The late afternoon sun dipped low over Mondstadt, casting a warm orange glow across the city as its rays filtered through the leaves of the trees lining the streets. Shadows stretched long and thin over the cobblestone plaza, where the scent of fresh flowers mingled with the faint tang of dandelion wine, carried on a gentle breeze that rustled the banners hanging from the buildings. The city was winding down, merchants packing up their stalls, children running home for dinner, and bards playing their final tunes of the day, their melodies a soft farewell to the sunlight.
Xander had retreated to a guest room at the Goth Grand Hotel, its wooden walls adorned with simple tapestries, the air filled with the faint scent of polished oak and lavender from a vase on the windowsill. He stood by the window, his cloak draped over a chair, the Shadowfang Blade resting against the wall, its dark steel glinting in the fading light as his vibrant blue aura shimmered faintly around him, a sign of his restless energy.
The success of the Hall of Rebirth advertisement had left Hu Tao overjoyed, her fantasies of a booming business filling her mind as she imagined the Hall packed with customers, her voice echoing through the streets of Liyue with offers of coffins and urns. But reality was less kind, the nature of her business still a barrier despite the high-quality ad, and she soon returned to her usual routine, dragging her loyal assistant through Liyue to drum up sales, her enthusiasm undimmed by the challenge.
Xander, meanwhile, had other matters to attend to, his recent streak of three second creation videos earning him three lottery draw chances, a total of nine items that he couldn't resist claiming immediately, his impatience overriding his desire to save for a ten-draw streak. He rubbed his chin, his voice a low mutter as he paced the room, "What should I pray for this time, I need some serious luck."
A sudden idea struck him, his eyes lighting up as he remembered the treasures he had drawn in previous lotteries, items said to boost his luck, and he quickly locked the doors and windows, drawing the curtains to ensure privacy. From his system space, he retrieved two peculiar objects, Keqing's black stockings and Jean's white leggings, their presence in his hands feeling both absurd and oddly powerful, a strange mix of reverence and embarrassment coloring his expression.
He placed the items on the bed, their black and white fabrics a stark contrast against the cream-colored sheets, and began to chant, his voice a mix of solemnity and nonsense as he intoned, "The interweaving of black and white, light and dark, connects the door of fortune, and gathers the power of destiny." He continued, his words growing more dramatic, "My god Nyarlathotep, please bestow good luck on your faithful follower."
The lottery draw began, a burst of light filling the room as the system interface materialized before him, its colors shifting in a dazzling display, seven white, two green, one blue, and one gold, the golden light a beacon of hope as Xander clenched his fists, his voice a desperate plea, "Please, don't let it be something weird!" The results appeared one by one, each item materializing with a flash, and Xander's eyes widened as he took in the haul, his voice a mix of awe and disbelief as he read the list aloud.
First came a pair of safety pants belonging to General Raiden, their sleek design a stark reminder of the Shogun's formidable presence, followed by a pair of rechargeable stamp pens styled after Yanfei's antlers, their tips glowing with a soft pink light. Next was a wallet matching Tartaglia's, its leather surface embossed with the Fatui emblem, then a statue of the Narukami Shrine's master, its intricate details capturing the serene beauty of the sacred site.
A standing card of Miss Hina followed, its vibrant colors depicting the mysterious figure in a playful pose, then a plush hat styled after Lisa's, its soft fabric adorned with tiny stars. A bowl of ultra-luxurious Yile Seafood Ramen materialized next, its steaming broth filled with shrimp and crab, the aroma making Xander's stomach rumble, followed by a C-grade Hella water pipe hammer, its sturdy design practical but unremarkable.
An experienced hunting bow, also C-grade, appeared next, its wooden frame worn but reliable, followed by a B-grade tiger fish knife, its blade sharp and gleaming with a faint blue sheen. Finally, the golden item revealed itself, a full set of Beowulf, the S-level gauntlets and greaves once wielded by Vergil in the Devil May Cry series, their silver surface etched with intricate runes that glowed with a faint white light, a weapon of immense power that made Xander's heart race with excitement.
He picked up the Beowulf set, its weight solid in his hands, and marveled at its craftsmanship, his voice filled with awe as he muttered, "This is the real deal, the original Beowulf, I can't believe I got this." The gauntlets and greaves were a perfect fit, their power coursing through him as he flexed his fingers, the runes glowing brighter with each movement, a surge of energy that made him itch for a fight.
His mind raced with possibilities, the thought of testing his new weapons against a tough opponent consuming him as he considered his options, his voice a mix of excitement and calculation as he said, "I need something rough and durable, something I can really go all out on." He thought of the Geo Hypostasis, its massive stone body a perfect target, but quickly dismissed the idea, muttering, "It's too heavy, I'd never get it off the ground."
The idea of fighting Ganyu crossed his mind, her Cryo abilities a challenge, but he shook his head, his voice a mix of amusement and doubt as he said, "Even with a light touch, I'd probably freeze before I could land a hit." Finally, he settled on Tartaglia, the Fatui Harbinger known for his three-stage transformations, his voice filled with determination as he said, "Childe's perfect, I can keep him grounded for a few minutes if I play it right."
