Genshin Impact: Strength Through Bonds

Kaijinki's lips curled into a cruel grin.

With a casual flick of his arm, the man in his grasp let out a scream as he was hurled to the ground.

Though seething with resentment, he dared not show it.

These vile scum of Inazuma!

If not for the master's plans...

The man turned to Ren, his voice dripping with malice.

"It's him! He's trying to sabotage the plan!"

"Don't let him leave alive! I'll double the reward if you take him down!"

Ren chuckled at his words.

Didn't think I'd fetch such a high price.

"Alright then, you'll have your fun soon enough."

He leapt gracefully from the tree, landing lightly on the ground as a gentle breeze stirred around him.

"A big job, huh?"

The Nobushi immediately surrounded him, their scarlet eyes gleaming with excitement and a thirst for blood.

To their surprise, their opponent was just a young kid.

How much trouble could one lone boy possibly cause?

At the rear of the group, Kaijinki slowly wiped his blade.

The cold steel still bore traces of dried blood.

He let out a low chuckle.

"A reckless brat."

With his towering frame, he resembled a bear standing on its hind legs.

From beneath the ghastly mask, his chilling gaze bore into Ren, as though staring at a corpse.

"Brothers, someone's offering a high price for his life."

"We've got work!"

At Kaijinki's booming command, shadows stirred within the silent forest.

"..."

Ren frowned as more Nobushi emerged from the darkness, grinning wickedly.

The encirclement tightened, leaving him with no escape.

Feigning alarm, Ren furrowed his brows and muttered, "I didn't expect this... I've walked right into an ambush."

The Nobushi smirked cruelly, sizing him up.

They weren't in any rush to act.

A lone boy like him was as good as caught prey.

The man on the ground burst into laughter, taunting, "With this many Nobushi here, what can you do?!"

"You'll get chopped to pieces!"

The group erupted into mocking laughter, their scorn palpable.

The stark difference in power emboldened the man.

Suddenly, an image of a cold, elegant figure flashed in his mind.

He licked his lips, smirking darkly.

"Boy, that woman by your side..."

Malice brewed within him as he assumed she must be nearby.

Sure enough, the wolves caught the scent, their whistles piercing the night.

Hearing she was an aloof shrine maiden only heightened their excitement.

They jeered, spouting lewd remarks.

The man reveled in his twisted glee, imagining the humiliation that awaited her.

However, his smugness abruptly ended.

"?!"

A deadly pressure descended on him, silencing him instantly.

"If your mouth's filthy, I don't mind ripping it apart," Ren said, lifting his gaze.

His eyes were cold and terrifying.

The man trembled, his bravado evaporating.

This seemingly harmless young man was horrifying.

"Hey, kid, stop putting on an act!"

A ronin stepped up, slapping a hand on Ren's shoulder with a yellow-toothed grin.

"Get lost. Take your dirty hand off me," Ren said, glancing at him.

"Don't get cocky, brat!"

The ronin's face twisted with rage as he raised his hand to strike.

But just as the slap was about to land—

Shing!

The sudden sound of a blade rang out.

The ronin froze, feeling an inexplicable lightness in his arm.

The previously jeering Nobushi fell silent, their expressions twisted in shock.

What's with their faces? What are they looking at?

The ronin's eyes widened as he glanced at his shoulder.

Empty.

He still hadn't realized what had happened when—

Splat!

Crimson sprayed through the air, staining the ground below.

The severed arm twitched weakly, blood pooling around it.

My... my arm...

"Ahhh!"

The ronin's agonized scream echoed through the night.

"You!"

Every Nobushi froze, their hairs standing on end.

None of them had seen when Ren drew his sword.

Ren's expression remained calm as he looked down at the kneeling, writhing ronin.

"Help me! Save me! I don't want to die!" the ronin wailed.

Ren shook his head, sighing softly.

"It's just an arm. You're being too loud."

The next moment—

Ren kicked him.

Thud! Crack!

The dull sound of impact was followed by something akin to a watermelon shattering.

The ronin's screams and pleas abruptly ceased.

The Nobushi instinctively turned their gaze to the lifeless, twisted body slumped against a tree.

The entire forest fell silent.

No one had expected the boy to act so decisively.

And no one had expected him to be so ruthless.

"Finally, some peace and quiet."

Ren raised his head, smiling warmly.

The man from before pointed at Ren, trembling.

"On... on his head...!"

In the darkness, the faint glow of purple began to spread.

A corner of a mysterious space unfolded above Ren, forming a malignant Eye of Omen.

Through it, flashes of lightning roared ominously.

[Elemental Skill: Transcendence: Baleful Omen.]

