The twilight deepened over Mondstadt, the sky a tapestry of deep indigo streaked with the last embers of sunset. The city of freedom stood as a beacon on its island in Cider Lake, its windmills casting long shadows across the water. The stone bridge leading to the city gates glowed faintly under the moonlight, its arches a testament to Mondstadt's enduring spirit. But tonight, that spirit was under siege. The air thrummed with tension, the distant cries of Qiuqiu tribes echoing through the plains.
Xander had parted ways with Xiangling and Guoba at Clear Springs Town, the quaint settlement now a fading memory as he rode toward Mondstadt City. The dirt road beneath his off-road motorcycle was smooth, the flat terrain of Mondstadt a welcome change from Liyue's rugged paths. But the journey had been far from peaceful. Compared to Liyue, Mondstadt's monsters were less formidable but far more numerous, their presence a constant thorn in the side of travelers. Qiuqiu tribes, emboldened by recent chaos, had set up blockades along the roads, their crude barricades of wood and stone a hazard for merchants and adventurers alike.
The root of this unrest was twofold. First, the Knights of Favonius were stretched thin, with 80% of their combat power absent on an expedition led by Grand Master Varka. Second, the Abyss Order had been stirring trouble, their dark influence driving the Qiuqiu tribes into a frenzy. Under normal circumstances, these creatures kept their distance from human settlements, their camps hidden in the wilds of Wolvendom or Stormbearer Mountains. But now, fueled by the Abyss Order's machinations, they dared to set up checkpoints on main roads, a brazen act that disrupted trade and threatened Mondstadt's economy.
Xander had already dispatched several such blockades on his journey, his Shadowfang Blade cutting through the Qiuqiu with ease. But each encounter delayed him, the sun dipping below the horizon by the time he left Xiangling at Clear Springs. The town, unlike its depiction in the game, was fortified with high wooden walls, its gates guarded by a small contingent of Knights of Favonius. Without such defenses, a settlement so close to Mondstadt City would have been overrun by Qiuqiu hordes long ago. The hunters of Clear Springs could handle common Qiuqiu, but stronger variants—like the Rock Helm Qiuqiu King Xander had faced earlier—would have decimated them.
Now, as he approached Mondstadt City, the silhouette of the city on its island came into view. The lake surrounding it shimmered under the stars, its surface a mirror reflecting the city's torchlight. The windmills atop the walls turned slowly, their rhythmic creaking a familiar sound to any Mondstadter. But Xander's attention was drawn to the plains beyond the bridge, where a troubling sight unfolded. A large gathering of Qiuqiu tribes, their numbers swelling into the hundreds, marched toward the city. Their crude weapons—clubs, crossbows, and torches—gleamed in the moonlight, their guttural chants a war cry that sent a chill down his spine.
"Is this a siege?" Xander muttered, his eyes narrowing as he slowed his motorcycle to a stop. In the original timeline of Teyvat, the Abyss Order had indeed orchestrated such attacks, using the Qiuqiu as pawns to distract Mondstadt. Their true goal was to manipulate Teucer, the Wind Dragon, into attacking the city, a ploy to destabilize the region while the Knights were weakened. But Mondstadt was far from defenseless. Even with most of the Knights away, the city boasted formidable protectors: Acting Grand Master Jean, the librarian Lisa, the alchemist Albedo, the noble Diluc, and the ever-reliable Noelle. An assault by mere Qiuqiu would never breach the city's walls—not with such defenders at the helm.
Still, the Abyss Order's strategy was clear: create chaos, draw attention, and mask their deeper schemes. Xander's grip on the Shadowfang Blade tightened, his mind racing with questions. The Qiuqiu were a tragic race, many of them descendants of Kanria's cursed people, transformed by Faruzan's wrath. The Traveler's sibling, Kong, had vowed to save them, to restore their humanity. Yet here they were, being sent to their deaths under the Abyss Order's control. Was Kong's promise mere hypocrisy, or could he distinguish which Qiuqiu were Kanrian and which were not? Xander shook his head, dismissing the thought. Such moral quandaries could wait—he had more immediate problems.
The Qiuqiu had spotted him, their chants growing louder as they charged. "Mye! Duck da da!" they shouted, their voices a cacophony of aggression. These Qiuqiu were different, their eyes glowing with an unnatural purple hue, a sign of the Abyss Order's influence. Unlike their usual skittish nature, these creatures were fearless, driven by dark magic to attack without hesitation. They surged toward Xander, their numbers a wave of chaos on the moonlit plains.
Xander dismounted his motorcycle, stowing it in his system space with a flicker of thought. "I've had enough of you pests today," he growled, drawing the Shadowfang Blade. The dark steel hummed with power, its edge glinting in the starlight. He was already irritated from the day's delays, and now, so close to Mondstadt's gates, these Qiuqiu dared to stand in his way. "Fine—I'll clear the path for you," he said, his voice cold as he rushed forward.
His strength, nearing that of a demon god's kin, made the Qiuqiu little more than fodder. He swung the Shadowfang Blade in a wide arc, a crescent of blue energy erupting from the strike. The sword qi sliced through the front line, cutting down a dozen Qiuqiu in an instant. Their bodies fell in heaps, their crude weapons clattering to the ground. Xander moved like a storm, his blade a blur as he carved through the horde. Each slash unleashed a wave of energy, the magic extending from the blade to strike at range. The Qiuqiu's wooden shields splintered under the assault, their masks shattering as they collapsed.