The thought of battle consumed him, his hands itching to test the Beowulf set as he reached for the Hella water pipe hammer, his voice a mix of frustration and resolve as he muttered, "I need to calm down, I'm getting too worked up." He tapped the hammer against his head, the dull thud snapping him out of his battle frenzy, his voice a sheepish laugh as he said, "Right, let's focus, I was thinking about the draw."
He glanced at the safety pants, a wry smile crossing his face as he added them to his growing collection of oddities, his voice a mix of amusement and resignation as he muttered, "Another piece for the collection, I guess." But his moment of reflection was cut short by a sudden tremor that shook the city, the sound of screams and the clank of metal echoing through the streets as a massive Ruin Guard emerged from the hills near Springvale, its mechanical body towering over the landscape.
The Ruin Guard's glowing core pulsed with energy, its massive arms swinging as it fired a barrage of missiles toward the city, its stomping feet sending shockwaves through the ground as it advanced, its ancient machinery whirring with a menacing hum. The citizens of Mondstadt panicked, their voices rising in a chorus of fear as they fled the plaza, the knights scrambling to respond, their armor clanking as they rushed to the city's defense.
Jean appeared at the head of the knights, her Anemo Vision glowing brightly as she drew her sword, her voice booming with authority as she shouted, "Knights of Favonius, to Springvale, we need to stop that Ruin Guard!" Eula followed close behind, her Cryo Vision flaring as she summoned her claymore, her icy blue eyes narrowing with determination as she muttered, "This machine will learn the meaning of vengeance."
Xander grabbed the Beowulf set, equipping the gauntlets and greaves as he rushed out of the hotel, his vibrant blue aura flaring around him as he called out to the knights, "I'm with you, let's take this thing down!" He charged toward Springvale, his movements swift and precise as he joined the fray, the Beowulf set glowing with power as he unleashed a flurry of punches, each strike sending a shockwave through the air.
The Ruin Guard turned its attention to Xander, its core glowing brighter as it fired a volley of missiles, their fiery trails streaking through the sky as they homed in on him. Xander dodged with a series of acrobatic flips, his voice filled with excitement as he shouted, "You're a big one, let's see how you handle this!"
He leaped into the air, the Beowulf gauntlets glowing with a white light as he delivered a devastating uppercut, the force of the blow sending the Ruin Guard staggering back, its metal frame groaning under the impact. Jean followed with a burst of Anemo energy, her sword glowing with the power of the wind as she sent a gust that disrupted the Ruin Guard's balance, her voice filled with determination as she shouted, "Keep it off balance, we can't let it reach the city!"
Eula struck next, her Cryo-infused claymore slamming into the ground with a burst of ice that froze the Ruin Guard's legs, her voice a mix of elegance and fury as she declared, "This dance ends now!" The Ruin Guard roared, its core spinning as it unleashed a barrage of spinning blades, their sharp edges slicing through the air as they targeted the knights.
Xander countered with the Beowulf greaves, his kicks a blur of motion as he shattered the blades mid-air, his voice filled with confidence as he shouted, "Not today, you oversized tin can!" He followed with a combo of punches and kicks, the Beowulf set amplifying his strength as he drove the Ruin Guard back, its core flickering as it struggled to maintain its balance.
Jean and Eula worked in tandem, their elements combining in a whirlwind of Anemo and Cryo that enveloped the Ruin Guard, its movements slowing as the ice spread across its body, Jean's voice a mix of resolve and urgency as she shouted, "Now, Xander, finish it!" Xander nodded, his vibrant blue aura flaring brighter as he leaped into the air, the Beowulf set glowing with a blinding light as he delivered a final, earth-shattering punch, his voice a triumphant roar as he shouted, "This is for Mondstadt!"
The punch connected with the Ruin Guard's core, the impact sending a shockwave through the hills as the machine's body shattered, its pieces falling to the ground in a heap of twisted metal, the glow of its core fading as it powered down. The citizens of Mondstadt cheered from the safety of the city, their voices rising in a chorus of gratitude as they thanked the knights and Xander for their protection, the plaza returning to its peaceful state as the sun dipped below the horizon.
Xander stood amidst the wreckage, his chest heaving as he caught his breath, the Beowulf set still glowing faintly as he turned to Jean and Eula, his voice filled with satisfaction as he said, "That was a good fight, these new weapons are incredible." Jean smiled, her Anemo Vision dimming as she sheathed her sword, her voice warm as she replied, "You did well, Xander, Mondstadt owes you a debt of gratitude."
Eula nodded, her Cryo Vision fading as she rested her claymore on her shoulder, her voice a mix of respect and amusement as she said, "A fine display, I'll remember this when I seek my vengeance." The three shared a moment of camaraderie, their bond strengthened by the battle, the city of Mondstadt basking in the glow of their victory as the stars began to twinkle in the night sky.
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