"Dvalin, what are you doing here? This isn't where you should be!"
Venti hadn't expected Dvalin to show up at all—panic instantly rose in his voice.
If the opponent were anyone else, it wouldn't matter. The Stormterror crisis had long passed; the two had already fought side by side for Mondstadt many times.
But this time was different.
Their opponent was Sustainer—the being who overlooked all life from the heavens above.
And this wasn't even a life-or-death battle—just a "spar."
Venti didn't know what Sustainer truly intended, but he certainly didn't want Dvalin caught in the crossfire.
Dvalin's sudden arrival was completely outside his expectations.
One wrong move, and Sustainer might misunderstand.
That would be disastrous.
"Barbatos… your power is even weaker than before."
Dvalin ignored Venti's warning and descended behind him with a heavy thud, folding his enormous wings.
Regardless of Mondstadt, regardless of who the opponent was—
Barbatos was his old friend, and Dvalin would not simply stand by and watch.
"Sustainer, listen—"
"It's fine," Su Mo said lightly. "If a new friend wants to join our little game, all the better. Besides, I have a helper of my own."
Su Mo was completely unfazed by Dvalin's arrival.
In fact, he welcomed it.
Up until now, the entire fight had been one-sided domination.
It was getting boring.
A bit of chaos might make things interesting.
A helper like this…? Does Sustainer also have something similar to Dvalin?
Venti didn't know what Sustainer was planning next.
He could only watch, tense.
…
"That's… Dvalin? He's here to help Mon—no… he's here for Lord Barbatos…"
Jean looked up, hope flickering in her eyes.
She instinctively wanted to say Dvalin came to protect Mondstadt—but then the truth hit her, and her excitement dimmed.
The East Wind Dragon once protected Mondstadt.
But that was long ago.
With peace came neglect, and faith in the Four Winds faded.
Many had forgotten Dvalin entirely.
His bitterness had nearly consumed him.
So him appearing now—it could only be for Barbatos, not for Mondstadt.
Still… if it meant Mondstadt survived, she wouldn't complain.
Jean's expression softened just a bit.
"Well, that's true," Kaeya said, scratching his head. "But in a way, he is helping us. Actually… think we can use this chance—while Lord Barbatos is here—to reconcile with Dvalin? Maybe smooth things over?"
He could easily guess what Jean was thinking.
"Forget reconciliation for now," Diluc said coldly. "You should be worrying about whether Lord Barbatos and his companion can even win. If they can't, then none of this matters."
He hadn't expected Dvalin to appear, but the white-haired girl's reaction unsettled him.
She didn't flinch.
She didn't react.
She simply watched Dvalin arrive—as calmly as she had ignored his strongest attack earlier.
"Relax, Diluc," Kaeya said confidently. "With Lord Barbatos and Dvalin together, they can definitely—
What the—what IS that?"
ROAR—!
Before Kaeya could finish, another thunderous roar split the sky.
A massive circular sigil materialized above Su Mo, crackling with oppressive power.
From it emerged a colossal black-and-white wyvern—skin like metal, wings sharp like blades.
Slightly smaller than Dvalin, perhaps, but its presence was far heavier.
More brutal.
More overwhelming.
"The enemy… also has a companion…?"
Diluc's fists tightened.
Despair gripped his chest.
The white-haired girl's trump cards never ran out—one after another, infinite.
She had controlled the fight from beginning to end.
Venti seemed nearly exhausted earlier, and now even with Dvalin…
How were they supposed to fight this?
"How… how did it come to this…?"
Jean felt her brief hope collapse instantly.
"Kaeya, get Lisa and prepare the citizens for evacuation. If Lord Barbatos cannot hold out…"
"I understand, Acting Grand Master."
Jean didn't finish the sentence, but Kaeya understood perfectly.
If the Anemo Archon fell, Mondstadt was doomed.
…
"Bella. Go play with it. Have fun."
ROAR—!
At Su Mo's command, the steel-skinned beast behind him lifted its head and roared, preparing to charge straight toward Dvalin.
"Sustainer—wait!"
"Hm?"
"You said we were sparring. I agreed to that. But now you want to drag Dvalin into this too?"
"Well, our spar isn't over yet. Ah… so you fear I might hurt him?"
Su Mo smiled faintly.
"Very well. You can fight together. Bella won't disappoint me, will you?"
He reached out toward Bella's head.
ROAR—!
The creature immediately lowered its head so Su Mo could pet it— growling softly in devotion, eager to prove itself.
"Good," Su Mo said gently. "Accept the power I grant you. Go—defeat them."
Since Bella didn't have a pseudo-core, Su Mo crafted one on the spot—infusing it with lightning and regenerative power.
"What are you doing?" Venti demanded.
"It's simple," Su Mo said calmly. "You two fight together. I won't interfere.
Bella will defeat you."
"In that case…"
Venti inhaled deeply.
"Then we fight together, Dvalin!"
Whatever Sustainer intended, it didn't matter.
He would face it head-on.
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