This arc's finale. Hope you enjoy. It's longer than usual, obviously, and really full of action. I hope. Maybe. That's for you to judge.
"I've heard of the Oceanids." Kazuha mused, the two still not completely recovered from the situation. "Once servants to the God of Justice, the last Archon of Fontaine, but when the archon disappeared, they scattered, forming their own clans all around Teyvat."
"What were they doing, though?" Ajax, rattled. "They nearly drowned me!"
"Perhaps they were looking into your history." Kazuha suggested, all too calm for Ajax to understand. "Oceanids are known to be curious but unforgiving. I suppose they didn't find any fault in you. They seem to be the guardians of Aozang. This place must be important.
They had arrived. The city of Aozang actually more resembled more of a large village than a city. People mingled, being casual with one another, like they knew everyone in the town. Some packed supplies together, other hauled water into their homes. It was a lot more rural than Ajax expected, though it could just be because of seeing great cities like Wangshu and Stygia.
"It's a bit...smaller than I realized." Ajax noted.
"Yes." Kazuha looked around. "But it seems the villagers bear no ill will to us. A strange but welcoming sensation for me."
Indeed, it seemed the people around them were fine with their presence, unlike most other villages they've seen. Not even Kazuha's Inazuma garb deterred them. "So, what exactly, are we looking for?"
Before Ajax could answer, the sight in front of him snatched his breath away. He had foolishly assumed there would be nothing special about Aozang, even after the hardships to get here. Honestly, he didn't see why it was guarded so fiercely, until he saw the rest of the city.
Tens upon tens of floating islands, absolute anomalies of nature, floated in the sky, each connected to one another by a larger island, the tallest hovering nearly 35 feet above the ground. A river ran under the floating island system, and people farmed, bought, and traded far, far above.
"Oh, my." Kazuha breathed out. "What a sight."
"Incredible." Ajax agreed. "Let's find a place to put Spirit and check it out."
It was slightly nerve racking, to walk so high above land in not artificial structures, but real dirt and stone. Ajax could only assume allogenes, or perhaps even an archon of Geo and Dendro worked to make this possible. They passed people chatting amiably, at complete comfort despite the height. Rope bridges suspended between the islands, and despite all the precautions, Ajax still trembled when he crossed them. Honestly, he still didn't know what to look for, and why Zhongli wanted him to come here. But he was content to admire the scenery for just a little longer.
"The attacks were just the beginning." Three people walked onto the island from another bridge, one of them frantically speaking to the other. "The Fatui are really returning and we need an army to face them."
"Have you not heard?" Kujou Sara turned around, placing a hand over a chest. "We have been gathering warriors and are planning on attacking the Fatui within a fortnight. They will threaten the clans no longer."
"This is bigger than that. They're not just going to wait for you." The first explained. "We need to be ready and defend ALL of Teyvat."
"You exaggerate." Kujou Sara's assistant dismissed.
"Despite your concern, you do not join us." Kujou Sara sighed. "I am disappointed. Let us go, Andou."
The two walked off, and Ajax spoke up. "They tried, but I agree with your opinion."
The man turned around, surprised. "Hmm?"
"My village was attacked, and I've seem what the Fatui can do." Ajax explained.
"Ah...a refugee. My condolences. The Fatui are more dangerous than most believe." The man shook his head, before walking toward Ajax. "I am Cyno, a member of the Sumeru Academia. Your turn."
"I'm Ajax, from Mondstadt. Well, adopted, anyway."
"A nationless and an Inazuman? A strange duo, indeed." Cyno noted, but not in a condescending way. "Can you two fight?"
Ajax nodded. "Yes."
"And who are you, Inazuman?"
"Ah, yes. Apologies for not introducing myself earlier. I am Kaedehara Kazuha."
"You're part of the famed Kaedehara clan?!" Cyno's eyes widened. "The 'Samurais of Maple Leaves', Kaedehara clan?"
"Indeed." Kazuha tilted his head. "You are quite the scholar. Not many know of Kaedehara history."
