The vast, desolate highlands had sand grains borne on the wind; trees once lush and thick had been snapped in half; intermittent roars from afar meant the dragon had not gone far.
"A merchant from Snezhnaya?"
Looking at the tattered trade emblem in the camp, Lisa frowned unconsciously.
Mondstadt might not be as developed as Snezhnaya, but as a city that revered wind and freedom, its people lived in peace. To be mocked like this was truly irritating.
"Just like in Mr. Ken's video—people from Snezhnaya are all this arrogant!"
The video of the Lady seizing Barbatos's Gnosis was still etched in Barbara's mind.
Even if the main reason was Barbatos voluntarily giving up his Gnosis, having their nation's god treated with such contempt by a diplomat was infuriating.
Seeing even a merchant from Snezhnaya acting so overbearing, Barbara's fair little face scrunched up.
"Too awful! Klee wants to clobber him!"
Little Klee clenched her fists, her legs poised to charge, itching to blast the man away with a Jumpy Dumpty.
Seeing Klee's and Barbara's expressions, the pot-bellied merchant frowned.
"What are you two looking at me like that for? I am Tsarevich, a merchant from Snezhnaya. Is this the pace at which your Knights work? Hurry up and get to it!"
Tsarevich puffed out his gut and crowed.
Jean was annoyed as well but kept it courteous. "Mondstadt has recently experienced a wind disaster. We're sorry your caravan was caught up in it. Please head into the city to take shelter. Leave this to the Knights."
"Hmph! I'm waiting right here—I don't trust you! Who knows if you're in league with that dragon, robbing merchants passing by." Tsarevich said, full of himself.
Even the elegant Lisa and the dignified Acting Grand Master Jean couldn't help but feel anger.
If not for their positions, they would have sent him flying already.
Hearing that, Jean said coolly, "As you wish."
Then she led the Knights toward Windwail Highland. Dvalin was hovering near the slopes, and the flying sand and stones around were the result.
"What kind of attitude is that? As expected of a backwater—no quality!"
Tsarevich muttered curses.
But with a dragon nearby, he held his tongue after a couple of lines. He'd settle the score with these Knights after they dealt with the dragon.
…
The once green Windwail Highland was shrouded in a massive cyclone. The dragon in the wind kept roaring, as if venting endless rage.
"My apologies."
Jean drew Aquila Favonia, set the scabbard upright on the ground, and gave a knight's salute toward the hurricane.
"Let Klee do it! Klee will try the bomb Daddy gave her!"
Now that they had found Dvalin, Klee was thrilled.
She'd been ready to bomb the city in broad daylight last night, but Dvalin had suddenly left. That had disappointed her greatly.
And today Daddy had sent a new bomb.
Klee had been itching to try it.
With Jean's permission, Klee took out that smooth bomb and tossed it into the air.
"Tada! Watch my Jumpy Dumpty!"
Seeing Klee throw the bomb, the Knights instinctively backed away.
Dvalin was flying high above; it would be difficult to hit him with a bomb. But harming the dragon wasn't Jean's goal—she only wanted to scare him off.
As long as Dvalin felt danger and kept quiet for a few days outside, they would have time to find that Traveler.
But while the bomb might not hit the dragon in the sky, it could end up destroying Windwail Highland… The Knights retreated nervously.
Only—
When the bomb, with Klee's toss, arced into the sky, what followed left every Knight on the scene dumbfounded.
The spherical bomb did not fall in a parabola.
It suddenly detonated midair.
The ordinary-looking sphere burst like fireworks into a brilliant Windwheel Aster pattern.
Rays like flower petals fell outward in all directions.
Wherever the radiance went, thunderous explosions rang out, because every glowing petal spark carried tremendous force.
In an instant, a dozen mushroom clouds blossomed above Windwail Highland, and the sheer power blew away the sand and stones kicked up by the cyclone.
If it hadn't exploded midair, it could have reshaped the highland in a heartbeat.
More outrageous still—
After the fireworks petals burst, the air suddenly filled with a powerful Electro charge.
The Electro crackled along the paths of the exploding petals, converging into fine bolts of lightning that merged with the bomb's flames—lightning and fire, roaring together.
"Th-this…"
Even the poised and steady Jean couldn't help but part her lips in shock.
She'd seen Klee's Jumpy Dumpty before.
But this was her first time seeing a bomb so flamboyant, infused with both Pyro and Electro, and with such massive power.
That instant of release was as gorgeous as fireworks yet carried the terror of annihilation.
Even two sparks that fell to the ground blasted open a boulder.
The shockwave caught the boulders and sent them hurtling down toward the canyon below.
"Argh!!"
"Graaah!!"
Startled, Dvalin felt the pain from the blast; a patch of his scales was blown off. He wheeled around and flew into the distance.
This was the special bomb Ken had developed by combining explosives with fireworks.
Because it was a gift for Klee, he'd made it extra showy.
The reason it could wound Dvalin at all was purely because he'd added a special material to the bomb.
There wasn't much of it—just enough to make Dvalin feel pain and avoid stirring up the winds over Mondstadt for now, not to seriously injure him.
"Was that bomb from Mr. Ken?"
Jean looked at the sky gradually returning to calm. Once her mood settled a bit, she asked Klee.
The power of that bomb…
It was much stronger than Klee's Jumpy Dumpty.
And it contained both Pyro and Electro, yet retained its power even while blooming into a gorgeous firework.
Jean couldn't help thinking of Klee's mother… Did all three in this family love researching bombs?
<><><>>><><><><><><><>
Advanced chapter here: p-atreon.com/Sajaboyzzz
<><><><><>><>>><><><><>
Keep the Chapters coming - Support with Power Stones!
Every 200 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter!