensation from a moment ago still lingering. She stared down at the monster's remains as they rapidly disintegrated under the corrosive influence of Abyssal energy.
'That last strike... the feedback was all wrong,'she thought.'Logically, with the sharpness of the star-forged blade and the Path of Destruction I poured into it, I should have cleaved through that thing without any resistance. The sword energy should have been faster.'
But upon impact, she had distinctly felt the momentum of her attack bleed away, as if an invisible, viscous force was actively obstructing the blow and leeching its power.
This feeling of obstruction wasn't just a simple suppression of force; it carried a familiar, repulsive chill—a cold erosion that subtly attempted to creep back along the invisible connection of her power.
Her gaze dropped to the ground. There, almost indistinguishable from the shadows, were faint wisps of black energy silently seeping from cracks in the soil. They coiled and writhed as if alive, trying to entwine themselves around her boots.
For now, they couldn't breach the protective aura of her own power, but their pervasive, probing nature made her skin crawl.
Stelle fell into deep thought. Beside her, March 7th and Dan Heng remained silent, trusting that she wouldn't simply zone out on a battlefield without good reason.
At that same moment, high above the forests of Natlan, a flash of azure light flickered into existence upon the giant cliff face that the Suspended Wood Tribe called home. The figures of Wise, Belle, and the bard Venti solidified on the rocky ground.
Their luck seemed to hold; the teleportation had deposited them on a relatively flat, open platform at the cliff's peak. The vantage point offered a sweeping view of the jungle canopy below and the undulating mountain ranges in the distance.
For the time being, no Abyss monsters were in sight. However, the distant sounds of battle—the percussive blasts of elemental power and the guttural roars of monsters—were a clear sign that this place was no paradise. The flames of war had already reached these heights.
Wise and Belle turned to the green-clad poet, their expressions tinged with curiosity.
So this was Venti. The witty, occasionally mischievous member of the chat group, affectionately dubbed the "Runaway Anemo God" by Lumine and Paimon.
He looked every bit as young and carefree as his online persona suggested, a stark contrast to Zhongli's unshakable, mountain-like presence. Venti's face was lit with a lively smile, his emerald eyes curving into crescents, as if the tense atmosphere of war was of no concern to him at all.
He gave the siblings a cheerful wave, his voice as light and airy as a breeze rustling through a forest. "Ya-hoo~! Hello there, I'm Venti! For this little commission, I'll be taking over escort duty from old man Zhongli! Don't let my looks fool you, I'm pretty formidable myself!"
His tone was infectious, carrying a peculiar magic that seemed to put people at ease. The tension that had coiled in Wise and Belle's chests—a product of the unfamiliar environment and its potential dangers—unconsciously loosened at his refreshing greeting.
Back on the battlefield, the final piece of the puzzle clicked into place for Stelle. She spun around, her voice sharp and serious. "Dan Heng, March! Something's wrong! It's not just that our power is being suppressed! This entire environment is the problem!"
She pointed at the ground. "The very soil is seeping with the Abyss's aura. It's constantly eroding us and interfering with our attacks! This feeling... it's just like the environment when we rescued Kachina in the Night Kingdom! That same omnipresent weakening and corrosion!"
At the mention of the Night Kingdom, the expressions of Dan Heng and March 7th grew taut. The memory of that mission was still fresh; the pervasive Abyssal erosion and the way it had sapped their strength had left a deep impression. If not for Paimon's Optimization Power and the help of the Wayob, they would have been caught in a brutal, attritional struggle.
"If this is truly a situation similar to the Night Kingdom..." Dan Heng began, his analysis calm and measured. His sharp gaze swept over the purplish-black mist that was slowly growing denser around them, and he could feel the corrosive energy within it strengthening. "Then this erosion and weakening effect is probably not an isolated phenomenon. It's very likely spread throughout all of Natlan's main combat zones."
