Wings of the Stars

One Week Later – October 31'st

The sun rose sluggishly over Dymny Kordon Air Force Base, its golden light spilling across the tarmac like molten metal. The sky, a deep autumn blue, carried the crisp bite of the cold morning air, the kind that settled into your bones and refused to leave.

It had been a week since the tension had begun to fade—or at least, that's what they told themselves. But the weight of war never truly lifted; it only coiled in the shadows, waiting to strike again.

Arlecchino and her squadron, Hearth Squadron, had officially retreated to Dymny Kordon under the Teyvat Strategic Strike Group's banner. Once bitter enemies, now reluctant allies. It was a sight no one would've believed months ago—The Knave, the so-called Devil of the Skies, standing shoulder to shoulder with Fontaine's most legendary ace.

And for once, the two deadliest pilots in Teyvat were getting along.

The vast hangar echoed with the distant whir of maintenance crews working on aircraft, the clatter of tools against steel, and the occasional roar of an engine being tested. Furina's Dassault Rafale stood in the center of the space, its livery gleaming under the morning sun. Deep blue, sky blue, white, and black flowed seamlessly along its sleek airframe, a golden emblem of a crown over flowing water standing proud on its tail. The words Élégante et Efficace were painted beside the canopy—a declaration of both grace and lethality.

Arlecchino, clad in her flight suit, ran a hand along the aircraft's fuselage as she spoke, a rare moment of nostalgia in her voice.

"You know, I've always wanted to fly other jets. Fighters from beyond Snezhnaya. Sure, my Air Force operates F/A-18s too, but I never got the chance to be assigned to one."

Furina nodded, hands in her flight suit pockets.

"Never did get the chance to fly a Snezhnayan jet myself," she admitted, glancing at the Su-57 parked nearby. "But I'll give you this—your aircraft maneuver like demons out of hell."

Arlecchino smirked.

"Mhm. And yours? It's unmistakable. The moment you show up, everyone recognizes it. Especially that golden crown."

Furina chuckled, resting a hand on the nose of her Rafale.

"Well, at the Fontaine Royal Air Force Academy, the top graduate gets the privilege of designing their own fighter's livery. Of all the top graduates before me, none of them ever took the opportunity."

She tapped the painted phrase beside her canopy.

"I was the first."

Arlecchino raised an eyebrow.

"So this was all your idea? The color scheme, the emblem—everything?"

Furina nodded.

"Designed it myself. Added little details and references to my life, my training. Élégante et Efficace. A little tagline my batchmates gave me. And the gold crown? That was… well…"

She hesitated, something unspoken flickering behind her eyes before she sighed.

"When I was a kid, I wanted to be an actor."

Arlecchino blinked in surprise.

"An actor? You?"

Furina shrugged.

"Yeah. But that dream didn't last long. My uncle—my dad's brother—flew for the Fontaine Air Force. I still remember watching him take off from Charybdis Air Force Base in his Rafale."

Her gaze drifted, lost in the memory.

"The moment I saw him disappear into the sky, I knew."

She clenched her fist.

"I didn't want to perform on a stage. I wanted to defend the skies I called home."

Arlecchino crossed her arms, nodding slowly.

"I see."

A pause. Then, a sigh. A heavy, weary thing.

"Furina…"

Her voice was quieter now, almost uncertain.

"I… I'm sorry. I know you won't forgive me."

Furina frowned.

"For what?"

Arlecchino shook her head.

"Nocturne Two."

A beat of silence.

Furina exhaled, long and slow.

"It happened," she said at last. "It's war. We never expected to become allies. What's in the past… is in the past."

She hesitated, then smirked slightly.

"Though, I know Calcagni won't be too happy about it."

"Or maybe," she added, "he'll be glad you had a change of heart."

Arlecchino rubbed her right eye, a rare moment of vulnerability slipping through.

"I never wanted any of this," she admitted. "I wasn't even supposed to be in this war."

She clenched her fists.

"Imperatora forced my hand. They needed my data. I was just… another tool. Another weapon."

Her voice darkened.

"Real sorties, simulator sessions, forced deployments. Everything they could do to perfect their drones. I had no choice."

Furina studied her for a moment before changing the subject.

"I know I shouldn't bring this up… but what about your mentor? Crucabena?"

Arlecchino's expression hardened instantly.

"She…" She exhaled sharply. "She betrayed Snezhnaya."

Her voice was edged with something sharp, something haunted.

"She went AWOL days before the war ended. We were sent to track her down."

A shadow passed over her face.

"My wingman got hit first. She was flying an ADFX-01 Morgan—armed with a Tactical Laser System."

Her jaw tightened.

"We dogfought for an hour. An entire goddamn hour. She was my mentor, and I was in a fucking MiG-25 Foxbat at the time—21 years old, fresh from the academy."

She exhaled.

"And yet… I took her down. I killed her."

Silence settled between them.

Furina placed a hand on her shoulder.

"You did what you had to do."

A moment passed.

Furina glanced at her Speedmaster, the navy blue NATO strap snug around her wrist. 8:45 AM.

"Come on, Arlecchino. Jean's waiting. Briefing starts soon. She got some intel from someone."

Arlecchino nodded, exhaling through her nose.

"Right."

She hesitated. Then—

"Furina?"

Furina turned.

"Thank you."

A small nod.

"It's alright."

And with that, the two aces—the unstoppable force and the immovable object—walked side by side, their footsteps echoing across the hangar.

