The plains of Mondstadt stilled after the hunt, leaving the knights awestruck and the earth scarred with the day's victories.
Ye Ruo had been the intended maestro of this floral chase, his wind mastery poised to sweep the remaining deception flowers into submission with effortless grace.
Yet Eula, the frost-wrought Spray Knight of unshakable resolve, emerged as the unexpected pivot of a sudden storm, her composure rattled by Ye Ruo's escalating flair.
Her trust in him—etched through years of shared battles and unspoken bonds—quivered as his casual power threatened to eclipse her own icy legend.
Windrise sprawled beneath a twilight sky, its grasses swaying in a breeze laced with the faint chill of distant snows.
The horizon glowed amber, casting long shadows over the knights' gathered ranks.
Their leather boots crunched on trampled earth, their Zephyr Swords sheathed but stained with frost and dirt.
Eula stood apart, her Cryo Vision glinting like a frozen star against her noble garb, her cape frayed from earlier floral scuffles.
Nimue flanked her, a compact dynamo with water-blue eyes and a whip coiled at her side, her short frame radiating coiled fury.
Six knights clutched their newly bonded deception flowers—ice petals quivered, sensing the shift in the air.
Ye Ruo lounged atop a rise, his wind-woven cloak billowing as he surveyed the scene with a lazy grin.
His Anemo Vision pulsed—plains sang to him, elemental whispers on the wind.
"Abyss trash incoming—hilichurls and a mage," he noted, voice calm but edged.
Knights spun—shields clattered up, flowers bristled.
A hillside flared—Pyro mage blinked into view, shield aglow.
Hilichurls swarmed—wooden shields, torches, bows, and shamans.
Brutes lumbered—large shields thunked the ground.
"They've tailed us—persistent pests," Tobin growled, gripping his sword.
Nimue's whip cracked—water shimmered in her palm.
"Let me douse that mage—fire's mine," she snarled.
Eula stepped forward—frost gleamed on her blade.
"I'll carve them—grudge fodder," she said, eyes cold.
Knights braced—hands tightened on hilts and shields.
Ye Ruo waved—"Hold—misc fish, seconds' work," he said.
He strode into view—the mage froze, staff trembling.
Panic seized it—red eyes widened in dread.
"Wind Knight—flee!" it shrieked, vanishing in a blink.
Hilichurls charged—grunts echoed, torches flared.
Ye Ruo sighed—his hand rose, wind howled awake.
Trees bent—branches snapped under the gale.
A cyan bow bloomed—wind condensed, taut and alive.
He pulled—arrows of light swirled into form.
"Out," he murmured—bowstring sang, air roared.
A storm erupted—tornado tore the hillside apart.
Hilichurls flew—shields splintered, bodies shredded.
The mage reappeared—suction yanked it back.
It wailed—flames fizzled, shield cracked wide.
Tornado raged—elements clashed, chaos reigned.
Seconds passed—storm faded, silence fell.
Wreckage littered the slope—clubs, bows, ash.
Ye Ruo clapped—wind dissipated, hands empty.
"Done—easy," he said, turning with a shrug.
Knights stared—sweat beaded their brows.
"Master's a monster—untouchable," Rhea whispered.
"That's… casual?" Lyle choked, jaw slack.
Eula's gaze flickered—admiration clashed with unease.
"Outdoes my frost—grudge noted," she muttered.
Nimue blinked—"Stronger than Jean—unreal," she breathed.
Ye Ruo's storm dwarfed their Visions—legend lived.
Relic guards had fallen to this—scrap now.
This? A flick—captains' ultimates paled.
"Falga's heir—beyond us," Tobin marveled.
Confidence surged—they followed a titan.
The system chimed in Ye Ruo's mind, panel flaring bright.
He smirked—readers' gains fueled his pride.
[Customer Noelle completed Old Mond: Stoneheart Oath—Reward: Geoforge Gauntlet.]
[Geoforge Gauntlet: Enwraps the user's fists in Geo-charged stone, amplifying strikes with earth-shaking force; summons rock barriers or spikes on impact; can reshape terrain with a single blow, unyielding as bedrock.]
Noelle with Geo fists—maid's might grew.
Ye Ruo stretched—"Flowers next—seven left," he said.
Magic circles flared—cyan runes etched the ground.
Gale Demon Wolves emerged—fangs bared, eyes fierce.
Blue wind swirled—hunters born of Anemo.
Over a dozen prowled—stronger than Noelle's foe.
Flowers quailed—ice petals burrowed or hid.
"Fetch—don't shred," Ye Ruo ordered, voice firm.
Wolves blurred—afterimages streaked the plain.
Knights froze—hearts thudded, awe gripped.
"Wolves—his too?" Eula asked, voice tight.
Ye Ruo nodded—"Recent trick—hunters' edge," he said.
"Small skill—handy," he added, casual.
Eula's jaw clenched—"Small? Liar," she hissed.
Her flower peeked—trembling at the pack.
Nimue gaped—"Threat's insane—wind wolves?" she stammered.
"Beyond flowers—master's unfair," Rhea agreed.
Wolves returned—seven flowers dangled in jaws.
Frost and fire blooms—tamed, intact.
"Contract 'em—six slots open," Ye Ruo directed.
Knights rushed—tokens flared, bonds sealed.
Subplots stirred—Abyss tracks crisscrossed afar.
"More mages—scouts linger," Eula warned.
Her hand flexed—grudge itched for a fight.
Nimue coiled her whip—"Underestimated once—not twice," she vowed.
A twist loomed—distant runes pulsed red.
"Round two brews—rest up," Ye Ruo mused.
Knights rallied—flowers synced, spirits high.
Eula sidled close—"Outshining me—dangerous," she teased.
Ye Ruo grinned—"Jealous? Cute," he shot back.
She huffed—"Grudge's long—watch it," she retorted.
Her flower drooped—mimicking her pout.
Laughter broke—tension eased, bonds deepened.
Ye Ruo's wind softened—pride warmed his gaze.
Their growth shone—captains rose, knights hardened.
The system pulsed, Ye Ruo's fame a howling tempest.
His storm reshaped—Mondstadt's edge sharpened.
***
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