Taking over the Abyss

10- Ciao

Once again, you failed to get a good night's sleep and spent a fair chunk of the night staring at the sky, watching the moon eclipse over Celestia. You fell asleep at one point, but within a few hours you were woken up again by Aether trying lift you up as gently as possible to try and not wake you up. It did not work.

You were grateful that he tried, though. Although you did try to fall back asleep again, Paimon shaking your shoulder and once again trying to hype you up about Yanxiao's cooking prevented you from doing do. In an attempt to avoid getting held up for too long, Aether opted to just buy you and Paimon a fruit to split.

"The walk to Liyue Harbor shouldn't take too long if we don't get held up by anything," Aether stated, watching you munch on your half of the sunsettia. You had a feeling that something was definitely going to try and hold you all up, but good on Aether for being optimistic. From beside him, Paimon began to whine about how she was still hungry.

While Aether dealt with a complaining Paimon, you checked your stats to see if you'd maxed out again.

LEVEL 40/40

Cheering silently, you checked to see what boss materials you'd need to ascend. Anything but the Oceanid was fine, even though you knew deep down you probably had to get Oceanid mats. Somehow. Maybe you'd just hang out at level 40 forever. Instead of being able to check what materials you needed, you stared at the little exclamation mark. Did Aether already have all the materials?

You subtly glanced up at him. Considering he was going solo... he probably wouldn't mind. Oh well. He'd never know it was you. Probably. Clicking the little ascend button, you once again silently cheered and checked the rest of your stats out.

HP: 4654/4654

ATK: 486

DEF: 287

EM: 81

ER%: 100

CR: 9.8%

CDMG: 50%

You had crit rate as your ascension stat, huh? Staring up at the sky, you came to terms with the fact that you were probably intended to be a DPS, despite your poor stats. Maybe they'd get better. You were confident that since you had the stats of a playable character instead of the stats of an enemy mob, that it was a sign you weren't going to be stuck like this forever.

As the three of you began to cross over the bridge leaving Wangshu, you felt a sudden sense of dread and shuddered. Losing your grip on the piece of fruit, you reached down in a futile attempt to try and grab it before it hit the floor. Managing to snag it, you breathed a sigh of relief and made sure to hold it more tightly.

You immediately dropped your fruit piece as you were snatched off Aether's shoulder and held up by the collar of your robe. Glancing to the side, you felt your insides freeze up at the sight of the one person you were hoping would just leave you alone. Giving Aether a stern look, Xiao tightened his grip on your collar and asked, "What do you think you're doing with this?"

Aether looked just about as terrified as you felt. This was it, wasn't it? Xiao was definitely going to end you. Collecting himself, Aether attempted to save you from being slaughtered by the shortest of the Yaksha, "This is (Name)... we're trying to find out a way to turn her back into a human."

"A foolish idea," Xiao retorted without a second of hesitation, already beginning to turn around to walk away with you, "You're wasting your time. I will deal with this, if you cannot."

Xiao was stopped by Aether grabbing his wrist, the Yaksha pausing from the sheer audacity. "Don't handle her so roughly."

Xiao tugged his arm free of Aether's grasp, his stoic expression hardening into something more frustrated, "'Her'? You know what this thing is, right?"