The Final War Begins

The briefing room was packed—more so than ever before. The room, normally filled with just the Primordial and Nocturne Squadrons, now had an additional presence. Hearth Squadron had taken their seats, further reinforcing the already formidable assembly of Teyvat's finest pilots.

The air was thick with anticipation, the hum of whispered conversations and shifting gear filling the space. The war was at its climax, and everyone in this room knew it.

Furina and Arlecchino stepped inside, scanning the crowd before grabbing a chair and taking their seats near the front. The tension was palpable—no one moved, no one spoke. All eyes turned to Jean, standing at the head of the room, her expression unreadable as she placed both hands on the table before her.

Then she began.

"Alright, everyone. Listen up. This is something big."

She paused, glancing at the gathered squadrons.

"I received communication from our partially restored general network. And this is huge. So listen carefully."

The room fell into complete silence.

Jean took a deep breath and read aloud:

"The Snezhnayan Radicals and Rebels have gathered around the Teyvat Orbital Elevator. It's their source of energy. Give warmongers an energy source, and they'll have the luxury to keep this war going."

The words sank in like a stone into deep water. Murmurs rippled across the pilots, but Jean wasn't done.

"The response to this message? Everyone—I mean, every single nation in Teyvat—is mobilizing."

She leaned forward, her gaze hard as steel.

"Mondstadt, Liyue, Inazuma, Sumeru, Fontaine, Natlan… and even the Snezhnayan Conservatives. We are all joining forces."

That sent a shockwave through the room. The thought of Snezhnayans fighting against their own radical factions alongside their enemies was almost unthinkable, yet here they were. This wasn't just a battle anymore. This was a reckoning.

"If I say everyone, I mean everyone."

Jean's voice sharpened, growing heavier with an undeniable sense of finality.

"This isn't just the air forces. The naval fleets are coming, too. Destroyers. Submarines. Everything. A full saturation assault from both air and sea."

Furina felt a chill run down her spine—not from fear, but from realization. This wasn't just a battle. This wasn't just a mission.

This was the end of the war.

Jean continued, her voice unwavering.

"Our first objective—eliminate the final Sepharis Bird. Celestia."

That got everyone's attention. The last of the monstrous airborne fortresses, the final piece standing in the way of victory.

"Once Celestia is down, our forces will storm the Elevator and take control from the aggressors. This is it."

The room buzzed with tension, pilots shifting in their seats, exchanging glances. Ningguang, ever sharp, raised a finger.

"Is this source genuine?"

Jean didn't hesitate. She tapped the report, her eyes gleaming with certainty.

"Listen to the last part."

She cleared her throat and read:

"Hey. All you dumbasses. Including you, Captain Golden Crown. If you want to bring the war to a goddamned end, get to the Orbital Elevator. You can see the future there."

A beat of silence. Then—

Furina chuckled, shaking her head.

"Albedo… The Aircraft Alchemist himself."

It was him.

Jean nodded.

"It's from the folks we met at Zephyr's Island. The Drowned Squadron—51st Teyvat Air Force Division. It's a call to every last one of us who wants this war to be over."

She turned to Furina.

"And it's a message for you."

Furina said nothing, but she understood.

This was it. No more waiting. No more planning. No more running.

Jean grabbed her helmet.

Then, she lifted her voice like a war drum pounding before battle.

"Everyone! Let's bring this war to an end."

"And roast ourselves a bird!"

The room erupted.

Chairs scraped against the floor as pilots shot up from their seats. Helmets were snatched up, flight suits zipped tight, and boots thundered against the floor as they marched toward the exit.

The hangars awaited.

The skies awaited.

And in the distance, soaring above the horizon, Celestia—the last Sepharis Bird—cast its long, dreadful shadow over the world.

For the first time in the war, Teyvat stood as one.

And the final battle was about to begin.

Dymny Kordon Air Force Base was alive—one last time.

The flight line, usually a controlled chaos of refueling trucks, maintenance crews, and armament specialists, was now a scene of finality. As soon as the last aircraft departed, the ground staff would board a transport plane bound for Iron Gale Air Force Base, leaving this war-torn airstrip behind.

This was it.

Furina strode toward her Dassault Rafale M, her eyes locked onto its sleek form. The livery—deep blue, sky blue, white, and black, flowing seamlessly along the airframe—looked almost ethereal under the morning light. The golden crown emblem on the tail gleamed, standing as a testament to her legacy. Beside the canopy, the words "Élégante et Efficace" stared back at her, a reminder of both her style and skill.

She reached up, gripping the built-in ladder and climbing into the cockpit.

Her body slid into the ejector seat, sinking into the familiar embrace of well-worn padding.

With practiced precision, she grabbed the harness, pulling it over her shoulders and buckling it across her chest. The metallic click of the lock was reassuring. She gave the straps a firm tug, ensuring they were tight.

Then, she reached for her helmet, lifting it over her head in a fluid motion.

The familiar scent of sweat, rubber, and synthetic padding filled her nose as she secured it. Her hands moved automatically, sealing the oxygen mask in place. The soft hiss of the airtight seal locking into place was strangely comforting.

She leaned forward, tapping the left multi-function display (MFD).

One waypoint.

The Teyvat Orbital Elevator.

Located at the very center of Teyvat—right in between Mondstadt, Liyue, and Fontaine.

Furina exhaled slowly, her breath briefly fogging up the edge of her visor.

This is it…

The operation that will seal the fate of this war.

