Review Reply Time!

Panzerkampf: Dear guest reviewer, I appreciate your concerns. True, I did gloss over quickly the Fatui destroying Monstadt. Did you want me to go in detail how they torched everything with Pyro? I made it clear that they did it to find the Anemo Gnosis. The assumed 'plot holes' regarding Venti, Jean, etc.? Well, it's not so much a plot hole as is this story isn't finished. Obviously? I wouldn't just kill these characters off off-text. Plot holes generally are continuity issues, but if this story isn't even close to finished, how can there be one? What if Venti suddenly shows up again, explaining what happened? Are you just salty about the cliffhanger? If so, that's more understandable.

Your other concerns make more sense. First off, you're right, Raptor killing Dottore was a little farfetched. But it can happen. Anything can happen in battle. Dottore was distracted, Raptor killed him. One second is all it takes. As for the second, I don't really know what robot you are talking about. Scaramouche is a Fatui Harbinger. Zhongli, is not a God. Not in this story. He is just an allogene wielding the Gnosis. And just like before, he was distracted. He thought he could escape, and Scaramouche took advantage of that.

Disclaimer: Nothing here is owned by me.

A trio of teramancers jogged through the forest, followed by a horde of monsters. The night sky loomed above them, the full moon watched, unmoving. Suddenly, the first two stopped, and Bennett recognized this place. It was where he and Fischl were yesterday. Right above it...he could just see the light in the tree house. "Time to put an end to this nuisance." The first growled. "Burn it."

It was quiet for a few moments, before Bennett realized he was talking to him. Reluctantly, he pulled out his fire-starter, and walked toward the trunk of the tree. Stopping in front of it, Bennett hesitated. Was Fischl still in there? If he burned the tree, would she survive? Could he endanger his friend...or was she even there?

Bennett couldn't risk it. "What's wrong? Burn it." The teramancer looked at him.

"Oh...er...my fire-starter's broken." Bennett lamely said.

The termancer tilted his head, but shrugged. "It's fine. Take mine."

He tossed his own at Bennett, who caught it and turned back to the wood. Dang it, his plan was foiled. Now closer, Bennett studied the hideout. No movement. And he stalled long enough for Fischl to escape. She wouldn't be in there. But still...Fischl had said she'd been hunting the teramancers for so long. This was her home, and Bennett felt bad about burning it. In the end, he hesitated a moment too long.

"What's wrong, rookie?" The lead teramancer walked up to him, venom in his voice. "Or should I say...traitor?!"

He forcefully snatched Bennett's mask, unveiling his face. Bennett stumbled back, drawing his sword immediately. "I knew it. I knew there was something off about you as soon as I met you! I should have let the monsters kill you right then and there."

The teramancer behind him raised his staff, and the hilichurls all turned toward Bennett, hatred in their eyes. "But perhaps this death will be more...ceremonious."

Bennett's back was to the tree. He was surrounded, with no way to escape. "Hey guys...we can talk about this!"

The teramancer gestured, and the hilichurls pressured Benentt farther back. He walked toward the tree, and Bennett lunged, but the other teramancer poked him back with a spear."You will watch everything you fought for be destroyed and burned." The magician hissed, raising his torch. "And then, we'll find the allogene girl, and kill her as we will to you."

Bennett shouted, anger overtaking his fear. He ran past his guard, slashing at the teramancer, who dropped the torch and blocked the strike easily. Bennett attacked fiercely, righteous anger coursing through him, an emotion he didn't feel too often. Bennett never had many friends, but he cherished the one he had. Even a condescending, stuck-up girl he met a few days ago.

Bennett swiped again, and the teramancer returned strikes, batting away Bennett's attacks easily. He was just toying with the boy. Around them, the hilichurls and the second teramancer watched patiently, forming a circle. His comrade was obviously not worried, but Bennett wasn't deterred. Spinning his blade, Bennett parried and lunged, but the teramancer merely backflipped to avoid the strike. Not willing to let up a second, Bennett charged forward, but was hit by a great kick that knocked the wind out of him, and sent him flying.