"Yes, you two will work!" Cyno exclaimed. "I am recruiting for a new resistance group called the Warriors of Teyvat. We could certainly use a Master Samurai in our ranks."
Kazuha chuckled, a little embarrassed. "I'm not master, but thank you."
"That's a tempting offer," Ajax mused for it a little, but shook his head. "I have some other things to take care of first."
He still needed to find what Zhongli wanted him to do here. There was something important here, he was sure of it. Something Zhongli wanted him to know...
Cyno tilted his head, curious, but nodded. "Well, the Warriors will always be recruiting. Seek us out if the opportunity presents itself. Er...good day."
He left with odd haste, and Kazuha's gaze followed him. "An odd fellow...where to next?"
"Well, i'm not sure what were looking for...or why..." Ajax frowned. What could Zhongli want him to do here? Did he say anything else before...before his death? Did forget something? Wait, where did Kazuha go? "Kazuha? Kazuha, wait up!"
Kazuha had already begun walking toward a large stone building, with odd steel and flame marks on the walls. It was an armory...or blacksmith. Forging...Ajax remembered his experience. He always liked forging, to the point he annoyed Wagner enough that the blacksmith finally let him help out. Ah...memories. Shaking away the nostalgia, Ajax jogged up to catch up with Kazuha. Inside, a dark-haired man had his back turned to them, and Ajax noticed a green tattoo on his arm. Wait...this was–
"Have you come for repairs? Or have you come for new tools?"
"You're the Yaksha!" Ajax blurted. The stories came back to him. The fierce, determined adeptus of Liyue, spending centuries to subdue and destroy demons and monsters all around Teyvat; the last Yaksha remaining.
"I was...though most of the village should already know that." The Yaksha turned around, cat-eyes staring into Ajax's own brown ones. "I am Xiao. Why are you here?"
"Zhongli sent me here." Ajax excitedly proclaimed. "I think he meant for me to see you."
"Zhongli...my old friend." The Yaksha breathed out, then returned to banging his hammer to the tool. "While he is out adventuring, I gave up that life long ago. Now, I live...the mundane life. So...how is he? Still out adventuring?"
"Zhongli..." Ajax's voice cracked, and he cleared it, trying not to choke. He had already come to terms with his death, but telling another was...difficult. "He was killed in a Fatui ambush."
The hammer missed its target and hit stone instead. Xiao stiffened slightly, but other than that, Ajax didn't see any other indication of emotion. "Was he now...I always told him to stay away from Snezhnaya and the Fatui."
Ajax paused, as Xiao began to rant. "But no, why listen to the Yaksha who's had centuries of life and fought in more battles than one has eaten rice? I always try...I always warn them..."
Ajax stayed silent, as the adeptus put his chisel and hammer down and stormed to the balcony, which was really just a ledge of the island. Ajax cautiously followed him, and the Yaksha seemed to sense them, and sighed, his anger fading. "Death, never gets easier. It can only grow more familiar. One has seen lives come and go, big or small, everything dies...eventually."
He turned to face Ajax and Kazuha, who were still silent. "You must be Ajax. The orphan from an unknown nation that Zhongli rescued. And you are...?"
"Kaedehara Kazuha. My condolences for your loss."
Xiao didn't react. "Since you are here, one can guess why. Let us take this conversation to a lower level. It's more comfortable there."
They did, descending to a stone hall, filled with furnaces, anvils, and more. Ajax went down first, then Xiao, with Kazuha bringing up the rear, saying nothing and deciding to stay out of the conversation.
"Zhongli never gave me any final words." Ajax told Xiao. "He only mentioned Aozang right before the ambush."
"One know what he would have wanted." Xiao's slightly raspy voice answered. "War is coming...one is certain. We must prepare for it the best we can. Unfortunately, while the other nations may help, Inazuma, a land of skilled samurais and powerful allogenes, is still closed off, and amidst a civil war."
"I can help with that." Kazuha suddenly spoke up. "I know Inazuma, and while I do not want to return, if I can convince them to break the isolation, Inazuma could be on Teyvat's side once more."
