As Venti hesitated, a blinding beam of blue light shot across the sky and struck Stormterror Dvalin within the energy storm. In the next moment, an enormous white fireball, spanning a kilometer in diameter. It erupted from the impact point, lighting up the entirety of Stormterror's Lair.
The shockwave was visible to the naked eye. Accompanied by a deafening blast, it shattered the swirling energy storm above. Even the distant ground far below Dvalin was marked with concentric rings radiating from the epicenter.
Eula was stunned. "That's the... Sun's Annihilator?"
Jean swallowed hard. "That matches what Shen Qin wrote in his report. Vision holders must stay at least 500 meters from the impact point or face fatal risk. Ordinary people are banned from a 3 km radius—if there's no cover in that zone, death is certain!"
Venti murmured, "I'm starting to worry about Dvalin..."
Two seconds after the blast, Dvalin crash-landed on top of the tower. He looked miserable—one horn broken, half a wing missing, several limbs appearing fractured, and his body riddled with wounds. The Anemo element in the air rushed toward his injuries, working to heal him.
Dvalin cast a wary glance in the direction of the Sun's Annihilator. He could feel death still looming.
'Big bro, please... I admit I was a little loud just now, okay?'
The Sun's Annihilator remained locked onto Dvalin. If Shen Qin gave the order, the dragon-slayer round would launch immediately.
But the tower was too close to the ground. If a shot went off here, half the ruins of Stormterror's Lair would be obliterated, and countless knights within the ruins would be injured or worse.
Their original target coordinates were set to a northern lake devoid of structures or personnel, precisely to prevent collateral damage.
This tower was clearly not a viable detonation site.
Besides, Dvalin no longer seemed capable of further resistance. Now, the Sun's Annihilator served only as a deterrent. The rest was up to Venti and Lumine.
"Dvalin, let's talk," Venti stepped forward and projected his goodwill.
Dvalin flapped his half-wing and growled, "Hmph! Barbatos, is this your idea of a conversation? You greet me with a 'gift' like that?" Black smoke spewed from his mouth as he roared skyward, clearing his throat.
"Huh? Why'd he call Venti... Barbatos? Wait—don't tell me..." Paimon gasped, eyes wide. But the others remained calm.
'Is Venti really the Anemo Archon Barbatos?! Am I the last one to find out...?' she blinked in disbelief.
Venti chuckled, "It was the only way to calm you down. There's an old saying in Liyue—'show strength before peace talks.'"
Diluc, Jean, Lisa, and Albedo: "..."
"You're not seriously expecting me to protect Mondstadt again, are you? I'm no longer the East Wind Guardian," Dvalin said, his minor wounds already healed. The dark abyssal energy had mostly been purged, his body returning to its original form, more lucid, more... himself.
He beat his wings, stirring gusts that tousled everyone's hair. The knights instinctively reached for their weapons.
"Of course not," Venti said sincerely. "I wouldn't force you to do what you don't want. I only wish to help you break the curse of the tainted blood. To give you true freedom again."
"You can't... I've tried everything. You tried too, remember? It clings to my soul like a festering rot. Unless I let my soul dissolve and return to the winds, there's no escape..."
But that would mean the death of Dvalin as a sentient being.
He looked to the sky. Though he hated everything—including himself, he still resisted vanishing entirely. Was there something he still cherished?
Venti's gaze softened, and he turned to Lumine. "It's up to you now."
Lumine nodded and stepped forward. Dvalin blinked in confusion as she extended her hand. Energy flowed from her palm and touched his soul.
"This... this is...!"
Dvalin felt the pain in his body and spirit begin to fade. He dared not move for fear of breaking the delicate process.
Lumine focused her strange power to purify the curse, but this wasn't just a few drops of poison, it was deeply rooted abyssal corruption that fought back.
Soon, she began to waver, her energy was running out, yet 20% of the curse still remained! Her face went pale, sweat pouring down her cheeks.
Venti rushed to her side, placing his hand on her shoulder to lend Anemo energy. But he immediately noticed his power being drained at a terrifying speed.
Whoa—
He nearly cursed aloud but saw the purification stabilizing, so he held steady and continued channeling energy.
Half a minute later, the curse was gone. The wounds on Dvalin's back, where the corrupted blood was clotted, healed fully.
Lumine, flushed and vibrant again, turned around, only to find Venti dazed and slack-eyed. She hurried to support him.
Dvalin's horn and wing regenerated. With a mighty roar, he ascended, expelling the last of the abyssal energy. Then he soared freely through the open skies.
Watching the distant teal shadow, Shen Qin finally let out a breath of relief. There were complications, but the outcome was ideal.
As he began powering down the Sun's Annihilator, he called out, "Sucrose, let's pack up and go. If Dvalin comes looking for payback for that shot, we're in trouble."
But Sucrose didn't respond.
Turning, he called again—"Sucrose...?"
He froze.
The three of them lay unconscious, and standing beside them was a golden-haired boy.
Haro and Ms. Butterfly went into alert mode, but abyssal energy blocked their warnings. Their weapons phased through an abyssal gate harmlessly.
'It was Aether!' From his appearance, Shen Qin recognized the other twin, currently the Abyss Prince.