She reached beside the parking brake, flipping the canopy switch.

A hydraulic whirr filled the cockpit as the reinforced glass slid into place, sealing her inside.

The world outside faded away.

Her hand moved instinctively, flipping the ladder retraction switch—the final sign that there was no turning back.

Then—startup sequence.

Furina flipped the main electrical switch from STBY to RIGHT.

Immediately, the aircraft hummed to life.

The right-side Snecma M88-2 engine began spooling up—a low whine that quickly escalated into a deep mechanical howl.

She glanced at the N2 gauge.

10%... 15%... 20%... 25%...

At 25%, she pushed the right engine management lever from STOP to IDLE.

Fuel flow initiated.

A brief pause—

Then—ignition.

A low, guttural growl rumbled through the Rafale's airframe. The EGT (Exhaust Gas Temperature) climbed, then stabilized.

One down. One to go.

She repeated the process, switching from RIGHT to LEFT.

Seconds later, the second M88-2 engine roared to life, stabilizing in perfect synchronization with the first.

Both engines—nominal.

She turned to her radio.

"Waltz Squadron. Ready to end a war?"

The responses came alive through the comms.

"Waltz Two. Ready to end this."

"Waltz Three. Let's get that bird."

"Waltz Four. Let's rock it."

"Waltz Five. Let's all do this thing."

Furina nodded, a ghost of a smirk forming beneath her oxygen mask.

"Waltz Squadron—sortie."

She disengaged the parking brake, feeling the subtle lurch forward as the Rafale began taxiing out of the hangar.

Left turn onto the main taxiway.

Behind her, one by one, the others followed.

Clorinde and Wriothesley's Rafale M.

Eula's F-15E Strike Eagle.

Collei's Rafale M.

Then—The Primordial Squadron.

Jean and Amber's F-14B Tomcat.

Ningguang, Raiden, and Mavuika's F-15E Strike Eagles.

Then—Hearth Squadron.

Arlecchino's Su-57 Felon.

Followed by her entire squadron's Su-57s.

They lined up, one by one, at the runway threshold.

Furina was first.

Her gloved hand tightened around the throttle.

This was it.

She pushed the throttle forward—

The M88-2 engines erupted, their afterburners igniting like twin blue suns.

The Rafale surged forward, the G-force slamming her back into her seat as she accelerated down the tarmac.

The runway lights blurred past—

120 knots… 140 knots… 160 knots…

At 172 knots, she gently pulled back on the sidestick.

The nose lifted.

The aircraft glided off the runway, smoothly transitioning from ground to sky.

She climbed, reaching for the landing gear lever—pulling it up.

A solid thunk confirmed the gear had locked into place.

Then—one by one, the rest of the squadron took off.

Five-second intervals.

Their last takeoff at Dymny Kordon Air Force Base.

As Furina banked eastward, she looked at her watch.

The second hand ticked forward.

The 45-minute flight to the Teyvat Orbital Elevator had begun.

And with it—

The final battle.

The Battle Over the Teyvat Orbital Elevator

45 minutes later.

The sun hung high in the sky, its golden rays dancing across the vast ocean below. Clouds were few, allowing the battlefield to be fully illuminated—a chaotic, merciless sky choked with smoke, fire, and war.

The Teyvat Orbital Elevator stood tall in the distance, a massive structure piercing the heavens, caught in the eye of the storm.

Explosions rippled through the air. Missiles streaked across the sky. Fighter jets twisted and turned in a brutal aerial ballet. Machine gun tracers painted death across the blue canvas.

The war was at its climax.

A Snezhnayan Conservative Su-30 was in a high-speed chase, pursuing a Rebellion Su-30, which in turn was locking onto a Fontaine Armée de l'Air F-35C Lightning II.

The Su-30 let loose two missiles before breaking left.

The F-35 pilot reacted instantly, also breaking left to avoid getting caught in a crossfire.

The enemy Su-30 never stood a chance.

The missiles found their target, striking the fuselage in a devastating explosion. The enemy jet burst apart, its wreckage spiraling down toward the ocean below.

A confirmed kill.

The F-35 quickly closed formation with the friendly Su-30, tipping its wings in acknowledgment.

"Thanks! I owe you one!"

The Su-30 pilot responded with a casual chuckle.

"Don't sweat it! We're all in this together!"

With that, the two jets split off in opposite directions, diving back into the fray.

The Arrival of the Teyvat Strategic Strike Group

High above the battle, three squadrons arrived in formation—the final reinforcements to turn the tide.

Waltz Squadron

Primordial Squadron

Hearth Squadron

Their arrival did not go unnoticed.

The radio crackled to life, a transmission from the Teyvat United Peacekeeping Force Headquarters.

"What do you know? It's the Teyvat Strategic Strike Group! Looks like our luck has turned around!"

"TSSG, assist in securing air superiority!"

"Your IFF systems are being updated—all Snezhnayan Conservatives are now marked as friendlies. Any remaining government loyalists and rebellion aircraft are still marked as hostiles."

AWACS Visionaire confirmed the update.

"We just verified it. Your HUDs should now reflect the changes."

Then, HQ spoke again—this time with a tone of determination.

"Time to show them what you've got!"

Furina grinned beneath her mask, looking out at the war-torn sky.

"Well, what do you know… Everyone's here."

She slammed the throttle to full power.

"Time to end this! Everyone, break formation and spread out! Let's help our allies!"

