𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐁𝐘𝐒𝐒. genshin impact

CHPT. 42 Rift-hounds and how to get rid of them

"猟犬を取り除く方法"
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Durin could feel the excitement rolling of himself. He has reluctantly sat with Yae Miko to gauge out more information regarding the Balladeer, and he was left fascinated and curious of the prototype puppet. He felt tingly, grinning the entire time he had search through Narukami for a single strand of dark purple hair that matched the shoguns.

He found himself cackling inwardly once he realized that the Shogun and Balladeer were akin to siblings. Problem was; the eldest was the shortest of the electro family. He had caught a glimpse of the twin electro Archon's, and had seen the Raiden shogun who was an exact replica of both. However, from Yae Miko's description, the Balladeer didn't particularly look like either.

Durin slumped, groaning as he could not find a single clue on where the Balladeer had gone. Pouting to himself as he laid on the grass, he sighed for a second before staring at the clouds move forward.

"Was the fox being honest with him being here? I didn't find a clue at all." He grumbled, having disliked Yae Miko once he saw how intimate and close she was with his sister.

Durin stared at the sky for a whole few minutes, before getting up from the grass and continuing his search. He sighed tiredly, glaring at the ground before he froze on the spot.

He knew that scent. He knew that sensation.

It was a horrendous feeling and he jumped towards what has forced him to feel such a thing. And he came face to face with a rift-hound. Sparks of electro crackling around it, as two smaller ones stood behind the bigger beast. It growled viciously, coming to realization that the hounds had cornered someone. Gritting his teeth, he stood up straight— eyes glowing a poisonous violet and magenta, incomparable to the vibrant purple of electro.

A claymore manifested from his own shadow, glaring down at the beasts he had detested so dearly. He resisted the urge to transform into a dragon and devour the beasts without a second thought, but there was someone watching. Not to mention that his draconic form was much bigger then Dvalin's and be would have been noticed immediately.

But...

To his own stupidity and recklessness, rather than properly using the claymore, he raised it up I the air and threw it right at the rift-hound. His blade stabbed it's back and through its stomach; the beast letting out a roar of pain and agony.

Durin clicked his tongue, hopping down to the hound and ruthlessly pulling out his claymore from it.

"Tsk. Stupid hounds, why couldn't they just stay dead?" He grumbled under his breath, before turning to the strange the hounds had cornered. His eyes widened immediately once he saw their appearance, freezing on the spot.

They smiled, "Thank you for saving me! It was quite troublesome since my element is of electro."

Durin gave him a strained grin, dispelling his claymore and staring at the man.

"It's no problem. I detest rift-hounds with a passion so I don't really mind killing one."

—After all, they were created by the monster that corrupted him.

"Hi there, I'm... Raven." Durin smiled, offering his hand to the stranger.

Hesitation subtly glimmering in the strangers eyes, accepting the handshake before giving him a pained and irritated smile. He shivered as he felt the cold touch Durin had, blinking in surrpise before smiling once again.

"Kunikuzushi."

Durin smiled shrewdly, letting go of vagrants hand before stepping away from him. Here he was; the prototype puppet.