As Sekai busies himself taking commission in Liyue, Aether returns to Mondstadt. He got commission near Cider Lake; thus, he goes report to Katheryne in Mondstadt Adventure Guild. There he got information about someone which led to his meeting with Dainsleif.
From him, Aether starts to hunt the Abys Herald as Dainsleif offer his help in finding his sister. But come out with nothing concrete. But he seems to feel that along the journey of chasing the Abyss Herald, he always got stare by someone.
At the end of the day, Aether and Paimon return to Liyue Harbor riding the Hoverbike, lent by Sekai to them.
A few days later, Sekai meets Aether and Paimon when he just returns back from completing his commission. Paimon share her story with Sekai as the Silver Knight frown feeling that the stare Aether felt maybe come from Amber or Noelle… after all with how they act during their stay at Mondstadt city… Sekai can't just ignore the feeling of possessiveness for Aether in both of them…
They also share how much fund they managed to collected these past few days. Aether told about his spent of 500 Mora in commissioning Dainsleif to find any information about his sister. Sekai found that the description of Dainsleif kind of remind of that one stalker he meets at Wolvedoom. Which left him with encrypting message. But he already forgets what that message all about.
(If you forgot… then it not important, yeah right)
As they were sharing their progress, they heard someone talking about something interesting.
???: Yes, yes. They have the audacity to go after anything. The Seven, dragons, gods… no ancient artifacts that relates can escape their greedy ambitions. Still, this time is different… who they think they are going after the Abyss Order treasures…?
The person asking suddenly noticed several stare looking at her, turning her stare towards them, she knows it was the trio traveler.
???: Oh, Travelers, it's you.
Paimon: Huh? Ganyu, what are you doing here with Lan? DO you have a commission you need to post?
Ganyu: Hello, Paimon and travelers. We were just discussing the Treasure Hoarders.
Lan: Yes, we were just saying how even the audacious Treasure Hoarders should know better than to mess with the Abyss—it's just too evil.
Ganyu: But we recently received intel from the Ministry of Civil Affairs that two big-time Treasure Hoarders in Liyue and Mondstadt are planning some big joint operation.
Aether/Paimon/Sekai: Two big-time Treasure Hoarders?
Lan: Yes, they're known as "Big Sis of the South" and "Raptor of the North".
Paimon: Ahh! Raptor! Paimon remembers he tried to run away from Amber in Mondstadt… but who is "Big Sis of the South"?
Aether: Does "Big Sis" mean she bosses people around?
Sekai: She sounds like some kind of Big Madam of underworld or something?
Lan: You already know something then. I guess you must have crossed paths with Treasure Hoarders many times before. You are correct Mr. Silver. She is the head of the treasure Hoarders in Liyue. As I understand it, the treasure hoarders all call her "Boss". Some say that the God of Thieves even bestowed a gift upon her for her exploits, making her the "Big Sis of the Gods"… But that's probably just wild rumor.
Ganyu: Anyway, the treasure hoarders discovered some previously unexplored ruins that the Abyss Order has been secretly guarding in the shadows. Despite how dangerous that makes it, all the Treasure Hoarders can think about is what kinds of treasure could be inside… they have already devised a plan: they will send out a decoy to divert the Abyss Order's forces away from the ruins, then send an expert thief inside to steal the treasure.
Lan: To this end, Big Sis and Raptor have report recruited a certain "Grand Thief" form Fountaine…
Paimon: Grand Thief? That's quite an impressive-sounding title.
Lan: Indeed. He is an extraordinary individual. The Grand Thief is highly respected in the Treasure Hoarders, in the same way that we adventure's look up to great adventurers.
Aether: Just like the famous adventurer, Alice?
Lan: Ah, so you're familiar with the author of the Tyevat Travel Guide, then? Correct, the Grand Thief is someone as renowned as her.
Aether: Just like the great adventurer, Stanley?