A group of archers at the back raised their crossbows, their bolts tipped with flaming rags. Xander summoned a phantom blade, a spectral copy of the Shadowfang, and sent it spinning through the air. The ethereal weapon struck like a machine gun, piercing the archers with deadly precision. The Qiuqiu fell, their bodies riddled with glowing blue wounds, resembling hedgehogs impaled by a barrage of arrows. Under the Abyss Order's control, the Qiuqiu knew no fear, their minds enslaved to the will of their masters. They charged relentlessly, even as their kin fell around them.
This suited Xander just fine—he didn't have to chase down deserters. He fought his way toward the bridge, the city gates now within sight. The stone structure loomed ahead, its arches adorned with Anemo sigils that glowed faintly in the dark. But the bridge was a battlefield of its own. A contingent of Knights of Favonius, led by Acting Grand Master Jean, clashed with another wave of Qiuqiu. Jean's blonde hair gleamed under the torchlight, her cape billowing as she wielded her sword with precision. Her strength, a solid B-rank, made her a force to be reckoned with. With a single swing of her blade, infused with Anemo energy, she sent a dozen Qiuqiu soaring into the sky, their bodies tumbling into the lake below.
Beside her, Eula fought with equal ferocity, her claymore a whirlwind of Cryo power. The Lawrence heiress struck a Qiuqiu's head with a downward slash, the force driving the creature's skull into its chest. The impact was brutal, reducing the Qiuqiu's height by a foot as it crumpled to the ground. Eula's expression was cold, her movements precise, a dance of vengeance against the enemies of Mondstadt. Behind them, Amber and Kaeya supported the knights, their elemental attacks a flurry of Pyro and Cryo. Amber's arrows ignited the Qiuqiu's wooden shields, while Kaeya's sword froze their feet to the ground, leaving them vulnerable to the knights' spears. A group of younger knights followed, their strikes less confident but bolstered by their leaders' presence.
Within the city, Diluc watched from the walls, his crimson coat a stark contrast to the stone. The Darknight Hero had no intention of joining the Knights' efforts—he'd long since distanced himself from the organization. But his eyes scanned the battlefield, his claymore ready should the situation escalate. Albedo, too, observed from a tower, his alchemical tools at the ready, while Noelle stood guard at the gates, her Geo shield a bulwark against any stray attacks.
The Qiuqiu assault was doomed to fail, their numbers no match for Mondstadt's defenders. But the Abyss Order's true goal was distraction, and they knew it. Two Abyss Mages, cloaked in Hydro and Electro energy, hovered at the rear of the Qiuqiu army, their staffs glowing with dark magic. They had orchestrated the attack, their whispers driving the Qiuqiu into a frenzy. But as the tide turned against them, the mages exchanged a glance, their glowing eyes narrowing. The plan had failed— Mondstadt would not fall tonight. It was time to retreat.
They turned to flee, their forms shimmering as they prepared to teleport. But their escape route led them straight into Xander's path. He had carved his way through the Qiuqiu horde, his blade dripping with ichor as he reached the edge of the bridge. The Abyss Mages froze, their shields flickering as they sensed the threat before them. Xander's presence was a storm of power, his half-step demon god strength a palpable force in the air.
"Going somewhere?" Xander asked, his voice low and dangerous. He raised the Shadowfang Blade, its edge glowing with a blue light that mirrored the stars above. The mages hissed, their staffs crackling with elemental energy as they prepared to fight.
The Hydro Abyss Mage struck first, summoning a torrent of water that surged toward Xander. The wave roared, its surface shimmering with dark magic, capable of sweeping away entire squads. Xander teleported in a flash of blue, reappearing behind the mage. His blade slashed downward, cutting through the mage's shield like paper. The Hydro Mage shrieked, its form dissolving into a puddle of water as the dark magic sustaining it faded.
The Electro Abyss Mage retaliated, unleashing a barrage of lightning bolts that arced through the air. The bolts crackled, their energy searing the ground where Xander had stood. He dodged with another teleport, the lightning missing him by inches. He closed the distance in an instant, his blade a streak of blue as he struck. The Electro Mage's shield shattered, its body convulsing as the Shadowfang Blade pierced its core. With a final, anguished cry, the mage disintegrated, its essence scattering into the night.
Xander sheathed his blade, his breath steady despite the battle. The remaining Qiuqiu, freed from the Abyss Mages' control, scattered in panic, their chants replaced by cries of fear. On the bridge, Jean and Eula finished off the last of their foes, the Knights of Favonius standing victorious. Jean's gaze met Xander's across the battlefield, her expression a mix of gratitude and curiosity.
"Who are you?" she called, her voice carrying over the sound of the lake's gentle waves.
Xander offered a slight nod, his cloak billowing in the night breeze. "Just a traveler passing through," he replied. "Name's Xander. I figured I'd lend a hand."
Jean sheathed her sword, her posture relaxing slightly. "You have our thanks, Xander. Mondstadt owes you a debt."
Eula stepped forward, her claymore resting on her shoulder. "A fine display of skill," she said, her tone grudgingly respectful. "But don't think this erases the grudge I'll hold for any future slights."
Xander chuckled, unfazed by her warning. "I'll keep that in mind. For now, I'd like to enter the city—if you'll allow it."
Jean nodded, gesturing to the gates. "Of course. Welcome to Mondstadt, Xander. We could use more allies like you."
As the gates opened, Xander walked across the bridge, the city's lights welcoming him into its embrace. The Shadowfang Blade at his side thrummed, a silent promise of more battles to come. Mondstadt's night had been saved, but the Abyss Order's shadow loomed large, a threat that would not rest.
***
Support me on Patreon to read 50+ advanced chapters: patreon.com/Nocturnal_Breeze