"You were sent by Barbatos? Then why have I never seen you? And why wouldn't he come himself?"
As the inner seals of the tower erupted in blinding light, Dvalin rose from the depths of the ruins, perching against the shattered opening of the tower and staring inside at Su Mo.
He had fallen asleep after being wounded in Mondstadt, but he had still heard the last few sentences exchanged between Su Mo and the Abyss Mage.
He normally couldn't care less about the noise outside—his recent torment from the Abyssal poison was worsening by the day, and on top of that, he had just fought a monstrous dragon. He needed rest.
But the moment he heard Barbatos' name, he could no longer sit still—especially the part about someone being sent by Barbatos himself to save him.
Yet something didn't add up. He had never seen this girl beside Barbatos. Suspicion surged.
"He's not coming for reasons you don't need to question. Just come with me."
Su Mo decided to try a peaceful approach—if that failed, he would simply carry Dvalin away.
"And why should I believe you?"
Dvalin felt insulted. Did this human take him for a fool? As if he'd trust a stranger based on a single sentence. Humans were deceitful—he would never believe them again.
If not for Barbatos being in danger that day, he would never have fought that mysterious, overwhelmingly powerful white-haired girl. Mondstadt no longer needed his protection; those ungrateful humans were not worth guarding.
"In that case… I'm sorry."
Since Dvalin didn't trust him—and he had nothing on him that could serve as proof from that poor, broke wind god—Su Mo stopped wasting time.
He would simply act.
"Arrogant human!"
Realizing he had truly been deceived, Dvalin roared in fury. A dense mass of Anemo energy gathered in his jaws, condensing into a glowing sphere.
BOOM—
The unleashed blast shattered the upper half of the tower completely, blowing the entire top clean off.
What—?!
What is that?!
From within the cloud of dust and rubble, several golden chains suddenly shot out. Because of his massive size, Dvalin couldn't dodge in time and was instantly ensnared.
CLANG—CLANG—CLANG—
Feeling the golden chains tightening around him, Dvalin summoned blade-sharp gusts of wind to slice them apart—but not a single mark appeared. The chains were tougher than anything he had imagined.
ROAR—!
Seeing that brute force was useless, Dvalin tried something else—he roared and shot upward, wings beating furiously. If he could just climb high enough, he might snap or shake the chains loose.
Impossible… this power—!
Suddenly, an overwhelming force surged down the chains, crushing his ascent instantly. No matter how he struggled, he couldn't rise even one more millimeter.
He could barely resist the downward pressure at all.
Could it be… that girl? Impossible!
But as he strained, the thought forced itself on him—was that human girl truly the source of this terrifying power?
Get down here!
Standing atop the demolished tower, Su Mo gripped the golden chains in both hands and pulled. Hard.
ROAR—
CRASH—
With a single tug, the airborne Dvalin was ripped out of the sky and slammed into the ruins, crashing through stone like a falling mountain.
"Sorry, Dvalin. But I have to take you. That's my task right now."
Su Mo walked up to the dazed dragon, speaking calmly.
By now, Dvalin was tied into a neat bundle by the golden chains—even his jaw was bound shut.
"Since you have no objections, I'm relieved."
Seeing Dvalin silent, Su Mo nodded.
Dvalin: "…"
"Mmmff—mmf!—"
Still stunned moments ago, Dvalin snapped with rage the instant he heard Su Mo's conclusion—but he couldn't open his mouth at all.
I HAVE MANY OBJECTIONS!!
…Huh? What is she doing now?
Just as Dvalin fumed helplessly, he suddenly felt his entire enormous body being lifted off the ground.
"Dvalin, stop struggling. I'm taking you somewhere else."
Hoisting Dvalin over one shoulder with a single arm, Su Mo noticed the dragon twitching anxiously and warned him.
BOOM— BOOM— BOOM—
Every step Su Mo took left deep craters in the earth, pulverizing the ground beneath him.
What kind of human is this?!
Dvalin was completely stunned. He had no idea why this human girl was taking him away—or how she possessed such monstrous strength. And these golden chains… how were they extending so far?
Could she… really have been sent by Barbatos?
No—impossible. But…
"Mmmfff—!"
"Don't worry, Dvalin. I'll take you to see the wind god. A far stronger wind god. But not yet."
"?"
"Your Highness, Your Highness—something terrible has happened—!"
"What is it?"
Watching his subordinate rush in panic, Kong asked in an emotionless voice.
"Your Highness—at Stormterror's Lair, I encountered a human girl claiming to be sent by Barbatos to save Dvalin—named Kallen Kaslana. She told us not to interfere. She also possesses some power that counters the Abyss. And—and she knows about you, Your Highness."
The Abyss Mage recounted everything in detail.
"The wind god…? So he plans to reclaim his crown."
Kong fell into deep thought. Then asked:
"Is that human girl still at Stormterror's Lair?"
"I—I'm not sure, Your Highness…"
"Then go find out."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
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