"Kazuha?" Ajax turned to his friend. "But we've only just arrived!"
"I am a traveler, Ajax." Kazuha merely smiled, putting a hand on Ajax's shoulder. "I never stay in one place too long. Stagnancy weakens the blade and mind, remember?"
"Yeah, I remember." Ajax rolled his eyes.
"Besides, if I can end the isolation," Kazuha added. "I can end the discrimination and oppression of Inazumans worldwide. My fellow Inazumans deserve freedom as much as I do."
"But–"
"Inazuma has the largest army in Teyvat, second only to Natlan. Having them on our side is a necessity." Xiao interjected. "Who'd better than a native to do it?"
"Then it is decided." Kazuha nodded firmly. "It was nice meeting and traveling with you, Ajax. I bid you luck on your journeys."
"Wait, your just going to leave like that?" Ajax blinked.
"The borders of Inazuma are closed off." Xiao pointed out. "You will need to find a loophole to get into Inazuma, as most ships will not take the journey. However...I have a contact in Liyue Harbor who can aid you."
He turned to Kazuha, handing him a large pouch of Mora. "Take this, go to Liyue Harbor, and find The Crux Fleet, and the flagship the Alcor. Pay the captain enough, and they will take you to Inazuma."
"I see. Thank you." Kazuha bowed his head. He then turned to Ajax, and smiled. "I hope we meet again, my friend."
"As do I." Ajax returned the gesture. "Good luck, Kazuha."
He laughed, a sound alike to the breeze rustling through leaves. "Luck, eh?"
Keqing pulled the shovel out, and stuck it into the ground as a final touch. The burial was finished, the gravestone carved with her own blade. And of course...violets dotted the grave, as a final memory.
Keqing clenched her fists and scrunched her face. There had been enough crying already. "I'm sorry, Viola."
She knelt there for a few seconds, before a loud, rhythmic thumps caught her attention, and only because it started growing louder did she turn away from the grave. Footsteps? No...it was the egg. It was its heartbeat. And as Keqing watched in awe, purple light began to surround it, sparkles of dust seemed to expel from it. The egg rumbled, and it felt like the whole ground was shaking. Keqing averted her eyes as the egg began to glow so bright she couldn't keep watching.
The sound suddenly ceased, as the light sucked into the egg's shell, and a moment of silence, like the calm before the storm. Keqing carefully put her hand down. Immediately, the egg exploded in a ray of violet light, and Keqing was thrown back. A small mushroom cloud went up, before dissipating into the air. Keqing slowly pulled herself up, as the impact didn't hurt. Did the egg just do what she thought it did?
Walking cautiously to the sight, Keqing realized the explosion left a hole in the ground. It still glowed indigo, and Keqing didn't touch it. But where did it go?
A flap behind her. Keqing swiftly turned. A reptilian creature, barely the size of a puppy, was climbing up. "Huh–wait, come back!"
It ignored her, and jumped out of eyesight. Keqing lowered her arm. Now she felt even worse. She tried and did everything to get the dragon egg back, and as soon as it hatched, it left.
Typical.
Keqing was about to leave, but then a tiny head popped up behind the rock, staring at her curiously. Keqing stared back. Slowly, the baby dragon crawled up to its feet, and Keqing began walking toward it.
The dragon looked at the rising moon, then extended its wings. It sprang up, and tired to fly toward Keqing. Unfortunately, its wings weren't strong enough, and the dragon flapped frantically, but it turned to a nosedive. Keqing panicked, sprinting and sliding to catch the infant.
She held it carefully in her arms, and it looked back at her, a strange feeling building up in Keqing's chest. Was this what parents felt toward their children? The dragon began moving, climbing up around her arms and settling to a stop perched on her shoulder. It chirped, evidently comfortable. Keqing smiled, the warm feeling spreading across her whole body.
She could never replace Viola. Her lynx was gone, she knew that. But still...Keqing decided she was going to raise and take care of the dragon.
