The Fatui Skirmishers' gazes were as sharp as blades, their coldness pressing down like invisible steel.
Though night had fallen, the street air felt suffocating—like the calm before a storm.
One male elite tilted his head slightly, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes before he spoke, his voice low and cutting.
"You're Kairo, right? We need to have a word."
Kairo: "…"
How arrogant.
Yes—this was exactly the kind of attitude he expected from Fatui.
He glanced at the familiar choice panel still hovering faintly before him, then raised an eyebrow and asked in a calm tone,
"What does Fatui want with me?"
"We're inviting you to join us."
The man's tone was icy, brimming with dominance, as if he were issuing a command rather than an offer.
"Join the Fatui, and Her Majesty will grant you what you desire — wealth, influence, power beyond mortal reach. Whatever you want, we can grant it."
Kairo: "..."
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully
The Fatui were known for expanding their influence and recruiting talented individuals—
but in Mondstadt? That was… unexpected.
"Well?"
The man spoke again, his patience clearly thinning.
Kairo gave a soft chuckle, his voice laced with irony.
"Anything I want? Does that include a Gnosis?"
The question hit like lightning — even Fatui Harbingers wouldn't speak of the Seven's Gnosis so casually.
The air instantly froze.
Several of the Fatui elites stiffened, expressions flickering between disbelief and mockery.
The leader, standing at the front, sneered coldly.
"You? A mortal dares covet what even nations wage wars for?"
"If you prove yourself useful, we might reward you with a Vision," he said, the corner of his mouth curling. "Assuming, of course, you earn enough merit first."
"A Vision?" Kairo's expression turned faintly amused. "Don't you Fatui use Delusions, not Visions?"
Even uttering that forbidden word was enough to draw blood in the ranks — the Tsaritsa's secrets were not for outsiders to name.
That struck a nerve.
The man's eyes narrowed dangerously.
Few outside knew of the Delusions—those artificial, corrupt mockeries of Visions that the Fatui bestowed on their soldiers. Even within Mondstadt, the Knights of Favonius made sure to suppress the rumors.
And yet, this boy—this thirty-year-old—not only knew of them, but spoke the word so casually.
Interesting.
The leader's gaze sharpened like drawn steel, his voice now laced with menace.
"So, you even know about Delusions, do you? Then tell me—what is your choice?"
"No one refuses a Fatui invitation. Are you trying to challenge us?"
Kairo: "..."
The faint smile faded from his face.
"Challenge your authority?" he said evenly. "I haven't felt any authority from you. But your so-called 'invitation'—now that is laughable."
"So you're refusing?"
The Fatui elite's expression darkened, his tone dropping to a dangerous chill.
"Do you really think you can walk away after this? Join us, and you gain limitless resources and power. Refuse us… and you'll die a lonely fugitive."
"Fugitive, huh?" Kairo's voice was quiet, almost amused. "You're welcome to try."
—Shing!—
The moment he finished speaking, Kairo acted without hesitation.
He channeled his Path — the Crimson Echo of Destruction — into the blade, igniting its edge with the same ruinous frequency he once felt in Belobog's undercity.
In an instant, that destructive force surged through his sword.
Earlier that day, he had purchased a new one from the Adventurers' Guild—stronger, more stable. This time, it wouldn't shatter under the strain.
"Wummm—"
A resonant hum filled the street.
The sword erupted with an overwhelming aura.
Brilliant light rippled across the blade as violent energy surged along its edge, warping the air.
The destructive power within it reached its peak—
the atmosphere thickened, the space itself trembling as if about to tear apart.
The Fatui elites' faces changed instantly.
The man in front—the leader—went cold all over, eyes narrowing with a sudden flicker of fear.
"You dare draw your sword?"
But Kairo had no intention of stopping.
"Shing!"
Without a hint of warning, the blade sliced forward—
a streak of light so fast it seemed to split the night itself.
The slash cleaved through the air, and before one of the Fatui could even react, it struck.
The slash cut through his defenses like air — armor shattered, his body collapsing in a burst of elemental backlash as his Delusion core imploded.
The metallic tang of blood filled the air.
For a heartbeat, the world went still.
Then—
The remaining Fatui elites froze in horror.
Shock and fury twisted their faces.
The leader stood there, momentarily dumbstruck, before roaring,
"W–what kind of sword is that?!"
"Is it… a resonance weapon?! Some kind of divine construct?!"
His voice trembled. He had never imagined that a single sword strike could carry such terrifying power.
The other elites were equally shaken, glancing between each other in disbelief before gripping their weapons tightly.
They had gravely underestimated him.
And now, they were paying the price.
"Capture him!" the leader barked. "No Vision—no matter! A mere brat with a toy sword can still be crushed!"
Rage flared in his eyes as he lunged, twin claws flashing with lethal intent.
The others followed, surrounding Kairo in a deadly circle.
But Kairo only smiled coldly.
His figure blurred—
…and in the next instant he was gone from where he stood.
A flash of steel tore through the darkness once more.
Every swing of his blade carried devastating force, the air itself screaming as it split apart.
The Fatui elites faltered.
Their movements were quick—but his were quicker.
Each strike they launched met empty air — his movements blurred like flickers of light.
The leader's claws tore only afterimages, his attacks scattering harmless sparks against invisible force ripples.
He could only dodge—barely—terrified of what would happen if that radiant blade so much as grazed him.
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