Not long after that, Lin Mo brought Dvalin, Albedo, and Huahua back to the cliff where everyone had been waiting.
Before returning, Lin Mo had carefully warned them not to reveal their identities from five hundred years ago. Otherwise, it would mean endless explanations—and worse, it would expose the fact that he himself was the root cause behind the demonic dragon's descent all those years ago.
"Huh? All three Albedo brothers are back!" Klee was the first to notice the four of them returning.
But when everyone saw the smiles on their faces, confusion crept into their expressions.
From their perspective, the three Albedos now seemed to have completely let go of their guard toward one another, and all of them treated Lin Mo with obvious respect.
It made everyone curious.
What on earth had happened between them?
Lin Mo naturally noticed the doubts in their eyes. Smiling, he said, "I'm sure you all have many questions. Let me explain everything, step by step."
After ten minutes of explanation, Lin Mo laid out Dvalin and Huahua's intentions in approaching everyone.
He told them that although what they had done on Dragonspine today might have seemed inappropriate, Dvalin's intentions were not malicious at all. He simply wanted to try living as an ordinary person—to integrate into the crowd, and into Mondstadt itself.
Of course, Lin Mo also told them about Dvalin's identity as the demonic dragon from back then. According to the records, Dvalin had almost completely lost his sanity at the time.
To dispel their wariness, Lin Mo emphasized that the calamity of the demonic dragon's descent had not been Dvalin's own will. The one truly at fault was Rhinedottir, who had controlled him.
"Ohhh—so the Albedo brother Klee met at the cave yesterday was actually Brother Dvalin in disguise!"Klee blinked her big eyes. "Klee didn't recognize him at all! He looked exactly like the real Albedo brother!"
"Klee, from today on, I'm your brother too." Dvalin crouched down in front of her with a smile and gently rubbed her head. "From now on, you can rely on me just like you do on Albedo."
"If Klee wants to go fish-blasting, there's a lake near Sal Terrae by the snow mountain. Behind the mountain, there's an endless ocean."
"I can take you blasting to your heart's content."
"Even the entire snow mountain—wherever you want to blow things up, Brother Dvalin will take you there."
"Waaah!"Klee looked utterly enchanted.
Judging by her sparkling eyes, she was already itching to have Dvalin take her off to blast fish everywhere.
Watching the siblings reunite, a look of relief appeared in Lin Mo's eyes.
Albedo was the adopted son raised by Alice and himself.
But Dvalin… Dvalin was Klee's real elder brother.
The kindness Albedo had shown Klee all these years—Dvalin would surely return it tenfold.
But… now wasn't the time for Klee to run wild.
"Klee, no fish-blasting just yet, okay?" Lin Mo pinched her little ear lightly. "Your Brother Dvalin still has something important to do."
"Something important?" Klee blinked. "What is it?"
Since she asked, Lin Mo looked around at everyone and said seriously, "Everyone, I need to ask you for a favor."
"I'll do my best!" Amber immediately replied.
The others froze for a moment and instinctively looked at her.
Amber was indeed enthusiastic, but… this was her first time meeting Lin Mo, wasn't it?
He hadn't even said what the favor was yet, and she'd already agreed so eagerly.
The truth was, Amber had wanted to speak to Lin Mo for some time.
When she followed Eula to find the others earlier, she recognized Lin Mo at first glance—the flight instructor from her dreams.
In those dreams, it was Lin Mo who patiently taught her how to glide, taking her to soar across the highest points of Teyvat.
From Mondstadt's Starsnatch Cliff, they flew across the sea to the rarely visited Crab Island in the eastern waters.
From Amakumo Peak on Seirai Island, they flew north all the way to Tatarasuna.
From Qingyun Peak, they flew east to Liyue Harbor.
And finally, from the Skyfrost Nail, they returned to their homeland—Mondstadt City.
Amber still remembered that moment above the bridge in Mondstadt, when she landed perfectly with a plunge attack—only to accidentally step on several pigeons, making Timmie burst into tears and run toward the city gate.
She desperately wanted to tell Lin Mo that even in the real world, she was a qualified gliding expert he had personally trained.
"Mm… Amber, I really will need your help later," Lin Mo nodded at her. "I want to ask everyone to search the Dragonspine area and persuade any adventurers still on the mountain to leave."
"Leave Dragonspine?"Paimon tilted her head. "Why? Is some kind of disaster about to happen?"
