"Charge!"
Diluc was the first to plunge into the horde of monsters, his greatsword erupting in searing flames that reduced every enemy in his path to ash.
"Heh, how could we let someone who's not even a knight take the lead?"
Kaeya chuckled and followed with his sword drawn. "Albedo, those fellows are all yours."
"Leave them to me."
Albedo pointed his sword toward the group of Abyss Lectors in the distance. "They won't get the chance to disrupt you."
"The flawed replica of perfection, do you really think you alone can hold us back?"
The Lectors, each wielding different elemental powers, wasted no time surrounding him. As they entered Albedo's golden domain, their bodies began to transform. Like the Pyro Lector before them, they manifested elemental weapons and shifted into close-combat forms.
"I am not some 'flawed perfection.' I am Albedo, Captain of the Knights of Favonius Investigation Team."
Seeing the Lectors adapt to counter his domain, Albedo compressed its energy into his weapon. With one decisive strike, he sent the entire group reeling.
"Well, this is new. I didn't realize these so-called Lectors could turn into melee fighters."
Gu Sanqiu scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Then again, considering the Abyss Order's methods, it makes sense. Anyone who's trained to this level wouldn't just be lugging artifacts around for show. They'd develop a full spectrum of combat skills."
Paimon floated over. "Sanqiu, aren't you going to help?"
"I told you—I'm just here to babysit. Unless the little one is in danger, I won't step in."
Gu Sanqiu glanced at Aether. "Go take on some monsters. The entrance is only so big; they can only come through in limited numbers. Use this chance to practice."
"Huh?"
Paimon gasped. "But those monsters are so strong! He could get hurt!"
"Anyone who wants to surpass others must face danger."
Gu Sanqiu clapped Aether on the shoulder, enveloping him in a sturdy Geo shield.
"If you want to reunite with your sister, you'll need the strength to travel across Teyvat. If you want to see her sooner, then prove yourself now."
"Refine your skills."
Aether's face grew resolute. He nodded firmly and summoned his sword before charging at the nearest monster.
Gu Sanqiu's words had struck a chord. If he wanted to find Lumine, he needed to grow stronger. And if the worst had happened—if she was in danger—he had to be ready.
Wind elemental energy began to swirl around him, forming a faint barrier that increased his speed and sharpened his blade.
"Charge!"
Aether shouted as he closed the distance, his wind-infused sword finding its mark at the creature's joint.
With a swift motion, he tore through its limb, severing a leg cleanly. When the monster lunged to bite, Aether dodged with a nimble roll and struck another joint.
Luckily, despite their grotesque appearances, the monsters' bodies were still based on conventional anatomy. This allowed Aether to exploit their weaknesses effectively.
Meanwhile, Gu Sanqiu's Geo shield proved invaluable. Even when Aether made minor mistakes, the barrier absorbed the blows that would otherwise have taken him out of the fight.
The monster screeched, attempting to call for reinforcements. Frustrated by its inability to kill the "insect" before it, the creature lashed out in impotent rage.
An opening!
Aether seized the moment. Using the elemental gauntlet technique Gu Sanqiu had taught him, he hurled his sword with deadly precision.
Thud!
The blade pierced the monster's skull, ending its struggle. Whoever had designed these creatures clearly hadn't invested in head protection.
Before Aether could catch his breath, a blinding slash descended toward his head!
"Get back."
A gust of wind coiled around Aether's waist, yanking him out of harm's way.
Gu Sanqiu sized up the new threat—a creature with crustacean-like joints and mantis-like scythe arms. He frowned at its bizarre appearance.
"What kind of aesthetic sense do these creators even have?"
Shaking his head, he retrieved Aether's weapon, reinforced the Geo shield, and handed it back to him.
"Go again. But this time, remember where you are. You're on a battlefield, not in a one-on-one duel. If you let your guard down again, don't blame me if you lose an arm before I step in."
He added dryly, "Don't worry, though. The folks at Bubu Pharmacy are excellent at reattaching limbs."
Aether's movements grew more fluid. The creature Gu Sanqiu had chosen for him was a durable hybrid beast, making it ideal for honing his combat reflexes.
Paimon, meanwhile, tugged at Gu Sanqiu's collar, her excitement barely contained. "Sanqiu, don't you think Aether's a genius? He's amazing! He's holding his own against that! My partner really is the best!"
"Yeah, yeah, a genius," Gu Sanqiu replied with a smirk.
More like a veteran being forced to dust off old skills after getting dragged back into action.
Crossing his arms, he observed the battlefield.
The earlier explosion at the cave entrance had further restricted the flow of incoming monsters. With the Cryo and Pyro brothers tearing through the left flank and Amber and Klee systematically bombing the right, the team had the situation well in hand.
Eula's fight against the Abyss Herald, however, had reached a tense stalemate. Both combatants were holding back, wary of trapping themselves in their own elemental attacks.
Meanwhile, Albedo was dismantling the remaining Lectors with clinical efficiency. Were it not for some mysterious power enhancing them, Albedo would have finished them off already.
Overall, their ambush had granted them a solid positional advantage. Despite being outnumbered, the team had managed to maintain the upper hand.
As for tipping the balance further?
Gu Sanqiu smirked, pulling out his spear.
Who said I wasn't going to join in? Adding to the Lectors' misery sounds way too fun to pass up.