Chuckling darkly, the victor walked slowly to Bennett. "Perhaps we'll feed her to the spiders. They do have quite the appetite."

That set Bennett off somehow, and he was filled with righteous determination. He could not allow them to harm his friend. Threats to himself he could tolerate, but Bennett found himself insurmountably (and slightly irrationally) mad at this man for threatening his (possibly only) friend. Bennett wasn't going to give up. Not as long was there breath in his lungs. "You'll never find her." Bennett coughed, standing up. Though he was disarmed, he geared for battle. "Not while I'm still alive."

"That won't last long." The teramancer, and Bennett shouted in defiance, swinging hist fists in return.

Everything seemed like a blur after that, and later, he would only remember faint details. But right then and there, Celestia looked down on him, and saw his ambition.

A red gem inlaid with gold suddenly appeared in front of him in a flash of fire. The Pyro symbol blazed (quite literally) on it, and sparks flew. A explosion of fire threw the teramancer painfully into a tree, setting fire to the forest as it did. Bennett opened his eyes, realizing he was still standing. Somehow, he was untouched from the blast. "A...Vision."

It dawned on him that this vision...was his vision. He had been given a vision, from the gods. Bennett looked up at the stars. Was this a way of apologizing for all the bad luck he had for all his life?

Also, ironically, he received a Pyro vision, the most destructive of them all, so the gods were probably patting themselves on the pack for that one.

Turning to the other teramancer, Bennett raised his vision, sending a burst of flame at the teramancer, who leapt back. The flame burst also almost hit Bennett, who screeched. He had to be more careful with that, still inexperienced in all. Meanwhile, the hilichurls were on flames, screaming their heads off as the ran around with the hands waving in the air.

Bennett picked up his sword and charged, infusing the blade with Pyro energy. It glowed red-hot, and he swung it at the teramancer, who ducked under the blow and stabbed at him. Bennett dove aside, blocking the ensuing strike, and firing Pyro to give him breathing space. Bennett charged again, adrenaline in his veins. His vision had turned the tides. He was winning!

The teramancer backed up, defending desperately as Bennett alternating from flame burst and sword strike. He couldn't defend against them all, and soon, Benentt sent him flying into a tree like his comrade.

Speaking of said other teramancer, that one had snuck up on him. Bennett turned to find a sword coming at him from above. No time to block, to use his vision. He braced for impact, but a beam of electricity sent the teramancer onto the ground, in pain and smoking. "Fischl!"

She looked down at him. "Bennett?!"

"Hi!" Bennett waved, excitedly holding up his new Vision. "Look, I got my own Vision!"

"I noticed." She jumped down from her tree. "That would explain the...setting."

Bennett blinked, realizing what had happened just then. The trees around him were all on fire, thanks to his clumsy control. "Oh yeah...sorry about that."

Fischl grimaced, looking at her hideout. Or what was left of it. "My information's all up there..."

"It's too late, sorry." Bennett apologized. "Ack, he's getting away!"

Bennett charged up his vision, but Fischl grabbed him. "Don't! You'll only make it worse!" She stared up at the wildfire around them. "Get him! We can't let him get away!"

They chased after him, but a flaming branch crashed in their path. "Aagh!"

Fischl aimed her bow, but Bennett grabbed her and pulled her in the opposite direction. "What are you doing?!"

"There's no time! We have to get to the river!" He sprinted off, and thankfully, she was right behind him. They made it to the river, and Bennett gestured to Fischl.

"Bennett, wait..." Fischl hesitated. Bennett blinked, before recoiling in surprise. "I can't..."

"You can't swim?!"

"I never learned!" Fischl protested. "I have an Electro vision, Bennett! I always try to avoid–eek!"

"Sorry!" Bennett shoved her into the water, jumping in right after. Not a moment too soon. They could have gotten caught up in the flames. Bennett swam underwater, grabbing Fischl and gesturing her to grab on. Paddling through the water, he burst through the surface and looked behind him. The forest was now completely aflame. "Ouch! That's my eye!"

