Windwail Highland.
In Mondstadt, it was considered an absolute high-risk area.
Merchants dreaming of striking it rich by gathering specialties didn't dare enter the mountains—adventurers didn't either, at least not lightly.
Because a minor ley line ran here.
The energy spilling from it made the beasts and monsters of Windwail Highland exceptionally strong.
In Kaito's words, this place had monsters above Lv.20.
After resting overnight, they slipped into Windwail Highland at dawn via a hidden mountain path.
Beside the trail was a small human campsite—simple tents, a set-up pot for boiling water, and stacked firewood—but it had been abandoned.
"An Adventurers' Guild outpost," Diluc said. "Normally, they station people here to watch Windwail Highland's monsters. But recently the monsters have been more active. This place isn't safe anymore—so they probably pulled out."
"Then things really are getting ugly," Kaito said.
His gaze shifted toward a large boulder ahead.
"Even a hidden route like this has been taken over by monsters."
Sure enough, a large, flame-red slime bounced in place. Three smaller ones clustered around it, occasionally splashing little tongues of fire as they hopped.
Dry terrain like this was exactly the kind of environment Pyro Slimes loved.
Thanks to them, nothing resembling plant life could survive nearby.
"Barbara," Kaito said with a smile, "your ley-line energy is here."
Barbara had already spotted them. The big one made her shrink back instinctively. She grabbed his hand and shook her head hard. "Kaito… I can't beat that."
If she wanted ley-line energy, she had to personally defeat monsters and establish aggro.
Last-hitting only earned a tiny fraction.
Two nights ago, Diluc had only helped by chopping apart the hilichurls' wooden shields. The one who truly established aggro had been Noelle.
Because she was low level and didn't have the damage, Noelle had spent a long time carving through the hilichurls with Sweeping Time—drawing all their hatred to herself.
"Your water attacks can trigger Vaporize against Pyro," Kaito said. "That's basically stripping away their flame offense."
"After that, the slimes only have direct impact attacks—just ramming with their bodies. Let Noelle block those for you."
Hydro against Pyro was pure bullying.
"Leave defense to me!" Noelle's voice was steady—reassuring in a way that made it hard not to believe her.
"Wait."
Kaito stopped the two of them. From his System inventory, he took out a catalyst and handed it to Barbara.
It was light, carved from jade.
Small, delicate, and exquisitely made.
In Liyue, people called it the Jade Orb—a catalyst that could serve as a highly effective means of self-defense, and also looked beautiful worn as jewelry.
"It significantly amplifies elemental attacks," Kaito explained, "and the reactions you trigger."
Barbara's eyes brightened at once. She clearly loved it.
"Thank you, Kaito."
She poured elemental power into it.
The jade orb rose and began to float beside her.
"Then… we're going."
With the catalyst in hand, her confidence rose a notch.
She ran into range, charged in place, then hopped lightly.
A faint, pleasant musical note seemed to ring out around her.
Hydro gathered into a shimmering, multicolored ring of sound that formed beneath the slimes' feet. It condensed into a large water burst that detonated—spraying glittering, rainbow-bright droplets like starlight.
With a sharp sizzling sound, thick steam billowed up. The Pyro Slimes' bright red bodies quickly dulled.
They'd found an enemy!
Duang—duang—duang!
They bounced forward with heavy momentum, charging straight at Barbara.
"Breastplate!"
Noelle raised her sword and stepped in front—defending, but not attacking.
Barbara charged again, hopping lightly, her skirt fluttering—
Another Hydro burst slammed down.
"Pretty is pretty," Diluc said with his arms crossed, "but does she have anything with real burst damage?"
"Do you have some kind of misunderstanding about what a deaconess does?" Kaito replied flatly.
A Lv.15 large Pyro Slime, plus three Lv.13 smaller ones—Barbara's Hydro damage at Lv.5, even with the Jade Orb's amplification, still meant it would take time.
"Besides," Kaito added without shame, "if you're cute enough, you're invincible."
"…"
Diluc choked on that and couldn't even argue.
In a way, it really was hard to refute.
"Kaito."
Lumine tugged at his sleeve.
"What is it?"
"I… I want more chances to fight," Lumine asked, a little hesitant.
Her golden-brown eyes held a flicker of unease.
Ever since Barbara and Noelle joined, it felt like Kaito's attention had shifted toward them.
A girl's thoughts were sensitive. It wasn't jealousy—she simply wanted balance.
Only then did Kaito realize what she was feeling. He ruffled her hair gently. "Don't worry. I've prepared a ley-line energy gift pack just for you."
"Gift pack!?" Paimon's ears perked up instantly.
With her head being patted, Lumine's face warmed and she turned red. She looked at him, puzzled.
"You'll find out when we get there," Kaito said, deliberately keeping it vague. "It's a surprise for you."
"Mm." Lumine nodded.
The unease in her chest eased into calm.
She stole a glance at Kaito's handsome profile, felt her cheeks heat up even more, and quietly lowered her head.
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