Her squadron, along with Primordial and Hearth Squadron, fanned out across the battlefield, diving into the chaos.

Reunions in the Firestorm

As Furina engaged the active warzone, a familiar voice chimed in over the radio.

"Hey, Waltz! Remember me?"

A smirk tugged at her lips.

"How could I forget you, Magician?"

Lyney's laughter came through the radio.

"Glad to see you made it, Furina!"

Then another voice.

"Furina! It's Lynette—Ritesword!"

"One helluva reunion with your old pals from the 405th Squadron, huh?"

Furina chuckled.

"Nice to hear from you too, Lynette! How's the squadron holding up?"

Lynette's response was filled with pride.

"Just one now. Nocturne and Tidal Squadron merged into one. We're all Nocturne now."

"But enough with the reunion—let's finish this war!"

Furina's eyes snapped upward. Targets.

High above.

She pulled the sidestick, rolling into a steep climb—her target: an enemy Su-30 chasing a Snezhnayan Conservative MiG-25 Foxbat.

Before she could engage, the radio crackled again.

"To all forces gathered here today—regardless of your nation—this is the Teyvat Union Peacekeeping Force Headquarters."

"No. Forget that designation. We are the Coalition. Formed exclusively for the purpose of taking down the final Sepharis Bird—Celestia."

"Hold position until we are ready to strike together."

More voices joined the radio net.

"This is Voynich Squadron. Heading toward the rendezvous point."

"AWACS Zaytun—we're entering your airspace."

Then came a voice Furina never expected to hear again.

"This is Hearth Squadron. We're engaging."

An unfamiliar pilot responded with shock.

"Wait. That's The Knave!"

"I thought she got shot down!"

A second pilot cut in.

"Don't worry. She's alive, isn't she? She's here to help us. She's an ally now."

While the radio chatter filled the airwaves, Furina was already three kills deep.

She pulled out of a dive—just in time for an enemy F-22A Raptor to streak past her.

She gritted her teeth, slamming the sidestick forward to engage.

"Alright, Raptor. This is 2009 all over again. Show me what you've got!"

The F-22 pilot fought desperately, trying to outmaneuver Furina's Rafale M.

But it was no use.

Tone.

Lock.

"Fox Two!"

A Sidewinder missile streaked away, its trail glowing in the sunlight.

Furina broke left to avoid possible counterfire.

Direct hit.

The F-22 erupted in flames, spiraling down in a cloud of debris.

AWACS Zaytun came online.

"Furina! Nice to see you're still kicking ass! That's a splash!"

Furina banked hard right, chuckling.

"Nice to hear from you too, Zaytun! Let's get to work!"

Zaytun's reply was instant.

"Let's!"

Beneath them, the war for the Teyvat Orbital Elevator raged on.

The battle raged on, a symphony of missiles, afterburners, and destruction. Across the chaotic skies, pilots from every nation of Teyvat fought side by side, uniting against a common enemy—the rebellion, the war, and the Sepharis Bird: Celestia.

Jean & Amber's Aerial Duel

Deep in the war-torn sky, an enemy Su-30 locked onto Jean and Amber's F-14B, relentlessly chasing them through every turn and dive.

Amber's voice was tense.

"Jean, this guy won't let up!"

Jean gritted her teeth, her hands tight on the stick.

"Hang on, Amber!"

Her hand shot to the wing sweep lever, shoving it all the way forward.

The variable-sweep wings of the F-14B snapped to full forward position, maximizing lift.

Then—she yanked the stick back, hard.

The F-14B shot skyward in an aggressive climb, a move too sharp for the enemy Su-30 to match.

The enemy fighter struggled—failing to copy Jean's extreme climb rate.

Then, Jean pushed forward on the stick.

The Tomcat inverted and dove, sending both pilots into near-weightlessness.

Amber screamed, pressing herself against the canopy.

"HOLY SHIT!"

The Su-30 was now directly in Jean's sights.

Tone.

Lock.

"Fox Two!"

A Sidewinder missile streaked from the wing, roaring toward its target.

A direct hit.

The Su-30 erupted into flames, tumbling toward the ocean.

Amber punched the air.

"HELL YEAH! SPLASH ONE!"

Jean exhaled, steadying the aircraft.

"We're not done yet. Let's keep pushing!"

Collei's Hunt

Elsewhere, Collei's Rafale M was locked in combat with an enemy F/A-18 Hornet.

The F/A-18 twisted and turned, juking hard left and right, trying to shake her off.

But then—it made a fatal mistake.

It pulled into a vertical climb.

Too steep. Too slow.

The F/A-18 stalled.

Collei's eyes locked onto her screen.

"Got you now."

Tone.

Lock.

"Fox Two!"

A Sidewinder missile streaked from her wing just as she broke into a dive and rolled hard right.

Direct hit.

The F/A-18 exploded, breaking apart in midair.

The Mission Objective

The radio crackled to life—this time, a familiar voice.

Furina's heart skipped a beat.

"Albedo."

His voice was calm but urgent.

"To all allied aircraft. We have a mission to accomplish. So listen carefully."

"First—destroy the Orbital Elevator's communication link with Celestia. Cutting off its command structure is the first step to bringing it down."

"Second—disable the power grid. This will halt the production of autonomous drones and prevent further escalation of this war."

"And finally—bring this war to an end. Anarchy has spread. This conflict is pointless."

"The Orbital Elevator is being occupied by survivors from Zephyr's Island—refugees who have lost their homes."

