"Sustainer, what did you come here for?"
Even though Venti wasn't fully sure the white-haired girl before him was the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles, he still addressed her that way.
He figured he'd been slacking so long that he might not recognize her immediately anymore. After all, the Seven needed to perform their duties to maintain their divinity.
And the Heavenly Principles held secrets far beyond the reach of the Archons.
"Heh. Barbatos, looking at you now… you're hardly better than those weak mortals. How disappointing."
Su Mo neither admitted nor denied the title.
He wasn't sure whether Venti could contact Celestia directly.
So it was safer to keep his stance vague.
If he denied it outright, Venti might actually try asking the real Sustainer what was going on—and then the whole act would be exposed.
Of course, being vague had its risks too.
But Su Mo figured… this was still the better option.
"But what does it matter?" Venti replied calmly. "The Archon War is over. As for the other war… that's your business. And I doubt you expect me to help you."
He could tell Su Mo hadn't come just to reminisce.
Celestia never acted without a purpose.
"Amazing, you even know your own limits. If the others were like you… hm, forget it. Enough talking—fight me. Don't worry, it's just a light spar. Neither you nor Mondstadt will be harmed."
Since the main target finally appeared, Su Mo didn't want to drag this out.
He needed to finish the mission quickly.
What does she want…?
Whatever it is, I probably don't have a choice.
Venti heard the threat hidden in the final sentence.
If he refused, Mondstadt might become another Khaenri'ah.
But Sustainer also claimed no harm would come from a simple spar.
So he would accept—on that condition.
"Since it is the request of the Heavenly Principles… I'll accompany you."
He summoned his bow, glancing nervously toward the city gate.
"But must we fight here? Wouldn't that—"
"No need to worry. I know what I'm doing. Begin."
———————————————
"Is that really Lord Barbatos…?"
After retreating toward the city gate, Jean stared into the distance, unable to believe what she was seeing.
It had been a thousand years since the Archon last appeared.
She never imagined she would witness his descent in her lifetime.
"I think so," Kaeya said. "I didn't even see how he appeared—that alone tells me he's the real deal. Right, Diluc?"
"I think you should be paying attention to the white-haired girl instead. Her abilities are extremely—"
"They're fighting!"
Kaeya cut him off, and Diluc immediately turned back to the field.
Shoo-shoo-shoo—
The moment Su Mo spoke, Venti loosed several golden, wind-charged arrows—each slicing through the air with a sharp whistle.
Su Mo didn't dodge.
He simply opened portals and sent them all into the Imaginary Space.
Behind him—
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Just as his attacks vanished into the strange circles, Venti sensed danger behind him and instantly raised a wall of wind.
In the shimmering barrier, he clearly saw his own arrows reappear.
Spatial ability… returns ranged attacks?
Then…
I'll have to rely on the wind itself.
He quickly recalculated. Ranged attacks were pointless if they could be redirected.
But Venti was the Anemo Archon—controlling the wind was far more than shooting arrows.
Wind… answer my call.
A violent gale exploded outward.
Multiple tornadoes formed around them, racing toward Su Mo.
Dozens—hundreds—of condensed wind blades slashed at her from every direction.
This is the Anemo Archon, huh? Not bad.
Su Mo watched the storm grow, then wrapped himself in a full Imaginary Barrier.
Clang—clang—clang—
The tornadoes howled, the wind blades struck like rainstorms, but Su Mo stood unmoving inside the barrier.
He wanted to see what else the Anemo Archon could do.
…
"He really is the Anemo Archon… but I don't think he can win. Mondstadt might…"
Kaeya's heart was already sinking.
"It's not over yet. We have to believe in Lord Barbatos," Jean insisted.
There is no way he can win…
Diluc stayed silent.
The wind was everywhere—but none of it could breach her defense.
There was simply no path to victory.
What now, Lord Barbatos?
If this were a tournament, Diluc would have left already.
A fight with such an overwhelming gap held no entertainment value.
…
Hah… she's not giving me even a little face. Am I some kind of test subject to her?
Seeing Sustainer completely ignore his storm, Venti let out a helpless laugh.
He knew he couldn't defeat her—but he had to try.
Huh? Her shield… leaks wind?
Venti suddenly noticed the white-haired girl's hair and clothes fluttering violently inside the barrier.
An idea struck him.
"Time to stir things up~"
He drew his bow and fired a single arrow—overflowing with Anemo energy.
"You should know that won't—hmm?"
Su Mo was about to open another portal when he suddenly sensed countless blade-winds swirling around him—somehow slipping through the barrier.
Even tornadoes breached through, whipping toward him.
He reacted quickly and shifted through space, narrowly escaping the sudden storm inside his own shield.
As expected… I can't land a solid hit.
Seeing Su Mo disappear, Venti stayed on guard, scanning his surroundings.
"It ends here, Barbatos—hm?"
ROAR—!
Just as Su Mo reappeared to finish the fight, a deafening roar shook the skies.
Venti's eyes widened.
Dvalin? Why is he here?
High above, a massive dragon silhouette flew toward them.
"A helper? Perfect. I have one too."
Su Mo's eyes lit up, already picturing a grand clash of titans.
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