Genshin Impact: Frostburn

The moon hung above as the scent of ash and burning wood filled the air. With weapons in hand, they stood facing Crucabena. Her mocking gaze seemed to belittle them.

Peruere dashed forth her sword touching the ground. She swung it—aiming at Crucabena's torso.

The clang of metal echoed, sparks flying with every clash of their swords

Peruere's relentless attacks continued as Leo watched in fascination. 

Wow, she's really a monster.

They clashed swords until a strong blow knocked Pereure away making distance from Crucabena.

"What are you two doing?!"

Clervie and Leo were taken out of their reverie. Her plea for help took them out of their stupor and they rushed forward towards Crucabena. 

Crucabena blocked and parried their attacks with a mocking smile, her movements were akin to a dance.

Leo thrust his spear while Clervie and Pereure flanked Crucabena, who leaped into the air and landed behind Clervie. She then hoisted her sword and slashed at Clervie but was blocked by Pereure.

Crucabena jumped back, smirking. "Not bad."

Leo's jaw tightened as explosions shook the ground. Flames devoured buildings, and thick smoke spiraled into the night sky. Screams and panicked noises filled the air outside.

Crucabena clicked her tongue—annoyance evident on her face.

"I didn't expect your dog to have the audacity to burn my orphanage." 

A surge of panic appeared on their faces as the fire grew larger. Buildings fell as the shouts of people kids and adults alike echoed.

"Leo! Is this part of your plan?!" Clervie hissed.

"No! I didn't plan for this!"

Clervie clenched her teeth as she ran towards the closest exit. Her breath was frantic and panicked.

The corners of Crucabena's lips raised once more and water came flowing out of her Delusion. It covered the dome, blocking all exits and preventing anyone from entering or leaving.

"This is-"

Leo wavered, all of his backup plans were rendered useless.

"Why?! The kids will die!"

Crucabena's smile remained cold. "I do not care about them. To be completely honest with you this is just an experiment of mine. All this infighting and persuasion to crown a new "king" is all a gigantic hoax. All I wanted was to see how easily it is to fool a child into thinking they're special."

Her hand held her chin as she spoke. "Of course there were benefits but this loss is not detrimental. It won't affect the Fatui as a whole and I would still be hailed as the perfect "mother" in the end. After all, you're the ones who started this, are you not?"

"The lives of a few naive souls are not important." She added.

"That's... cruel," Leo muttered, his voice trembling with shock.

Crucabena smiled, her expression not showing an ounce of remorse. Their eyes widened in horror. Never once did they imagine such a human could have existed. In their eyes, the full picture, the whole being that is Crucabena, was laid bare.

"You're a psychopath," Leo said as he flinched in horror.

She chuckled. "Dottore and your father would agree. I've never cared about others' lives."

To Leo, Crucabena wasn't human—just a manipulator hiding behind a mask. But the truth was worse than he imagined.

"Let's not delay any further. I have much more important things to do." Crucabena looked at Peruere, her gaze affectionate. "I will give you a chance, Pereure. Kill Clervie, and I will consider this to have not happened."

Peruere gripped her sword. She looked at Clervie once more. The X mark in her eyes was fierce and a hint of resolve flickered.

"I am not willing to compromise, Mother."

The smirk on Crucabena's lips vanished and her demeanor turned dark once more.

"I see, so you still wouldn't listen to your Mother."

She raised her sword and pointed it towards them.

"Then, it's up to your mother to teach you the right way."

Crucabena lunged at Peruere, catching her off guard. The impact sent shockwaves through the arena, launching Pereure into the air—her body slammed into the walls. Crucabena didn't wait and followed her and released a flurry of slashes.

In the nick of time, Pereure blocked them but a few managed to graze her skin making her bleed. The attacks continued restlessly as all Pereure could do was block. 

Leo watched as he raised his spear, waiting for the right opportunity to throw it, and hoped to break the disadvantageous position.

Each attack was stronger and fiercer, and finally, Pereure's guard was broken. Before Crucabena could unleash another attack, a sword cut through her arm while a spear ran past her face missing her by a fraction.

She backed away and looked at the perpetrator. A smile appeared on her face, rage was evident in them. " The poor little lamb finally gets the courage to rebel against her mother, how touching."

Clervie extended a hand, pulling Pereure to her feet. Her demeanor changed. The soft uncertainty had now vanished, replaced by a steely resolve that radiated from her every movement. Clervie's grip on her sword tightened as she positioned herself between Peruere and Crucabena, her eyes blazing with determination.

"You're no mother," Clervie spat, her voice steady despite the chaos around them. "You're nothing more than a monster."

