A Desperate Sea Voyage and Protection
The wild wind raged across the ocean, raising towering waves as if it would drag everything in the world into an endless abyss. A battered merchant ship, packed with the people of Inazuma, fled desperately toward Sumeru. Its sails flapped violently in the wind, as though they would tear apart at any moment.
At the bow, the Traveler Aether wore a grave expression, his grip tight on the hilt of his sword as he scanned his surroundings warily. Beside him, Paimon fluttered about anxiously, muttering repeatedly: "What do we do? They're still chasing us!"
A few days earlier, Inazuma had fallen into a terrible war. Lü Bu, a warrior from another world, led his mighty army like a raging tide. Though the samurai of Inazuma fought with their lives, they could not withstand Lü Bu's unstoppable ferocity and the brutality of his troops.
Aether too joined the battle to defend Inazuma, unleashing all his power. Elemental energy swirled and glowed in his hands as he fought side by side with his friends. Yet Lü Bu wielded his Sky-Piercing Halberd, charging left and right across the battlefield like a descending god. Everywhere he went, blood flowed like rivers. In the end, Inazuma fell beneath his iron hooves.
With no other choice, Aether led the surviving civilians onto the road to exile in Sumeru.
But Lü Bu would not let them escape so easily.
A fleet of tall warships was now bearing down on them, fierce and imposing. On their decks, flags fluttered wildly, emblazoned with Lü Bu's army symbol.
Aether watched the enemy ships draw closer, his brows furrowed as he silently plotted a way out of this predicament.
Just then, a familiar shout rang out over the waves.
Aether squinted — a fast ship cut through the water like an arrow loosed from a bow. Standing at its bow was a figure in silver armor, holding a spear, imposing and heroic.
It was Zhao Yun.
Zhao Yun's gaze was firm as he shouted: "Traveler, fear not! Yun has come to aid you!"
With that, he gripped his spear, leaped into the air, and landed on the foremost of Lü Bu's warships.
In an instant, cold light flashed. Zhao Yun moved like a dragon emerging from the sea, cutting through the enemy ranks seven times in and out. Where his spear struck, soldiers fell one after another, their blood staining the deck.
Caught off guard by the sudden assault, Lü Bu's forces fell into chaos, their tight formation breaking apart in an instant.
Seeing this, Aether immediately ordered the merchant ship to speed ahead.
But Lü Bu's army would not give up. After regrouping, they resumed their chase.
Zhao Yun fought fiercely to hold them back, shouting toward Aether's ship: "Traveler, take the people and go ahead! I will hold the line!"
He turned and charged back into the fray, drawing all of the enemy's attention to himself.
Amid the brutal fighting, Zhao Yun sustained several wounds, yet he did not flinch. He swept his spear, forcing the approaching warships back, and deftly dodged the enemy's elemental attacks.
Meanwhile, Aether's ship tossed and turned in the waves — until at last, they spotted the coastline of Sumeru. The outline of Port Ormos grew clearer by the second.
When Aether and the people finally set foot on Sumeru's soil, everyone collapsed to the ground, overcome by the joy and exhaustion of surviving disaster.
Aether looked back at the ocean. Zhao Yun's fast ship had vanished into the smoke and flames of battle, his fate unknown.
He clenched his fists and swore silently:
"I must grow stronger. I must take back Inazuma… and save Zhao Yun!"
In Sumeru, Aether and the people began a new life. But he never forgot his mission. He trained diligently every day, searching far and wide for the power to stand against Lü Bu's army.
And on that war-torn sea, Zhao Yun's bravery rode the winds, spreading gradually across Teyvat. It became a legend spoken by all, inspiring more and more people to join the fight against Lü Bu's tyranny.