How To Save Yourself From Being Targeted By The Anemo Archon In Genshin Impact? - Chapter 18

The invigorating cries of the people mingled with the howling hurricane. The Resistance was unstoppable.

They were drawing closer to the tower, nearer and nearer. The sheer emotion in their voices revealed their fervor. They were fighting for freedom and the future of tomorrow.

The slightly long hair on the youth’s forehead was tossed by the wind, revealing sharp eyes fixed upon the God of Storms sitting atop the throne.

Decarabian sat expressionless, propping his chin with one hand, his eyelids slightly lowered as if contemplating something of great importance. As Jiang Yubai reached the base of the throne, he could clearly hear the people’s excited battle songs. What, then, was this eccentric monarch thinking in his heart?

He simply sat there in silence, taking no action, almost as if he were waiting for the people to come and denounce him.

Jiang Yubai’s arrival caused Decarabian to look aside. After watching him for a long while, the God spoke: “You have come.”

His tone was calm, devoid of any surprise, as if he had known all along that this moment would arrive.

Jiang Yubai was taken aback. “By your tone, you don’t seem surprised.”

Today, the Demon God was exceptionally talkative. He said, “After I saw that wisp of wind, I vaguely realized this day would come. A thousand years ago, my people suffered beneath the bitter cold. I raised the wind wall, and for that, I received their veneration and respect.”

“But since when did their veneration vanish? My people no longer believe in or need me. They have begun to fear and dread me. That warm power of faith no longer flows toward me. They have changed.”

“Clearly, I have been exhausting my authority to protect them. Yet, in return, I have only incited their rebellion.”

Decarabian turned his gaze toward the raging fires outside the tower. The dark sky was stained with the glow of the flames, which flickered like red sparks in his eyes.

The System, emboldened by the fact that Decarabian could neither see nor touch it, flew in front of his face and hovered there. Hiss. Why does this Demon God sound a bit pitiful?

Jiang Yubai asked, “Do you think you were wrong?”

The Demon God upon the throne replied, “I was not wrong.”

In the heart of the God of Storms, his people depended on him to survive. Therefore, it was only natural that he receive their worship. He was a Demon God. How could he be wrong?

The youth let out a laugh, contradicting the God even as the deity watched him: “No, you were wrong.”

“You were wrong to keep them trapped within this narrow wind wall. You were wrong to ignore the wishes and voices of the people, allowing the nobility to oppress the commoners. You clearly saw it, yet you did nothing. Granted, in the beginning, you used the wind wall to block the cold and blizzards, but those were the first generation of citizens. They witnessed the beginning of everything. You protected them, and naturally, they were grateful.”

“But have you ever considered that after so many years, several generations of humans have passed? They do not know of your original kindness. They only see that they have lost their freedom, are trapped by the wind wall, and are oppressed at will by the nobles. And you, who saw all of this, did nothing.”

Jiang Yubai’s expression was bold and defiant. He showed no fear of the Demon God before him as he loudly pointed out the deity’s errors.

As a Demon God, Decarabian was eccentric, cold, and allowed no one to question him. Throughout his life, even if he erred, no one dared to criticize him. Yet here was Jiang Yubai, speaking a long string of truths about his failures at the risk of his life.

Indeed, since the first time Decarabian saw him, he had been attracted to this unique human. Other humans only knelt in terror and showed fear in his presence, but this youth possessed a spiritual aura unlike any other.

He did not fear him. He had even fought him alone to protect those other humans. This was unprecedented. Decarabian had been surprised for the first time that a human body would dare to challenge a Demon God.

What surprised him even more was that this oddly dressed human was very strong. When he fought without using his divine power, they actually traded blows evenly. Decarabian could have easily killed the ant blocking his path, but seeing the youth’s fearless eyes, he changed his mind. He wanted to possess this human.

In the tedious span of thousands of years spent atop this high tower, loneliness had been his constant companion. The seven human emotions and six desires did not exist within Decarabian. There was only coldness and solitude.

Even Amos, the child he had picked up from another Demon God’s territory out of a whim after killing the former ruler, could not stir a ripple of emotion in him.

Jiang Yubai was the first to make him truly experience the taste of what humans called love. He desperately wanted to claim the youth, but the human was resistant. With no other choice, he could only lock him by his side.

He saw Amos’s little tricks, which she thought were hidden, but he did not expose them. He, too, needed time to weigh his own emotions.

“If you had opened the wind wall at set intervals and let them see the world outside, your people would never have rebelled.”

“Is that so?” Decarabian stepped down from his throne, approaching Jiang Yubai at the bottom of the steps.

The System, like a startled bird, was shocked by Decarabian’s sudden movement and bolted into the air, returning to Jiang Yubai’s side. What is he doing! Why did he move suddenly! Host, be careful!

Jiang Yubai silently gripped his dagger, staring intently as the tall Demon God drew near.

Decarabian looked down at the tense youth. As if he didn’t see Jiang Yubai’s attacking stance, his eyes overflowed with a strange tenderness. He reached out and stroked the youth’s cheek. “If only I had met you sooner.”

Jiang Yubai froze at the gesture. The sudden tenderness made him shudder with intense revulsion.

No, no, no. I don’t want to know you at all, let alone sooner.

