Upon seeing the massive azure dragon looming overhead, even Venti was taken aback. He hadn't expected Dvalin to attack Mondstadt at this very moment. Remembering what Su Mo had said earlier, Venti's expression grew tense. "What are you planning to do?" he asked anxiously.
"Of course, I intend to make up for our 'mistake' and give you the chance to properly communicate with him," Su Mo replied with a faint smile, deliberately emphasizing the word "mistake." Venti covered his face in frustration—he hadn't expected to dig his own grave like this. In fact, this wasn't even the first time he had fallen into Su Mo's trap.
"You're not planning to slay Dvalin, are you?" Venti asked nervously.
"Of course not," Su Mo shook his head. "Since we agreed to help Dvalin regain his senses, I naturally won't break that promise. But considering his current state, some degree of force will be unavoidable. I assume the Anemo Archon wouldn't want to see Mondstadt destroyed by him, would he?"
Hearing this, Venti sighed and nodded. "True. We can't allow Dvalin to wreak havoc on Mondstadt. I'll leave it to you then!" Though reluctant to see Dvalin harmed, he also couldn't stand by and watch the city suffer. In truth, Su Mo's solution was the most reasonable assuming, of course, that Su Mo didn't simply take the opportunity to slay the dragon outright.
After reaching an understanding with Venti, Su Mo didn't immediately act. Instead, he turned toward Lumine. "What's wrong, Su Mo?" Lumine asked, a bit puzzled. "Do you need my help?"
She genuinely wanted to assist, but without the ability to fly or access to gliders, she had no way to engage a dragon mid-air. Hearing her question, Su Mo chuckled. "Of course I need your help. After all, you're the heroine of this story."
"Eh?" Lumine blinked, confused. Heroine? What was he talking about?
"Right now, Stormterror is ravaging Mondstadt. The entire city has witnessed its threat and terror. At a moment like this, what could be more inspiring than a hero who drives away a dragon?" Su Mo explained.
If they wanted to earn the admiration of the people and the Knights of Favonius, this was the perfect opportunity. "You mean… you want me to do it?" Lumine finally understood Su Mo's intention. He was thinking for her sake. Without his help, she wouldn't have been able to intervene in this matter with her current abilities. "But… I can't fly."
"That's not a problem," Su Mo replied with a shake of his head. "I'll have the surrounding winds aid you. You'll just need to make a small sacrifice. But for the sake of finding your brother, it's a necessary price."
Lumine tilted her head cutely, still not quite grasping what kind of "sacrifice" he meant. Venti, standing nearby, watched the two curiously. He could easily call upon the thousand-year-old winds to aid Lumine in battle, but revealing that would expose his true identity as the Anemo Archon. Originally, he thought he would have to leave Dvalin entirely to Su Mo. But unexpectedly, Su Mo was trying to give Lumine the spotlight.
And in truth, it made sense. Lumine's journey was ultimately about finding her brother. Making her name known throughout the world might increase the chances of reunion. Even if missing-person notices failed, Lumine's fame could spread far and wide. One day, perhaps her brother might hear of her deeds. So, having Lumine take the stage was essential.
What Venti was most curious about now was how exactly Su Mo intended to give Lumine the power of flight. He had long been intrigued by the true nature of Su Mo's abilities, and now he would get a rare chance to observe them directly.
As Lumine stood there in a slight daze, Su Mo stepped forward and gently placed his hands on her shoulders. Their gazes met, and Lumine's breath quickened slightly under his steady eyes. Then she heard him speak. "This is a necessary ritual to bestow power… though I must admit, I'm looking forward to it."
Realizing what was about to happen, Lumine's mind raced, but she didn't pull away. In the next moment, her mind went completely blank as she felt a warm sensation cover her lips. His tongue gently pried her teeth apart, and their magical energies began to intertwine.
Su Mo held her small face in his hands as he both savored her sweet, innocent taste and simultaneously chanted an incantation. "I am the strongest, the one who holds all victories. O chosen one, by singing my words of power, you shall receive my protection. So long as you do not betray my will, you shall never lose my blessing."
The Godslayer's authority activated.
This was the power of War God of the East, an authority granted by Verethragna, the god of war from Zoroastrian mythology. Through his youthful incarnation, this aspect could shelter and empower humans, granting them strength during moments of crisis.
