Demons in Teyvat?!

🌸 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟚𝟙 🌊

This demon was tough. He hated to admit it, but he'd only fought two demons before- and this one, clearly, was on a different level. It was a smaller snake-type he'd fought underwater, but despite that, the demon before him was much stronger. Childe quickly lept away, back to the stone where he'd hid the other man.

"You, what do you know about the demon?" "D-Demon? What do you-" childe sighed. "That thing," He jabbed a finger over his shoulder. "What did it do to you?" The man shuddered, his lips struggling to form words. "I... I don't really remember..." Childe, the adrenaline from the anticipation of the upcoming battle running through his veins, fought the urge to roll his eyes. "Well, you'd better remember faster, because if you don't, we are both going to die, comrade," trying to keep his tone light. His eyes widened, and he threw the man over his shoulder once more and leapt away before something slammed into the ground behind them. As he ran through the forest, the man spoke up once more.

"...My name is Hongxi. I was paralyzed, when I looked that thing in the eye. It was hideous... no, it's face was human... but what kind of human has the body of an insect?" So that was the case. Childe's intuition was right, then. "How long has it been? Can you move yet?" "I-" Hongxi stirred, ever so slightly in his hold. "Yes, I think a little. I can feel my fingers now- it's been... around ten minutes since it started." That was a good thing. It meant the demon's blood demon art had a time limit- although it was a long one. Perhaps the time was shorter if it was used on more opponents, but he personally did not want to test that theory. "Alright, here's the plan-"

Childe focused, noticing the strong pulse of energy behind him. He quickly summoned a hydro arrow and threw it over his shoulder. A screech sounded, and he grinned knowing that his arrow had hit its target- for once. He must have been getting better, if he had managed to do it without even looking. "I'll drop you off and lure the demon away. The second you can move, run back home. Don't be worried, I will make sure to keep the fighting as far away from the village as possible." Hongxi gasped. "Al-alright... and then- and then I'll go get help-"

"No."

"I- what? But-" "Whatever you do, don't call for reinforcements. You'll only get in my way." It was a bit harsher than he intended, but it was true. Untrained men would only be a burden on him when he fought. Childe glanced behind his shoulder, making sure to only stare at Hongxi's face. He looked doubtful, the color of his skin pale. "It's okay," Childe reassured. "After tonight, everything will be alright." Childe took a sharp turn, quickly hiding Hongxi away behind a bush.

"Run, comrade." With that, Childe sped off, the demon's delighted laughter ringing in his ears.

~🌸🌊~

When he reached a large clearing, Childe turned around, summoning his hydro blades and closing his eyes before springing into action. He needed to focus- fighting spirit would only give him a rough idea of where the demon was, but not a detailed image of it in his head. He had no idea where its vital points were. But here, out in the open... he could just start slashing. He brought this sword down on the demon's hard, plated armor, gritting his teeth when the sound was like that of hitting sharpened steel. He slid his blade down further, wrenching it under one of the plates and then yanking upwards. The demon screeched once again, and something wet splattered against his boots. Ha. That was a hit. Childe ran forward, running up and up the demon's twisting body, towards its head- there had to be an end to this thing, right?

For some reason, he could not see a rough outline of the demon; like a glowing, pulsing object in the darkness behind his eyelids. This would work. He would slay this demon.

"Ragh!" What? Hillichurls? Why now, of all times? His eyes snapped open. Big mistake.

The farmer's twisted face grinned learingly back at him, his beady eyes shining with something sinister. Childe gasped, his breath falling short as his arms and legs seized. A moment later, he was thrown through the air, slamming into the ground with great force by the demon's long body. He groaned, his head spinning. He blinked slowly. Did he hit his head? Everything was sort of blurry. He snarled, annoyed and disappointed at himself. How could he have made such an amateur mistake, and been distracted by something so insignificant? He should be ashamed to call himself a harbinger. Wait. Childe's eyes widened- but not from fear, of the demon slowly approaching him. The basket- Y/N- where was she?