Silver Wolf flexed her fingers and said, "Alright brothers, time to get to work. Next, that old guy Venti is going to make us run all over the map."
[I already prepared myself after suffering in the closed beta.]
[Those who unlocked waypoints before doing the main story say it doesn't matter.]
The teardrop crystals Lumine had collected were effective on the Holy Lyre der Himmel and could restore its energy. Lumine volunteered herself, planning to actively go collect the teardrop crystals.
With teleport waypoints available, she could quickly travel back and forth between the possible locations where teardrop crystals might appear in Mondstadt.
Diluc beside her expressed that he could provide intelligence.
At this moment, Jun Bai spoke up:
"No need. I am very sensitive to Dvalin's aura and can roughly sense the locations of the teardrop crystals. Moreover, I can fly, so if I go alone, it will be more efficient."
"So leave the matter of collecting the teardrop crystals to me alone. As for you, just peacefully serve as the trump card against Dvalin."
The voice that was magnetic yet carried a youthful tone echoed from the screen. Silver Wolf outside the screen remained silent.
After a long while, she sighed, "I didn't expect that Old Mi not only changed the plot but even modified the map-opening part of the main story."
[After progressing further, the waypoints that would originally be passed while collecting teardrops will have a line of text appear after completing this main story segment, automatically unlocking them.]
[Those who came back after finishing the main story are now Jun Bai fans. He really pays attention to details.]
[Seriously, after finishing the main story, even if you don't become a Jun Bai fan, it's hard to develop any dislike toward him.]
"Real or fake?" Silver Wolf became interested and continued the main story.
In the game, the conversation among the five continued.
Lumine: "Alright, then I'll use this time to rest and build up my energy. I'll definitely handle this matter for you."
Venti: "Then leave the matter of summoning Dvalin to me. We already have the Holy Lyre der Himmel, so next we need to carefully consider the performance venue."
Diluc: "Starsnatch Cliff is pretty good. Liyue guy, what about my task?"
Jun Bai: "I'm going to collect the teardrop crystals and won't be able to accompany you the whole way, so I'll have to trouble Mr. Diluc to protect everyone. After all, there are people in Mondstadt who are coveting the Holy Lyre der Himmel."
Diluc: "I get the feeling you're secretly referring to some shady characters. Don't worry, I'll accompany them the whole way."
Jun Bai: "Good. Since everything is clear now, I'll head to Starsnatch Cliff tonight to meet up with you all."
The screen went black, then a line of text appeared.
[Jun Bai collects teardrop crystals all across Mondstadt territory, and conveniently lights up teleport waypoints whenever he passes by them.]
Then the scene switched to the Mondstadt map. A chibi Jun Bai avatar started moving from Mondstadt City. Whenever it passed an unlit teleport waypoint, it would specifically stop to light it up.
Silver Wolf's small mouth opened wide in surprise. "Does this Jun Bai know we can use teleport waypoints?"
[Thank you, Jun Bai.]
[So, do the five Primogems for unlocking waypoints still count?]
[Network delay upstairs? Don't worry, not a single Primogem is missing. They were directly added to the total Primogems.]
Silver Wolf took out her phone, placed it on the table, opened the MiHoYo community, and gave a thumbs-up to Jun Bai's official art. "Bro, you're really something. When your banner comes out, I'll pull your signature weapon for you."
When the screen lit up again, Lumine was already on the road. Paimon narrated the situation as voice-over:
"The sky has gradually darkened. We need to hurry and reach Starsnatch Cliff."
Silver Wolf habitually opened the map, planning to teleport and take a shortcut. But the system prompted: [Current situation is urgent. Teleport function cannot be used.]
Silver Wolf asked in the livestream room and received affirmative answers from everyone, confirming this was not a program bug but mandatory story progression. She then relaxed and followed the quest guidance.
The character strode forward along the guided route, and the sky gradually darkened as the character advanced.
"This time progression feels pretty well done." Silver Wolf commented.
[Teyvat's sky is beautiful, right? There are even bigger surprises later.]
[This is just an appetizer. There's a big surprise coming.]
Seeing the livestream chat spamming about surprises, Silver Wolf instantly became alert. She decisively opened the character panel, leveled the entire party to 20, and equipped them with 20-level 3-star weapons.
This way, less than five hours after server launch, she wouldn't need to panic no matter what small monsters she encountered.
Then, Silver Wolf saw the "surprise"
The Fatui.
...
"Who are they?" Paimon looked at the suddenly appearing, aggressively approaching Fatui soldiers and fearfully hid behind Lumine.
"The Fatui's advance party. It looks like they're here for the Holy Lyre der Himmel." Diluc watched indifferently as the Electrohammer Vanguard and Anemo Boxer Vanguard walked out of the forest. He summoned his Wolf's Gravestone greatsword and gripped it tightly with one hand.
Behind the Vanguards, the Electro Cicin Mage and Pyro Agent waited for an opportunity to strike.
In the shadows, the eyes of the Geochanter Bracer and Hydrogunner Legionnaire gleamed with an unusual light.
Now only the Hydrogunner and Cryogunner Legionnaires were missing, and Lumine would have seen the full set of Fatui advance team members.
"Poet, protect the Holy Lyre der Himmel. You have a Vision, so it shouldn't be difficult for you, right?" Diluc held his greatsword with one hand and advanced toward the Fatui.
It was just a small scene. When he was young, he had encountered even larger Fatui formations.
Back when Diluc single-handedly destroyed Fatui strongholds across the continent, he faced such lineups or even larger ones every single moment while being hunted.
"Paimon, stay by Venti's side." Lumine instructed. Then she rushed straight toward the two Bracers in the forest.
In this dark environment, enemies who attacked from hiding were harder to deal with than those in front.
Venti leisurely plucked the strings of his lyre. A wind barrier appeared, protecting him and Paimon. He then smiled at Paimon, "Little Paimon, don't worry. It's absolutely safe over here with me."
In this way, the battlefield was divided.
Diluc took on four enemies head-on, Lumine went to deal with the two Bracers, and Venti kept the wind barrier active while staying alert against the Electro Cicin Mage's cicins.
...
In Teyvat, Lumine only needed to deal with two, but in the game, Silver Wolf had to fight six at the same time.
Silver Wolf admitted that the moment she saw six Fatui, she nearly had a heart attack.
During the closed beta, she had already felt that the Fatui series of small monsters were a nightmare for beginners. Six advance team members with shields that didn't need corresponding elements or methods to break, nearly 100% resistance increase the originally decent damage instantly turned into scraping.
The Electro Cicin Mage would release annoying cicins to harass, dealing decent damage while also shielding the Electro Cicin Mage.
The Pyro Agent could turn invisible while dealing ridiculously high damage; one charged attack could cripple a full-health character.
And in this kind of chaotic melee, the Pyro Agent was even harder to handle.
Silver Wolf glanced at her own party.
Damn! She didn't bring Kaeya!