Genshin Impact: The Crit Archon

The group left the area, as Aether saw the skeleton remain of a dragon, as they were walking.

Aether then looked at Albedo. "Hey Albedo what is the thing with this place"

Albedo looked at him confused. "Wait I thought you already knew"

Sucrose looked at him and then spoke. "Don't you spent a bit of your day in the library"

Rosaria then added looking at Aether. "Or are you and Lisa busy doing.... Other thing in the library"

Aether's face turned slightly red at Rosaria's implication, and he cleared his throat, quickly brushing off the comment. "I do spend time in the library! But, uh... maybe not always reading up on history."

Aether then chuckled, crossing his arms as he observed the skeleton in the distance. "So, what's the story with this place, Albedo? It feels... ancient."

Albedo gazed at the skeletal remains with a pensive expression, his fingers tracing along the hilt of his weapon thoughtfully. "These are the remains of Durin, the dragon who once threatened Mondstadt. He was brought to life by dark alchemy—forces tied to the Abyss Order. Durin was powerful, but he was ultimately defeated by Dvalin, the dragon who guards Mondstadt today."

Sucrose looked at the remains with awe, adjusting her glasses. "It's incredible… to think that such a creature once roamed these lands. The power of the alchemical arts used to create Durin must have been immense."

Aether looked back at the skeletal remains, his mind turning over the story. "So, Durin was manipulated by the Abyss Order, too?"

Albedo nodded, glancing at Aether. "Yes. The Abyss has always sought ways to exploit powerful creatures for their own ends. Durin was just one example of that twisted ambition."

Rosaria tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Then why here, in Dragonspine? There's something about this place that feels... cursed."

Albedo met her gaze. "Dragonspine is not an ordinary mountain. There's a deep-rooted energy here, an aura that has remained since ancient times. Some say it connects to Khaenri'ah, the lost civilisation. It's why the Abyss Order often uses this area for their experiments and why they return time and again."

Aether felt a strange shiver run through him as he glanced between his friends and the looming mountain around them. "If this place is connected to Khaenri'ah, then there's more to it than just Durin's remains. It feels like we're standing on the edge of something dangerous."

Issej, now observing the skeleton, asked, "So, is this what the Abyss Order is trying to awaken? More of these powerful creatures?"

Albedo's face grew sombre as he nodded. "Possibly. They may be seeking ways to replicate the alchemical process that created Durin... or perhaps even bring him back."

At those words, a chilling silence fell over the group. The idea of such a threat lingering in Dragonspine sent a ripple of unease through them.

Just then, Sucrose's eyes lit up with a realisation. "Wait, Albedo—weren't you studying something similar? I mean, not bringing things back to life, of course, but looking into the remnants of Khaenri'ah?"

Albedo gave a thoughtful nod. "Yes, my research into Khaenri'ah's alchemy has been ongoing. But as much as I seek answers about their techniques, there's a limit to how far I'm willing to go. Durin is a reminder of what happens when one oversteps those limits."

Aether tightened his grip on his weapon, determination flashing in his eyes. "Then let's make sure they don't get the chance to take things that far."

Rosaria smirked, the intensity in her gaze matching Aether's. "Fine by me. But let's keep moving before anything else tries to sneak up on us."

The group continued their journey through the frozen landscape, their spirits united by a shared purpose—to protect Mondstadt from the shadow of the Abyss. With Dragonspine looming overhead, they steeled themselves for whatever lay ahead, knowing that their strength and resolve would be tested before the journey was through.

They final found the place the Abyss order was at, everyone just looked at aether.

Paimon then spoke. "What are you waiting for, deleted all of but one of them"

Aether hand Charged up with the 5th True magic Blue. "Nice to see we aren't wasting time"

As Aether's hand crackled with the energy of the 5th True Magic, he could feel the tension in the air thickening. The group gathered behind him, their eyes locked on the cavern entrance where the Abyss Order had set up their base of operations. Shadows flickered within, hinting at the presence of multiple Abyss Mages and their dark rituals.

