It was time to infiltrate the last temple. Lumine and Amber didn't have too much difficulty clearing their temple, and Kaeya arrived half an hour or so after me.
The third and last temple. I don't really remember why we had infiltratd three temples instead of four. I think it had something to do with the Four Winds...
Whatever, no use thinking about it.
As we entered the temple, and ventured through a hallway, the atmosphere of the group was quite lively. A lot of small chat, and no awkward silences, just how I like it.
This made me notice that in this part of the game, only Lumine and Lisa should be here in the temple. not a full group of five... six if you count Paimon.
Already I'm deviating from the main story.
Well, it's not like I've been trying not to change the story or anything, it's expected that I would have some impact in the game events. And I have some plans for the future pertaining to that...
As we delved deeper into the dungeon, we encountered and defeated many hilichurls and slimes, dozens of them.
I don't recall there being this many enemies in the game...
'I have a bad feeling...'
"Paimon seems tired. Is floating really that taxing?" Lisa said, a teasing smile on her face.
"Of course! You'd know if you floated!" Paimon seemed a bit defensive... A perfect victim for teasing.
"Well, with that fat ass it's no wonder you struggle to float," I joked. Always fun to tease Paimon.
Everyone chuckled, and I could see Lumine trying to hide her smirk.
"Wha— You—"
"Hey." Whatever Paimon was going to say was interrupted by Kaeya, who had an almost unbecoming serious expression on his face. "What is that?"
I looked forward, across the hallway, there was a big spacious room with the same crystal as the past temple was in its center. But... there was something guarding it.
We entered the room, and analyzed the being that was protecting the crystal.
A very tall humanoid being that exuded a perturbing aura, ice blades on its wrists, and an armor-like upper body, with a blue crystal on its center.
An abyss herald.
My mind raced. 'How is this possible?'
I knew it was weird that there were that many enemies in the temple. Maybe because now instead of only Lumine and Lisa, we are all here, this abyss herald came?
There was silence. Our group and the abyss herald having a stare off. Even the most minuscule movement would start a fight.
I could sense it. That thing is far above my level.
"Watch out!" Kaeya shouted.
The thing seemed to move in an instant, appearing in front of Lumine, and slashing downward with his icy blade.
Lumine, somehow reacted accordingly, barely blocking the slash with her dull blade.
Kaeya didn't waste any time, and sensing the strength of the opponent, used his signature ice blast.
The attack didn't do much damage, but it partially covered the herald in ice.
Amber took the oppourtinity to jump several steps back. With her bow already materialized, she coated the tip of the arrow with flames, before shooting it at the herald.
The herald parried the attack, avoiding the melt reaction.
At the same time, Lisa already had her catalyst out, and launched small electric discharges at the herald. Without too much difficulty, it dodged all of Lisa's attempt at an attack.
Lumine quickly charged at the herald. They crossed blades, and both were quick with their slashes, sparks appearing from their clash.
I just stood there, motionless.
I hate it. I absolutely hate it. But I have to admit... This fight is way above my level.
'I can't fight...'
And just as that thought crossed my mind, a sense of impending doom washed all over my body. Something from deep within me talked to my mind...
'Fight' it said. Fight, or something disastrous will happen. Fight, or you will break the oath.
And I knew. I knew I had no choice but to fight.
It took a moment, but I steeled my resolve.
'I will fight.'
"Kaeya, Lisa!" I shouted at them. "You know about elemental reactions, right?"
They both looked at me as if I asked the most idiotic question ever. Like if I asked an adult if he knew what two plus two was.
"Then what are you waiting for?! Superconduct that motherfucker!" I exclaimed as I charged toward the herald.
The abyss creature and Lumine were still crossing blades. She somehow kept up with the two icy blades the herald had, but in an instant, the herald found an opening, and thrusted the blade forward, inteding to stab Lumine.
Thankfully, I punched the blade from below, deviating it from its intended mark.
Kaeya had followed my charge, as he appeared from right behind me, slashing the herald with his ice coated sword.
Lisa eventually followed suit, a few meters away, throwing a lighting attack to the herald.
A small explosion of ice and particles happened, a superconduct reaction.
Supercondcut deals a percentage of cryo damage, and also reduces the target physical resistance by a good amount. Of course, my attacks are all physical, so this is perfect for me.
Without relenting our combined attack, I threw succesive punches to the herald's face and body.
It groaned in pain, and from behind me, a fire arrow flew and stabbed the herald's midsection. I intended to punch that place, to drive the arrow deeper, but I was slow.
The herald had already leaped into the air. I was caught off guard, and the abyssal creature was preparing a massive elemental attack.
From behind, Lumine pulled me by the collar of my jacket, just as the herald slammed into the ground, creating a big ice explosion.
I exhaled, and said, "Thank y—"
"Thank me later. Focus on the fight," Lumine interrupted me. She was in deep concentration, her words being almost an automated response.
I looked at the herald, now covered in an icy like aura. It seems it already has its shield up.
"He has ice protection. I won't be useful this time," Kaeya said, taking a few steps back.
Lumine immediately lunged forward, seemingly unaware of the herald's new protection. Lisa didn't stay back and provided Lumine support with lighting blasts from afar.
