Boom, boom, boom!
Klee's lively voice echoed throughout the ruins of the Temple of the Thousand Winds. A massive ruin guard emitted black smoke as it fell to the ground.
Jean emerged from the depths of the temple, holding a crimson teardrop crystal.
"Wow, I didn't expect to find one of Dvalin's tears in a place like this," Paimon exclaimed, her eyes fixed on the crystal in Jean's hand. The area they were in was deep within the temple — a relatively spacious room for humans, but for Dvalin, it would have been like a small jar. Just imagining Dvalin curled up tightly and sticking his head into this place to cry made Paimon feel a strong contrast to the mighty image she had of him.
Shaking her head, Paimon pushed the image out of her mind, looking at Jean with admiration. "Jean, your search skills are truly amazing. You've found two of Dvalin's tears so quickly!"
Jean gave a gentle smile and began to explain seriously, "The key to this technique is to not actively search for the thing you want to find. You have to be relaxed, not focusing too hard, and then suddenly, you'll notice it under a table or in a corner without realizing it."
"Huh?" Paimon looked at Jean, puzzled. The look on Jean's face was so serious that Paimon began to wonder if she was joking.
"It also helps not to stare too intently, because the more you try, the harder it is to find. Use your peripheral vision, and when you're not paying attention, you might just spot it."
"This doesn't sound like much of a technique," Paimon said doubtfully.
"It's very effective! I once found my lost pet turtle using this method when I was young," Jean added confidently.
"What?! Jean, you had a pet turtle when you were a child?!" Paimon shouted in surprise.
Hiroshi, who had just entered from outside, gave Paimon a strange look. "What are you talking about, Paimon?"
"Hiroshi, you're back! How's it going out there?" Jean greeted Hiroshi and asked.
Turning his head, Hiroshi pointed at Klee, who came running inside, her arms outstretched. He shrugged. "Everything's fine. Klee had a lot of fun."
"I think I heard Paimon saying something about Jean having a pet turtle when she was young? Is that true?" Hiroshi asked Jean, confused.
Jean looked puzzled but nodded. "Yes, I had a pet turtle. Why?"
"Uh..." Hiroshi looked at Jean's efficient appearance and could only sigh, thinking that everyone has a childhood after all.
"I also had a pet turtle when I was younger, but unfortunately, it died accidentally," Diluc said, joining the conversation as he polished his greatsword, his face filled with nostalgia.
"Eh?" Klee looked at everyone talking about turtles with confusion. She ran over to Hiroshi and tilted her head up to ask, "Hiroshi, are you planning on getting a pet turtle too? If you want, I can give you a few of mine!"
"Thank you, Klee." Hiroshi patted Klee's head and politely refused.
"Jean, we still need one more teardrop crystal. Where do you think we should search?" Lumine asked, taking the crimson crystal from Jean. A faint light shone, and the red teardrop crystal transformed into a bright azure color.
Jean crossed her arms, contemplating. "It's unlikely that Dvalin's tears would be in Dadaupa Gorge since it's occupied by the Demon King's army from another world. Dvalin wouldn't go there. That leaves us with either Windrise or Starsnatch Cliff as the next likely locations."
"The Demon King's army has taken over Dadaupa Gorge?!" Diluc exclaimed, dropping his cleaning cloth and striding over to Jean, demanding, "Jean, what are you talking about?!"
Paimon, startled by Diluc's outburst, puffed her cheeks in annoyance. "Diluc, stop overreacting. Besides, that issue has already been resolved."
"Let's discuss it on the way to Starsnatch Cliff," Hiroshi said, holding Klee's hand. "For now, let's head there first. We don't have much time."
Jean looked at Klee, who was eager to move on, and nodded in agreement.
The group headed outside, Jean and Diluc talking quietly at the back. Venti leisurely walked in the middle, while a ruin guard lay incapacitated in the clearing outside, still smoking. Nearby, the camp of hilichurls that had occupied the surrounding area had already been reduced to ashes by Hiroshi's swift attacks.
Surrounded by the power of Anemo, several beams of light ascended, streaking towards the towering Starsnatch Cliff.
The verdant grass swayed gently in the breeze, resembling a green ocean. Hiroshi and the others landed on the mountainside of Starsnatch Cliff. Lush grass covered the mountain, dotted with white Cecilia flowers.
Klee eagerly ran to the side, pulling out a book encrusted with a blue gem from her backpack. The black-and-white book was a magic tome passed among the scholars of the Knights of Favonius.
Waving excitedly at everyone, Klee hugged the Favonius Codex close to her chest.
A powerful magical aura emanated from Klee, and the tome hovered in front of her, flipping pages rapidly. A giant magic circle enveloped her.
"Darker than black, more void than darkness itself, bestow upon me the scarlet radiance of true crimson! Let the awakening come forth, the ridiculous creed of corruption take shape and appear as an unseen distortion!"
