The Captain clenched his right hand upward, and a Cryo longsword swiftly materialized in his grasp. Its blade, a blend of icy white and blue, was tinged with black.
Mavuika: "Looks like you're not planning on a long-winded speech. Makes sense—for people like us, weapons speak louder than words!"
No sooner had she finished speaking than Mavuika charged forward, brandishing her Claymore.
The clash between Capitano, the Fatui Harbinger First Seat, and Mavuika, the Pyro Archon of Natlan, was a spectacle of unparalleled grandeur.
They locked blades almost instantly, their elemental energies colliding with explosive force. Angie could sense that both combatants were deliberately holding back; otherwise, the destruction they would unleash would be far greater.
The battle raged from the ground to the sky. Initially, Capitano held a slight advantage, but once the Pyro Archon ignited her hair, her power surged exponentially, leaving Capitano increasingly overwhelmed.
High in the sky, during a clash between The Captain and the Pyro Archon, both their weapons shattered under the strain of their immense power.
Using shards of ice in the air for leverage, they pivoted mid-air, clenched their fists, and unleashed their most devastating strikes.
Angie, watching from below, knew this single strike would determine the victor.
Bang!
A deafening explosion erupted from the point of impact, sending shockwaves of energy radiating outward. The Captain's gray energy surged first, only to be rapidly engulfed by the Pyro Archon's fiery Elemental Power.
Even Angie had to temporarily evade the devastating force.
As the smoke cleared, the Pyro Archon stood tall, while The Captain knelt on one knee, clutching his chest.
-
[ Live Stream. ]
[How could he lose?!]
[What do you mean "how could he lose?" It would be weirder if he did win! This is the Pyro Archon we're talking about!]
[Even so, I feel like his power isn't even on the same level as Zhongli and the others.]
[Exactly! I noticed that too! Could it be because they're in the Stadium of the Sacred Flame and he's holding back to avoid damaging the surroundings?]
[That's possible. After all, The Captain doesn't seem to harbor any ill will toward Natlan. His words earlier seemed more like he was trying to save Natlan.]
-
Angie extended her right hand, summoning a Cryo longsword in a manner similar to The Captain's. Just as she was about to charge into the battle between The Captain and the Pyro Archon, Xilonen materialized beside her, weapon in hand, ready to intercept.
Xilonen had been watching Angie for some time. She couldn't interfere in Mavuika's battle, but she needed to keep a close eye on this newcomer.
With no time for a prolonged engagement, Angie launched a powerful, direct attack against Xilonen, completely catching her off guard with her overwhelming strength. In the brief clash lasting only a few seconds, Xilonen was sent flying. However, her agility allowed her to regain her balance mid-air.
Taking advantage of Xilonen's momentary vulnerability, Angie swiftly conjured a massive Claymore and struck at Mavuika.
Simultaneously, a cloud of smoke erupted as Ororon suddenly materialized in the center of the Arena. Together with Angie, he whisked The Captain away from the scene.
Mavuika channeled flames into her right fist and shattered Angie's conjured Claymore with a single blow. She charged into the dissipating smoke, but found no trace of The Captain or Angie.
"The Masters of the Night-Wind..." Mavuika's gaze narrowed slightly. This method of escape strongly resembled techniques used by the Masters of the Night-Wind—and not just any member, but someone with advanced training.
"Spread the word," she commanded. "Find The Captain and his accomplice."
The messenger who had delivered the initial report received the order and raced out again.
Xilonen: "Are you alright, Mavuika?"
Mavuika: "He's a formidable opponent. As expected of the Fatui Harbinger First Seat. The girl by his side is also quite strong."
Xilonen could attest to that firsthand. The force of their clash had left her arm still trembling slightly. In a direct confrontation, she stood no chance.
Xilonen: "He mentioned something about five hundred years ago. Could he be from that era as well?"
Mavuika: "Each Fatui Harbinger operates with their own agenda, united only by their pursuit of the Gnosis. This 'Captain' likely has his own reasons as well."
"The injuries he sustained in our battle will hinder him for some time and weaken his influence. And did you notice? The power that rescued them came from the Masters of the Night-Wind..."
Xilonen: "Do we have a traitor among us?"
Mavuika: "Not necessarily. This could also be a crucial opportunity. From his final strike, I sensed a peculiar presence within him. I'll investigate further."
"Xilonen, I need you to go to the Masters of the Night-Wind and find out who helped him escape. Seek out Citlali; she should know."
Xilonen: "Understood. I'll depart immediately. But what about you...?"
Mavuika: "Maintaining the Sacred Flame is my duty, and only I can do it. Go."
-
Meanwhile, Kinich had caught up with Lumine and the others. They hadn't ventured far from the Stadium of the Sacred Flame yet, so the explosion reverberating from the arena reached their ears clearly.
Paimon: "What's happening at the Stadium of the Sacred Flame? Was that an explosion?"
Kinich: "It must be the Pyro Archon taking action. There's also another powerful figure involved..."
Paimon: "What should we do now? Should we go back and check it out?"
Kinich: "Our mission is urgent and can't be delayed. Trust in the Pyro Archon—I can't imagine anyone capable of fighting her. Now, hurry up. We need to get moving."
-
Meanwhile, Angie and Ororon had brought the wounded Captain back to the Fatui's base.
"How are you, Captain? Is the injury serious?"
"Cough, cough..."
The Captain coughed lightly twice and shook his head. "It's nothing serious. It won't hinder me much. I must thank you both for your help this time."
Ororon: "I just didn't want to see you fail like that."
Since the Captain had been defeated by the Pyro Archon, Angie's fate wouldn't have been any better. Over the past few days, Ororon and Angie had grown close enough to consider each other friends.
The Captain: "Regarding the Natlan Gnosis, we'll abandon the plan for now. Since we've suffered a defeat on the main battlefield, I won't press the issue further."
Angie: "What's our next move then?"
The Captain: "Angie, you and the Traveler are old acquaintances. I need you to contact her. The Traveler's strength is growing rapidly. If we proceed as planned, a battle between us is inevitable, and I want to avoid that conflict."
"The Traveler has the right to know the choices Natlan faces. Tell her the truth, and let her decide how to respond. Report back to me as soon as possible. After a few days of recuperation, I'll attempt to resume our plan."