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Chapter 73 - Diluc’s Rising Red Mastery

Mondstadt's predawn stillness wrapped the Teyvat Internet Cafe Mondstadt Store in a cocoon of neon glow and quiet fervor, the 300 rigs thrummed with the relentless pulse of Red Alert, Diluc sat hunched over his screen, his pyro gaze burned with determination, the Darknight Hero reflected on his ravaged base, "Difficult man-machine crushed me," he muttered, "but I'll rise," his resolve a blazing ember in the digital night.

The wreckage of his White Flag base stared back at him, shattered by Kirov airships and Apocalypse tanks, he clenched his fists, "Too passive, too slow," he realized, "defense alone fails," his mind raced back to the dark map's opening, "radar came late, no scouting," his early mistakes a bitter lesson, "harass them first next time," his Batman instincts kicked in, Teyvat's cafe pulsed around him.

He restarted with fierce intent, chose the Germanic faction for its tank killers, "one shot for Grizzlies, two for Rhinos," he murmured, built barracks swiftly, sent two dogs to scout the map's edges, "know the enemy," he vowed, left conscripts to guard his base, his tank killers rolled out early, "resources matter," he secured an oil field, the rig's hum fueled his growing strategy.

The second game unfolded, he lost again, "still sloppy," he grunted, but the defeat was closer, "their tanks bled too," his tank killers shredded Rhinos, "progress," he noted, the third round pushed harder, gold mines depleted before his loss, "almost had them," he smirked, each failure sharpened his edge, the cafe's glow mirrored his rising grit.

By the fifth round, victory dawned, he picked Abilly with its self-destruct trucks, "tanks lead, trucks blast," he planned, faced Britain's snipers, "useless against armor," he grinned, sent Rhinos to clear a path, unleashed trucks into the enemy base, "boom, small nukes," he watched explosions cripple them, "tragic win, but mine," his pyro soul flared, Mondstadt's night a forge for his triumph.

Diluc leaned back, "Cruel Enemy looms," he eyed the option, "not yet," he decided, "difficult was hell," his mind churned with super weapons and relentless waves, "I'm decent now," he assessed, scanned the LAN for players, "time to test," his confidence swelled, Liam's room popped up, "boss plays," he joined fast, the cafe buzzed with anticipation.

Xingqiu slipped in, "water swords meet war machines," he quipped. Chef Mao followed, "no cooking tomorrow," he yawned, all-nighter etched in his face. Albert bounced in, "Barbara's fan turned gamer," Diluc smirked, "less shouting, good," the four locked into Liam's 987 sea battle map, "four corners, naval clash," Diluc's eyes narrowed, "bridges and mines," the rig flared to life.

The map sprawled across the screen, east west north south islands linked by bridges to a central mine-rich isle, "sea rules here," Diluc chose Soviet, "Kirovs and subs," he planned, random boxes glowed, super weapons ticked on, "weather control or nuke," he mused, built his base fast, "shipyard first," his Dreadnaughts took shape, Teyvat's cafe thrummed around him.

Action erupted early, Xingqiu's Allied ships sailed west, "Grizzlies on water," his voice crackled, Diluc's subs dove, "torpedoes away," he countered, two hulls sank, "bridge intact," he sent Rhinos north, "Albert's mine carts," he targeted, Kirovs lifted off, "bomb the south," Chef Mao's base loomed, the LAN roared with their clash.

Liam struck, "Prism Towers up," his beams lanced from the east, "Kirovs down," Diluc cursed, "subs flank," his torpedoes hit, "one tower out," he growled, Xingqiu's navy pressed, "Destroyers swarm," Diluc's Dreadnaught fired, "missiles soar," a ship crumbled, "hold north," his tanks rolled, the cafe's pulse matched his pounding heart.

Dialogue flared across the chat, "bridges choke us," Chef Mao typed, "blow them," Diluc shot back, "sea wins," Liam countered, "tanks cross fast," Xingqiu added, "subs sink you," Diluc's retort landed, "Kirovs bomb all," their words wove a tense web, "middle mines key," Albert piped, "I'm rushing," the LAN crackled with their rivalry.

A twist surged, Albert's weather control sparked, "storm incoming," lightning zapped Diluc's shipyard, "damn super weapons," he grit, rebuilt fast, "nuke silo up," his counter brewed, Xingqiu's navy circled, "middle's mine," Diluc's subs dove, "torpedoes hit," an oil field sank, "chaos rules," the cafe's glow fueled his relentless push.

Diluc adapted, "Tanya trains," her pistols gleamed, "bridge assault," he sent her north, "Albert's base," she planted C4, "boom, gone," his Kirovs bombed south, "Chef Mao next," buildings crumbled, "nuke ready," his silo hummed, "Liam's east," the mushroom cloud loomed, "one left," his pyro will a blaze in the fray.

Action peaked, Liam's Prism Tanks rolled, "west bridge rush," beams scorched, Diluc's Rhinos met them, "tanks clash," shells flew, "Tanya flank," she downed a tower, "nuke drop," the east island ash, "Xingqiu holds," his navy struck, "subs counter," torpedoes sank, "two stand," the LAN a battlefield of their fierce dance.

He clinched, "Kirovs swarm," Xingqiu's base buckled, "last dreadnaught," missiles soared, "navy ash," Tanya stormed, "base down," Diluc's Soviet flag rose, "win mine," his claymore's echo resounded, "Mond learns," the cafe a forge, "Fatui wait," his triumph a tide, Teyvat's digital sea a testament to his rise.

Emotion swelled, Diluc's past stung yet spurred, "father's pride," his pyro heart burned, Liam's thrill pulsed, "cafe binds," his Sharingan glowed, Mondstadt's spirit flickered, "games unite," their saga shook Teyvat, "progress mine," his growth a rock, the night's quiet a canvas for his relentless climb.

Diluc grinned, "Red mastered," his rig dimmed, "more tomorrow," he vowed. Ayanami Rei nodded, "shift holds," her red eyes calm, "players grow," the cafe's pulse softened, "Traveler nears," Liam's door glimmered, "rest later," Diluc's all-nighter a blazing vow, Teyvat's wilds and LAN a dual dawn in his bold stride.

***

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