As Klee chanted, the magic circle began to rotate, exuding an ominous and dangerous aura. The magic wrapped around her body, her golden hair fluttering in the air, revealing her small, pointed ears.
Two floating cannon-like devices appeared beside her, and the energy surged to its peak, radiating a powerful red glow.
With an excited shout, Klee unleashed the spell. "Firepower max! Explosion!"
Jean shielded herself from the gusts of wind. Intense heat and shockwaves swept toward them, sending dirt and grass flying everywhere.
"Ahhhh!" Paimon screamed, grabbing onto Lumine's hair as they were both blown about by the strong wind.
Venti watched as Hiroshi appeared next to Klee in a flash. He played his lyre, its clear and beautiful tune echoing even amidst the roaring wind.
A green barrier formed, shielding the group from the wind. Paimon, dizzy, fell into Lumine's arms.
Lumine looked ahead with wide eyes. The mountaintop of Starsnatch Cliff had vanished, replaced by a massive crater that glowed with a crimson hue, resembling tears that Starsnatch Cliff could no longer hold back.
Hiroshi carried the now-exhausted Klee into the barrier. Jean hurriedly approached them upon seeing Klee. "Klee, are you alright?!" Jean asked, worriedly.
Hiroshi glanced at Klee, a little exasperated. "She's exhausted herself again."
Klee barely lifted her head, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the result of her magic. However, upon catching sight of Jean's displeased expression, she let out a small yelp and buried her face into Hiroshi's chest.
Jean sighed in relief. Then, seeing what remained of Starsnatch Cliff, she froze in shock.
"Hiroshi, is this the power of Klee's new magic?" Paimon finally recovered, staring at the twin molten craters left behind. She flew up to Hiroshi, looking at Klee who was snuggled in his arms. "That's way too powerful! It feels like it could blow up Mondstadt!"
Jean's body tensed, and she quickly admonished, "Klee, you must never use Explosion magic near Mondstadt, especially not within the city! Understand?!"
Klee trembled, her voice coming out softly. "Yes, Master Jean..."
Jean's expression softened. "This is for your safety, Klee. Just look at how weak you are now after using it. You can't keep using such dangerous magic lightly. I won't punish you for what happened here at Starsnatch Cliff — this was my mistake for underestimating your power."
"Really?" Klee perked up. "You really won't punish me for blowing up part of Starsnatch Cliff?"
Jean smiled gently and nodded. "But you must promise me that you won't use Explosion magic near Mondstadt, and only use it in emergencies. Otherwise, you could be in danger if you end up exhausted like this."
"Okay, Master Jean," Klee agreed, nodding earnestly. She wobbled in Hiroshi's arms but insisted on standing on her own.
"Perfectly recovered!" Klee threw her hands up in the air and shouted.
Jean rushed to support Klee, stunned. "Klee, how did you recover so quickly?"
Klee giggled. "Hiroshi gave me points, and I got a lot of new abilities with them!"
"Klee, show me your attribute panel," Hiroshi said to Klee, noticing her surprisingly fast recovery. It seemed she had acquired some extraordinary ability without him realizing.
"Okay," Klee said. She stowed her Favonius Codex back in her backpack and approached Hiroshi, opening her attribute panel.
Name: Klee Lv15 [500/1000] [Epic]
Strength: 30
Endurance: 35
Agility: 30
Intelligence: 61
Magic: 6100
Abilities: Fire Element Manipulation Lv5, Basic Magic Lv4, Intermediate Magic Lv3, Advanced Magic Lv1, Bomb Crafting Lv6, Vision Lv4
Derived Abilities: Clear Mind Max (Improves focus and clarity), Transcendent Physique Max (Enhances physical resilience and lifespan), Perfect Balance Max, Tiger's Strength Max (No tiger can withstand Klee's slide tackle).
Divine Powers: Nature's Embrace, Blessed by the Wind, Elemental Spirit, Lucky Clover, Explosive Genius.
Skills: Bouncy Bomb Lv7, Sparks 'n' Splash Lv6, Floating Fire Turrets Lv5, Fast Casting Lv1, Advanced Magic Application Lv1, Magic Array Lv1, Explosion Magic Lv1, Magic Superconductivity Lv1.
Hiroshi was left speechless as he looked at Klee's impressive attribute panel. Compared to hers, his own seemed so ordinary — she was clearly a "legendary" while he was a "common" grade.
Looking at Klee's innocent face, Hiroshi ruffled her hair. "Alright, Klee, from now on save up your free attribute points. Once you've accumulated thirty, it'll be easier for me to help you awaken a divine power. It'll make your growth much stronger."
"Huh?" Klee tilted her head, confused. "You mean I should save those points? Okay, got it!"
A loud roar suddenly came from the direction of Mondstadt. It was Dvalin — no, now he was the corrupted Stormterror. He charged towards them, engulfed in a dark storm.