[The knights who charged under Jean Gunnhildr fell into Cider Lake, their fates unknown.]
[They stared in sheer terror as Aerin emerged from the dust. At that moment, every last shred of courage shattered.]
[Perhaps fear had already crushed their sanity. Amid beast-like roars, dozens more knights charged at Aerin in a frenzy.]
[It was futile. They didn't even get close. One by one, they followed the same path as the first wave.]
[After dealing with the second charge, Aerin prepared to move forward—]
[—when a crimson figure flashed past his side.]
Alice condensed Pyro in her hand, instantly forming a blazing red bomb.
No matter how strange a power is, she thought,
there must be intervals between its activations—especially something this terrifying.
But before she could throw it—
An invisible force slammed her flat against the ground.
"Aunt Alice!"
Seeing her pinned down, Albedo cried out in horror.
Albedo—the perfect alchemical creation modeled after the Primordial Human by Rhinedottir.
He regarded Rhinedottir as his mother, and it was she who entrusted him to her close friend Alice in Mondstadt.
By all rights—
He really did have to call her Aunt.
Seeing Alice in danger, Albedo rushed forward without hesitation.
The thought of Klee, still asleep inside the city, weighed heavily on his heart.
One thought filled his mind—
Aerin must not be allowed into Mondstadt.
Even if that meant unleashing the terrifying power Rhinedottir had sealed within him—
Even if it meant losing himself.
But what greeted Albedo was—
The bomb from Alice's own hand, kicked straight at him by Aerin.
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion rang out.
Albedo was blasted dozens of meters away, collapsing unconscious on the spot.
"Albedo!"
Alice's heart twisted painfully.
That was the child her dearest friend had entrusted to her—
Now lying broken in the distance.
"Damn you—!"
She tried to rise, only to realize her body felt as if it were glued to the earth.
No matter how she struggled, she could barely move even a finger.
"That bomb injured him," Aerin said calmly.
"It has nothing to do with me."
Those words made Alice's eyes blaze with fury.
Nothing to do with him?
He was the one invading Mondstadt.
If not for her immobilized body—even unable to lift her head—
She would have bitten straight into his throat.
"What surprises me," Aerin continued casually,
"is that a red fairy like you can still dance around."
"Seems I went a bit easy on you earlier."
"In that case—"
His voice cut off.
The suppressing force vanished instantly.
But before Alice could react—
Aerin's hand clamped around her throat, slamming her back to the ground.
Alice's heart sank.
She didn't know what awaited her—
Until she felt something tighten around her neck.
"This is an Energy Suppression Collar."
"It doesn't do much. Just links itself to the wearer."
"Any fluctuation of energy, and it releases an electric current."
"If you don't want to twitch and dance from electrocution, feel free to keep trying to use your element."
"After all, it's hard to focus while being shocked."
Aerin narrowed his eyes, patted Alice's head, and smiled.
"I told you—if you behave a little, you'll suffer much less."
At that moment—
Thunder cracked across the sky.
The surrounding light dimmed.
Aerin turned his head and spotted Mondstadt's librarian gathering elemental power in the distance.
Crackling sounds echoed overhead.
A sphere of violet lightning had already taken shape.
"Hehehe… perfect timing."
Alice laughed smugly beneath him.
"I knew I couldn't do much while injured."
"My job was just to draw your attention."
"Lisa is the real star here."
"So you're the bait," Aerin said calmly, glancing down at Alice, who wisely stayed silent.
"You weren't afraid she'd strike you down too?"
"Unfortunately—"
Lisa's casting time was too long.
If interrupted, all her preparation would be wasted.
Aerin raised his arm toward the distance.
In an instant, Lisa felt an overwhelming force drag her forward.
Just like Lumine and Amber before—
Her body flew uncontrollably toward Aerin, who seized her by the throat.
The lightning overhead dissipated instantly.
"No—!"
Lisa's heart lurched.
Even from that distance…?
Suspended by the neck, her long legs kicked instinctively as she grasped at Aerin's wrist.
Then—
Purple lightning flickered across Aerin's body.
"I can use lightning too," he said calmly.
"That's enough."
"The time for you two witches to dance is over."
Mondstadt.
In the bathhouse, Lisa stared at the light screen in disbelief.
Her future self—
Electrocuted and trembling uncontrollably.
Even soaking in warm water, her body felt inexplicably numb.
"Seriously… I'm Electro myself," she muttered.
"And I still end up like that?"
Lisa was completely shattered.
She cared deeply about appearances.
Her laziness was part of her elegance—or so she liked to think.
And yet her future self looked utterly miserable.
"Does that man have no sense of mercy?"
"And doesn't he know severe electrocution can cause… physiological chaos?"
"Thank goodness I'm Electro. Anyone else would've—ugh."
"Ahhh! This is so humiliating!"
Far away, Alice was fuming.
"That damned Fifth Descender—putting a collar on my neck! Absolutely unforgivable!"
"Waaah—!"
Bennett charged forward—
—and was immediately sent flying, screaming as he rolled into the bushes.
On the bridge, Mona and Fischl stared in horror at the fallen Mondstadt warriors.
When they turned back—
There was no one left behind them.
They exchanged a glance.
Only fear and despair reflected in each other's eyes.
From beginning to end—
Mondstadt had thrown everything they had at him.
And not once had anyone even touched Aerin.
The only contact—
Was Aerin gripping the throats of Alice and Lisa.
Alice was down.
Lisa was down.
Jean, Kaeya, and the knights who fell into Cider Lake—fate unknown.
Now—
Only Mona and Fischl remained.
Mondstadt's full strength—
Erased by one man in moments.
Mona could no longer tell whether this was reality—
Or a nightmare she couldn't wake from.
Step… step… step…
Footsteps drew closer.
The Prinzessin der Verurteilung could no longer speak.
Her legs gave out, and she collapsed.
Mona took a deep breath and forced out the last of her courage.
"I—I…"
"I am Ast—Astro—"
Her voice failed as Aerin arrived.
"Astrologist Mona Megistus."
Aerin picked up the fallen mage's hat, dusted it off, and gently placed it on her trembling head.
"I'll finish your introduction for you."
"Great Astrologist."
He didn't spare her another glance.
Instead, he walked straight toward Mondstadt's gate.
But just as Aerin crossed the bridge—
A figure staggered into view, bracing herself against the wall.
Jean Gunnhildr.
Soaked through.
Hair disheveled.
Blood trickling from her forehead.
Eyes swollen unevenly.
Her knightly armor shattered.
There was only one word for her state—
Wretched.
"You… are not allowed to enter Mondstadt."
Jean gripped her sword tightly, her limbs trembling.
Even so—
She stood firm at the gate.
Blocking his path.
"…Mm."
"You can barely hold your sword."
Jean clenched harder.
Seeing this, Aerin sighed softly.
He reached into his Imaginary Space—
And drew forth the twin-gun form of Judgment of Shamash.
Before Jean's fading vision—
The blazing guns erupted in flame, transforming into the Greatsword of Heavenly Fire.
But that wasn't its final form.
Aerin raised it high.
Flames roared.
A storm of fire spiraled around the blade.
When the light subsided—
The weapon transformed once more.
Judgment of Shamash — Annihilation Form.
Like the incarnation of a god of destruction.
Only the brilliance of a dying star could rival its glow.
Thus came the name "Annihilation."
No one had ever truly unleashed its power—
Until it fell into the hands of the Fifth Descender.
Only then did its will of destruction fully awaken.
If he wished—
This single strike could shatter all of Teyvat.
Its name was—
"Heavenly Fire Drawn."
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