"So I ask all of you—take air superiority!"

Furina clenched her fist.

"You heard him! Let's bring an end to this madness!"

Arlecchino's Encounter

To the north, Arlecchino's Su-57 Felon was locked onto an enemy MiG-25 Foxbat.

A sigh escaped her lips.

"My old plane… How ironic."

She shook her head.

"Doesn't matter. You're a rebel now."

The MiG-25 attempted a desperate climb, trying to shake her lock.

But it wasn't enough.

Lock.

Tone.

"Fox Two."

Two missiles streaked from her internal bomb bay.

A direct hit.

The Foxbat disintegrated midair, debris raining down toward the ocean.

Arlecchino broke right, resetting for another target.

"This ends today."

The Battle for the Orbital Elevator raged on.

Missiles. Gunfire. Explosions.

The final war was reaching its climax.

The Kill Count Rises—The Skies Belong to Them

With each passing minute, the kill count surged higher. Explosions erupted across the sky, trails of smoke spiraling down to the ocean below. The air was thick with the scent of burning fuel and metal, a chaotic ballet of fire and destruction.

Enemy fighters had dwindled from the 80s to the 20s in what felt like an instant. The battle for air superiority was nearing its climax. Victory was almost within reach, but the sky was still a battlefield, alive with desperate maneuvers and last-ditch efforts from the remaining hostile forces.

Furina had amassed a staggering 56 aerial kills in this engagement alone, having already made two high-speed re-supplies at a nearby airbase along Liyue's coast. Her total kill count for the war had now soared past 364 confirmed kills—and rising.

Arlecchino, the deadly predator of the skies, had 40 confirmed kills, her three resupplies allowing her to hunt with ruthless efficiency.

Jean and Amber, the inseparable duo, had 32 kills, requiring four resupplies to keep their F-14B flying at full strength.

Clorinde, precise and methodical as ever, had 26 confirmed kills to her name.

Wriothesley had taken down 18 enemy aircraft, while Ei and Ningguang each had 15 to their credit.

Collei, the silent storm, had 23 confirmed kills, her Rafale M a streak of death across the sky.

And Mavuika, though new to this scale of battle, had 13 confirmed kills, proving she belonged among the aces.

With each passing second, the skies turned more and more in their favor. The enemy's presence was being systematically annihilated.

The comms crackled with urgent chatter.

"Wait. Gold Crown is on our side!? That's the best news I've heard in a long time!"

Another voice chimed in, half-laughing, half-panicked.

"Against Gold Crown? Uh-uh, never again!"

Furina barely had time to smirk before she spotted a Su-37 Flanker-F banking hard, trying to shake its pursuers.

She locked onto it instantly.

Just as she prepared to fire, the Su-37 executed a Cobra maneuver, its nose suddenly snapping up at an impossible angle.

"Shit—" Furina gritted her teeth as she overshot, forced to react in an instant.

Her hands moved with razor-sharp precision. She slammed the throttles to idle and yanked back hard on the sidestick, her Rafale M rearing back into a 90-degree Cobra of her own.

The Su-37 had miscalculated.

It overshot in front of her, right into her crosshairs.

TONE.

LOCK.

"Fox Three!"

Two HCAA (High-Capacity Air-to-Air) missiles streaked from her wings, chasing the Su-37 as it banked right—

Big mistake.

The missiles struck the Su-37 dead center, shredding it apart in a fireball that left nothing but debris.

AWACS Justice came on the radio, his voice thick with amusement.

"What do you know? A former penal member turned ace. Nice to see you again, Furina."

Furina scoffed, shaking her head.

"Justice. Never in a million years did I think I'd hear that from you."

Justice chuckled. "Well, the penal unit is no more. So this is the new me."

The Mission Takes Shape—The Orbital Elevator Must Fall

The radio crackled again.

"This is Albedo."

Furina's eyes narrowed. Of course.

"The Teyvat Orbital Elevator is more than just a launch facility—it's also the world's tallest communications tower.

"See those cables running up past the horizon? Those are integrated communications lines, extending into low orbit.

"Its radio waves cover the entirety of Teyvat… and half the globe.

"We've managed to hijack the signal, broadcasting to all friendly forces."

Eula's voice cut in, sharp and focused.

"So that's how you got the message to us back at Dymny Kordon Air Force Base."

Albedo confirmed. "Correct. This broadcast can now be transmitted to all of Teyvat."

Then, another voice broke through the channel.

"We need to break in! This is the server room!"

Furina's eyes widened. That voice—

"Is that the Tsaritsa!?"

Albedo's voice came back, more urgent now.

"Try breaking in now. Lune! Get the refugees underground, now!"

"On it!"

The Final Enemies—The Countdown Begins

The enemy count dwindled further—down to five.

To the east, Ei was chasing an enemy Su-30, the two aircraft screaming just meters above the ocean's surface.

AWACS Visionaire came on the radio, his voice sharp.

"The Sepharis Bird is inbound! It's launching projectiles!"

AWACS Justice added immediately.

"They're Bezglubok projectiles! Blast radius estimates are being marked on your radars!"

Ei finally got a tone—

"Fox Two!"

Two Sidewinders streaked from her wings. The Su-30 tried to break left—

Too late.

The missiles hit dead on.

Then—

A massive blue explosion ignited in the sky.

Ei's F-15E shuddered violently from the shockwave.

"Holy SHIT! What the fuck was that!?"

Mavuika's voice came through the comms, sharp with alarm.

