After finishing their meal, the group went to visit Ningguang. Upon hearing that Rover and the others were planning to head to Inazuma, she pondered for a moment before asking them to wait a few more days, as she would make the necessary arrangements.
Shortly after returning to the room provided by the Qixing, they heard a knock at the door.
Aether was slightly puzzled—who would come looking for them at this hour?
"Greetings, travelers."
A tall, blond man wearing an eyepatch entered their line of sight.
Rover invited the man inside, and once everyone was seated, the man spoke.
"My name is Dainsleif. I've come specifically to seek you two out."
Rover and Aether exchanged glances, unsure of the purpose behind his visit.
"I am someone who specializes in opposing the Abyss, and you… have crossed paths with them before."
Hearing this, Rover recalled that he had encountered the person codenamed "the Princess" twice.
The first time was in Stormterror's Lair, where the mysterious figure showed no intention of approaching or speaking to him. The second time was when she commanded an army of monsters to attack Liyue, only to retreat without hesitation the moment Rover locked onto her.
"Do you know the Princess from the Abyss Order?"
Dainsleif took out a bottle of wine he had brought with him—a low-alcohol dandelion wine.
After taking a sip, he explained his purpose to the two.
"I do. My dealings with her were a long time ago. Based on my investigations, the Abyss Order is planning something major, and I need your assistance in looking into it."
"Rover, you've already been marked for death by the Abyss Order. I'm afraid your journey will only grow more dangerous from here."
Rover nodded. After all, he had thwarted two of their schemes already. Perhaps in Inazuma, they would clash once more.
Aether's expression grew tense. Just as he was about to say something, Dainsleif suddenly turned to him with a question.
"What do you think was the key to resolving the crises in Mondstadt and Liyue? Was it the people, the gods… or Rover?"
Without hesitation, Aether answered.
"Rover."
Dainsleif's brow furrowed slightly before he took another sip of wine.
"Your choice differs from hers. It seems there will be variables. This visit, however, is more about relying on a certain little one."
Paimon, hearing that she was somehow involved, quickly flew up to Dainsleif.
"Hmph, go on! What do you need me to do?"
She puffed out her chest, eager to prove herself, but Dainsleif shook his head.
"Not you. Him."
Dainsleif gestured politely, and the Resonator on Rover's hand vibrated as Abby emerged, scratching his head in confusion as he looked at Dainsleif.
"Me?"
Dainsleif nodded, leaving Paimon to awkwardly float back to Aether's side.
"Whether it was finding the Anemo Archon Barbatos or identifying Morax's true identity, you played an indispensable role in both crises. More importantly, you possess a keen sensitivity to the scent of the Abyss."
Rover was puzzled, but Dainsleif, observing his expression, leisurely added:
"In Teyvat, if I wish to know something, there is nothing I cannot uncover."
Abby sniffed at him curiously before asking in a strange tone.
"Your scent is odd… as if tainted by the Abyss, yet also covered by something else."
Dainsleif smiled, stood up, and formally invited the two to join his investigation.
"Both of you, I've tracked traces of an Abyss Herald in Mondstadt. Come with me."
Rover naturally agreed. Since he and the Abyss Order were now locked in a life-and-death struggle, he needed to prepare accordingly.
...
"Based on the clues I've gathered, the Abyss Order has re-entered the Temple of the Falcon."
A few days later, the group returned to Mondstadt, with their first destination being the temple where they had resolved the dragon crisis.
As they entered the temple, Paimon curiously asked Dainsleif:
"An Abyss Herald… what does it look like? Is it similar to an Abyss Mage…?"
Dainsleif raised an eyebrow and chuckled.
"If you see that monster, you'll understand even without my explanation."
Abby, flying ahead, suddenly turned back with a grave expression.
"He's right. The deeper we go, the stronger the stench of the Abyss. It's revolting—an outright assault on my nose."
Unable to resist complaining, Abby waited as the group cleared out the monsters, only to find the place empty.
"It seems we're too late. The Abyss Herald has already left."
Dainsleif spoke regretfully. While the others were still surveying the area, Rover stroked his chin in thought before posing a question.
"Can you tell me more about the Abyss?"
Dainsleif sighed and began narrating in a slow, measured tone.
"The Abyss… is chaos. It is destruction. An unfathomable, maddening void that erodes the very foundation of this world. Not even the divine envoys—the Anemo Dragon or the Overlord of the Vortex, Osial—could resist its corruption."
"This group of monsters exists solely to overthrow the world governed by the gods."
With the trail seemingly gone cold, Rover suddenly recalled the moment in Stormterror's Lair when the Princess had locked eyes with him from atop a cliff.
...
Returning once more to Stormterror's Lair, Dainsleif gazed at the ruins with a hint of nostalgia.
"The first time I saw the ruins of Old Mondstadt, the Anemo Dragon had yet to fall into corruption, let alone make this place its nest…"
When they reached the cliff, however, Dainsleif noticed something amiss.
"This place… shouldn't have Ruin Guards…"
Observing the footprints of a Ruin Guard and the clearly trampled dandelion, Aether crouched down and touched the flower.
In an instant, memories flooded back—fighting alongside his sister, only for the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles to take her away. The scene shifted to a burning nation on the brink of annihilation, countless forbidden energies surging into the sky.
"Aether!"
Paimon's frantic call snapped him back. Gritting his teeth, Aether opened his eyes just in time to see two blurred figures flash past, the hum of Rover's drawn blade lingering in his ears.
Dainsleif struck first, binding the humanoid monster wielding dual blades with a rope. Rover's eyes narrowed as he stepped forward and slashed.
The monster let out a muffled grunt before breaking free of Dainsleif's restraints and opening a portal behind it.
This time, Rover wouldn't let it escape. The Princess had already used this trick once—there was no way he'd allow it to happen again right before his eyes.
Gripping his sword's hilt in a reverse grip, Rover channeled Havoc energy along the blade, its suffocating presence flickering ominously. His eyes locked onto the fleeing monster before he hurled the blade with full force. A pale violet streak cut through the air, the sword's speed so immense that it pierced straight through the monster's chest, pinning it against the rock.
Havoc energy rapidly spread from the blade, consuming the monster's body as it writhed in agony, as though its very soul were being tormented. Until its final moment, it never escaped this hellish suffering.
Once the battle ended, Rover noticed Aether kneeling on the ground, drenched in cold sweat and gasping for breath. He quickly moved to support him.