Genshin Impact: The Crit Archon

Aether continued to walk towards the lake, his eyes fixed on the statue of Barbatos in the middle. Without hesitation, he waded into the water, feeling the cool liquid lap against his skin as he swam towards the small island. As he reached the statue, he placed his hand on its cold, stone surface.

The moment his hand made contact, a surge of energy pulsed through the statue. Aether watched in awe as a light, almost ethereal, began to emanate from it. The light formed into the symbol of Anemo, the element of wind, and slowly drifted towards him. As the symbol merged with his body, Aether felt a warm, tingling sensation spread through him.

The gray markings on his outfit started to glow with a soft blue light, resonating with the newfound power flowing within him. He could feel the element of Anemo taking root in his very being, its energy swirling around him like a gentle breeze.

A moment later, the system's interface appeared before his eyes, delivering its message.

**[Congratulations, Host. You have gained the power to use the elements of Anemo.]**

Aether's eyes widened slightly at the notification. The power of Anemo—the ability to manipulate wind itself—was now his. He clenched his fist, feeling the air around him respond to his will. It was a strange sensation, yet it felt natural, as if this power had always been a part of him.

Paimon, who had been watching from the shore, called out excitedly, "Aether, did you just get a power boost? Paimon's sure you'll be able to do all sorts of cool things now!"

Aether smiled slightly, still getting used to the sensation. "Yeah, it looks like I can control wind now. This might come in handy."

Paimon flew closer, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Let's see what you can do! Maybe you can use it to glide or push enemies away! Oh, or maybe you can create mini tornadoes!"

Aether chuckled at her enthusiasm. "We'll find out soon enough. But first, let's head to Mondstadt. If this power is connected to their god, maybe we can learn more about it there."

Paimon floated closer to Aether, her eyes wide with concern. "But, Aether, Paimon doesn't see a Vision on you! You don't seem to have one at all! Oh no, did you just steal the power of a god? What if they come after us? What will Paimon do? We're doomed!"

Aether raised an eyebrow at her overreaction. "Relax, Paimon. I didn't steal anything. The power came from the statue itself—probably some sort of blessing. Besides, we're already dealing with gods here. What's one more?"

Paimon flitted around him in a panic. "Easy for you to say! You're the one with the new powers! What if Barbatos gets mad? Paimon doesn't want to get zapped by lightning or something!"

Aether smiled slightly, amused by her antics. "If Barbatos wanted to do something, I'm sure he'd have done it already. Besides, having this power might help us find Lumine faster. Isn't that what we're here for?"

Paimon paused, considering his words. She slowly calmed down, though a bit of worry still lingered in her eyes. "Well, when you put it like that… I guess you're right. But let's be careful, okay? Paimon doesn't want to anger any gods, even if they are gods of freedom."

Aether nodded. "Agreed. We'll be careful. Now, let's head to Mondstadt and see what else we can learn about this power."

Paimon gave a small nod, her earlier panic replaced by determination. "Okay! Let's go find your sister, and maybe we can figure out this whole power thing along the way!"

With that, the two of them continued their journey, Aether now equipped with the power of Anemo and a clearer path ahead. Despite Paimon's worries, Aether felt confident that whatever challenges lay ahead, he could face them with his newfound abilities. And if any gods did come calling, well, he'd cross that bridge when he got to it.

Aether and Paimon continued their walk towards Mondstadt, the wind gently rustling the leaves around them. The path was peaceful, with the sun casting a warm glow over the landscape. As they neared the outskirts of the city, something unusual caught their attention—a boy standing alone, seemingly in conversation with a massive dragon.

Venti, the boy with the distinctive green outfit and a lyre in hand, looked up at the dragon with a calm expression. "Let me help you," he said, his voice carrying on the breeze.

Aether and Paimon froze, watching the scene unfold. Aether's hand instinctively reached for his sword, but he hesitated, unsure of what was happening. As he stepped forward, his foot crunched on a twig, breaking the silence.

Venti turned his head slightly, noticing Aether's presence. At that exact moment, the dragon—Stormterror—let out a deafening roar and took to the skies, its massive wings creating gusts of wind that buffeted Aether and Paimon. The boy, Venti, seemed to vanish into thin air, dissolving into the wind as if he were never there.

The sudden force of the wind knocked Aether back a few steps. He quickly regained his balance, shielding his eyes from the dust kicked up by the dragon's departure. As the winds settled, he glanced over at Paimon, who was hovering beside him with a puzzled expression.

Aether shook his head, still processing what he had seen. "Is it normal for people to talk to dragons in this world?"

Paimon and the system both answered at the same time, their voices overlapping. "No!"

Aether blinked, surprised by the simultaneous response. For a brief moment, he noticed Paimon's eyes widen in shock, as if she had caught a glimpse of the system's interface. But the moment passed quickly, and Paimon's expression returned to normal.

Aether frowned, deciding to keep that strange reaction in mind for later. Something was definitely off, but he wasn't sure what it was yet. "Well, that was... interesting," he muttered, more to himself than to Paimon.

Paimon shook her head. "Paimon's pretty sure that wasn't normal at all. Talking to dragons, disappearing into the wind—this is getting weirder by the minute! We need to find out what's going on."

Aether nodded in agreement. "Let's keep moving. Mondstadt isn't far. Maybe we can find some answers there."

Aether and Paimon continued their journey towards Mondstadt, the city's iconic spires coming into view against the horizon. The fresh, clean air of the countryside was a welcome change, and Aether took a deep breath, enjoying the natural beauty of the land. Just as they were about to advance further, a voice called out, halting them in their tracks.

