Chapter Text
The Abyss already had a chokehold on Natlan. Abyssal pylons rained down from the sky, tainted a cool violet colour reminiscent of the night kingdom.
The Abyss had already taken the lives of thousands. Their screams echoed through the air that smelt of burning.
So, please...
"don't take him too!" Mualani shouted as Sharky flew smack-dab in the face of the hilichurl before Kinich, causing it to fall back.
"Thanks," Kinich utters as he rises back to his feet. The two stand back to back as another swarm of hilichurls and saurians emerge from the pylon before them. Mualani and Kinich are already covered in cuts and bruises that vary in size, plus they've endured being knocked down and thrown around by the enemy forces, whereas their fellow warriors have fallen.
"Kinich, we're going to make it, right?" Mualani whispers as she glanced back at Kinich, it was beginning to get harder to stay positive for her though. her words carried an air of doubt Kinich felt as well.
"I- right." Kinich nods hesitantly as the two charge back into battle. Kinich threw his claymore at one of the Tepetlisaurs, knocking it down as he homed in on another with his grappling hook. Mualani rode on the back of sharky carving through the hilichurls like waves.
"Gah, I sure as hell hope NOT!" Ajaw shrieked as he poked at Kinich's side with his pixelated little nubs for 'hands', of course.. he was more than thrilled to see Kinich struggling in battle, it wasn't so often he had an opportunity like this.
"Not now, Ajaw." Kinich grumbled as grabbed Ajaw by the tail and flung him at one of the hilichurls.
"behind you!" Mualani cried as a mitachurl suddenly swung its oversized axe at Kinich, he immediately dashed to the side and shot his grappling hook at the mitachurl as Mualani finished it off with her catalyst. Then they turned their attention to the abyssal pylon, they both bombarded it with all their attacks, the hydro and dendro elements created a bloom reaction which only enlarged their damage output. The Pylon then shattered and released a mass amount of energy- forcing Mualani and Kinich to fall back. finally.
But Ajaw's screeching voice cracked the illusion of peace in their mind, the sound ringed through the pair's ears.
"UH- GET OFF YOUR ASSES!! MORE INCOMINGGG!"
Mualani groaned as she sat up, Kinich following suit, but much slower. They weren't prepared to turn around. multiple abyssal pylons had descended from the growing ball of abyssal energy above the far-off stadium- even more enemies? neither was at their full strength and there was no way in teyvat any backup would come on time. Mualani looked at Kinich with a worried furrow of her brows. his hands were shaky... his stance appeared to be weak.
"Kinich, I... I'll handle it," she states with a halfhearted smile. Kinich's expression darkened, he knew Mualani was strong. but with the number of enemies, there was no possibility she'd make it out as victor. Kinich couldn't allow that.
"No. I can't just sit here.." Kinich's eyes trailed down to his discarded claymore. he picked it up slowly, grasping the hilt of the sword with his two hands. Ajaw rolled his eyes as he floated over to Kinich's shoulder and hummed mockingly.
"you're gonna die, you're gonna die~"
Kinich glared at Ajaw. That bastard always loved to rub it in. but... this time it felt even more haunting, a dread laid dormant in his stomach.
"Ajaw- No. That's not the spirit we want going into battle, come on! for Natlan!" Mualani said in an attempt to encourage and boost morale in both herself and Kinich.
"right.. for Natlan." Kinich nods as he tightens the grip on his claymore. Ajaw smirks as the two step forward, preparing to charge at the enemies surrounding the area.
Chaos.
Yes, that's what it was... three abyssal pylons with a seventy square feet area. Rift Hounds, hilichurl, saurians, you name it- all surrounded Mualani and Kinich. They would've gone straight for the pylons, but the amount of monsters that guarded them was too much.
The more the two fended off, the more came.. at least Mualani was holding up better than Kinich.
Kinich stood back as he took down another rift hound with his claymore. He felt his heart pounding in his chest like it wanted to escape his chest. His senses blurred as he stood there, panting.
It all happened so fast
Kinich heard a distant cry from Mualani as he felt a sharp burning sensation in his back.. he attempted to shout out to Mualani, but all that came out of his mouth was blood, he coughed into his left hand as he leaned against his claymore with the other. He felt liquid drip from his back. but his senses had to be distorted. There was no way—
Suddenly a pyro abyss mage appeared before Kinich. Instinctively, he threw his claymore at it.. with all his remaining might; he aimed the blade at the abyss mage's face.. it struck through the shield and cracked the mage's mask. Causing it to teleport away.
"Ajaw.." Kinich sputters as he collapses, barely holding himself up with his hands.
"Oooh, you call for the all-mighty K'uhul Ajaw? Must be important–" Ajaw paused as he looked down at the kneeling Kinich, a wide grin settled on his face "Oh wow, you're actually gonna die, you're gonna die~!"
"Could you... not—" Kinich coughed up another spat of blood, his back was seething in pain. Kinich wiped his shaky crimson hands on the grass.
"Oh-" Ajaw flew to the other side of Kinich and glared at the blood and Kinich's expression. Genuine fear. "Oh, shit.. you're actually—"
Mualani then ran in their direction, "Kinich! Kinich!! Oh my Archon, are you...-?"
"Dying..? Yeah." Kinich hacked. "Go and feign off the abyss.. or get away while you can still walk," Kinich mutters weakly, gripping the blades of grass beneath his hands.
"No, no, no. We're going to get you to a medic. Come on, Ajaw, help me carry him." Mualani pleaded. She stepped forward to wrap her arm around Kinich's shoulder to support him.
"Leave him, fish for brains. This is where he's gonna die, except it. There's nothing you can do–" Mualani just glared at Ajaw as he spoke, did he have no regard for Kinich? No. That was a stupid question to ask herself, of course, he didn't care. But still...
"There has to be, we have to try!" Mualani begged
"..." Ajaw gave Mualani a glare of distaste, and perhaps hesitation.
"Come on, you're K'uhul Ajaw, the sovereign dragon or whatever you call yourself. You've gotta have—"
"Mualani. Let it go." Kinich interjected. He took a slow, shaky breath of air. "The abyss has us surrounded. Go," Kinich commanded.
Mualani grimaced. Clearly she would rather sacrifice herself than ever let Kinich perish like this.
"Would you two just shut the fuck up!? Kinich, give me your body. I'm about to fuck up these abyss bitches." Ajaw shouted.
Kinich coughed out. That caught him off guard.. he made a deal with Ajaw that he'd take his body once he died.. not- this.
"Ajaw, you better not—"
"Do anything else, break the law, dabble in terrorism, arson, commit mass murder.. yeah, yeah. I'd NEVER! handshake?" Ajaw bounced with eagerness, in hopes it covered his growing concern for the weakened Kinich.
"I'll help beat the abyss for you, avenge you. Once they're gone, you can have it baaack~"
"Deal.." Kinich utters, Ajaw immediately takes Kinich's hand and shakes it violently, causing Kinich to briefly feel nauseous—
Ajaw's pixelated form shot itself into Kinich. Kinich stumbled backward. He gripped his chest as his grip on reality left. His body stood there limp.
Mualani stared at Kinich in fear. She took a step back only to see the monsters were on all sides, she turned her back to Kinich and summoned her catalyst back to her hand to guard him.
Kinich then rose from the ground, but The way he held himself was different.
“...holy shit, I'm back..!"