Episode 11: Wrath
Amidst the mayhem that gripped Liyue Harbor, Diluc blended into the shadows, as his unholy mission began. This sort of setting suited him just fine. The background was a bit different, and the stakes were much higher than normal, but the searing hole in his heart reminded him that failure was simply not an option.
He already had a pretty good idea which group was responsible for this sickening blight on justice. There weren't many possibilities. The Abyss Order had faded into obscurity as of late, and a political assassination from within Liyue seemed completely implausible. Most importantly, though, this brutal attack closely resembled another recent event that Diluc hadn't forgotten, not for a second. There was no way it was a coincidence; it had to be them.
The Fatui.
How incredibly fortunate it was that he just so happened to know a place where there were a lot of them: Northland Bank. Once he made that connection, there was only one thing left to do. The young man's rage had reached critical levels this time, surpassing blind rage to something even more frightening. It was beyond time to send a message to those scum.
"Yo, what's up?"
The guard at the front door stiffened at that sound: a disembodied voice dripping with malice. She glanced around nervously, and her eyes finally rested on a man that seemed to phase into existence as he stepped from the shadows. His presence was imposing, oozing quiet animosity.
"Who the hell are you?" The blond guard snapped.
"Oh, just a guy that has some questions. Questions that need answers. Now."
"I won't be answering any of your questions. We already turned the Millelith away. Now fuck off real quick like, okay?"
Hatred and disgust were kindled like an inferno inside Diluc's chest at that snarky comment.
"I don't think you understand. You're going to answer my questions, or you won't live to see the dawn. Got it?" he sneered back, mocking the guard's tone.
The guard instantly pushed a button behind her, and an alarm wailed from inside the bank. But despite her abundance of caution, it was already much too late.
In the next second, Diluc's hand was wrapped around her collar, and he slammed her hard against the wall.
"Who killed Keqing of the Qixing? Tell me right now and you might live."
"You're wasting your time," she said with a strained chuckle.
"Talk!"
But she didn't say anything else. Diluc pressed hard against her throat as the siren continued to pierce the silent night. He could hear hurried footsteps approaching from inside the bank, bringing his impromptu questioning to an end.
"Fine. Suit yourself, scum. I'll keep killing your people until one of you finally tells me who did this."
Diluc's voice was cool and composed, in direct opposition to the vile threats he was spitting.
"Fuck… you…"
She managed to get those words out an instant before Diluc mercilessly dug his fingers into her throat, crushing her windpipe. She didn't have to suffer for long, though. He took a step back, and swung his sword, decapitating her in an instant. The woman's headless body fell against the railing as her head splattered on the empty street below.
Just then, the doors were flung open, and a group of angry foreigners poured out. Diluc responded to this turn of events in the simplest possible way: by swinging his sword once more. The large, sweeping arc cut several of the men completely in two. Bowels and organs fell out like toys from a child's toy box.
"Who killed her?!" Diluc yelled at the survivors.
Yet, the men refused to tell him anything. They charged him, carrying swords and knives as they yelled in fury. Diluc gripped his sword even harder, then sliced at their heads with his red-hot weapon. They were demolished by the impact, bursting open like watermelons. Only one or two remained now, and they tried to regroup inside, but Diluc dashed forward, slamming his shoulder hard against the door, preventing their escape.
Once he forced his way inside the bank, he could see the last two men trying to escape to a passage in the back. He planted his feet, then catapulted himself at the closest one. He shoved him hard into the other, causing both men to fall. The first man met an unfortunate fate, as Diluc stabbed his sword into his head, killing him instantly. The other cowered in fear beside the newly-created corpse.
"You're next unless you start talking. Then after that, whoever is back there."
"Look, how the fuck do you know anything about this?! Why do you think we did it?!"
"Just a gut feeling of mine. Plus… I still haven't settled the score from Springvale."
"Spring…"
I see, so you know something about that, huh? Talk, you fucking rat. Before I skewer you like him. Where's the little cat girl?"
"I-I can't tell you that."
Diluc slammed his sword into the marble floor inches from the man's head, sending chips of it flying.
"AH?! Wait, wait! I don't know about it, but I'll tell you where a camp is! Fuck, don't tell them I sent you though!"
