Chapter 28: Chapter 28
[Exiting Immersive Mode]
[Reward: Talent "Aura of the God of Storms."]
Effect: You can manifest wind elements as an aura to intimidate other beings. The greater the disparity in power between you and your target, the higher the success rate.
[From then on, you devised "new methods" to punish Barbatos. Even you were unsure if your actions stemmed more from a desire for vengeance or a darker need for release.]
[Age 1881:] [At the suggestion of the Wisdom of the West Wind, you entered a formal alliance with the neighboring nation of Liyue.]
[Though invading Liyue would have been an optimal strategy, the strength of Morax, the God of Contracts, had left a deep impression on you. Moreover, you had once promised never to trespass upon Liyue's lands.]
[If you couldn't be enemies, it was best to be allies.]
[You had assumed that nearly two millennia would have erased Morax's memory of you, but to your surprise, he not only remembered but expressed astonishment at your rise.]
[Back then, you were an obscure, wandering god in Mondstadt. Now, your towering stronghold could even glimpse the borders of Liyue.]
[After some deliberation, Morax agreed to the alliance. Unlike the unified Mondstadt under your rule, Liyue was a land teeming with rival gods. Morax's ability to maintain his dominion amid constant battles spoke volumes about his strength.]
[During the signing of the pact, an unexpected event occurred—a rogue god launched a sudden attack on Liyue Harbor.]
[You viewed this as an excellent opportunity to witness Morax's power. Though the rogue god's strength was unremarkable, even your subordinate, the Salt of the South Wind, could have easily defeated them.]
[However, Morax didn't intervene personally. Instead, he dispatched a subordinate—a petite blue-haired girl whose appearance was almost comical in contrast to her divine adversary.]
[At first, you thought Morax was jesting. Yet, to your astonishment, the girl held her own against the god, matching their blows with surprising resilience.]
[But a god is still a god. Just as the battle reached a stalemate, the rogue god opened its jaws wide and swallowed the girl whole.]
[You were momentarily alarmed, wondering if you should use a wind blade to disembowel the god. Before you could act, the god's eyes rolled back, and it began to convulse violently, clutching its throat. Moments later, it collapsed and died.]
[The blue-haired girl emerged from its mouth, disheveled but unharmed.]
["Is this some kind of Liyue sorcery?" you remarked, impressed. "Defeating foes from within their own stomachs—it's a technique I've never seen before."]
["It's not sorcery," Morax replied, his tone as calm as ever. "It simply choked to death on Ganyu."]
[Though the god's death was absurdly comedic, there was no denying the girl's strength. Ganyu's capabilities were a testament to Morax's forces, and it was clear he had more warriors of her caliber.]
[Morax's message was clear: Liyue's strength extended far beyond him alone. Any attempt to invade would exact a steep price.]
[Thus, the alliance between Mondstadt and Liyue was sealed. Morax's policy for Liyue was simple—never invade another nation but never permit anyone to trespass on Liyue's soil. For him, the alliance was wholly advantageous.]
[Age 2138:] [Mondstadt's territory had quietly expanded to the coast. However, the burgeoning population placed increasing pressure on the nation, especially in coastal settlements frequently raided by bandits.]
[These raiders were not Mondstadt's own but "Ronin" from the distant island nation of Inazuma.]
[These outlaws, known as the Wild Vagrants, were former warriors exiled or fleeing punishment in Inazuma. With no place in their homeland, they turned to piracy, targeting your subjects to survive.]
[They established hideouts on islands scattered between Mondstadt and Inazuma, gradually consolidating into a significant force.]
[You sent envoys to Inazuma, requesting they address this issue. However, Inazuma's Kanjou Commission dismissed them coldly, refusing even to let Mondstadt's ships dock.]
[Inazuma's insolence enraged you. At the time, the island nation faced internal strife from overpopulation and external threats. War was the perfect opportunity to redirect its turmoil, and after centuries of preparation, your Winds of the World had become a formidable force.]
[You formally issued a declaration of war against Inazuma. The Shogunate scoffed at your challenge, confident in her abilities and the natural barrier of the ocean. She deemed any attempt by Mondstadt to match Inazuma's naval prowess a fool's errand.]
[Your first move was to lead your forces to seize the islands housing the Wild Vagrants. Among their ranks were former Inazuman samurai who had served Shogunate. From them, you extracted critical intelligence about Inazuma's military and geography with ease.]
[On a day when thick sea fog covered everything, soldiers of the Tenryou Commission conducted their routine patrols along the shore. However, the heavy fog limited their visibility to only a few kilometers at most. When Mondstadt's fleet emerged from the dense fog, the soldiers realized the gravity of the situation.]
[The Tenryou Commission was no pushover. They quickly mobilized the navy to counterattack. One had to admit, as a maritime nation, Inazuma's shipbuilding technology far surpassed Mondstadt's. Their fleet, with sturdy ships and powerful cannons, was undoubtedly the dominant force on the seas.]
[Yet, Inazuma seemed to have forgotten—you are the Archon of Storms, the Lord of Tempests. Over the sea, the most terrifying force is not lightning splitting the heavens but the storm that can raise monstrous waves.]
[High above, a massive blue dragon soared through the skies. Standing atop the dragon's spine, you commanded the hurricanes over the sea. The formidable ships, despite their superior craftsmanship, were like bathtub toys amidst the raging ocean.]
[Their opponents weren't Mondstadt's fleet but tornadoes and towering waves. The ferocious whirlwinds, like wild and frenzied dragons, swallowed the entire Inazuman navy, leaving no trace behind—not even splinters of wood.]
[Inazuma relied excessively on its naval power, resulting in a weak army on land. Leading your forces, you swiftly conquered several islands.]
[It was only then that Inazuma realized the severity of their plight. They were not up against a tyrant who merely built towers but a relentless executioner.]
[The Shogunate army, in the face of your battle organization, "Winds of the World," crumbled like paper. Their only show of bravery was their ritual suicides when facing certain defeat, seeking a hollow posthumous honor.]
[Like a storm, you led your forces into the lofty Tenshukaku. Strangely, the ruler of Inazuma, the so-called "Raiden Shogun," a violet-haired woman, exuded no aura of oppression when you confronted her.]
[As you prepared to act, another woman, identical to her, emerged from behind a screen, blade in hand, launching a ferocious assault.]
[It turned out the "Raiden Shogun" had a twin sister.]
[Since birth, apart from Morax and a "higher-tiered" being, you had rarely encountered any match. But this shadow warrior, the Raiden General, gave you a rare thrill of battle.]
[Her swordsmanship was peerless and imbued with the force of thunder. For a time, you were evenly matched. This intense battle lasted three days and nights, finally concluding with her unparalleled move, "Musou no Hitotachi."]
[That strike, even you couldn't fully withstand. Unfortunately, it didn't kill you. Exhausted from using her full strength, the Raiden Shogun's shadow ultimately fell in defeat.]
[Though this campaign exacted a high price, the spoils were plentiful. As the victor, you forced Inazuma to sign a series of unequal treaties.]
[The twin sisters—Raiden Makoto and Raiden Ei, one skilled in governance, the other in combat—together ruled Inazuma. The skilled martial artist Ei served as her elder sister's shadow warrior.]
[One clause in the unequal treaties demanded that Raiden Makoto be taken to Mondstadt's high tower as your hostage.]
[Of course, to maintain the Raiden Shogun's dignity, you publicly framed it as a divine marriage.]
[Strangely, the "higher-tiered" being who sought to prevent gods from forming bonds of love made no objection to this union, perhaps indifferent to such human-style agreements.]
[The choice of the unarmed Makoto over her seemingly more dangerous sister Ei was made upon the advice of the Wisdom of West Wind.]
[No matter how strong Ei was, she could only enhance her own power. As a defeated opponent, she posed no threat to you.]
[Makoto, with her cunning, was a far greater risk if left to govern Inazuma.]
[Who you married didn't matter to you—after all, she was merely a hostage, not truly your wife.]
[Among the other unequal clauses, apart from ceding territory, reparations, and annual tributes, the most crucial was Inazuma's recognition as a subordinate state. This marked the first annexation among the seven nations of Teyvat.]
[Yet the lofty, higher-tiered being remained silent on this matter.]
[You brought Raiden Makoto back to Mondstadt and held a grand "wedding." Even if it was merely for show, a divine marriage had to be treated with the utmost importance. All of Mondstadt celebrated for seven days and nights.]
[Your bridal chamber was atop the high tower. Naturally, a divine marriage didn't need to follow mortal customs.]
[You drank heavily, not out of joy from marrying another god, but from the satisfaction of conquering Inazuma, now allowing you to view the waves and sands that Amos longed for.]
[Raiden Makoto sat silently at the bedside, her expression indifferent, as though the revelry around her had nothing to do with her.]
---
[Entering Immersive Mode]
Standing before the silent purple-haired beauty, Lucas couldn't suppress his overwhelming sense of satisfaction.
Indeed, he had every reason to be proud. After all, he had just accomplished two unprecedented feats that might never be replicated.
The first was conquering Inazuma, and the second—marrying a deity.
"Hmph..."
Lucas let out a cold snort, a faintly intoxicated smile on his face. "General, do you regret your earlier rudeness toward me? If you hadn't, perhaps you wouldn't find yourself in such a predicament today."
Raiden Makoto was silent for a long time before she replied faintly, "I have no regrets."
"You truly have no need to regret," Lucas said, changing his tone. "In fact, conquering Inazuma was always one of my plans. It was merely a matter of when, not if."
"My... my sister was no match for you. That much is beyond dispute," Raiden Makoto said calmly. "Victory and defeat are common in warfare. There's no need for you to gloat."
"But I will gloat!" Lucas spread his arms wide, laughing maniacally. "Look at this room—I prepared it especially to imprison you."
"How coincidental," Raiden Makoto sneered coldly. "In Inazuma, I also had a room prepared just for you."
"Audacious!"
Lucas grabbed Raiden Makoto by the hair. A sharp glint flashed in her eyes, but Lucas was unfazed. Unlike Raiden Ei, Makoto might also be a deity, but her power was negligible by comparison. She posed no threat to him at all.
