The departure date from Mondstadt was drawing near—only four days remained according to the original plan.
Originally, leaving Mondstadt wasn't that big of a deal. But now, a Battle Technique Hunter had appeared, the sworn enemy Isshin, the Cursed Blade had vanished, and the mastermind behind its collaboration remained unidentified.
Even though Victor Wang had long known that not everything could be achieved through sheer effort, he still hoped that one day he would wake up to find useful intel in the North Wing.
A large batch of commissions had just been posted to the Adventurer's Guild board. There were also some updates in the encrypted requests—one anonymous person claimed to be seeking the power of Kunpeng.
"Someone's already reaching out, even though I just joined?"
The time: 10 PM.
The location: Outside Mondstadt's main gate.
Nothing else was mentioned.
...
"Captain Kaeya, it's just a tavern. Why do we have to sneak around?"
"Because... that's what makes it fun."
"...Fun?"
"Ellin, you should learn from Sidney. If you don't understand something, just quietly watch."
Kaeya, Ellin, and Sidney had just climbed up to the second floor of Angel's Share under the cover of night. Although there was a door here, no staircase connected to it—it clearly wasn't meant for regular access, more like a viewing balcony.
But Kaeya, unfazed, pushed the door open and entered, forcing Ellin to follow.
Angel's Share was, as usual, bustling—especially at night. Though it was already late, the place was still filled with customers, all gathered on the first floor. The second floor, in contrast, felt empty and quiet.
"Looks like it's starting."
"What is?"
Following Kaeya's gaze, Ellin peered down at the tavern's entrance. Even without being a drinker, she could recognize the famous red-haired bartender—Master Diluc of Mondstadt. Standing at the bar with him were her fellow team member Huffman and the golden-haired, white-clothed Honorary Knight—Lumine.
At that moment, Lumine exchanged a few words with Diluc before leaving the tavern. From what they could hear, it sounded like she had forgotten her Mora.
Then Diluc began to ask Huffman about his opinion of Captain Kaeya.
Ellin shot a glance at Kaeya, who stood with his arms crossed and an unreadable smile tugging at his lips.
So, this is what he meant by "starting"? Letting his subordinates talk behind his back to hear their honest opinions? It just didn't feel like something Captain Kaeya would care about...
Downstairs, Huffman began with a string of praise before inevitably adding a complaint.
"Sigh, no, I shouldn't speak ill of a superior. What if Captain Kaeya overheard..."
Ellin couldn't help the twitch at the corner of her mouth. Captain Kaeya already heard you. You might as well say more. I'm curious how he'll react—because I'm quite enjoying this.
She glanced at Kaeya again. That smile of his hadn't changed at all. He really didn't seem to care.
Soon after, Lumine seemed to return with her Mora, but before she could pay, another patrolling teammate burst in.
"Mr. Huffman! Mr. Huffman! Something's happened at the side gate—everyone's being called there!"
Ellin realized this must be what Captain Kaeya had really meant by "starting."
After Huffman and Lumine exchanged a few hurried words and left, Kaeya turned to Ellin and Sidney.
"You two should head to the side gate and help as well."
Sidney, now silent, nodded and was the first to push open the second-floor door and leap down. Ellin quickly followed.
Not long after they departed, Diluc left too.
"Let's see what you're really capable of..."
...
10 PM.
Victor Wang stood at the far side of Mondstadt Bridge, near Cider Lake, practicing the well-worn moves of the Favonius Bladework.
After receiving the anonymous request, even though there had been no compulsion, he had decided to check things out.
Of course, without knowing the exact purpose, he acted like a passerby simply practicing swordsmanship—not initiating contact with anyone.
But as time ticked by, the anonymous contact never showed. Instead, strange noises echoed from Whispering Woods.
A large mob of ordinary Hilichurls, wielding crude spiked clubs and wooden shields, surged out under the moonlight—at least a hundred strong. Though not as many as during the dragon disaster, the city was less fortified now, protected only by the usual gate guards.
If they made it across Mondstadt Bridge, chaos would certainly follow.
"Tch... You know you're Hilichurls yourselves, yet you're doing something that endangers Mondstadt's safety. Do you ever think about the trouble you're causing for the peace-loving Hilichurls?"