Crucabena chuckled darkly, her gaze never wavering. "So? You are merely delaying the inevitable."

Crucabena hissed. "I have given you a chance Clervie, and you betrayed me." A devilish smile appeared on her face. "You know, I would have fulfilled my word if you succeed. Do you know how?"

"I would abolish the practice by killing all the other children and proclaiming Pereure as my heir."

Clervie bit her lips and the metallic taste of blood flowed out. "I had the feeling that's what you would have done." She held Peruere's hand tightly as if asking for strength. "But I ignored them since I hoped you would change." A blue glow appeared on top of her and stars in the sky flickered vibrantly. "But you know mother, I still wished to love you. I wanted the embrace of a mother, the warmth that you showed before all of this started."

A group of stars converged, forming a bell-like flower image as it glows brightly. " I still wanted it even now, but," She spoke, her voice hoarse. "now I finally understand, you didn't care for me, you only thought of me as a tool. But I still wanted to be like you, someone the children could rely on, someone they could call a mother, someone who would shower them with love and truth., but not someone who would tell falsehoods."

A bright blue gem glowed as it manifested in front of her. A pure blue color with the mark of water was encased with an overflowing stream. 

"I loved you mother, and I wished I could continue to love you. So, let's end this here."

Water burst as she took the vision. "Do not continue to ruin the image of a mother for me."

Crucabena clicked her tongue. A brewing annoyance starts to form on her face. "You want to be the mother of the children? Then you have to live long enough to become one."

Crucabena rushed at them and swung her sword. Water surged like snakes as it attacked her sides making her stop and jump backwards. Clervie flung Leo's spear back to him and she rushed with her sword covered in Hydro element. 

Crucabena with her delusion sent swords made of water toward her as she jumped to retreat. Peruere on the side took this opportunity to sneak on her side and launch an attack.

Crucabena blocked at the expense of her arm. Ice pierced through it. Blood leaked at her dismangled arm yet despite the pain she held her sword firmly.

Attack after attack was launched against her. Leo attacked from the distance, throwing shards of ice toward her—providing support for the two.

A minute of relentless barrage of attacks flew by as the only thing she could do was dodge and block. Leo followed her movements intently—not missing a single moment.

It made him doubtful. Crucabena never showed desperation despite the gruesome state of her arm. Her movements became more profound and the moments where she would block or dodge lessened.

Dread coiled in his chest when her lips curved into a slow, ominous smirk. Suddenly, they found themselves becoming more desperate. Crucabena launched a sword made of water towards Leo—which broke their series of continuous attacks as it made Leo stumble.

Crucabena managed to dodge Peruere's vertical slash and punched her in the stomach. She backed away towards the pillars on which Clervie followed. She slashed the air with an attack made of water and was sent flying towards Crucabena. 

Crucabena, despite the disadvantage she has, stepped forward and met the attack head-on. She coated her sword with her delusion and blocked it which she then rushed towards Clervie, attacking her and then pulling her hair as she threw her away.

"You might have forgotten, but I am the one who taught you how to fight. Every trick you know was taught by me. How do you expect to win with such flimsy imitation." 

She laughed as they got up. "I feel ashamed to have taught you how to fight when that is all you can do."

Leo watched as the fight unfolded. With each strike, each moment their swords met, his frustration grew larger. He could not do anything significant to help them—all he could do was watch and provide support. The strength he has right now is leagues apart from them.

Temptation creeps in, and the sweet whisper of the abyss seeped through his mind. He looked at his spear and towards Clervie and Pereure's disheveled figure. Blood oozed from their cuts.

His hands darkened, his eyes flared reddish-purple, and a misty horn spiraled from his head. His mind was clouded, his vision hazy, but his body was stronger.

Realization sinks in as he looks at himself. In the end, he decided to reign in its temptation.

Not yet

Peruere once again rushed. Her body was full of cuts. Crucabena glanced at her before a devilish smirk momentarily appeared on her face. She ran towards Clervie—ignoring Pereure.

Leo sent another barrage of artillery fire. Cruacbena dodged them skillfully. A series of jumps and slides was all it took for her to weave through his line of fire and arrive at where Clervie was recovering.

Clervie stood up, her sword clutched in her hands and ran towards Crucabena. Crucabena glances behind before stepping aside.

Blood dripped to the ground as their eyes widened in shock. Crucabena's laughter echoed through the arena, sharp and chilling. Disbelief gripped them, rendering them motionless—what they saw defied comprehension.

In Leo's vision stood Pereure, eyes widened with her sword stuck on Clervie's torso.