"Equal to Heaven, Bound by Earth" A Genshin Impact Fanfic

Chapter 4: Fiery Reckoning

The atmosphere in Mondstadt had been forever changed. The echoes of battle still lingered in the streets, and the once cheerful city now felt weighed down by an ominous chill. The snowstorm that Signora had summoned remained, shrouding the town in a cold haze, as if the winds themselves were mourning the loss of what had been lost.

Wukong stood at the epicenter of the chaos, his iron staff still clenched tightly in his hands, though his muscles ached and his breathing was shallow from the fierce battle against Signora. Despite the searing heat of his anger, the weariness from the fight threatened to pull him down, but he refused to show weakness in front of his enemies. Not again.

"Impressive," Signora had said before the final exchange. Her words echoed in his mind, her mocking tone twisting like a thorn in his chest. "For a mortal."

Mortal. That was what the gods of his world had always called him. No matter how powerful he became, no matter how many battles he fought, he would always be less than they were. Less than the Celestials. That was how it had always been.

But the more Signora spoke, the more Wukong's rage grew. He hated that term. Mortal. As if the gods were superior simply because of their status. It wasn't enough that they looked down on him for his origins; they even made it a point to remind him that he was not one of them.

The weight of his anger simmered in his chest, but he could only let it boil over when the time was right. Now, in Mondstadt, he found himself facing an enemy that might just break him.

His gaze moved toward the distant city walls. Beyond the trees and stone, the storm still raged, the howling winds and snow turning the world to a blur. He could barely see the silhouette of the cathedral in the distance, its massive bell tower barely visible through the whirling snow.

Venti stood beside him, his face as stoic as it ever had been, yet Wukong could see the sadness in his eyes. They both knew that the worst was yet to come.

"That woman," Wukong growled, tightening his grip on the staff, "She didn't seem like a simple messenger. You saw how she fought. She's no ordinary mortal, Venti. And I've been around enough to know when someone's hiding more than they show."

Venti looked at him, his usual playful demeanor fading just slightly. "Signora isn't just a powerful warrior. She's also one of the Harbingers of the Fatui—the very same group that's been causing all this trouble." His eyes narrowed. "She's after something far worse than just a fight. She's here for my Gnosis."

Wukong's expression hardened. The Gnosis. He didn't know much about it yet, but what he did know from Venti was enough to understand that its importance was far beyond what he could fathom. For someone to go this far, to create such chaos, meant the stakes were far higher than a simple grudge or battle.

"That... thing she's after?" Wukong's words were laced with disgust. "Why not just give it to her and be done with it? Why fight so hard?"

Venti's eyes softened, but there was a flicker of something ancient in them—an understanding. "It's not something I can just give up. Gnosis isn't just a key to power; it's part of my very being. Without it... I wouldn't be who I am."

"Then let's make sure she doesn't get it," Wukong muttered, gripping his staff tighter.

Venti shook his head slightly. "She won't give up easily. The Fatui don't leave until they've gotten what they want. You'll have to face her once again, and this time, you'll see the true power she holds."

The streets of Mondstadt were now deserted, save for a few brave souls who hadn't yet fled to the safety of the city's walls. The sound of the wind howling against the buildings was almost deafening, a constant reminder of the storm's fury.