Even in the face of his aggression, Raiden Makoto remained composed, sneering coldly. "You may have defeated me, but... I will never yield to you."
In that instant, Lucas sensed an intense aura of menace emanating from her. It was the kind of feeling he'd only experienced when fighting Raiden Ei.
"Wait a moment..." Lucas narrowed his eyes coldly. "You wouldn't happen to actually be Raiden Ei, would you?"
After all, the two of them were so alike that even among identical twins, it would be nearly impossible to tell them apart.
What's more, Raiden Ei was officially Makoto's "shadow warrior," her double. If she had replaced Makoto and allowed herself to be captured, it wouldn't be entirely out of the question.
Even though Makoto didn't possess Ei's strength, she had once been a god. Without a Vision, she could still resist elemental forces to some degree. This made discerning between them extremely difficult.
"I am Raiden Makoto," she argued immediately. "There's no need for you to doubt."
"It's not hard to determine whether you're Makoto or Ei," Lucas said, gripping Makoto's chin with a cold glint in his eyes. "What I'm about to do next—if you're Ei, you'd resist without question."
With ease, Lucas pushed Raiden Makoto onto the bed. Her arms weren't as frail as one might expect. She made a token effort to push him away but ultimately gave up, allowing herself to be at his mercy.
"Are you truly not resisting?" he asked, his tone slow and mocking as he defiled the goddess. "Is it because you're powerless, or are you afraid of revealing your identity and intentionally holding back?"
"I don't have my sister's immense strength," Raiden Makoto said, biting her lip. "From the moment I became a hostage, I was prepared to sacrifice myself."
According to the Wisdom of West Wind, the best strategy was to use Raiden Makoto as a hostage. Yet in truth, it didn't matter to Lucas—whether she was Makoto or Ei.
As a god, he wasn't like mortals, prone to being blinded by desire. While the woman before him possessed beauty and grace unmatched even by Amos, his satisfaction stemmed not from her appearance but from the thrill of conquest.
Conquering nations. Conquering Inazuma. And now—conquering a powerful and beautiful woman.
Makoto closed her eyes, seemingly resigned to her fate.
"Open your eyes and look at me," he commanded, his tone brooking no dissent. "As a hostage, you are bound by our treaty. You cannot refuse any of my demands, or... I will invade Inazuma again."
Raiden Makoto hesitated briefly but ultimately opened her eyes.
What beautiful eyes they were. Though they brimmed with hatred, he remained unperturbed.
As Lucas advanced upon her, it was as though he were breaking through the formidable barriers of Inazuma once more—with ironclad will and relentless force, quenching his victories in the fiery blood of battle.
Her body shone with bursts of lightning, each touch jolting her like a defibrillator. At first, the lightning caused him intense pain. But over time—perhaps due to the weakening of Makoto's power or his body's growing resilience from fighting Raiden Ei—the pain subsided, transforming into a surge of strength.
[Exiting Immersive Mode]
[Acquired Trait: Conductive Physique]
[Effect: Your resistance to Electro elements has greatly increased. When struck by Electro attacks, there is a small chance of recovering health.]
[Entering Text Mode]
Had he truly developed resistance to electricity?
Though the name of this trait seemed ordinary and its applications limited, it was undeniably practical. Among the seven elements of Teyvat, gaining resistance to even one was a significant advantage.
[Age 2147: Years have passed since Inazuma's conquest. As a vassal state of Mondstadt, Inazuma remained subdued. Many Mondstadters traveled overseas, becoming merchants or settling in Inazuma, easing the tensions that once plagued Mondstadt.]
[Initially, the people of Inazuma resisted Mondstadt's control fiercely. Civilian uprisings aimed at overthrowing the regime were crushed with uncompromising force.]
[Age 2321: A large-scale rebellion emerged in Inazuma's islands, rallying hundreds of thousands in an attempt to reclaim sovereignty. Yet the insurrection was effortlessly suppressed by your army.]
[Mondstadt's betrayal had taught you a harsh lesson: soft rain and gentle winds could never secure loyalty. For these rebels, only a storm would suffice.]
[All rebels were enslaved and sold as commodities. As for the captured soldiers, they were cast into the sea and drowned—the number reached hundreds of thousands.]
---
[At that moment, in addition to titles like the Solitary King of the Tower and Lord of Tempests, you gained a more fearsome name—God of Slaughter.]
[Age 2561: At last, no one dared to resist anymore. Over time, the people of Inazuma began to taste the benefits of your rule and gradually accepted your governance.]
[After all, the old Inazuma had always been isolated. Mondstadt's Black Ships not only broke through Inazuma's borders but also ended its era of national seclusion. The Shogunate's influence waned, and Mondstadt's culture began to take root on this island nation.]
[As for your "queen," Raiden Makoto, she seemed to have come to terms with everything. Though you bore the title of "tyrant," there was no deep hatred between you and Raiden Makoto.]
[At the beginning, she resisted you vehemently, even harboring some hatred. But over time, she seemed to grow accustomed to you and this new way of life.]
[Occasionally, you would "conquer" this foreign goddess anew, and Raiden Makoto grew used to the process of being conquered. Though she did not have the strength of her sister Raiden Ei, she was still a divine being and could endure your storm-like advances.]
[You could tell Raiden Makoto was sincerely trying to play the role of a "wife." Whether her feelings were genuine or feigned, it was at least not a bad thing. She even attempted to manage the tower for you and prepare meals. After tasting her cooking, you immediately invited the Four Winds to join you in a dinner to sample her efforts.]
[The reason was simple: it was a rare opportunity to "share joys and sorrows" with your vassals.]
[Seeing their expressions after swallowing the "delicacies," a rare, heartfelt smile appeared on your face.]
[Regarding the meal's evaluation, the South Wind commented it was a bit too salty, the East Wind reverted to its true form, the North Wind vomitted on the spot, and the West Wind solemnly told you that if she ever committed a crime, she would prefer execution over enduring such a punishment.]
[Of course, you hadn't forgotten your little pet—the wind spirit imprisoned in the depths of the tower.]
[At this point, aside from the Four Winds, even you had almost forgotten Barbatos. Your former visits to torment her stemmed mostly from your emptiness.]
[Now, as a god of two nations, you were busier than ever and had fewer opportunities to "visit" Barbatos.]
[This time, you poured fine wine over Raiden Makoto's cooking. Barbatos took a bite and declared it was a thousand times worse than your scepter.]
[Age 2564: Because of the banquet incident, Raiden Makoto believed you were mocking her and ignored you for three years. Eventually, however, you reconciled, followed by a passionate battle.]
[You and the Raiden Shogun, once mortal enemies, now shared a relationship akin to an ordinary married couple.]
[But you knew you didn't love her. Your love had been extinguished with Amos' death long ago. Besides, if true affection did stir in your heart, the higher existence above you wouldn't tolerate it.]
["Do you still hate me?" you asked on impulse.]
["Of course I hate you," Raiden Makoto replied coldly. "I hate you for invading my land, slaughtering my people, and separating me from my sister. I've always wanted to know why you attacked Inazuma."]
["To fulfill a dear friend's dream," you answered without hesitation. "She wanted to see the world, so I conquered it for her, bringing all of Teyvat within view of my tower."]
["No, that's just an excuse," Raiden Makoto retorted bluntly. "You did it because wind flows through your veins. That wind must sweep across the world, and its name is 'conquest.'"]
[Her words silenced you. Indeed, you hadn't thought of Amos in ages. Perhaps your conquest was just a pretext to satisfy your own desires.]
["Then go conquer," Raiden Makoto murmured, pressing her cheek against your back. "I wish you victory."]
[Age 2721: The peace didn't last. From the distant icy land of Snezhnaya, envoys of the Fatui arrived, seeking diplomatic relations with Mondstadt.]
[Snezhnaya, one of Teyvat's seven nations, was a powerful force. You understood that the Fatui's mission was less about diplomacy and more about intelligence gathering.]
[The eleven leaders of the Fatui, known as the Harbingers, feigned respect but hid disdain behind their masks. In their eyes, you were merely a brute—a barbaric tyrant without strategy.]
[As a god of a nation, you maintained your composure, hosting a grand welcome banquet for the Harbingers.]
[During the banquet, a tipsy Harbinger raised his glass and jested, "Mondstadt's wine truly lives up to its reputation. If the Anemo Archon could tribute such wine annually to Her Majesty, the Tsaritsa would surely be delighted."]
[The others, catching his slip, didn't stop him. Instead, they smiled slyly, as if enjoying a show.]
[After all, in their eyes, even a combined Mondstadt and Inazuma could never rival Snezhnaya. Subjugating you was only a matter of time.]
["Did you say 'tribute' just now?" you smiled faintly. "No problem. Bring out Mondstadt's finest wine for this esteemed Harbinger."]
[Soon, a massive wine vat—used only during Mondstadt's annual Wine Festival—was brought in. This vat, filled to the brim, was usually offered to the citizens for free consumption.]
[The insolent Harbinger, oblivious to your simmering anger, smiled and said, "It seems the Anemo Archon is most understanding. Her Majesty will surely appreciate such a gift."]
["No rush," you said calmly. "This wine is for you. Drink it all—don't waste a drop."]
["Surely you jest," he stammered, cold sweat forming. "Not even a hundred men could finish that."]
["I said," you repeated, each word chilling, "Drink. It. All."]
[The pressure emanating from you made the atmosphere suffocating. Even your restrained wind aura stung their faces. They realized you weren't joking.]
[Forced to comply, the Harbinger began drinking but soon turned pale. Another Harbinger attempted to mediate, hoping you would forgive the offense.]
[You leaned on your hand, eyes half-closed, and sneered. "Do you want to drink too?"]
["Anemo Archon," the Harbinger tried a veiled threat. "Her Majesty will remember this."]
["Oh? I was merely going to teach him a lesson," you said, amused. "But now I'm curious—what can she do to me?"]
[With that, you appeared before the offender, severed his arms with wind blades, and threw him into the vat. Sealing the lid, you watched the wine turn darker with his blood.]
[The other Harbingers, once arrogant, now fell silent, terrified by your ruthlessness.]
["What a waste of wine," you said, running a finger along the glass. "Deliver this 'gift' to your queen. Tell her Mondstadt's gates are always open, and there's a second-largest bed in my tower, reserved just for her."]
