"No way? There are too many Hilichurls here!"
"This place is basically a Hilichurl nest!"
No wonder Jean and Diluc looked so grave earlier.
The thing they were looking for was actually inside here?
Lumine's expression became serious.
It was Kael's first time here too. Standing on the high ground, he looked down at the scene before him.
A massive Hilichurl settlement was spread across the valley.
Stretching along the natural stone steps, various types of Hilichurls wandered in groups of three or five—patrolling, hunting, dancing around bonfires...
Deeper in, a huge tribal structure towered in the center of the valley. Its outer walls were covered with beast bones and bloodstained banners, looking like their main stronghold.
Lumine frowned. "Are we really going in? With so many Hilichurls, it'll be hard not to alert them."
"If we get surrounded, it will be difficult."
"Yes. Whether it's the archers or the ones capable of elemental magic, there are too many."
Jean looked solemn, scanning the tribe. "If Dvalin's Tear is really here, we have no choice."
"But... rushing in rashly might lead to being besieged by the entire tribe."
"Moreover..."
Diluc's voice was low and calm, his gaze resting on a certain corner.
There were dozens of figures much larger than ordinary Hilichurls.
Holding giant axes, clad in beast skin armor, carrying a threatening oppressiveness.
"The number of Mitachurls here is much higher than in other places. I'm afraid there are even stronger guys hiding inside."
"Solving them isn't the problem. The main issue is the risk of being surrounded."
"A moment of carelessness could lead to injury."
"Once injured, it becomes troublesome."
Diluc was mainly worried about being besieged.
With Pyro Shooters firing cold arrows or Samachurls releasing elemental attacks, it was still dangerous.
One-on-one, he had nothing to worry about.
"Sigh."
Paimon scratched her head in distress. "Yeah, these aren't ordinary Hilichurls. Samachurls, Mitachurls, even those high-level elemental Hilichurls... almost every type seen in Mondstadt is here! How do we get in?"
"The key is that they appear in clusters."
A moment of carelessness would mean facing the disaster of a Hilichurl siege.
The scale of the tribe in Dadaupa Gorge was huge. If they broke in directly, it would likely cause a riot in the entire tribe.
Even with Jean and Diluc there, escaping wouldn't be easy.
"Right, Kael."
Beside them.
Lumine suddenly thought of the Invisibility Kael used before. Her eyes lit up, and she looked at Kael quickly. "Can you use the method from last night? No one could see you then."
Last night, when Kael went to steal the Holy Lyre.
He could turn invisible.
If Kael could sneak in invisible, he could definitely grab that Dragon Tear quickly.
Lumine's words instantly attracted Jean and Diluc's attention.
Method from last night?
What method?
No one could see him?
"I can use it."
Regarding Lumine's words, Kael pinched his chin, pondering. "Worth a try."
Although Seele's Path Skill [Phantom] allowed invisibility, it was only for 20 seconds.
After 20 seconds, he would be forced to appear.
Then in the next second, he could enter invisibility again.
He also had Sampo's Path Skill. The moment he appeared, he could Blind those Hilichurls, and he could use that chance to turn invisible again.
Cycling like this, combined with the position scanned by the Bio-wave Probe, he could do it.
"Okay!"
Hearing Kael's words, Lumine looked happy.
Sure enough, having Kael along was really convenient!
She decided. After this matter was resolved, she must drag Kael to travel with her!
Thinking of this, Lumine clenched her fist.
Must tie Kael to my side!
While Lumine was thinking this, Kael had already completely hidden his figure from everyone's sight.
"???!"
Seeing Kael vanish into thin air, Jean's pupils contracted violently.
Diluc frowned, his gaze sinking, fingers tightening slightly, seeming a bit incredulous.
How can a living person disappear on the spot?
Even if his speed is fast, how can there be no elemental power?
Paimon opened her mouth exaggeratedly wide, hugging Lumine's arm directly. "Where is Kael?! Why did he suddenly disappear?"
Paimon didn't act with Lumine and Kael last night.
She only waited outside the Cathedral.
Naturally, she didn't know about Kael's invisibility.
Jean subconsciously released Anemo power, trying to sense Kael's existence.
However, she found that whether it was elemental perception or visual tracking, Kael seemed to have completely vanished into the air!
As if the person Kael never existed in this world.
"What ability is this? Is it some application of Anemo? or a special ability of a Vision?"
Jean was shocked.
"He doesn't even have a Vision. How can he disappear so suddenly?"
"Is it the ability that gave us speed before?"