"Hey, Justice! More incoming!?"

Justice responded, voice urgent.

"Yes. Proceed with extreme caution!"

Mavuika spotted an enemy F-16, moving violently left and right, dumping countermeasures in a desperate attempt to shake her.

She locked on anyway.

TONE.

"Fox Two!"

Two Sidewinders streaked forward. The F-16 deployed flares—

But it was too late.

Direct hit.

AWACS Visionaire called it. "Splash one, Kionzgozi!"

The Final Minutes—Brace for Impact

Then, the radio flared again.

A door slammed shut. A locking mechanism engaged.

A loud bang followed—Albedo's voice furious.

"GET BACK HERE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"

The Tsaritsa responded, voice cold and steady.

"The door closed on itself!"

Albedo sighed. "Right... Find the server for the Sepharis Bird's communication. It should be labeled! Look for a code name!"

AWACS Justice cut in, voice sharp.

"Another Bezglubok projectile inbound! Brace yourselves!"

The red markers on the radar flared to life.

Allied fighters scrambled, pulling away from the predicted impact zones.

"Five seconds!"

"Four!"

"Three!"

"Two!"

"One!"

A massive blue explosion ripped through the air.

Furina gritted her teeth as she banked hard right, her Rafale slicing through the turbulence.

The last three enemy fighters were in her sights.

TONE.

LOCK.

"Fox Three!"

Three HCAA missiles streaked out, hunting their targets with pinpoint accuracy.

Three direct hits.

Three explosions.

ZERO HOUR

Right on cue, HQ crackled through the radio.

"We have reached Zero Hour!"

Furina's heart pounded in sync with the roar of her jet. She glanced up.

There it was.

The Sepharis Bird. Celestia.

A floating behemoth of war, an unholy fusion of technology and destruction, looming over the battlefield like an omen of doom. The sky itself seemed to darken beneath its colossal presence.

The Naval Commander barked over the comms:

"Everyone, get ready for the Unison Attack!"

A synchronized assault. Their best shot.

The countdown began.

"Five."

Missile locks confirmed. Targeting systems online.

"Four."

Engines roared as pilots braced themselves.

"Three."

Fingers tightened over triggers.

"Two."

Tension spiked. This was it.

"One."

"FIRE!"

A storm of firepower was unleashed. The Teyvat naval fleet launched high-powered ground-to-air missiles, streaking toward their target in a synchronized wave of destruction.

The squadrons fired LRAAMs, HCAA missiles, and heavy ordnance, every aircraft unloading a merciless payload onto the Sepharis Bird.

Streaks of flame and steel screamed through the skies.

Then—

A deep, mechanical whirring filled the air.

The Sepharis Bird stirred. The massive ring above it glowed red.

Then it expanded.

The blue force shield deployed.

Impact.

Explosions rippled across the shield's surface. Fire and smoke roared outward, but the massive airborne fortress remained untouched.

"SHIT! IT FAILED!" HQ's voice crackled through the radio, barely containing the panic. "OUR MISSILES DIDN'T EVEN REACH THE TARGET!"

A fresh voice joined the chaos—

AWACS Zaytun.

"This is AWACS Zaytun to all aircraft! I have multiple bogeys on my scope!"

Furina's jaw clenched.

"All aircraft, this is Waltz One! They're launching MQ-101 drones!"

Her voice was sharp. Commanding.

"Keep those things away from the Sepharis Bird!"

A chorus of confirmations filled the frequency:

"Wilco!"

"Roger!"

"Affirmative!"

"Wilco!"

"Roger that!"

No hesitation. This was war.

Furina gritted her teeth. Time for a new plan.

"Waltz and Primordial Squadrons! Head straight for the Sepharis Bird! I'll take out the main propellers! You all handle the sub-propellers and its anti-aircraft weapons!"

Jean responded instantly. "Wilco! Engage!"

The two squadrons roared forward, cutting through the sky like avenging specters.

Machine guns blazed. Missiles streaked through the air. The first wave hammered the Sepharis Bird's defenses, explosions rippling across its surface.

Then—

Furina struck.

She dove in from above.

"Everyone! Avoid the crossfire! Spread out!"

The squadrons scattered, weaving between bursts of flak and laser fire.

Her visor locked onto the right main propeller.

Tone.

Lock.

"Fox Three!"

Two HCAA missiles streaked away.

Direct hit.

The massive propeller ground to a halt.

Below, the battle at sea raged.

"We're listing! Deploy the lifeboats!"

"Abandon ship! Abandon ship!"

"We've taken major damage! We have to abandon!"

AWACS Zaytun's voice cut through the storm: "HQ, our naval power has been hit hard."

Wriothesley's voice followed, laced with disbelief.

"That's some insane firepower. I—shit, I didn't see that one coming."

Furina's eyes snapped to the left propeller.

Tone.

Lock.

"Fox Three!"

Two more HCAA missiles.

Direct hit.

The left propeller stalled. The Sepharis Bird lurched.

Then—

The right propeller spun back to life.

Furina's eye twitched.

"What the hell!?"

"HOW IN FUCK IS THAT POSSIBLE!?"

Then—

A familiar whirring noise.

Her eyes snapped up. The ring glowed red once again.

Her gut twisted.

"WALTZ AND PRIMORDIAL, BREAK AWAY! THE SHIELD IS ABOUT TO DEPLOY!"

She yanked the stick back, inverting the jet into a vertical dive.

The squadron followed.