With this divine authority, Su Mo granted Lumine his protection, massively increasing her strength. Lumine already possessed the power of Anemo; with his blessing, her command over the element surged exponentially. In a matter of moments, her mastery over wind reached the level of a subordinate god—one might even say she now controlled the very storms themselves.
With such control, flight was now effortless, making it entirely possible for her to confront Stormterror before the eyes of Mondstadt's citizens.
Su Mo's intention was simple: to temporarily amplify Lumine's power, without any ulterior motives. The only questionable detail was that, due to his unrestricted authority as a godslayer, the kiss wasn't even necessary for the blessing—he could've bestowed it through other means.
But Su Mo completely ignored that detail — whether intentionally or not remained unclear.
Watching the two of them, Venti couldn't help but exclaim, "Oooh!" His expression immediately turned mischievous. "The bond between companions seems to be growing… ripening… and perhaps even transforming. It appears this tale isn't just a heroic epic, but also a love story!"
Venti had long sensed the subtle closeness between the two, though he hadn't expected their relationship to develop so quickly. At this rate, he joked inwardly, by the time Lumine found her brother, he might be surprised to discover he had two nieces waiting for him. The mere thought amused Venti greatly—what a sight that would be.
Meanwhile, Paimon stared at Su Mo and Lumine, her tiny head full of big questions. "Huh? Since when did their relationship get this close?" She wondered if she had somehow skipped an episode. Yet, despite her confusion, she didn't find their actions too shocking. After all, it was just a kiss. She herself would occasionally playfully kiss Lumine on the cheek while messing around — though this was obviously something different, it didn't seem entirely foreign. Still, for some reason, Paimon couldn't shake the feeling that she was being left out. Was it just her imagination?
Due to Stormterror's appearance, most of the townsfolk had already fled, and no one noticed that, amidst the chaos, a pair of lovers were having such a moment.
Su Mo, having finished bestowing the blessing, didn't stop right away. Only when Lumine struggled to catch her breath and stomped lightly on his foot did he finally release her. Her face was completely flushed, clearly embarrassed. So this was the so-called "small sacrifice" he had mentioned earlier! She wasn't angry, just flustered. She hadn't been prepared for something like this so suddenly — her outfit wasn't cute enough today, and she hadn't even taken the time to properly freshen her breath… Yet as she felt the sudden surge of power swelling within her, she understood that Su Mo had indeed done this for a valid reason, leaving her with little to complain about.
After gathering herself, Lumine lightly pushed off the ground and soared into the sky.
"Whoa! The Traveler can fly now!" Paimon gasped.
"Looks like she's a bit shy now," Venti teased.
"Why would she be shy?" Paimon tilted her head, puzzled. "The Traveler and Su Mo have always been really close."
To her, their earlier actions simply reflected a close friendship and didn't seem like anything unusual. Venti tried to suppress his laughter as he replied, "You'll understand these things when you're older."
"Hey! Is there something you're deliberately hiding from me?" Paimon's curiosity was thoroughly piqued, and she turned her attention to Su Mo.
"That kind of knowledge… let Lumine explain it to you later," Su Mo said, spreading his hands as if unwilling to broach the topic.
"So secretive…" Paimon pouted in dissatisfaction but chose not to pursue it any further. She figured she'd just ask Lumine later.
By this time, high above the city, Lumine had already reached Stormterror's altitude. With Su Mo's blessing, her flight was as effortless as a fish swimming through water. Her enhanced physical abilities and amplified control over wind allowed her to match the massive dragon head-on, and before long, their clash began.
In his weakened state, Stormterror was no match for Lumine, now empowered under Su Mo's protection. She quickly gained the upper hand, pressing the dragon back.
Just then, Su Mo transmitted his voice to Lumine through the surrounding winds. "Lumine, lead Dvalin toward the plaza!"
Hearing his voice, Lumine couldn't help but blush as her mind flashed back to their earlier moment. Especially when she recalled Su Mo saying that he was "looking forward to it" — was that a confession? It felt like a confession! Her heart pounded wildly once more. But now wasn't the time to get lost in her emotions.
"Got it!" she responded firmly, following Su Mo's instructions and gradually luring Dvalin toward the plaza in front of Mondstadt Cathedral.