Mondstadt, Cat's Tail Tavern
Jesse sat on a wooden chair in the tavern with his legs crossed, holding a cup of Apple brew in his hand. The comical smiling face on his mask looked particularly punchable in the sunlight.
"After playing for so long, it's time for us to go to Inazuma."
He swirled his wine glass, his tone as relaxed as if he were going to visit the tavern next door.
"Yes, and while we're at it, let's see how things are going in Liyue."
Elliot stood with his arms crossed, water element patterns flowing across his blue cloak, looking profound.
"Good idea. We can also see what Zhongli is doing with the rat talisman."
Zane carried his thunder hammer, with electric sparks crackling around its head.
"That old man was so mysterious last time; he must be up to something big."
"Hey, hey! Don't cause any more trouble!"
Paimon stomped her feet in the air, anxious.
"Last time you said 'absolutely not,' and the next day there was a Hilichurl statue that could breathe fire at the gates of Mondstadt!"
"Alright, then forget it."
"Don't worry, absolutely not! Zane, you should be more confident too."
Matt gave a simple-minded thumbs-up, only to 'crack' and break the tavern chair he was sitting on.
Lumine sighed, stood up from her seat, and patted the mechanical werewolf beside her: "Let's go, we're heading to Liyue."
The Wolf King bowed slightly, its mechanical voice gentle and respectful: "As you command, Honorary Knight."
After leaving Mondstadt City, the Wolf King confirmed there was no one around, and its body quickly unfolded.
"Form conversion—'Barbatos Imperial Throne Fenrir Type · Full Armament Mode' activated."
Metal armor reassembled, pale blue energy streams jetted from its joints, and a twenty-meter-tall giant mecha stood on the plain, its rear thrusters glowing with 熾 white light.
Lumine skillfully held Paimon and leaped into the cockpit.
"Wait! Why can she sit in the cockpit, but we have to hang outside?!"
Elliot protested.
"Because last time you pressed random buttons and almost drove the Wolf King into the sea."
Zane said coldly.
"That was clearly a tactical retreat!"
"Less talk, hold on tight!"
Jesse grabbed onto an armor protrusion on the Wolf King's shoulder, and the quartet clung to the mecha like ornaments.
"Propulsion system activated, target—Liyue Harbor."
"Boom—!"
Blazing flames erupted from the Wolf King's feet, instantly breaking the sound barrier and soaring into the sky.
"Ahhhhhh—!"
Paimon's screams were torn apart by the gale.
Minutes later, the Wolf King hovered over Liyue Harbor, its electronic eyes scanning the buildings below.
"High energy reaction detected—Jade Chamber."
The mecha slowly descended onto the platform of the floating palace, its airflow stirring a gentle breeze.
Ningguang was already waiting at the entrance, a meaningful smile on her lips.
"Welcome, Honorary Knights, to the Jade Chamber. Is there something I can help you with?"
Her tone was calm, but her eyes clearly held a certain helpless 'here we go again' expression.
After all, the news from Mondstadt had spread throughout Teyvat—four Hilichurl Honorary Knights, with a twenty-meter-tall combat mecha, had forcefully blasted a terrifying existence comparable to a God into dust.
Even more preposterously, intelligence agencies from various nations later discovered that besides Mondstadt, a similar mecha had suddenly activated in each of the other three nations and flown to Mondstadt to participate in the battle... Now, the high-ranking officials of Teyvat were all pondering one question—how many trump cards did these four troublemakers still have?
"We're going to Inazuma, just letting you know."
Jesse waved his hand, his tone as casual as if reporting a weekend picnic.
Ningguang's mouth twitched slightly, seemingly trying to suppress a smile: "Do you need me to prepare a ship?"
"No need. With the Wolf King, getting there will be a piece of cake."
Zane said confidently.
"Alright then, farewell, everyone."
Ningguang nodded elegantly, but as she turned, Jesse distinctly saw her shoulders tremble slightly—she was definitely holding back laughter!
"I always feel like she's plotting something..."
Elliot mumbled.
"Doesn't matter, we're invincible anyway."