A split second later—

The shield erupted outward.

Barely missing them.

Furina let out a shaky breath. "Shit, that was close! Everyone accounted for?"

Jean turned back, scanning. So did Amber.

Amber spoke first. "Primordial Squadron all here!"

Then Collei. "Waltz Squadron complete!"

Furina sighed. "Too close."

She steadied herself. "Damage report on the Sepharis Bird?"

Jean answered. "Right side sub-propellers are down. Half of its weapons disabled."

Then—

A voice crackled through the radio.

Tsaritsa.

"I found it!"

A loud BANG.

Albedo's voice followed, urgent. "SMASH IT!"

Then—

The Sepharis Bird unleashed hell.

Laser cannons fired.

Ground targets obliterated in an instant.

HQ's voice trembled. "Attention all aircraft! We can no longer commence the second operation!"

Furina scoffed. "No shit!"

Then—

Arlecchino.

"Furina! Aim for the Orbital Driver Hooks below it! That will expose the core!"

Furina's pulse spiked. "Wilco, Arlecchino! Just waiting for this APS to go down!"

Then—

BANG.

Furina held her breath. "Come on..."

Another BANG.

Collei squeezed her eyes shut. "Go away."

BANG.

Eula growled. "DISAPPEAR!"

Then—

A final, deafening smash.

And just like that—

The Sepharis Bird's shield vanished.

The shield collapsed.

A crackling wave of energy fizzled out, leaving the Sepharis Bird exposed.

Furina punched the air.

"THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!"

Her voice rang out through the comms, raw with adrenaline.

"EVERYONE, ENGAGE!"

Then—

Arlecchino chimed in.

"The MQ-101 drones are dropping! They're falling out of the skies!"

Furina's IFF system blinked.

New targets acquired.

Orbital Hinges locked.

Before she could react, Jean and Amber's F-14 swooped in like a pair of hunting falcons.

Twin Sidewinders launched.

Impact.

A bright, violent explosion rippled across the Sepharis Bird's underbelly.

Amber's voice crackled through the radio.

"Laser destroyed! Go get 'em, Furina!"

Furina wasted no time.

Her Rafale banked left, targeting the left hook.

Tone.

Lock.

"Fox Three!"

Two HCAA missiles streaked away.

Direct hit.

Right on cue—secondary explosions erupted from the left side.

The sub-main propellers tore apart, sending fiery debris spiraling downward.

Then—

The right main propeller stalled again.

The Sepharis Bird was crippled.

Its left-side defenses shattered.

The leviathan of the skies was now defenseless.

Furina tilted right, locking onto the second hook.

Tone.

Lock.

"Fox Three!"

Two more missiles blasted forward.

Direct hit.

The Orbital Driver trembled. Hanging by a single connection.

Furina switched targets.

Left hook.

"Fox Three!"

Direct hit.

Right hook.

"Fox Three!"

Impact.

The Orbital Driver tore away, plummeting from the Sepharis Bird.

Its core—completely exposed.

Furina's breathing slowed.

This is it.

She tilted her nose down, diving toward the ocean.

The waves rushed up to meet her.

At the last moment, she pulled up, skimming the surface with her wingtips.

She glanced up.

The Core was vulnerable.

She squeezed her eyes shut.

"Don't think, Furina... just do."

Her eyes snapped wide open.

Throttle—full afterburner.

Her Rafale roared skyward.

A vertical climb straight toward the Core.

Jean's voice came through the radio, alarmed.

"Furina, you're gonna hit the Core!"

Furina's grip tightened.

"Come on..."

The Core loomed closer.

"Give me tone. Give me tone!"

Almost there.

"COME ON!!!"

Lock.

"Fox Three!"

Two HCAA missiles detached from her wings.

They streaked forward.

Impact.

A massive explosion engulfed the Core.

The radio erupted.

"Whoa!"

"Holy shit!"

"What the hell was that!?"

Then—silence.

A streak of blue emerged from the inferno.

Furina's Rafale.

Flying through the center of the destroyed core.

Climbing vertically.

Unscathed.

The comms exploded with cheers.

"ALRIGHT, FURINA!"

"THAT'S TEYVAT'S ACE RIGHT THERE!"

"THE BIRD IS GOING DOWN!"

Furina leveled off, falling into formation with her squadron.

Together, they watched as the Sepharis Bird burned.

A crippled titan, falling from the heavens.

Eula's voice was calm, almost reflective.

"Even in death… that damn bird is still menacing."

Lyney's voice cracked slightly.

"Furina... you did it."

Lynette followed, quieter.

"The Sepharis Birds... they're no more."

Furina keyed her radio.

Her voice was steady. Powerful.

"Everyone! Do you see this!? This is what happens when we set our differences aside. When we trust one another!"

"This is the result!"

"A joint operation that will put an end to war itself!"

Her voice echoed over the comms.

"The world won't change for the better… unless we trust one another."

Then—

A thunderous splash.

The Sepharis Bird hit the ocean.

Water erupted sky-high as flaming debris scattered.

Then—silence.

Only the waves remained.

The radio crackled.

"All Snezhnayan rebel soldiers! Surrender now, and we won't attack!"

A pause.

Then—

A broken voice.

"We're surrendering."

"It's not worth continuing this..."

At the Orbital Elevator, the doors slid open.

Albedo and Tsaritsa stepped forward, gazing out of an open window.

The sky stretched before them.

Clear.

But the skies weren't clear for long.