He breaststroked toward the other side, slowly, to make sure Fischl wouldn't lose her grip. Fischl immediately jumped off as soon as they made it to the other side, carefully avoiding her vision. Bennett groaned, sitting down on the dirt. His ribs still ached from that brutal kick.

"Thanks." Fischl reluctantly said. "But don't you ever do that again."

"Okay, okay." Bennett held up his hands. "Sorry about your tree fort."

"I'm not worried about the treehouse." Fischl sat down beside him. "We lost all that data. Maps, records, notes. Everything I learned about the teramancers..." She hung her head, looking at the ground.

Bennett hesitated, but put an arm around her. "Don't worry. We didn't lose all of it. That information is still with you...and with me."

Fischl blinked, her confusion and curiosity momentarily delaying her from throwing Bennett's arm off. "I found the their base, Fischl!"

"You were there?!" Fischl gasped. "Where was it?"

"Just like we thought: directly under Mt. Cujiue." Bennett grinned.

"Of course!" Fischl jumped to her feet. "No miner would ever go there because of the lava! It's the perfect hiding spot."

"We should report this to Liyue Harbor. Cujiue is their territory. It's the first place the teramancers would invade if they attack." Bennett hesitated. Would she come with him? "I guess this where we...part ways."

"I...will accompany you there." Fischl decided, and Bennett's face lit up like his Vision, which definitely made it worth it for Fischl. "I've been hunting them for years. They'll want some of my data too. Not to mention, you might need me to save you again."

Bennett couldn't even say anything in gratitude, only managing an overjoyed grin.


A lone boy and his horse galloped through the woods. Ajax breathed heavily, trying not to break down again. Everything was destroyed, everything was gone.

He hated this feeling. The feeling of being alone, in solitude. It was too much like his...like his early childhood. Ajax shook his head to clear his thoughts, turning around to see if anyone was following. As he did though, his horse ran under a low bearing branch, and Ajax yelped as he was knocked to the ground.

Spirit neighed in surprise, turning around and stopping before Ajax.

Ajax wanted to just lie there forever. But he gritted his teeth. "We have to keep going. We need to get help."

They kept going, arriving at a village not long later. He galloped through the streets, shouts of 'slow down, ya moron!' and 'watch it!' calling at him, but he ignored them. Skidding to a stop, he tied Spirit to a nearby post. Without wasting a moment, Ajax sprinted off, bursting into a house full of people. "Help, my city was attacked!" He panted with desperation and exhaustion, he hadn't slept at all since the attack. "It's not far, we need to look for survivors!"

Heads turned toward him. Raised eyebrows, judgmental stares, apathetic looks. Drunk expressions, to be exact. Ajax realized he stumbled into a tavern. Not the best place to search for help. "Yeah...we don't sell that here, kid. You can buy a drink or get out." The bartender snapped at him.

Ajax staggered out, walking through the main path. "Anyone...? Please..." A drunkard bumped into him, mumbled gibberish, and staggered off. Ajax sank to his knees. "They're all gone...all gone."

All the memories flooded back to him. His first birthday in Mondstadt. His numerous pranks with Lumine. His numerous pranks on Lumine. Jean chastising him for misconduct, as he just nodded and smiled, knowing she wouldn't be able to stay mad at him.

Lumine...

He couldn't stay down. They wouldn't want that. Falling down was not the true embarrassment, not getting back up was. Ajax clenched his hands and teeth. He ran back to his horse. "We're not going back to Mondstadt. There's nothing left there for us." He said bitterly. "Zhongli spoke of Aozang. We should find it and figure out why he wanted us to go there."

Ajax frowned, looking to his left. People were running to the edge of the town in haste. Ajax, confused followed them, where they all gathered in front of a large tree. "What's going on?"

"One of them foreigners, an Inazuman even, is at the edge of our village." One spat in disgust. "Been stirring up trouble with the local folk. Savages, the lot of them."

Ajax hummed, trying to remember what he knew about Inazuma. A closed off nation, known to be harsh on its inhabitants, even more so on traders and other foreign visitors. Didn't Zhongli once say that it retracted from the union? Yeah, that really took a hit on their popularity. Inazuma escapees were often shunned and distasted on. "Have you tried asking them to leave?"