[This is undoubtedly a naked provocation. All those harbringers were trembling with anger, but they could do nothing about you. After all, the reason they were so arrogant was that they relied on the powerful national strength of the Snezhnaya.]
["I will convey your message to Her Majesty the Tsaritsa," the Fatui's executive, who was leading the group, stood up and said with a grim face, "I hope you won't regret your choice today."]
["Regret? Don't you know?" you said arrogantly, "The wind always blows in one direction and never turns back." You added, "By the way, don't forget to take my gift with you."]
[The Fatui's executive, carrying the coffin-like wine barrel, left in defeat. This was not a joyful banquet, and you knew deep down that Snezhnaya would not let this go easily.]
[At that time, Snezhnaya had already established diplomatic relations with Natlan, Fontaine, and the Sumeru. If war truly broke out, it would undoubtedly be a massive conflict that would affect the entire Teyvat continent.]
[Age 2732: Snezhnaya didn't tolerate your actions and declared war. Fontaine and Natlan sided with Snezhnaya, while Sumeru remained neutral.]
[Liyue, though abstaining from direct involvement, offered support as Mondstadt's ally.]
[However, this was not Morax's decision. Though still Liyue's god at the time, he had stepped back from ruling directly, unlike the gods of other nations. Instead, he had gradually withdrawn from power, entrusting governance to the people themselves.]
[The decision was made by the "Liyue Qixing," a governing body composed entirely of humans.]
[As war loomed, you personally led your army across Liyue, aiming to conquer Fontaine first as a strategic entry point into Snezhnaya.]
[Fontaine, of course, was well-prepared for the war. At their border, they had constructed a supposedly impenetrable defensive line to repel Mondstadt's forces.]
[However, to Fontaine's surprise, rather than a direct assault on this "absolute defense," you chose an unconventional tactic. Using hurricanes, you pushed through the mountains, carving out a new front and bypassing their defenses entirely.]
[While the complacent people of Fontaine believed their position secure, you led your forces straight into Fontaine's territory.]
[You had anticipated a brutal campaign, even preparing for prolonged conflict. But unexpectedly, after only six weeks of stalemate, Fontaine chose to surrender.]
[You didn't even have to reach Fontaine's capital before they raised the white flag.]
[Perhaps it was your reputation as the "God of Slaughter" that compelled their surrender. In a gesture of submission, the Hydro Archon even willingly offered her Gnosis, pleading for the forgiveness of her people.]
[Fontaine's surrender, though not an immediate game-changer, dealt a significant blow to Snezhnaya's position. With Fontaine's defeat serving as the spark, the grand war engulfing Teyvat was set in motion.]
[Age 2783: The war raged for decades. Both the Snezhnaya bloc and the Mondstadt bloc were severely weakened. However, thanks to Mondstadt's accumulated resources and its trade with Inazuma for supplies, your forces gradually gained the upper hand.]
[In the same year, Snezhnaya sent envoys to request aid from Liyue, only to be flatly rejected by the Liyue Qixing.]
[At year's end, Snezhnaya experienced an unusually harsh snowfall, with temperatures plummeting to unprecedented lows. Ironically, this extreme weather provided Snezhnaya with a reprieve. One of the primary challenges for Mondstadt's forces had been enduring the bitter cold, and this snowstorm served as a natural barrier.]
[Seizing this opportunity, you unleashed your full power to create a massive storm that swept across Snezhnaya, dispersing the accumulated snow. With their defenses exposed, Mondstadt's forces launched a decisive assault, capturing the key city of Snezhnaya.]
[This battle marked a turning point in the war. From that moment, Snezhnaya's strength began to wane, and their chances of victory diminished.]
[Age 2789: Even so, unlike Fontaine, which surrendered at the first sign of trouble, Snezhnaya resisted for several more years despite their inevitable defeat. The war finally ended when you led your army to breach Snezhnaya's gates and storm the Tsaritsa's Winter Palace.]
[Entering Immersion Mode]
The once-opulent palace was now piled with corpses. The formerly pristine floors, smooth as ice, were stained with red and black blood.
The once-mighty Harbingers were no more. Either they had fallen in battle or been crushed defending their nation.
Seated high upon her throne, the defeated Tsaritsa, the Cryo Archon, remained poised and elegant, showing no trace of despair.
She was a strikingly beautiful woman, her allure rivaling even that of the Raiden sisters. Yet her cold demeanor made her seem more like an ice sculpture.
"Your Majesty," you said with mocking politeness. "I've personally come to visit you in Snezhnaya. You must be so moved."
After all, at the war's outset, everyone believed that the powerful Snezhnaya could never lose.
But now, the Lord of Tempests stood in the palace of the Ice Queen.
"You can kill me," the Tsaritsa said coolly. "But you cannot defeat me."
"Oh, I can do more than defeat you," you replied, stepping onto the stairs leading to her icy throne. "I'll make you submit to me."
Though the Tsaritsa still retained her divine power, it was clear she had lost the will to fight.
"Too late," she said with a faint, icy smile. "You will never make the dead submit to you."
You froze in surprise as you noticed her arm had already turned to ice, the frost spreading rapidly across her body.
"Hmph."
You scoffed. "I expected you to fight me to the death, yet you choose to die this cowardly way? Your Majesty, you truly disappoint me."
"Sometimes, living is more painful than dying," the Tsaritsa said, her lips curving into a faint smile. "You and I are different. You seek conquest; I sought rebellion."
"Rebellion?" you raised an eyebrow. "Clearly, your rebellion has failed."
"No," she replied, shaking her head. "I wasn't rebelling against you but against something greater. If no one resists, one day, this entire world will become nothing more than 'nourishment.' At that point, it won't matter who rules it."
Her words shook you deeply.
As one of the Seven Archons, you were aware of Celestia's existence—the higher order that governed the gods. Yet you knew little of their purpose.
To the Seven Archons, Celestia was as untouchable as the Archons were to mortals.
For the Tsaritsa to rebel against Celestia was as absurd as a mortal rebelling against the divine.
"You want to... rebel against Celestia?" you asked, lowering your voice.
"What's this? Are you afraid?" Frost had crept to her shoulders, but she still managed a mocking smile. "Even if you conquer Teyvat, what then? Your tower, no matter how high, will always stand beneath the heavens."
Her words left you speechless.
Indeed, what was the point of defeating Snezhnaya or conquering Teyvat? As long as a greater power loomed above, true freedom would remain out of reach.
"Tell me..." you said, placing a hand on her ice-crusted shoulder. "What should I do?"
The Tsaritsa's blue lips parted as she whispered a few final words. Then, her body froze entirely, transforming into an ice sculpture.
From the statue emerged a faintly glowing "chess piece," which floated into your palm.
It was her Gnosis—the Cryo Archon's heart. The seven Gnosis pieces were integral to her rebellion.
This formidable enemy, who had fought you for decades, entrusted her unfinished plans to you—a "tyrant"—in her final moments.
The Teyvat War, which spanned decades, ended with a brief, enigmatic exchange between the Anemo and Cryo Archons. None would ever know what passed between you that day in the Winter Palace.
[Exiting Immersive Mode]
[Reward Acquired: Cryo Gnosis]
[Task Progress: Collect Seven Gnosis (2/7)]
So he had acquired another Gnosis?
Lucas nearly forgot that collecting all seven was the "main quest."
By rights, after defeating Fontaine, he should have acquired the Hydro Gnosis as well. Perhaps the simulator restricted rewards to one Gnosis per simulation.
Otherwise, this simulation might have allowed him to gather all seven in one go.
[Returning to Text Mode]
[Age 2790: The war between Mondstadt and Snezhnaya finally came to an end, even forcing the war-hardened Natlan to accept defeat.]
[Fontaine, Snezhnaya, and Natlan, like Inazuma before them, became vassal states of Mondstadt. Their three Gnoses were now in your possession.]
[The world order was reshaped. Though Liyue had not joined the war, it provided substantial aid to Mondstadt, strengthening your rear defenses. Eventually, you visited Liyue to strike a "deal" with Morax, whom you hadn't seen in years.]
[The result: Liyue gained half of Snezhnaya's territory, and you acquired Morax's Geo Gnosis.]
----
[At this point, you had collected six of the seven Gnoses, and the Tsaritsa's unfinished plan was but a step away.]
[However, you had no intention of inheriting her will. Your purpose was not to be "conquered" by anyone. Conquest and freedom are opposites by nature. Your obsession with building the tower was not to gaze upon the lands you had subdued but to one day free yourself from the earth's constraints.]
[Age 3013: You traveled alone to Sumeru, the Nation of Wisdom. Your arrival set the nation on high alert. After all, you were a tyrant who had conquered four nations, and your "ambitions" were no secret.]
[But you came with no army, only expressing a desire to meet the Dendro Archon.]
[This, naturally, provoked much suspicion. What if you took this chance to kill the Dendro Archon? Among the Seven, known for wisdom rather than strength, the Dendro Archon would be no match for you.]
[To everyone's surprise, the Dendro Archon agreed to meet you.]
[Amid a vast library that resembled a castle of books, you met the legendary Dendro Archon. The Archon was a beautiful and graceful woman, rivalling Makoto and Tsaritsa in appearance.]
[Entering Immersive Mode]
"So, God of Storms from lands afar, conqueror of five nations—what brings you to me?" The Dendro Archon, Rukkhadevata's voice was steady. "As far as I know, this land has neither abundant resources nor fertile soils."
[Image here]
"But it has the most precious treasure of all," Lucas replied calmly. "Wisdom."
"Wisdom is the greatest enemy of the God of Wisdom," she replied with a faint sigh. "With each new wisdom gained, I draw closer to my end. Wisdom... is a curse."
"I came seeking the answer to a single question," Lucas said, expressionless. "Now, I am a student, not a conqueror."
"We are all students," Rukkhadevata said with a slight smile. "This place welcomes learners. Speak, what is your question?"
Lucas spoke a single sentence, and her smile froze.
"What's wrong?" Lucas asked, frowning. "Is the question so difficult to answer?"
"Yes, it is," Rukkhadevata replied after a pause. "If I reveal the answer, I will perish immediately. And you, too, will not survive for long after knowing it."
