As the only five-star character currently available to Aether, Xiao is undoubtedly the strongest among all the Genshin avatars.
After all, he's one of the Tier 1 three C's of Liyue.
Right now, Xiao wields a White Tassel Spear. Though technically only a three-star Genshin weapon, after being refined to Level 2, it gains a special effect that increases normal attack damage by 30%.
Add in the bonus critical rate, and...
Bang~
Between the gray-white rocky walls, the tattooed youth felt the force transmitted through the spear's handle and inwardly made some calculations.
Monsters with Potential Ability Lv.4... these demonic fiends... in terms of raw power, I can barely stand up to them now.
"Still..."
His gaze sharpened.
Ahead, among the three freshly hatched Spartoi, only one was engaged in battle with Xiao.
The ram darted around him rapidly, occasionally snapping its mouth, basically opening and closing the top skull and revealing jagged fangs for a tearing attack.
It was fast.
Much faster than Xiao's current, relatively low base stats.
Meanwhile...
The other two monsters at the side had quietly disappeared.
Xiao recalled the info from Aether (his real body):
'Spartoi' are skeletal monsters. Though weaker in strength compared to the 'earthborn' monsters from higher floors, they possess a sort of invisibility ability.
Since they lack flesh and blood, a ragged cloak-like layer of protective skin extends from the back of the skull, covering their necks.
Thanks to this 'skin,' Spartoi easily blends into dark surroundings, adopting stealthy, assassin-like behavior.
As mentioned before, the deeper the dungeon floor, the smarter the monsters.
At the 37th floor, Spartoi has battle experience.
They even retreat when sensing tough opponents, trailing for long periods patiently hunting for a one-hit kill.
Hence, adventurers call them Death Assassins.
Right now...
Thump thump~
A rapid drumming sound, like a racing heartbeat, echoed.
The two invisible Spartoi were about to enter Xiao's hostility detection range.
Immediately, they were marked with red arrows in his vision.
If Xiao focused slightly, he could even use his Elemental Vision to see their hidden forms.
Elemental Vision allows insight into energy flows.
Since arriving in this world, with the Genshin System fully integrated into his power structure, it upgraded to a kind of super-vision that could even perceive mana.
Thanks to this, the core weakness of dungeon monsters, their magic stones, became like guiding lights in the dark for Xiao, easy to spot.
With these advantages...
Whoosh~
Like falling petals, Xiao accelerated instantly using his Elemental Skill Windwheel Duality whenever he couldn't dodge the Spartoi' attacks.
Whether spinning to push back monsters or quickly retreating to keep distance from threats, it all worked perfectly.
Even better...
When 'Night Sky' arrives, I can unleash my mana without holding back.
No doubt, just like Fischl's ability to release a rapid barrage of thunder, Xiao had also developed new skills... well, not exactly new.
Even ignoring the mysterious celestial arts, Xiao himself had two abilities Aether considered very powerful and could quickly master.
First, a kind of immortal art allowing him to sense whenever someone calls out the name 'Xiao', he will always respond.
Second...
Xiao can teleport.
Not like Aether's Teleport Anchor Point, limited to his own space.
Xiao's flash step lets him move others too.
Back in Teyvat, this cool-yet-warm tattooed youth used this trick to save the old man who fell from the Jade Chamber, making players watch twitch like worms... cough.
In short, wielding the White Tassel Spear, Xiao could fight Spartoi.
And when using mana, his speed weakness disappears instantly.
Not to mention, he hasn't even used his health-draining Elemental Burst Bane of Evil yet.
Swish~ swish swish~
His tattered cloak fluttered as three Spartoi relentlessly attacked Xiao, whose level cap was too low.
Yet they still couldn't overcome this demon-slaying saint constrained by limited power.
Instead, he relied on practiced footwork and mastery of normal attack, swirling dust technique.
During the battle...
All these monsters moved on four legs, but that ragged cloak blocked their limb movements, making it hard to predict their next moves from limb angles.
And...
Shred~
With a sound like a torn rag, the cloak of the Spartoi closest to Xiao bulged in three places.
Something inside was trying to break out.
Xiao stayed calm.
He knew exactly what this meant.
Guild intel had been helpful.
Next moment...
Whoosh~
Three long, sharp spikes, almost like piercing stakes, burst from the Spartoi's body.
In a flash, Xiao spun his spear sideways, bracing the end on the ground and launching himself off.
The three spikes stabbed past his side, chest, and face.
Somewhat like a shield-and-spear charge in a cavalry formation.
In midair, Xiao, skilled in airborne mastery, used Windwheel Duality to retreat before the next attack.
Elemental Skill without stamina cost was indeed handy.
Only downside: a 10-second cooldown that slightly restricted him.
Still, he didn't need to dodge so carefully all the time.
At this point...
I'm pretty familiar with the deep dungeon monsters' strength.
From a safe distance, Xiao held his spear ready and slowly raised his left hand.
Looks like, just Spartoi, I don't need to wait for 'Night Sky' to fight them.
His eyes narrowed.
After losing a third of my health inside that giant serpent's belly, I have to end this fast.
As he spoke, a strange, sinister, black jade horned mask appeared before his handsome face.
Under the mask, his golden eyes gleamed with chilling killing intent.
At this moment, all three Spartoi seemed to consider retreating.
Especially the two who had been stealthily attacking, now slowly withdrawing on all fours.
But...
Swish~
The wind rose, dark energy flickered like a dying candle.
"This way!"
A low voice sounded beside the first Spartoi.
Before it could react, its body suddenly bristled into a porcupine-like shape.
Long spear-shaped wind elemental constructs grew out from the immortal's spear thrust.
Skeleton monsters' toughest point is their single magic stone weakness.
Adventurers want those magic stones and rare monster drop materials.
If you have to break the magic stone to kill a Spartoi, it's pointless hard work.
That's why high-level adventurers (Lv.5 and above) usually smash the skeleton's body to forcibly pull out the magic stone.
Now, with only Lv.20 Genshin level, Xiao was doing exactly that.
One strike hit, and the first Spartoi completely shattered.
He swiftly moved, the dark wind swirling around him, to the second target.
"Shatter!"
Another spear stab, another body shattered by the 'growing' internal attack.
By now, the first Spartoi's ash disintegration was just beginning.
Good luck...
A whole intact Spartoi's Cloak dropped onto the rocky ground.
This was a rare material used for crafting high-level adventurer gear called Disguise Cloth.
Profit.
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