"Let me state my name one more time!"
Jia Changjiang's gaze burned with fervor as he looked at Jean standing on the opposite side of the training ground.
"Jia Changjiang—a Weapon Master. My arrival in Mondstadt may have been nothing more than coincidence… but my purpose is clear. I seek battle with the strong."
"I have no Vision, and I cannot see the traces left by the elements. What I possess is only the weapon in my hands—and an unwavering will that grows stronger for the sake of victory."
He planted the axe into the ground and spoke solemnly to Jean.
"These past few days, I've heard many stories about you in the taverns. So I will use every method I can think of to defeat you. That is my respect for you."
Jia Changjiang bent his knees slightly, his right foot stepping half a pace back as he hefted the axe onto his shoulder, assuming a battle stance.
"I respect your will. I respect your convictions. So—let us fight!"
After hearing his words, Jean raised her sword before her chest and performed a formal knight's salute, announcing her name in return.
"Jean Gunnhildr."
If at the beginning, Jean had felt troubled and hesitant about this duel—
Now, she had fully committed herself to the battle about to unfold.
"Then I'll act as the referee. You don't mind, do you?"
Kaeya stepped between them, producing a single Mora.
"The rules are simple. When the Mora hits the ground, the duel begins. How does that sound?"
"No objections," Jia Changjiang replied with a nod.
Jean likewise accepted the proposal.
"Then—"
With a flick of his fingers, Kaeya sent the Mora spinning high into the air. Using that moment, he swiftly withdrew from the training ground.
Jean and Jia Changjiang fixed their gazes on each other, as if the glittering coin overhead no longer existed.
Clink.
The Mora struck the ground, producing a crisp sound.
Both combatants moved at the same instant.
Wind gathered around Jean's one-handed sword, a subtle storm coalescing in a heartbeat before roaring toward Jia Changjiang.
At the very moment the Mora landed, Jia Changjiang hurled his massive axe straight at Jean with all his might—then kicked off the ground himself, charging after it.
The surging windstorm caught the spinning axe midair.
But Jia Changjiang had already closed the distance.
The wind deflected the axe back—only for Jia Changjiang to leap and catch it cleanly in midair.
"A Wind Vision! Ha! Being able to command invisible wind—now that's impressive!"
He tightened his grip and rushed Jean again.
"Take this!"
Twisting his body, Jia Changjiang grasped the lower end of the axe handle and unleashed a powerful horizontal cleave. The blade tore through the air, cutting straight toward Jean.
Clang!
A clear, ringing impact echoed across the training ground.
Jean's West Wind swordsmanship—honed through years of rigorous training—allowed her to firmly parry the blow. Compared to Diluc's flames, the invisible nature of Anemo made Jean's attacks far harder for Jia Changjiang to guard against.
He could only rely on instinct to evade the wind-infused strikes she unleashed.
Jean remained calm, continuously probing forward, attempting to close the distance and neutralize the advantage of his long-handled weapon. She had clearly realized that without a Vision, Jia Changjiang could not perceive the invisible movements of the wind.
That was her edge.
For a moment, Jia Changjiang was pushed slightly on the defensive.
"Go, Acting Grand Master Jean!"
From outside the field, Klee cheered loudly, held in Amber's arms.
Meanwhile, Jia Changjiang focused intently on adapting to Jean's rhythm.
A cutting gust grazed his cheek, leaving a shallow wound—but he paid it no mind.
Because he had already figured out how to deal with the invisible wind.
And more importantly—
He had no intention of defeating Jean with the axe.
After forcing some distance between them again, Jia Changjiang hurled the axe once more toward Jean.
A simple throw was still ineffective—but—
This time, when the axe flew past him, Jia Changjiang didn't chase it.
Instead, he brushed past the spinning weapon and charged straight toward Jean himself.
Caught off guard by his sudden abandonment of the axe, Jean's reaction lagged for a fraction of a second.
In that instant, Jia Changjiang's excited grin appeared right in front of her.
Jean instinctively tried to push him away with wind—but just as the Anemo began to stir—
Jia Changjiang opened his hand.
Crimson powder scattered into the air, faint sparks of Pyro flickering within it.
When Jean's wind swept through the cloud—
Fwoom!
The powder ignited instantly, tracing the flow of the wind in blazing clarity.
It was ground-up Flaming Flower pistils—materials Jia Changjiang had gathered in the wild, originally intending to make thrown weapons.
Now, they revealed the invisible.
"I can see it now!"
With the wind's trajectory laid bare, Jia Changjiang surged forward, breaking through the weakest point of the airflow and seizing Jean's sword wrist.
"Got you, Acting Grand Master Jean."
A triumphant smile spread across his face as he yanked hard, disrupting her balance and reaching to disarm her.
"?!"
But Jean's sword was not so easily taken.
Having trained since childhood, her adaptability was exceptional.
Using Jia Changjiang's own pull, she stepped closer instead, smoothly transferring the sword from her right hand to her left and forcing him back.
Jia Changjiang retreated, clicking his tongue in mild disappointment.
"Even without your Vision, your combat experience is solid," he praised sincerely.
"You flatter me," Jean replied, her eyes never leaving him.
"Compared to you, Mr. Jacks… my swordsmanship still has much room to improve."
She knew it clearly.
Just now, she had come perilously close to defeat.
If she hadn't switched hands in that split second, her sword would already be gone.
"Sorry about this, Jean," Jia Changjiang said calmly.
"I'm going to change my approach now."
From seemingly nowhere, he produced two small daggers, gripping them in reverse and forward holds.
"Your wind…"
He smiled.
"I'm getting used to it."
Then his voice rang out, filled with confidence and excitement.
"A Weapon Master doesn't only know how to use an axe."
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