"Hmph, what a weakling."
Signora's arrogant gaze swept over the group before settling on the young poet.
Granted divine powers by the Queen of Ice, she could freeze even another god for a short time, especially one like the Anemo Archon, who neither governed a nation nor performed his divine duties and thus had little divine power.
So, this Fatui Harbinger finally appeared. With so many Fatui agents lurking in Mondstadt, finding Venti, who wandered around the city all day, was hardly difficult.
Nolan struggled against the ice encasing his legs, but it was like trying to break free from steel, utterly immobile.
Seeing the "Lady" advancing toward Venti, he frowned and asked Eula and Lumine, "She seems to have some plan for Venti. Can you stop her?"
"Damn it, I can't move either!"
Lumine channeled the wind element to break the ice around her legs, but to no avail.
"I need a bit more time."
Eula's legs, clad in black over-the-knee high-heeled boots, were also frozen, but her familiarity with the ice element and her formidable physical strength allowed her to create a small crack through sheer force.
Nolan summoned a fireball using his Delusion's fire element, directing it at the ice around Eula's legs to speed up the melting process.
"Hmph!"
Seeing this, Signora stopped her leisurely approach. Her white legs tensed as she broke through the air, appearing in front of Venti in an instant. In his surprised gaze, her black-gloved hand plunged into his abdomen.
Just as in the game's storyline, Venti offered no resistance, despite having been warned long ago.
"Ah, the bard!" Paimon gasped, covering her mouth in shock.
Nolan quickly drew his Adventurer's Hunter Bow, nocked an arrow infused with fire element, and aimed it at the Lady's head.
Signora noticed Nolan's action, smirked coldly, and swiftly withdrew her hand, now holding a chess piece-like object—Venti's Gnosis.
Nolan released the arrow, sending the fire-infused projectile hurtling toward Signora. She nonchalantly raised her hand, conjuring an ice shield in its path.
However, to her surprise, the arrow seemed to teleport past the shield, appearing instantly before the black lace mask on her forehead.
The impact, though dampened by the mask, delivered a significant jolt. The fire element burst forth but was quickly extinguished by her ice manipulation, though it still singed a few strands of her golden hair.
Damn, that's one tough mask!
In Nolan's golden eyes of judgment, the "Lady" was undoubtedly another being whose level he couldn't discern. Even hitting a weak point seemed to have minimal effect.
"Bastard!"
Signora had never imagined that she, the powerful "Lady," would be injured by such a weak adversary.
Anger flared, threatening to unleash her true form as the Crimson Witch. Fiery red butterflies of infernal fire flickered into existence around her before vanishing again.
Fortunately, the power granted by the Queen of Ice allowed her to regain control. Now was not the time for reckless behavior. With the Gnosis in hand, it was time to leave.
Signora glared fiercely at Nolan. "Very well, I will remember you!"
[Signora Has Negative Feelings Towards You, Obtained -200 Affection Points, Current Affection Level Lv.1 (-200/100)]
Nolan looked at the notification that popped up on the character panel, and felt a slight headache. Being marked by the "Lady" meant she might eliminate him the next time they crossed paths.
"Hmph, no one can lay a hand on my 'vengeance' target before I complete my revenge!"
Eula shattered the ice around her legs and summoned a blue greatsword with golden edges. She charged at Signora with determined grace.
The frost-covered blade swirled with her elegant movement, descending upon the enemy from above.
Signora raised her hand, forming an ice shield to protect herself. Facing a captain-level member of the Knights of Favonius, she wasn't going to take another blow head-on.
As the sword clashed with the shield, a burst of icy energy exploded between them.
Not far behind, Paimon was instantly blown away by the blast. Lumine reacted quickly, catching her mid-air, while Nolan shielded his face from the debris.
"Crack!"
The ice shield began to fracture. Sensing trouble, Signora stomped her high-heeled foot on the ground.
A massive ice spike shot up towards Eula's soft abdomen, clad in semi-transparent black stockings. She swung her greatsword down, blocking the sharp tip of the spike.
Using the momentum, Eula twisted gracefully in mid-air, bringing her blue greatsword with golden edges down on her enemy once more.
Signora furrowed her brow, quickly forming a triple-layered ice shield while leaping back a few steps.
The sword sliced through the ice shields effortlessly, continuing its path until it struck the ground, carving a crack in the stone that stretched all the way to Signora's feet.
Eula straightened her posture and locked eyes with Signora. In her hand appeared a pure white, incomplete greatsword, the Lightfall Sword.
This sword, formed from solid ice, would grow more complete over time, eventually unleashing a massive physical shockwave.
"Impressive strength."
Signora recognized the danger of the floating white sword near Eula and decided she didn't want to prolong the fight. She smirked before her body slowly dissolved into frost, vanishing from the spot.
"Hmph, I'll remember this grudge!"
Eula stared at the empty space where Signora had been, dispersing the Lightfall Sword with a wave, her frustration evident.
"Venti, are you okay?" Paimon asked, flying over to support the weakened bard who was struggling to stand.
"... Cough, I'm fine, just a bit of a stomachache," Venti replied, seemingly unbothered.
Though Signora had plunged her hand into his abdomen, there was no visible wound. Nolan and Lumine spent some time melting the ice around their legs and hurried over to help Venti, checking for injuries.
Confused, Nolan asked, "Aren't you the Anemo Archon? Even at your weakest, you should have had some resistance. Why did you let her attack you? And what did she take from you?"
Lumine and the others shared the same question.
"... Sigh, she took my Gnosis," Venti admitted, clutching his stomach in discomfort.
"I don't know why the Tsaritsa ordered the Fatui Harbingers to steal it, but it was better to let it go. If they need it, they can have it, rather than causing more chaos in Mondstadt trying to get it."
(End of Chapter)
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