Holding her arm out to make sure the dragon didn't fall, Keqing giggled as the dragon rubbed its snout against her cheek. This could work out.
The rain poured down, and Fischl grumbled in annoyance, trying to find shelter. She could barely even see! Everyone was returning to their houses, trying to get away from the rain. Fischl paused for a moment, looking around her. Why was it so dark all of a sudden? She felt strange...kind of like someone was watching her. Fischl slowly closed around her hand around her bow, ignoring the feeling for know and continuing to seek shade.
Meanwhile, Bennett and the rest of the Millelith arrived at the edge of Mt. Cujiue. This time, instead of approaching it head on like Bennett did last time, they circled around it by sea and would enter from behind. Dark clouds began to gather as the soldiers came off their ships and began clearing a path to get in Mt. Cujiue. They silently entered the mountain, and Bennett indicated the cavern. "That one leads to the lower parts of the volcano. They're down there somewhere."
"Right. Move out!"
The stomping of the soldiers was a risk, but they had to take the risk. Hopefully they didn't lose the element of surprise...that was their greatest advantage.
Soon, the army stormed the fortress, and Bennett and Gorou led the charge, bursting in, weapons and Visions ready. They expected to find monsters and teramancers ready for battle, but there was nothing. No resistance, no defense, no...people. Not even monsters. The place was deserted.
"Oh, no." Bennett realized what had happened. "We're too late!"
Gorou gritted his teeth. "No! Everyone, back to the ship!"
Back to Fischl. She froze midstep, clenching her teeth. Dammit...she spun around, locking eyes with red glowing eyes behind a plague doctor mask. Fischl's eyes widened, and took a step back. The Teralord raised his staff, and a hundred monsters moved in one accord, appearing out of nowhere. All the monsters in the area had responded to the call, hilichurls, mitachurls, slimes, and more, all rushing for the city.
They had failed.
Ajax munched on a chicken leg, trying to get the nutrients he sorely lacked for many days. He was hungry.
"One sees you have a large appetite." Xiao leaned against a wall, arms crossed.
"Ah...I haven't–had much to–eat since–...well, when everything happened." Ajax responded between bites.
Xiao shrugged. "You may feast and be at ease here. As long as you are here, you will be under our protection.
"Thank you." Ajax chewed quickly, and swallowed. He stared at the Yaksha, a living legend. "Xiao? If the Fatui really were driven to near extinction, why do you believe such drastic measures are necessary?"
"Times are changing." The Yaksha unfolded his arms and started pacing. "One would know. One may not get around too much, but acquiring information is one's speciality. Especially information others don't want to be revealed."
Ajax couldn't resist. "Info like what?"
The adeptus stared at the moon, but Ajax thought he saw a slight curve in his lips. "Let's see..."
A flaming city. Liyue Harbor razed, flames alight, barely dented by the onslaught of rain. "At this moment, Liyue has begun their war on the teramancers, calling in warriors across Teyvat for their efforts. One thinks they will be seldom help against the Fatui..." Bennett and Gorou stared in shock at the burning city, the general's eyes slowly narrowing into slits as the rest of the Millelith catch up behind them...
"And in Snezhnaya..." A calvary of vision-wielding warriors, led by Master Kujou Sara, gallop through rain and sun, snow and hail, determined to reach the peak of Mount Zapolyarny. "Teyvat has united against an ancient enemy, calling forth allogenes all across Teyvat to exact revenge on the Fatui, to destroy them once and for all."
"Your friend Kazuha," Kazuha sat atop a mast, leisurely observing the sea in front of him, ready to return home for the first time in years. "He has a great responsibility, to settle the civil war in Inazuma."
Xiao stared off into space, as if reading all this off a script in the stars. If he was, he seemed surprised for a second, giving a small snort. "Most exciting of all," A young lavender-haired girl jogged down the canyon, as a small dragon perched on her shoulder basked in the moonlight. "There's even been reports the first dragon had hatched in almost a century."
Xiao's eyes stopped glazing over, and Ajax realized he was done looking into the present. "If we are to prevent a Second Great War, we are going to need everyone's efforts."
