[Location: Windrise, The Great Oak]
[Time: 2:00 PM]
The massive tree offered shade, but the mood beneath it was somber. Venti sat at the base, healing himself with the wind. Aether and Paimon looked dejected.
I landed with a thud, folding my wings.
"You're late, Scaly," Venti grinned, though he looked pale.
"I was in a coma. Sue me." I snorted smoke. "So, she got it? The Gnosis?"
"She did," Venti sighed, looking up at the leaves. "But honestly? It's not the end of the world. A Gnosis is just a badge of authority. My power... the wind... is still mine."
"But she hurt you!" Paimon stomped her little foot in the air. "And she kicked Venti! That's super rude!"
"Next time," I growled, my claws digging into the dirt, "I won't just scratch her. I'll digest her."
Venti looked at me with those knowing, teal eyes. "You seek power, Raiden. But be careful. The power of a Dragon is volatile. If you eat too much, you might lose yourself."
"I have a good stomach," I replied dryly. "So, what now? We sit around and sing songs?"
"Aether is going to Liyue," Venti pointed to the blonde traveler. "The Geo Archon, Rex Lapis, descends once a year during the Rite of Descension. If you want answers about the other gods... or about your own nature... he is the one to ask. He is the oldest of us all."
Liyue. The Land of Contracts. And home to a lot of powerful monsters.
"I'm going too," I decided. "But I'm not walking. And flying takes too much stamina."
"Then how will you get there?" Paimon asked. "Roll?"
I grinned—a terrifying expression on a dragon.
"I'm going to build a ride."
[Location: Thousand Winds Temple]
[Time: 4:30 PM]
The ruins were crawling with mechanical life. A massive Ruin Guard stomped around the amphitheater, its singular eye glowing ominously.
"Target acquired," I muttered from the top of an archway.
"Great Sage. Analysis."
[Great Sage]
Weakness: Eye Core / Back Core.
Material Interest: Chaos Device, Chaos Circuit, Heavy Horn.>
"Perfect components."
I dove.
The Ruin Guard spun around, missiles locking onto me.
Beep-beep-beep.
Six missiles launched.
"[Thought Acceleration]!"
Time slowed. I saw the trajectory of every missile. Instead of dodging, I opened my mouth.
"[Cryo Manipulation]: Frost Breath!"
A cone of freezing mist—courtesy of Signora's stolen magic—erupted from my throat. The missiles froze in mid-air and shattered. The breath hit the Ruin Guard, coating its bronze armor in a layer of rime.
I landed on its shoulder.
"[Electro Claws]!"
Purple lightning wreathed my talons. I slashed the frozen metal.
Superconduct. The reaction shredded the machine's physical resistance. The armor peeled away like wet paper.
I jammed my snout into the exposed cavity on its back.
"[Predator]!"
CRUNCH.
I ripped out the glowing Chaos Core. The machine powered down instantly, collapsing into a heap of scrap.
I swallowed the core. It tasted like battery acid and old coins.
[System Alert]
Understanding of [Khaenri'ah Mechanics] increased.
Skill Acquired: [Machine Interface] (Can merge with or control simple machinery).>
"Now... for the rest of the scrap."
I didn't just eat the core. I used [Stomach] to store the limbs, the gears, and the metal plating.
"Great Sage. Activate [All of Creation]. Project Name: Motorcycle Eradicator."
[Great Sage]
Begin Crafting?>
"Execute."
[Location: A Secluded Clearing near Falcon Coast]
[Time: Sunset]
Magicules swirled around me as [All of Creation] went to work. The scrap metal floated, melted, and reshaped itself.
It wasn't just a bike. It was a beast.
Matte black armor plating (from the Ruin Guard). Glowing blue lines running along the frame (Dvalin's influence). The wheels were thick, reinforced with hardened slime rubber that could grip any terrain. The exhaust pipes looked like dragon scales.
It was beautiful.
But there was one problem.
I looked at the bike. Then I looked at my four-legged, winged dragon body.
"I can't reach the handlebars."
[Great Sage]
Analysis of [Signora's Human DNA] and [Ragnvaldr Bloodline Memory] is complete.
Combined with [Mimicry] skill... Human Form is available.>
My heart—or cores—skipped a beat.
"Do it."
The pain was different this time. It wasn't tearing; it was compressing. My bones shifted, my scales receded into skin, my wings folded into tattoos on my back.
I fell to my knees. Hands. I had hands.
I looked at my reflection in the side mirror of the bike.
I looked... like him.
I looked like Andrews Ragnvaldr. Maybe a year or two older. Sharp jawline, messy dark brown hair. But my eyes were silver with slit pupils, and there was a streak of dark blue in my hair. My teeth were slightly too sharp.
I was wearing a strange outfit generated by my magic—a black leather trench coat (made of my own dragon scales), combat boots, and pants that looked like modern biker gear.
I flexed my fingers.
"Finally. Thumbs."
I swung a leg over the Motorcycle Eradicator. I gripped the handles. I channeled my Electro energy into the engine.
VROOOOM.
The bike didn't purr. It roared like a thunderclap.
"What is that sound?!"
I looked up. Diluc was standing on the ridge, his claymore drawn. He looked bewildered.
"Yo, Diluc," I grinned, flashing my sharp teeth. "Check out the new wheels."
Diluc lowered his sword, blinking. "...Raiden?"
"In the flesh. Literally."
He walked down the hill, inspecting the bike and my new form. "You look... human. mostly."
"Useful for blending in. And for drinking that wine you promised."
Diluc actually smiled. He reached into his coat and tossed me a bag of Mora. "Consider this an investment. Don't die in Liyue."
"I don't plan to."
Aether and Paimon came running from the beach, likely attracted by the engine noise.
"WHOA!" Paimon's jaw dropped. "Is that... is that a metal horse?!"
"It's a motorcycle, Paimon," Aether said, looking at it with pure nostalgia. "I haven't seen one of these in... eons."
I revved the engine again, blue flames spitting from the exhaust.
"Get in, losers. We're going to Liyue."
"There's only one seat!" Paimon pointed out.
"Aether can walk. Or use a waypoint. I'm riding."
I kicked the kickstand up.
"Next stop: Stone Gate. Let's see if the Geo Archon is ready for a calamitous guest."
I gunned the throttle. The bike shot forward, leaving a trail of lightning and burnt rubber. The wind hit my human face, and for the first time since dying, I felt truly free.