"Just remember," Albedo cautioned, "we need to be strategic. We don't know how many are in there or what they might be planning."

Issei nodded, glancing at the entrance. "We should go in quietly and assess the situation first. We don't want to trigger an all-out battle if we don't have to."

"Or give them a chance to escape," Rosaria added, her grip tightening on her weapon. "We need to catch them off guard."

Aether took a deep breath, channeling the power surging through him. "Alright, here's the plan. I'll go in first, and with this magic, I'll erase as many of them as I can. The rest of you follow my lead and be ready to back me up."

"Let's do this!" Issei exclaimed, his energy surging as he prepared to join the fray. "We're not letting these guys get away with whatever they're up to!"

With a nod of agreement, Aether charged forward, his feet barely making a sound on the icy ground. As he approached the cavern entrance, he took a moment to focus on his surroundings. A faint glow emanated from within, casting eerie shadows that danced on the walls.

As he slipped inside, the atmosphere shifted. A group of Abyss Mages huddled together, their voices low as they discussed their plans. Aether narrowed his eyes, readying the magic in his hand.

"Now," he murmured to himself, summoning the power coursing through him.

In an instant, he unleashed a brilliant wave of blue energy, filling the cavern with a blinding light. The Abyss Mages barely had time to react before the energy surged through them, erasing them from existence. The bright flash illuminated the cave, revealing dark runes etched into the stone walls, remnants of the twisted alchemical practices they had been engaging in.

"Nice shot!" Paimon cheered, her voice echoing in the cavern. "That's what I'm talking about!"

But Aether wasn't finished yet. He charged further into the cavern, where a pair of Abyss Mages scrambled to their feet, eyes wide with panic. "What was that?!"

Before they could react, Aether launched another blast of energy, taking them out in a swift motion. "We need to finish this quickly!" he called out, glancing back at his teammates as they rushed in behind him.

Rosaria, Issei, and Albedo moved in formation, each ready to eliminate any remaining threats. Sucrose followed closely, her alchemical skills on high alert, while Ritsuka stayed back, observing the surroundings for any signs of danger.

"Look out!" Albedo shouted, pointing towards a group of Abyss Specters that emerged from the shadows, their forms ethereal and wraith-like. They howled as they charged at the group.

Aether turned, his expression fierce. "Leave these to me!"

He raised his hand once more, unleashing the power of the 5th True Magic. A surge of energy erupted, dispersing the Abyss Specters as if they were mere illusions. The cavern trembled with the force of his magic, and the echoes of their shrieks faded into silence.

Issei grinned, exhilarated. "You make this look easy! But don't get too cocky—there could be more!"

Just then, a deeper voice echoed through the chamber, cutting through the air like a knife. "You've made a grave mistake coming here."

The group turned to see a tall figure emerge from the shadows, draped in dark robes that seemed to absorb the light around him. His eyes glowed with a sinister intensity, and he held a staff that crackled with dark energy.

"Who are you?" Aether demanded, readying his magic once more.

The figure smirked, the corners of his mouth curling upward. "I am the one who will bring forth the rebirth of Khaenri'ah. You're just a thorn in my side."

"Not for long!" Aether shot back, his hand charged and ready. "We'll stop you here!"

As the tension mounted, the group prepared for the confrontation, united in their resolve to protect Mondstadt from the looming threat of the Abyss. The battle for their home had only just begun.

Iseei looked at the group. "So did um fix the problem"

Rosaria looked at him and spoke. "Yes".

Issei scratched the back of his head, glancing around the cavern littered with remnants of the Abyss Order. "So, did we... I don't know, solve the whole 'Abyss is trying to take over the world' issue?"

Aether, still buzzing with adrenaline, let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "We dealt with the immediate threat, but there's still a lot we don't know. This was just a fraction of what they're capable of."

