Deep within the Abyss.
The images unfolding on the light screen filled Rhinedottir with regret.
Amber was still too young.
The girl didn't know how to seize an opportunity.
A chance to obtain transcendent power had been placed right before her eyes—yet she had let it slip away.
In a world like Teyvat, where the supernatural undeniably existed, willpower without strength was nothing but empty talk.
Rhinedottir could already foresee Mondstadt's fate.
Amber's decision to cling to knightly principles carried no real meaning in the face of absolute power.
All it would bring her was death.
She had pondered Aerin's words for a long time.
His disdain for the mutated Hilichurl Kings didn't feel like an act.
Which meant—what he truly valued was the Stigmata Serum.
Creating Valkyries with power rivaling the gods…
That likely wasn't an exaggeration.
Aerin hadn't lied to Amber.
"Why Valkyries, though…?"
Rhinedottir couldn't quite understand it.
But as Gold, the greatest alchemist of her era, someone who had created countless lifeforms, she quickly accepted the premise.
"Perhaps the serum is more compatible with the female body."
"What I'm curious about… is how effective it truly is."
"…Would it still work if someone like me took it?"
She subconsciously lowered her gaze, glancing at her own well-developed chest, then gave a faint, self-mocking chuckle.
Opening the light screen's chat interface, she tapped on Alice's avatar.
[My dearest friend, the beautiful and elegant Miss Alice—be sure to notify me the moment you return to Mondstadt.]
In the projected future, Amber rejected the Stigmata Serum Aerin offered her, holding fast to her bottom line as Mondstadt's Outrider.
What awaited her was certain death.
Across Teyvat, some praised Amber's resolve—
while others, like Rhinedottir, felt only regret at never seeing the serum's true effects.
Yet the future continued to unfold.
Just as everyone believed Amber would die beneath Aerin's gun,
Mondstadt's Spindrift Knight arrived in time.
[Collei]: "Th-This Eula… is she strong…?"
[Eula]: "Me? I'm Captain of Mondstadt's Reconnaissance Company—Spindrift Knight, Eula."
[Collei]: "Then… you'll definitely be able to defeat the Fifth Descender, right?"
[Eula]: "…I don't know how strong Aerin himself is."
[Eula]: "But I know I can't beat a mutated Hilichurl Berserker."
[Furina]: "Then you're doomed."
[Furina]: "Even if Aerin himself isn't that strong, a single mutated Hilichurl King could easily kill both of you."
[Furina]: "Ah~ buy one, get one free. What a deal."
[Hu Tao]: "Consultant Zhongli, the Hydro Archon really would be a perfect fit for Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
[Zhongli]: "Director Hu, Lady Furina is Fontaine's Hydro Archon. Please mind your words."
[Amber]: "W-Waaah… I'm sorry… I dragged Eula into this… I'm so sorry…"
Knights of Favonius Headquarters.
Amber's eyes were red from crying.
She had thought her greatest regret would be failing to deliver the intelligence—
only to realize she had dragged Eula into danger as well.
When Lisa saw who had entered the stage, her expression filled with helplessness.
Especially when she noticed the meaningful smile on Aerin's face in the projection.
Even a once-in-a-century genius recognized by the Akademiya couldn't hide her worry.
Aerin will definitely exploit Eula's Lawrence heritage…
Please—don't let it shake you too deeply.
"Eula… facing Aerin head-on?" Jean frowned deeply, tension written all over her face.
"Will he act personally… or summon mutated Hilichurls again?"
["Go—Amber!"]
[Eula shoved Amber hard, signaling her to leave immediately.]
["He hasn't made a move yet. Take the information back to Mondstadt—now!"]
[Eula maintained her defensive stance, eyes never leaving Aerin.]
[The moment she caught that unreadable smile, a chill ran down her spine.]
[Her nerves were stretched to the limit, terrified that a monster might suddenly appear and ambush Amber.]
["Eula…"]
["Don't worry. I'll hold him for a moment. Once you're gone, I'll find a way to escape."]
[She didn't look back.]
[At a moment like this, she couldn't afford even the slightest lapse in vigilance.]
[Amber stared at her friend's unyielding back, bit her lip, and nodded.]
["I understand."]
["You have to make it back to Mondstadt safely."]
["Of course!" Eula laughed. "When I get back, you're treating me—I'm eating till I drop."]
Listening to Amber's footsteps fade away, Eula finally exhaled—just a little.
But her guard never dropped.
Her eyes remained locked on Aerin, standing not far away.
Suddenly—
Aerin moved.
The muzzle of the Judgment of Shamash tilted toward the direction Amber was fleeing.
That single, casual motion made every viewer's heart leap into their throat.
Clorinde and Chevreuse, both experts with firearms, felt a jolt of shock.
Amber had already run so far—
and yet Aerin's aim still followed her?
Was he planning to shoot a fast-moving target from that distance?
Narukami Shrine, Inazuma.
Yae Miko narrowed her eyes and shook her head with her usual languid tone.
"So he's treating Amber like a moving target?"
"The Fifth Descender really is fickle. One moment he wants her as a Valkyrie—
the next, he wants to toy with her to death."
"Let's hope this Spindrift Knight can last a little longer."
"At least then, we might learn something about his strength."
["Stop right there!"]
[Eula burst forward, appearing directly in front of Aerin.]
[Her frost-blue greatsword slashed down, forcing him to reposition.]
[That brief displacement put even more distance between Amber and danger.]
Aerin glanced into the distance, then shrugged.
["Shame. Looks like the Outrider got away."]
["No matter. Once I'm done with a few things tonight—"]
["I'll personally deal with Mondstadt in the next couple of days."]
["Even if little Amber's the Flying Champion of Mondstadt…"]
["Do you really think she can run out of my grasp?"]
His tone was light.
But to Eula, it was a thunderclap.
Ice shards melted into dew among the grass.
The air was damp—yet her mouth felt painfully dry.
She had already received Jean's letter.
She knew how terrifying the mutated Hilichurls were.
If Aerin truly led a Hilichurl King into Mondstadt—
the city had no chance.
What do I do…?
Eula's mind raced.
["The only scout Mondstadt has escapes… and in her place, a far more unfortunate soul arrives."]
Aerin withdrew his gaze from the distance and focused fully on Eula.
["Unfortunate?"] she snapped back, pulling herself from her thoughts.
["Isn't that accurate?"]
["Eula Lawrence."]
["The Lawrence family's traitor."]
["The criminal in the eyes of Mondstadt's people."]
["'Spindrift Knight' is a bit generous."]
["I have a title that suits you better."]
His smile deepened.
["The stubborn, tsundere, lonely blue-haired loser knight—Eula Lawrence."]
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