[Title]: "dragonfall: i am the dragon king"
[Author]: Fictional Historian
[Main Text]:
[Table of Contents: Chapter 1: The Wicked Dragon Kidnaps the Princess, Chapter 2: The Wicked Dragon is Actually The Wicked Dragon, Chapter 3: Welcoming the Return of the Dragon King]
(Character profiles omitted here, several hundred words skipped)
[Chapter 1: The Wicked Dragon Kidnaps the Princess]
The skies of Liyue had never been so gloomy, resembling Director Hu's expression whenever Mr. Zhongli sent the bill to the WangSheng Funeral Parlor for the third time in a month.
The Jade Chamber floated above the outskirts of Liyue. Ningguang stood on the top platform, her elegant sleeves fluttering in the wind. She tightly gripped a letter, her expression solemn.
"The Golden-Winged Bird has fallen into the dragon's claws. If you wish to see him alive, the limit is seven days."
A brief line of text, yet it meant the Conqueror of Demons, Xiao, had fallen into enemy hands. What shocked Ningguang even more was the signature on the letter—the Geo Dragon King.
"Ganyu." Ningguang's voice was cold. "Assemble those capable of fighting."
Ganyu pursed her lips tightly. She could distinguish the aura lingering on the letter; it wasn't an ordinary monster, but Azhdaha.
Before long, the elites of Liyue Harbor gathered at the Jade Chamber: Director Hu of the WangSheng Funeral Parlor with her consultant Zhongli, the Second Young Master of the Feiyun Commerce Guild Xingqiu and his close friend Chongyun, the Adeptus disciple Shenhe, as well as Beidou. Even Yanfei, who rarely made public appearances, rushed over upon hearing the news.
"Azhdaha has kidnapped Xiao." Ningguang got straight to the point, making the letter's contents public. "Within seven days, we must rescue the Conqueror of Demons."
A wave of suppressed gasps rippled through the crowd.
Zhongli frowned slightly, studying the stationery in Ningguang's hand, a flicker of complexity passing through his amber eyes.
"This matter is strange," Zhongli spoke calmly. "Though Azhdaha once stood against Liyue, he has been resealed. Why would he be able to leave his place of sealing, let alone suddenly kidnap Vigilant Yaksha Xiao?"
Ningguang's gaze was sharp: "That is precisely why we must uncover the truth. Keqing has already led the Millelith to blockade the Nantianmen area. We depart immediately."
The group prepared to set out. After a brief moment of reflection, Zhongli followed the team.
Hu Tao skipped along beside him, giggling as she asked, "Why is my consultant so proactive today? Could it be you're worried about that stern Vigilant Yaksha Xiao?"
Zhongli smiled faintly. "Director, you joke. When Liyue is in trouble, everyone bears responsibility."
He paused, adding meaningfully, "Besides, once a contract is made, it must be fulfilled."
The group soon arrived at the location.
The once lush valley was now shrouded in an ominous aura, the air thick with a strange scent. Keqing came forward to meet them, pointing toward a faintly visible cave entrance in the distance. "That is where Azhdaha is sealed. There are fresh signs of struggle at the entrance, and... this."
She handed over a broken nuó mask.
Ningguang took the nuó mask, her expression growing even more solemn.
Chongyun turned pale with shock. This was the mask Xiao never let leave his side, yet now it was shattered like this.
"Prepare to attack!" Beidou shouted, her greatsword already unsheathed.
"Wait," Zhongli suddenly spoke to stop them. "Rushing in so recklessly might harm Vigilant Yaksha Xiao. It would be better to send a few people in first to scout."
Ningguang pondered for a moment and nodded. "That makes sense."
She then ordered the Millelith to stand by, told Ganyu to act as the situation dictated outside the cave, and led the rest carefully into the depths of the rock cavern.
[Chapter 2: The Wicked Dragon is Actually The Wicked Dragon]
The cave was eerily quiet, save for the sound of water dripping from stalactites. The deeper they went, the denser the ancient runes on the rock walls became, emitting a faint glow.
Xingqiu whispered to Chongyun, "These runes... seem to be an ancient sealing technique."
Chongyun nodded, the talismans in his hand ready. "Be careful, I feel a powerful force awakening."
Suddenly, the path opened up, revealing a massive underground space. In the center, Azhdaha's enormous body was bound by countless geo chains. He raised his head, his eyes full of exhaustion and fury.
"Mortals, why have you intruded upon my domain?" Azhdaha's voice echoed through the cave like thunder.
Ningguang stepped forward, holding up the broken nuó mask. "Azhdaha, hand over the Conqueror of Demons, and we will leave immediately."
A flicker of confusion passed through Azhdaha's eyes. "I do not understand what you mean. That Golden-Winged Yaksha is not here."