Victor Wang really wanted to scold these Hilichurls the way Eula rebuked her uncle Schubert. But Schubert, at least, could understand her words—just not her intent. These Hilichurls couldn't even understand his language, much less comprehend it.
So, he didn't bother speaking aloud.
Why are so many Hilichurls suddenly attacking? Aside from the post-dragon riot, when else does this happen in-game...?
10 PM. Northern Wing members... could it be Diluc?
He looked back toward the other side of the bridge. Due to the distance and poor lighting, the city guards Swan and Lawrence hadn't noticed the oncoming danger. Instead, oddly enough, they'd left their posts and headed toward the side gate.
"So, it is Diluc?"
Yet the Darknight Hero was nowhere to be seen, and the Hilichurls had already burst through Whispering Woods, charging into the open field. Their howls mixed with the dusty air, forming a dirt dragon barreling toward Mondstadt.
The dragon's head brushed past Victor Wang. Though the Hilichurls looked aggressive, baring their teeth and waving their weapons, they didn't attack him.
Definitely under Abyss Mage control.
He sighed. Based on past experience, it seemed the only way to break their control was through death and rebirth—in other words, they had to be killed.
So, he stopped waiting.
Without warning, he unleashed a large-scale Palm Vortex on the dirt dragon.
Thirty-stacked wind-enhanced Palm Vortex—wider range, stronger pull—tore the dragon apart from the head down. The leading Hilichurls were pulled into the air and spun violently.
Seeing their comrades attacked, the remaining Hilichurls retaliated. Though they saw Victor Wang as one of their own, they didn't hold back, swarming toward him.
Victor slowly raised the enhanced Palm Vortex and detonated it. The Hilichurls caught in the vortex crashed down—some into the lake, quickly sinking as they couldn't swim; others smashed into jagged rocks, dying instantly.
Still, Hilichurl physique far exceeded that of ordinary humans. Most of them, even after hitting the ground or tumbling into each other, simply got back up and charged again.
Left hand wielding Palm Vortex for crowd control, right hand gripping the Wentian Sword to slash at unsteady enemies, Victor cleaved through the chaos. A few Hilichurls had gotten smart, forming a shield wall from the side with their small wooden bucklers.
After flinging a few Hilichurls away with another Palm Vortex, Victor slashed at them—but the small wooden shields held surprisingly firm. Despite his sword being strong enough to cleave thick logs, it only sank halfway into the shield. Some sort of Hilichurl tech...?
"Then I won't hold back!"
Spiraling wind burst from his blade—Gale Blade lifted both shields and bearers into the sky. But with enemies this tightly packed, the elemental energy cost spiked sharply.
This wasn't like in the game, where activating a skill was just a button press. Lifting a single slime, a Hilichurl, or even a Mitachurl all required different energy amounts depending on their weight.
"Hyaah!"
With a powerful swing, he hurled a string of Hilichurls into Cider Lake. After two seconds of thrashing, they vanished into bubbles.
Then Victor Wang began methodically tossing the tougher enemies into the lake. Just like that, the "dirt dragon" was neutralized.
With only a manageable number left, and thinking drowning is too painful—a clean stab is better, he switched to finishing them with his sword out of a sense of mercy.
"Rest in peace."
Out of over a hundred Hilichurls, the ones not drowned lay dead across the battlefield. Finally, their Abyss Mage puppeteers revealed themselves—two Cryo, one Hydro, and one Pyro.
One Cryo Abyss Mage, in an unfamiliar accent, asked:
"You, are you the Darknight Hero?"
"So, what if I am? So, what if I'm not?"
"Hmm?" The leading Cryo Mage turned to confer with the other.
"No, no. The Darknight Hero never hides from us. His hair is fiery red, and he wields a claymore. This guy's weapon and outfit don't match."
The leading Cryo Mage pointed at the pile of Hilichurl corpses with his staff.
"These useless things couldn't even act as bait!"
Victor Wang's fury flared.
"You knew the Hilichurls couldn't beat the Darknight Hero, and you still sent them to die?"
"You don't understand. What a waste it would be not to use such handy tools. As long as they wear him down, they serve their purpose."
"..."
I considered how much pain they'd suffer before killing them... and you, who are supposed to be on their side, treat them like disposable fodder?