Chapter 9. Mondstadt in Flames

Agnar was right. That was all that I can say. As we passed Starsnatch Cliff, there were more and more groups of hilichurl camps as we went. 

We eventually made it to see Mondstadt in the worst state we could ever imagine it in. We watched in terror as one of the blades from the windmill on the left crashed down. People below screamed so loud it could be heard from beyond the walls louder than the crash. We could barely see the cathedral at the back, even the statue, as it was block by masses of thick smoke descending high up in the air, and below, we could see orange, heating, light from behind the ruined walls. Fire.

Aether and Lumine scowled at the sight as Venti, for the very first time, growled in rage as he saw his own land crash down. Seeing Mondstadt in that state was clearly not affecting Xiao, as he remained in his usual, depressed look. But I could see that that deep inside he was as shocked as everyone else just by him looking away with an enraged moan. 

"Why would the Abyss Order do this? Didn't we already clear paths with them?" Aether's voice sounded hoarse as he spoke. No one answered; we were all too focused on watching Mondstadt as it burned.

"We need to stop them." I heard Hu Tao say before I felt her hair gently brush past me as she sprinted down the hill towards the bridge. 

"Hu Tao!" I yelled as I raced after her, with everyone else at my tail.

As we drew closer to Mondstadt the air grew thicker. I coughed roughly, but I kept pushing myself to run into the smoke. It was hard to see as we our surroundings were just foggy black. But I've seen Hu Tao so often that I could recognise her movement from within the falling planks of the houses.

"Hu-" I choked. I bent down and held a hand around my neck as I coughed uncontrollably. I couldn't breathe at all. My vision was getting foggy, when I saw a pair of faint figures clash against each other. I saw one of them get thrown over one of the shops. I ran after that figure, assuming it was Hu Tao. 

By the time I reached that figure, I realised I was wrong. I watched as a lawachurl, literally thrice my size, pick itself up and stared at me with its glowing menacing eyes. It raised a hand to crush me hard onto the ground. I intended to dodge, but the smoke was so thick, and too much of it was entering my lungs, so I couldn't produce the energy to even look up at that rock-like monster. I braced myself as it brought its gigantic hand down at me. I shut my eyes hard, but I heard a loud grunt and a roar of pain sound at the same time. I looked up to see Bennett smiling down at me.

"I see you could use a little help - woah!" Bennett tripped from the edge of a tall brown pillar, which contained golden crystal-shaped designs, and landed on the broken ground with a loud grunt.

"Don't worry, I've got this!" he groaned from within the smoke.

"Be careful, Bennett, you're always too hard on yourself." I heard a deep voice from behind me. I turned as Zhongli raised his hands, ready to set another pillar.

"Mr. Zhongli! Bennett!" I gasped as I looked from one to the other.

"Go get her." Zhongli smiled, which I gasped even louder at. I nodded determinedly and gather all the remaining useless strength I had and sprinted off deeper into the smoke.

As I ran and ran, I randomly turned to all sorts of directions.

"Xingqiu! There are people trapped here and my ice won't hold the roof for long! You mind putting out at least the fire in the house?" I heard Chongyun yell.

"On it!" I heard another voice from the other side.

"Mommy!" I heard a small girl scream as another woman's scream was heard.

"Step aside!" I heard Xiao's harsh, but desperate voice as I saw faint bluish green movement push some planks away.

"Don't worry kid, even if I, along with the rest of the Hydro users, try, we can't put out a fire this big, but I assure you I can put out the fire in our way towards the exit, okay?" I heard Childe's voice, he sounded so gentle as he piggybacked the child, racing towards the exit with a couple of others.

Everyone was working so hard to handle the fire and save everyone at the same time. Including Hu Tao, whom I finally found, who was trying to lead a group of five children out to the exit.

"Hu Tao!" I yelled as I ran towards her. She turned and smiled in amazement to see me here.

"You followed me?" she gasped.

"Eh, well. Everyone did, basically. Come on, let me help." I grunted as I lifted one of the children, who was unconscious, from Hu Tao's shoulders and signalled the remaining four children to follow Hu Tao, who immediately headed towards the exit. I turned to follow them when I saw the last blade from one of the windmills come falling down, right above where Hu Tao and the children were. I gasped and raced towards them, tossing the child towards Hu Tao, who immediately turned in confusion, and caught the child just in time when I yelled,"Look out!"

I pushed her, along with the children, as hard as I could, and the last thing I saw was Hu Tao rest the unconscious child on the ground before it was blocked by piles of wooden and iron planks.

SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE, I'VE BEEN A LITTLE BUSY SO I'M INCREDIBLY SORRY FOR THIS-