Hu Tao shouted, "Stop playing dumb! This nuó mask was found right at your cave entrance!"
Azhdaha let out a low growl, the geo chains clattering. "I have long since ceased troubling the human world. Why do you slander me?"
"Enough talk!" Beidou roared, being the first to launch an attack.
The others followed close behind, various weapons being brandished.
With a wave of Ningguang's hand, countless formations took shape, blasting toward Azhdaha. Keqing's form was like lightning, her sword light flashing as she cleared away all obstacles.
Xingqiu and Chongyun coordinated perfectly, their swordplay and talismans weaving into a net. Shenhe's polearm was like a silver dragon emerging from the sea, pointing straight at Azhdaha's vitals.
Azhdaha roared in anger, shaking the entire cave violently. "You go too far!"
He violently broke free of some geo chains, and the geo element condensed around him into sharp crystal clusters, which he fired at everyone.
Amidst the fierce battle, Zhongli stood quietly outside the fray, observing everything with a leisurely posture as if he were admiring flowers.
Hu Tao noticed his abnormality and yelled, "consultant! What are you doing? Hurry up and help!"
Just then, Ningguang discovered a pile of items in a corner of the cave—several pieces of clothing Xiao often wore, along with some items clearly belonging to him.
She shouted angrily, "The evidence is conclusive! How dare you still make excuses!"
Azhdaha followed her gaze, and for the first time, panic appeared in his eyes. "No, those aren't my things! I don't know why they are here!"
But the group no longer believed his defense, and their attacks grew more intense. Under the combined efforts of Liyue's elites, Azhdaha gradually faltered. The geo chains once again bound him tightly, his head pressed to the ground, unable to move.
"Now, tell us where Xiao is." Ningguang walked up to Azhdaha, her voice icy.
Azhdaha panted with difficulty, his eyes full of grievance and resentment. "I swear... I didn't..."
"He is telling the truth." Zhongli's calm voice rang out in the cave.
Everyone turned back in astonishment, only to see Zhongli walking over slowly, a strange smile on his face that they had never seen before.
"Mr. Zhongli?" Ningguang frowned.
Zhongli chuckled, reaching out to lightly brush his cheek. His appearance began to change; his originally amber eyes turned into vertical dragon pupils, and he emitted a suffocating pressure.
He laughed sinisterly and said, "Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am the nemesis of Morax, the primary enemy of the Geo Archon, The Wicked Dragon Andrius."
Everyone was stunned. Hu Tao even took a step back in disbelief. "You... you're not Zhongli..."
"The real Zhongli was replaced by me months ago." Andrius laughed loudly. "And the Xiao you're looking for isn't with Azhdaha at all, hahahaha!"
With a wave of his hand, a cage made of the geo element suddenly appeared in the center of the cave. Trapped inside was the unconscious Conqueror of Demons, covered in blood.
"Why?" Keqing asked, suppressing her rage.
Andrius's gaze turned cold. "To take revenge on Morax, to let him see everything he cherishes destroyed with his own eyes. Unfortunately, I only found out after inquiring that he's actually already dead!"
"Morax... how could he just die like that?!" His voice was raspy. "I should have been the one to tear that disgusting face of his apart with my own hands!"
Andrius's furious dragon pupils swept across every shocked face, the geo element surging restlessly around him.
Ningguang quickly recovered from her shock, her gaze sharp as a blade. "So this was all your scheme? Impersonating Mr. Zhongli, framing Azhdaha, and luring us here..."
Andrius cut Ningguang off directly: "Yes, since he's already dead, I'll just have to take it out on the Liyue he protected and..."
Andrius spread his arms, and Xiao in the cage twitched in pain. "...and his loyal Yaksha."
"How does it feel to fight your own? Next, I will make you—his cherished people and comrades—slaughter each other! I'll have Liyue's finest forces destroy their former guardian with their own hands!"
"What irony, what... delight!"
"Now... I'll start with you!" As soon as he finished speaking, Andrius suddenly lunged, a Jueyun Chili Spear thrusting straight at Ningguang, who was at the front!
The others couldn't reach her in time. Seeing the Jueyun Chili Spear about to pierce Ningguang's chest—
Clang!
A familiar polearm blocked the fatal blow.
"Foolish."
Standing before Andrius was the Conqueror of Demons, his gaze sharp.
"Impossible!" Andrius cried out. "You were clearly under my control..."
The Conqueror of Demons wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his nuó mask slowly appearing on his face. "Did you think I would fall for it so easily, Wicked Dragon?"
Ningguang and the others quickly adjusted their formation, surrounding Andrius.
Andrius's expression changed drastically as he looked around, finally realizing that he was the one who had fallen into a trap.
(To be continued)
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