The morning sun bathed Inazuma in a warm, golden glow, casting long shadows over the tranquil landscape. Before leaving the port town, the group paused at a nearby Statue of the Seven nestled within a small clearing. Lumine approached it slowly, her hand hovering over the glowing stone. As she placed her palm against its surface, the familiar warmth of elemental resonance surged through her.
A soft pulse of violet light bloomed from her hand as the Electro element flowed into her. Sparks shimmered briefly across her fingertips before settling beneath her skin, the power grounding itself into her soul.
She stepped back quietly, breathing evenly as the static sensation faded, folding neatly into the other elemental forces already resting within her. Anemo, Geo, Hydro, Dendro—now joined by Electro. With each resonance, she was becoming something more.
The group watched with quiet reverence, recognizing the significance. Lumine gave a slow breath, nodding. "I'm ready."
With the new element resonating within her, they set off from the inn, their bags packed, and a sense of anticipation hanging in the air. Each member of the group walked with a purpose, but the road ahead was uncertain.
As they walked, the vibrant sights and sounds of nature seemed peaceful, but the tension was palpable. It wasn't long before they were interrupted by the sound of rustling from the woods ahead.
First Encounter: Wild Monsters
A loud growl split the air as a pack of wild, mutated boars came charging toward them, their sharp tusks gleaming in the light. The boars were covered in strange, dark ichor, evidence of the Abyssal corruption that had spread through the land.
Lumine immediately unsheathed her sword, the soft hum of its blade calming her nerves. "We need to act fast before they overwhelm us!"
Noah quickly assessed the situation, his fingers twitching toward his lightsaber as he ignited its blue blade. He called upon the Force to enhance his reflexes, feeling the familiar surge of energy rush through him. The surrounding environment seemed to slow, allowing him to anticipate the boars' movements with precision.
"Stay close!" Noah called out as he deflected the boars' tusks, sending them crashing into trees. He used the Force to push back one of the beasts, sending it flying through the air.
Kiana, wielding her trusty baseball bat—reinforced with Trailblaze-forged alloy—leapt into the fray. Her blue eyes glinted with mischief as she charged. With a sharp cry, she swung the bat with brutal force, slamming it into one boar's side and sending it flying. "Batter up!" she shouted with a grin.
As one of the boars lunged toward her, she dodged and twirled, then cracked the bat against its skull with a sickening crunch. Only when her Herrscher powers began to stir—her golden eye flickering—did her stance shift, unleashing a pulse of void energy to knock back the remaining threats.
Elysia, with her signature mischievous grin, was just as swift. Instead of charging headfirst, she gracefully moved to the side, drawing her pink-hued bow. She fired an arrow coated in a layer of ice, which struck one of the boars right between the eyes, freezing it instantly. "A little frostbite never hurt anyone," she teased as she readied another shot.
Despite their strength, the beasts were relentless. One boar managed to knock Kiana off her feet, but before it could strike, Noah was there, using the Force to push it back. "Are you okay?" he asked with concern.
Kiana gave a quick nod, her golden eyes flickering. "I'm fine. Just a little shaken up."
But the battle didn't stop there. The group continued to fend off the remaining beasts, moving in perfect synchronization.
Second Encounter: Abyssal Creatures
As they continued down the path, the landscape shifted. The trees grew darker, and the air became colder. Strange whispers echoed through the air, and soon, a pair of Abyssal creatures appeared from the shadows. Their dark, twisted forms shifted unnaturally, their eyes glowing a faint violet.
"We've seen these before," Lumine muttered, her voice filled with determination. "They've only gotten stronger."
Noah's grip tightened on his lightsaber as he stepped forward, the glow of the blade illuminating his face. "We have to stop them before they spread further. Let's end this quickly."
The Abyssal creatures lunged toward them, their bodies rippling with dark energy. Kiana's eyes flashed gold again, and she quickly called upon her Herrscher abilities, summoning void energy around her. With a yell, she unleashed a powerful wave of force, sending one of the creatures flying backward.
But the other creature wasn't so easily defeated. It clawed at the ground, dragging itself closer to them, its long, spindly limbs reaching for Elysia.
Without missing a beat, Elysia stepped forward, her bow glowing with an ethereal pink light as she fired a barrage of arrows. The arrows, made of ice, struck the creature's body, freezing it in place. "Don't get too close," she teased with a wink, though her eyes betrayed a hint of unease.
Noah, sensing the lingering danger, used the Force to pull the creature closer, his lightsaber flashing as he made quick work of the remaining threat. "Good job, everyone," he said, his voice calm but filled with respect.