"Like anyone would be dumb enough to approach one of them Samurai barbarians." She scoffed. Some people started throwing glass bottles at the tree, spilling glass shards everywhere. "I notice you're not from here either, eh? Why don't you (push), get that foreigner to leave with you."

It wasn't really a question. The rest of the townspeople turned and glared at him with crossed arms. And they called Inazuma being harsh at foreigners. "Fine. I will."

He stomped past them, pushing two burly men out of the way. Cautiously walking around the tree, he spotted the Inazuman. It was a young man with choppy, white hair with a red streak. The young man was reading a book, but Ajax didn't fail to notice the katana lying beside red eyes turned toward him, and Ajax resisted the urge to flinch.

"Greetings." The man nodded politely. "I hope you don't mind me sitting here. It's a nice shade."

"N–no, not at all." Ajax tilted his head. This man was very...polite. Perhaps he shouldn't judge a book so quickly by its cover. "But, I think the people here want you to leave."

The man sighed. "Ah. Pity. It's grown difficult to find resting place. Though I am a traveler. Suppose I should get going." He picked up his book and bag, standing up. Ajax blinked. A traveler?

"Wait. Do you happen to know of Aozang, by any chance?" Ajax tentatively asked.

"Hm...I have heard the name, but I do not know it's location." He shook his head. "It seems you need a map. You won't find one here–" A rock flew at him, and he effortlessly moved his head, letting it fly harmlessly passed. "–in this place. It's rather...outdated."

Ajax turned, catching another rock. "Doesn't that bother you?"

"Hm, not anymore." The man shrugged. "I am Kaedehara Kazuha, pleased to meet you. We should journey together for some time. You are needing of a map, and I can bring you to Dihua City. You should find a map there."

Ajax turned back to the crowd. "Yeah. Getting out of here sounds like a good idea. I'm Ajax, by the way. Let me grab my horse."

"Good. It'll be a new experience to have a partner on the road, but it's well appreciated." Kazuha nodded.


Raptor and Razor trekked through the canyon keeping a close eye out for an ambush. It probably wasn't coming, but given that they just barely survived an attack, it was hard not to let their guard down. Behind him, Razor carrying the egg, Razor gave a start as the egg started glowing brighter.

"Egg...near...hatch." Razor called to Raptor.

"Hm...that's not–get down!" A yellow light suddenly shined from in front of them, and the two dove behind a wall. Raptor peeked over the column. A large bronze machine with abnormally long arms staggered up, seemingly just activated by proximity alarm. "Damnit." Why was a Ruin Guard here, of all places?!

"Stay still." He whispered. Razor didn't move, and they waited for the Ruin Guard to either deactivate, or leave. Either way, they would probably have to take a detour. Again. The Ruin Guard's eyes scanned around him, searching for movement.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, it turned around. Raptor breathed a sigh of relief, and walked slowly forward.

Immediately, a red glow appeared on his chest and the Ruin Guard spun around. "Ah, crap."

Half a dozen flaming missiles streaked toward Raptor, who backflipped and avoided the explosion. "Damn!"

Razor put the egg down, and charged at the Guard, jumping and bringing a crushing blow that surely would have hit its eye, but a steel arm came out of nowhere and smacked him into a wall. The ruin guard approached the fallen warrior, but a dagger glanced off its eyes, making it stagger slightly. Turning back to Raptor, who scooped up his dagger, it aimed its missiles again, and fired.

Raptor sprinted left and right, ducking and weaving, somehow managing to dodge all the missiles, and slashed at the ruin guard. The ruin guard bleeped and blooped, before raising its leg and stomping the floor. Raptor jumped back, ducked under its wild swing, and then it jumped into the air to crush him like a pulp. Raptor dove out of the way, but was thrown to the ground by a shockwave. The Guard pulled itself straight up, walking toward Raptor.

Suddenly, a claymore slashed through its foot, sending it tumbling to the ground in an unceremonious face-plant. Sadly, it stood back up and reattached its foot. "Any ideas?"