Kaijinki's heart sank as alarm bells rang in his mind.

At that moment, Ren turned his gaze toward him.

Under the crackling lightning, his face took on a menacing edge.

Kaijinki roared hysterically, "Everyone, attack him together! Kill him!"

This boy was far too dangerous—he couldn't be allowed to live!

The Nobushi snapped out of their daze and charged at Ren, weapons drawn.

"..."

Ren's expression remained calm.

As the crowd surged toward him from all directions, he raised his right fist.

The wind began to gather, swirling around him.

[Elemental Skill: Heartstopper Strike.]

Ding—

The man on the ground, his face contorted with fear, screamed, "We have an absolute numbers advantage! You can't possibly—!"

Ding—

Ren lifted his gaze, looking at the sea of blades aimed at him.

A faint smile tugged at his lips.

"You want to compare numbers? Well…"

Ding—

The winds intensified as Ren narrowed his eyes.

Kaijinki's unease grew stronger.

Instinctively, he followed Ren's line of sight—and his pupils shrank.

A roaring bonfire came into view, its flames seemingly growing hotter and more ferocious.

Fire… and wind…

"Stop him! Don't let him land that punch!" Kaijinki bellowed.

Ding—

The fourth resonance rang out!

[With four stacks of Declension, the skill's damage is significantly enhanced, and its area of effect greatly increases.]

"Too slow."

As soon as the words left his mouth, the entire world was bathed in a greenish glow.

The force of his punch erupted!

Boom—!

The gale ignited, and the world was suddenly awash in a sea of fire.

Elemental Reaction: Swirl.

A wave of scorching heat devoured everything in its path.

"Is that all you've got, brat?!"

The Nobushi gritted their teeth as their bodies were engulfed in flames, turning them into burning silhouettes.

Yet some continued pressing forward, blades raised, closing in on Ren.

Just a few more steps!

Hope surged in their eyes.

We've won!

"Haha…"

Amidst the blazing inferno, Ren chuckled softly.

"Did you think it was over?"

A surge of violet lightning burst forth.

The [Baleful Omen] above him unleashed its judgment, striking with a resounding crack.

As lightning clashed with fire, a terrifying energy began to coalesce.

Kaijinki was just a step away from reaching Ren when his vision was consumed by a blinding light as brilliant as the sun.

The next moment—

Boom!

The fusion of lightning and fire erupted in a massive explosion, tearing the ground apart.

In the ensuing cloud of smoke and debris, countless charred figures were hurled through the air.

"This… this…!"

The man who had been cowering on the ground managed to survive by sheer luck.

From his vantage point, he had witnessed the complete annihilation of the Nobushi.

With a mere wave of the boy's hand, everything had turned to ash.

Am I dreaming?

"N-no… I need to escape!"

Swallowing hard, the man scrambled to his feet, crawling and stumbling away.

Damn it! Why won't my legs work?!

Suddenly, tears streamed down his face.

Ren had appeared before him, smiling as he looked down.

"Don't run now. I heard you had some thoughts about Mei?"

As he spoke, the smile on his face slowly disappeared, replaced by an icy expression.

"P-please… I beg you… spare me…"

"I won't do it again!"

The man knelt, banging his head against the ground, sobbing.

"Kujou Takayuki's connection to the Fatui! I'll tell you everything!"

"Here! It's all here!"

Ren took the item the man offered, raising an eyebrow.

This?

The man saw Ren's silence and grew desperate.

"It's true! Everything's in there!"

"The code changes every time we pass information—I don't know more than that!"

Ren nodded, sensing no deception.

"Alright, then… huh?"

In the distance, a shadow darted through the smoke.

It was Kaijinki, battered and disheveled, his demonic mask shattered.

Ren's brow furrowed.

"Trying to escape?"

Just as he was about to chase, a smirk played on his lips.

You've got good timing.

---

Kaijinki crashed through the smoke and debris, laughing wildly.

"I be he didn't expect this, did he? That I have an escape route!"

"If someone dares to block me here—huh?"

Before he could finish mocking Ren, he froze.

Not far ahead, a woman in a flowing violet kimono stood calmly.

Her figure was elegant, her demeanor cold and aloof.

She glanced at Kaijinki indifferently, her gaze icy.

"Damn it, get out of my way!"

Kaijinki snarled, raising his longsword.

"You're not moving? Then let me test my blade."

"Fall before me!!"

With a roar, he slashed toward her.

"?"

The village girl scoffed, flicking her fingers casually.

Boom—!

A crackling burst of lightning erupted, and Kaijinki vanished without a trace.

---

T/N: momm- gets struck by lightning

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