Deep within the Domain, at an Abyss Order outpost.
The Cryo Abyss Mage slowly floated back to the outpost, its crumbling Elemental Shield riddled with cracks.
Suddenly, a mocking voice came from the side:
"Well, well, if it isn't the Cryo Mage. How did one trip out leave you looking so miserable?"
The speaker was a Hydro Abyss Mage. It lay sideways in midair, propping its head on one hand, likewise remaining inside its Elemental Shield at all times.
"Hmph, I ran into the Knights of Favonius Leader. I almost didn't make it back."
The Cryo Abyss Mage snorted, making no mention whatsoever of having provoked her first.
"Oh, no wonder!" The Hydro Abyss Mage did not seem surprised. After all, even the Apostles in the Order could not claim they were certain of defeating the Knights of Favonius Leader. "Then what about the Pyro Abyss Mage? What happened to it?"
It continued asking.
According to the Abyss Order's arrangements, their outpost in the Whispering Woods needed to take advantage of Mondstadt City's exhaustion after dealing with the Wind Disaster to launch attacks and raids against it.
The Stonehide Lawachurl and the Hilichurls of its tribe were the main force for this attack-or cannon fodder, if one preferred.
It was not as though they could actually take Mondstadt City anyway.
All of this was groundwork for the Abyss Order's eventual all-out assault on Mondstadt City, aimed at wearing down the Knights of Favonius in the meantime.
That would make things smoother when the real attack finally came.
This was also the Abyss Order's main method of attempting to destroy surface civilization. They could not win in a head-on fight.
They could only find some Hilichurls to attack and harass those nations from time to time, occasionally stirring up chaos.
They