Book One: Chapter Six
[The Storm That Is Approaching]
"No...!" Relon gasps, the Cryo Army in disarray from the lightning attack. "Inazuma City should be in that direction but... what do I do now?" He questions aloud kneeling down, the rumbling thunder overhead of him gaining his minor attention.
"A storm is approaching. That should help the Electros... Which begs the question; is Qiqi with them? Damn it, Ganyu, be careful..."
"Haaaaa!"
Swinging horizontally, Sara backflips into the air quickly drawing her bow and releasing an arrow.
Retaliating, Eula twirl with grace blocking the attack thought she continues her rotation. Conjuring frost at her feet, she swings her claymore upwards for shards of ice to shoot from the ground.
Landing to look up at the crystal shower, Sara readies an arrow for a purple light to emanate from the tip. Looking at the incoming attack, her aim falls to Eula awaiting the tengu warrior's next move. In a moment, she returns her aim up as the shards of ice crashes resulting in an explosion of frost and electricity.
Keeping on guard, Eula awaits as the smoke settles for an arrow to whiz by embedding itself in the ground. Snapping back ahead, the mist clears to show Sara poised with her bow. Narrowing, Eula slides her heel for a single spark of static to catch her eye widening.
Damn, a trap!
A large electric shockwave sends Eula off her feet towards the shards of ice lodged in the ground. Correcting herself, she lands skidding to a halt.
"Quite the unchivalrous tactic."
"This is a war. Chivalry is as good as dead upon the battlefield." Sara says, a spark along her arm causing Eula to widen as the same purple glow emanates from below her feet.
A second one?!
Another shockwave erupts as Sara lowers her bow eyeing the smoke.
"That flash of lightning you use to cover short distances." Eula's voice speaks from the smoke revealing her silhouette. "As well as that arrow leaves behind an electric shockwave of sorts." The smoke clears to show Eula unharmed with blocks of ice breaking apart around her. "Twice now I've fallen for it yet still I stand." Sara narrows her eyes as does Eula. "Which begs the question, why hold back?!" She shouts dashing forward.
Jumping into the air avoiding the slam attack, Sara watches as Eula stomps her foot for a pillar of ice to shoot from the ground. Sprouting her wings, Sara flies back to widen at Eula now eye level having rode with the rising structure.
"Haaaa!" She shouts, her claymore exuding mist as Sara dives downwards.
Cutting the air, a crescent slash of frost rips towards her. Dodging out of the way, her feet plants onto the grainy shore as Eula lands on the earth.
"Telling you as you are now, would mean nothing." Sara retorts, their glowing eyes locked on the other as the tengu warrior's body crackles with electricity forcing Eula to push off manipulating the ice pillar to extend another pillar for her to land on as Sara rights herself.
"Explain yourself! Am I not a challenge?!"
"No. The you at this moment isn't." Sara dismisses uncaringly.
Gritting her teeth in anger, mist exudes from Eula's body and electricity from Sara's.
"I'll deal with you just like I did that boy!" Eula pushes off a small ice spire.
"..." Dashing forward like a bolt of lightning, Sara meets her head-on.
"While their formation is in disarray, prepare to strike!" Yae orders.
"My left eye, the Auge der Verurteilung, can see the twining string... there!" Releasing multiple arrows, the three watch as it soars towards the Cryo Army.
"Ice barriers up!" Rosaria shouts as the front linesmen conjure multi-layered walls of ice from the ground all around the army. "Don't let a single attack through!"
"Ready, Lisa?" Miko asks raising her hand to the thunderclouds above.
"As always~." Lisa responds holding her pointer finger close to her face before pointing it at the soaring arrows.
Firing a bolt of lightning, it hits one arrow to arc in between the others.
Looking overhead at the arrow nearing the ice blockade, Keqing's body becomes coated in electricity.
"Don't stop the advance!" She shouts zipping ahead.
