Genshin Impact: Outlaws

Chapter 15.

     The expedition group was dead silent. Even the normally chatty Sparc had nothing to say. The anticipation of the battle hung in the air like a dense fog. 

     Akuji herself was nervous. Jonas had seemed terrified of the so-called Ruin Serpent residing in the cave. She wondered how dangerous the serpent was for even a seasoned adventurer like him to refuse to go anywhere near the cave. 

     "So uh, you're like a pirate?" asked Sparc, directing the question at Beidou. 

     "I guess you could say that. I'm one of the good ones though, that's why Ningguang assigned me and my crew to look out for any naval threats!" said Beidou. 

     "What is it like at sea?" asked Akuji. This time, Kazuha was the one who answered her. 

     "Once you get accommodated to the occasional seasickness, it is a very beautiful place to traverse across," said Kazuha. 

     "Haha, you certainly didn't seem to think so when we encountered that storm!" chuckled Beidou, thumping Kazuha's back. "The kid still hasn't obtained his sea legs!" 

     "C- Captain Beidou!" protested Kazuha. However, Akuji thought his embarrassment was the cutest thing she had ever seen. She felt her heartbeat accelerate and she wanted nothing more than to tackle-hug him. 

     "Um, guys? Should we be worried about that ominous exit ahead?" asked Sparc.

     "Let's see...oh, that does look ominous," said Ganyu. The rest of the party soon came into view of what Sparc and Ganyu were talking about. There was an exit to the tunnel with a sign over it that read "Ominous Exit". 

     "I mean, that doesn't exist in the canon Teyvat," said Sparc. 

     "In the WHAT Teyvat?" asked Keqing. Sparc shook his head. "Nuthin', don't worry about it." 

     "Alright, focus everyone," said Ganyu. "There is no telling what monsters await us." 

     "It's literally called the Serpent's Cave, Ganyu," said Sparc. 

     There was a long, awkward silence, until Omamori coughed into his fist, breaking it. "Well, let's form a battle plan first."

     "An astute idea, Omamori," said Keqing. "Alright, Captain Beidou and Kazuha will lead the attack, with me coming up between them and both Omamori and Sovetsky flankin-"

     "LEEEEEROY JEENKINS!!!" yelled Sparc, charging straight into the tunnel in his mech. 

     "Sparc, wait!" yelled Keqing. "Argh, why does he keep rushing into things?!" 

     "Heh, I like that kid!" said Beidou. "Alright, Keqing, got a new plan?" 

     Keqing sighed. "As much as it pains me to say this...we must improvise." 

     Beidou smirked. "Just what I like to hear. Come on, Kazuha!" She charged straight into the tunnel exit after Sparc, with Kazuha wordlessly following her.

     "K- Kazuha, wait!" said Akuji. Kazuha, unlike Sparc, immediately stopped. "Yes, Akuji?" 

     Akuji blushed at being directly addressed by her name but quickly recovered. "I'll go with you." 

     Kazuha blinked, his hetachromic eyes staring into Akuji's red ones. "It's dangerous."

     "The samurai is correct, it's too dangerous. You need to be in the back while providing cover fire," said Omamori.

     "Oma." Akuji turned around to face her brother. "I'm not a child, I can handle myself!" 

     "Akuji, your disease..." hissed Omamori, but Akuji silenced him with an angry stare. "My condition doesn't mean I have to be babied! I can fight, and I'm GOING to fight!"