"?????"
Kairo stared at the three new options on the panel, his expression turning increasingly strange.
He raised his head to glance at Klee not far away, then looked back down at the holographic image of Clara displayed on the panel—his thoughts momentarily tangled.
Klee = Clara?
Damn it, this system is seriously bugged.
And it claimed it wasn't an idiot system? It couldn't even distinguish between people!
Still… the rewards this time instantly caught Kairo's interest.
Three choices, three different rewards.
Especially that last one.
Clara's Path Resonance Branch Skill — "I Want to Help Too!":
When activated, it allows you to imbue any object with the Power of Destruction, greatly enhancing its inherent might.
That one was tempting.
This was essentially a Destruction Path buff — like a personal enchantment ability!
Compared to the other two rewards, it was leagues better.
After all, Clara's red coat only offered a chance to comprehend the power of a Path.
And the Automaton Warhound 1.0 might make for a decent companion, but against someone powerful? It could be dismantled with ease.
If a Vision holder saw it, they could probably obliterate it with one move.
Not to mention Mondstadt still had those damn Fatui around — researchers who'd dissect the poor thing before he could even blink.
But that third option… that was different.
That skill would belong entirely to him.
With it, he could enchant anything.
Without hesitation, Kairo immediately went for Option Three.
This reward was practically free real estate — he wasn't about to let it slip.
If he delayed and Clara's self-destruct automaton arrived, he wouldn't even get a chance to act.
And if Klee started throwing her bombs around, that would also ruin the chance to complete the quest.
No hesitation. Kairo drew his sword.
His figure blurred forward like a gust of wind, charging toward the wolf pack and the Hilichurls.
The sunlight flashed along the blade — a thin arc of cold steel.
His steps were light, but each one carried an undeniable pressure.
The first wolf didn't even have time to react.
A single flash of the sword — smooth, fluid, precise — the edge sliced across its throat.
No wasted movement, no excess strength.
The wolf collapsed silently, blood darkening the snow beneath its paws.
"Arroo!!"
The rest of the pack roared, enraged. They lunged, claws and fangs glinting under the sunlight, dripping with murderous intent.
But Kairo moved as though he had seen it all before.
A smooth sidestep — almost like flowing water — then another glint of steel.
The lunging wolf froze mid-air, eyes dimming as it fell lifelessly to the ground.
The Hilichurls finally reacted, bellowing strange guttural cries as they raised crude clubs and charged.
Kairo didn't even glance at them.
His body turned slightly, stepping into a curved motion.
Just as one club swung down, his sword reversed and struck—
Clang!
The wooden weapon split cleanly in half, and the Hilichurl fell with it.
The sequence was seamless, as fluid as running water, without the slightest pause.
Meanwhile, Klee had just pulled a bomb — comically large, nearly the size of her head — from her backpack.
But when she looked up…
She froze.
Kairo's swordsmanship wasn't just strong — it was beautiful.
He moved among the wolves and Hilichurls like a dancer weaving through chaos.
Each step is light yet precise.
Each swing is efficient, clean, and almost elegant.
Every attack landed perfectly — no wasted force, no hesitation.
Whenever the wolves tried to flank him, or the Hilichurls tried a sneak attack, Kairo seemed to already know.
He would slip past each strike and counter in the same breath.
"So strong…"
Klee whispered unconsciously, forgetting to throw her bomb.
Her wide eyes sparkled, full of awe.
She'd only wanted to warn this big brother to run away so she could safely lob her bomb.
But she hadn't expected that this handsome stranger could cut through monsters like a storm, sword in hand, effortlessly controlling the entire battlefield.
Even in Mondstadt, few could wield a sword with that kind of grace.
In the next instant, Kairo sidestepped another lunging wolf and drove his sword through its chest.
Then he drew back smoothly, the hem of his coat lifting slightly — not a single drop of blood on him.
He turned and swept his blade once more, felling three Hilichurls in one strike.
Each flash of his sword meant another enemy down.
His movements became a blur, an untouchable shadow dancing through the carnage.
The monsters couldn't even form a proper surround.
"Waaah…"
Klee's little mouth hung open. Her eyes shone like stars.
"So amazing… even Acting Grand Master Jean isn't that cool!"