"Stay close, Qiqi!" Beidou smirks, the girl giving a silent nod.
"We enter the fray soon!" Razor snarls.
Matching the arrows' speed, Keqing blitzes are the ice dome stopping behind it to take sight of Sara and Eula's bout. Refocusing on the arrows, they dive lodging themselves into the ice leaving two to soar over the structure. Coating herself in lightning, Keqing jumps onto the dome reaching the top before launching herself into the air with her sword in hand. Two well placed counters sends the remaining arrows to the stab throughout the rear. Descending back down sliding off the rugged dome to the ground in a crouched position, electricity crackles off of her body.
Now! Starward Sword!
In a blur, she blitzes all around the large ice fortress. Shadows of Keqing hitting the lodged arrows deeper into the structure as hitting the last arrow, Keqing reappears sliding back to her approaching comrades.
"Well done, Keqing!" Beidou compliments.
"It seems the preparations have been met." Lisa notes, both her and Fischl looking to Yae Miko.
Reinforcing a multi-layered surface would certainly prove difficult for a normal bowman but for Fischl and that wonderous eye capable of seeing the weakpoints in any structure, that is not an issue. From there, breaking through layer after layer becomes simple with the accuracy and speed Keqing brings. All that remains now... is to break through!
A single spark appears through Miko's arm as she throws her hand downward.
"Pierce and shatter!"
At her declaration, the thunderclouds bellow before a bolt of lightning surges downwards coating the entire battlefield in a violet tint.
"What now?!" Eula exclaims.
"Your focus is me!" Sara calls slapping the woman with her wings sending Eula off her feet into the shore.
Good, everything is going smoothly. Sara thinks before flying after the swordswoman.
Bits and pieces of ice scatter in all directions as the Electro Army continues its approach. Sniffing, Rzaor widens.
"STOP!" He warns as the entire sand and earth becomes covered in ice.
"Our footing!" Beidou curses.
"Well done, Alberich!" McGruff compliments raising a sword into the air.
"It was a good thing we weren't completely frozen in place I suppose." He mutters withdrawing his pointed sword.
"Now, while the enemy's footing is awry, we counterattack!" He roars as does the army charging forward.
"Move too fast and we'll slip!" Beidou notes breaking away the ice around her feet. "They gained the upper hand off of our strategy, damn it!"
"What do we do now?"
"Go." All's attention goes to the child with mist secreting from her tiny form. "I'll clear the way!" Qiqi informs before hopping and skating off, the ice behind her melting away.
"Qiqi, wait!" Keqing calls out.
"Come on, she's clearing the ground for us!" Razor shouts for the group to charge once more.
"Pesky vision child." McGruff curses. "Child or not, she's voluntarily opposing us so take her out!"
Speeding on the ice towards the army, Qiqi materializes her sword.
"That child." Miko murmurs in a groan readying another strike.
"Oz!" Fischl orders to her raven.
"As you wish, mein Fräulein!" The bird responds gripping the arrow as Fischl fires it.
Focusing her glowing gaze on a spot before the army, she reaches the spot for a spire to erupt sending the child over the army landing into the fray.
"Spread ou- Ah!" A soldier warns to be cut down as blood flies into the air.
"Watch out!" Another barely lets out as chaos ensues as bodies begin to drop.
"Where is she?!"
"Don't stay so close!"
"I can't see her anywhere!"
"Her tiny agile figure is something no ones trained for." Ayaka realizes in horror.
"Tch!" Bursting forward noting the pattern of men separating, Rosaria jumps to dive polearm first for an eruption of ice to gain everyone's attention.
Sliding back to a halt on the icy surface, Qiqi looks up to the developed nun pointing her spear at her.
"Child or not, you're a threat to the Cryo Army." She speaks as Qiqi's gazes lowers. "Nothing personal!" Rosaria shouts thrusting forward to stop widening. "What the-!" She looks down to see her foot trapped within the surface.
