Was this..."Chimera",
Truly one of his people...?
*But who and how did they...?
…
…
"...I am sorry...Lord Barbatos...
...Please, forgive me...
...
...I never wanted to hurt..."
…
Or perhaps they were just someone who believed in him, instead...
*But because of that..."Doctor" they ended up in such a horrible way...
...
...
-Whatever the case is, there is still something I can do. -He couldn't help but soon mumble, moments later using his Time Power on the former human and waiting for it to work. He planned to revert "it's" state to how they were before a certain 'Mad Dog' started his experiments, but...-...It doesn't look like it's working...Why...?
"I am using enough Time Power to revert someone to their original form up to a hundred years, so why doesn't it seem to work?!", was what he couldn't help but think about,
As the Archon was getting more and more annoyed the more time went by without any noticeable changes...
*Or any changes to begin with, however small they might have been...
...
Just why...?
...
...
Why wasn't it working at all?!
*As if "it" was resistant or outright immune to...
...
...
"...Venti, there is something that you need to know. It is about the "Crystaltears Infusion" matter..", Emilia suddenly said, as she moved to his side, "...There was an issue, which myself and my "twin" did not tell you about. And if not for my insistence, he would have kept it secret from the rest, as well...", She told him in clear annoyance, before deeply sighing, "...The truth is, we have no Crystaltears to infuse Der Frühling and the Vayuda Turquoise Gemstone brooch with.", She soon went into a small summary about what happened, which took some time, "...Now you know what happened. If you would forgive us for this oversight..."
...
...
"And "Scararobot" turned to be a way bigger problem than expected. Especially considering what exactly his "Mecha Suit" was powered with: The energy collected during the Samsara Dreamloops, the Caned Forbidden Knowledge contained within the "Divine Knowledge Capsules", the Archon Residue brutally extracted from Collei and the Time Power extracted from Venti's stolen Crystaltears."
...
"...I should have done a better job at making sure to safeguard those Crystaltears. But due to my incompetence, the Traveler and their allies must have gone through a lot of trouble."
...
Right, that madman, he stole the Crystaltears back then,
And using them, he made the Sumeru Crisis that much worse.
*Not only that but, using some "other materials" he had "acquired", he started to...
...
"Please, Collei! Please, remember! I know you are still there somewhere!
…P-please, tell me you are still there! I-I don't want to kill you…!"
...
It was quite enough of that kind of...Reminiscing...
*He already understood what all of THIS was,
The Second Harbringer's letter and...
...
This "Field Experiment" he decided to...
SHATTER!
...
-Just now, how...?! The Anemo Shield was...! -He couldn't help but say aloud, looking at the "broken pieces", as they soon reverted to the much weaker Anemo Particles. How did the..."Chimera" and so suddenly...? It can't be...-...Instead of being Resistant or Immune to Time Power, did they absorb it instead and...?!
The Archon's words soon trailed off, as a sudden attack came his way,
One which he barely had any time to evade and almost...!
-I am not sure what's going on here, but suddenly attacking our Archon wouldn't do. -Varka said upon "appearing" before him and blocking the strike, his voice clearly annoyed and a little mad. -...Now then, creature, how about you and me have a...?
-Lord Bar...Venti, are you alright...? -Frederica soon asked him in worry from his left side, as she was looking him up and down in concern, before a thoughtful expression appeared on her face after a few seconds. -...Back then, why did you try using your Time Powe...?
-HEY! WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING?! -The annoyed voice of the Grandmaster was soon heard, as seconds later the "Chimera" was behind him, preparing for another strike. -DON'T YOU DARE, YOU...!
-Careful there! -Barbatos couldn't help but yell out, evading the attack in the nick on time. -...That was really close. Another second and...Hey, what's gotten into you all of a sudden...?!
He couldn't help but yell out again, evading yet another attack...
*Seriously, why was this "Chimera"...Former human acting like this all of a sudden...?
And just after he tried to revert them to their original form, how ungrateful!
...
...
...
Looks like this Former Human is mainly after him,
So he has no time to "sit still" and think things through...
...
...
Hopefully, while he is busy...Trying not to get hurt,
Frederica, Varka and the rest of his people find out what to do...!
"...This "humanoid-like creature" is a former human, possibly Mondstadtian.
Barbatos tried to revert "it" back to the way "it" was before that Crazy Harbringer's horrible experiment, but "it" just absorbed the power instead, becoming much stronger.
...Now "the Chimera" seems to be after Barbatos, who is reluctant to kill "it" and we don't know what to do...!"
This was what the Winds just told her, sounding frantic,
And just like them, Frederica found herself at a loss of what to do...
*She could help with the assaul..."Fight", watching her Archon's back,
But Varka was already helping out as much as he could, so she would just get in the way...
...
Was all she could do now pray...?
*Sure, it would give their Archon power, but,
What was the use of all her knightly training, then...?!
...
If all she could do was 'sit back' and watch things unfold,
Only able to pray to Lord Barbatos...
...
'For Mondstadt, as always.'
...
...
Did she truly fail as a Gunnhildr...?
Starting all the way back from their first meeting...
*Even though at the time, she didn't know he was their Archon...
...
"You are that "bard" named "Venti", aren't you...? The one who appeared in the city "out of nowhere" three years ago "without" any apparent background...?
...WHO ARE YOU, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE AND WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?!"
...
...
...
But even then, she...
-Oh, there she is. And just as I thought, she already started panicking. -Her thoughts were soon interrupted by a familiar voice, as a serious looking Rosaria was now walking towards her, holding onto what looked like a leash. -Good day to you, Alder Knight Frederica. I should probably explain why I am here, but in summary since there's not much time. -She said while soon stopping before the now-slightly-confused knight. -I heard about the situation from the Winds and soon came up with a plan that might work quite well. -She continued, as an amused smile soon appeared on her face. -...Looks like keeping him alive had some merit, after all~
She added upon pulling the leash, as a certain person appeared from behind her,
His whole appearance disheveled, yet eyes burning in great (and crazed) determination...
