The violet-black rift closed, but the Reader lingered on the projection of Gu Sanqiu, as if burning his visage into memory.
"Heh, so the mysterious Gu family that's feigned death for so many years has rejoined the chaos of this world. Whose hand guides them? Are they players... or just pawns?"
"Barbatos? Morax?"
"Or perhaps... a remnant of divine design?"
If Gu Sanqiu had overheard the Reader's musings, he might not have defected to help the Abyss with Stormterror, but Venti would certainly no longer enjoy a carefree life in Mondstadt.
He'd drag Venti back to Liyue, even if it meant tying him up.
And if you don't tell me the truth, you're going straight to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to 'complete the paperwork'!
---
Meanwhile, Gu Sanqiu meticulously searched for a way forward. He was one step away from pulling a compass out of his pocket to measure ley lines and elemental flows.
"Hm, a pocket dimension constructed entirely from Anemo energy... So this is what happens when a single element reaches such extremes."
He couldn't help but think of Tsurumi Island's Evernight or Enkanomiya's shadowed depths.
"Could this be the result of a monumental figure's collapse, breaking reality into fragments?"
Still, Stormterror slumbering in a separate space made sense to him.
Flying high above the ruins, Gu Sanqiu surveyed the dilapidated structures below. No space looked large or comfortable enough for a dragon of that size to stretch its wings, let alone rest.
"So... how do I get in? Don't tell me I need to climb that central spire to activate a teleportation array."
He glanced at the highest tower in the ruins, though he dismissed the idea as soon as it crossed his mind.
Stormterror's sanctuary was his private domain. There was no way it would be left open to trespassers.
A faint chime filled the air, followed by a whirling breeze. Before Gu Sanqiu, a circular portal shimmered into existence, its edges humming softly.
"Well, well. Thanks for the help."
Gu Sanqiu stepped into the portal.
Maybe he couldn't force his way into someone else's house—but it wasn't about what he could do. It was about who had his back.
A parent pushing for their child's success can often achieve what the child alone cannot.
I might not have a key, but someone's bound to open the door for me.
"Stormterror?"
Crossing the threshold, Gu Sanqiu found himself in a vast, crystalline domain. Hovering in the air before him was Stormterror, the colossal Anemo dragon.
The dragon's massive form was restrained by dark purple chains, its wings and talons bound. Around its neck sat a glowing crimson collar, emitting an ominous aura.
"ROAR!"
With a guttural bellow, Stormterror unleashed a barrage of Anemo orbs that streaked toward Gu Sanqiu.
"Not exactly the warmest welcome."
Raising his hand, Gu Sanqiu conjured a sturdy shield to block the attack.
"Take a good look, brother. I came through the proper entrance. I'm not one of those Abyss scoundrels trying to harm you. Didn't your boss teach you about identifying friend from foe?"
The heavy Anemo projectiles struck the shield, pushing Gu Sanqiu back several meters.
That's just from one orb. If I took a full volley—or worse, if this guy starts using some tidal-wave-level technique—I'd be in trouble.
But as Gu Sanqiu steadied himself, he couldn't help but notice something intriguing.
Dragons like Stormterror weren't known for their precision. Their massive forms and overwhelming power made targeted strikes inefficient. Instead, they favored area-of-effect attacks, bombarding swathes of land with raw energy.
It wasn't about missing. It was about convenience. Why aim carefully when one swipe of your tail could flatten a forest?
"Seems I'm starting to understand why these guys prefer wide-scale devastation."
Stormterror's sanctuary was a pure Anemo domain, a swirling realm of light and air. For the dragon, it was paradise—a space tailor-made for its needs. The currents provided constant stimulation, akin to a soothing massage, while the dense Anemo energy strengthened its body and gradually cleansed foreign contaminants.
The more I analyze this, the more envious I get.
Gu Sanqiu channeled elemental energy through his body, shifting his focus.
"Fine, if wind's the dominant element here, I'll adjust my approach. Let's see how this works."
"Subjugating Mountain Staff: Variant—Tempest Fang Blade!"
High above, a massive Anemo staff materialized before fracturing into crescent-shaped blades. With a commanding gesture, Gu Sanqiu sent the blades streaking toward the chains binding Stormterror.
CLANG!
The blades shattered on impact, deflected by an unseen force.
"What the—?"
Narrowing his eyes, Gu Sanqiu examined the bindings more closely.
On Stormterror's back, something dark and familiar began to take shape.
That…
"So, this is the so-called 'law' I'm meant to interact with?"
Gu Sanqiu's expression hardened. The chains, suffused with Abyssal energy, bore the telltale signs of corrosion—a toxic mixture of decay and control.
"Looks like there's room to maneuver."
For the first time, he found himself appreciating the Abyss's handiwork. Had they not restrained Stormterror, the dragon might have swatted him out of the sky before he could do anything.
Seeing Stormterror didn't evoke the fear Gu Sanqiu had felt facing Azhdaha's malice. He didn't feel the suffocating pressure of raw domination.
Instead, Stormterror exuded an air of ethereal elegance, a creature of beauty despite its current rage.
It wasn't the brute majesty of a tyrant king, but the refined grace of a noble poet.
If Azhdaha was the unstoppable monarch commanding legions, Stormterror was the serene artist, strumming a lute beneath the moonlight.
Of course, appearances could be deceiving. Stormterror's beauty belied its destructive potential. One swipe of its claws could bring calamity, its cries capable of summoning tempests.
But in this moment, Gu Sanqiu could admire its artistry.
"Still, no matter how beautiful, you're not fooling me. Strength is strength, and yours is on a whole different level."
Only someone like Gu Sanqiu—sheltered by wisdom, tempered by trials, and just a little unhinged—could calmly admire the beauty of a being capable of wiping him off the map.