She manipulated my foot into the ground without my noticing?!
Lunging forward, Rosaria raises her polearm to block for Qiqi to faint high going low as her blade nears the nun's leg.
"Spirit Blade: Chonghua's Layered Frost!" A voice shouts forcing Qiqi to jump away as a blast of ice and mist barrels itself towards Qiqi.
About to counter, a caw gains the girl's attention as an arrow lodges itself in front of her followed by the wrapping of electrified wings as the blast goes through.
"Did that work?" Chongyun questions breaking Rosaria free for the sight of a large bird to become visible flying over the army.
"Shoot it down!" McGruff orders as bowsmen take aim before firing.
Taking aim, Ganyu draws back her arrow with clear sight on the bird for an image of the night prior to today to float to her conscious.
"That's why...I want to fight for the sake of those who can't! Qiqi is priority number one, but after that, I'll fight!"
"Ganyu?" Ayaka asks in concern. "Why aren't you-"
"Ayaka." Ganyu interjects calmly shocking the girl as she lowers her bow back to her side. "We shouldn't be fighting." She turns to her dear friend. "Not like this."
"What do you mean...?"
"Fly yonder the frontline, Oz!" Fischl shouts firing arrow after arrow canceling out those that would hit.
Looking from the safety of his wings, Qiqi takes in the realization of the descending arrows.
"Oz, take me to the ground! Hurry!" Complying at the sense of urgency in their particular situation, it does releasing Qiqi as she looks to the shower of arrows descending their way.
"Incoming!" Beidou warns.
"Shields!" Razor shouts.
"We won't have enough for that number!" Keqing dismisses coating herself in lightning. "I'll try to stop as many as I can!"
"That's suicide!" Beidou barks back taking the lead. "Razor, our turn! Just need to blow them all away with a mighty swing or two!"
"I'm with you!" Electricity begin to surge from the two as a caw gains everyone's attention.
Relinquishing the girl, Qiqi lands in front of the Electro Army raising her sword to jam it into the ground. A tremor erupting as an enormous ice spire erupts from the ground in front of the army.
Firing an arrow, Eula cuts it down to swing in which Sara rolls out of the way for a piece of ice to hit her back's cener sending her directly at Eula.
"Shudder!"
Glaring at the girl, Sara sprouts her wings releasing a mighty flap at towards the woman's ground causing her to fall forward and Sara over her. Righting themselves, they poise themselves to take sight of the gigantic spire.
"What the...?"
"Qiqi...!" Refocusing on her opponent, Sara clicks her tongue in annoyance.
I need to maintain the Cryo Army's position away from the shore so they won't gain advantage but what off Qiqi?! Stalling against her isn't an issue. The real issue is the army itself.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Sara snaps back to Eula for the tengu warrior to widen taking notice of her feet trapped to the ground. "Don't you dare ignore an opponent right in front of you!"
Feeling her annoyance steadily rise, Sara raises a hand to the air for a bolt of lightning to take its place as she reappears a few feet behind her prior position.
Even frozen to the ground, she can escape. What a meddlesome ability.
I just have to pray Lady Miko and the others can handle themselves. Sara thinks aiming a single arrow with the tip coated in a purple hue.
Panting heavily, the strength in her legs parts from her body causing the young girl to fall on her butt. The glow in her eyes and secreting mist dissipating.
"Qiqi!" Keqing exclaims in worry holding the girl.
"I'm... fine..." She pants.
"Mighty fine job, Qiqi." Beidou compliments.
"You saved us." Razor nods.
"I thought I told you to stay near us! Don't go doing stuff on your own!" She chides with a chuckle.
"Sorry..." She murmurs.
"Look, the beratement can wait. We need to get you-"
Crack.
Keqing's words are halted as a shadow looms overhead. Looking up, all widen at the spire beginning to crack as with an eruption, McGrruff himself bursts through a hole. His eyes glowing an eerie blue.