Ajax jumped out of his chair, fist pumped, belly full, feeling more energetic than he had in days. "I will gladly fight, Lord Yaksha! What must I do?"
Xiao examined him up and down, then nodded. "I have decided to train you, Ajax. In the arts of war, martial arts, and weaponry." He looked down, and seemed to notice Ajax's vision for the first time. "You have a vision, I see? That alone will not be sufficient. You need to learn to manipulate it in ways you cannot imagine."
"Now, come with me. I have something to show you." Xiao gestured, and they walked out of the forge, to a good distance away, where Xiao stopped. "I have been preparing for the Fatui in my own way. As you have guessed, I would be a fool to just make tools."
He brushed some grass aside, revealing a cleverly hidden trapdoor. Pulling it open, he gestured Ajax to climb in. Jumping in himself, Xiao lit a torch. It was an armory, stacked to the brim with weapons of every kind, shape, and utility. Swords, spears, bows, axes, magic weapons even, hung on the walls, just begging to be used. "Are you ready for your training, Ajax?"
Scaramouche clutched the Geo Gnosis tightly, before putting it back into his coat pocket. One down, six to go. The rest of Teyvat were fools to believe they were extinct. Not in the slightest. They were merely preparing for the great return.
Atop Mt. Zapolyarny, a great portal had been formed, made of both the ruins from Nameless Island and the Thousands Winds Temple. The ancient Mondstadt builders had great minds, but the ones today were too idiotic to figure them out. And that had been their downfall.
"How long has it been?" Scaramouche mused. "Fifty, sixty years?"
The other Fatui looked at him nervously, and he rolled his eyes. "What are you gawking at? Stand firm. We will no longer hide in the shadows, my brethren."
"Harbinger...someone is here." Scaramouche whirled, his eyes falling on a young girl with purple hair, bow drawn.
"Fatui..." Kujou Sara declared. "even after all this time, you do not know when to admit defeat."
"Master Sara...I am honored." Scaramouche smiled maniacally. "You traveled all this way for us...how flattering. However, you should have come more prepared."
The Fatui rushed to make a wall, forming a line of disciplined steel, ready to fire bows, or elements, by the Harbinger's command. Kujou Sara wasn't impressed. Nocking her bow, she made a faint gesture, and a line of warriors gathered from behind her. More suddenly appeared on the ledges at the walls, flanking the Fatui. They were outnumbered. The Balladeer's smile faltered, as he noticed the number gap.
But it didn't last long. The portal behind them suddenly sparked with energy, and a purple light spread across the interior, opening up to darkness. The portal had been activated. Scaramouche grinned. "You're too late. Even with your combined forces, you will not be able to prevent the coming doom!"
"We will see who is doomed, Fatui!" Kujou Sara charged her bow with electricity, and the rest of the allogenes did the same, firing beams of ice, fire, water, air, and more. Scaramouche clenched his fists, summoning the power of the Gnosis. An earthen wall rose to a ridiculous height, absorbing all the energy, before cracking and falling. Scaramouche grinned. Why didn't Zhongli use this more often? This power...
"How dare you use the Gnosis!" Kujou Sara raged.
He dropped the wall, sending a blast of Electro at Kujou Sara, which was easily knocked away. Scaramouche turned to the portal, before nodding. "You shouldn't have come, Master of Electro. Your gnosis will only add to the Fatui's power!"
"Charge!"
Scaramouche unsheathed Zhongli's Spear, pointing at the enemy, and the Fatui roared and advanced. The two sides clashed with a horrid force. Immediately, cries of pain, shouts of despair, and yells of bloodlust filled the air. The Fatui were ruthless, backstabbing, double teaming, doing everything to gain an advantage. The alliance used their numerous Visions, leaving smoking piles of ash, frozen statues, and mangled vines dotting the icy battleground. The Fatui were at a disadvantage of having less allogenes, but they showed no signs of surrender. Ranyo, the representative ruler of Dendro, raised his sword, firing an onslaught of bullet seeds at the arriving reinforcements, decimating them. Scaramouche dodged a strike, stabbing him with the spear and used his Vision to speed to the other side like lightning, throwing one allogene down and piercing them through the stomach, before impaling the second who dared attack him.