Lan: Ah, you met the living legend himself while you were in Mondstadt? Correct, the Grand thief is someone just as renowned as him.
Lan: So, despite being relative big-timer in Liyue and Mondstadt, Big Sis and Raptor had put in a lot of work to convince a thief of his status to come and personally oversee this operation.
Ganyu: With the major changes in Liyue recently, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Millelith already have their hands full. They don't have time to investigate rumors about Treasure Hoarder activity. But anything related to the Abyss makes me feel like there is some unknown danger lurking beneath the surface. So, I decided to come to the Adventurers' Guild to post a commission.
Aether: Well, since I'm here…
Sekai: (nodded in understanding)
Paimon: Mm-hmmm! Leave this commission to us!
Ganyu: (smiled) Oh, thank you so much.
Lan: Good to see this in the hands of a reliable guild member. Well then, good luck. The Guild will take care of the details for this commission.
-Timeskip-
Following the Treasure Hoarders' trail, they enter the ruins Ganyu and Lan spoke of.
Inside, they found the camp, which means Treasure Hoarders are here. They kept moving until they encountered some hilichurls which they took care of with ease.
They kept moving and they found some bubble traps. Sekai transforms into Cyclone element summoning his Hoverboard carrying Aether and Paimon moving pass through the trap.
What he does is basically cheesing the trap…
Once they reached there. they found the person, who was kneeling down.
Paimon: Th—this looks like a person! Could it be the Grand Thief?
Noticing something strange Paimon tried float closer towards the kneeling man.
Paimon: Why is he in that position? Is he praying to something?
Paimon looked around and saw the upside-down Statue of Barbatos with chains around it. it seems holding some strange energy.
Paimon: !? That's…
Sekai: (shocked) A… Statue of the Seven!?
Aether: Some strange thing that I've never seen.
Paimon: Wh-why is this Statue of The Seven… hanging upside-down…? And the Statue's hands... Paimon remembers they are normally holding an orb, right? But this statue is holding… What is that?
Paimon: Uhh… Paimon has really bad feeling about this… and the Grand Thief hasn't moved an inch. D-do you think he's…?
Paimon: Um… hello… Are you okay mister?
They all observe the Grand Thief… Sekai even places his finger in front of his nose shaking his head telling there no sign of breathing.
Paimon: H—He's dead. Paimon doesn't feel so good.
Aether: (unease) What a terrible place…
Sekai felt some strange energy lingering around the Grand Thief, 'What kind of energy is this? Is this Abyss Order's doing?'
Paimon: let's get out of here, and fast! We should report back to Ganyu and Lan…
Paimon said in urgent tone only to be intruded by something.
The ground started shaking as the door closed and the floor cracking.
Paimon: Aaaah, now what!?
Paimon: We can't stay here. Quick, run!
They bolt towards the other room only to found someone or something there.
???: You cannot spy on the secrets of the Abyss
???: You have come here; you have seen our secrets. For this, you must pay the price. As a Herald, I will mete out your punishment.
Paimon: (scared) An Abyss Herald!?
Sekai: The one you said?
Aether: Yes, the monster we were tracking with Dain…
???: Dain… Dainsleif? Oh, I thought you were just a couple of pests that stumbled in here by mistake… So, you are with Dainsleif, that constant annoyance in our affairs… did he send you here to die? His resistance against the Abyss has gone nowhere for a long time. There is nothing you can do to change the tide… The Abyss… is unstoppable!
After saying that, the Abyss Herald started to accumulate weird energy.
Paimon: What is this power…? Paimon never seen it before…
Paimon: Careful, please don't get hurt.
Aether pulls out his sword and Sekai started to switch his elements
Sekai: Elemental Power, Sekai Quake!
Abyss Herald started swinging his blades at them but both of them dodged aside.
The Abyss Herald lunges, swinging his dual blades with deadly precision, but both Sekai and Aether dodge smoothly. Aether seizes the opening, darting behind the Herald and landing a sharp strike across his back. The Herald grunts in pain, whirling around to unleash a cross-shaped water blast towards Aether.