"This might be one of the Abyss's core tactics for this invasion," he concluded. "Altering the very battlefield to maximize their advantage."
There was no time for hesitation. Ensuring the team's safety and relaying this intelligence were now the top priorities.
Dan Heng's hands formed a swift, complex seal. A steady, heavy, jade-green light, laced with the feeling of cool, moist vapor, spread out from him like ripples in a pond, washing over Stelle, March 7th, and the curious little March floating nearby.
A thin yet resilient energy shield, its surface shimmering with constantly flowing water patterns, enveloped each of them completely.
The moment the shield formed, the tiny black wisps that had been attempting to creep closer recoiled as if they had touched fire. They were held at bay, and where they made contact with the shield, they dissolved with faint hissing sounds, neutralized by the pure Hydro and Ley Line energy contained within the barrier.
"This shield will provide basic protection," Dan Heng explained. "It can resist a certain degree of physical sneak attacks and energy erosion."
He then immediately divided his focus, opening the chat group. This information had to be shared at once, especially to warn companions who relied more heavily on external equipment or whose own physical defenses were less strong.
He concisely described Stelle's discovery and the environmental hazards.
[Honkai: Star Rail · Dan Heng: @All Members Urgent Intel: The environment in the Natlan combat zone is suspected to be similar to the 'Night Kingdom,' featuring continuous Abyssal erosion and attack-weakening effects.]
[Honkai: Star Rail · Dan Heng: Faint black energy is seeping from the ground. Please be mindful of your defenses and avoid prolonged contact with the ground or staying in one area for too long. This phenomenon may significantly reduce the effectiveness of attacks that rely on energy projection or precision technological weapons.]
[Honkai: Star Rail · Dan Heng: @Himeko Please pay special attention. I recommend adjusting your tactics and focusing on your own safety.]
The message landed in the group chat and immediately sparked a reaction. Everyone, scattered across different battlefields, had sensed similar anomalies but hadn't been able to clearly define the threat until now.
The instant Zhongli saw Dan Heng's message, he acted. For him, refining a few basic protective talismans was a simple matter.
[System Notification: Genshin Impact · Zhongli has deposited item [Qingxin Amulet] x20 in the group warehouse.]
[Genshin Impact · Zhongli: These are some trinkets I refined in my leisure time. They are fashioned from Liyue's native raw jade, supplemented with Qingxin-flower runes and a trace of my own Geo elemental power. When worn, they can help clear the mind, calm the spirit, and, to a certain extent, resist the invasion of external malevolence and dispel undesirable states.]
[Genshin Impact · Zhongli: In this situation, they may help you all resist the erosion of the Abyssal aura. Should you encounter a life-threatening situation, the jade pendant will also activate on its own, condensing the surrounding Geo element to form a Jade Shield for your protection. Here in Teyvat, where the elements are abundant, its effect should be quite considerable. You may each claim one, for any unforeseen needs.]
[Himeko: This is a lifesaver, Mr. Zhongli. My sincere thanks. The stability of my equipment is indeed being affected in this environment.]
[Genshin Impact · Paimon: Ooh, with one of Zhongli's jade pendants, Paimon feels way safer! It feels like the air around us is fresher already!]
[Honkai Star Rail · Stelle: Claimed, claimed! Thank you, Mr. Zhongli!]
[Inorin's Note:
Enjoying the story? Dropping a quick review, comment, or Power Stone means the world to me!
Want to read ahead on our official home, or unlock 50 advanced chapters (plus an Ad-Free experience) to feed your addiction? Help keep this shameless translator alive here:
(P.S. Replace the [.] with a regular dot . to use the links!)
🌐 Official Website: elysianreads[.]com
✨ Patreon (50 Advanced Chapters & Ad-Free): patreon[.]com/InorinTL
☕ Ko-fi (Support / Sponsor): ko-fi[.]com/InorinTL
Thank you so much for reading and keeping this project alive!]