"He has a vision?!" Beidou gasps.
"Watch out!" Razor shouts.
"I'm tired of this farce! Take... this!" He roars slicing the spire where he stands to hold the ginormous top half in one hand to jump with it descending pointing at the group.
"Disperse!" Keqing orders.
"No time!" A sphere of electricity forming aroun Beidou as the spirit of a wolf forms around Razor.
"Damn!" Miko curses waving her arms once again, the thunder cloud answering her call as it releases another surge of lightning.
"Oz!"
"HAAAAAAA!" McGruff roars as a combination of ice and electricity erupts upon the battlefield.
BOOOOOOOOOM!
"Everyone!" Sara shouts to block Eula's blade as gusts of frost blow in all directions.
Wincing at the pain scattered all along her body, Qiqi's vision slowly comes to as with a few blinks she finds herself laying on her back gazing at the thundering clouds. Quickly following her sight, the sound of yelling follows.
What's... going on...?
Getting on all fours, her eyes lift to widen. The Cryo Army battling the Electro with countless bodies scattered among the battlefield.
"Qiqi!" Hearing a voice call her name frantically, she looks to be met with a blade mere inches from her face for a blast of lightning to send the assailant off his feet into another part of the battle.
Looking to the cause, she finds Keqing and Lisa hurrying her way taking out soldier after soldier.
"Come on!" She gets the girl to her feet for Lisa to push them both down before firing a wave of electricity at an approaching group.
"Beidou and Razor...?"
"They took the brunt of that attack and were pulled out thanks to Oz!" Keqing explains getting to her feet and zipping around the two cutting down a half dozen of soldiers. "We need to get you out of here!" She says reappearing.
"Hiyaaaa!" A voice slices through both figuratively and literally with their claymore causing the three to jump away. "Judging by your apparels, I suppose it is correct in estimating you three to be lieutenants. I am Chungyun, Cryo Army Lieutenant!"
"Oh? Is that so?" Lisa narrows her eyes. "Do you believe you're capable of taking on us both I wonder~?"
"Damn, Qiqi, stay behind us!" Keqing calls as she and Lisa move in front of the young girl at the ready.
"Let's even the odds shall we?" Another voice cuts in behind Chongyun revealing Rosaria.
"Rosaria?"
"Don't be stupid. Trying to take them on by yourself, hmpf, you should know your limitations. Besides, I still need to repay that girl back. So get ready."
"R-Right! Thanks!"
"Seems things are getting more and more interesting." Another voice cuts in stopping besides the two cryo users.
"Kaeya!"
"Now I believe things are quite fair." He speaks.
"Great, more trouble." Keqing murmurs.
"The more the merrier~." Lisa purrs, an ominous demeanor plastered onto her face.
"You can have two of them."
"Incoming!" All look up to see Oz fly overhead as out comes three figures.
"Beidou, Razor, Fischl!" Qiqi exclaims in joy.
"Good to see our princess awake!" Beidou smirks.
"Ahem!" Fischl coughs as Oz takes its position atop her shoulder.
"Our other princess." She rolls her eyes.
"But you two are injured!" Keqing says in worry.
"You think a few scratches will take us out of the game?"
"Do not underestimate us. Much is on the line!" Razor adds.
Out of the sky landing suddenly before the electros with her wings receding into her stands Sara. Following it, the sounds of grunting soldiers tossed through the air as over the cryos jumps Eula. Both looking up to glare at their adversary.
"Thought you could escape, did you?"
"I wouldn't call flying away an escape. More so along the lines of turning my back and assisting my allies." Sara corrects for Eula to scowl at the unsympathetic woman.
"Wait, where's-"
BOOOM!
Answering her question, both sides gaze a distance away at General McGruff and Yae Miko combating one another.
"Hmpf, I suppose its luck that your archon isn't here."