The Ruin Guard certainly had one, and started to spin, kicking up a sandstorm. Or rock-storm, however you want it. Raptor was flung back into the wall, a sickening crunch as the stone cracked. Razor spun away, getting the Ruin Guard to target him. Then, getting a good distance away, he ran at the spinning guard, jumping on tall rock and springing himself up. Summoning electricity, he brought the claymore down from above, onto the Ruin Guard's weak eye.

The ten foot tall metal giant crashed onto the floor, and didn't get up.

Raptor pulled himself to hit feet, rubbing his back. "This trip's already more trouble than it's worth. Let's hurry and get out of here."

Raptor strapped the egg to his back, and they started to scale the wall, slowly hauling them up the cavern. They were nearing the surface. Razor started lagging behind, and Raptor turned to look down at him. "Come on, Razor! Put your back into it!"

He kept climbing, and Razor growled as he felt his claymore weighing himself down. Raptor reached the ledge, and extended a hand to him. Razor reached for it...and a Electro burst hit Razor in the back, and he fell down, nearly electrocuting himself by falling into the river. Raised in the wild he landed on his feet, but now Raptor was all the way back up there. Raptor grimaced, it was that girl again! She and her infernal cat. Razor glanced up at Raptor, who shrugged. "Sorry mate, but I can't be slowed down no more (double negative). Good luck!"

Razor blinked. "Wait..." But he was gone. Keqing grimaced. She couldn't fire at him without endangering the egg. Razor turned around and glared at the girl. Now he had to fight. Unsheathing his claymore, he jumped through the air, dodging a second Electro pulse. He sailed right over the creek, and swung at Keqing, who ducked and rolled, as the claymore crushed the rocks where she was once standing.

He spun twice, his blade becoming an arc of destruction, and Keqing quickly stumbled away, just barely avoiding being sliced into pieces. She slashed at him. but the Legend of Wolvendom easily repelled the attack and knocked her back into a wall. Her loyal lynx lunged at Razor, but he simply caught Viola and tossed her away. Keqing growled in anger, and summoned a small knife of pure Electro energy. It was a technique she had been practicing, and thought it was pretty risky, Keqing infused more power into it. She couldn't defeat him without risking more. Hurling the stiletto at Razor, he easily dodged it, as expected, and the the dagger hit the ground behind him, leaving a sparking mark.

Razor lunged again, and Keqing parried his blade, only managing to redirect it. He pressed forward, pinning her to the wall, but she ducked as he swung, embedding his blade in the stone. As he yanked it out, Keqing kicked him back, slowly and inconspicuously walking near the water. Razor swung two quick strikes at her, and despite her efforts, he kicked her to the ground and jumped into the air, claymore charged with electricity.

Gritting her teeth, Keqing summoned her power, and teleported away, flashing toward her dagger, still stuck on the ground. Razor brought his crackling blade on thin air.

Well...not quite thin air. He swung, and his sword made contact with the water. A superconducted shock sent him flying back, claymore clattering to the ground. In an instant, Keqing's blade was at his throat. Razor held up his hands, trying to protect his neck and chest.

Keqing stared at the man. He seemed...kinda harmless now that he was attacking. He didn't have the same air Raptor did, of a killer and thief. Sighing, she lowered her blade, kicking Razor's sword away. Razor blinked in confusion, before grounding out, "Thank...you."

Keqing merely nodded. Though as she began walking away, she noticed something at the corner of her eye. At the edge of the canyon, three translucent people were watching them. She recognized the armor, the aura. It was the Dragonspine Warriors in her dreams. She stared at them. They stared back...until vanishing in blue light.

Keqing spares Razor, hooray! Also, introduction of Kazuha. Now I know I didn't do it for Fischl, but I'll probably (key word: probably) throw in a poem or two for Kazuha, even though it'll be difficult. Reason is being, Kazuha's one of my favorite characters (sorry, Fischl fans). So of course, I lost the 50/50 on his banner couple months back. Oh, the despair...