She shook her head. "All you have worked for will become an illusion, a fleeting dream. Is it worth it? Ignorance, at times, is a blessing. There is still time to turn back."
"I saw a flock of lambs on my way here," Lucas said slowly, each word deliberate. "They were blissful, chewing on the grass, utterly unaware. But the butcher stood nearby, sharpening his blade, his eyes fixed on the plumpest lamb."
"You don't want to be slaughtered like the lambs?" she asked.
"I don't want to be the blade in someone else's hands," Lucas replied.
His answer left the her silent for a long time. At last, the Rukkhadevata nodded and said, "I will tell you the answer, and I will give you my Gnosis. But you must agree to my terms—conquer Sumeru if you must, but leave the books untouched."
"I promise Mondstadt will not invade Sumeru," Lucas replied. "There is no longer any need for conquest."
The Dendro Archon told him the answer. With each word spoken, her body aged further. By the time she finished, her form had curled into itself, and her Gnosis floated out from her lifeless husk, landing in his palm.
As the Gnosis departed, Rukkhadevata's body crumbled to dust, leaving only soil. From that soil, a vibrant green sprout slowly emerged.
[Exiting Immersive Mode]
[Reward Acquired: "Teachings of the God of Wisdom" Talent]
[Effect: Significantly enhances learning and comprehension abilities.]
[Entering Text Mode]
[Age 3014: Armed with the answer from the Dendro Archon, you returned to Mondstadt and enacted an incomprehensible decree—to collect all Vision across the five nations and send them to the summit of your tower.]
[This decree sparked turmoil, but your tyrannical reputation left citizens too fearful to resist. One by one, Visions were surrendered.]
[You also began restricting the use of elemental power, investing heavily in technological advancements to reduce dependence on elemental forces.]
[Age 3142: Initially, the Vision confiscation caused widespread dissatisfaction. Those deprived of their Visions experienced emotional distress, even despair.]
[However, as the confiscation did not affect lives directly and you refrained from further tyranny, the people gradually accepted the decree.]
[Age 3287: Under your leadership, technological advancements surged. Reliance on elemental power diminished noticeably.]
[Age 3482: Liyue's Geo Archon, Morax, was assassinated during the annual Rite of Descension. The Liyue Qixing decided not to appoint a new Archon.]
[Age 3521: Years after the Vision confiscation, when the time was ripe, you issued a new decree—the abolition of the Archon system.]
[The gods of the five nations under your rule were dethroned. This decision caused far less upheaval than the Vision confiscation had years earlier.]
[Most of the other gods had become your puppets anyway, and as technology advanced, reliance on elemental power continued to wane.]
[Sumeru, after the Dendro Archon's death, never appointed a successor.]
[Thus, the millennia-old dominion of the Seven Archons crumbled, and your plan moved to its final phase.]
[Age 3568: The ever-silent Celestia finally took notice. You had become a legitimate threat.]
[You were not the first to provoke Celestia, but all previous nations that dared had been annihilated by the "Celestial Nails," massive spears from the heavens.]
[One such Nail now hovered above Mondstadt, poised to obliterate your lands and people.]
[But unlike those before, you did not await destruction. Celestia's only mistake was granting you time to grow.]
[Atop your towering citadel stood a colossal cannon. Its ammunition? The energy harvested from the thousands of Visions you had gathered over centuries.]
["Let's see," you murmured, pressing the firing mechanism. "This is the power of the lambs."]
[The cannon fired not one of the seven elemental forces but a colossal beam of pure light, striking the Nail with overwhelming force.]
[Under the hopes and dreams condensed into that beam, the Nail shattered into dust. The light pierced the skies, reaching beyond the clouds.]
[For the first time, a Celestial Nail was destroyed, a direct challenge to Celestia's authority. One of Celestia's Sustainers descended to confront you.]
["Skyfrost bestowed divinity upon you," the Sustainer declared. "Why do you defy Celestia?"]
["My neck hurts from looking up at you," you replied, unperturbed. "I have fought for millennia. Today marks my final battle."]
["You cannot defeat me," the Sustainer scoffed. "No force in this world can harm me."]
["Of course. The Visions are devices you use to harvest mortal energy, and the Gnoses are shackles binding this world's power." In your palm, seven Gnoses glowed faintly. "What happens if the shackles are broken?"]
[The Sustainer's confident expression faltered. In panic, she summoned countless black cubes to engulf you. But just before they consumed you, you crushed all seven Gnoses.]
[A radiant beam shattered the spatial cubes. The Gnoses were not divine authority but locks sealing power. Now unbound, the Seven Archons' sealed energies merged within you, forming a new element—Light.]
["This power will destroy you," the Sustainer warned. "It is beyond your control."]
["I'd rather be destroyed than ruled," you declared as the light in your palm formed a sword. "Fate is mine to decide, not Celestia's!"]
[You were not the first to defy Celestia with a blade, but you may be the first to strike fear into a Sustainer's eyes.]
[The voice of the long-dead Dendro Archon echoed in your mind—only the light of hope can pierce Celestia's shadow.]
[This was a battle beyond the boundaries of the world, a conflict so monumental that words could hardly capture its magnitude. On one side was the supreme power to control space; on the other, the former tyrant wielding the light of hope. Each clash between them risked the destruction of the entire world.]
[However, the Sustainer of Celestia drew her power from the hopes of others, continually harvested through the Visions. Now that the source of her strength had vanished, the light of hope in your hands only grew stronger.]
[In the end, the sword of light pierced the Sustainer's chest. The divine being, immune to all earthly forces, was pierced by a power beyond the seven elements.]
["I admit," the Sustainer said with a strange smile, "right now, you are indeed stronger. But you've still changed nothing."]
["Perhaps," you replied, "but I've already planted the seed."]
[With those words, the Sustainer's body dissolved into countless tiny cubes, dispersing into the world.]
[This was not a perfect victory. To wield power that surpasses Celestia's comes at a cost that not even a god can endure.]
[You could already see your end approaching, but you felt no sorrow. Though you had not defeated every being on the Celestial Island, your actions had proven that the Sustainers were not invincible.]
[Standing atop your tower, your body began to dissolve into particles of light. The sight of their leader triumphing over the Sustainer brought your people to their knees in worship.]
["No kneeling," your calm voice carried like the wind to every ear. "Remember, when I am gone, there is no one left worth kneeling to."]
[You became light, disappearing from this world. But you did not die. Instead, you lived on in another form. A towering tree may fall, but the seed is already planted. It only needs time to sprout and grow into another tree that pierces the heavens. A man will die, but not his ideas.]
[Simulation Ends]
[Cause of Death: Exhaustion]
[Please choose one inherent talent to keep: "Majestic Aura," "Endless Tempest," or "Protective Gale."]
The choice was almost too obvious.
"Majestic Aura" held no meaning for Lucas, who had no interest in ruling or conquest. Meanwhile, "Protective Gale," though useful, came with significant drawbacks for ordinary individuals.
"I choose 'Endless Tempest.'"
[Inherent Talent Acquired: "Endless Tempest"]
[Endless Tempest (Gold): As the Lord of Wind, you possess unparalleled control over the Anemo element. Tornadoes dance to your command, and hurricanes bow to your will.]
[Weapon Reward Acquired: "Amos' Bow"]
[Amos' Bow]
[Rank: S]
[Effects: 1. Increases normal and charged attack damage by 20%.
2. Extends maximum range by 100%.
3. Damage increases with the distance traveled by the arrow.]
[Would you like to accept the talent "Light of Hope"?]
[Effect: Grants mastery over the light element. However, each use risks drawing the attention of higher-dimensional beings.]
"Wait, there's a talent I can refuse?" Lucas asked casually. "What happens if these higher-dimensional beings notice me?"
[Uncertain. You might be destroyed, or nothing might happen.]
It was hard to predict.
If the "higher-dimensional beings" referred to Celestia, then Lucas, in their eyes, was likely no more than a mouse in a corner.
They might ignore the mouse—or they might react violently if it suddenly wielded a weapon capable of threatening them.
Declining this talent was clearly the safest choice.
But Lucas… was never one to play it safe.
"I'll take it!"
At worst, he could simply refrain from using it.
When Lucas opened his eyes again, he was back atop the tower.
In the simulation, it was here that he had become light.
This had been the longest simulation yet, spanning the entire life of the Solitary King of the Tower, Decarabian.
The stone tablet that had triggered the simulation was now covered in cracks. Moments later, it shattered into countless fragments, as if it had fulfilled its purpose and could finally rest.
"Goodnight, Decarabian."
A voice startled Lucas. He turned quickly, only to see none other than Venti!
"What are you doing here?" Lucas asked in surprise. "Weren't you supposed to be outside the Storm Barrier?"
"Oh, those guys have been dealt with," Venti said with a shrug and a grin. "So, have you read what was written on that tablet?"
Lucas nodded silently.
"That tablet was inscribed in Decarabian's name," Venti said nonchalantly, revealing a startling secret. "But the story it tells is not the real life of the King of the Tower. It's about… a Decarabian who appeared in one of my dreams."
Indeed, it was impossible for this tablet to be a relic of this world's Decarabian. If it were, the world's history would have been completely different.
"It was a strange dream," Venti continued. "In it, the King of the Tower wasn't overthrown. Instead, he imprisoned me—back when I was just a wind spirit—and tormented me endlessly."
"But," Venti added with a laugh, "I can't entirely blame him. After all, in that dream, I did some pretty awful things."
"I saw," Lucas nodded. "It was indeed awful."
Of course, what he saw wasn't through the tablet but via the simulator.
"Ha ha…" Venti chuckled awkwardly. Gazing at the sky beyond the tower, a complex expression crossed his face. "Strangely enough, I don't hate him. In that dream, he achieved something no one else ever could."
Venti was, of course, referring to defeating the Sustainer of Celestia. Even for gods, such a feat was nearly unimaginable.
"But do you know what's even stranger?" Venti leaned closer to Lucas, a glint of mischief in his eyes.
"What is it?" Lucas instinctively took two steps back.
"In the dream," Venti said, enunciating every word, "that Decarabian who tormented me… looked exactly like you."