"Or it could be bad luck considering your opponent is myself. Unlike our beloved Raiden Shogun, I like to play with my food. Especially when they have no chance of winning." Miko says with calm confidence twirling her polearm.
"Hmpf, talk a hardy game all you want, we'll still succeed!" He rushes forward swinging his sword for Miko to parry every swing.
Pointing her finger, McGruff stomps the ground for a wall of ice to block her electric shock.
"Tell me, General, how many of your soldiers actually want to participate in this war?"
"What are you blabbering about? All of my troops!"
"Hmmm, I see. Now, let me ask you like this, how many wish to participate in this war for the sole purpose of killing?" She wonders with a charming smirk as the realization slowly sets in for the man to scowl rushing once more.
"Seems we're the last to arrive!" Ayaka appears alongside Ganyu.
Sniffing the air, Razor widens pointing at the goat-like girl.
"Her! Relon's scent! I smell it the strongest!"
Widening, Ganyu doesn't have time to process as Sara blitzes forward.
"Oh, no you don't!" Eula exclaims meeting her forward.
Pivoting her foot so her back is facing Eula, a bolt of lightning takes her place for Eula to clash with Razor and Beidou.
"Have at thee!" Fischl snaps her bow's string as it sails for Eula to tilt her head out of the way.
"Heart be pure, evil be erased. Mind be purged, world be... Um... Ugh, I always forget that last part. Prepare yourselves!" Chongyun dismisses dashing forward slicing horizontally for Sara to flip landing on the side of his sword to flip over upside-down meeting Kaeya's blade.
"Ha!" He shouts, ice extending from the tip of his blade for Sara's wings to manifest releasing a strong flap sending her to the ground as with another she moves forward flipping over onto her feet. "She's going for Ganyu!"
Gritting her teeth completely past the point of being pissed off as he gaze locks onto Qiqi.
"Back up!" Lisa shouts in which the two pushes her off as Oz along with the witch fires a bolt of lightning in which Eula stomps the ground kicking up a pillar of ice to block the attack.
Rushing Rosaria, Sara fires a single bow with its tip a purple hue. Firing, she smacks the arrow away for the shockwave to send her crashing to her side.
"Rosaria!" Ayaka gasps to shift to a focused visage.
"Out of my way. My business is with her."
"I can't do that for multiple reasons." Ayaka retorts getting in front of Ganyu, Chungyun, Kaeya, and Rosaria recovering to approach the woman once more.
Glancing behind her past the cryo users to her allies, Sara turns forward eyeing past Ayaka at Ganyu.
"Where is your weapon?" She asks for the three cryos to look past her to see Sara's words true.
"I..." She begins for her words to falter as she grips a hand to her chest.
"Well?" Sara questions again discarding her bow to cross her arms, her glow dimming in her golden eyes. "I'm curious."
"You're leaving yourself wide open." Ayaka murmurs in disbelief. "No, I am simply making it more fair for you four." She corrects in a blunt tone. "Relon is someone rather dear to us, to me and I wish to know the truth regarding his location. As well as his current condition. So tell me."
"You're mine!" Keqing appears behind Eula to strike for another wall of ice to form embedding her arm.
"My words exactly!" She corrects swinging her claymore for a blade to clash against her horizontal swing.
"Qiqi!" Keqing gasps at the sight of the child pressing her strength against the woman, her eyes glowing brightly once again.
"Don't stand idly by!" Beidou snaps, her and Razor moving to either side of Eula.
Eyeing both out the corner of her eye, she stomps her feet for for ice to catch their grips and incapacitate them. Firing a bow followed by Oz and Lisa firing a blast of lightning, a dome of ice surrounds Eula and Qiqi.
"Just like that brother of yours, your stubbornness is irritable to the 3rd degree!" Eula hisses slowly overpowering Qiqi.
"My big brother... can be stubborn...! But... he'll doing anything for our friends and myself...! No matter the cost!" Qiqi shouts, her eyes gleaming in a bright color.
