Outside Mondstadt, in Springvale.
South of Cider Lake, where hills and springs nestled together, stood a little town of hunters. Ancient windmills turned slowly, and a clear stream flowed through town, picking up the scent of roast meat and beer.
The pine forest stretching toward the distant ridges formed a vast expanse of green. Slender branches swayed in the wind, rippling like water, graceful and secluded.
Well... there were also some rather unfriendly wild boars.
In any case, the scenery would surely have been even more beautiful on a sunny day.
"Ah... found it!"
While Gabrielina was taking a leisurely stroll at the rear, Lumine, who had rushed ahead, finally picked up Strange Bird's trail with her Elemental Sight.
They gathered around to examine the debris on the ground. "These are... scraps of torn cloth, with traces of Anemo on them. Judging by the pattern and weave, they might be fragments of Wind Glider."
"Great! If this really was Strange Bird, his Wind Glider should be broken by now."
"The elemental trail leads all the way... over there." Amber rubbed the bluish-green traces on her glove and pointed into the distance.
"Does that mean Strange Bird kept running that way?" Paimon asked in confusion.
"Guessing won't get us anywhere. Let's follow the trail first-"
Bang-!!
Just then, a deafening noise erupted from the nearby forest, startling a great flock of birds into flight.
Lumine and Amber immediately went on alert and drew their weapons, while Paimon hurriedly ducked behind Lumine.
Seeing this, Gabrielina made a token effort as well, activating a formula to manifest a pitch-black longbow.
"That sounded like... fighting. Could it be Strange Bird!?" Amber stood on tiptoe and peered ahead before waving to the others. "Quick, let's go take a look!"
Following the thick smoke slowly rising into the sky, they soon reached the scene.
However, instead of the Treasure Hoarders led by Strange Bird they had expected, they found a group of Hilichurls besieging a merchant caravan.
After they quickly cleared out the small fry, Farrah, a fruit vendor still shaken by the attack, climbed out of his wagon while wiping away sweat. "Thank goodness, it's the Knights of Favonius! The Hilichurls shouldn't dare chase us now..."
"What happened?" Amber asked after reassuring him a little.
"What rotten luck... Hilichurls attacked our caravan. Luckily, we were quick enough to get away."
Amber looked puzzled. "A Hilichurl attack? But haven't the Knights of Favonius already cleared out almost all the Hilichurl camps around here?"
"It's a very small camp, not far from town. I always make a point of going around it when I get stock for my stall," the merchant hastily explained.
"I always make a point of going around it when I get stock for my stall. But today, someone suddenly flew down from the sky and landed right in that Hilichurl camp!"
"Hmm... that sounds like something a certain someone does all the time."
Paimon gave Lumine a pointed look.
"The Hilichurls went wild and chased that strange fellow right out of camp!" Farrah gestured wildly as he explained. "I got away, but they smashed every wagon I use to haul fruit! How am I supposed to open for business when the caravan arrives tomorrow-"
"A strange fellow? What did he look like?" Amber pressed.
"He was holding something, wobbling all over the place as he flew... yes, he must have fallen because he was carrying that thing."
See? That's exactly what the Shoot-Down Formula does.
Pfft... the Crash Formula...
It's Shoot-Down!
The Crash Formula.
While Gabrielina continued her tireless teasing of the system, Farrah stamped his foot and ground his teeth. "Absolutely reckless! Honestly, did he never pass his Gliding License test? Doesn't he know he isn't allowed to carry heavy loads?!"
"I'm definitely reporting him and getting his Gliding License revoked!"
"Carrying something heavy..." Amber's eyes lit up. "It could very well be Strange Bird escaping with the artifact! Did you see which way he went?"
"I was in such a hurry to get away that I only managed one glance. They seemed... to be running up ahead."
"We finally have a lead! Lumine, Gabrielina, let's catch up..."
Amber was invigorated, but she didn't forget the man behind her. "Oh, right. Don't worry, Mr. Otto. I'll report this to the Knights of Favonius when I get back and have the remaining Hilichurl camps dealt with as soon as possible."