Albedo's eyes widened as he spotted two unknown aircraft cutting through the clouds.

A sinking feeling twisted in his gut.

"Is that… the drones we saw at the factory!?"

AWACS Zaytun's voice crackled over the comms.

"ALERT! Two fast-moving bogeys—closing in fast!"

Then—

Arlecchino's voice.

Urgent. Sharp.

"EVERYONE, RETREAT! THEY'RE ADFX-11 DRONES!"

Then—

Wriothesley. His voice was tense.

"Shit! I'm being chased!"

His engine roared as he pulled into a vertical climb, trying to shake them.

"These guys are BAD NEWS! Furina, do something!"

Furina grit her teeth, eyes locked on the incoming drones.

She maneuvered hard, trying to get a lock.

Nothing.

"I'm trying, but I can't get a lock!"

The drones fired.

Twin missiles streaked toward Wriothesley.

Furina broke away.

"Shit! One of them might be turning for me!"

Wriothesley slammed his countermeasures, the flares igniting in his wake.

He inverted his plane, diving hard.

Then—

He rolled left, climbing again.

Too late.

A missile connected.

The impact rattled his aircraft, but it held together.

"Shit! I'm hit!"

Furina's breath hitched.

"Wriothesley, RETREAT! I'll be by your wing!"

She snapped back onto the radio.

"EVERYONE, RETREAT! NOW! It's too risky!"

AWACS Zaytun came through—

"There's a Fontanian carrier a few kilometers west. It ran aground. It's abandoned, but it's the only safe place we got!"

Furina formed up on Wriothesley.

Then—

Her squadron appeared beside her.

Primordial Squadron.

The rest of Waltz Squadron.

Nocturne Squadron.

Hearth Squadron.

They fled westward, cutting through the night sky.

Behind them—

Explosions.

A furious dogfight.

Two experimental drones twisted through the air, evading missile locks like phantoms.

Their movements—flawless.

Because their AI had been installed with Arlecchino's flight style.

The enemy had perfected the art of aerial combat.

And now—they were the prey.

30 Minutes Later…

Everyone made it back safely.

Except Furina.

She stayed in the air, circling the carrier, ready to defend if those two experimental drones made another move.

Finally—she lined up for landing. Gear down. Hook deployed.

Wriothesley's voice crackled through the radio.

"Furina, I managed to land. I'll help guide you."

Furina stayed steady, gliding toward the deck.

She was right on target.

The Rafale descended.

Spoilerons deployed.

Then—

Hard touchdown.

Her main gear slammed onto the deck.

The hook caught the third wire.

Her Rafale came to a halt.

Wriothesley punched the air.

"Perfect landing, Furina!"

Furina exhaled. She retracted the hook and taxied toward the carrier's aircraft elevator. She parked the jet and powered it down.

They were safe. For now.

The mess hall was buzzing.

Pilots laughed, shook hands, and shared stories.

Primordial, Waltz, and Hearth squadrons got along with Nocturne Squadron—Furina's first squadron.

Then—

The door swung open.

The room fell silent.

Then—

Lyney grinned.

"There she is. Teyvat's Ace!"

Furina shook her head, smirking. She approached Lyney and pulled him into a hug.

"It's been too long, Lyney."

Lyney chuckled, stepping back slightly.

"Never better. And look at you! Name cleared, and now a Captain!"

Then—Lynette joined them.

Furina turned, embracing her.

"Lynette… it's so good to see you again."

Lynette smiled softly.

"You kept your promise. You said we'd see each other again in better times. And here you are—Captain Furina."

Furina chuckled.

"Damn right."

Then—the debriefing began.

Arlecchino stepped forward.

"Alright. Let's get down to business."

The room went silent.

"Those two drones were ADFX-11s. Unmanned, highly advanced. As I mentioned last week to Primordial and Waltz Squadron—they use flight data from my own flying style."

A heavy silence.

"That means… they'll be a nightmare to take down."

Some pilots shifted uncomfortably.

"And even if we DO take one down, we have a bigger problem."

She looked around, eyes serious.

"They have a secondary body."

A few murmurs.

Arlecchino continued.

"That second body will pretend to be 'prey'—but it's a trap. It's studying you. Learning your flying style. The moment you think you have the upper hand, it'll upload everything you did to the next batch of drones."

"I told Waltz and Primordial Squadron that these drones can wirelessly connect to comms links and upload data, right?"

She exhaled sharply.

"But since they're still experimental, they rely on the space elevator's basement to transmit that data. That area is has five signal repeaters. Any maneuvers they learn from us get sent straight to Snezhnaya's drone factories, downloaded into new drones."

"It will take an estimated 30 seconds to transmit the flight data gathered to the drone factories."

Mavuika exhaled sharply.

"So now what?"

Arlecchino shook her head.

"For now? We breathe. We rest. Because we're gonna need every ounce of energy for what's coming next."

Then—

Furina stood up.

Her voice was steady. Firm. Resolute.

"We attack tomorrow."

The room went quiet.

"Use this time to rest."

She glanced around.

"Tomorrow—we finish this."

"Once. And for all."

The Sepharis Birds were gone.

The enemy was desperate.

And now—two experimental drones—perfected through Arlecchino's combat data—guarded the Space Elevator.

Can they be taken down?

And for Furina…

Can she destroy them before they learn HER flying style?

Because if she fails—

Her combat data could be uploaded.

And then—Teyvat's Ace would become the enemy's deadliest weapon.