"What?!"
"He proclaimed he wanted to find his sister and put a stop to this war without lives needing to be lost."
"And how did you respond?"
"I agreed wholeheartedly." She answers not skipping a beat. "I too tire of all the bloodshed and strife!"
"Good." For the first time since their battle started, a small smile graces Sara's demeanor for a split moment to Ganyu's shock before it reverts to seriousness. "What about the rest of you?"
"You're asking us? Hmpf, obviously we all don't like this war anymore than the next guy." Kaeya, Chongyun, and Ayaka nodding/voicing their agreement.
"Both sides want the same but we need your army to come to an understanding in some way." She speaks raising a hand to conjure her bow. "But before that, we need to stop that damn fool." She mutters, all looking as waves of mist rolls across the ground while the dome once holding Eula and Qiqi begin to melt.
Noticing the ice restraints melt, Keqing and the others are broken free.
"Qiqi!"
"Go!" She shouts, the mist secreting from two thickening.
"Damn it, the air around the is dropping!" Beidou curses.
"Fischl!" Lisa calls firing a jolt of lightning and arrow respectively for them to freeze followed by shattering before reaching the two.
"If this continues...!" Keqing shouts covering her face with an arm wincing at the temperature hitting the parts of her skin.
"All troops, retreat! We're withdrawing to the cliff!" She flies down, electricity crackling throughout her arm as she dives straight for Eula and Qiqi. "GO!" She shouts, Keqing nodding as they do.
"All troops, fall back to the shore!" Ganyu shouts, both armies doing as told leaving Eula and Qiqi at the epicenter of the battlefield.
"Now wha-" Widening, Eula glares at the incoming archer. "You!" Overcoming Qiqi in a split moment, she pushes away the girl to swing her black at Sara, the tengu warrior rolling to the side grabbing Qiqi.
Wincing at the frigid touch, Sara places Qiqi down. Seeming off, she gives a light jolt to the girl who comes to.
"Qiqi!" She shakes.
"H-Huh...?"
"Are you okay?"
"Uh huh..."
"Good." Both look to Yae Miko joining them. "Both armies have ceased their fighting leaving only two individuals left.
"At the cost of half of our army." Sara notes with vehement anger towards the two oppositions.
"As much as we planned, none of us could have seen him cutting Qiqi's spire in two and launching it at our army like a spear. It was thanks to everyone's combined efforts that we repelled such a devastating onslaught.
"It still bothers me that you ordered us not to kill their lieutenants but with how the outcome has shifted, I suppose this was apart of your plan. Though that one has been rather meddlesome.""
"Holding back so much anger towards such a pitiful man was quite difficult too, you know? If I had to guess, then the effects haven't become as potent compared to those in the other regions. And pertaining to the general..."
"He's just another lowlife?" Sara muses.
"Correct."
"No surprise. His actions ever since the beginning of the battle have screamed cowardice."
"He attempts to conceal such visible thoughts through his actions but even that distinguishes the clear difference between honor and disgrace." Miko sighs with a hand to her face. "Qiqi, dear, are you okay?" A nod comes in response.
"Your vision were resonating on such a level, had I not intervened when I did then this whole area could have turned to ice." Sara mentions. "Meaning that knight is attempting to go all out."
"The sooner we free her of their control, the easier this will all become." Miko notes readying her polearm at her side as Sara readies her bow.
"Have you finished rattling on?" McGruff calls out. "I must hand it to you, dismissing all of these corpses, you pulled one over me in the form of having my army retreat. I suppose quantity over quality was the superior outcome in this battle."
"And I suppose you're fond of listening to yourself, no? Otherwise you wouldn't be spouting such pointless rabble." Miko dismisses with a wave of her hand.
"Sara Kujou, our bout is not finished!"
