"So these are the so-called Artifacts?" Ronava curiously picked up a piece of the Crimson Witch Set. "It does seem to contain some kind of... Human Realm Power?"
"Yes, Miss Ronava." Albedo nodded. "Artifacts are crystallizations of memories and emotions. In a sense, they are a manifestation of Human Realm Power."
"Compared to the violent Light Realm Power and the terrifying Void Realm Power, Human Realm Power is undoubtedly a gentle yet powerful force."
"However..." He glanced at Columbina, who had already figured out how to put on an entire Noblesse Oblige Set without any instruction. "Miss Columbina may be a little better suited to Light Realm Power."
"Naturally. After all, she's the future moon-" Ronava was about to say more, but Tang Wang covered her mouth.
"All right, I forgot. There are some things we still can't talk about."
"Is there something you can't talk about?" Columbina suddenly poked her head over.
"Some secrets are best left unrevealed until they are made public in full," Albedo once again explained on Tang Wang's behalf. "Otherwise, they might never come to fruition."
"We can't confirm Heimarmene's condition right now, so some things are best kept secret for the time being."
"Eula, please confirm the Abyss Lector's location again!" Acting Grand Master Jean's voice reached Eula through Albedo's alchemical device.
"Confirmed. It's at the junction of three large Hilichurl camps."
"Enemy unit count confirmed!" Amber's voice rang out from the other end. "Two Pyro Abyss Mages, three Hydro Abyss Mages, and two Cryo Abyss Mages."
"Besides those, there are four Stonehide Lawachurls and four Frostarm Lawachurls. There are too many ordinary Hilichurls and Mitachurls to count."
"Everyone," Acting Grand Master Jean said, turning to the Knights of Favonius assembled behind her, ready to set out, "our duty is to make sure no one can interfere with the elite squad's attack on the Electro Abyss Lector once the battle begins."
"Stormterror could strike at any time during the battle. So we must be prepared to retreat and return to defend the city!"
But they did not know that Stormterror was no longer a problem they needed to worry about. For at that very moment, within Stormterror's Lair-
Venti, playing his lyre, gently stroked Dvalin's head. Although the poisoned blood was still eating away at his mind, even the hatred of the Abyss could not run rampant amid the melodious, pure music.
"Everyone, according to my previous research..." Meanwhile, Albedo spoke up once again among the so-called elite squad. "This Electro Abyss Lector carries Abyssal power condensed through alchemy."
"In other words, it was not born naturally, but forcibly transformed by someone in a very short time."
"How pitiful." Columbina sighed. "Is there a way to save this person?"
"I'm afraid not, Lady Damselette..."
"Call me Columbina."
"All right, Miss Columbina." Danika nodded. "I'm afraid there isn't."
"For most living beings, complete corruption by the Abyss is an incurable, terminal affliction."
"However, for those of steadfast will, it can become a powerful aid. There is such a case in Nod-Krai: a Lamplighter swallowed by the Abyss continues to slay the Wild Hunt in an Abyssal body."
"But most people do not have that kind of... will."
"I understand." Columbina nodded slightly. "Then let's kill him as quickly as possible."
"Yes, Yaya, that's our goal." Tang Wang nodded. "To kill him as quickly as possible."
"And to do that, we need your power, your power as the 'moon.'"
Under the moonlight, Primal Light elevated three reactions involving Hydro into "Lunar Reactions." They were Lunar-Bloom, Lunar-Charged, and Lunar Crystallize.
Unlike their appearance in the game, all three reactions could suppress the Abyss's power to the greatest extent in the real Teyvat. Even Lunar-Charged's damage could quickly break an Electro shield condensed from the Abyss.
"Now!" At Acting Grand Master Jean's command, countless Knights of Favonius launched a surprise attack at top speed.
The Electro Abyss Lector was still chanting some absurd, incomprehensible prayer, but most of its audience had already been sent flying.
"Light of the Abyss!" Feeling anger, he instinctively tried to condense Electro power and attack the group.
However, directly in front of him, Danika had already condensed a shield from Electro power and took the attack head-on.
"In terms of alchemical properties, the same Elemental Power absorbs damage from other units with an additional 250% efficiency." That was Albedo's explanation. "So, Danika, you're the best suited among us to take the attacks."
"Zzzzz..." Electricity coursed over the greatsword before finally being completely absorbed by the shield.
"Bang!" Then, from behind the Abyss Lector, Tang Wang thrust his spear, the terrifying impact pushing it away from the area where the monsters were most concentrated.
At the spot where it was going to land, Columbina and Linaya were already waiting.
"Go, Lumi! No being picky about your food!" Linaya quickly tossed a huge pile of crystals toward Lumi. Under the moonlight, Lumi's body rapidly expanded, and a hammer crashed down, filling the Abyss Herald's body with a white-gold light.
"Feel the gra-"
"Pfft!" As it raised its hand to cast a spell, Albedo raised his sword and severed its arm.
Columbina seized the opportunity to unleash her Elemental Skill.
"Bloom like moonlight." Kuuvahki emerged in the form of Hydro and surged over the Electro Abyss Lector's body. The instant the two touched, Electro and Hydro collided, producing "Lunar-Charged," one of the three great Lunar Reactions.
Thunderclouds instantly blotted out the sky, and lightning strikes radiating purple-white light left wound after wound across the Abyss Herald's body.
"Abiogenesis!" Albedo also slammed his hand against the ground, and golden lotuses bloomed in the space around them. Geo reacted with Hydro and Electro at the same time, and as a Lunar Cage quietly came into being, an Electro shard also dropped out.
At that moment, Tang Wang, who had moved away, rushed back, followed by Danika, whose shield still surrounded her.
"Ronava, are you ready?" As she spoke, Danika swung her sword, smashing it into the Abyss Herald's other arm.
"Bird of death..." The white-haired woman she had called to had already raised her arm high. "Spread your wings!"
This was the plan A they had devised: kill it quickly.
In fact, Abyss Heralds in Teyvat really could be killed before they managed to raise their shields.
So they had chosen to use attacks to inflict as much "stagger" as possible, creating an opportunity for Ronava, who had the highest single burst of damage among them, to kill it in one strike.
"Let's go." As he spoke, Tang Wang pulled Danika away from the clash. At the same moment, the firebird Ronava had created came crashing down.
"Boom!!!" The ground immediately caved in, forming a crater several meters deep, and the Electro Abyss Lector's body was completely charred.
"Is it over... just like that?" Seeing Tang Wang come over, Columbina hurriedly caught hold of his arm. Looking at the blackened remains on the ground, she asked curiously.
"It should be, I think..." Albedo moved a little closer, puzzled. By the time he saw the faintly flowing golden light, it was already too late. "No, something's wrong!"
"Everyone, be on guard!"