Original God, But Chat Group

60. Dvalin: BARBATOS!!!

"A portrait of La Signora, in black-and-white sketch tones, right? No problem, I've noted it down."

"Then I'll leave it to you, Teacher Albedo."

Outside Albedo's temporary camp halfway up Dragonspine Mountain, Li Yue, having just finalized the new commission for La Signora's portrait, bid Albedo farewell.

Nearby, Venti and Nahida waited, watching the snowy scenery.

"Nahida, how do you feel? Never seen a view like this, have you?"

Li Yue walked up behind them, gently patting Nahida's head as he asked softly.

Nahida nodded happily.

"Mm, in Sumeru, there's no scenery like this. Though it's a bit cold, this pure white landscape is truly beautiful."

"That's right! Dragonspine Mountain is the only place in Mondstadt where you can see snow, and the only place on the Teyvat continent besides Snezhnaya. So it's a pretty rare spot!"

As a local of Mondstadt, Venti seemed full of pride that Mondstadt possessed such a unique landscape as Dragonspine.

"Too bad it's beautiful but deadly. Even well-prepared adventurers can lose their lives if they're careless while exploring the mountain."

Li Yue glanced at the swirling snow and wind, then looked at Venti.

"Alright, the commission with Teacher Albedo is settled. Now we can get down to business, especially since Nahida's here."

"Huh? What are we doing?"

Venti looked at Li Yue curiously.

"Didn't you say you could call Dvalin out? So call him out to spar with me. I can teach Nahida how to fight giant creatures. Compared to Aether's earlier demonstration, actual combat is way more effective. Later, have Dvalin fight me on the ground in close quarters."

Li Yue pointed toward the sea to the east.

"Right on that stretch of coast. That way, it won't affect Mondstadt's residents."

Hearing Li Yue's words, Venti couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

He'd left Li Yue and Nahida earlier, but through the Thousand Winds, he'd observed Li Yue teaching Nahida. That hundred-meter-tall giant Wood Person and Wood Dragon were just too absurd. Since when did Greater Lord Rukkhadevata fight as a Demon God using the Dendro element like that? She was clearly skilled in the power of dreams—she was the God of Wisdom! And because she held the World Tree's properties, no Demon God ever fought her. She was fundamentally the designated god, unlike any other!

But now Li Yue was indeed wielding the Dendro authority, meaning he'd truly received power from Greater Lord Rukkhadevata. Especially with the incident of the sleeping Knights of Favonius in Mondstadt City, it was clear he also mastered the power of dreams. Under these circumstances, Venti had no way to say Li Yue's method of using Dendro was wrong—after all, could he know Dendro better than Greater Lord Rukkhadevata?

Could it be that the Dendro authority really worked like this? The Dendro Dragon, Apep, was itself a colossal being, so maybe Dendro was good at creating massive objects?

At the time, Venti had forced himself to accept that.

But now, thinking about making Dvalin fight such a huge, ferocious Wood Person, Venti couldn't help worrying for Dvalin. With that slender frame of his, Dvalin was even better than Venti at long-range wind attacks, but in close combat, wouldn't he get flattened into a pancake?

"Um, Li Yue, my friend, Dvalin is the Anemo Archon's familiar. He loves flying freely in the sky—he represents the unbound wind. Making him stand on the ground would strip him of his very nature."

Even though he'd sold Dvalin out, Venti still had some conscience and wanted to plead for him.

"Dvalin does represent the wind, since he's the Anemo Archon's familiar. But unfortunately, this spar isn't about witnessing the wind's power. I just want to teach Nahida. And in Mondstadt, Dvalin is the most suitable large enemy for that."

Venti pouted.

He wanted to say that if Li Yue wanted a normal spar, Dvalin would be fine—after all, in his full form, Dvalin was practically the king of aerial combat in Teyvat. Venti had agreed so easily because he thought Li Yue couldn't possibly beat the king of the skies. He wouldn't do something that put him at a loss! But now you wanted an aerial king to fight on the ground? Wasn't that just asking Dvalin to get beaten up?

