Hatred

A day had passed since that little interaction with Lumine's friends. I was now at Guyun Stone Forest, helping Lumine out with a commission she got. It took some convincing for Havria to allow to go on this adventure with Lumine, but we eventually got there.

"Windblade!"

I looked over to Lumine and saw that she just finished up clearing the first hoard of Hilichurls. One of the Hilichurls sounded a horn before it died, summoning reinforcements. I already saw the gathering of Abyssal Corruption. I sighed and took out my Festering Desire.

"Switch!" I yelled, catching Lumine's attention.

"Gotcha!" Lumine jumped back to where I was earlier.

Just as she did that, the reinforcements arrived. One Mitachurl with a Geo shield and five Hilichurls with Geo shields as well. This should be rather easy. I feel like I don't even need to light my blade. I got into a stance.

'First form: Slash.'

I swung my sword and just like that, the enemies were defeated. They all got consumed by my flames and I felt the small surge of power within me. I sighed and turned around, but just as I did that, I felt that something was coming.

I quickly turned around and saw that there was another Abyss Corruption gathering. However, this one was way different. It was way more concentrated and I immediately knew what it was.

"Lumine, stay there. I'll deal with this." I looked back at her as I spoke. Seeing that this was something she hadn't dealt with before, she could only nod.

I turned to look at the now Abyss portal in front of me and out of it came the Abyss Herald. It's legs that were petrified by Havria were replaced by Hydro ones. I could still feel the same amount of hostility from him. It was still the same as that day.

"You fraud…" Fraud? How am I a fraud? "Once I have dealt with you, I'll have to deal with that other god…"

…

"Hah?"

I felt my heart rapidly quicken its pace. My hands started shaking and I could clearly hear something cracking just beside my left eye, but I couldn't care less. This bastard was saying that he'll kill my wife and unborn child to my face. I couldn't care less about him calling me a faker or him threatening my life, since I know he can't really do anything, but to threaten my wife and child? Now, I really want to kill this bastard more.

"Lumine, get further away. Things might get even messier than I thought…" I looked back at Lumine, and she just nodded as she ran away.

—

The ground shook and the skies darkened. The reason for it all was the one and only God of Gluttony and Pride, Aether. Hearing that the Abyss Herald wanted to kill his wife and child made Aether's blood boil. No, it was more than that. He hasn't felt this way before. It was stronger than the emotion he felt when fighting Childe, which he also carried while fighting Osial. He doesn't know why, but just hearing someone threaten his family just made him want to kill them in the most painful way possible.

He felt hatred.

The golden cracks that appeared beside his left eye earlier glowed brightly as his right eye's pupil became a slit, resembling that of a dragon's. When the Abyss Herald took a step forward, albeit a bit hesitant, Aether was suddenly surrounded by both Pride and Gluttony. Fortunately, he still had the consciousness to use only 20% of Pride even in his hate filled state. Seeing this, the Abyss Herald stopped in his tracks.

'A god with two elements!?'

"Why stop?" Aether's voice echoed throughout the Guyun Stone Forest, catching the attention of a certain captain that had her ship anchored nearby. The captain decided to follow the sound of the voice as Aether started walking towards the now nervous Herald.

"You said you'll kill me, right? Come on then, let's see who'll die first."

With that, Aether dashed towards the Herald, the latter summoning its Hydro blades to block any incoming attacks.

'Second form: Hollow.'

Performing the second form, Aether seemingly passed by the Herald. However, that was far from the truth. The Herald's Hydro blades cracked and broke as deep wounds appeared all over his body with small traces of Gluttony. The small traces burned the wounds, making the Herald grunt in pain. If only Aether lit his sword, then the Herald would have died with just that, but Aether didn't want to give the Herald a quick death.

He wanted him to suffer.

Raising his hands, Aether chained one of the Herald's arms to the ground using Pride. The chain slowly burned the Herald's arm as it also started to wrap itself around the arm even more. Unable to bear the pain, the Herald cut off the arm that was chained. However, the flame jumped to the wound on his arm just before he could get away, giving the Herald an even more unbearable pain.

"Is it painful? So painful that you want to die?" Aether's voice was cold and piercing.

The Herald slowly looked up at the god in front of him. He knew that he messed up now. This particular god, that looked much like His Highness, is someone that breaks all the laws of this world. Trying to escape, the Herald tried making an Abyss portal, only for the energy that he gathered to be eaten by the golden flames on his other arm. It wasn't just that, the Herald started feeling weak as his life force was being drained slowly by the golden flames.

Aether, getting fed up with the silence, teleported in front of the Abyss Herald. He thrusted his blade into the Herald's abdomen at blinding speed, making the Herald grunt in pain. It got even more painful as the blade started lighting up and also started emitting black flames.

"AGGHH!!!"

It was agonizing for the Abyss Herald. Aether didn't even care at how much pain the monster in front of him was experiencing. He deserved it in his eyes. He twisted the blade that was embedded into the Herald's abdomen, much to the Herald's dismay. The Herald tried slashing at Aether, only for the Hydro blade to go through Aether as he turned into black flames and teleported away.

The Herald sent a slash of Hydro towards Aether, only for it to be blocked by a Geo shield. The Hydro blade also got absorbed by the golden flame.

'Just how many defensive moves does this bastard have!?'