"Start talking."
"They're in the old ruins at Dunyu. That's where the most active group is meeting!"
"I see. Is that all you know?"
"That's all! I'm just here visiting friends!"
"Thank you. Your sacrifice will be most appreciated."
"My wha-"
The man's question was never allowed to finish. With the sound of a cracking skull ringing out, Diluc's sword sliced the man's head in two.
"Fucking liar."
He stood, looking around the bank. There was a hallway in the back leading to a metal door. He strolled over to it, testing it, but found no way of entering.
"Shit, that's about right."
Diluc studied the interior of the bank. There didn't seem to be any other ways in or out, and he had pushed his luck too far already.
Giving up on this location for now, Diluc decided it was time to flee the scene of his crime, as the siren still blared. As silently as he came, he slipped away, before the first light of day could reveal the bloody aftermath of his sins.
The angry mob of a dozen or so men that reached Northland bank around dawn was too late. Upon arriving, they were met with a grisly scene. Body parts lay scattered about in a sea of blood. A male guard was kneeling by the remains of the headless female body that was slumped against the railing, dripping half-coagulated blood onto the street below.
When he saw them, he rose, assuming a threatening posture.
"If any of you did this, you will pay."
"WE'LL PAY?! HA! Get a load of this guy!"
"Snezhnayan scum! We'll add you to the pile!"
"Looks like someone already did us a favor!"
The men had found an object to take out their anger upon. And once a mob has found a scapegoat, little remains but to dispose of it.
The Snezhnayan man assumed a battle-ready stance as half a dozen men rushed him, armed with spears and swords. As the onslaught closed in on him, from behind his mask, a single tear rolled down his face.
"Nadia… I'm sorry. Looks like I'll be joining you soon…"
When it really comes down to it, human beings are simple creatures. As much as we try to hide our animal instincts behind the veneer of "society", they never completely go away. Years of peace can be completely uprooted by a single trigger, transforming gentle people into furious carnivores. One wrong is answered by another, until there's enough blood to cover everyone's hands.
Right now, Liyue Harbor felt like a different place altogether. The people were furious, ready to administer justice to anyone related to Snezhnaya. Any hope for a peaceful resolution, no matter how unpopular such a thing might have been, was slipping away.
As the morning sun rose over the harbor, Ningguang looked over the city below. Her heart was steeled. After a night of tears and suffering unlike any in recent memory, she no longer felt the pain, or so she convinced herself. She couldn't break down now. It was time for her to be strong, for the sake of the country, and for her.
A man in a Millelith uniform arrived as she gazed aimlessly at the rooftops of her beloved home.
"Lady Ningguang, I have a report on the Northland Bank situation. It appears that a man matching the description you gave was indeed spotted near there around that time."
"I see… Thank you. You are dismissed."
She sighed, letting the mask slip for only a second or two.
"Looks like we'll have to stop him."
Diluc laid low for the rest of the day after his killing spree. He had masterfully avoided the Millileth, and after cleaning his weapon in the nearby stream, he returned to the inn, recovering his energy for that night's plan. He would confront whatever Fatui were at Dunyu ruins, and kill them all, but not before finding out where Diona was kept, and why they had chosen to kill Keqing.
His mind drifted over bloody scenes of violence. Springvale, and now this… The Fatui were completely out of control. He couldn't help but wonder what had triggered this sudden turn. It just wasn't logical. Why would they want to kill someone like her?
Around dinner time, an unexpected knock at the door interrupted his circular thoughts. He rose warily, and opened the door just a crack, on high alert.
"Who's there?"
"Are you Sir Diluc?" a Millelith asked him, standing in the hallway.
"Maybe I am. Who's asking?"
"Lady Ningguang has summoned you, please proceed to the square immediately."
"…Got it."
Diluc immediately slammed the door.
This isn't going to be fun.
Diluc already had a good idea of what this was about. In fact, he was surprised it had taken this long for someone to track him down, as careless as he had been in his blind rage. A few minutes later, he left the inn. As he approached the square in front of Yuehai Pavilion, he spotted Ningguang standing side by side with another figure.
That figure looked all too familiar, and her presence shocked him to his core.
"Jean…? What the hell?"
