"Defense and counterattack."
Jean's expression grew solemn. "Has it really come to this?"
"These creatures can only be dealt with by the Knights of Favonius. Ordinary adventurers simply won't suffice."
Kaeya's tone remained sharp. "If we let them keep summoning those bizarre monsters, soon the entire mountain will be crawling with them. At that point, all we'll have left is Mondstadt's city walls to defend ourselves."
"And there's another problem. There's no time left to evacuate the people in Springvale or other nearby areas. Any further delay, and we'll be the ones paying the price!"
Kaeya's gaze suddenly shifted to Gu Sanqiu, his expression tinged with a sly smile.
"Of course, if it weren't for Sanqiu noticing something was amiss, we might still be in the dark."
Seriously? Why drag me into this?
Gu Sanqiu kept his face neutral. "You've been far too complacent about the situation on Dragonspine. If all you've done is set up camps on the outskirts to monitor things, you'd be lucky if your people could even sound an alarm when the monsters descend the mountain."
Jean turned her serious gaze to Gu Sanqiu. "Mr. Sanqiu, regarding what Kaeya mentioned, do you have any additional information? The Knights of Favonius are willing to pay for it."
"It's not exactly classified information, and it's directly tied to Mondstadt anyway."
Gu Sanqiu took a sip of tea. "There's definitely something big buried in Wyrmrest Valley. It's a massive beast from five hundred years ago—a dragon called Durin."
"Much of what happened five centuries ago has been lost to history. And since Mondstadt sent many of its people away on expeditions during that time, it's not surprising you wouldn't notice records about it."
Both Albedo and Diluc's expressions subtly shifted.
The former because he knew of Durin's origins, and the latter because the word "dragon" stirred something deep within him.
"Durin, the dragon?"
Eula's eyes widened in shock. "But the family records say that creature was defeated by the Anemo Archon. Are you saying it's coming back to life?"
Gu Sanqiu shook his head. "Creatures of that level are nearly impossible to kill completely. But based on the signs, this isn't about Durin being resurrected—someone's stirring up trouble."
Jean let out a soft sigh. "Thank you, Mr. Sanqiu. I'll ask the Church of Favonius to retrieve any relevant records. For now, we need to choose the team for the assault."
"I'll go!"
Klee shot her hand into the air. "Klee wants to go!"
The stern look from "Mama Jean" immediately quelled Klee's excitement.
Albedo interjected, "Let her come, Acting Grand Master. If possible, I'd like to lead the assault team this time."
"If the creatures are indeed using Durin's lingering power to wreak havoc, it's safer for me to lead."
He glanced at Kaeya. "Considering the scale of the monsters Captain Kaeya described, Klee's bombs would be highly effective against such large groups."
Then, Albedo turned toward Gu Sanqiu.
"I'll entrust Klee to your care during this mission."
Huh?
Gu Sanqiu couldn't help but ask, "Why does Mondstadt need to drag me into your dungeon crawl? What's going on here?"
"There's a chance the monsters could spill over into Liyue's borders," Kaeya chimed in.
Gu Sanqiu let out a dry laugh. "If those creatures dare head toward Liyue, they'll be first in line for a one-way trip to the depths of hell. Maybe they think Xiao-ge's dance of demon-slaying could use some choreography training?"
"Besides," Albedo added calmly, "I'm only asking you to take care of Klee, not join the assault team."
Albedo's expression didn't shift as he continued, "I'll lead the team. But Klee's safety must be guaranteed. Without someone watching over her, she can't come—it wouldn't be safe."
"Big Brother Sanqiu…"
Klee hopped off her chair and dashed over, hugging Gu Sanqiu's leg. She tilted her head up, her eyes wide and pleading as she unleashed her ultimate "puppy-dog eyes" technique.
...
Damn it. You win, you quiet little alchemist.
There was no way Gu Sanqiu could refuse now—not without denying Klee entirely.
He sighed, picking her up. "Alright, count me in."
"Yay! Spark Knight, ready to deploy!"
Klee flashed a victory sign at Jean, adding a wink to emphasize her triumph. She radiated pure smugness.
---
Gu Sanqiu's earlier suspicions about Dragonspine being the likeliest source of trouble were now fully validated.
Mondstadt's general stability had lulled everyone into a sense of calm. Stormterror's Lair housed a slumbering Dvalin, Wolvedom had its guardians both above and below ground, and areas like Windrise, Cape Oath, and the Eagle's Gate were all relatively safe.
But Dragonspine? A place that entombed both an ancient civilization and a corrupted dragon? Of course, it would eventually become a powder keg.
It seemed the Abyss Order was behind this, orchestrating events. Their altar-based summoning must require massive sacrifices—likely drawing on Durin's residual power as fuel.
If this hypothesis held, Durin's energy had likely seeped into the land itself, revitalizing the Frostbearing Tree. A proper environmental and temperature analysis from Sumeru scholars could likely provide concrete evidence.
This level of summoning wasn't trivial. It would drain significant power, possibly lowering Dragonspine's temperature further.
While the Knights needed to prepare for extreme cold, Gu Sanqiu didn't need to spell this out.
Albedo, with his research base on Dragonspine and his intimate connection to Durin, would undoubtedly account for everything. His meticulous nature as an alchemist ensured he would be prepared.
"All of you here bear titles within the Knights of Favonius," Albedo began. "Captain Kaeya mentioned the selection process, but I propose a simpler solution."
"Excluding Acting Grand Master Jean, who will remain to oversee operations and coordinate the city's defenses, everyone else will accompany me. We will dismantle all the altars in one decisive strike."
Jean nodded. "I'll request Lisa to manage the city's defenses. With the Church of Favonius' covert forces, the citizens will be well-protected."
"During this time," Jean continued, "I'll issue orders for Springvale and nearby areas to consolidate their populations. If necessary, we can activate some of the hidden strongholds to prioritize the safety of civilians."
Albedo added, "The Adventurers' Guild should dispatch Vision wielders to guard Springvale. Sucrose and Timaeus will bring my alchemical instruments to assist in fortifying the area."
He concluded with precision. "Everyone has thirty minutes to prepare. After that, we head for Dragonspine."