Aether had a total of three defensive moves. The first was the Geo shield to block attacks and knock enemies back. Second was him turning into black or golden flames to dodge any attacks that got too close to him. And lastly was the third form, which he made so that he can counter any moves. You can say that he is ready in any scenario.

"Out of tricks already?" Aether sounded unamused. "If so, then I'll just kill you."

He closed his hand once more and the golden flame on the Herald's arm wound and the small embers of black flames on the Herald's whole body started to rapidly expand. In just a few seconds, the Abyss Herald was completely covered in golden flames. The Herald tried to lessen the damage by surrounding himself with Hydro, but before he could even wrap a single part of his body, the golden flames absorbed all the Hydro energy. All of it except the Hydro legs of the Herald. If Aether was going to make him suffer, he'd want to see it.

Not just that, he started getting even weaker at a faster rate. This was truly a painful death. One that the Herald had not imagined he would experience. Aether walked forward slowly as both of his eyes narrowed, this was the end.

With a glowing Desire on his hand, Aether dashed to the Abyss Herald, performing the second form all the while. At this exact moment, Lumine had arrived with the captain. Aether passed through the Abyss Herald once more, black flames coming out of his sword as he slashed at blinding speeds. Seeing this, Lumine and the captain thought that he might have missed. They thought that the strike might have been a fluke, but it wasn't.

They knew that the slashes, even though it looked like he only swung his sword one time, hit the Herald as blood splattered everywhere. The Abyss Herald got cut into pieces that were burning in both black and golden flames.

The skies returned to normal as Aether looked at Lumine, already being aware of her presence. As well as the presence of the captain. The two women looked at Aether with eyes of both surprise and a tint of fear. Of course they would have some. After all, Aether just killed someone by literally chopping them to pieces. Monster or not, that's still a horrifying way to go. The blood didn't even have time to spread as the black and golden flames evaporated them.

"Ah, sorry you had to see that." Aether slowly walked towards the two women. His eyes still had the golden cracks and the slit for a pupil, it seems it will stay for quite a while. Not just that, his eyes were still dull and lifeless. However, his eyes didn't convey what was happening inside.

—-

"Aether… what was that…?" Lumine asked, her voice shaking.

"An Abyss Herald." I sighed and looked around. I can't look at her directly, not after she saw me like that.

In the distance, I saw some Qingxin. I should pick some as a gift for Ganyu. Ah, I really want to hold her and the others right now. I want to make sure they're safe. My heart won't stop beating rapidly. My hands are shaking. Ever since the Herald threatened my wife and unborn child, I've been having this feeling deep in my heart. I was afraid that something might happen to them. I'm afraid that Havria, Ganyu, and all of my loved ones were in danger.

I know that they aren't, but I just can't shake off this feeling. I want to be there for them. I sighed and looked at the woman beside Lumine. I already knew who she was. I didn't know her personally, but I've seen articles and heard stories about her.

"Greetings, Captain Beidou*."

"Oh? Y-you know me…?" said the woman, her voice shaking a bit.

She was around the same height as Ningguang with a fair skin tone. Her hair was a color of dark brown and reached all the way to her waist. Her hair was tied up on the top with an intricate golden hairpin that had a pale blue tassel on it. She had fringes around her right eye, which slightly covered her left. Her right eye was a beautiful deep ruby that melted into a golden hue. Her left eye was covered by a red eyepatch.

If I was in my normal state and not this hate filled state, I would have been struggling at where to look. Her outfit was that of a leotard that was underneath her bright red sleeveless qipao dress. It had side slits going up to her hip and an opening at her chest area.

"Yes, I do." I replied back. I should pick out those Qingxin first before I forget. "Excuse me for a bit, I need to get something."

They both nodded and I flew to the Qingxin in a blink of an eye. I saw some more so I flew there and went to get it as well. I zoomed around the place, leaving golden trails, and stopped when I had a handful. I returned to Lumine and Beidou*. Both women should have calmed down from the sight earlier by now.

"So, who exactly are you kiddo? I know the Traveler here, but I haven't seen you in Liyue before."

"You could say that I'm her brother."

Beidou's* visible eye widened and she looked between Lumine and me immediately. She then laughed as she said that she saw the striking similarities. She asked us what we were doing there and Lumine said that she brought me along for help. Come to think of it, did Lumine run to her for help? Or did she just run into her? Whatever the reason is, it's nice to finally meet Beidou* in the flesh. Even though this particular one isn't exactly from my world.

—

When we returned back to the inn, I immediately went to my room and laid in bed beside Havria. She was reading a book when I came to the room, but when she saw how I looked, she immediately dropped her book and ran towards me. She kept asking me if I was okay and I just kept telling her that I was and I was just a bit tired. That fight was mentally taxing after all.

"You know, Ganyu will scold you if she sees those cracks on your eye."

"Ahaha, yeah…" flashes of Ganyu scolding me flashed through my mind. I feel a shiver go down my spine.

"Fufu, a powerful god afraid of his wives?"

"Any sane married man would be afraid, you know?" At least the ones I've met before.

I was lying my head on Havria's lap as she caressed my head. It's warm and it's soothing. My heart rate has been slowing down from it's rapid rate earlier. My hands no longer shook as much. All because I know they're safe and well. My wife and child are here beside me.