Genshin Impact: The Origins

Lion Vs Dragon

"So, how the hell did things turn into this? Let me explain. The moment I accepted Indra's invitation for a duel, Akira overheard."

"Is big brother and Prince Indra going to duel?" he yelled excitedly, wagging his tail. Before we knew it, all of us were outside, preparing for a competition more intense than a friendly duel.

"I'm sorry, I thought we could have a small duel without telling anyone," I said.

"This is better. Now everyone can see how you're going to lose," Indra replied with a smirk.

"In your dreams. Let the war begin!" I yelled.

Spectators formed a wide circle around us. Ei and Makoto stood at the front, eagerly watching. Indra's companions and mine exchanged knowing glances, clearly excited for the showdown. Indra and I faced each other in the center of the field. He activated PI and MON, tetrahedron-shaped devices that floated around him, glowing with energy

I drew Raijin, deliberately avoiding Shinigami. I didn't want to end up sending a small box labeled "Prince Indra" filled with ashes back to Khaenri'ah. But Shinigami seemed intent on drawing me towards him, silently urging me with a presence I could feel in my mind.

As for Indra, his two tetrahedrons circled around him. Suddenly, with mechanical sounds, PI and MON transformed. PI elongated into what looked like a floating spear with a long barrel, resembling a cannon without a sharp edge. MON attached itself to Indra's head, forming a monocle over his left eye. I wasn't sure of its function, but recalling Indra's earlier explanation, it seemed to gather details. The strange thing was the yellow lightning cracks that sparked around him. How was that possible? He didn't possess a Vision.

I had to proceed cautiously; I didn't understand how his weapons worked. One mistake could spell doom for me. Though we had agreed not to deliver fatal blows, Indra clearly intended to leave more than just scratches on me.

"Oh boy, he's bad news," Raijin told me in my head.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I'm not sure, but something's off about him," he replied.

"Then let's find out what it is," I responded.

As always, my father took on the role of referee. He explained the basic match rules, which were familiar to us both.

"Then, START!" he yelled, then stepped back.

Immediately after, Indra and I lunged at each other at full speed.

PI started shooting light beams at me. Initially, I thought to deflect them, but in a split second, I changed my mind and dodged. It turned out to be the best decision I could have made, as the beam passed inches from my face, radiating intense heat. There was no way I could cut through that; it would have roasted me like grilled meat. Without hesitating, I launched a counterattack. To my surprise, Indra blocked it with his hands and aimed PI straight for my head. Had he planned this from the start? Using my left arm, I redirected PI's aim, causing it to misfire. I immediately jumped back.

Examining my hand, I saw burn marks healing, thanks to the strange healing powers bestowed upon me by my eccentric Grandpa Akihiko. Despite the healing, the pain was excruciating.

"That was impressive. I never expected someone to pull that off," Indra commented.

"Yeah, but what the hell is that thing? Is it shooting light beams? They're incredibly hot," I asked, bewildered.

He scratched his head. "Well, it's not shooting light beams; those are lightning bolts with highly concentrated voltage. I call this weapon 'Arcane'. I can explain more later, but we're in the middle of a fight now," he told me, then resumed firing. This time, his lightning bolts chased after me relentlessly, curving left and right, leaving me no choice but to try and stop them with Raijin. I felt Raijin heat up like hot metal, and he started to scream.

"HOT, HOT, HOT! I'm burning here!" Raijin cried out. Normally, I'd find his antics amusing, but my own hands were burning too. Raijin was crafted from the claw of a Dragon of Lightning and Thunder—my grandfather's claw. How could Raijin be vulnerable to that yellow lightning?

Despite all this, Indra was holding back. This wasn't his full power, and it infuriated me. It wasn't his true self. It started to make me angry because he was making me hold back too.

"Oi, don't hold back. Give it your all!" I yelled at him. To my surprise, he yelled the same thing back.

We both started to laugh.

"Sorry, guess I won't hold back from now on." I drew Shinigami and unleashed Raibatsu Akuyou no Me, the Eye of Story Judgment, drawing power from my Azure God Realm.

"Same goes for me, brother. 'Limit Release'," he commanded. Mechanical equipment began to materialize from nowhere, assembling around him like a suit of armor. Once all the parts had attached, he resembled a mechanical human. Several Arcane devices floated around him, with PI transforming into a spear crackling with yellow lightning, and MON turning into a full helmet that concealed Indra's face.

"HERE I COME, SHAHASRA!" he roared.

"BRING IT ON, INDRAAAA!" I yelled back, charging at him.