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"Kuk, what happened here?" Kaeya said as he slowly headed down the stairs to the underground vault that was filled with dust and smoke.
"The rest of you search the area while the rest follow me," Kaeya said to the knights behind him.
The knights nodded and followed Kaeya deeper into the vault.
They then noticed that the whole underground vault was devastated. Slashes that seem to be made from giant blades covered the walls.
'...A massive fight...' Kaeya instantly deduced. He knew that the enemy was an Abyss Monster, it's just that he didn't know that it was something far more powerful than an abyss mage.
'No abyss mage is capable of doing something of this degree...' He inspected the slashes.
On their way to the vault, Kaeya and the knights discovered the dead bodies of many abyss mages. It's just that they didn't know what killed them. But from the way they were swiftly killed, the knight's deduced that it was done by the same person.
'What could possi—' While Kaeya was thinking, he heard an audible sound not far away.
Cough*
"Hey, there's someone in that direction!" Kaeya said as he approached the source of the sound.
However, while he was running, a figure emerged from the dust.
"Jean?" Kaeya recognized her. "What happened here? Why m—"
"...Ezio..." Jean said under her breath.
"What? What about Ezio?" Kaeya stood in front of her. "Did something happen to him?"
"He..." Jean muttered. "He fought off a very strong abyss monster..."
"What?" Kaeya questioned, surprised. "Was it an Abyss Mage?"
"No, it called itself an Abyss Herald..." Jean shook her head. "It was... much more powerful than a regular Abyss Mage..."
She then straightened her posture, now showing her determined grey-blue eyes to Kaeya. "In the last moments of their fight, Ezio tried to stop the Abyss Herald from self-destructing but was unfortunately caught and captured by it."
"It then escaped using an unknown method of teleportation," She finished as she closed her eyes.
"That means..." Kaeya tried to understand the situation. "Capturing Ezio might give us an idea about the Herald and their plans since he was captured it..."
Jean nodded. "Put Ezio's bounty to the maximum. He must be found no matter what."
Kaeya contemplated for a while as he thought of Jean's story. In the end, he sighed. "Alright, I'll tell the others later."
"Good," Jean sighed. She then walked past him, intending to leave.
On the surface, it might seem that Jean wants Ezio— or rather Albert— to be found quickly so that she can question him about the Abyss Herald.
However, what she thought was completely different.
'We will be reunited...' She thought before leaving the underground vault with her determination growing stronger.
* * *
"...Mentor..." In the middle of the forest of Wolvendom, all of the brotherhood members gathered.
Everyone was wearing their hoods and silently stood on top of a cliff, reminiscing about their mentor that disappeared.
The sun was setting in the distance as its golden rays fell upon the ten figures.
"This is where our ceremony is initiated..." Wagner, a member of the order, said.
"It is also where we became part of the brotherhood." Casper, a member of Eula's reconnaissance company, nodded.
"This is where we swore an oath to protect Mondstadt in the shadows..." A boy with silver hair named Bennett said with a saddened face. "Although I've only been a member for two months... I've learned a lot from Mentor..."
"So... what do we do now?" Timaeus, a member specializing in Alchemy, questioned.
"We continue," Standing in front of all of them, the first member that Albert recruited— Amber— clenched her fist.
She then remembered the words left behind by Albert a day before he disappeared.
Inside a cabin in the middle of the woods, Albert talked to Amber. He was currently facing away from her with his arms behind him.
"The Creed cannot be killed, even if all of its followers were." Albert went on to explain. "The Creed was an idea, and even if all records of it were destroyed, it could eventually be reinvented by another."
"These were the words of Grand Master Altaïr from the Sumeru Brotherhood."
He then turned around and faced Amber. "If the operation that would happen tomorrow escalates and..."
He paused for a moment before continuing. "...And something happened to me, I want you to lead the Mondstadt brotherhood."
Hearing this, Amber's emotions got mixed with shock and confusion. "Mentor, what do you mean? I'm still quite incompet—"
"No, you are not," He cut her off with a smile. "You are quite good at strategizing and have a great sense of leadership."
"Moreover, you have exceptional senses that an assassin needs— the very reason you became my student in the first place." He pointed out. "Furthermore, you have a 96% task completion rate, is that not enough?"
He then walked towards her and placed his hand on her shoulder. "I believe that you are quite qualified."
"Mentor... you mentioned that a grand master is residing in Sumeru..." Amber pointed out. "Are there more of our brotherhood?"
"Of course," Albert nodded with a smile. "Our brotherhood originated in the sands of Sumeru and expanded greatly in Fontaine..."
"I see..." Amber said. This was the first time she had heard about this.
"If the day ever comes that you become confused, head to the nearest nation and see if any of the brotherhood there can help you," Albert said before walking past her.
"Well then," He said with a smile before touching the door to the outside's handle. "Let us go."