Sekai: Earth Wall!
With a punch to the ground, Sekai raises a wall of earth, absorbing the Hydro blast and leaving the Herald momentarily stunned. Sekai counters with a wave of jagged rocks launched from the ground, which the Herald dodges, only to be struck by Aether's swift Anemo attack, knocking him backward.
The two keep up their relentless assault, seamlessly tagging each other in the fight.
Abyss Herald: Enough!
Abyss Herald powered up and imbued himself with a powerful Hydro shield. After that, Herald started spinning himself along with blades towards both of them.
Sekai: Whoa… Beyblade!
Paimon: Sekai! Not Now, focus on the fight!
Sekai: What? I'm just sayin'
As the Herald's spinning form approaches, Sekai dodges easily, a curious look on his face.
Sekai: "How's he not dizzies doing that?"
Aether: "Maybe he takes some kind of… special medicine."
Sekai: (Grinning) "Yeah, gotta keep that 'energy' up."
Aether: (Catching on, smirking) "Ah… so that's how it is."
Paimon: "What are you two talking about?"
Sekai and Aether exchange disappointed glances, shaking their heads at the Abyss Herald with exaggerated disapproval. Even the Herald pauses, thrown off by their reaction.
Aether: "To think they'd resort to something like that… I'm really disappointed."
Sekai: "Yep. Today we learned the Abyss is just a bunch of… well, people who can't handle things without, you know… 'enhancements.'"
Paimon: "Enhancements? Wait… you mean…" (Gasp) "Drugs?!"
Sekai: "Yeah. What a bunch of addicts. No wonder they hole up in these dark dungeons."
Paimon and Aether both nod with "enlightened" expressions, while the Abyss Herald clenches his fists, rage boiling over.
Abyss Herald: "How dare you insult the dignity of the Abyss!"
Aether: "(Sighing) He's too far gone."
Sekai: "Yeah… looks like he's worshipping those 'enhancements' now. A sad sight."
Abyss Herald: "Enough!!!"
Enraged, the Herald charges forward, unleashing a flurry of Hydro projectiles, but in his fury, his aim is off, and every shot misses its mark. The silence that follows is thick with awkwardness.
Aether: (Whispering to Sekai) "Maybe… he overdoses it?"
Sekai: Welp… let just end this.
They both charge, attacking in sync, forcing the Abyss Herald to the edge of defeat. With a final, powerful burst of Geo energy, Aether slams his foot into the ground, creating a shockwave that sends the Herald staggering. He clutches his chest, panting heavily.
Abyss Herald: "This power… it feels familiar." (He raises a trembling hand, pointing at Aether.) "So… it's you. You are the one…"
Summoning a portal, the Abyss Herald begins to retreat, but Sekai takes the chance to conjure a Geo construct—a long stick—and launches it at him. …. And to the poor Abyss Herald, it hit where it should never have if you were a man, sending the Herald stumbling through the portal while leaving an involuntary, disturbing moaning sound echoing throughout the dungeon.
Sekai: Secret technique: 1,000 year of pain, range edition.
Silence falls once more in the dungeon.
Paimon: "Um… Are the Abyss Order just weak, or… are we too strong?"
Aether stares after the Herald, a frown settling on his face.
Aether: (To himself) "No… I think he was holding back. And somehow… he knew me."
Sekai notices Aether's distant look and steps forward, snapping him out of his thoughts.
Sekai: "Hey, you good? You were zoning out there."
Paimon: "What's wrong, Aether? What are you thinking about?"
Aether shakes his head, casting one last glance at the fading portal.
Aether: "It's nothing. Let's just get out of here."
Paimon: "Good idea! Let's get outta this creepy place before something even weirder shows up!"
The trio heads toward the exit, laughter still echoing faintly as they leave the dark dungeon behind.