[Multiverse Mission Chat Group]
Lisa: "A 4-Star Hard Mission... If the difficulty isn't 'Nightmare' or 'Abyss,' there must be a trick to it."
Shenhe: "Su Han mentioned that not all Ten Great Artifacts are weapons of mass destruction. The Kongtong Seal grants immortality and longevity, not raw power. The difficulty likely comes from the environment and the guardian, not the artifact itself."
Ningguang: "Correct. Our objective is to defeat the Black Dragon King, not to fight the artifact. We need a team that can handle aquatic environments and confined spaces."
Mona: "Wait... 'Dragon King'? Does that mean we can eat dragon meat again? Slurp."
After tasting the flood dragon meat from the White Snake world, the group's palate had been elevated. The thought of tasting a high-tier Xianxia dragon made their mouths water.
Xiangling: "Leave it to me! I'll catch him, cook him, and serve him! I'm definitely going!"
Eula: "I'll go too. With my new Zanpakuto, I should be stronger in water."
Kamisato Ayaka: "Cryo is effective against Hydro. Count me in."
Shenhe: "One correction: The battle isn't in the water. It's inside the belly of a Giant Kun (Behemoth). It's a massive dimensional space. There is water, but also land. The Diren (Merfolk) race lives there, enslaved by the Dragon."
Su Han: "Correct. The Kun is a mythical beast with a universe inside its stomach. However, Water-element users might be at a disadvantage against a Dragon King who controls the seas. Fire and Ice are better."
Beidou: "Got it. No Hydro users. Fire and Ice to the front!"
Kazuha: "Master, I wish to join. For the glory of Inazuma!"
Rosalyne: "A question. If I unleash my Hellfire inside the beast... will the Giant Kun vomit us out? Or worse, digest us faster?"
This was a valid concern. Fighting inside a living creature meant they had to be careful not to kill the dungeon itself.
Su Han: "Don't worry. The Kun is colossal. It can swallow an island. Unless you summon a meteor from space, you won't hurt it. Just don't aim for the walls."
Lisa: "Understood. Avoid damaging the structural integrity. So, who is on the roster?"
North & South Captains: Beidou, Eula.
Elemental DPS: Xiangling, Rosalyne, Ayaka, Shenhe, Diluc.
Support/Leader: Jean.
Sniper: Ganyu.
That made nine.
Albedo: "I would like to join."
The chat paused.
Albedo? The Chief Alchemist usually stayed in his lab, uninterested in fighting.
Lisa: "Oh? A Xianxia world isn't exactly high-tech, Albedo. What's your interest?"
Albedo: "I am interested in the Diren Race. Hu Tao mentioned creating a 'Fish-Man Army' before. I want to study their biology. Perhaps... alchemy and cultivation share a common root in life creation."
Lately, Albedo had been fascinated by the "Pill Refining" and "Artifact Forging" techniques Su Han brought back. He suspected that the ultimate goal of Alchemy—creating life—might be achievable through these eastern arts.
Su Han: "Sure. But Albedo... is your combat strength sufficient? This is a 4-Star Mission."
Albedo: "Rest assured, Mr. Su. I have not been idle. My research has yielded... interesting results. I believe I can offer a surprise."
Su Han raised an eyebrow. The Chalk Prince was confident.
Su Han: "Approved. The final roster is set: Beidou, Eula, Xiangling, Rosalyne, Ayaka, Shenhe, Albedo, Diluc, Jean, Ganyu."
Yae Miko: "WAIT! What about me?! Why am I not on the list?!"
Su Han: "Ah. About that. Hanachirusato specifically asked me to keep you here. She said you haven't mastered the 'posture' of the Secret Art yet."
Yae Miko: "That witch! She just wants to torture me! @Su Han, save me! I'll be your pet fox! Just let me leave!"
Su Han: "Sorry, Miko. She offered me a 'Date Night with Ei' if I kept you there. I couldn't refuse."
Yae Miko: "YOU SOLD ME OUT FOR A DATE?! TRAITOR! Useless man! Waaah!"
Lisa: "Hahaha! Poor Miko. Su Han, you really are ruthless."
Hu Tao: "Alright, stop flirting! Mission start! Go, go, go!"
[World of Sky Trace – The Eastern Sea]
Flash.
Ten figures materialized above a vast, endless ocean. The salty breeze hit their faces instantly.
"Where is the giant whale?" Jean looked around, confused. "Are we supposed to be inside it?"
"Damn it," Eula rubbed her temples. "We spawned outside. That means we have to find the Kun and get swallowed. This just got harder."
The ocean was infinite. Finding one specific monster—even a giant one—was like finding a needle in a haystack.
Albedo observed the water. "We shouldn't rush. The protagonists of this world—Chen Jingchou and his friends—are destined to find the Kun. We just need to find them."
"But how do we find them in this ocean?" Diluc frowned.
Beidou grinned, reaching into her spatial inventory.
"Simple. We sail."
BOOM.
A massive, sleek warship splashed into the water.
It wasn't the original Crux. It was the Neo-Alcor, a enhanced vessel forged with Liyue technology and Inazuman steel. It had no crew, but it was staffed by a squad of Black Blade Soldiers (Shadow Soldiers) Su Han had assigned to Beidou.
"All aboard!" Beidou shouted, leaping onto the deck. "Let's go find some heroes to stalk!"
The Teyvat Squad set sail in the world of the Sky Trace.
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