The moon hung high over Mondstadt as Denzan adjusted the straps of his gear, ensuring his katana was secured and his pistol loaded. The information Diluc had given him was promising—a convoy transporting rare metals and relics from Liyue, moving under the cover of night through the treacherous paths of Stormbearer Mountains. The risk? High. The reward? Worth every ounce of trouble.
Denzan stood at the city gates, waiting. It wasn't long before a familiar crimson silhouette approached.
"You're coming?" Denzan asked, raising an eyebrow.
Diluc barely spared him a glance as he adjusted his gloves. "Consider it a personal interest. The route they're taking is known for Fatui activity."
Denzan smirked. "So this isn't just about helping me."
Diluc didn't reply, but the flicker of flames that briefly danced across his fingers spoke louder than words.
—---
The journey through the hills was uneventful at first, save for the occasional howl of distant hilichurls. The real challenge would come when they intercepted the convoy. Denzan crouched behind a rocky outcrop, eyes fixed on the distant glow of lanterns moving through the pass.
"Looks like they're traveling light," Denzan murmured.
Diluc's eyes scanned the scene. "Too light. Something's off."
As if on cue, a sudden gust of wind rustled the trees, and a sharp whistle rang through the air. Denzan's instincts flared—an ambush.
Before either of them could react, masked figures emerged from the shadows—Fatui skirmishers, their weapons gleaming under the moonlight. The convoy wasn't just guarded; it was bait.
"Tch." Denzan drew his katana, electricity crackling along the blade's edge. "Guess we're not the only ones after the shipment."
Diluc stepped forward, his Vision igniting. "Stay sharp. They won't let us walk away."
The first attacker lunged—a Pyro Agent, twin blades flashing. Denzan sidestepped, his katana meeting the strike with a sharp *clang.* He twisted, using the momentum to drive his knee into the agent's gut before delivering a charged slash that sent a bolt of electricity coursing through his foe.
Diluc, meanwhile, moved with precise brutality. His claymore struck the ground, sending a wave of fire that forced back a group of Cryo skirmishers. In a single motion, he dashed forward, his blade igniting as he cut through their defenses.
Denzan smirked as he parried another strike. "Not bad."
Diluc didn't spare him a glance. "Focus."
The fight escalated, sparks flying as steel met steel. But Denzan thrived in chaos. With a swift motion, he holstered his katana and drew his pistol, firing an Electro-charged shot that struck a Fatui marksman before they could take aim. The enemy fell with a grunt, lightning still crackling over their armor.
The remaining Fatui began to retreat, realizing the battle was lost. Denzan exhaled, sheathing his blade. "Well, that was fun."
Diluc, ever composed, watched as the surviving convoy members gathered themselves. The cargo was intact, the danger passed—for now.
One of the merchants, shaken but grateful, approached. "Th-Thank you, sirs. We wouldn't have made it without you."
Denzan crossed his arms. "Glad you made it. Now… about those rare materials."
The merchant hesitated before nodding. "As thanks, take your pick from our shipment."
Denzan's eyes flickered with excitement as he stepped toward the crates, anticipation buzzing in his veins.
Denzan sifted through the crates, fingers brushing against rare ores, Liyue jade, and fragments of foreign alloys he had never seen before. Each material held potential—some for reinforcing blades, others for conducting energy in ways he had yet to test. But then, nestled between slabs of refined metal, he found something truly unusual.
A deep violet shard, humming faintly with energy.
His fingertips tingled as he lifted it. It wasn't just any ore—this was something potent, something that resonated with his Electro Vision.
"What is this?" he asked, turning to the merchant.
The man swallowed, still shaken from the ambush. "A fragment of Starbreaker Ore. It was excavated from an ancient ruin in Liyue… but no one has been able to work it. Smiths say it repels conventional forging methods."
Denzan smirked, feeling the weight of the shard in his palm. "Then they weren't trying hard enough."
He turned to Diluc, who watched with his usual unreadable expression. "Seems like I've found what I'm looking for."
Diluc crossed his arms. "Are you sure? You don't even know if it can be shaped."
Denzan chuckled, tucking the shard into his belt. "That's the fun part—figuring it out."
—---
They made their way back to Mondstadt, parting ways near the city gates. Denzan could feel Diluc's gaze lingering as he walked toward his rented forge, a makeshift workshop tucked away from the main streets. It wasn't much, but it had a sturdy anvil, a reliable furnace, and enough tools to get the job done.
He set the Starbreaker Ore onto the workbench, watching as it pulsed faintly in the dim light. Conventional smithing wouldn't work—he had read enough about resistant materials to know that forcing it would only shatter the ore.
*Then don't force it. Work with it.*
Rolling up his sleeves, he pulled his katana from its sheath and laid it beside the ore. The blade had served him well, but he had always known there was room for improvement. If this material could be reforged into the weapon, it could become something greater—something worthy of the battles ahead.
As he worked, sparks flew, the sound of hammer meeting metal echoing through the forge. Every strike sent a jolt of energy through his arms, as if the ore itself was responding, resisting, and finally, accepting his will. Hours passed, but Denzan was relentless.
Then, at the peak of his efforts, a sharp crackle surged through the air.
The ore fused with his blade, lightning arcing across the surface. For a brief moment, the entire forge was illuminated in violet light. Denzan stepped back, breathing heavily as the glow faded, revealing his katana—now darker, sharper, and humming with newfound power.
He ran a hand along the blade, feeling the energy thrumming beneath its surface.
"This… this is it."
A new weapon, a new chapter.
The path forward had never been clearer