Chapter 31: Fierce Battle

Mondstadt, a city usually filled with laughter and bustling with life, was now plunged into unprecedented chaos and panic. No one had expected that the Stormterror, which had been wreaking havoc outside the city walls, would suddenly breach the heart of Mondstadt itself. The event occurred so abruptly that there was no time for defense, leaving the once-thriving streets in complete disarray.

Gales roared like a maddened beast, tearing through the city. Advertising signboards were ripped from storefronts and sent spinning aimlessly through the air, only to be smashed against the ground with the force of cannonballs, shattering into debris with a deafening clatter. Handbills and discarded scraps of paper were swept into the sky, swirling into a chaotic vortex. Pedestrians fled in terror, their shouts and screams swallowed whole by the relentless howling of the wind.

"Do not panic! Those close to home, return immediately; those further away, take shelter in nearby shops or buildings. Lock your doors and windows and do not come out until you receive orders from the Knights of Favonius!"

On the street, a young knight supported an injured elder, shielding them from the flying debris as they struggled toward a place of refuge. Nearby, an experienced Knight-Captain shouted until his voice grew hoarse, calmly directing the evacuation. Yet, his gaze, frequently cast toward the sky, was filled with deep concern. They had never anticipated that the dragon, which had been causing trouble only in the outskirts, would now strike the city directly. Despite the high state of alert maintained by the patrols due to the dragon crisis, this sudden shift left the unprepared knights in a completely passive position.

"What is that?" someone suddenly cried out in terror.

As the crowd looked up, they saw a figure being tossed by the gale like a lone leaf in a storm, swept uncontrollably into the high sky. Behind him, a pair of distinct wings was clearly visible. Being citizens of Mondstadt, they instantly recognized the city's signature item: the Wind Glider. Clearly, the person had been gliding when the Stormterror struck, and they had been unluckily caught in the violent winds.

Those below watching the scene could not help but mourn for the unfortunate soul. To be swept to such a height in these conditions was essentially a death sentence. Even worse, the Stormterror, looming high above, seemed to notice this "little bug" and began to close in. Many closed their eyes, unable to bear the sight of the impending bloodshed.

However, just as the dragon opened its gaping maw to swallow the youth, the boy—who had no leverage in the air—seized a fleeting moment when a piece of heavy debris flew past him. With a swift movement, he stepped onto the object to stabilize his posture and leapt with all his might, narrowly evading the dragon's lethal strike.

Simultaneously, the youth turned, spread his fingers, and aimed his palm at the dragon. In an instant, massive Anemo energy gathered and compressed in his palm like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, forming a high-intensity wind blast. He released his grip, and the projectile surged toward the dragon, tearing through the air.

"BOOM!"
"ROAR!"

A massive explosion erupted in the sky, followed by a roar of fury from the Stormterror. The dragon clearly had not expected this "little bug" to wield such potent Anemo energy. Caught off guard, the high-pressure blast struck the creature squarely in the head. The people below watched as the dragon’s neck jerked sideways, and it was sent reeling back over a hundred meters before it could stabilize itself in the air.

While the strike was unexpected, the youth had little time to charge his power, so it only caused minor injuries, shattering a few scales but failing to inflict any serious damage. Instead, the already agitated and struggling dragon was completely enraged. Its crimson eyes filled with killing intent as it roared and charged toward the youth once more. Chen, however, showed no fear, harnessing the wind energy unexpectedly bestowed upon him and flying headlong to meet the dragon.

"Boom!" "Boom!" "CRASH!"

Man and dragon collided repeatedly in the high heavens. Each impact sent violent shockwaves rippling through the air, with Anemo energy surging incessantly. In Mondstadt, countless people watched this incredible scene, their faces frozen in disbelief. No one could have imagined that the "unlucky soul" blown into the sky possessed such terrifying strength, capable of holding his own against a dragon in single combat.

In truth, not only the citizens but even Venti, who was secretly channeling the power of the Anemo Archon to Chen, was stunned. Having seen Dvalin breach the city while the Knights were unprepared, Venti had been ready to intervene himself. However, upon seeing someone swept into the sky, he recognized the youth as the person who had disturbed him and Dvalin in the woods earlier. Sensing the individual's extraordinary nature, Venti—who did not wish to reveal his identity yet—decisively chose to lend his power to the boy.

He had intended to guide the youth on how to wield this power, but before he could utter a word, the boy had already blasted Dvalin away and was locked in a fierce battle. The instructions Venti intended to give were stuck in his throat. Especially after witnessing the youth’s masterful command of the Anemo energy, Venti began to wonder: which of them was actually the Anemo Archon?

In reality, although Chen had not been in contact with elemental energy for long, as a traveler who had crossed the star-seas, he understood the nature of the wind well. In other worlds he had traversed, he had encountered other powerful wind-wielders, engaging in both simple sparring and life-or-death duels. Consequently, he had his own unique understanding of the free wind.