"Right," Sucrose chimed in, nervously fiddling with her alchemical tools. "And there's still that creepy guy who was talking about Khaenri'ah's rebirth. We need to figure out what he meant by that."

Albedo, surveying the destruction, nodded thoughtfully. "The Abyss Order is more organized than we thought. They have plans beyond mere chaos, and that makes them more dangerous. We need to gather intelligence and track their movements."

Paimon flitted around, her eyes wide. "So, what's our next step? Should we go back and tell everyone in Mondstadt what's going on?"

Rosaria shook her head. "We need more information first. If we alert everyone now, we could be giving them a chance to retreat or regroup. We have to be strategic."

"Plus," Issei added, "I don't think we've seen the last of that guy. He was too confident, and there's likely more to his plan than he let on."

Aether crossed his arms, considering their options. "Then we split up and gather intel. Albedo, Sucrose, you two can head back to the research lab. Check the archives for any records on the Abyss and Khaenri'ah. Rosaria, Issei, and I will scout the area further. We might find something we missed."

"Sounds like a plan," Albedo agreed, already rummaging through his satchel for notes. "We'll meet back here later to share what we find."

"Let's move then!" Aether said, energizing the group with his determination. They all nodded, ready to split off into their respective tasks.

As they prepared to leave, Ritsuka spoke up, his voice serious. "Be careful out there. The Abyss isn't just a mindless enemy; they're calculating and ruthless. We can't underestimate them again."

"Got it!" Issei replied, his confidence still high despite the gravity of the situation. "We'll take them by surprise again, right Aether?"

"Right," Aether said, a small smile creeping onto his face. "And this time, we'll be prepared."

With that, the group split, each heading in their direction. Aether led Rosaria and Issei deeper into the cavern, the shadows flickering as they moved. The air felt charged, and the remnants of magic still lingered in the space around them.

As they ventured further, they stumbled upon a makeshift chamber, with various artifacts strewn about. Among them were strange documents and dark relics that seemed to pulse with a foreboding energy.

"Look at this," Rosaria said, kneeling down to inspect a cracked tablet. "It looks like some kind of ancient script."

"Let me see," Aether said, stepping closer. As he examined the tablet, he felt a connection to it, as if the magic within was resonating with his own. "This could hold valuable information about the Abyss and their plans."

"Or it could be a trap," Issei pointed out, his gaze shifting nervously. "You know how these things go."

"True," Aether replied. "But we won't know until we investigate further. Help me decipher it."

As they worked together, the atmosphere grew tense, each passing moment increasing the sense of urgency. Aether could feel the weight of their mission bearing down on them, but he pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand.

"Do you think this has anything to do with Dvalin?" Rosaria asked, her brow furrowed as she looked at Aether.

"Maybe," Aether said thoughtfully. "The Abyss has been known to manipulate creatures, especially dragons. If they're involved, we need to find a way to stop them before they can exploit him again."

Suddenly, Issei's eyes widened as he spotted a glint of metal in the shadows. "Hey! What's that over there?" He pointed, and the others turned to look.

They approached cautiously, revealing a hidden alcove filled with weapons and armor bearing the marks of Khaenri'ah. Aether's heart raced as he recognized the significance of what lay before them.

"This... this could be a cache of ancient artifacts," he breathed, stepping closer. "If the Abyss Order is trying to resurrect Khaenri'ah, they could be using these to bolster their power."

"Then we need to take them," Rosaria said decisively. "We can't let these fall into the wrong hands."

"Agreed," Aether said, his resolve hardening. "We'll secure what we can and report back to Albedo and Sucrose. This might give us the edge we need in the fight against the Abyss."

They began to gather the items, carefully inspecting each one for potential threats. The urgency of their mission pressed upon them, each moment reminding them of the danger that lurked just beyond their reach.

Meanwhile, deep within the shadows of the cavern, a pair of glowing eyes watched them, filled with malicious intent. The Abyss Order was far from finished, and the true battle was only just beginning.

To be continued