Diluc narrowed his eyes, falling into thought.
This disappearing into thin air is too eerie.
Not even a trace of aura can be detected.
Everyone looked at the Hilichurl gathering in Dadaupa Gorge below in unison—
What entered their eyes was a peaceful Hilichurl tribe. Everything was as usual, without any abnormality.
No unusual movement, no disturbance, no traces of battle.
However, in Jean's heart, this tranquility revealed a trace of extreme weirdness—
Where is Kael?
Where did he go?
Didn't he go down already?
Why is there no movement?
Time passed bit by bit.
Ten seconds, fifteen seconds, twenty seconds—
Suddenly!
In front of Jean and Diluc's eyes, Kael's figure suddenly appeared in the middle of Dadaupa Gorge, as if teleporting out of thin air!
"What?!"
Jean's pupils contracted abruptly.
More than that.
The moment Kael appeared, the Hilichurls below suddenly saw Kael's existence and instantly erupted in deafening roars—
"Gwah Gwah!"
"Loka! Orah—!"
"Mosi..."
Countless Hilichurls shouldered their weapons, surrounding Kael angrily, however—
FLASH!
Accompanied by a sudden burst of bright white light, blinding brilliance swept the entire Hilichurl tribe.
The white glow was like the scorching sun in the sky, illuminating everything within sight into a blazing white!
"Waaah!"
Paimon was dazzled by this sudden bright light, unable to open her eyes, rubbing them repeatedly.
And the Hilichurls covered by the white light screamed instantly—
"Ugwah—!"
"Ugwah gah—!"
They covered their eyes with their hands, stumbling and falling in place, losing their sense of direction one by one, turning into a mess.
And right at this moment, Kael's figure disappeared from everyone's sight again!
"G-Gone again?!"
The shock in Jean's heart was beyond words.
Diluc's gaze was incomparably deep. He stared dead at the chaotic situation below, fingers tightening slightly, brows locked tight.
"This is definitely not elemental power."
"Invisibility?"
"That's not right either."
Various guesses surfaced in Diluc's mind.
Meanwhile, Kael, in the invisible state, had already followed the guidance of the Bio-wave Probe, shuttling through the chaotic Hilichurl camp.
The surrounding Hilichurls were blinded and fell into chaos, completely unable to detect his existence.
Soon, he arrived at the target location.
Leaning down and reaching out, a red-black crystal lay quietly in the corner of the ruins, shimmering with dim light.
"Found it."
Kael smiled slightly, putting it away smoothly.
And after he put away Stormterror's Tear, he retreated without dragging his feet, returning to the cliff outside the Hilichurl tribe at extremely fast speed.
But in the eyes of Jean and Diluc.
What they saw was Kael disappearing into thin air among the Hilichurls.
Then appearing.
Then disappearing again the next second.
Cycling like this.
Soon, Kael appeared strangely on the cliff from the Dadaupa Gorge below!
"...!!"
Looking at the appearing Kael, Jean took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
But her eyes were filled with incredible expressions.
What kind of method is this?
Like entering an uninhabited land.
As the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, she was knowledgeable.
But she swore she had never seen such a weird ability.
Diluc didn't speak. He just stared at Kael, brows tight, seeming to be thinking about something.
"Done."
At this time, Kael didn't mean to explain. Instead, he smiled and threw the Dragon Tear Crystal in his hand to Lumine.
"Kael, you are so amazing."
Seeing this scene, Paimon flew to Kael with an excited face. "Solved it so easily, hehe!"
"In that case, we only have Dawn Winery left."
Jean spoke softly.
This journey was unbelievably smooth, making even her feel surprised.
"Right, head to Dawn Winery and meet up with Venti!"
Paimon rubbed her hands excitedly, face full of expectation.
Immediately, the group set off decisively.
Because the journey was smooth, even Jean was in a somewhat pleasant mood.
Under the mobilization of Jean's Anemo power and Kael's Path buff, everyone's speed was even faster than when they came.
Time passed bit by bit.
Jean and the others followed the road and saw the vast vineyards of Dawn Winery.
It was afternoon now.
The afternoon sun shone among the emerald vines, and the air was filled with a faint scent of grapes.
"It's the smell of grapes."
Paimon, flying in the air, sniffed her nose, full of excitement.
Dawn Winery grew so many grapes here.
It was beyond her expectations.
BOOM—!
Just then, a deafening explosion suddenly came from the distance.
This sound startled everyone.
Jean's brow furrowed instantly, her sharp gaze looking toward the direction of the explosion...
