Even when facing so-called "experts" among the Treasure Hoarders, the Traveler might lag slightly in martial skills, but there was no way he'd end up at a disadvantage.
The Aether of today wasn't just the blond youth relying on Wind Blade and Gust Surge anymore. He had gained considerable knowledge in pure elemental manipulation and combat techniques that combined elements with physical skills. Losing wasn't on the table.
As the archetype of a protagonist who was "recovering lost power and memories" rather than "rising from humble beginnings," anyone foolish enough to provoke him would likely become stepping stones on his path to greater strength.
Besides, bringing Aether along wasn't just for show. His purification abilities were a critical factor.
If the "Fallen Dragon" arc remained intact and hadn't been disrupted by Gu Sanqiu's meddling, Aether would have purified Dvalin's tears and carried that power with him after resolving the Stormterror crisis.
Gu Sanqiu valued Aether's purification abilities. If used wisely, it could serve as a hidden trump card.
As for Albedo's agreement to let Aether join the mission, Gu Sanqiu had a pretty good guess: it was likely a contingency plan to summon Venti if things went south.
But Gu Sanqiu found that plan questionable. Instead of relying on an unreliable Archon who might swoop in last minute, why not butter up Gu Sanqiu himself? At least he could shout, "Rex Lapis, save me!" when the time came.
Kidding, kidding~
Gu Sanqiu patted Aether's shoulder meaningfully. While he no longer considered abducting Aether for leverage, there was always room for "reverse engineering" strategies.
For instance, bringing Aether into the Abyss Order's midst to "introduce" him. After creating enough commotion or sensing any anomalies, Gu Sanqiu could call in heavy hitters like Xiao, Ganyu, or even Zhongli to ambush the scene.
And if Lumine, overcome by longing, decided to show up and deliver cryptic, enigmatic lines, that'd be a bonus.
If the "Princess" made an appearance, she'd surely be flanked by at least five or six Abyss Heralds. While it was unlikely they'd capture her, the adepti's power would make quick work of those Heralds.
Even one successful ambush would plant a false belief in the Abyss Order: any blood relative of the Princess seen in Liyue was likely under heavy surveillance, with powerful beings lying in wait.
If that falsehood took root, the Abyss Order would think twice before launching open attacks in Liyue.
Flawless plan!
---
Ahead of the airship, Wyrmrest Valley loomed in Dragonspine.
If someone approached the area and observed with elemental sight, they'd see an ominous black miasma enveloping the valley.
This dark energy wasn't tied to any known element. Tracing its source would lead to a cave entrance, heavily guarded by monsters and abyssal creatures.
From within the cave, the black miasma intertwined with visible streaks of dense life force, gushing outward like a volcanic eruption.
"Hehe, what a rare sight. To think His Highness would approve such a dangerous plan."
An Abyss Lector stood within the cave, cradling a floating artifact in his hands, his gaze fixed on a massive, heat-radiating heart deep inside.
"The advanced technology of the golden one… Even after Mondstadt's Sky Dragon tore out its throat, its vitality remains this formidable."
"Truly magnificent."
The Lector watched as life force was steadily siphoned from the heart. "For our grand cause, even a dragon must obediently offer everything it has to His Highness."
BOOM!
A deafening sonic boom echoed across the skies. The Lector didn't panic. Instead, he turned leisurely, strolling out of the cave as if on a casual walk.
"Hehe, the meddlers have arrived. I'm not sure how they detected our activities, but it's far too late now."
The artifact before him flared, releasing tendrils of flame that seeped into his body. He shuddered involuntarily, letting out a low gasp.
"Ah, this burning sensation... What is that?!"
The Lector's gaze snapped skyward. A massive airship was diving straight toward Wyrmrest Valley!
"No! Stop it! Destroy it mid-air!"
Sensing the elemental energy aboard the vessel, the Lector immediately understood Mondstadt's intent.
"Destroy it? How about I destroy you?"
A voice rang out behind him, and before the Lector could react, a hand wreathed in Geo energy clamped down on his head and slammed him into the ground.
CRACK!
Golden light erupted from the artifact, and the Lector's body dissolved into flames, retreating to a safe distance where he reformed, his eyes blazing with fury as he recognized his attacker.
"You! The flawed replica of primordial perfection! How dare you interfere with our grand design!"
"Whoa, looks like we didn't break through their armor. This thing's pretty slippery, huh?"
Gu Sanqiu grinned as he appeared behind Albedo, flanked by the rest of the assault team. "So, how about that plan of mine? Perfect, right?"
"Perfect or not, it worked," Albedo replied as he adjusted his gloves and stepped forward.
Diluc, standing nearby, summoned his weapon and cracked his knuckles. "Leave him to me."
"Understood."
Albedo and Gu Sanqiu moved toward the cave entrance, watching as the airship crashed to the ground at precisely the calculated moment.
BOOM!
The ensuing explosion rocked the entire valley, with fiery shockwaves consuming the majority of Wyrmrest Valley and incinerating countless monsters.
Simultaneously, the explosion triggered a massive avalanche, sending snow, rocks, and debris cascading down like a second disaster, swiftly smothering the flames.
"This is the moment of creation!"
Albedo raised his hand, unleashing a pure golden barrier that expanded to shield the entire cave entrance.
"Leylines, heed my command!"
Gu Sanqiu formed hand seals, his incantation resonating as Geo energy surged into Albedo's barrier, amplifying its brilliance to near-blinding levels.
Inside the cave, the Lector momentarily glanced at Gu Sanqiu's actions—only to be struck by Diluc's blade. The Ragnvindr's fiery strike landed squarely on his chest.
The other members of the Knights quickly moved to secure the cave, taking control of the battlefield.
Though the explosion had subsided, the avalanche persisted. Gu Sanqiu stuffed his hands into his pockets, watching Albedo maintain the golden barrier. A peculiar thought crossed his mind.
He looks just like an amber fossil… with a handsome man trapped inside.
That could sell for a fortune to the right buyer.
"Done."
Albedo withdrew his power. "The cave is sealed under tons of snow. Even if those creatures survived, it'll take them a long time to regroup."
"See? I told you this plan would work."
Gu Sanqiu smirked. "The airship was the perfect distraction. We hit their power source while they were busy reacting. This turned an assault into a defensive scenario. Even if monsters manage to attack outward, Jean's team won't face much pressure."
And leaving the cave? Too easy. With their elemental versatility, breaking out from the inside was child's play.
Albedo turned to Gu Sanqiu, his expression unreadable.
"When you suggested this plan aboard the ship, mentioning how the dragon's corpse had strengthened the valley's structure, I thought you knew something specific."
"Hehe, now why would I?"
---
T/N: checckky out my patreon -> [patreon.com/WiseTL] currently at like idk chapter 630 for incense burner
feel free to check out my discord also -> [discord.gg/wisetl] filled with the ramblings of a girl whos madly down bad for kronii