---
Damn!
Hearing Venti's remark, Lucas felt a chill down his spine. Could this guy actually hold a grudge over something like this?
"Dreams can't be taken seriously, right?" Lucas quickly recovered his composure, forcing a smile. "Besides, I have nothing to do with that Lord of the Tower."
"Really?" Venti leaned in closer, his pale green eyes shimmering with an unsettling glint. Then, breaking into a mischievous grin, he chuckled. "Relax, I was joking. Are you ready? I'm about to call Dvalin."
"Huh?" Lucas asked, surprised. "Didn't the Holy Lyre get confiscated?"
"I've said it before—the Holy Lyre is just a harp, no different from any other. It only carries some sentimental value," Venti replied, shaking his head with a sigh. "But I probably can't bring myself to fight her. The battle ahead will be up to you."
"No problem," Lucas nodded. "I was ready to face her alone from the start."
Dvalin's strength, while not on par with a true god, was among the top-tier beings of her kind. Lucas's confidence in handling such a foe spoke volumes about his own abilities.
Venti nodded, pulling out a finely crafted wooden harp. As his delicate fingers plucked the strings, a hauntingly beautiful melody filled the air.
---
"ROAR!"
The music seemed to summon a low, anguished dragon's roar from the heavens above, filled with both fury and pain.
"She's coming!"
At Venti's words, a massive emerald dragon descended from the sky, fixing her ferocious gaze on the pair before her.
"Dvalin!" Venti called out, his voice tinged with desperation. "Can you hear me?"
But her only response was a spiraling wind cannon aimed straight at them.
"Defensive barrier!" Lucas quickly activated a talisman, conjuring a transparent shield that blocked the wind cannon. Even so, the platform beneath them trembled violently.
"Let's go!" Lucas summoned another card. "Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
Just as before, a towering white dragon emerged from the void, its streamlined body lunging toward Stormterror Dvalin.
The two dragons clashed, their fierce battle shaking the air around them.
Unlike the previous encounter in Mondstadt, where the Blue-Eyes White Dragon had to hold back to avoid harming civilians, this time there were no such restraints. Unleashing its full power and bolstered by Lucas's enhancements, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon fought Dvalin to a standstill.
"To tame such a mighty creature…" Venti murmured, marveling at the spectacle. "You're no ordinary person."
There was an undertone to Venti's words, but Lucas brushed it off with a casual reply: "It's nothing. I've just raised her since she was young."
Venti clearly didn't buy this excuse, but he chose not to press further, focusing instead on the aerial clash of the dragons.
Though the Blue-Eyes White Dragon was fierce, it was still outmatched by Dvalin in both strength and experience. This was Dvalin's domain, after all. Before long, the White Dragon began to falter.
"Take this! Five Thunder Strike!"
Lucas wasn't idle. With another talisman, he summoned bolts of lightning from the sky to strike Dvalin. While the attack didn't seriously injure her, it made her recoil in pain, giving the Blue-Eyes White Dragon an opening to unleash a searing beam of white light.
But Dvalin, having experienced this attack before, twisted through the air in an elegant arc. With a flick of her enormous tail, she slashed toward the White Dragon.
Already at a disadvantage, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon struggled to evade.
As Dvalin's tail closed in, an arrow streaked through the air with a piercing whistle.
The arrow, faster than the White Dragon's beam of light, tore through the clouds surrounding the tower and struck Dvalin's wing membrane, ripping through it.
"ROAR!"
Dvalin howled in pain, her balance faltering.
Lucas stood atop the tower, holding Amos' Bow. A second arrow was already nocked, aimed straight at Dvalin's heart.
Ordinary arrows wouldn't harm Dvalin, but Amos' Bow was no ordinary weapon—it was a legendary artifact, its power sufficient to intimidate even gods.
Yet, as Lucas looked into Dvalin's anguished eyes, his fingers hesitated on the bowstring.
It wasn't just Venti's earlier plea or the White Dragon's silent request for mercy. In the simulation, Dvalin had been one of his Four Winds. He didn't want to take her life.
Wait!
Lucas's gaze sharpened as he noticed a faint, purple sharp spike on Dvalin's nape, radiating ominous energy.
The source of her corruption!
Adjusting his aim, Lucas released the arrow. It flew true, striking the corrupted blood clots squarely.
With a piercing scream, Dvalin thrashed against the corruption. Finally, the corrupted blood clots shattered into fragments, dissolving into the air. Freed from its grip, Dvalin was engulfed in a massive tornado.
When the winds cleared, a girl with long green hair tumbled out, falling toward the ground.
"Kisara!"
Leaping onto the Blue-Eyes White Dragon's back, Lucas caught the girl mid-fall, cradling her safely in his arms.
The girl's delicate features were striking, her snow-white skin faintly patterned with emerald scales. But her body was frail and weak.
Slowly, she opened her eyes, gazing at Lucas with a mixture of surprise and relief. "Master… I knew… we would meet again."
Wait… Master?!
You've got the wrong person! Your master is the bard over there!
Was this some kind of mix-up?
Before Lucas could respond, the girl fainted in his arms, likely due to her injuries.
Seriously, what's with these dragons? Why are they all female? Have male dragons gone extinct?
"BOOM!"
A thunderous crash from the tower behind him drew Lucas's attention. The ancient structure, weakened by battle and years of decay, now sported a massive crack. Its time was up.
"Hey! Don't leave me here!" Venti shouted, frantically waving from the tower. "I'm not on the dragon yet!"
Suppressing a laugh, Lucas guided the Blue-Eyes White Dragon toward the crumbling tower. Thanks to his Ride Anything talent, controlling the dragon was as effortless as piloting a vehicle.
"Grab my hand!"
----
Lucas extended his hand toward Venti, who grabbed it without hesitation. The moment Venti was pulled to safety, the entire tower collapsed, crumbling into ruins alongside its forgotten history.
The Blue-Eyes White Dragon descended gracefully, carrying the three of them safely to the ground.
Lucas gazed at the ruins with a mix of emotions, but suddenly, a thought struck him like lightning. Panic surged through his chest as he sprinted toward the rubble, shouting, "Lumine! Paimon!"
Though they hadn't followed him to the tower's summit, they had been inside it. Lucas feared the falling debris might have crushed them.
He frantically began clearing the rubble with his bare hands, unwilling to risk using blades or elemental power in case it hurt them further.
Soon, his hands were raw and bloodied despite his Self-Healing Factor, which barely kept up with the damage.
Finally, under a large piece of stone, he spotted a white cloth fragment—part of Lumine's clothing.
Despair gripped him. Though he hadn't known Lumine and Paimon for long, he already considered them close friends. The thought of them perishing while aiding him against Dvalin was unbearable.
"I'm sorry…" Lucas clenched the fabric tightly, his voice trembling. "I promised to help you find your brother."
"So, if Lumine hadn't died, you'd definitely help her search for her brother, no matter what?" Venti's voice came from behind him.
"Of course," Lucas replied without looking back, his tone resolute. "Even if I have to walk through fire or climb a mountain of spikes, I'd help her find him."
"And if Paimon weren't dead," another voice chimed in, one that sounded nothing like Venti. "Would you buy her lots of tasty treats and play with her every day?"
Lucas froze. Spinning around, he found Lumine and Paimon standing there, perfectly unharmed, wearing peculiar smiles.
"You… you're okay?" Lucas stammered.
"Yep," Lumine said, scratching her cheek sheepishly. "Venti told us to leave the tower earlier, so we did… But your words just now were really touching."
"Paimon was moved too!" Paimon added, her expression exaggeratedly tearful. "But you have to keep your promises now—ahhh!"
Before she could finish, Lucas grabbed her cheeks, squishing them like dough. "You dare play this kind of joke on me?"
"We didn't mean to!" Lumine said, laughing awkwardly. "The timing just didn't feel right to interrupt you…"
"This moment makes even me want to compose a song," Venti added with a grin. "Come on, let's head back. Captain Jean and the others are surely waiting for good news."
"Good news isn't something you need to deliver yourself."
The calm voice startled them. Turning, they saw Diluc standing behind them. His expression remained composed, though exhaustion showed in his posture.
"The battle was so intense I could see it clearly from a distance," Diluc said.
Though he could still move, it was evident he had expended much energy maintaining the mechanism that activated the tower's barrier. He seemed to be running on sheer willpower.
"Where are Captain Jean and Eula?" Lucas asked.
"They stayed behind to sustain the mechanism and are likely resting now," Diluc replied, his lips curving into a rare smile. "Well done. You didn't let me down. Now I can rest easy…"
"Rest easy about what?" Lucas tilted his head.
Diluc hesitated, swallowing the words handing over the Dawn Winery to you, before changing his tone. "About running the Dawn Winery smoothly."
The timing wasn't right—he could wait.
"Speaking of the winery," Venti interjected, licking his lips. "I've helped a lot, haven't I, Master Diluc? Shouldn't I get a reward? Maybe lifetime free drinks?"
"That's not happening," Diluc said curtly before turning to Lucas. "You've earned a great reward. Take a few carts of the best wine when you return."
"Hey!" Venti protested. "That's blatant favoritism!"
Their lighthearted exchange brought smiles all around. Even Lucas felt a weight lift off his chest. With this matter resolved, he could prepare to return to Liyue.
But before he could relax fully, his face suddenly darkened. He felt a murderous intent approaching rapidly.
Almost simultaneously, a black shadow streaked across the sky before crashing into the ground with a thunderous BOOM, leaving a deep crater.
A girl stepped from the impact zone, clad in black and wearing a mask that covered the lower half of her face. Her rare black-and-purple eyes gleamed coldly as she surveyed her surroundings.
"Target confirmed: Retrieval target—Dvalin. Elimination target: All witnesses. Mission commencing immediately," she murmured.
The unexpected intruder left everyone baffled, and her ominous words heightened their alertness.
"Wait… this feels familiar…" Diluc muttered, his usually composed face betraying a rare expression of shock. "No… it can't be. You were supposed to be…"
"Diluc. Kill priority: High."
The girl's face remained emotionless as she raised her slender arm, which suddenly morphed into a massive black dragon claw. She swung it at Diluc with terrifying force.