I, on the other hand, already had a plan.
I backed down, and ran to Amber. She was aiming her bow, ready to fire an arrow, but stopped when I spoke to her.
"Amber, you have Baron Bunny, right?" I asked.
"Huh? Yeah, but... How do you—"
"It doesn't matter. Light it up, and give it to me." I said in a hurried tone.
She noticed my serious expression and obliged. On her side, she had attached with a hook to her belt a weird plushie like object that resembled herself.
Imbuing pyro into it, the plushie seemed to come alive, as it started dancing. I just grabbed it, its dancing continuing as it could while being restrained by my arms.
'Alright... Count to eight.'
'One.'
The herald managed to strike Lumine on her stomach with its elbow, launching her back a few meters.
'Two.'
The abyssal creature, now targeting Lisa, leaped into the air, launching several ice projectiles toward her.
'Three.'
Lisa managed to destroy most of them, though she was bruised by the remaining projectiles.
'Four.'
Lumine came to Lisa's aid, thrusting her sword toward the herald's torso.
'Five.'
It was for naught, as the abyss herald easily parried her attack, sparks sent flying. Lisa didn't just stand there, though, as she hit several lightning attacks.
'Six.'
With the gap left by Lisa and Lumine, Amber fired two arrows at the same time, both hitting the herald's chest. It staggered, though it seemed far from reaching its limit.
'Seven.'
I started spreading cursed energy throughout my entire body, to the last single muscle. It was more that I've ever mustered up. Then, in a split second, I dashed to the herald, tackling it with all my strength.
I managed to pin it against the wall, and before it could retaliate...
'Eight.'
Baron Bunny went off, a giant explosion following through.
I was launched several meters back, to the other side of the room, onto its wall.
'Shit...' I felt lightheaded, almost losing consciousness, and my body screamed for respite. It was quite painful.
With squinted eyes, I looked at the damage I managed to do.
The herald was on its knees, barely moving. It seems I managed to break through its shield and then some more.
Seemingly reaching its limit, the abyss herald groaned, before it dispersed into blue particles, disappearing.
I leaned my head against the wall, closing my eyes...
Suddenly, I heard steps coming to me. "Are you okay?!"
I opened my eyes. Now everyone was around me.
Amber squatted next to me, and said, "That was too reckless!"
"But we won," I said, a smile forming on my face.
Kaeya chuckled. "That was quite a showy display."
"You were impressive, cutie!" Lisa said, a charming smile on her face. "Without you, this battle would've been a tall task for us."
Ah... It feels nice being complimented... Wait, Lisa called me a cutie...
"You were all right... I guess." Lumine had her arms crossed, though her expression betrayed concern.
'Guess I'm warming up to her...'
"Well, destroy that crystal will you? I wanna go take a nap," I said.
After the crystal was dealt with, it was time to go.
I slowly stood up, leaning my weight on the wall. "Ah... It hurts..." I complained.
"Hmph. You deserve it for calling Paimon fat!" Paimon exclaimed, with her arms crossed and a pout on her face.
Everyone laughed, and the atmosphere turned positive and lively.
I, on the other hand, was on the brink of passing out from the pain.
_______________________________________________________________
"From what I was told, you were too reckless! You should be more careful, especially when there are other people around you! Imagine if you had..."
I stopped paying attention to her... small rant.
I was brought to the church in Mondstadt to be healed, and treated for my injuries.
My healer of course, was none other than Barbara, a short blonde that had her hair styled into short pigtails, and blue eyes. She wore a white dress that reached her knees, open at the shoulders, and a blue and white cap.
While I was being healed, I was deep in thought about what happened earlier this day.
When I froze against that abyss herald, something compelled me to fight... Well, compelled is the wrong word, more like coerced. An external force, not my own will.
I don't know what was that about.
I spent minutes thinking about it, ruling out possibilities, until one appeared in my brain.
'A binding vow...'
It's possible. For some ungodly reason, my Six Eyes don't work at its cursed energy manipulation aspect, so my cursed energy control is precarious to say the least, expected from a newbie.
Maybe some cursed energy leaked out of me... or seeped in, and when I made a promise with myself to become the strongest, I inadvertenly created a binding vow.
I don't know the exact conditions, but maybe it has something to do with being strong... or striving to be strong.
Maybe when I froze, and gave up on that particular fight, the binding vow recognized me as weak, therefore forcing me to fight a stronger opponent as to appear 'strong'...
Still, it doesn't make too much sense. No external force should be coercing me into fulfilling the vow. At that moment, the vow should've been broken.
Besides, what does the vow recognize as strong and weak? And what are the benefits?
There's still some things I don't know, and there seems to be some higher power at play here...
I passed the time thinking about it, and eventually, Barbara finished treating me.
"I'll try and be more careful next time," I said, scratching the back of my head.
"You better be! I will pray to Barbatos so that you are..." She clasped her hands together, in a praying motion, and started murmuring.
"Uh, I'll leave you to it, then. Thanks for the healing." I waved and walked away.
While I walked toward the inn I was staying at, I recalled the events of the day.
It was full of highs and lows, but if this is only the start of my journey... Then I'm really excited for what comes next.