Fighting raged around the glowing portal, Fatui's dropping, visions falling into a dull, useless grey every second. Kujou Sara shot a Fatui in the chest, then summoned a lightning burst that fried three assailants. Scaramouche dropped down, cutting down a surprised fighter, before turning to Kujou Sara.
The fight to decide the fight began. Immediately, she sent three arrows at him, which he flipped over extravagantly. He jabbed at her, but she caught it with her bow and threw him back with lightning. "Using another's warrior's weapon in a fight. Despicable!" She spat.
"Yours will join my collection soon enough, girlie!" Scaramouche lunged again, a storm of Electro and Cryo.
Kujou Sara backed up, forced to keep her distance as the Harbinger went berserk. Eventually, she pulled out her Gnosis. It was time. "HuaaAAAAH!" A enormous lightning bolt dropped down toward the Balladeer, impacting the ground with an unbearable crash, and frying a few nearby Fatui warriors. When the dust settled however, three glowing slabs of earth dropped down, revealing a grinning, not hurt, Fatui Harbinger. "So we'll play with Gnoses, eh?"
Scaramouche lunged, summoning Electro, a foolish mistake. Kujou Sara harnessed her Gnosis, making his Electro attack explode in his own face. The Harbinger stumbled back, clawing at his face in pain. He looked around. His men were falling, one being downed by the second. Kujou Sara and two others approached him, ready to fire.
They were losing. But suddenly, behind him, the portal hissed and growled. Everyone faltered, their eyes diverted to the scene in front of them. The dark light peeled away to reveal a moving scene. Three figures, two with golden hair and one with a red-black mask, surrounded by water and electricity. The three dueled each other, flipping, slashing, trying to make the other lose footing. It was the Final Harbinger, and the Outlanders. The final battle was playing right before their eyes.
The twins attacked as one, coordinated, powerful, perfectly in sync. And yet the Harbinger defended fiercely, blades of Hydro and Electro in hid hands, keeping them back with electrified waves. The twins dodged on Geo platforms, leaping around the Harbinger to try and attack him from both sides, but the Harbinger forced them back, dodging their creative use of the Seven Elements, forcing them to attack on one side, easier for him to defend. Neither could make a break in each other's defenses. A frenzy of slashes and flashing lights and they dueled with such ferocity anyone else near them would be pulp.
The first twin struck low, as the second attacked high, making the Harbinger stumble back. "You can't win, Tartaglia! You can't beat the both of us."
"They call me..a murderer. Yet it was they who slaughtered my people, burned our villages, and force us into submission. We could no longer live in oppression...why, do they call you two heroes?" The Harbinger hissed.
"We united the people of Teyvat." The first, Viator, answered, heaving up and down. "We have shown they have a common goal!"
"A common goal...of driving us into the dirt and annihilating us!" Tartaglia shouted. He charged, swinging his blades, but the second, Viatrix, intercepted it, blowing his elemental tornado and dissipating it to nothing.
"You have made this world a nightmare, Tartaglia!" She shouted. "We will end it!"
Aether flashed out of the world and reappeared behind him, charging from behind. Spinning around the Harbinger deflected his slash and jabbed back, but he simple disappeared again in a flash. Tartaglia growled, being forced to deal with Viatrix as Viator hit-and-ran. He jumped in the air, dodging both attacks, and punted Viator to the ground, bringing his sword down, only to be parried by Viatrix.
Their blades exchanged blows like a frenzy, and it was hard to believe it was being fought between three people and four swords, what looked like a clashing army. Tartaglia weaved under Viatrix's strike, kicking her to the ground, who rolled to her feet and sent a beam of Hydro and Anemo at him, as he withheld it with his two elemental blades. Viator came from behind, striking at him, and the Harbinger rolled to avoid the beam and him, lunging at the other man, who spun out of the way and swung at his face.