“It is not too late now. You shall surely be mine.” Decarabian’s gentle tone shifted instantly. His attitude became forceful, his eyes watching Jiang Yubai with a paranoid intensity as his palm clamped down on the youth’s shoulder.

“Guji!”

Whiz!

The Wind Spirit’s cry and the whistle of an arrow piercing the air rang out sharply. This was followed by Decarabian’s muffled groan. It happened so fast that within a breath, Amos, holding her bow, was strangled by the violent, raging winds.

The pupils of the late arriving Freier constricted sharply.

The girl’s pale silver eyes trembled as she stared straight into Decarabian’s emotionless eyes. She uncontrollably coughed up a mouthful of blood that splattered across the cold stone floor. Her white dress was shredded into numerous gashes by the sharp gales, reaching her skin until there was not a single patch of uninjured flesh. The fresh red blood quickly soaked the white fabric, staining it a piercing crimson.

Her grip on the bow suddenly failed, and the blue and white weapon clattered to the floor. Then, the girl fell limply toward the ground.

Freier stumbled to Amos’s side. His hands were covered in fresh, warm wetness. He carefully pulled the girl, who still wore a strange smile on her face, into his arms, his voice dry and trembling: “Amos.”

“Cough, cough.” Amos moved her eyes, looking from the boy’s tear-streaked face toward the God of Storms. Seeing the arrow she had accurately fired into his heart, Amos struggled to curl her lips. How wonderful. I finally managed to hurt him.

Soon, Amos lost all breath.

“Amos?” The boy felt the person in his arms suddenly grow heavy. He called out softly to the blood-soaked girl in panic.

Jiang Yubai saw everything that happened in that instant. He did not have time to wonder why they had not stayed on standby. He attacked the moment Decarabian reached for the arrow in his chest, his dagger flashing with a cold light as it arched through the air.

The attack missed.

Jiang Yubai was not surprised. He quickly adjusted his stance, dodging Decarabian’s hand as it tried to restrain him.

However, no matter how fast he was, he could not outrun a Demon God. He was struck in the chest and sent flying back several steps. Jiang Yubai panted as he knelt on one knee, supporting himself with one hand. Pain flashed in his eyes as he stared at the approaching deity.

The Wind Spirit suddenly blocked his path, driving a gale toward the God of Storms!

The gentle wind collided with the tyrannical gale! For a moment, a balance was reached.

Jiang Yubai caught his breath, rubbing his aching chest. It was surely bruised. He looked at the Wind Spirit trading blows with Decarabian. Such a tiny body was now standing in front of him. It had grown so quickly.

Decarabian finally showed an expression, looking with surprise at the Wind Spirit who now possessed such power. Its growth rate was nothing short of terrifying. Two months ago, when he first saw it, it was a weak, pathetic wisp of air. Now, it actually had the strength to contend with him.

Given time, it would surely surpass him.

The God of Storms increased his force. The Wind Spirit resisted with difficulty, but it did not hold out for long before being struck hard. Jiang Yubai’s eyes widened, and he hurried to catch the wilting spirit.

“Gu.” The Wind Spirit wobbled as it rose from his arms, still wanting to fight.

Jiang Yubai pressed it down with a firm hand and tossed it toward the blood-stained Freier. “Get out of here, now!”

“Waa. Brother Jiang.” The boy caught the spirit. He bit his lip, laid down the cold body of Amos, and picked up the fallen bow to aim at Decarabian. “I won’t. If we leave, we leave together. I will never run away again.”

“When I started this war for freedom, I was prepared to die.”

“Brother Jiang, I cannot leave you behind and run alone!”

Tsk.

Where did this confidence come from? Could the two of them really defeat Decarabian with just hand-held cold weapons? No. He still had one bullet left, but that would not do anything. Was it truly that only the power of a Demon God could kill a Demon God? That was far too harsh.

This time, the arrow the boy fired was blocked by the God in mid-air. The arrow fell to the ground as if it had struck an invisible barrier. Seeing Decarabian preparing to repeat his previous feat and tear the boy apart, the Wind Spirit neutralized the attack.

Jiang Yubai breathed a sigh of relief and quickly pulled Freier behind him.

The sound of many footsteps echoed from within the tower. The Resistance must have broken through and was approaching the upper levels.

Decarabian clearly noticed this as well. His form paused slightly.

Jiang Yubai’s gaze was sharp. “Decarabian, you have lost.”

“Oh?” The God of Storms cast an interested look toward him, seemingly puzzled as to why he would think so.

“Your people are approaching the throne, and you” Jiang Yubai smiled, speaking with certainty. “You cannot bring yourself to strike them.”

“A Demon God loves humanity. You raised a wind wall to protect your people. How could you personally kill the humans you cherish?”

Jiang Yubai understood now. The love of the God of Storms was one of shackles and compulsion. His way of loving was wrong, but even with this paranoid love, he could not bring himself to slaughter the people who wanted to rebel against him.

Therefore, Jiang Yubai was gambling. He gambled that Decarabian would not strike the people who were about to arrive. This rebellion for freedom belonged to the humans.

“You speak the truth. I have indeed lost. But Jiang Yubai, you aren’t leaving either.”

In an instant, he clamped his hand around the youth’s slender neck.