"Boom—!!!"
A massive explosion sounded as if it would shatter the sky, shaking the entire city of Mondstadt.
"Hmm?!"
Everyone looked up simultaneously, only to see that the previously clear sky was now completely covered by churning dark clouds. Within the clouds was not ordinary lightning, but blood-red thunderbolts that pulsed like veins, radiating an ominous aura!
And beneath those heart-stopping dark clouds were countless monsters, packed densely like a plague of locusts!
They roared and writhed, gathering into an endless black tide that pressed down upon Mondstadt City!
"Well, look at that. They got desperate and decided to flip the table?"
Jesse clicked his tongue.
Zane immediately opened the communication module on his mask and spoke urgently: "Wolf King! Change of plans! The enemy flipped the chessboard! Immediately execute the 'Annihilation Protocol'! Repeat, execute the Annihilation Protocol!"
"Received. Protocol initiating."
The Wolf King, suspended in the air, instantly deactivated its Optical Camouflage. The twenty-meter-tall silver-white mech fully revealed itself amidst a chorus of "Wow!!!" from the citizens of Mondstadt.
Its cold electronic eyes locked onto the monster tide below. Torso, limbs, back... countless armor plates slid open, revealing dense arrays of missile silos and gun barrels beneath!
"Bang bang bang bang bang—!!!"
The next moment, like the most insane fireworks display during a festival, countless miniature missiles trailing exhaust flames poured out like a swarm of bees, accurately landing in the densest areas of the monster horde!
The continuous flashes of explosive fire turned the sky into daylight. Monster remnants and black energy fragments rained down like precipitation.
Simultaneously, several improved "Guizhong Ballistae" installed on the Wolf King's shoulders and back began to roar. Golden elemental arrows formed destructive barrages, scything down the monsters daring to charge and forcefully halting the black tide at the outskirts of Mondstadt City!
"Roar roar roar—!!!"
Another deafening roar, one that even drowned out the sound of the explosions!
To everyone's astonished gaze, a massive, dark red Demonic Dragon, radiating intense decay and ominous aura, tore through the clouds and descended!
"Durin the Demonic Dragon... how could it be..."
Lisa's expression was graver than ever before.
The Wolf King reacted extremely fast. The massive Plasma Cannon on its right arm instantly charged, and a thick, azure energy beam, like the Spear of Judgment, accurately struck Durin's chest!
"Awooo—!"
Durin let out a painful shriek, its massive body reeling backward from the impact.
However, just when everyone thought this blow would at least severely injure it, the massive hole melted into Durin's chest by the Plasma Cannon rapidly healed at a visible rate!
It shook its head, and even more ferocious rage burned in its scarlet dragon eyes as it recklessly charged toward the Wolf King once more!
The Wolf King immediately retreated. The giant mechanical body displayed astonishing flexibility, delivering a powerful, heavy spinning kick. Its metallic foot slammed hard into Durin's side face, sending it flying like a bounced ball, where it crashed into a distant small mountain.
"How is that possible?! The Wolf King's attack was useless?!"
Elliot's eyes were practically popping out of his head.
They were well aware of the Wolf King's combat power. Logically speaking, no creature on the continent of Teyvat should be able to withstand a direct hit from a Plasma Cannon and walk away as if nothing happened!
"It's the Undying Curse."
Zane said in a deep voice, his brow furrowed beneath the mask.
"I just detected that its life signal dropped to zero the instant it was hit, but almost simultaneously, an even stronger force forcibly pulled it back, resurrecting it instantly!"
"No way?! Where did Durin get the Undying Curse from?! Isn't that thing the exclusive patent of the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles?!"
Jesse was also shocked.
"Uh..."
Matt raised his massive finger and pointed innocently toward Celestia.
"Is it possible... that the person up there did it?"
Lumine immediately reacted: "Are you talking about the Archons of Celestia?"
"No!"
Jesse, Elliot, Zane, and Matt said in unison, their tones resolute and tinged with the grief and indignation of having seen through the truth:
"It's that dog author—!!! He must have been out of ideas and forcibly applied a buff to Durin!!!"
At the same time, high above in Celestia.
"Hurry up and think of a solution for me!!!"
The Archon of Death, Nonawa, had completely lost her usual composure. She fiercely grabbed the collar of the Alchemist Rhinedottir, shaking him back and forth frantically, her expression so distraught it resembled a Face-Pulling Performance.
"Hurry up and take back that mad dog of a Demonic Dragon! If you don't, that metal hunk named Wolf King down there is going to rush up here again and 'reason' with us using its fists! I don't want to work with a swollen butt anymore!!!"
"I—I can't do anything!"
Rhinedottir, dizzy from being shaken, cried out helplessly.
"Durin lost its self-awareness long ago. It's currently being completely driven by some external force; it won't listen to my commands at all!"
She paused, equally confused and frantic: "And why does it have the Undying Curse, Nonawa?! Isn't that something only you can inflict?!"
"How should I know!!!"
Nonawa let out an even more miserable shriek, released Rhinedottir, and squatted in the corner, clutching her head.
"I swear to the sleeping Heavenly Principles! I truly never inflicted any Undying Curse on Durin! Why would I, with nothing better to do, strengthen a dead dragon just to cause myself trouble?! If those four Hilichurl Plagues down there come knocking, I won't be able to clear my name even if I jump into the Springvale Spring! They'll definitely think I was behind it, and then my butt will suffer again, sob sob sob..."
Rhinedottir looked at her collapsing colleague, then at the Wolf King fiercely battling "Undying Durin" and the monster army below, and finally at those few Hilichurls pointing at Celestia and cursing the "dog author," and felt her own head begin to ache.
What kind of mess is this... Who is adding drama behind the scenes?!
Istaroth: "You can't see me! You can't see me!"