Normally, Diluc would easily dodge such an attack, but his earlier exertion left him drained. He stood frozen, unable to avoid the incoming strike.
Just as the claw was about to rip through him, Lucas stepped in, catching the attack barehanded.
His strength now rivaled that of Dvalin, far exceeding that of ordinary Vision users. Even so, the raw power of the strike pushed him back several meters.
The earlier battle with Dvalin had left Lucas far from peak condition. Using Amos' Bow had drained him considerably.
And now, this new adversary was proving to be even more formidable than Dvalin. Facing two enemies of this caliber back-to-back pushed him to his limits.
"Who are you?" Lucas demanded, his voice cold. "Why are you attacking us?"
The girl offered no response, but her piercing gaze bore into Lucas. Her killing intent was undeniable, yet there was also a trace of sorrow in her eyes.
A strange familiarity gnawed at Lucas. He was certain he'd encountered her before.
Then, his eyes fell on the two black horns protruding from her forehead.
Dragon claws, dragon horns… and those black-and-purple eyes.
"It's you!" Lucas exclaimed. "Show me your face!"
Could it be.... Ursa!?
Though the thought seemed absurd, Lucas couldn't shake the idea. Somehow, this mysterious girl overlapped in his mind with the clumsy, perpetually hungry dragon from the simulator.
However, the mask covered most of her face, and even though her gaze seemed familiar, it was still impossible to confirm her identity.
The girl had no intention of giving Lucas a chance to approach. She leapt into the air, and her leg suddenly transformed into a powerful, muscular dragon limb, kicking ferociously toward Lucas on the ground.
Even before the kick landed, Lucas felt a tremendous pressure in the air. He quickly sidestepped, and the girl's figure flashed past. Unable to stop her momentum, her kick shattered the stone wall behind him into rubble.
This style of combining draconic transformation with martial techniques was identical to Ursa's.
But now, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon was gravely injured, and Lumine and Paimon were not strong enough to help. It seemed only he and Venti working together could suppress her.
"Venti!" Lucas shouted, "Hold her off for me!"
"Already on it!"
At some point, Venti had drawn a short bow. Though he had hesitated to fight Dvalin, he had no reason to hold back against this unexpected enemy.
Wind-infused arrows shot toward the girl's back, but just as they were about to hit, enormous wings unfolded from her back, effortlessly deflecting the projectiles.
"Seriously?!" Lucas complained. "You're supposed to be a god!"
"Hey, that's uncalled for!" Venti replied, embarrassed. "What do you expect? I summoned Dvalin, climbed a tower—I'm not that strong physically!"
Venti frequently claimed to be the weakest of the Seven Archons. While his words couldn't always be trusted, one thing was clear: his stamina was indeed lacking.
"Gale Blade!"
A blonde-haired knight suddenly descended from above, her sword drawing fierce gusts of wind as she thrust it at the black-haired girl.
But the girl merely flicked her wings, effortlessly batting both the knight and her sword away.
"Jean!" Lucas rushed forward, catching her in his arms. "Don't push yourself!"
Even Diluc had struggled under these conditions; Jean, with less endurance, was in no position to fight.
"I rested briefly," Jean said, nodding. Her face was pale, but her expression remained resolute. "I'll be fine. No matter what happens, I will fight by your side!"
Fight together?
"Wait, that's it!" Lucas exclaimed, a realization dawning. "Jean, let's fuse!"
"W-what?" Jean stammered, her face turning red. "F-fuse? Now?"
Was he talking about the kind of "fusion" from romance novels?
"Exactly!" Lucas declared, summoning a card into his hand. "Soul-Link Fusion!"
[Fusion is fusion, but what's with the Soul-Link nonsense?] the system muttered.
Lucas was using a Fusion Card, a reward from the Golden Apple Archipelago event. Its effect allowed the merging of two beings.
"It just sounds cooler!" Lucas replied.
As he spoke, he and Jean were enveloped in a void. Around them were countless images, like a lantern show, displaying memories from their respective lives.
The process felt both instantaneous and eternal.
When they reopened their eyes, their forms had merged into something new.
Their fusion stood approximately 2.5 meters tall, with a lithe, elegant frame. It was clad in gleaming silver armor, holding a one-handed sword, and long golden hair flowed from the gaps in its ornate helmet, radiating grandeur.
Lucas had assumed that when humans fused, the result would look human, like in Dragon Ball. But this… this was something entirely different.
"What… is this?" Jean's voice came not aloud, but directly into Lucas's mind.
"There's no time to explain," Lucas replied. "Let's focus on beating her."
"But I don't know how to control this body…" Jean hesitated. "It feels like it's me… but also not me."
Lucas realized that while the fused body possessed immense power, it required both of them to operate it harmoniously.
It was akin to piloting a Franxx from Darling in the Franxx, where two pilots needed perfect synchronization to control the machine.
"Don't overthink it," Lucas said. "You are me, and I am you."
Jean calmed herself. A quick learner, she soon understood Lucas's point. As their minds aligned, the fusion raised its sword with precision.
This body wasn't controlled by one consciousness—it was driven by their perfectly united will.
"Unknown entity… unable to analyze…" Ursa muttered. She halted her movements, her eye glowing faintly as it rotated like a lens.
Meanwhile, in the Goth Grand Hotel, the Doctor lounged in her chair, rhythmically tapping her temple with her finger.
To ensure her mission's success, she had established a visual link with Ursa, monitoring the battlefield and issuing commands in real time.
Her original goal had been to annihilate the Knights of Favonius and recover Dvalin as research material.
But now, something unexpected had emerged.
"So beautiful… absolutely magnificent," the Doctor whispered, captivated by the fusion's form. "A true work of art. If I could obtain it, I could create the ultimate combat machine. Change of plans: capture this lifeform at all costs—alive or dead."
"Objective confirmed. Activating secondary combat mode." Ursa's voice was cold as her body began to contort.
She transformed into a half-human, half-dragon form, her power and speed significantly enhanced.
Ursa charged at the fusion, striking with far greater ferocity than before.
The fusion raised its sword to meet her. The clash of blade and claw echoed across the battlefield.
Lucas and Jean's combined skills flowed seamlessly, their individual techniques blending into something greater.
Even so, the fusion's sword struggled to pierce Ursa's thick scales.
"Lucas," Jean's voice rang out in his mind. "Can we use elemental power in this form?"
Unlike sword techniques, elemental abilities were unique to individuals. Jean wasn't sure if the fusion body could harness such power.
"Let's try," Lucas replied. "There's no difference between us now. If you can use it, I can too."
Unbeknownst to Jean, Lucas's Endless Tempest Talent granted him wind energy far purer than hers.
"Fusion Gale Blade!"
The fusion gripped its sword tightly, the blade transforming into a spinning vortex of wind energy. It buzzed like a chainsaw as it slashed at Ursa.
The blade tore into Ursa's arm, leaving a deep gash.
"Gah!" Ursa roared in pain.
Ursa staggered back two steps, blood spurting from her injured arm.
"Sorry…" Lucas muttered, feeling a twinge of guilt. "I promise I'll heal you after this."
Perhaps influenced by Lucas's emotions, Jean hesitated as well and asked, "Do you know this… girl?"
"I don't know," Lucas replied honestly, "but I suspect she's being controlled, just like Dvalin. Don't let that worry you—fight with all you've got and don't hold back against the enemy."
Though Lucas wanted to believe in a connection between this girl and Ursa, there was no question she was an enemy determined to eliminate them. He couldn't afford to endanger others because of his own selfishness.
"What are you waiting for?!" The Doctor's voice rang out, hysterical. "Activate the third combat form! Even if it kills her, I want that thing brought to me!"
"...Understood."
Ursa, unable to resist the Doctor's orders, reluctantly released the final seal on her body.
Her form twisted and expanded once more, transforming into a colossal dragon cloaked in deep purple and black scales. Even the Fusion Form seemed tiny in comparison.
"It's her… no doubt about it…" Not far away, the still-recovering Diluc's eyes burned with hatred. "The demon dragon, Ursa!"
Not only Diluc, but Jean and Lucas also recognized Ursa's true identity.
Even without seeing her face, Lucas was intimately familiar with her true form.
"Ursa!" Lucas called out loudly. "Stop! I'm not your enemy!"
Though Lucas knew reality and the simulator were different, he still hoped his voice could reach some remnant of Ursa's memories from another dimension.
But Ursa, nearly consumed by madness, raised her massive black claws and struck down at the Fusion Form with overwhelming force.
"Yes! That's it! Use everything you've got!" The Doctor, observing from afar, wore an ecstatic grin. "Show me just how far this little gem can go—whether it's worth being reconfigured by me!"
Ursa's full dragon form elevated her power to a new level. While her original strength couldn't match Dvalin's, the Doctor's modifications had made her far more formidable.
Her ultimate combat form burned her life force in exchange for strength. At full capacity, she could approach a god-like threshold, if only briefly.
The Fusion Form barely escaped from beneath her massive claw, which struck like a falling mountain.
"ROAR!"
Before the Fusion Form could stabilize, the berserk dragon launched another attack. Lucas and Jean raised their sword in defense, but the spinning wind blades generated by the weapon failed to penetrate Ursa's reinforced scales.
A deafening crash echoed as the Fusion Form was sent flying, smashing into a massive boulder and sinking into its surface.
A mortal body would have been shattered entirely.
Though not fatally injured, the impact nearly severed the link binding Lucas and Jean's minds together.
Ursa, relentless, leapt into the air and dove down again, her claws aiming to rip the Fusion Form apart.
Just as her talons were about to strike, a thick wall of ice materialized in front of the Fusion Form, absorbing the blow.
"We can use both our elemental powers simultaneously?" Jean realized, catching her breath. "If that's the case, maybe our wind and ice elements can combine."
"Yes, lets give it a try." Lucas said.
Ursa, consumed by fury, slammed her claws repeatedly against the ice wall. Cracks began to form, and just as the wall shattered, a fierce storm of icy shards erupted, engulfing Ursa completely.
"Fusion Blizzard!"
This combined attack, born of wind and ice, unleashed countless razor-sharp shards in a relentless whirlwind.