"You have improved your wield on the songs." Tartaglia jumped back, addressing the twins. "I wonder what would have happened if you wielded the Gnoses..."
"The Gnoses have always been your desire, Tartaglia!" Viatrix shouted. "You manipulated the Tsarista into a war of the nations! All this for greed?"
Viator nodded, charging up an attack. "No one should have all that controlled power!"
"That is what they all say." The Harbinger chuckled darkly. "Until you have felt it for yourself!"
He lunged, intercepted by Viatrix. "Charge your skill, brother!"
He nodded, as Viatrix delayed the Harbinger, flinging rocks, roots, water, and ice at the Harbinger, who blazed through all of them, trying to get toward the male twin. Viatrix jumped at him, and he threw her behind, charging her soon after.
"Haagh!"
A concentrated slash of all seven elements blazed through the air, catching Tartaglia in the gut and sending him hurtling to the wall. The crunch of the impact cracked the wall, as Tartaglia groaned in pain. Viator panted, his sword out, as he pointed it at the downed Harbinger
"What magic are you doing here, Tartaglia?!" Viator demanded, gesturing at the great portal. "You've already lost!"
"You're right." Tartaglia stood up, despite the for sure broken ribs. "This war is lost. But...hehehehe...you have not defeated me."
He summoned his two swords again, leveling them at the twins. "You two are my greatest adversaries. You united the nations, allied with the Dragonspine Warriors, and summoned an army which I could have never hoped to destroy!"
"In the end, it was you two...you two, who stood between me and the Gnoses. Do you remember who was it, that suggested that idea in the first place?" Tartaglia pondered, malice in his eyes. "Which one of you did? It doesn't matter. I cannot win this war. Not now."
He walked over to the portal, as the twins leveled their weapons for an attack. "I will return...long after this battle is over, long after the Great War. When Teyvat has grown weak and complacent, I will return...and you will no longer be there, to STOP ME!"
The two charged, and Tartaglia roared, sending a hydro shockwave that sent them flying. He pressed forward, unstoppable, knocking Viatrix aside for a moment and targeting Viator, who defended fiercely but could not press forward, slowly being pushed back. "Brother!"
Viatrix charged forward, but Tartaglia stomped the ground, taking advantage of her foolish impatience. She was thrown back, and Tartaglia blocked another strike from Viator, before jabbing again, not giving him a chance to use any elements. Soon, a blast of Hydro sent Viator flying off the peak. "Viator!"
Tartaglia panted for a moment, turning to Viatrix, who crawled to the edge. Taking advantage of the moment, Tartaglia sprinted toward the portal, as Viatrix looked down the mountain in vain. As the Harbinger approached though, she looked up, hatred brimming in her eyes, and got up, sprinting after the Harbinger.
The Harbinger passed through the portal, finding four other Fatui members, and several other allogenes, pressing them closer. Kujou Sara leveled her bow at her, and Tartaglia didn't hesitate. He summoned his two elemental blades again, and readied for battle.
A hand grabbed the ledge, hauling the rest of the body up. Viator groaned, just barely avoiding death by a hard fall. He pulled himself up the ledge, just in time to see his sister disappear into the portal, which promptly blipped out of existence.
Well.
That's not good.
There's the finale. The rest is history, of course. Viator is unable to follow his sister and Tartaglia through, and is stuck in his time, wandering the world in someway to be reunited. Even in the AU, Aether can't catch a break. Interesting how the battle between the Twins and Harbinger was longer than the Alliance vs Fatui.
Uh...yeah, I think you can guess what will happen to the strike team now that Tartaglia's in the present time. RIP Kujou Sara...I quite liked writing her. As for the dragon, what'd you think should their name be? I think I'm going to let you guys decide.
So, the first arc is over. It might be another week or a little longer as a pre-write the rest of the story, but who knows? Maybe by the time this comes out, i'll have finished the second arc. Ah, wishful thinking. Thanks for reading, and until next time.