Matt patted his chest.
The Wolf King restarted its thrusters, and its body slowly ascended.
"Route set—Inazuma, Ritou. Estimated travel time: 15 minutes."
"Wait, 15 minutes?!"
Paimon was shocked.
"Doesn't it take several days to sail from Liyue to Inazuma?!"
"Because we're flying there."
Lumine calmly fastened her seatbelt.
"Boom—!"
The Wolf King transformed into a streak of light, streaking across the sky, heading straight for Inazuma.
"Warning, thunderstorm detected, suspected to be the Raiden Shogun's clearance."
The Wolf King's electronic voice sounded.
"The Raiden Shogun's 'eternity' barrier?"
Lumine frowned.
"Mere lightning, watch me break it!"
Elliot's chunibyo flared up, raising his scythe.
"Power of Water Spirit, release—!"
"Don't mess around!"
Zane hit him on the head with his hammer.
"Suggested plan: Overclocked ascend."
The Wolf King analyzed calmly.
"This unit's armor can withstand the thunderstorm's impact, but external mounted personnel are advised to enter the cockpit."
"You should have said so earlier!"
Jesse quickly scrambled towards the hatch.
However, before they could all squeeze in, the Wolf King had already plunged into the thunderstorm area.
"Rumble—!"
Purple lightning struck the mecha, sparks flying everywhere.
"Ahhhhh—!"
the quartet's hair stood on end from the electricity, and smoke rose from their bodies.
Paimon shivered in Lumine's arms: "I knew this would happen..."
The Wolf King continued to fly calmly: "Lightning resistance test complete, damage rate: 0.3%."
"You call this 'low damage rate'?!"
Elliot roared.
"This unit's standard definition: anything below 5% is considered 'minor scratches'."
Everyone: "..."
Finally, the Wolf King broke through the thunderclouds, and Inazuma's Ritou Port was close at hand.
"Stealth mode activated, energy consumption stable."
The Wolf King's mechanical voice sounded in the communication channel, extremely low.
Lumine sat in the cockpit, looking at the heavily guarded Ritou Port below through the holographic screen—the Shogunate Army's banners flapped in the wind, samurai patrolled with spears, and in the distance, several Fatui ships were docked at the pier, masked soldiers carrying suspicious cargo.
"Zane, what's wrong?"
Lumine asked with a frown.
Zane's voice came through the communicator in Lumine's ear, unusually serious: "Because of the Sakoku Decree, Inazuma is extremely closed off to outside information. They don't know about our existence, and..."
He paused.
"Inazuma's internal situation is very corrupt right now, and the Fatui are also causing trouble here. There are probably their people in the Tenryou Commission and the Kanjou Commission. It's better to be cautious."
Lumine was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Understood."
The Wolf King slowly lowered its altitude, finally hovering over a secluded alley.
The hatch slid open silently. Lumine picked up Paimon and lightly leaped down, landing on the damp stone path.
"We can't directly help you this time."
Zane's voice came from the invisible Wolf King, with an unusual hint of apology.
"Not conflicting with other nations is our code of conduct, but Inazuma's problem... it's too deeply involved."
Paimon floated in the air, nervously rubbing her hands: "Then, then are you leaving?"
"No."
Jesse's voice cut in, with a sly smile.
"We'll be watching from the 'shadows'."
"For example—"
Elliot suddenly lowered his voice, imitating the tone of a conspirator.
"When a certain blonde Traveler is being chased through the streets by the Shogunate Army, a brick 'just happens' to knock out a pursuer..."
"Or a certain Fatui warehouse 'accidentally' catches fire."
Zane added.
"Or even—"
Matt chuckled twice, but didn't finish, cut off by a grunt as Zane hit him with a hammer.
"If you have no ideas, don't talk nonsense."
"Anyway, Lumine, go for it. Even if you offend the Electro Archon, we'll hammer the Electro Archon to death!"
Lumine's lips curved slightly: "...Thank you."
"Good luck."
Zane said finally, then the communication channel closed, and the Wolf King's thrusters emitted a faint hum, disappearing completely into the sky.