Remembering this scene in her mind, Amber became more determined. She then turned behind and looked at the other members. "We will continue protecting Mondstadt even without Mentor. For we have sworn an oath;"
"When other people blindly follow the truth, remember." She looked at all of them with determined eyes.
The sun highlighted her silhouette, making her figure even more inspiring to the others that were looking.
Soon all of them looked at each other and nodded. They all then looked at Amber and spoke synchronously. "Nothing is true."
"Where other people are limited by morality and law, remember." Amber continued as she drew out her hidden blade.
Shing—!*
The other members also drew their hidden blades out and continued her words. "Everything is permitted."
All of them looked at each and decided. To honor their mentor who had sacrificed himself for the peace of their nation, they shall carry his legacy and continue.
For they are assassins. They work in the dark to serve the light.
* * *
Meanwhile, with Albert, Dainsleif, and the Abyss Herald.
Albert restrained the Herald with all of his strength while they were traveling the network of teleportation that the Heralds use.
The Heralds use a series of networks where they can enter to appear wherever they want in Teyvat. And currently, the three of them are in it and are traveling.
They are currently floating inside a strange dark tunnel together, with several Geo puppets holding the Herald in place.
"The Abyssal Energy is growing unstable, it would explode any second now..." Dainsleif mumbled to himself.
He then looked at Albert and spoke. "Although this is not the most perfect place to say this, I shall still say it."
"You've fooled me," Dainsleif said with a stern expression. "That is commendable."
"?" Albert was confused by what he meant then remembered the system points. "Um... thanks?"
"As such..." Suddenly, the same dark flame appeared around Dainsleif's arms, and Albert was lifted. "I hope the next time we meet you'll still surprise me."
Albert levitated upwards and looked at Dainsleif. "Hey! What are you doing?!"
"We will meet again," Dainsleif said before moving his arm.
"Let the abyss reign!" The Herald loudly roared as it prepared to explode.
"Hey—!" After Dain moved his arm, Albert immediately got thrown away from the Herald and Dainsleif.
His body soon disappeared into the dark tunnel that they were in. The last thing Albert saw was the Abyss Herald's condensed abyss energy exploding before he lost sight of them.
* * *
Somewhere in Liyue.
A dark and ominous door appeared in the middle of a forest, and a man wearing a white hood came out. The man stood in place for a while before collapsing to the ground.
'Shit...' Albert cursed. His system's notifications were buzzing in front of him.
[Warning!]
[The host is in critical condition and stamina is rapidly depleting!]
[Mental stress has reached the limit and forced sleep shall now be initiated to preserve the host's energy!]
'No... wait...!' Albert thought. He then quickly moved the system and opened his inventory.
After opening the inventory, he clicked on an item.
[Template card]
[Would you like to use this item?]
[Y/N]
'Yes!' Albert thought as drowsiness began descending upon him.
[Confirmed.]
[Who would the host like to choose? The first character or the second?]
'I... I already made up my mind!' Albert thought with his last remaining consciousness.
He then slowly moved his finger and touched the system window.
[Confirmed.]
[Template Card— Qin Shi Huang, shall now be implemented.]
[Template Origin: Record of Ragnarok]
[Description: His real name is "Ying Zheng" with Qin Shi Huang being a title which literally means "First Emperor of Qin". He's the founder of the Qin Dynasty and the first emperor to unify China, widely regarded as the greatest emperor in all of Chinese history.]
[Beginning to open the synchronization Zone...]
[Note: During the synchronization, the host shall enter a state of slumber.]
[Synchronization Zone confirmed.]
[Notice! Quest completion rewards have been bestowed to the host!]
[In addition, since the host has completed a hidden quest (Meeting Dainsleif), an extra reward shall be given!]
[Now begins a new arc for you, host!]
However, the system was talking to no one as Albert had already passed out.
...However, a few minutes after Albert had fallen asleep, something appeared beside him.
"A human?" A voice of a woman could be heard. However, something was off.
Because the source of the voice was... a bird. More precisely, it was a white crane.
"How troublesome..." The crane sighed. She then looked at Albert closely and noticed his condition. "You injured yourself greatly internally, you have."
"Fine, this Cloud Retainer shall take care of you," The crane muttered to herself. "Perhaps your presence would lighten up my steady Shenhe...
"That girl has been wanting to see fellow humans for quite a while now, after all..."
The crane then placed its legs on Albert and soon, the mysterious hazy hue of cyan-blue appeared on her wings. She then carried him into the skies.
* * *
A/N: Finally done with the Mondstadt arc, haizz ~
Thank you all for sticking with me and my indefinite hiatuses and continuing to read this fic! I promise it will happen again ~
Anyways, we're finally in the second arc! Which is Liyue!
What should you expect in this arc? Well, here are the following(At least what I thought so far):
1. Fighting (a lot)
2. Cooking (main job/cover-up)
3. A lot of trolling (acting)
3. "You dare touch this young master?!"
4. Fatui
5. Osmanthus Wine
6. A lot of chaos
7. And many more as the story progresses!
