Statue of the Anemo Archon Plaza
Amber was still giving instructions.
"Make sure to listen to my directions, okay?"
"Every year in Mondstadt, lots of people break their bones from improperly using Wind Gliders."
"Wow, that sounds scary!"
Paimon looked frightened.
"Good thing I can already fly."
"If you use them properly, there's no problem! And with me—the Mondstadt Gliding Champion—here, you can relax!"
Amber patted her chest confidently.
"Gliding champion?"
"So Amber is that amazing?"
Paimon exaggerated dramatically.
Amber suddenly seemed to remember something embarrassing and looked slightly awkward.
She quickly changed the subject.
"Anyway, don't worry. Let's start."
"Lumine, just jump from here and open your Wind Glider."
Amber demonstrated first.
She jumped from the circular stone platform in the plaza.
Her Wind Glider unfolded instantly, carrying her smoothly down toward the fountain in front of the Goth Grand Hotel.
After landing, she waved up at Lumine.
"Okay."
Lumine jumped down as well.
Whoosh!
Her body, which had been falling rapidly, suddenly stabilized when the Wind Glider opened.
It felt as if the wind itself was supporting her.
After adjusting slightly, Lumine glided toward Amber.
"Lumine really has talent!"
Amber praised.
"Work hard and you might even compete with me in the Mondstadt Gliding Competition someday."
"There's a gliding competition too?"
Paimon asked.
"If there's a champion, of course there's a competition!"
"What's the reward for first place?!"
Paimon suddenly became excited.
"Can I join too?"
"Uh…"
Amber suddenly didn't know how to answer.
"Amber, the city seems a little chaotic."
Lumine spoke up.
From the air, she had noticed many Knights of Favonius moving around, which seemed different from normal patrols.
"Really? Then we'll ask someone later."
Amber was curious too.
"That guy?"
Paimon pointed.
At the entrance of the Goth Grand Hotel, a man with short brown hair, goggles, and black clothing with red accents stood guard.
The man noticed their gaze and said impatiently,
"What are you staring at? Stay away if you've got nothing to do. This is Fatui territory."
"…"
Amber stuck out her tongue and quickly pulled Lumine and Paimon away.
"These guys… let's stay away."
"Hmph. Just because they rented the Goth Grand Hotel, they act like it's their territory. So arrogant."
"If I catch them doing anything suspicious, the Knights will deal with them."
Her tone carried clear hostility.
"Who are they?"
Lumine asked.
"The Fatui—a diplomatic delegation from Snezhnaya."
Amber waved her hand dismissively.
"They don't really have much to do with us."
"Let's continue."
"Next, glide to the fountain plaza in front of the Good Hunter restaurant. If you make it there, Lumine passes the test."
Amber led Lumine behind the hotel and jumped first.
Lumine quickly followed.
While gliding, she noticed that the Good Hunter restaurant had already closed.
Its doors and windows were tightly shut.
Even the general goods shop across the street seemed closed.
The usually lively fountain plaza was eerily silent.
Just as she was wondering why—
A powerful wind suddenly blew in from beyond Cider Lake, carrying a chilling cold.
The giant windmills in Mondstadt began spinning wildly under the force.
Posters, flyers, trash, and countless leaves were swept into the air.
The sky visibly darkened as black storm clouds rapidly gathered.
"A storm?"
Amber quickly put on the goggles hanging around her neck.
Her voice was filled with disbelief.
"Mondstadt is protected by the Anemo Archon. A storm this violent shouldn't happen."
"The wind direction…"
Lumine suddenly clenched her fist.
ROOOAR!!!
A dragon's roar echoed across Mondstadt from the distant Brightcrown Canyon.
The six-winged Stormterror descended upon the city, surrounded by hurricanes and waves.
Its massive body smashed countless rooftops as it flew through the city.
Terrified screams filled the streets before being drowned out by the raging wind.
"Hey, hey, hey—
it actually came!"
At the Knights of Favonius headquarters, Jiang Chen, Kaeya, Jean, and Lisa all rushed outside.
They watched Stormterror flying through Mondstadt's skies.
Kaeya said with relief,
"Good thing we evacuated the citizens ahead of time."
"Stormterror… why would it suddenly attack Mondstadt?"
Jean looked anxious.
This unexpected situation had caught her off guard.
Although the Knights were evacuating the citizens, if Stormterror wasn't driven away or calmed down quickly, the damage to the city would only continue increasing.
"These chaotic elemental energies…"
Lisa rubbed her arm thoughtfully.
"They really do make people feel irritable."
ROOOOAR!!!
While they were analyzing the situation—
Stormterror flew high above Mondstadt.
Its enormous body stood upright in the sky, roaring thunderously toward the Statue of the Anemo Archon below.
It was manipulating the wind.
Or perhaps…
Desecrating the Anemo Archon.
Violent Anemo energy gathered together, forming a black tornado that descended from the storm clouds toward the statue.
However, some unknown force caused the tornado to shift course.
Instead of hitting the statue, it tore violently through the city itself.
"Not good!"
Jean's expression changed dramatically.
"That's—"
Jiang Chen noticed a figure being lifted into the air by the black tornado.
"I'm going!"
He said urgently.
His Wind Glider unfolded as he leapt into the sky, using the chaotic wind currents to propel himself upward.
This wasn't a game.
If something went wrong, the consequences would be unthinkable.