"It's… not exactly a disaster," Lin Mo shook his head. "We're planning to revive the demonic dragon Dvalin. The commotion when he revives may trigger avalanches, and I don't want any innocent people to get hurt."
"Revive… the demonic dragon Dvalin?"Eula's pupils shrank slightly.
Amber looked just as shocked.
Their gazes instinctively shifted to Dvalin, who was currently in Albedo's form.
As Knights of Favonius, they were well aware of the calamity caused by the demonic dragon centuries ago.
Back then, the newly born demonic dragon Dvalin had nearly fought the Anemo Dragon, Dvalin, to a standstill. Without the Knights' intervention, the outcome had been uncertain.
Even after his defeat, the cursed blood of the demonic dragon had polluted Dvalin, turning Mondstadt's protector into a feared Stormterror.
Only a month ago had the dragon crisis finally been resolved.
They couldn't understand why Lin Mo would revive such a terrifying existence.
"Don't worry, everyone," Lin Mo said with a smile. "This time, the revived dragon can control his own consciousness and won't harm Mondstadt."
As he spoke, he patted Dvalin's shoulder. "See? He'll be the one in control."
"Waaah! Brother Dvalin! You're going to turn into a giant dragon?!"Klee's eyes lit up with unprecedented excitement.
Dvalin smiled and nodded. "Yes. Mr. Lin Mo is willing to activate the device my mother left behind."
"It will draw out the vast ley line power buried beneath the mountain and restore my dragon body."
"But it may cause large-scale avalanches."
"So, I hope everyone can help persuade any travelers still on the mountain to leave."
"I'll head down to find Noelle right now," Eula nodded. "She's at the camp with Joel. I'll also notify the Adventurers' Guild."
"I'll fly around the mountain and check if there are any stragglers!" Amber raised her hand eagerly.
"Traveler, what can we do?" Paimon asked, frowning as she looked at Lumine.
"I… don't think there's much I can help with," Lumine said awkwardly.
"Of course there is!" Lin Mo laughed, glancing toward Albedo's camp.
Bennett was sprawled beside the campfire, sleeping soundly.
"That guy's luck is always terrible. If he goes down the mountain alone… he might wander around for days without finding the way."
Lin Mo turned back to Lumine. "So I'll have to trouble you and Paimon to escort him safely down."
"Leave it to me!" Lumine accepted immediately.
Soon, everyone split up to carry out their tasks.
"Godfather, is there anything I can help with?" Albedo finally asked.
Lin Mo glanced at the laboratory and sighed. "You should take care of your equipment. When Dvalin revives, the commotion might collapse this lab."
"I suggest you move the supplies outside the camp."
"…Sorry I couldn't be of more help," Albedo said apologetically.
"You've already helped me a lot by taking care of Klee all these years," Lin Mo replied with a smile.
"That's only right."
Before long, Albedo began moving his equipment.
Lin Mo, meanwhile, led Dvalin and Huahua to the snow-covered path above the dragon's remains.
"Father, should I return to the dragon's heart now?" Dvalin asked respectfully.
"Yes," Lin Mo nodded.
Turning to Huahua, who had returned to her original Whopperflower form, he asked, "What about you? Will you be okay?"
"Please rest assured, Father. I can burrow underground—an avalanche won't harm me," Huahua lowered her flower crown politely.
"Good. Then I'll go activate the device," Lin Mo said, smiling. "I'm looking forward to seeing you as a dragon."
"Thank you, Father."
After bidding them farewell, Lin Mo climbed the towering Dragonspine alone.
The device he and Rhinedottir had set up years ago was at the summit.
Once activated, the ley line power contained within the entire mountain would erupt like a volcano.
Dvalin would absorb this surging energy through his dragon heart, rebuilding his colossal body.
At the same time, Lin Mo could gather the ley line power he needed for Lisa and Rosalyne's enhanced heart reconstruction.
By the time Lin Mo reached the summit, over an hour had passed. Half an hour should have been more than enough for ordinary people to evacuate.
Without hesitation, he pressed his fingerprint onto the device.
In that instant—
RUMBLE—!
Heaven and earth roared together.
The entire mountain seemed to wail in agony.
Ghostly lights representing ley line energy filled the sky.
"It's begun…"
Lin Mo stepped to the cliff's edge and looked down.
From above, he could clearly see the ghostly light converging on the snow-covered path, pouring into the dragon's bones and regenerating flesh at a terrifying speed.
