All of Windrise, and even Whispering Woods, were now enveloped by a raging thunderstorm.
Lightning rained down from the skies.
Creatures in the area, shaken by the sheer power of the storm, began to mutate.
Slimes that were once harmless transformed into Electro Slimes, summoning bolts of lightning to attack intruders.
Wild boars grew strange purple markings. Electricity crackled along their tusks, their eyes ferocious.
Even frail Hilichurls suddenly had purple currents coursing down their legs, letting them sprint like lightning.
Abyss Mages, long in hiding, were drawn out by the chaos.
…
"Oz, I think I hear thunder."
"Yes, my lady, I hear it too."
"Is it going to rain?"
"With thunder like this, it's likely to be a storm. We should leave and find shelter."
Fischl hesitated.
If it started pouring, any traces they hadn't yet found would be washed away.
But there was nothing more she could do. She'd searched for so long and found no clues at all.
It was like the three people she'd seen enter the woods had vanished into thin air.
Something was wrong.
Fischl might be chuuni, but she wasn't stupid.
She decided to leave for now.
After struggling back to the edge of the forest—
Just as she let out a breath of relief, she witnessed something utterly unbelievable.
A massive flock of violet birds swept across the sky, like a living storm, flying toward Mondstadt.
Oz sounded stunned. "That's… how could there be..."
Before he could finish, Fischl felt the ground tremble faintly beneath her.
Turning her head, she saw a gigantic Hilichurl.
Like a moving titan, its massive frame brimmed with condensed Electro energy. Electro Crystals even jutted from the gaps in its body. It was moving steadily in her direction.
Even at a distance, its overwhelming aura made it hard for Fischl to breathe.
"What... what is that monster...?"
Oz had already regained his composure. "My lady, I believe that's a Thunderhelm Lawachurl."
"Thunderhelm Lawachurl?"
"Yes. A terrifying, immensely powerful monster. I don't know why it's in Mondstadt, but we absolutely cannot defeat it."
"Hmph, I— I am the Prinzessin—"
"My lady! Don't be reckless! It's an Electro creature—it has high resistance to Electro damage. As a Vision bearer of the same element, you won't stand a chance! Do not provoke it!"
"…"
"It's seen us."
"…"
"It's coming this way. I'll distract it—run to Mondstadt!"
"Oz! Don't—!"
"My lady, run!"
For the first time, Oz didn't follow her orders. He launched himself like an arrow straight at the massive Hilichurl.
Fischl froze.
Then clenched her teeth and ran toward Mondstadt.
But after a few steps, she couldn't help turning around—just in time to see Oz swatted aside by the Thunderhelm Lawachurl and hurled into the woods, vanishing from view.
Oz...
Her mind went blank. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the ground.
Why...
Why was this happening?
She just wanted to come out and look around—how did it turn into this?
Why... why was her luck so awful?
Oz's words from yesterday suddenly echoed in her heart.
"My lady, have you ever heard the saying..."
"Saying?"
"That if you experience a streak of good fortune during misfortune, it might not mean your luck is turning, but that the misfortunes were merely delayed."
"And then?"
"And all those little setbacks might pile up and become one massive, terrifying calamity."
Fischl sat dazed, muttering, "A massive, terrifying calamity… Oz was right… I should've believed him… It's my fault… I got him killed…"
The giant Thunderhelm Lawachurl loomed closer.
Fischl forced herself to her feet and ran again.
Thunder rumbled in the sky.
Heavy rain began to fall, soaking her face.
Her vision blurred.
One eye just wasn't enough.
She reached up and tore off her favorite eyepatch, flinging it aside without hesitation, and kept running.
But she was still just a physically weak girl.
After running so far in the rain and mud, she was gasping for air and utterly exhausted.
She couldn't go on.
But she couldn't stop either.
Or else Oz would've died for nothing...
Her foot slipped, and she fell into the mud.
Even the autograph book she'd kept in her arms fell out, getting soaked through. The beautiful signature dissolved into nothing.
She glanced at the ruined book, but didn't stop. She climbed to her feet and kept running.
But the ground was trembling more and more.
The monster was closing in.
She couldn't outrun it.
Fischl turned around, staring at the approaching behemoth, despair in her eyes.
So this was the end.
Maybe... she'd get to be with Oz...
Panting, she shouted with defiance, "I am the Prinzessin der Verurteilung...!"
After yelling, she felt a strange sense of peace. Sitting back on the ground, she closed her eyes.
I wish... I could hear that beautiful music one more time...
--
Xia Zhi withdrew his hand.
Though it had been a hassle, the process was finally complete.
All that was left now was to wait for his cousin to awaken.
Looking down, he realized the multiple lightning strikes had left his clothes in tatters.
That Xia Ci probably took pictures of him again.
Just as he was about to change, he felt something strange stir in his chest.
A sensation just like Cloud Retainer's dream-summon from this morning.
He could clearly sense that a devout believer was calling out to him nearby.
A devout believer...
Could it be that girl who wanted his autograph?
----
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