Rumble…
The Stonehelm Hilichurl King roared, his whole body glowing gold as his twin fists slammed together.
"All units—giant-beast formation!"
The Fatui vanguard snapped to alert. Elemental power surged from their gear; thin elemental shields of fire, ice, and lightning flashed across their coats.
The king's massive punch struck the ground.Geo energy raced outward, spiking into jagged stone pillars that speared toward the intruders.
The hulking Cryo Gunner braced his ice-coated arms and caught the blow—Boom!Even at two meters tall he seemed small before the colossal king. The impact drove him waist-deep into the earth, yet he only bared his teeth in a cold grin.
"Freeze time!"
Bitter frost exploded outward, misting the battlefield in white.The king barreled through the blizzard as if it were air and smashed the gunner aside like a charging iron beast.
"End this fast!"
The Electro Hammer lieutenant swung a thunder-wreathed maul.The Hydro Gunner raised a watery sphere to shield his comrade.
But—Thwip!An arrow tipped with water-Slime essence hissed from afar and struck the Pyro agent's crimson coat, steam hissing as his flames dimmed.
Another, and another—slow but impossibly accurate.The Pyro soldier staggered as his elemental film shattered.
The Hilichurl King lunged again, ramming the Hydro gunner off his feet.
"Retreat!" the Electro lieutenant barked, gripping the half-conscious Pyro fighter and leading a ragged withdrawal into the mountains.
The distant archer, of course, was Gu Baizhou.He had lured the enemy out, then waited with borrowed bow and arrows tipped with his own "water rounds."Fire Slime paste couldn't be stored and Electro Slime gel leaked dangerous charge, so water was his only practical element.
When the battle ended, he approached the giant calmly.
"Honored king of stone, I will keep my word and bring you ten fine boars," Gu said.
The Hilichurl monarch, simple of desire but mighty in strength, had gladly promised aid for such a feast.
Guided by his heightened vision—now keen enough to track the glow of elemental energy—Gu found the kidnappers' hideout without trouble.
Inside the dark cavern a single torch flickered, revealing a slight figure:a boy in white silk, black eyes bright and intelligent.
Among the scattered rubble lay several used syringes still glinting with strange liquid.Another small boy lay unconscious nearby.
"That's some kind of sedative," the sharp-eyed boy said, not a hint of fear in his voice.
Gu knelt to check the unconscious child's breathing, relieved to find it steady, and lifted him into his arms.
"Did they inject you too?"
The boy shook his head.
"Come with me," Gu said.
He followed silently.
"What's your name?" Gu asked as they emerged from the tunnel.
"Zhang Richu."
The name hung in the quiet cave air.
Outside, Gu set the unconscious child gently down."Can you wait here? Are you afraid of the dark?"
"No. Do what you must," Zhang replied, oddly calm for his age.
Gu nodded."I'll take him home first."
He sprinted through the mountains, the rescued boy in his arms.
At the fishing village a woman stood on the damp sand, eyes searching the dim horizon, worry etched across her face.She had trusted the "immortal" to bring her child back.
Footsteps pounded closer.She looked up, lips trembling as relief and guilt flooded her.
"I… I don't know how to thank you," she said, voice breaking.
Elsewhere, in the shadow of a ruined stone hall, the surviving Fatui vanguard regrouped around a bubbling pot of stew.
"We never should've left Windfist and Rockbreaker on watch," the Electro lieutenant said darkly."Next time, Cryo, you stand guard."
"Why me—" the Cryo gunner began, lifting a mushroom to his mouth.
A sudden whistle of wind cut him off.A jade-green spear plunged from the sky, shattering the iron pot and scattering boiling broth.
A gale roared through the camp, drowning every other sound.When the dust settled, only a single word lingered in the air:
"Boring."