Chapter 23: A Storm Approaches

We went on our way to Windrise to find Venti again and while we were on our way Lumine struck up a conversation

“Hey, Jun, I would like to ask you something.”

“What is it Lumine.” I was confused about where this was going

“Do you know anything about Venti?”

“I know as much as you do.”

“You’re lying, when we were talking to him you looked as if you already knew.”

My heart skipped a beat when Lumine called me out. I tried to play dumb as much as possible but I guess it didn’t get past Lumine

“I-I don’t know what you're talking about.” I tried to play dumb again in hopes Lumine would stop asking. She narrowed her eyes and gave me a look that said to spill it

“Okay, okay, I know something, no… I know a lot but I can’t say it right now. I promise to tell you when everything is over.”

“You will?”

“Yes,”

“Okay, I’ll wait, but you better tell me everything. I also have a feeling you know something about me so I also want to know.”

“Okay… fine…”

There is no escaping this. I hope it never came to this as my presence might already change future events and if Lumine knows as well there is no turning back. 

…

30 minutes later we are getting near Windrise and we see Venti standing at the base of the tree

“Hey, the green guys are over there, hurry up you two.” Paimon was impatient and was calling us as she went ahead. We arrived at the base of Windrise, Venti noticed us and turned around to greet us

“Oh? What are you all doing here? Though I was just wondering if you would happen to follow me…”

Lumine took a step forward and asked Venti “I want to know more about the Anemo God.”

“You speak of the God of Anemo, Barbatos? He already disappeared from Mondstadt a long time ago. Liyue and Inazuma's respective gods of Geo and Electro are still present, but Mondstadt has seen many a moon since they last saw their own god. Why do you wish to know about the God of Anemo? Does it have something to do with Dvalin?”

“Oh... ahhh... it's because gods…” Paimon stuttered when asking Venti

I stepped in to help Paimon “I have heard about Dvalin's past. A friend told me.”

“Oh? Just how is it that everyone sees Stormterror? I'm quite curious. That said, there's no need to rush...”

I suddenly heard raging sounds of winds in the distance and it was getting closer

“I have not been back in a while, it seems there are a few who are unhappy with my arrival.”

Coming down from the sky was an Eye of the Storm. It generated great winds as Lumine, Paimon, and I tried to hold our ground trying to not get blown away. While Venti was just standing as if it was a midsummer breeze.

“The wind... I can't... open my eyes…” Paimon said while she held on to Lumine’s hair. Lumine herself was getting annoyed by the winds and Paimon trying to make her bald

“What is a creature like that doing out here in such a calm place? You think it was going after that green guy? Lumine... His relationship with the wind seems even deeper than yours…”

“We have to defeat it, Lumine think you can handle it?”

“Yeah, I can handle it.”

“I need you to distract it for a minute. I think you can do that.”

“Consider it done.”

Lumine rushed to the Eye of the Storm leaving Paimon behind as she got blown away by the strong winds

“Lumine you, dummy!”

Lumine slashed at the Eye of the Storm pushing it back a few feet, but it was enough for it to stop its wind. Seeing this chance I reached out to get my driver and the Rising Hopper Progrisekey

[Jump!]

[Authorise]

The grasshopper appears and jumps around me, leaving everyone around me amazed as it was their first time seeing it

“Ehh! Why is there a grasshopper appearing right now?”

“Ohhh!, amazing that looks like fun.”

Paimon just recently recovered and was seeing the scene not making any sense, while Venti was just watching as if it was a show

“Henshin!”

[Progrise!]  

[To-bia ga rise!]🎶 

[Rising Hopper!] 

[A jump to the sky turns to a Rider Kick]

“An armor just appeared around Jun!”

“Whoa! It looks like a Hero’s entrance, hehe.”

“So that is how he wears the armor.”

Paimon was shocked at how the transformation scene took place, Venti smiling at the scene with admiration, and Lumine pleasantly surprised and amused

I jumped towards it kicking it multiple times and pushing it further back. I looked at Lumine and we both nodded at one another having an unspoken agreement. We both ran toward the Eye of the Storm, Lumine taking the left while I took the right. The Eye of the Storm sent wind blades at us but we easily deflected or dodged them. I took a swing at it, giving it a good hit and Lumine followed up with multiple strikes with her sword. Afterwards, it tried to body slam into Lumine, and seeing this I jumped towards her and pushed her out of the way

“Gah!” I got hit and flew a few feet before rolling in the ground

“Jun!” Lumine cried out trying to see I was okay but the Eye of the Storm sent wind blades at her. Lumine dodges them leaving her no leeway for distractions. I got up and looked at the scene.

‘We need to finish this fast.’ I thought before taking out the Attache Calibur and the Shark Progrisekey. I inserted the Progrisekey to the bottom of the Attache Calibur

[Progrisekey confirmed]

[Ready to utilize. Shark's ability]

“Lumine! Let’s finish this!” I shouted to her and she saw me before nodding. We both rushed to the Eye of the Storm dodging all the wind blades. As we were at its face Lumine and I both slashed as I pressed the button on the Attache Calibur making multiple holograms of shark fins on my blade

[Biting Kaban Strash]

We both landed beside one another and the Eye of the Storm showed an X-red marking before exploding

バ

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テ

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ン

グ

カ

バ

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[Biting Kaban Strash]

Me and Lumine gave each other a high five relaxing as the battle ended

“Yey!”