"What... what is this!"
Paimon opened her mouth wide, staring at the golden-yellow energy shield shimmering around her.
Jean, Diluc, Lumine, and Venti also had golden shields shining around them. They all turned their gazes toward Takagi. Under the blessing of this shield, the fierce gale stirred up by Stormterror seemed to transform instantly into a refreshing breeze.
Diluc: "I misjudged him; this man is no ordinary person."
Jean: "Amazing defense—it can actually withstand Stormterror's fury!"
Lumine: "Were we all wrong about him?"
Paimon: "What the heck? If you had this power, you should have brought it out earlier!"
"Hehe, it's really a peculiar power. It feels a bit like that old man's power. With this, it seems we can withstand Dvalin's rage," Venti's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he spoke.
As the Anemo Archon, he could sense more than Lumine or the others. Although Takagi's power manifested as a thin energy shield, Venti felt the undeniable heaviness of a shield wielded by the Geo Archon within it.
"Everyone, if you have time to be surprised, why not think about how to quell the anger of the one in front of us?" Takagi said, staring at Stormterror.
After all, Stormterror was not truly an enemy, and Takagi couldn't bring himself to pierce him with the Flame Lance. He could only hope that Venti and the others would find a way to calm the dragon.
"You are right. However, it seems difficult to quell Stormterror's anger," Jean said bitterly, looking at the dragon. "He looks completely ready to fight to the death."
"It's all your fault! If you hadn't knocked him away, would he even be like this?" Paimon cried.
"Is there really no way?" Lumine looked at Venti.
"The current Dvalin has completely fallen into a rage. And the Holy Lyre der Himmel is also damaged... I don't have a way for now," Venti shook his head, watching Stormterror's increasingly fierce attacks.
But even as the dragon's strikes grew more violent, the winds he stirred up failed to cause even a ripple on Takagi's energy shields.
"Even you have no way? We can't just wait until his power is exhausted, can we?" Paimon asked.
"Ehe! Perhaps that is also a method," Venti smiled at Takagi. "As long as this gentleman can maintain such a shield."
Paimon: "Hey! No matter how you look at it, it's impossible to keep this up forever!"
Lumine: "Yeah, let's help too!"
Diluc: "I can still exert some power."
Jean: "I can still grip my sword."
Venti: "Don't underestimate him; he might really be able to persist until Dvalin's anger subsides." Venti looked meaningfully at Takagi's back.
"Wait, is that the Abyss Mage from before?! No, not just one—there are so many of them! How did they get here!"
Just as the Traveler was about to step forward, Paimon looked in the other direction and shrieked. The group looked over and saw an army composed of several Abyss Mages and dozens of Hilichurls and Mitachurls.
"You despicable humans, how dare you knock me away! Since that's the case, I have no choice but to attack you!" the leading Abyss Mage roared.
"It's the Abyss Mage who incited Stormterror earlier! He brought reinforcements for revenge! Damn it, it's all your fault!" Paimon looked at Takagi reproachfully.
"Be careful, or I might remove the shield from you, emergency food," Takagi warned.
"Ah! Don't remove my shield! Wait—how many times have I said it? Paimon is not emergency food!" Paimon stomped her feet in mid-air.
"Now, we have no choice but to fight. I hope this shield is reliable," Diluc took a deep breath, raised his claymore, and charged toward the Abyss Mages. He understood that to save Stormterror, they had to deal with the Abyss Mages first.
Seeing this, Jean, the Traveler, and Venti also drew their weapons and charged. Both sides manipulated elemental powers, immediately causing massive reactions across the grassland. Paimon, though protected by the shield, was so startled that she retreated far back.
"So scary! First Stormterror, and now an Abyss Mage army! If this continues, everyone will be in danger. No, we must call for help!"
Paimon exclaimed, summoning the Teyvat Continent Forum panel. She planned to relay the situation to the Knights of Favonius. Although Takagi's shield was still active, she didn't believe he could maintain it indefinitely—especially with new threats appearing.
[Paimon starts a live stream - Help! Paimon is going to be eaten by Stormterror!]
[Xiangling: Huh? Isn't this the Paimon who was going to try my new dish? Wait, you haven't tried it yet; you can't be eaten by Stormterror!]
[Hu Tao: As expected, Paimon is a potential client. Do you want to book a coffin now, Paimon?]
[Arataki Itto: Stormterror? What's that? Speaking of which, you're about to be eaten and you still have time to post? You're not lying, are you?]
[Paimon: I wouldn't lie! I'm really going to be eaten! Amber, Lisa, Kaeya—everyone from the Knights of Favonius, come and save me!]
[Arataki Itto: Let me see if it's a lie... Hiss, it's really a dragon?! This scene is too shocking!]
[Barbara: It's really Stormterror, and there are Abyss Mages too! My sister and Master Diluc are there!! This is bad, everyone needs help!]
Paimon's title was eye-catching, and before long, many people flooded the stream. Watching the live footage, everyone was shocked to their core.
[Neuvillette: Stormterror...]
[Azhdaha: Hehe, well done, Stormterror. Tear those humans to shreds.]
[Hu Tao: Hiss... This scene is quite exaggerated. Perhaps you all really do need to order coffins from me.]
[Zhongli: My apologies, everyone. Hu Tao doesn't always know how to speak properly. Please don't mind her, people of Mondstadt.]
[La Signora: Hehe, has the little mouse finally shown up? To think it only has this much power left!]
[Tartaglia: Is this the legendary Stormterror? It's so powerful! I want to participate in a battle like that too.]
[Arataki Itto: You actually want to fight a dragon? Who is this Tartaglia?]
[Keqing: A Fatui Harbinger. Definitely not a normal person!]
[Tartaglia: Fighting is my hobby; it doesn't mean I'm not normal. Speaking of which, who is that person blocking Stormterror? He seems really strong!]
[Amber: Acting Grand Master Jean, the Traveler, and even Master Diluc are fighting... I have to go help!]
[Kaeya: Oh my, even Master Diluc has been mobilized.]
[Lisa: My little darlings are actually fighting Stormterror? I hope it's not too late to set out now.]
[Paimon: Lisa, everyone—quickly think of a way! If we wait any longer, the man blocking Stormterror won't be able to hold on. Without the shield he summoned, we'll definitely be eaten!]
[Zhongli: So that's it. Is it the shield summoned by the man holding the Flame Lance? Judging by the weight of this shield, perhaps you are not in a crisis.]
[Paimon: Who are you, this "Zhongli"? Did you even watch my stream? If this isn't a crisis, then what is!]
[Zhongli: ...]