For the adventurers currently active in Orario, magic was always something to look forward to.
Even within this very expedition, Tiona had long dreamed of awakening her own magic.
Of course, as a Level 5, she shouldn't have lacked the funds to buy a Grimoire, a magic tome that allows one to awaken new spells.
Unfortunately, unlike Ais, who wielded the indestructible Desperate Sword, Tiona had a habit of breaking her weapons.
Worse still, she favored massive double-blades, which consumed enormous amounts of rare forging materials.
So naturally, saving up for "a little goal" was impossible.
Which meant that the wish to buy a Grimoire and awaken magic had been delayed again and again…
Speaking of which, on the night a certain red-eyed rabbit boy first awakened magic, he had been so excited he couldn't even wait a day.
He snuck into the Dungeon to test it, only to burn through his mana in his excitement and faint right there on the First Floor.
If not for Riveria and Ais passing by at that exact moment, that so-called "Familia legend" might have ended right then and there with him being devoured.
Anyway, point being, for adventurers, magic was simply that alluring.
And now…
"Highest-tier summoning magic?"
Hearing Riveria's evaluation, even Bete fell into deep thought.
Aether only shrugged, chuckling lightly.
"I'll explain later. This move eats a lot of mana."
"So, we're moving in now."
No sooner had he spoken,
FWOOOSH~
Golden motes of light gathered as the Traveler's Sword and the Dawnblade appeared in his and Ying's hands.
Exchanging a glance with Fischl, the three of them dashed toward the Great Labyrinth Tree.
Mid-run, Fischl raised her hand, summoning a longbow of dark brown wood.
[Slingshot]
Of course, not the Y-shaped toy for pebbles, but a three-star Genshin Impact weapon that boosted Critical Rate.
At Refinement Rank 1, its passive effect was:
"If an arrow fired by a Normal Attack or Charged Attack hits an enemy within 0.3 seconds of firing, damage increases by 36%. Otherwise, damage decreases by 10%."
And thanks to her daily 4 a.m. "gacha draws," Fischl's Slingshot was now Refinement Rank 4, raising the damage bonus to 54%.
So basically, she's playing close-range archer. Got it.
Aether's mind was crystal clear.
At that moment,
BZZZZZZZ~
Since the trio hadn't bothered hiding their approach, instead charging straight in, the swarming insect-type monsters locked onto them as soon as they were within eighty meters.
Normally, Fischl, as an archer, should've stopped to provide ranged cover while her allies tanked.
But with a Slingshot, her damage fell off at range.
And besides, they were facing the Deadly Hornets.
Like the infamous Killer Ants, they were Dungeon-crafted executioners, designed specifically to prey on Level 2 and above adventurers.
Their carapaces were even harder than Killer Ant armor.
On top of that, they boasted terrifying speed and agility in the air.
With such evasive ability, average archers couldn't even hit them.
And even if they did, arrows simply bounced off their armored shells.
Small mercy that their stingers can't be fired as projectiles… at least we won't be facing a "bullet hell."
And against bugs like these, the best answer was,
"Immernachtreich Apokalypse!"
With a confident cry, Fischl leapt skyward.
Her body shimmered, and in the blink of an eye, she became a massive night raven with wings spanning over three meters, cloaked in thunderous energy.
On either side of her, Aether and Lumine unleashed Wind Vortex Blades, easily catching the electric element. Purple lightning spread outward in a wave.
ZZAAP!
Elemental Reaction: Electro-Swirl!
Their charge became an unstoppable storm surging straight toward the Bloodhive.
Behind them,
"She can transform into a thunderbird? Could it be some kind of elemental spirit?" Riveria's eyes sharpened.
"This magic… it may exceed even my understanding."
"Let's not debate." Finn hefted his White Spear, voice firm.
"We need to follow quickly."
Then, with a small smile to ease the tension:
"After all, no one here wants to miss this adventure."
"Right!" Tiona bolted ahead, her double-blade bouncing on her back.
"Onii-san! Lumine! Wait for me!"
"You idiot Amazon, why are you yelling now?!" Bete growled, but still ran after her.
"Don't… disturb them." Ais reminded softly.
"Oh. True." Tiona waved her blade like a flag.
"Never mind! Don't wait for me after all!"
"…Good grief."
Riveria, Finn, and Lefiya could only exchange helpless smiles as they followed.
Meanwhile,
"Scatter!"
Aether's trio had reached the Great Labyrinth Tree. Fischl's raven form faded just as their Wind Vortex exploded, blasting the hornet swarm apart.
And from the dispersing lightning,
Caw!
Oz appeared, smaller than Fischl's raven form but brimming with thunder, his consciousness linked to Aether's.
He immediately spat a bolt of Electro energy, striking a hornet mid-dive.
Too bad she's still at Constellation Level 0. Oz can't go full machine gun yet.
Even so,
"Fischl, burn some mana. Hit 'em hard."
"A trivial matter."
The golden-haired girl raised her left hand to her eyepatch.
Travelers and Genshin heroes alike could develop entirely new skills.
For Fischl, her personal ability was: [Evernight Amethyst]
By expending mana, she could unleash powers beyond mere Elemental Skill or Burst.
And her chosen path had always been clear.
After all, outside Teyvat, her power was on a whole other level.
Now,
[Shadowraven, hunger for the Midnight,]
With a brief chant, Fischl's fingers brushed her eyepatch. Lightning flared.
"As milady commands!"
Oz shot upward into the hollow's ceiling.
Wings spread wide,
And down poured a rain of divine thunder.
KRAK-BOOOOM!
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