She wasn't alone, either. She was accompanied by several Knights of Favonius, who stood at attention nearby.
Shit.
Taking a deep breath, he strode towards the unlikely assortment of people. Ningguang heard him coming and turned towards him, greeting him first.
"Diluc. Thank you for coming," she said, her face drawn tight.
"Yeah, but what's this about? And Jean, why are you here?"
Diluc felt that something was very wrong here. Jean was silent, as Ningguang continued to speak.
"First, let me offer my sincerest sympathy for your loss. But just know that you're not the only one hurting right now. Lady Keqing was dearly loved by all of Liyue… including me. Her loss is… irreplaceable."
Ningguang's eyes wavered at the end, looking away from the red-haired man.
Diluc lowered his head. His heart ached every time he considered the terrible reality he now faced, but in front of Jean, he couldn't let himself break down.
"I-I too am sorry for your loss, Diluc. She was such a kind person, I wish I could have spent more time with her…"
"Thank you, Ningguang, Jean… but this wouldn't have happened if I was with her. I failed her."
"It wasn't your fault," Jean whispered.
"No, I should have been there. I should have known those filthy rats were planning something like this."
Ningguang raised an eyebrow at Diluc's fiery words and tone.
"Well, in any case, I brought you here to make a request of you."
Ningguang's eyes were sharp and serious as she stared him down.
"I'll help in any way possible."
"I'll hold you to that. I want you to leave Liyue."
"…What did you just say…?" Diluc muttered in disbelief.
"Please accompany Miss Gunnhildr back to Mond. Your actions have caused us great trouble. I believe you need some time to cool your head."
A look of fearsome irritation painted Diluc's face. He glared at the white-haired woman, frustration rising inside him like pressurized magma on the verge of exploding.
"What? You must be kidding? I'm only repaying the blood that those vermin spilled back home."
"And starting a war with Snezhnaya? Is that really "helping" anyone?"
"…So you just plan to let Keqing die, without any retribution against her murderers? Fuck that shit, it's disgusting!"
Ningguang's face gave away the pain in her heart for a second as Diluc raised his voice and uttered those sharp words. She regrouped, and fired back at him.
"I don't like your tone, Diluc. This country is not your home, you have no say here."
"It was HER home! I can't let this go unpunished! Dammit, Ningguang! I loved her!"
Jean slightly blushed at Diluc's casual confession, though it certainly held no meaning now… She shook her head as thoughts like that swirled around inside it. Then she spoke up softly.
"Diluc… please try to think clearly… there has to be another way."
"Not you too, Jean? I thought you'd be on my side."
Her eyes widened a bit at his sharp tone, but she recovered enough to speak firmly again.
"I'm on the side of resolving this without starting a needless war! Stop and think about what you're doing, Diluc!"
"I've already thought enough. I'm going to administer justice, for Keqing, AND for Springvale," he said, shooting daggers at Jean with his sharp red eyes.
"Diluc, you're out of control! You won't bring justice by killing the innocent!"
Jean closed her eyes and yelled those words, as Diluc looked on in shock. Suddenly, a dark glare flashed across his face.
He raised his right hand, and struck Jean hard across the cheek.
"Shut the fuck up. What would you know about justice? You fake Grand Master."
Diluc delivered those words in an icy tone totally bereft of kindness. Jean slowly raised her hand to her reddening cheek, as tears started to stream from her wide eyes.
Ningguang stared on in utter disbelief, which was quickly replaced by indignance.
"How dare you?! I thought better of you than that!" she yelled in a strained tone.
But Diluc couldn't be stopped now.
"I don't care what you think of me. I won't let you, or Jean, or the entire Knights of Favonius stand in my way. Unlike them, I'm not in the business of covering up tragedies. I'll make this right."
With those parting words, he turned his back to the two women.
"Wait! You can't just leave!" Ningguang shouted, furious.
"Don't try to stop me. If you do, I will have to consider you an enemy." Diluc spat out, staring at them out of the corner of his eye.
"Wha-?!"
The sound of boots on stone resonated as Diluc walked away. After that, the only sounds left were the singing of the birds and Jean's quiet sobs.
Ending Theme: Breaking Benjamin - Angels Fall (Aurora Version)
Next:
Episode 12: Stumbling in the Dark