The three of them promptly followed the faint remnants of the elemental trail, leaving the area and heading deeper into the forest.
The trees grew denser along both sides of the path, with the outlines of mountains faintly visible in the distance.
But just as they focused on tracking their quarry, a sharp whistle suddenly cut through the air.
A crossbow bolt shot out of the bushes beside the path, heading straight for Amber at the front!
"Watch out!"
Almost the instant the girl reacted, a black cross-shaped shield materialized before her. With a crisp clang, it deflected the bolt from that shameless ambush.
"Who's there!?" Amber immediately nocked an arrow and drew her bow, aiming warily toward the source of the attack.
The bushes rustled, and seven or eight figures in mismatched clothes emerged with malicious smiles, blocking their path.
"They're a weird-looking bunch..." Paimon hid behind Lumine, cautiously poking her head out to inspect them.
The burly man at their head slung his shovel over his shoulder and pointed at the group.
"I cleared this mountain, I planted these trees. If you want to pass... huh?"
His gaze passed over Lumine and Amber and landed on Gabrielina, particularly the wings spread behind her. He froze for a moment, then burst into mocking laughter. "Ha! Boys, look at that winged bird girl. We've got a fan of our boss here."
"You think anyone who can fly gets to be Strange Bird!? As far as I can see... her looks are about the only thing she's got going for her!"
"Yeah, exactly," a skinny man holding a crossbow chimed in. "Probably just some new model of Wind Glider. Don't let her fool you!"
The girl merely raised her middle finger lazily, then paid no further attention to their collective taunts.
Faced with these men who looked every bit like disposable villains, she couldn't even muster the desire to get angry.
"Enough nonsense!" Amber snapped. "The Knights of Favonius are on official business. Stand aside immediately!"
"The Knights of Favonius!? That's exactly who we're here to beat!" The Treasure Hoarder leader swept his hand forward.
"Get them!!!"
At his command, the battle erupted.
Lumine's sword whipped up an emerald vortex, knocking down enemies who charged with shovels swinging. Amber's arrows struck with pinpoint precision like fiery meteors, bursting into blood-red blossoms of flame on their targets.
Gabrielina hadn't even moved her feet. She simply raised her right hand gracefully, and the air around her began to warp and tremble.
Pitch-black matter instantly condensed into several bizarre spiral spears. The bowstring thrummed, unleashing a deadly downpour.
At the same time, the girl vanished from where she stood and reappeared elsewhere a second later. Every attack from the Treasure Hoarders struck empty air, failing to graze even an afterimage.
Yet no sooner had they brought down this group than shrill whistles and more footsteps came from every direction.
Amber drove back another enemy trying to approach with an arrow and shouted anxiously, "Something's wrong! There are too many of them! Strange Bird can't erase his own elemental trail, so he's using these Treasure Hoarders to hold us up!"
Just then, a deep, muffled hum bore down on the battlefield from above!
Gabrielina hovered in midair, the longbow in her hand rapidly swelling to several times its original size. Roaring elemental power gathered along its string, forming a massive arrow that inspired dread.
With overwhelming force, the attack suddenly descended.
Boom-!!!
The violent explosion ignited no flames. Instead, it released a thick cloud of pitch-black smoke that seemed capable of swallowing even light, instantly engulfing more than half the Treasure Hoarders and leaving only chaotic coughing and curses.
Gabrielina landed lightly, her back to Lumine and Amber. "Go on ahead. I'll deal with them."
"But you're fast enough. Let me..."
"Go!" the girl said in a tone that brooked no argument. "I'll be right behind you. Remember what I can do? I might even get there before you."
"Lumine, don't you trust Gabrielina's strength?" Paimon hurriedly tugged at Lumine's clothes, urging her on.
Lumine looked at Gabrielina, who was already gathering another attack, then at the elemental trail ahead, which could disappear at any moment. Finally, she gritted her teeth. Leaving her with a quick "Be careful," she continued the pursuit with Amber and Paimon.
Before you continue