Chapter 39: Delving into Stormterror's Lair

"What an unstraightforward person, don't you think, Void Archives?" Yun Fan shook his head, amused, as he spoke to the Void Archives in his mind.

Void Archives: '...'

"By the way, Void Archives, will using Honkai energy in Teyvat really attract the Honkai?" This was what Yun Fan truly cared about and wanted to ask the Void Archives.

No. You can think of the Honkai as a disaster that suppresses the development of human civilization. Teyvat's civilization is already suppressed by the Heavenly Principles. Even after a thousand years of development, it would not reach a level where the Honkai would take notice. Simply using Honkai energy will not attract the Honkai.

"That's a relief," Yun Fan sighed. If beings like Herrschers appeared in this world, it would be a disaster for the entire continent, and no one would be spared.

With that matter settled, Yun Fan used a few quick teleportations to head back to Stormterror's Lair. From a distance, he could see that another seal on the tower had been broken. Diluc and the others were quite efficient—it had only been half an hour, and they had already solved one Light Guide Mechanism.

After returning to the tower, Yun Fan, feeling bored, jumped to the top of the spire and sat down cross-legged.

At that moment, he seemed to hear a game notification sound: Achievement Unlocked: Remains of the Storm.

"Is that Yun Fan on the spire? What's he doing up there?"

Lumine, who had just defeated a Slime, looked in the direction Paimon was pointing. Indeed, she could see a faint figure sitting on the distant spire, though she couldn't tell who it was.

How could Paimon tell it was Yun Fan? Did emergency food have such good eyesight?

"Be gone with the wind!" Elemental Burst—Gust Surge!

Lumine summoned a tornado, sweeping up the nearby Hilichurls and Slimes. Sand and gravel spun at high speeds, cutting into the monsters' skin. Blood splattered as screams echoed, signaling the monsters' demise.

"That should do it," Lumine said as she restored the Light Guide Mechanism. A faint blue light flashed, and another seal on the distant tower shattered.

"Since the Traveler has broken the seal, let's head back."

"Yun Fan, we're back! Come down!"

Yun Fan, who had been dozing off on the spire, perked up and flipped down, startling Paimon, who had been calling him.

"Hey, don't you know you can scare people to death?!" Paimon stomped her foot angrily.

"Haha, my bad," Yun Fan apologized. Perhaps due to the Jing Yuan character card, Yun Fan seemed to have inherited his lazy demeanor. Nowadays, he only put in effort for things that interested him.

"Now that everyone's back, let's move on to the final chapter of the ballad of poetry and dragons!" Yun Fan declared with enthusiasm.

Venti: ???

Wasn't that supposed to be my line?!

Seeing Venti's incredulous look, Yun Fan reached up to adjust his hair and made a gesture Venti often used: "Ehe!"

Venti: "6"

"Mr. Yun Fan is really something..." Jean chuckled and shook her head. The tension before the battle was eased by this little interlude. The Divine Lord Yun Fan and the Anemo Archon Barbatos—these two were truly approachable gods.

"Not all gods are as friendly as them," Diluc added.

Hearing Diluc's words, Lumine thought of the silver-haired woman again, her fists tightening slightly. Sustainer of Heavenly Principles, I will defeat you and save my brother!

"Barbatos, it's you again!" A roar echoed, sending shockwaves that forced Jean and the others to step back. Yun Fan, however, stood firm, calmly saying,

"Venti, no need for words. Just fight. Beating him awake is the best way." Yun Fan waved his hand, and the Star of Eden appeared behind him, its dark barrel aimed at Dvalin.

"That aura—it was you!" Dvalin's dragon eyes widened as he sensed the familiar, heart-palpitating energy from the cannon.

"Barbatos, I won't be easily hunted by you!"

Dvalin roared, his massive claws tearing through the air with a sharp whistling sound, aiming straight for Venti. Just as the claws were about to strike, Viti rolled away, escaping the attack range.

"Hey, hey, hey! It was Yun Fan who attacked you back then. Why are you coming after me now?!" Venti complained.

"Looks like Dvalin's grudge against you isn't new. You're quite the failure as a god," Yun Fan laughed.

"Barbatos!"

Another claw swipe came, forcing Venti to swallow his words and continue dodging.

"Wow, look at that. Truly the Anemo Archon Barbatos. Such agility," Yun Fan said with a smile as he dodged the shockwaves.

Venti's face darkened. What was this? I hired you—no, I gave you my Gnosis—to help, not to mock me!

"Uh, Yun Fan's personality is really... unique?" Paimon peeked out from behind Lumine, listening to Yun Fan's taunts, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"Indeed," Lumine didn't argue. Yun Fan was acting differently than usual—more... lively?

"Will you just keep running like a rat?!" Frustrated that his attacks weren't landing, an enraged Dvalin flapped his wings and took to the air. After a quick turn, he dove toward the platform where everyone stood.

"Watch out!" Venti strummed his lyre, summoning a gust of wind that carried everyone to an adjacent platform. Just as they left, the platform behind them was shattered in a loud crash.

"We'd have died if we got hit, right? We'd definitely have died!" Paimon looked at the rubble with lingering fear. At that height, even if they weren't crushed, they'd have fallen to their deaths.

"Judgment is upon you!" Diluc raised his Favonius Greatsword and unleashed his Elemental Burst—Dawn. A massive phoenix of fire spread its wings and charged at Dvalin, who was still unsteady from the impact.

However, reality was harsh.

The fiery phoenix didn't deal much damage to Dvalin. Instead, the burning pain only enraged him further.