Lydia wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. The warm crimson liquid on her fingertips dripped through the cracks between her fingers, splattering against the icy ground and spreading into a small, dark red stain.
The sensation instantly snapped her muddled mind into sharp focus.
She tightened her grip on Festering Desire. The sword's light flickered violently in response to her surging emotions, as if echoing her suppressed rage.
Her gaze cut through the battlefield's smoke and dust, locking onto the Poison Dragon Knight in the distance.
Lydia's pupils narrowed to pinpricks, her eyes fixated on the monster's left chest—the pulsating, crimson heart—and the Vision faintly glimmering beneath the armor on its right chest.
It was exactly as Amber had described before falling unconscious!
"You!" Lydia's voice trembled with fury. Her snow-white hair stirred without wind, the tips still stained with drying blood, yet radiating a chilling murderous intent.
A flood of images erupted in her mind: Amber lying pale as paper on the Cathedral sickbed; Lucy promising to make a flower crown herself; Tom smiling as he said he'd prepared a bottle of fine wine; Jack blushing while rehearsing his confession, and herself pondering how to turn him down...
These fragments burned into her heart like red-hot brands, and rage erupted from the depths of her soul like molten lava.
"Lydia! Don't be reckless!" Lumine reached out to stop her, but her fingers only brushed against a fluttering corner of Lydia's robe.
Anemo coalesced around Lydia, forming a swirling vortex as she shot forward like an arrow loosed from its bow, charging toward the Poison Dragon Knight.
Festering Desire sliced through the air, its luminous blade intertwining with the glow of her Vision to create a lethal sword shadow aimed squarely at the enemy's back!
Yet the Poison Dragon Knight's reaction was astonishingly swift. As if she had eyes in the back of her head, she whirled around with lightning speed, her Ice Sword intercepting the strike with perfect precision.
Clang!
The crisp metallic clash reverberated through the air, making the very atmosphere tremble.
Ice and Abyss energy surged along the blades, and a jolt of immense force surged through Lydia's arm, numbing her grip. Festering Desire nearly slipped from her grasp.
The unhealed wound on her shoulder split open again, blood seeping out to stain her white sleeve crimson.
"So you did hurt Amber!" Lydia snarled, her eyes burning with fury.
She swung her sword again, aiming the blade directly at the knight's left chest, toward her heart.
But her desperate haste left her attack riddled with openings.
The Poison Dragon Knight easily sidestepped the attack, its Ice Sword arcing back in a counterstrike. The razor-sharp blade grazed Lydia's waist, tearing a deep, bone-revealing gash. Crimson blood gushed forth, staining her snow-white skirt crimson.
Even more lethal, the other Poison Dragon Knight, witnessing its comrade's attack, erupted in a surge of dark energy and teleported directly behind Lydia!
Its right hand conjured a chain wreathed in black energy, lashing out to ensnare her ankles. Its left hand clenched into a fist, slamming toward her back!
"Lydia, watch out!" Lumine's heart seized. Anemo energy exploded from her body as she transformed into a faint turquoise afterimage, instantly surging to Lydia's side.
Raising the Dull Blade horizontally, she forcibly blocked the crushing punch. The immense force sent her staggering back several steps, her arm numb and a trickle of blood oozing from the corner of her mouth.
The two Poison Dragon Knights moved with seamless coordination. Seeing Lumine temporarily forced back, they flanked Lydia from left and right, trapping her between them.
Lydia gritted her teeth, slashing Festering Desire in an arc before her. Elemental Power flared, forming a fleeting barrier that barely repelled the two attackers.
Her stamina had already been severely depleted in the earlier battle. Combined with her desperate state of mind, the knights pierced her shoulder with the Ice Sword after only three exchanges.
The force of the blow sent her crashing to the ground, the Festering Desire clattering from her grasp and skidding several meters away.
"Lydia!"