This "Chimera" kept attacking him,
Over and over, with no sign of stopping...
*But if this was truly a former human and possibly...
...
Why would "it" continue to...?
...
...
It wasn't really hard to evade, just annoying,
With each strike predictable and unusually weak,
So different to the time that "it" broke the Anemo Barrier...
*As if this Former Human was doing it on purpose,
Which is why he had time for these musings now...
...
It really felt as if this person...
-...You are going easy on me, aren't you...? You are deliberately making these attacks easy for me to evade. -Barbatos couldn't help but soon say, with his attacker pausing "it's" attack for a split second, before resuming it afterwards. But this was enough. More than enough to understand what was going on here, especially after seeing that heartbroken expression...Which disappeared just as soon as it appeared. Truly, that "Mad Doctor"...! -...He is forcing you to do this, isn't he...? If it was of your own free will, you would never attack either Mondstadt or me.
He couldn't help but add in both realization and regret,
As moments later, he saw that same heartbroken expression again...
*If only he was able to revert this person back to their original form...
...
This person who was forced to attack him by that...
...
...
Was this truly one of his (former) people...? Is that why...?
*Unlike before, now he could clearly feel this person's regret...
...
And not just that, but...
...
...
It felt like they wanted to tell him something, but couldn't...
...
...
Mind reading it is, then...
*It didn't seem like he had any other choice...
...
...
"...Lord Barbatos...I am truly sorry...For doing this...
...That person...Said I am using...My own lifeforce...For every strike...
...Hopefully...When it's...Fully gone...I will...Finally..."
...
Not just feeling regretful, it sounded like this person was in great pain...
*And moreover, those words that he just heard HIM say...
...
...
Was this person...Truly trying to...?!
...
...
"But I am still the Acting Grandmaster, it's my duty to take care of Mondstadt and its people! And that includes you!
You, who are still the Anemo Archon! You are still our god! The most important person here! Even when you act like and want everyone to believe that you are not! Using another name and acting overly cheery doesn't change who you are!
...Having something like that happen to you...! A-and on my watch, too...!
...H-how could I not feel guilty?! H-how could I not ask my ancestors forgiveness for failing so badly?! H-how can I look at you and not blame myself for...?!"
...
This specific memory...
*Back then, Jean,
She blamed herself for what happened...
...
...
"...You, who are still the Anemo Archon! You are still our god! The most important person here! Even when you act like and want everyone to believe that you are not! Using another name and acting overly cheery doesn't change who you are!"
...
He knew this already!
*He knew this well enough...
...
"...That person...Said I am using...My own lifeforce...For every strike...
...Hopefully...When it's...Fully gone...I will...Finally..."
...
But still...Such a thing...!
*Once again, another one of his chi...
-You are...! -He couldn't help but soon exclaim, shocked about suddenly seeing the person he least expected to, floating in midair by his left side. Whose body, for some weird reason, was also shining in an Aqua Blue color...-...You are not planning on kidnapping me again, are you...? Is that why you look...Like that...?
In reaction to these words the other person, who turned out to be the "Elder", was taken aback for a few seconds,
Before his expression suddenly turned very...Ecstatic...?
*Just what was going through that crazy man's head was anyone's guess,
And honestly, Barbatos wasn't sure he wanted to know what it actually was…
…
For his own mental wellbeing.
…
-I am truly grateful that My Lord still remembers me, so I have decided to ignore the small inkling that you are displeased by my presence. As for bringing My Lord to a more secluded location, where the two of us could spend time together...-The "Elder" soon said, looking and sounding very joyful, before his smile suddenly fell. -...Sadly I am not able to do that. There are some issues that need to be taken care of first, after all. -He added, with a glare towards the "Chimera". -...Seeing as My Lord is so benevolent in trying to save such a disgusting creature, once I heard there was a way I could help, I agreed to it right away. -He soon explained, upon showing off his body, or rather the Aqua Blue shine completely enveloping it. -The Thousand Winds had already infused me with their great power. All I require now is for you to kindly bestow upon me your "Blessing", My Lord.
The old man continued, pretty much explaining the reason for his current state,
As moments later, Barbatos couldn't help but recall a certain memory...
...
"... Kazuha's ability to hear the winds and the ease in which he could hear and locate me...And since his opponent is Xiao, a Yaksha...
Kazuha can try attuning to the winds to get a temporary speed and power boost, if he wants to. It should help him fight against Xiao, though I am unsure how his human body will take it."
...
"I will be glad to try attuning to the winds, as long as it doesn't go against the rules of the battle tournament."
"Seeing how my last battle against Kujou Sara went, I would rather you had a temporary boost for this round.
I would rather we fight on equal terms, than have an easy victory simply because I had more time to hone my skills."
"Then it's our "time to shine", right?
Ready when you are, Kaedehara Kazuha of Inazuma!"
...
...
"...What is this, Dragonball…? Is Kazuha going Super Saiyan or something...?!
Venti, you didn't tell me that he would be going Super Saiyan!"
"I wasn't expecting this either, traveler. I only knew that he could get a buff, not the way it would visually show on his body.
It appears that this round is going to get interesting~"
...
Right, back then during the "Gladiator games" of the last Ludi Harpastum...
*Similarly to Kazuha, this "Elder" went through the same process, right...?
But the "Power Output" seems to be much greater now...
...
...
And now he wants to be infused with a "blessing" too...?
Is this human completely insa...?!
...
Of course he is, just like he always was, in fact,
He wouldn't have kidnapped a literal Archon back then if he wasn't!