Third Encounter: Ronins
Their path eventually led them to a clearing near the outskirts of Inazuma City. Suddenly, a group of rogue ronins appeared, their swords drawn and eyes sharp with intent. These were men and women who had turned to mercenary work, showing no allegiance to any lord or nation.
Lumine's heart raced as the ronins approached, their postures aggressive and dangerous. "Looks like we'll have to fight our way through."
Noah stepped forward, his hand subtly reaching for his lightsaber again, but his calm demeanor didn't waver. "Let's make this quick."
Kiana grinned, her eyes flickering with excitement. "This is more like it! I've been dying for a real fight!"
Elysia, with her playful demeanor, pulled an arrow from her quiver and spun it between her fingers. "Let's hope they're more fun than those boars."
The ronins attacked in a coordinated effort, their swords flashing as they tried to overwhelm the group. Kiana was the first to react, spinning her bat in her hand before dashing into the chaos. She ducked one blade and retaliated with a powerful upward swing, the metal bat cracking against a ronin's armor with a loud clang.
As the fight escalated, her Herrscher powers flared up—golden eye burning bright—and her bat surged with void energy. Each hit sent shockwaves rippling outward, disorienting the ronins around her.
Lumine danced around the remaining ronins, her sword flashing in the sunlight. She moved fluidly, each strike precise and calculated, cutting down the enemies in her path. Her heart raced, not from fear, but from the thrill of battle.
Meanwhile, Noah was a blur of movement, his lightsaber a whirl of blue light as he blocked and parried the ronins' attacks. He wasn't just fighting physically—he used the Force to anticipate their moves, pushing them back and disarming one of them with a quick flick of his wrist.
When the last ronin fell, the group stood in a loose formation, breathing heavily.
"Nice job," Noah said with a smile. "Everyone's really coming together."
Lumine wiped sweat from her brow and glanced over at the others, her heart still pounding from the battle. "That was intense."
Elysia stretched her arms out with a yawn. "It wasn't too bad, though. But I think it's time we get to the guild and see what they have for us."
Arrival at Inazuma City
Finally, they arrived at the gates of Inazuma City. The towering walls loomed before them, but there was a distinct sense of foreboding in the air. The city looked less lively than usual, and the streets appeared unusually quiet, almost as if the city itself was holding its breath.
As they approached the Adventurers' Guild, they were greeted by Katheryne, the ever-calm receptionist, who smiled warmly.
"Ad astra abyssosque! Welcome to the Adventurers' Guild," she said with a welcoming tone. "I am Katheryne, the receptionist here at the Adventurers' Guild. It's my job to assign quests and provide intelligence support to adventurers."
Noah stepped forward, his voice steady. "We're here to assist. We're traveling through Teyvat and aim to understand the recent rise of Abyssal creatures. We'd like to report in and inquire about any commissions or information that could aid our cause."
Katheryne nodded solemnly, her expression unusually serious. "The Abyssal activity has indeed intensified—not just on the outskirts, but within the city as well. We've lost some good people to these creatures. However..." She paused, her mechanical-like tone dropping slightly, as if she was about to say something critical.
Lumine furrowed her brows. "However?"
Katheryne glanced around before lowering her voice. "There have been rumors. Some of our scouts have reported sightings of a powerful Abyssal entity near the Grand Narukami Shrine. Those who went to investigate have either returned severely injured... or not returned at all."
The atmosphere grew tense. The Grand Narukami Shrine was a sacred place, resting atop Mt. Yougou, near the divine sakura tree. If something Abyss-related had taken root there, it was a direct threat to Inazuma itself.
"What kind of entity?" Noah pressed, his instincts telling him that this was no ordinary Abyssal foe.
Katheryne shook her head. "We don't know. But the reports mention something different from the usual Abyss Mages or Heralds. Whatever it is… it's waiting up there, and it's powerful."
Kiana cracked her knuckles, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Finally, some progress."
Elysia, despite her usual playful demeanor, had a serious look in her eyes. "An Abyssal creature strong enough to strike fear into seasoned adventurers? That doesn't sound like something we should ignore."
Lumine exchanged a glance with Noah. "If the Abyss is making a move near the shrine, we need to act fast."
Noah nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders. "Then that's our next destination."
Katheryne nodded. "Be careful. Whatever lurks there... it might be beyond what any normal adventurer can handle."
As the group left the guild, a heavy sense of purpose filled the air. The road to the Grand Narukami Shrine awaited them, and with it, the mystery of the Abyss deepened.
Whatever was waiting for them at the peak—it would not be an easy battle.