"Honestly, Lawrence, over the elapsed time we've battled, I've noticed your elegant form reduce itself to that of a beast. Swinging on pure emotion with little sense if any."
Glaring, Eula takes a step for a hand to halt her.
"Do not let them goad you, Lawrence. We have no need to battle them ourselves any further." He smirk darkly reaching into his pocket.
Watching him pull out an orb.
"Originally, this was to be used as a means of escape but with victory so close and the Raiden Shogun showing no signs of appearing this far into battle, we must take advantage of such an opportunity! Come, Frigid Serpent Trishula!" Tossing the sphere into the air, the clouds begin to lighten becoming a dark grey.
"The air just got colder." Sara murmurs, Miko commanding the storm as a bolt of lightning strikes the sphere for nothing to happen.
"Bwuahaha! That won't work! Nothing can stop an Archon's Beast from awakening!" McGruff laughs. "Now, arise and chill the flesh!"
"We need to retreat, now!"
Nodding at the order, Sara sprouts her wings taking flight with Yae Miko close behind. Looking over her shoulder at the snowstorm ripping up around the expanding sphere, she can only watch as it cracks for a blue serpent with two sets of wings near the front and rear of its body. Two crystal gems on the top and bottom of its scaly body. Sharp teeth and large yellow slitted eyes.
Releasing a blood curdling screech, it swirls around the sky above McGruff and Eula.
"Magnificent...!"
"It's beautiful, sir...!"
"Oh no...!" Ganyu murmurs.
"Lady Miko, your orders?" Keqing requests, she and the others approaching.
"We've been put into quite a predicament..." Miko hums in thought looking to the awaiting monster. "Our soldiers on the ground will be easy prey should it go for them."
"The same can be said for us, no?" Keqing inquires.
"Yes, but not completely." Sara answers. "We're more skilled. That is why you all are lieutenants and I am a general."
"So in other words, we have a better chance of surviving should that thing attack. Count me in!" Beidou punches her palm.
"If we bring beast to ground, battle will become easier."
"We'll follow your lead, General, Lady Miko."
"Thank you." Miko nods her thanks to look to Qiqi.
"I can fight."
"Sadly, I know." Yae sighs. "Especially after knowing the energy output two vision users gain from a resonance. This time I expect you to stay near us, young lady."
"Leave it to Lady Miko to take the time before an eminent threat to act motherly." Keqing sweatdrops along with Fischl.
"Alright, here is what we'll do..." Miko speaks gaining their attention.
"Shall we commence the assault, sir?"
"Considering this is their final battle plan, I believe now would be as good a time as ever to put them out of their mercy. Destroy them, Trishula!"
"Commence the attack!" Miko orders, Sara flying close to the ground leading the charge with Keqing, Razor, Beidou behind her and Fischl, Qiqi, and Lisa behind them.
With a mighty cry, the serpent dives down flying close to the ground.
"Get ready!" Sara calls out.
"Now, Oz!"
"Yes, milady!" The bird responds extending its wings taking in Qiqi.
Flapping towards the creature with its maw widening, Sara flies over avoiding the bite sliding to a halt onto its back. Crackling with electricity, she raises her hand as the thunderclouds rumble with the blizzard.
"Now, Qiqi!" Keqing calls over her shoulder, Oz zoomin forward ahead of the group releasing the girl whose eyes glow their bright red as Qiqi slams her palm to the ground.
In doing so, a long wall of ice erupts from the ground. From afar, Yae looks on.
A creature when presented with a wall shall do one of two things; either it shall break through...
Seeing the coming wall, the Trishula curves at an instant 90 degrees up along the wall towards the thundering skies.
Or it shall go around or in this case up... She smirks raising a hand from the cliff.
"It seems to have found its mark~." Lisa points firing an electric discharge into the sky as with the drop of a hand, multiple strikes of lightning drops down on towards the serpent crashing face-first into it.
Jumping off, Sara spreads her wings flying away as they watch the creature get electrocuted.