While each individual attack was minor, the sheer volume inflicted devastating cumulative damage. Moreover, the inherent slowing effect of ice magic drastically hindered Ursa's movements.
A perfect opening!
With their minds in perfect sync, Lucas and Jean seized the opportunity. They aimed for Ursa's exposed weak points, slashing with their sword—only for Ursa to whirl around and bite down on the elemental blade, shattering it into pieces.
"More power! Give me everything you've got!" the Doctor shouted, trembling with excitement. "I want to see if they can survive her full-strength attack!"
To the Doctor, Ursa was nothing more than a disposable tool. Her interest now was fully fixated on the Fusion Form, an unprecedented specimen ripe for experimentation.
Ursa obeyed without hesitation. Opening her massive maw, she began charging a sphere of dark, malevolent energy.
This attack resembled the Blue-Eyes White Dragon's White Lightning, but it was faster, stronger, and more destructive. At such close range, the Fusion Form had no chance to dodge.
Both Lucas and Jean knew there was no way an ice wall could block this attack.
Ursa gave them no time to think. The black beam blasted forth, striking the Fusion Form directly.
"Tsk…" The Doctor clicked her tongue in disappointment. "I thought they'd be tougher. Seems that's their limit after all—huh?"
Her words caught in her throat.
A radiant flash of light tore through the black beam, scattering it into fragments. When the light subsided, the Fusion Form now wielded a massive two-handed sword made entirely of pure light.
This was the power of the Light Element.
Though Lucas had only recently acquired this ability and couldn't wield it proficiently, crafting weapons from elemental energy was a fundamental technique. And against Ursa's dark, corrupted power, the light element held a natural advantage.
Ursa's dragon eyes widened slightly, but instead of resisting, she summoned all her remaining strength and let out a soul-wrenching cry:
"Kill me!"
---
In the simulator, the corrupted dragon Ursa endured a thousand years of imprisonment while waiting for Lucas. But now, faced with indefinite torment, she had reached her breaking point. Death was a release for her.
The Fusion Form didn't respond verbally; instead, the sword of light in its hands pierced through Ursa's chest.
The impenetrable black scales on her body gave way like paper under the light blade.
However, the strike did not take her life. Instead, countless rays of light erupted from within her dark body, and when the light faded, she had reverted to her original form—a fragile girl.
At the same time, Lucas and Jean separated from the Fusion Form. Lucas immediately cradled Ursa in his arms and removed the mask covering her face. Upon seeing the scars on her pale cheeks, Jean's face contorted with horror.
Lucas, on the other hand, clenched his fists tightly, and the red haze of the Ring of Manipulation began to swirl on his wrist.
Her once-beautiful face was marred with wounds, and her lips bore clear puncture marks, evidence that they had been sewn shut at some point, likely to prevent her from biting anyone during her modifications.
"It's you… it really is you…" Despite her condition, Ursa's frail face broke into a weak smile when she saw Lucas. "I'm so glad… I finally found you again…"
She remembers me?
Though Lucas couldn't comprehend why, his heart ached. Seeing the lover who had once waited in silence for a millennium reduced to this state filled him with nothing but rage.
"Don't worry… You'll be fine," Lucas murmured, trying to reassure her. But deep down, he knew the truth. The battle had drained her life force, her organs were gravely damaged, and saving her was next to impossible.
"Tell me—who did this to you?" Lucas asked through gritted teeth. Though he had a strong suspicion, he needed confirmation.
For the first time, a fire of vengeance burned within him, brighter than ever.
"That person is…" Ursa began to whisper a name, but suddenly her eyes widened, her pupils dilated, and all life left her body. The hand that had been clutching Lucas's arm fell limply to her side.
"Unacceptable," the Doctor remarked casually from her distant location in the Goethe Grand Hotel, shaking her head. "Snitching is a no-no. Failed experiments should simply be disposed of."
At the exact moment Ursa had tried to name her, the Doctor activated the self-destruct mechanism implanted within Ursa's body, ending her life instantly.
Naturally, with Ursa's death, the shared vision link between the two was severed as well.
The Doctor felt no regret over Ursa's demise. Her interest had already shifted entirely to Lucas.
The Fusion Form, the mysterious element beyond the seven, the power to defeat Stormterror—everything about him filled her with a twisted glee.
"I'd love… to turn him into my own toy…" she murmured, her breath growing heavier as her fantasies took over.
Lucas stared at Ursa's lifeless body, unable to accept what had happened. To make matters worse, he hadn't even heard the name of her tormentor.
The others, unsure of the relationship between Lucas and Ursa, remained silent, watching him struggle with his emotions.
[Hey, don't be so down…]
Even the system, usually sarcastic, attempted to console him.
"Leave me alone…" Lucas replied internally.
[If you keep sulking, this girl's body will start to rot.]
"…Do you even hear yourself?" Lucas groaned.
If the system had a physical form, he would've dragged it out and given it a beating.
[I'm serious. If you keep wallowing, you might miss your chance to revive her.]
"Revive?"
Lucas froze, a flicker of hope reigniting within him. He suddenly remembered—he had a skill that could bring her back. "Right! How could I forget?"
His abrupt shift from despair to joy startled everyone around him.
"Are you okay?" Jean finally asked, concerned. "You're not making sense. People—or dragons—can't come back to life…"
"Not necessarily." Lucas muttered under his breath.
"What did you say?" Jean blinked in confusion.
"Nothing!" Lucas quickly waved it off with a smile. "I just thought it was sad how she ended up like this. That's all."
"Lucas, you're too kind…" Jean sighed. "This dragon caused countless invasions of Mondstadt. Her death was inevitable."
"It's just a shame I couldn't finish her off myself…" Diluc approached, his expression conflicted as he gazed at Ursa's corpse. "Father… you can finally rest in peace."
It seemed clear that if he did revive her, it shouldn't be done here.
Regardless of what had happened in the simulator, in this reality, Ursa was an unrepentant villain with countless enemies. Her "death" might actually serve as a chance for redemption.
"You're right," Lucas said, lifting Ursa's body. "With her death, her sins are forgiven. You all head back—I'll see to her burial."
"Why go through so much trouble?" Diluc frowned. "Why not just burn her remains?"
"No!" Lucas protested. "What if burning her pollutes the environment?"
"Well, suit yourself," Jean said, though she suspected Lucas was hiding something. Thanks to their recent fusion, she had grown more attuned to his unspoken intentions. "Everyone's exhausted. Let's head back to recover."
"Take care of Dvalin too," Venti said as they prepared to leave. Then, lowering his voice, he added, "And don't do anything weird while she's unconscious."
"Who would do anything weird?!" Lucas snapped, exasperated. "She's a dragon!"
Wait… dragons? Both Kisara and Ursa were dragons, weren't they?
"Besides, isn't she your familiar?" Lucas asked. "Why leave her with me?"
"Eh~ I already released her," Venti replied breezily. "Now that she's regained her mind, her future is her own choice. And besides… back then, she called you her master, not me."
He overheard that?
Of course, Venti wasn't entirely altruistic—he just didn't want the hassle. He could barely take care of himself, let alone a dragon.
Once everyone left, Lucas moved both Dvalin and Ursa into the Serenity Pot.
Raiden Mai, who had grown accustomed to her master bringing back strange girls, looked at Ursa's lifeless body and raised an eyebrow.
"This one's beyond saving," she remarked, her tone flat. "Shall I turn her into a puppet while she's still fresh?"
"Stop saying such horrifying things so casually…" Lucas groaned.
"Just take care of Dvalin for now," Lucas said, handing the dragon over before carrying Ursa into a separate room. "And don't let anyone disturb me, no matter what happens."
Raiden Mai rarely showed emotion, but hearing his words, a faintly complex expression flickered across her face.
Lucas noticed the unusual expression on Raiden Mai's face and asked, puzzled, "What's wrong? Do you have any concerns?"
"I just didn't expect you to be interested in a corpse, Master," Raiden Mai said blandly. "But whatever you decide to do, I'll support you. Should I fetch some slime mucus to use as a lubricant?"
"That's absolutely unnecessary!" Lucas retorted, his expression a mix of frustration and disbelief. "Just wait outside!"
"As you wish," Raiden Mai replied with a nod, adding, "Also, Master, be mindful of the body's stiffness to avoid getting stuck."
SLAM!
Raiden Mai's comment was met with a door slammed in exasperation.
"Would you like an expander?" Mai called out from outside.
"No!" Lucas's despairing voice came through the closed door.
Staring at Ursa's lifeless body, Lucas couldn't help but feel nervous.
Though he had resurrected countless undead soldiers in the simulator as the "Doctor," this was his first attempt in real life.
"Activate Resurrection."
[Analyzing target for compatibility...]
[Analysis complete: Target qualifies.]
[Note: This skill has a lengthy cooldown. Confirm use on this target?]
As expected, a skill as miraculous as reviving the dead came with numerous restrictions. While creating undead warriors wasn't difficult, true resurrection was another matter entirely.
Additionally, the skill was limited to recently deceased bodies. If the body were too damaged or the death too prolonged, resurrection would be impossible.
Placing his hand on Ursa's body, Lucas watched as a soft glow emanated from his palm, gradually sinking into her.
The wounds on Ursa's body began to heal at a visible rate. Her once-pale complexion slowly regained its natural color.
Finally, Ursa's tightly closed eyelids fluttered, and moments later, she opened her eyes.
The dark irises shimmered with life, and for the first time, Lucas saw the familiar glint of the ever-hungry dragon girl he had come to know.
Overcome with joy, Lucas pulled her into a tight embrace. "You… you're alive again!"
But rather than sharing his excitement, Ursa pushed him away with a frown. "Who are you?"
Her reaction left Lucas stunned.
[Relax. She just revived. Her brain hasn't fully recovered yet, so her memories are incomplete.]
"What should I do?" Lucas asked anxiously. "Will she ever remember me?"
[Try doing something familiar that might jog her memory.]
Something familiar? From their time together?
Destroying Mondstadt together?
No, a bit excessive.
Traveling together?
Feasible, but too time-consuming.
Eating… chicken together?
Well, that might work.
"Ursa, listen to me," Lucas said seriously, gripping her shoulders. "We're very important to each other. You've just forgotten for now."
