Genshin Impact: Frostburn

A/N: I'm thinking of staying with this style of writing for now to see if it's better rather than 1st person.

This might be overcooked...

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Leo approached Peruere slowly, his body covered with scratches and bruises. 

"Are you okay?" As he got closer, he couldn't help but notice the bright red bauble in Pereure's hand. 

'There's her vision.' Leo sighed in relief.

He raised an eyebrow as he called her name. There was no reply as she stood motionless. With his right hand, he pulled her side which made her fall.

Cold sweat dripped on his back as he thought of the worst. Pressing his hand on her neck, he searched for her pulse.

"Thank god, she just fainted."

He carried her on his small back as he walked towards Clervie. Despite his low stamina, he tried to carry the two of them as the fire outside grew. 

"Young master!" Polochko emerged from the shadows as he walked towards the ruined exit of the dome.

"Polochko? Where were y-" The words stopped as he saw his pitiful state. Wounds and burns covered his body and signs of frostbite could be seen on all over.

Polochko limped his way towards Leo. His arms were cold, one hanging on the side, while the other clutched his spear tightly despite the burns.

"What happened?" Leo asked.

"I've been ambushed. They knew about your plans," Polochko gritted his teeth as frustration crept in. "I'm sorry young master, if only I was stronger."

Leo clicked his tongue as he made his way towards Polochko. "Enough of that," Leo's face darkened as he bit his lips. "it was my fault."

Polochko looked around, his eyes carefully observing their surroundings. "Where's Crucabena?"

"Everywhere,"

Polochko wore a confused look. His eyes twitched as he tirely sighed. "Did you do this young master?"

"No it's not me," Leo glanced behind him where he carried Peruere. "It's Peruere."

As he got closer, he stumbled upon a concrete rock, but despite the imbalance, he tried his best not to fall.

"Young master I'll help!" Polochko said as he let go of his spear and took Peruere and Clervie from his back.

"Wait, no! You're already tired! Don't push yourself too much!"

"It's fine young master, I'm used to this."

Leo grumbled and helped Polochko to the side. "You better not regret this okay, I don't know if I can carry the three of you."

As they made their way outside, the buildings started to crumble, and the flames grew stronger. Around them were nothing but flaming ruins. Ash and soot entered his nose, and the smell of who-knows-what-else filled the air. Sizzling noises filled his ear as the pieces of wood cracked and parts of different buildings collapsed.

Sweat poured out of him as he felt the heat become stronger. They maneuvered the flaming ruins of the orphanage. Buildings and houses continued to collapse. Their pace quickened as falling debris and explosions reverberated. The storages burst into a flaming explosion, and rooms were reduced into wreckage.

"Quick!" Leo shouted. As they reached the orphanage's entrance, a series of explosions erupted behind them, each one louder than the last. Suddenly, a massive blast ripped through the air, bursting like fiery fireworks and illuminating the ruins in a blinding glow.

Leo shielded his face from the searing heat as ash rained around them. "What the hell did they hide in there?!" He shouted, his voice laced with both irritation and disbelief.

***

They continued to walk away from the place briskly and towards Fontaine. Behind them are the flaming ruins of the House of the Heart, and in the distance in front are children escorted by multiple adults towards Fontaine.

His burns gnawed at his skin and his face red from all the heat. "Can you still go on... Polochko?"

He tapped his side and looked at his face. "For god's sake, I told you not to push yourself too much!" Leo stopped him and made him sit down. He wiped his pale face with his tattered clothes.

Leo searched for any nearby source of water and dipped his clothes before washing Polochko's face.

"Young master, you should go,"

"What are you saying! Stop that!"

Polochko held his hand. "It's dangerous here. Please," His eyes closed as he fainted. "just go."

Leo gritted his teeth and positioned Polochko, Peruere, and Clervie on his back. The weight was too much for him to carry, and he found himself unable to move forward.

"Dammit!" He bit his lip hard enough for blood to flow out. "Fine," He sucked energy from his vision and simultaneously used the corrupted energy inside of him. " ARGHHH!" His vision glowed, his clothes wavered and his body was covered in black mist.

With all his strength, he stood up and walked forward. His bones ached, his mind could hear whispers and he could feel his vision go blurry. Yet despite all of this he continued forward, unwavering.

"Just a bit more Leo, just a bit more."

His small stature could only take small steps but his body was healing, albeit slowly. After a few minutes, his pace quickened. "There we go," His throat choked and he could feel a retching sensation in his stomach. Not soon after, he vomited dark blood. "Fuck, fuck this."

***

Through her half-opened eyes, Clervie stirred, her body was weak and her consciousness barely returned. She could see Leo's trembling frame, the way his shoulders sagged and his breaths came in shallow gasps. Yet, he kept walking.

"Le...Leo,"

His head snapped to her, the faint glow of the corrupted mist making his face look ghostly. Yet his expression softened when he saw her awake. "You're alive," he breathed. "Good. Just stay awake, okay? We're almost there."

"..."

"Don't worry, we'll get some help soon."

His voice was hoarse, but there was something in it. Stubbornness, a raw determination that struck her deeply. She wanted to protest, to beg him to put her down, but she couldn't. She could see it in his eyes. He wouldn't listen.

"Leo save yourself, leave us please." 

Leo chuckled sparingly. "Polochko said the same thing. But I'm not leaving you behind."

"But you'll also die!"

"No one's dying!" Leo lashed. "This is my fault! I put all of you in this situation!" His muffled cries silenced the critters of the night. "If I did better, it wouldn't have come to this,"

He continued forward, his wounds opening as the corrupted energy slowly drained. "But I'll fix it. I'll get you all to safety. That's all that matters right now."

Her vision blurred, and she wasn't sure if it was from exhaustion, her wounds, or the sudden warmth welling up in her chest. She had always seen Leo to be reserved, someone who avoided standing out. But now, seeing the weight he carried, the risk of saving them even at the cost of his own sanity, she realized how wrong she had been.

Every movement he made, every step he took wasn't reckless or impulsive. It was intentional, every ounce of strength focused on keeping them alive.

"Leo," she whispered again, her voice trembling.

"What is it?"

"You're..." Her words caught in her throat as she tried to find the right words. A slight blush appeared on her face. "Thank you." As she said those words her eyes felt heavy, her consciousness slowly fading as she gently returned to sleep.

***

A trail of blood was left behind his tracks, his bones ached as his wounds reopened. The amount of blood he lost along the way was substantial. The only thing that keeps him going forward is the minuscule amount of Corrupted energy left inside him, and the will to deliver everyone to safety.

As they got closer, his blurred vision recognized the lights that came from the gates of Fontaine. A gasp of relief came over him as silhouette of people ran towards them.

"Save... them," He said as he succumbed to his wounds.

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A/N: is he dead? Now let me cook (Or maybe burn this like what I always do to the food I cook) XD