And Diluc's expression instantly darkened a few points.
Someone fighting near Dawn Winery?
Causing destruction?
You know, this is all his property.
However, in the next second, everyone saw a familiar small figure.
Carrying a huge backpack, running while waving at them, a bright smile on her face—
"Big Brother Kael!! Master Jean!! Why are you here?!"
"Klee?!"
Seeing Klee, Diluc looked surprised.
Why is this child here?
Dawn Winery is not close to Mondstadt City.
Klee rarely runs here.
And Jean, whose face was already stern, darkened even more.
"Klee?! Why did you run here?!"
Jean put one hand on her hip, her tone strict.
Klee was not scared by Jean's tone. Instead, she ran toward Kael even more excitedly, her small face full of excitement.
The backpack on her back shook with her movements, making a dull metal collision sound.
Obviously, just listening to the sound, one knew there were undeclared bombs inside.
"Hehe... Klee came out to find bomb materials!"
Little Klee answered righteously, her eyes full of light. "Need Flaming Flower Stamens!"
"Flaming Flower Stamens?!"
Jean and Diluc's faces instantly became extremely strange.
The two looked at each other, eyelids twitching wildly.
"Klee, why do you think Flaming Flower Stamens can make bombs?!"
Diluc couldn't help but ask.
"Because they explode!"
Klee looked matter-of-fact, her small hands hugging her bomb backpack tightly. "Klee has been researching new Jumpy Dumpties for the past two days, wanting to try new materials. Flaming Flower flames are particularly beautiful, maybe they will explode farther!"
Hearing this, Jean's face completely turned black.
That thing... can research bombs?
Jean took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.
"You ran to Dawn Winery... just to find Flaming Flowers?!"
Jean's voice carried a trace of disbelief.
"Yeah!"
Klee blinked her innocent big eyes.
Everyone: "..."
Paimon quietly leaned into Lumine and Kael's ears, whispering, "Is this child really not here to drop bombs...?"
Kael's mouth also twitched slightly.
Are there still Flaming Flowers at Dawn Winery?
"Forget it, we have a mission to execute."
At this time, Jean tried to adjust her breathing, deciding not to argue with Klee for now, but asked, "Why did you run here alone? I remember instructing you to stay in the Knights' Headquarters?"
"Klee sneaked out to find bomb materials."
"But I couldn't find any along the way, so I unknowingly walked here."
Klee said in a small voice, her finger poking the hem of her clothes.
"Sure enough!"
Jean pinched her brow, feeling a headache. "Do you know it's dangerous outside right now?"
"Klee has Jumpy Dumpties for protection!"
Klee explained seriously.
Then she tilted her head and asked, "But Master Jean, why are you here? Are you going to perform a mission?"
Jean being here surprised Klee.
In her opinion, Jean always stayed at the Knights of Favonius.
She hadn't heard that Jean left Mondstadt City today.
She just thought Jean would be busy with the Fatui, so she ran out to find bomb materials.
Jean: "..."
Jean rubbed her brow and didn't speak.
Beside her, Paimon laughed "Hehe": "Grand Master Jean is acting quietly with us to save Stormterror."
As Paimon briefly explained the situation, Klee's eyes lit up instantly, jumping excitedly.
"Wah!! Saving Stormterror!"
"Klee wants to help too!"
Hearing this, Jean's alarm bells rang, and she hurriedly said, "No!"
"Why!"
Klee puffed out her cheeks, looking dissatisfied. "Klee is very strong!"
Jean held her forehead helplessly, but thinking carefully, letting Klee return to Mondstadt alone was indeed unsafe.
"Please."
Klee hurriedly ran to Kael, pulling Kael's sleeve, looking expectant. "Big Brother Kael, help Klee say a few words."
"Klee won't cause trouble."
Being able to see Kael, she was simply too happy!
Just when Klee looked at Kael expectantly...
In front of Kael, the virtual panel appeared.
Lines of text emerged.
[With your help, the Trailblazer successfully met Clara, and Clara led you to find Svarog.]
[But Svarog remained stubborn, and even judged everyone as the highest-level threat because the Trailblazer mentioned the Stellaron during the negotiation.]
[Clara's persuasion failed, and conflict broke out between the two sides.]
[With the help of you and Natasha, everyone successfully defeated Svarog.]
[Clara cried and begged you not to hurt Svarog, and asked Svarog to relax his attitude toward the Underworlders, letting everyone truly be like family.]
[Facing Clara's plea, you choose...]