"Me? Purify Dvalin?" Lumine's voice trembled, her eyes widening. "But I don't know how to do that!"
Her hands waved frantically, as though trying to push away the very thought of it. The memory of her previous battle with the corrupted dragon still haunted her — the furious gales, the poisonous hatred that filled the skies above Stormterror's Lair.
Jean, however, didn't waver. "You can," she said with quiet certainty. "Lord Barbatos himself told us. When the time comes, he will restrain Dvalin, and you alone can soothe his pain. That is your gift."
Lumine froze.Me?
Could she truly do something even the Knights of Favonius couldn't?
If the Anemo Archon himself believed she could purify Dvalin's torment, then perhaps—just perhaps—it was true.
"Is… Lord Barbatos awake now?" Barbara asked eagerly, eyes sparkling with hope.
Jean nodded. "Yes. He has awakened and already begun his work — clearing out the wilderness, destroying the largest monster stronghold in Dadaupa Gorge."
Barbara clasped her hands together in awe. "As expected of Lord Barbatos! He's invincible!"
Her admiration was genuine. To her, Barbatos wasn't merely a god — he was the symbol of all that Mondstadt stood for. The free wind that protected its people.
Wendy (Venti) sneezed in another part of the city, mumbling through a grin, "No, no… don't exaggerate. I'm not that amazing."
If only Barbara could hear that.
Still, her faith was endearing — and useful.
"I'll do it," Lumine finally said, resolve hardening behind her eyes. "If Barbatos believes I can help Dvalin, then I'll try."
Two Days Later
Time flew by in the whirlwind before the storm.
During those two days, Kael noticed a curious shift in Barbara's behavior.She had grown… enthusiastic. Too enthusiastic, perhaps.
She started washing his clothes without being asked, humming hymns of Barbatos under her breath as she worked. She even brought him freshly baked sweet madame every morning.
Kael chuckled quietly to himself. This girl has the makings of a perfect wife… but far too kind for someone like me.
Still, he didn't stop her.
He also took Barbara and Klee out of the city for a few small expeditions.Klee had been trapped inside the walls for weeks, her energy bottled up like fireworks in a jar. Under Kael's watchful eye, she was finally allowed to run wild — just enough to burn off steam, not to flatten the countryside.
Jean had hesitated at first, but Kael's calm assurance soothed her nerves.With him around, even Klee's explosions seemed… manageable.
And Klee? She was having the time of her life.
Every boom of her bombs echoed across the meadows like laughter. Even the monsters seemed confused — terror and joy mingled together in the tiny Spark Knight's wake.
By the end of the second day, Kael could almost feel the pulse of Teyvat shifting.The air grew sharp and restless.Something ancient was moving.
The battle that would decide Mondstadt's fate was about to begin.
The Chat Group
Wendy: "Jean, start preparing. The winds tell me that Dvalin has left his lair. He's heading straight for Mondstadt."
Jean: "Understood. Even with all our preparations… I can't help feeling anxious."
Diluc: "Stay focused. We're not the same people we were last time."
Diluc's words carried a new weight. He had changed — grown stronger, fiercer.While traveling with Wendy, he'd come across a pair of Fatui Delusions: dangerous artifacts that granted immense power at a steep cost. Normally, they corrupted the soul. But with the chat group's purification system, the danger was erased.
And that changed everything.
Each purified Delusion could also be exchanged for thousands of points — enough to tempt even the most disciplined Knight.
Diluc's crimson eyes burned brighter. Perhaps it's time to start hunting the Fatui.
Ningguang: "It's a pity we can't send aid from Liyue. Our situation is… delicate. Still, Mondstadt's troubles seem worse than I thought."
Keqing: "Those aristocratic relics are nothing but parasites. If I had my way, I'd hang them all from the Jade Chamber and be done with it."
Kael: "That's how all old nations rot, Keqing. Once power stagnates, it collapses. In my world, no dynasty survived more than three centuries without revolution."
Ningguang: "Revolutions are messy. I prefer restructuring. But… I admire your boldness, Kael. Will we get to see your full power this time?"
Kael: "Depends on the Abyss. I only use what's necessary."
Keqing: "Tch. Don't get cocky. You're powerful, not invincible."
Zhongli: "With you and Barbatos working together, victory should be well within reach."
Kael smirked faintly. "Jean, have you considered using Klee's bombs in this battle? If the Abyss Order opens rifts near the city, detonating them from within could cripple their advance."
Jean's face drained of color. "Please don't suggest that. If the Abyss targets Klee afterward, she won't survive their retaliation."
Kael inclined his head in quiet respect. "A wise choice. Protect the child. The city can rebuild, but innocence once lost never returns."
The Calm Before the Storm
Kael stood atop the roof of Favonius Cathedral, the wind tugging at his cloak.Below, Mondstadt shimmered in the silver-blue light of dawn.Across from him, Wendy strummed his lyre lazily.
"How are preparations?" Kael asked.
"Almost ready," Wendy said, grinning. "I'll just pretend I've been corrupted again. Play the helpless god card — it's my best performance!"
Kael laughed under his breath. "Let's hope the Abyss buys it. If not, we'll have more trouble than we need."
Wendy winked. "I'll make it convincing."
Kael's gaze drifted to the horizon, where faint storm clouds gathered."If I can obtain the third Vision Core," he murmured, "the Abyss won't be a threat much longer."
He could feel it now — his strength had grown, his understanding of elemental laws deepened.When he'd first gained his second Core, he had been slightly weaker than Barbatos at his peak.Now, he was approaching the level of Morax himself.
And soon… he would have the leverage to claim Raiden Shogun's Core from Yae Miko.
Wendy looked at him quietly. He believed in Kael — as did Jean, Diluc, and even Zhongli. They saw in him not just power, but direction. Someone who could unite gods and mortals against the Abyss.
Still, Venti's smile wavered. If he goes all out… Mondstadt itself might not survive the fight.
The Storm Arrives
"He's coming," Wendy whispered, eyes snapping open.
A dark speck appeared on the northern horizon — a shadow against the morning sky, moving impossibly fast.
Within moments, the winds turned violent, whipping through the streets.The bells of Favonius Cathedral clanged in alarm as windows rattled and awnings tore free.
"What's happening?!""It's the Wind Dragon!""Dvalin is attacking!"
Panic spread like wildfire through the city.Merchants abandoned their stalls, mothers pulled children indoors, and guards shouted over the rising roar of the storm.
"Lord Barbatos, save us!" cried one terrified priest. "Protect your city!"
The very air screamed.Dvalin's vast wings blotted out the sun as he descended in a cyclone of wrath, his roar shattering clouds and glass alike.
Even the Fatui stationed at the gates froze in horror. They had not expected the dragon's assault to come so soon.Had The Lady—La Signora—still lived, perhaps they would have stood their ground. But she was sealed, turned to stone.
Without her, there was no one strong enough to defy the storm.
"Paimon!" Lumine shouted above the roar.The tiny companion clung to her shoulder, eyes wide with panic. "Lumine, are you sure you want to fight that thing?!"
Lumine's gaze locked on Dvalin, glowing blue through the chaos. "I have to. He's not our enemy… he's in pain."
Wind howled. The cathedral spire cracked.And high above it all, two figures — one mortal, one god — prepared to face the storm together.
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