"Did that work?" Keqing asks.
"We won't know until its over..." Sara answers landing on the ground.
After a minute, the lightshow ceases revealing Trishula's body still airborne burnt to a crisp.
"It's still in the air after taking all that damage?!" Keqing widens.
"Doth thou wish to reveal its true power?" Fischl.
"Look! Something's happening!" Razor points.
Looking at the flying cryo serpent, all take notice of its gems emanate a glow followed by the rest of its body as its once charred body renews itself as if never damaged.
"It's wounds are healed!"
"Hmm, things just became slightly difficult." Lisa purses her lips.
Screeching into the air, Trishula lowers its gaze to the land below.
"EVERYONE, MOVE! NOW!" Sara shouts as from its mouth escapes a beam of white frost directly upon the land resulting in shards of ice bursting from the ground.
Retreating, all look back at the approaching attack.
"We can't outrun it!" Beidou shouts for Sara, Qiqi, and Lisa to stop.
Firing an energy empowered arrow, an arc of lightning, and a blast of ice, the attacks all collide resulting in a white explosion.
"No...!" Miko widens.
"HAHAHAHA, behold only a sliver of our queen's power!" McGruff laughs hysterically.
"Fools, no one could fight against such a beast." Eula dismisses.
As the smoke clears, the visible forms of Sara, Qiqi, and the others can be seen scattered about.
Struggling to raise herself, Sara's strength gives out as she drops to the ground.
"Such... power...!' She pants.
"Everyone... okay...?" Keqing calls out in between pant.
"Tis be... our worst hour..." Fischl breathes out for herself as Oz gives a weak caw.
"I'm alive... but barely..." Beidou answers.
"Weak... Very weak." Razor grunts.
"I hate to... say it but... no pain no gain..." Lisa coughs.
"They're alive?!" Eula gasps. "How-" Stopping herself, both she, McGruff, the Cryo Army, Miko, and the Electro Army widen at the sight before them.
"Qiqi...? Where's... Qiqi...?"
Hearing the sounds of footsteps in repetition across the snowy ground. Lifting her head, Sara widens alongside her fellow friends/comrades at the sight before them.
Ahead holding the young vision user in their arms in a kneeling position is Relon.
"Re...lon...?" Sara croaks struggling with all her might to gather what little strength she can. "Re...lon!" She digs her hands into the snow pulling her forward, his demeanor hidden behind his hair.
"So, you've-"
"Shut up...!" Relon's cold voice cuts through the chilling air silencing Eula.
Standing to his feet, he carries over Qiqi's unmoving form to the group settling her down before Sara.
"Watch over her for me." He requests in a mutter turning around not seeing Sara reach a hand out for him. His condition tearing her heart apart.
Lowering it, she pants to note of Qiqi's form. Barely pulling her close, she feels the faintest beating of her heart as another wave of relief washes over.
"How dare you...?" Relon's fist followed by his entire body begins to tremble as with every step, thunder roars and lightning strikes in near by. Snapping his hand to the air, the polearm within Miko's hand vanishes to her shock as it reappears within his.
Ei... don't tell me...
Snapping his head up to the army and serpent, Relon's fury is revealed for all to see. His vermilion eyes exuding rage as his mane-like hair begins to dance wildly. Quickly, the blizzard is drowned out by the bellowing storms.
"What's happening?!" McGruff questions.
"How DARE you...?!" He clenches his teeth, his hair and eyes slowly beginning to change to white to everyone's shock.
Secreting mist from his left body, electricity sparks furiously from his right.
"A dual vision-user?!" McGruff exclaims. "How did he obtain Cryo?!"
"Relon...!" Ganyu murmurs in awe an fear.
"Don't tell me...! He's the storm that is approaching?!"
Blind to rage, Relon releases a roar spinning the polearm to halt grasping it with an ungodly grip. Eyeing everything before him, he charges.