The next morning, everyone gathered early outside Mondstadt City.
Inside Favonius Cathedral, Barbara looked at the empty altar and shouted, "Ah!!!!!"
The sound echoed throughout Mondstadt City.
Venti: Let's go, let's go!
Lumine & Paimon: Oh, oh!
Qixuan: Sigh, you guys…
(Aichan, remember to prepare my lunch.)
(Aichan: You annoying Captain, I'm not Mei, hmph.)
Upon arriving at Stormterror's Lair, everyone looked at the wind barrier before them.
Venti took out the skylyre and gently strummed it, and the barrier surrounding Stormterror's Lair slowly dissipated.
"Alright, let's go."
Everyone slowly walked into Stormterror's Lair. Upon reaching the upper section, a magic circle appeared beneath their feet, and a spatial fluctuation shimmered, revealing a cyan vortex.
Everyone stepped inside, and a flash of light passed.
They appeared on a platform.
Paimon looked down, and after just one glance, he recoiled.
Hugging Lumine's head, he said, "Waaah, it's so high! I can only see clouds below!"
Lumine: Let go! Don't you know how to fly?
Venti: Here he comes!
Qixuan pulled Paimon down. "Alright, alright, you can perch on my head."
Paimon: Hehe, okay!
Dvalin roared and charged towards the platform. Lumine rolled to dodge.
Venti transformed into a stream of wind and flew into the air. Qixuan also directly floated in the air.
Lumine: Seriously? Am I the only one who can't fly yet?
At this moment, Dvalin swiped at Lumine again, sending her flying.
Lumine: Kids, this isn't funny!
Seeing Lumine about to fall, Qixuan quickly flew over to catch her.
Paimon: Lumine! Are you okay?
Lumine: I almost died. Thank you, Qixuan-jie.
Qixuan nodded.
Venti: Lumine, I will use the thousand-year flowing wind to assist you. I will play the lyre to control Dvalin. The rest of the purification is up to you.
To prevent Dvalin from running wild, Qixuan held him back in front.
Lumine seized the opportunity to fly onto Dvalin's back. Dvalin, feeling someone on his back, shook his body frantically.
Lumine: Waaah—I'm going to throw up!
Venti continued to play the lyre from above, and gradually, Dvalin calmed down.
Dvalin: Barba...tos...
Then Qixuan tried to bring Dvalin down to the platform. At this moment, Lumine saw the Crystalize emitting light.
"It's over." This was Lumine's last thought.
Immediately, Dvalin's eyes turned red again, and he flew into the air in a rage.
Lumine, who hadn't gotten off yet, naturally flew out, but this time she was prepared.
Lumine opened her Wings of Wind and floated steadily in the air.
Then she condensed wind bullets and shot them at Dvalin's wound, making him cry out in pain.
Lumine: Hmph! That's for hitting me!
Finally, Dvalin collapsed onto the platform. This time, he was truly out of strength to struggle.
Venti and Qixuan landed.
After saying a few words to Dvalin, Venti turned to Lumine and said, "It's up to you, Lumine."
Lumine: Huh? Isn't it over?
Qixuan: You should know that the crimson bird Crystalize you purified earlier was Dvalin's tears.
The skylyre can only serve as a tool for suppression. Although it can clear the power of the Abyss, Dvalin has accumulated too much, so we can only rely on you, Lumine.
Lumine: Okay, leave it to me! She said, placing her hand on Dvalin's head, and then her whole body glowed.
After the flash, the Crystalize on Dvalin's body disappeared.
Venti: Alright, this mission was a complete success. Everyone worked hard!
Qixuan: Let's go, let's have a big meal when we get back!
Paimon instantly perked up when he heard "eat."
Everyone returned to Mondstadt City and reported to Jean.
Jean: Thank you, Honorary Knight, Lord Barbatos, and Chiyuan Immortal, for your efforts. Mondstadt City will remember your contributions.
Lumine: Oh, Acting Grand Master Jean, we saw that Favonius Cathedral was quite chaotic just now. What happened?
Jean: Sigh, it's strange to say, but the skylyre mysteriously went missing. Barbara is still praying that Lord Barbatos won't blame her.
At this moment, Favonius Cathedral was in chaos. Venti then remembered that he hadn't returned the skylyre yet.
Jean: No way? You guys?
Qixuan: *cough cough* Don't look at me, Venti did it.
Venti: Huh? Didn't we agree to do it together? Why am I the only one taking the blame?
Jean: You should still return it...
Everyone arrived at the cathedral entrance. At this moment, Barbara looked "burnt out," muttering, "Lord Barbatos, please forgive your humble servant, boohoohoo~"
After returning the skylyre and explaining the whole story, Barbara was once again struck.
The reason was that she couldn't accept that the great Anemo Archon Barbatos was a "drunkard."
Qixuan added, "And he has a low tolerance for alcohol."
Venti: Oh no, my image is completely ruined!
Jean went back to handle her work.
Just as Lumine and the others exited the cathedral, a bone-chilling coldness swept over them from the front.
Lumine: What's going on?
Paimon, perched on Lumine's head, shivered from the cold.
Suddenly, several Fatui soldiers darted out from behind and immediately restrained Lumine.
Paimon: Ah, what should we do?
Venti had his feet frozen by the Lady, and a few others tried to attack Qixuan.
Qixuan directly sent them all "flying" across Teyvat.
The Lady slowly approached. "Chiyuan Immortal, I have no intention of fighting you. I am only here for one thing."
Qixuan: Venti, stop pretending. Just give her that broken thing.
The Lady: What!
Venti reluctantly transformed into a stream of wind and disappeared, then reappeared next to Qixuan.
A light flew out from his chest, and the Gnosis landed in Venti's hand.
"Here, take it."
Upon receiving the Gnosis, the Lady scoffed, "Is this the Gnosis? It's far less magnificent than the chess pieces I collect."
Venti chuckled softly. "Perhaps your aesthetic is just that bad."
The Lady: You! Hmph, let's go!
After the Lady left,
Lumine: What exactly happened?
Venti: I know you have many questions. Come find me at Windrise tomorrow, and I will tell you everything you want to know.
Lumine: Okay.
Qixuan: Then let's rest tonight.
Let's go have a good meal first!
Paimon: Yay! It's delicious!
Lumine: Seriously, we just got out of danger.
After enjoying a delicious meal, everyone went back to sleep.
...