He felt that if he told Dvalin, Dvalin might come and beat him up instead!

Seeing Venti silent, Li Yue frowned slightly, looking displeased.

"Hey, Venti, you're not saying you can't do it, are you? Earlier, you patted your chest and said you and Dvalin were close. I trusted you because I know you've been with him a long time as a Wind Spirit. Don't tell me now that you can't deliver."

"Uh... that's not what I mean."

"Then what do you mean?"

Li Yue didn't give Venti a chance to explain.

"One word: can you do it or not?"

"I..."

Venti's brows twisted in conflict.

Seeing Venti's expression, Li Yue didn't push further. Instead, he softened.

"Forget it. If you can't, that's fine. You're just a Wind Spirit following the Anemo Archon, so it's understandable you can't ask Dvalin, the Anemo Archon's familiar, to do this. I only wanted him to demonstrate once for me, but it's still putting him out. Dvalin, as the Anemo Archon's familiar, must have his pride. Like you said, he represents the free wind—he shouldn't be bound to the ground."

With that, Li Yue patted Venti's shoulder and gave him a gentle smile.

"Don't worry, we're friends. I won't make things hard for you, and I won't let this affect our bond. The promises I made you still stand. I'm counting on you to explore other worlds with me later."

Then he turned to Nahida.

"Sorry, Nahida. I can't give you a live demonstration."

"It's okay, Li Yue. I can practice what you taught me on my own."

Nahida was very understanding, smiling sweetly.

Watching this father-and-daughter scene between Li Yue and Nahida, and replaying Li Yue's words in his mind, Venti suddenly felt a heavy sense of guilt. He gritted his teeth and flashed Li Yue a confident smile.

"Li Yue, my friend, of course I can handle this. You two head to the coast—I'll go call Dvalin right now!"

With that, Venti dissolved into a wisp of breeze and vanished.

Li Yue watched Venti disappear, then turned to Nahida with a look of pleasant surprise.

"Nahida, it seems Venti and Dvalin are even closer than I imagined. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—you must study hard when the time comes!"

"Mm, I will!"

Nahida nodded just as earnestly.

Leaving Dragonspine Mountain, Venti went straight to Gazing Star Cliff. Upon landing, he pulled out his ever-present lyre and began to play. The music carried on the wind to the Temple of the Four Winds, and soon Dvalin descended from the sky, landing before Venti.

"Barbatos, what do you summon me for?"

Compared to their last meeting at Gazing Star Cliff, Dvalin's tone was now exceedingly gentle.

"Dvalin, my dear friend!"

Venti put away his lyre and spread his arms to stroke Dvalin's massive jaw.

"There's something I'd like to ask of you."

"Speak, and I will do all I can."

As a companion who had stood by Venti for over a thousand years, Dvalin had answered many summons before. Each time, he gave his all to fulfill the request—so dutiful was he.

"Do you remember Li Yue, who fought you before? He was the one who cleansed the Poison Blood from you."

"Of course I remember. He is my benefactor. I've never had the chance to properly thank him."

Though Li Yue had put on airs imitating Aizen during their fight, it didn't change the fact that he had helped Dvalin. For that, Dvalin was grateful.

Hearing Dvalin say he wanted to thank Li Yue, Venti's eyes lit up.

"Well, here's the thing! He's not just your benefactor—he's a benefactor to the entire Teyvat continent. It's like this..."

Venti told Dvalin how Li Yue had saved Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, cleansed the corruption within the World Tree, and rescued Andrius from the Abyss. Dvalin was astonished.

"To think he is such an extraordinary human!"

"Exactly! He's that remarkable. He doesn't even realize how important his deeds are to us. He thinks the little Dendro Archon is just a pitiful child, so right now he's using Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's power to teach her with all his might. But he's short a sparring partner for that teaching."

"So you mean for me to help him train the new Dendro Archon?"

Dvalin caught Venti's meaning, and Venti nodded eagerly.