In just ten minutes, Dvalin's massive body was covered in brand-new dragon scales.
"ROOOOAR—!"
A dragon's roar shook the heavens.
Avalanches began.
Centuries of accumulated snow crashed downward like a reversed tsunami.
At the same time, countless gray streaks of light shot upward from all over the mountain, gathering around the dragon's body.
Lin Mo knew—this was Dvalin drawing on the ley lines, pulling star-silver ore from the mountain to forge indestructible scales.
"ROOOOAR—!"
With another earth-shaking roar, the colossal dragon stood up.
Its mountain-like body leapt into the air, spreading its massive wings at the apex.
The hurricane winds scattered clouds that had hung over Dragonspine for thousands of years.
For the first time since the ancient empire's fall, the mountain saw the sun.
The Nightmare Dragon Dvalin had returned.
Lin Mo was certain—reborn Dvalin far surpassed his former self in both power and defense.
After circling the mountain several times, Dvalin returned to the path where his remains had once lain.
He wasn't restraining himself for lack of desire—he simply wanted to see Lin Mo and the Knights as soon as possible.
To tell them he was no longer the dragon who had brought disaster to Mondstadt.
That he could now protect it, just like the Anemo Dragon once had.
Soon, everyone reunited.
Klee ran excitedly up to Dvalin's enormous head and patted his star-silver scales.
"Wow! You really are Brother Dvalin!"
"Um… Klee, I'm a dragon, not a lizard," Dvalin corrected solemnly.
"Then… can Klee ride on Brother Dvalin and go play?" she asked, eyes sparkling.
"Well…" Dvalin hesitated. "Mr. Lin Mo, is that okay?"
Lin Mo lifted Klee into his arms with a smile. "Where does Klee want to go?"
"With Brother Dvalin, Klee can go anywhere, right?""I want to go to Liyue! I heard there are funny-patterned big lizards there called Ancient Geovishaps!"
"I also want to go to Inazuma! And Sumeru! I want to go everywhere!"
Everyone laughed softly—Dvalin might just become Klee's personal travel driver.
"Liyue…" Lin Mo paused, suddenly remembering something.
He turned to Lumine and Paimon. "Didn't you say you wanted to go to Liyue?"
"Do you want Dvalin to take us there?"
"Ride a giant dragon? Really?!" Paimon squealed. "Traveler, say yes! Last time on Stormterror I didn't get enough!"
"Then… I'll be in your care," Lumine said politely, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"I want to go too!" Amber raised her hand eagerly.
Eula stepped up beside Lin Mo, clearly intending to come along.
Noelle sighed. "Noelle wants to go too… but there's still so much work at the Knights' headquarters…"
"It's fine," Lin Mo said kindly. "With Dvalin around, there'll be plenty of chances."
He patted Dvalin's scales and asked, "Albedo, Bennett—what about you?"
"I promised the Adventurers' Guild I'd stay busy these days," Bennett scratched his head. "I really want to go, but I'll pass."
"I have to rebuild the lab," Albedo said calmly. "Have fun, everyone."
"Alright, then. Next time we'll all travel together."
Lin Mo smiled. "Everyone—let's go!"
"Yay! Brother Dvalin is taking us to Liyue!"
With a powerful beat of his wings, the star-silver dragon soared into the sky, clouds rolling in his wake.
Klee laughed with delight. "Brother Dvalin flies so fast!"
Lin Mo smiled as well.
He hadn't expected Dvalin to truly be reborn—and to become Mondstadt's new guardian dragon.
Not one bound by divine duty, but his own son.
Liyue Harbor — Rite of Descension
Clouds spiraled ominously above the platform.
Today was a major day in Liyue—the Rite of Descension, presided over by Lady Ningguang.
Just as the ceremony reached its most critical moment—
"Look! What's that?!""A dazzling giant dragon? Has such a powerful being ever existed in Teyvat?""It's flying toward the Rite! Is it trying to challenge the Geo Archon's authority?!"
High above Liyue Harbor—
"Wow! Is that Liyue?" Klee pointed excitedly. "Brother Lin Mo, the buildings are so pretty!"
"Yes, this is Liyue—the most prosperous nation in Teyvat," Lin Mo replied.
"Huh?" Paimon squinted. "What's that swirling cloud over there? Is it a Liyue specialty?"
"Swirling cloud… Rite of Descension…""Uh-oh."
"Isn't that the Rite of Descension?!"
"Crap—this misunderstanding is huge!"
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T/N:
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