"Really?" Ursa tilted her head, a hint of trust in her eyes. "I haven't read many books, so don't lie to me."
"I'd never lie to you," Lucas assured her, clearing his throat. "Do you want to remember me?"
"Of course! If what you're saying is true, then I really want to remember!" Ursa nodded eagerly. "But… how?"
"The process might be a bit uncomfortable," Lucas warned. "But you have to promise not to bite me."
"What if I can't help it?" Ursa asked innocently.
"Then… you can bite lightly," Lucas replied with a wry smile. "But definitely not in certain places."
"What places?" Ursa asked curiously.
"You'll find out soon," Lucas said as he lightly traced his fingers along her collar. "What I'm about to do may seem strange to you."
"What's so strange about it?" Ursa said, giving him a look as though he were an idiot. "You just want to sleep with me, don't you?"
"Eh?" Lucas froze, his face flushing. "Aren't you supposed to have amnesia?"
"I lost my memory, not my mind," Ursa retorted, furrowing her brow. "Common sense like that doesn't just disappear."
But where had she learned this "common sense"? Ursa couldn't quite recall.
---
Seeing Lucas fall silent, Ursa spoke up, "So… have you slept with me before?"
Lucas's face turned red. After a long pause, he nodded awkwardly.
"Then go ahead," Ursa said straightforwardly. "Maybe while sleeping, I'll start remembering things."
"You know," Lucas scratched his cheek, "if you understand these things, you should also know… girls shouldn't casually sleep with someone."
"If you've already slept with me before, that means I acknowledged you as my man," Ursa said matter-of-factly. "I trust my past self. I want to remember what happened between us."
Ursa, not being human, lacked human notions of modesty or hesitation. She preferred directness.
"Don't you suspect I might be lying to you?" Lucas asked, trying to confirm.
"If I don't remember anything after we're done," Ursa said with a serious expression, "I'll eat you."
"That's not how it works!" Lucas exclaimed, half-laughing and half-crying.
"Ugh, you're so annoying! Are you going to do it or not?" Ursa grabbed Lucas's staff, her tone impatient. "Or… are you incapable?"
Lucas's eyes widened at Ursa's boldness, for a man, there is no greater provocation. "Alright, alright," he said, his voice heavy with anticipation. "Just remember, you asked for this."
He pushed Ursa down onto the bed. "I'll prove myself through action. Consider this our third time."
"Third time?" Ursa asked, puzzled. "We've only done it twice?"
"No, I mean," Lucas grinned as he moved in, "this is the third glass of red wine."
[R-18 Scene]
Ursa smiled, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. Although she had no recollection of their past encounters, her body seemed to recognize his touch, responding with an eagerness that surprised even her.
Lucas leaned in, capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. Ursa responded eagerly, her arms wrapping around his neck. Their tongues intertwined, exploring each other. Lucas's hands roamed over her body, tracing the curves of her waist and hips. Ursa let out a soft moan, pressing herself against him. "More," she demanded against his lips.
Lucas grinned, his fingers finding their way to her chest. He admired her perfect form, his thumbs brushing over her nipples, causing her to gasp. He leaned down, taking one into his mouth, swirling his tongue around the hardening peak before beginning to suck on it. Ursa arched her back, her hands gripping his hair. "Mmmm~," she moaned, her voice breathy.
He moved to the other breast, giving it the same attention. Ursa squirmed beneath him, her legs wrapping around his waist. He could feel her heat pressing against him, driving him wild. Lucas trailed kisses down her stomach, his fingers brushing against her core. Ursa bucked her hips, a needy whimper escaping her lips.
"You're so wet," Lucas murmured. He slid a finger inside her, his thumb circling her clit. Ursa's moans filled the room, her body writhing under his touch. "Mmm, please," she begged, her voice filled with need.
Lucas took a moment to appreciate the sight before him. Ursa, her body flushed with desire, her eyes half-lidded with pleasure. He leaned down, his tongue replacing his thumb, flicking against her sensitive nub.
Ursa cried out, her hips bucking against his mouth. Lucas held her thighs firmly, keeping her in place as he licked and sucked on her pussy, his finger moving in and out of her in a steady rhythm. Ursa's moans grew louder, her body tensing as she neared her climax.
Just as she was about to peak, Lucas pulled away, earning a frustrated groan from Ursa. "Patience," he murmured, a playful glint in his eyes. He positioned himself at her entrance, locking his gaze onto hers. "This might hurt a bit," he warned, recalling that this was her first time in this world.
Ursa nodded, trusting him completely. Lucas pushed in slowly, feeling her barrier. With one swift thrust, he broke through, burying his cock deep inside her. Ursa gasped, her nails digging into his back, her eyes watering slightly from the pain.
Lucas stilled, allowing her time to adjust. He leaned down, kissing her gently on the lips, his thumbs brushing away her tears. "It's okay," he murmured softly. "The pain will pass."
Ursa nodded, her body gradually relaxing around him. Lucas began to move, his hips pressing against hers in a slow, steady rhythm. Their bodies swayed together, the sounds of their moans and gasps filling the room.
As Ursa's body grew accustomed to his presence, her moans shifted from pain to pleasure. She began to move with him, her hips meeting his thrusts. Lucas quickened his pace, his body aching with need. Ursa's body tightened, her inner walls gripping him. "I'm so close," she cried out, her voice breathless.
Lucas increased his speed, feeling his own climax nearing. He leaned down, capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. Ursa's body trembled, her moans vibrating against his mouth. With one final thrust, Ursa cried out his name, her body convulsing around him. The sight and sound of her pleasure sent Lucas spiraling into his own release, pulsing deep inside her.
They collapsed together, their bodies slick with sweat and their breaths coming in uneven gasps. Lucas rolled away, pulling her into his arms. Ursa nestled against him like a kitten, her body still quaking with aftershocks.
"That was... amazing," she whispered, her voice filled with awe.
[Talent: The First Glass of Red Wine activated. Reward: All attributes increased by 10%.]
Unlike in the simulator, this time the reward from Ursa's "first glass of red wine" was noticeably weaker.
Was it because the system had adjusted the reward to avoid exploiting Ursa's regenerating ability?
No, that didn't make sense. In this timeline, this was technically Ursa's first experience.
Lucas could only conclude that this was the system's way of limiting his growth.
"Hah…"
Lucas exhaled deeply.
Thankfully, his enhanced physique was far beyond an ordinary human's; otherwise, satisfying this voracious dragon would have been impossible.
"Well?" he asked after a few minutes of rest. "Did you remember anything?"
"I think… I remember a little," Ursa said, her face slightly flushed as she stared at the ceiling. "I feel like we met in a cave."
"That's right!" Lucas sat up excitedly. "It was your lair. Our first meeting was there! What about after that?"
"I forgot," Ursa said lazily, stretching. Her gaze shifted evasively. "Maybe… one time isn't enough."
"Really?" Lucas mused, rubbing his chin. "So, do we need a few more 'treatments'?"
"Maybe," Ursa nodded, her voice unsure. "If I can remember a little each time, after a few hundred tries, I should recall everything."
"A few hundred? I'd be a dried husk by then," Lucas groaned, feeling a phantom ache somewhere. "It's fine. With time, you'll remember everything."
"Time?" Ursa's eyes lit up. "Does that mean we can stay together forever?"
"Of course," Lucas reassured her. "This world belongs to me. You can stay as long as you like."
"Then let's continue!" Ursa exclaimed, pinning Lucas down with her tail wagging like an eager puppy. "I want to remember everything as soon as possible!"
"Wait, hold on—"
Before he could finish, Ursa grinned, her body already moving against his. She leaned down, capturing his lips in a passionate kiss. She trailed kisses down his jaw, his neck, his chest, her hands exploring his body.
She positioned herself above him, slowly lowering herself onto his length. They both moaned as their bodies joined once again. Ursa began to move, her hips rolling against his. Lucas held her hips, meeting her thrusts with his own.
Their bodies moved in perfect harmony, their moans and gasps filling the room. The sound of their flesh meeting was intoxicating....
[R-18 Ends]
It was unclear how much time had passed, but Lucas eventually staggered out of Ursa's room, holding his waist.
After being both physically and emotionally sated, the young dragon girl finally fell into a deep slumber.
That was fine; she needed the rest after everything she had endured.
While it was true that Ursa had committed many wrongs, her death should have absolved her of those sins.
To avoid upsetting her, Lucas didn't press for the name of the person who had transformed her into a killing machine. Besides, he already had a good idea of who was responsible.
A little deduction made it clear: on Teyvat, while there were many villains, the ones most likely to target the Knights of Favonius were the Abyss Order and the Fatui.
Among those, only the Fatui's Harbinger The Doctor had both the connection to Ursa and the capability to modify a creature of her caliber.
Having once played the role of "The Doctor" in the simulator, Lucas could somewhat understand the mindset of his counterpart.
And yet, if the Doctor was truly behind this, Lucas wouldn't let him off easily.
"Master."
Lucas stepped out of the room to find Raiden Mai waiting outside. She stared at him with a neutral expression, her brow slightly furrowed. "I thought I heard someone else's voice earlier."
"Yes," Lucas replied with a smile. "Ursa is alive again."
"Revived?" Raiden Mai tilted her head, her expression skeptical.
Lines of exasperation appeared on Lucas's forehead. "Not in that way…"
"I've analyzed your DNA before, Master," Mai said seriously, tapping her chin. "It contains potent regenerative factors. I suspected it could aid in healing injuries, but I never imagined it could revive the dead."
"Leaving aside whether that's possible," Lucas said, confused. "Where did you even get my DNA?"
"I extracted it from Kisara's body—with her permission, of course," Mai explained, as though this were perfectly normal. "The process was challenging. To avoid damaging her internal organs, I used a dropper to collect minute traces from the inner walls."
The brief explanation conjured an overly vivid mental image for Lucas.
"If possible," Mai continued earnestly, "I'd like you to provide a purer sample for future research."
"We'll talk about that later," Lucas replied, both amused and flustered. "It's not that I don't want to help—I just don't have much to spare right now."
"I see…" For once, Mai's expression showed disappointment—a rare sight that caught Lucas off guard.
"Do you really want it that badly?" Lucas asked gently.
----