When Kairo struck down the final Hilichurl, his sword slid neatly back into its sheath.
The motion was clean, decisive — as if the entire fight had been nothing more than casual training.
"Still not quite used to this…"
He murmured, glancing at his sword thoughtfully.
If he had a spear, it would've been even easier.
Years of Silvermane Iron Guard combat had made him far more familiar with polearms.
Still, it was fortunate these Hilichurls hadn't had a shaman among them. That might've been tricky.
[You chose: Clean up along the way. While releasing stress, you've also gained Clara's friendship. Reward obtained — Clara's Path Resonance Branch Skill — "I Want to Help Too!". You can now imbue any object with the Power of Destruction, amplifying its innate strength.]
As the blue text appeared, a surge of unseen power suddenly poured into Kairo's body.
It was strange yet exhilarating — like molten energy flooding through his veins, searing yet invigorating.
He instinctively frowned, but the sensation brought no pain.
Instead, it felt… warm.
Like a steady fire spreading through his muscles and nerves, settling deep within him.
"So this is… the Power of the Path?"
Kairo whispered, tightening his grip on the sword.
His palm felt faintly hot, and that power seemed to respond to his thoughts — eager, restless, alive.
He could feel it now, pulsing just beneath his skin.
"Let's see what it can do."
Curious, Kairo willed the energy into his blade — a fine, tempered longsword he'd bought from the Adventurers' Guild.
Its silver surface caught the sunlight, smooth and sharp, always reliable.
As he directed the power in, a faint black-red glow began to crawl across the sword's surface —
like flame, but colder than death.
No heat. Only an oppressive weight, heavy and suffocating.
He could feel it — the sword's power multiplying, the air itself trembling around the edge.
But before he could truly test it—
Crack!
A sharp sound.
Kairo froze — his sword was cracking!
Fractures webbed rapidly across the steel.
Within a single breath, the entire blade shattered.
Silver shards scattered through the air like dying stars, landing with clear, crisp chimes.
Kairo stared at his empty hand in stunned silence, his mind blank for several seconds.
Then his pulse quickened.
That… that power was insane!
He crouched to pick up a shard — cool to the touch, still faintly humming.
It was high-quality steel. He knew this weapon well — a mid-to-high-tier guild sword, sturdy and battle-tested.
But one surge of Destruction Path energy had obliterated it instantly.
That spoke volumes about the sheer violence of the power.
"Did I lose control…?"
Kairo frowned, replaying the process in his mind.
He realized that while the Path energy could greatly enhance an object's strength, improper control would easily destroy it.
His gaze fell to his right hand again.
The energy still lingered beneath his skin — silent, coiled, like a slumbering beast waiting to awaken.
At this moment, he might actually be a Pathwalker.
"Dangerous… but incredible."
A faint smirk tugged at his lips, eyes glinting with a mix of awe and excitement.
Even a minor branch of Path power was this overwhelming.
If he truly stepped onto a Path one day—
Who knew what he could achieve?
Just then, the blue panel shimmered again.
New lines of text scrolled across the screen.
[You dealt with the Earthfire Organizations, but the scene was witnessed by others. Someone reported you to the Earthfire Organization Organization. They've learned that you killed fellow humans to protect a girl tied to robots — enemies of most citizens. Public backlash may soon erupt. You choose…]
[Option 1: Ignore it. You've lived your life by your own code — why explain yourself to others? The Earthfire Organizations' tongues are worthless. Let them talk. If trouble comes, crush it. (Reward: Silvermane Iron Guard Armor Set — heavy cold-resistant armor designed for blizzards, offering strong defense and high survivability.)]
[Option 2: Seek forgiveness. You'll attempt a diplomatic approach, reaching out to the Earthfire Organization Organization to explain and possibly ease tensions. Will it work? …Who knows? (Reward: A Bag of Trash — utterly worthless. "Rumor says, somewhere in the galaxy, carrying trash might open an invisible portal.")]
[Option 3: Wait and watch. You'll keep your head down. People talk, but as long as you stay quiet, the storm will fade. (Reward: Bio-Wave Scanner — a reusable treasure detector. "The brighter it shines, the more valuable the find… though if it's brighter than your lamp, it's probably broken.")]