"Hold it there, Travelers!"

Aether and Paimon turned to see a girl leaping gracefully down from a nearby rock. She wore a red bow resembling bunny ears, brown pilot goggles perched on her head, and a red jacket over a dark brown jumper. The Pyro Vision emblazoned on her red and orange ribbon was immediately noticeable. She also had red stockings with symbols and white boots, making her outfit both distinctive and functional.

Aether noted her appearance with a mix of curiosity and appreciation, though his thoughts briefly wandered, admiring her overall presence.

The girl landed effortlessly and looked at them with a firm yet friendly expression. "Hold it there, Travelers. What are you doing here?"

Aether raised an eyebrow at her direct approach. "Isn't it a bit rude not to introduce yourself first?"

Amber blushed slightly, her cheeks reddening at his remark. She quickly regained her composure and smiled, extending her hand in greeting. "Oh, right! I'm Amber, a member of the Knights of Favonius. I'm here to ensure that everything's alright in Mondstadt. So, what brings you two here?"

Paimon, ever the enthusiastic one, floated up to Amber with a bright smile. "Hi Amber! I'm Paimon, and this is Aether. We're traveling through Teyvat and are looking for some answers. We've just arrived from the other side of the beach and saw something strange with a dragon and a boy."

Amber's eyes widened slightly at the mention of the dragon. "A dragon? That's not something you hear every day. Well, Mondstadt's got its share of problems lately, so it's good you're here. Maybe we can help each other out."

Aether nodded, his curiosity piqued. "We were planning to explore Mondstadt anyway. Any advice on where to start?"

Amber grinned, her professional demeanor softening into a welcoming smile. "Sure thing! I can show you around and introduce you to the city. We've got a few issues with Stormterror at the moment, so if you're up for it, I could use some extra hands."

Paimon floated excitedly. "That sounds perfect! Let's get started!"

Aether agreed with a nod. "Lead the way, Amber."

As they followed Amber towards the city, Aether felt a renewed sense of purpose. Mondstadt was a place full of potential allies and answers, and with Amber's guidance, he hoped to uncover more about the mysterious elements at play and, ultimately, find his sister.

As Aether, Paimon, and Amber walked across the bridge leading into Mondstadt, they startled a flock of pigeons, causing them to scatter into the sky. Nearby, a small boy named Timmy watched with teary eyes as his pigeons flew away, and Aether glanced at him sympathetically.

Amber guided them further into the city, and once they reached the heart of Mondstadt, Aether took a moment to explain his situation. "I'm looking for my sister, Lumine. We arrived in Teyvat together, but she was taken by an unknown force. I've been searching for her ever since."

Amber listened intently, her expression showing concern. "I'm really sorry to hear that. With Stormterror causing so much trouble, the Knights are stretched thin, and we've got our hands full. But I can certainly help by putting up missing posters for your sister. It's the least I can do."

Aether gave her a reassuring smile. "That would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Amber."

As Amber started to make arrangements for the missing posters, Aether noticed a new notification from the system. He pulled up the interface, his curiosity piqued.

**[ Congratulations Host! You have crit one charm. 1 million times crit effect has been activated. ]**

Aether frowned slightly, unsure of what this new notification meant. He scanned the system interface, looking for more details.

**[ Charm Skill Enhancement: Your charm and persuasive abilities are now enhanced by 1 million times crit effect. You will have an increased ability to influence others and win them over with your charm. ]**

Aether raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the system's update. "So, my charm is now supercharged. That could be useful."

Amber, noticing his distraction, looked over curiously. "Everything alright?"

Aether smiled, his newfound charm subtly influencing his expression. "Yes, everything's fine. Just, you know what forget it"

Amber guided Aether and Paimon through Mondstadt, starting with a visit to the Adventurers' Guild. They entered the guild hall, where Katheryne, the receptionist, welcomed them warmly. Amber explained Aether's situation, and Katheryne quickly signed him up for the guild. Afterward, they explored the city, with Amber showing them notable landmarks and introducing Aether to various aspects of Mondstadt life.

As they continued their tour, Amber handed Aether a wind glider. "This should help you get around the city and assist in your search. Just remember to use it carefully."

Aether thanked her, strapping the glider onto his back. As they moved through the city, the weather suddenly took a turn for the worse. The sky darkened ominously, and a fierce wind began to whip through the streets. Before anyone could react, a massive tornado formed, tearing through the city and picking up debris.

Aether was lifted off the ground by the swirling wind, his surroundings becoming a chaotic blur. As he rose higher into the air, he saw the source of the storm: Stormterror, the dragon causing all the destruction. The dragon's massive wings stirred the air violently, its roars echoing through the city.

Aether activated his new wind glider, trying to maneuver through the turbulence. He attempted to use his light-based powers to fight back, but nothing happened. Frustrated, he gritted his teeth. "First, that god took my sword, and now my power over light. I hate her. Screw it, I'll use wind power then."

The system chimed in with a sardonic tone.

**[ How effective do you think wind will be against a wind dragon, Host? ]**

Aether scowled at the system's comment, but he had no choice. With the wind glider working, he adjusted his stance and focused on harnessing the wind element. He called upon his newly acquired Anemo abilities, creating gusts of wind to counteract the dragon's attacks.

"Alright, let's see what this wind power can do," Aether muttered, determination in his eyes.

As he fought against the storm, Amber and Paimon watched from below, their expressions a mix of worry and awe. Amber knew the situation was dire and hoped that Aether's new abilities would help turn the tide.

To be continued