Jean and Lumine rushed forward simultaneously, positioning themselves on either side of Lydia to shield her from the Poison Dragon Knights. Their gazes locked with the knights' across the battlefield.
Lydia knelt on one knee, reaching for the Festering Desire, but a searing pain shot through her wounded shoulder, freezing her movement.
Sweat and blood matted her snow-white hair, sticking to her pale cheeks. Her gaze remained fixed on the Poison Dragon Knights, her eyes burning with resentment and fury.
Seeing this, the Favonius Knights on the city walls raised their weapons, the clang of armor and furious roars echoing across the battlefield:
"Acting Grand Master Jean! Let us go down and help!"
"Lord Barbatos has returned! We won't cower before these monsters!"
"There's strength in numbers! We can't stand by and watch these beasts bully our people of Mondstadt!"
Their morale surged, their hands trembling with anticipation as they gripped their spears, itching to charge down from the walls and tear the monsters that had harmed their comrade to shreds.
"Hold your ground!" Jean's voice rang out with unwavering authority.
She turned to address the knights, her brow furrowed deeply.
"Your mission is to defend the city walls and gates! These monsters are far stronger than you can imagine. Charging down there would not only be useless but would only increase casualties!"
"As Acting Grand Master, I order you to hold the gates at all costs! We must not allow them to set foot in Mondstadt!"
Several young Knights wanted to protest, but before they could speak, Lisa and Kaeya stepped in from behind.
Leaning against the battlements, Lisa twirled a faint Electro element around her fingertip. Her languid tone carried undeniable authority: "Little ones, listen to reason~"
Kaeya clapped a Knight on the shoulder. "Jean is right. Defending the walls and preventing the monsters from entering Mondstadt is the greatest help you can provide."
The Knights fell silent, their faces filled with resentment.
They knew the pair spoke the truth, but they couldn't bear to stand by idly while Lydia was so badly injured.
Despite this, Mondstadt's elite combatants—Diluc, Noelle, Bennett, Fischl, Kaeya, Lisa, and others—began to converge on Lydia's position.
Flames reflected in Diluc's eyes, burning with cold, murderous intent. His footsteps were steady as he positioned himself on Lydia's left side. Lisa moved to Jean's side, a ball of Electro energy slowly materializing in her palm...
Noelle hurried forward and helped Lydia to her feet, her voice full of concern. "Lydia, are you alright?"
Despite the tension etched on his face, Bennett declared firmly, "Lydia, don't be afraid! This time, I'll be the one to save you!"
Fischl raised her hand, summoning Oz, whose raven feathers spiraled through the air. She pressed her hand against her chest, her voice ringing with fervor. "My retinue is assembled! Let any who dare harm our comrade face the wrath of the night raven and repent in the darkness!"
Lydia leaned against Noelle, feeling the warmth of her companions gathered around her. Her eyes began to sting slightly as she watched their resolute backs, her heart enveloped in a warm current.
The two Poison Dragon Knights showed no fear at the sudden surge of reinforcements, their eyes instead gleaming with excitement.
The Visions within their bodies suddenly flared with blinding light, and ice coalesced frantically in the knights' free hands, gradually forming identical Ice Swords!
Lydia's pupils constricted to pinpricks, her heart clenching as if gripped by an invisible hand. Even breathing became labored.
Her gaze locked onto the Poison Dragon Knight's glowing chest—the shape of the Vision, the minute scratches around its edges, even the elemental fluctuations emanating from it were identical to her parents' relics!
"That's... my Vision!" Lydia's voice trembled uncontrollably.
She wrenched herself free from Lumine's restraining grip and reached out toward the Ice Sword, her body trembling with excitement.
The Poison Dragon Knight, wielding dual swords, seemed to sense Lydia's emotions. It tilted its head slightly, its movements pausing briefly.
After a long moment, it spread her arms wide and took a step forward.
A howling blast of frigid energy erupted from the swords, hurtling toward the group!