"That's right, my friend. In Mondstadt, you're the only one I could think of!"

"No problem. If that's all, I agree."

"You agree? That's wonderful! But there's one condition—since he's using Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's power, he needs you to stay on the ground. No flying."

"Fine. I can manage that."

Dvalin nodded in acceptance.

"Perfect! Let's go now. They should be waiting for us on the shoreline of the mountain. Oh, and remember—in Mondstadt, I'm known as Venti, the Wind Spirit who follows the Anemo Archon. Don't slip up."

"Hmph. You still like using that name, don't you?"

Dvalin gave a cold snort, but his words made it clear he would follow Venti's wishes.

The god and the dragon flew swiftly from Gazing Star Cliff to the southeastern coast of Dragonspine Mountain. As they landed, they saw Li Yue and Nahida standing on the shore, gazing into the distance.

"Li Yue!"

Venti raised a hand to greet him, then jumped straight off Dvalin's neck. Dvalin himself settled his massive body onto the ground.

"I brought Dvalin along!"

Li Yue looked up at the dragon.

"Thank you for coming, great East Wind Dragon."

"Mm."

Dvalin was pleased with the title. Being addressed with such respect by an extraordinary human put him in a good mood.

"Human, I thank you for helping free me from the Poison Blood."

"A small matter, hardly worth mentioning."

Li Yue waved a hand.

"I hear from Venti that you wish to spar with me, to teach your daughter how to use her power. Is that so?"

Dvalin looked at Nahida beside Li Yue. So it really is the Dendro Archon. This human is truly impressive—raising the new archon is no small feat.

"That's right. I hope the great East Wind Dragon can help me instruct my daughter, Nahida."

Li Yue was very polite.

"Forgive me for not introducing her earlier—this is my daughter, Nahida."

"Greetings, great East Wind Dragon. I am Nahida, Li Yue's daughter."

Nahida cooperated with the introduction, tilting her head up to gaze at the towering dragon, curiosity shining in her eyes.

Dvalin nodded to her.

"I accept your request. And you may call me by my name, just as Venti does."

The outstanding humans who protect Teyvat, as well as the Dendro Archon, are worthy of speaking his name directly.

"Alright, Dvalin, can we start now?"

"Let's begin."

Dvalin nodded, and Venti beside him immediately grabbed Nahida and ran off, clearing the field for Li Yue and Dvalin.

Dvalin looked in confusion at Venti, who had run several hundred meters away, not understanding why that guy had to go so far. Wasn't Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's power the authority of dreams? What could you see from that distance?

Smack—

With a clap of his hands, the ground suddenly trembled. Li Yue in front of Dvalin began rising at breakneck speed. In just five seconds, a ferocious giant Wood Person loomed before Dvalin, its shadow completely engulfing his entire body.

Dvalin, who had been puzzled just moments ago, was now utterly dumbfounded.

"Th-this..."

"Dvalin, I'm coming!"

Li Yue shouted from atop the Wood Person's shoulder, and the Wood Person immediately swung its fist at Dvalin.

At that moment, Dvalin finally understood why Venti had run several hundred meters away, and why he had insisted Dvalin stay on the ground earlier.

Staring at the massive fist already before him, Dvalin could only roar out a single name in fury.

"Barbatos!!!!"

61. Senior, I'm coming in now!

How capable is the Wind Dragon, unable to leave the ground, in close combat?

Relying on his massive body, he certainly wouldn't be weak, but against a truly specialized land-based close-combat opponent, he was definitely outmatched. After all, he wasn't a strength or defense type; his body structure set a low ceiling for his ground combat effectiveness.

So, facing the hundred-meter-tall Wood Person, Dvalin got wrecked.

After one punch sent Dvalin tumbling, Li Yue clapped his hands together. Following the Wood Person, a Wood Dragon also appeared, directly coiling around Dvalin's body, leaving him no chance to escape.

Then, Dvalin suffered a relentless barrage of continuous punches!