Angel's Share.
Kaeya spat a mouthful of strong liquor straight onto the table.
"Damn it!"
Those Hilichurls had actually raised their middle fingers at him.
Humiliation.
Utter, lifelong humiliation.
Kaeya shot a glance at the still-silent Diluc.
It wasn't just him—
Even his adoptive brother was barely suppressing his rage.
But against an enemy this terrifying…
How were they supposed to win?
"…Hah."
In the end, all the anger and unwillingness could only turn into a helpless sigh.
Knights of Favonius Headquarters, Mondstadt.
When Jean personally confirmed that the city guards had actually fallen asleep—
Her vision went black, and she nearly fainted on the spot.
This future revelation had been broadcast to all of Teyvat.
With discipline like this, how was she supposed to explain anything to Grand Master Varka?
Lisa, Amber, Lumine, and Paimon all watched Jean nervously as her chest rose and fell sharply.
They were afraid she'd pass out from sheer shock.
Amber reacted quickly, stepping forward to support Jean as she wavered.
"Acting Grand Master, this isn't your fault."
"That knight said it himself—they believed you would definitely handle the situation, so they relaxed."
Amber slowly guided Jean to the sofa.
Lumine immediately poured her a glass of water and placed it in front of her.
"Acting Grand Master Jean, Amber's right."
"This only proves how reliable you are in everyone's eyes."
"No one could've predicted that the Fifth Descender's methods would be this ruthless."
Lumine smiled gently as she sat down as well.
"Yeah!"
Paimon crossed her arms, puffing out her cheeks angrily.
"That Fifth Descender is way too much!"
"Clearly just bullying the weak because he's strong!"
"Paimon."
Lumine quickly shot her a look.
Some things were better left unsaid.
Lisa could only shake her head with a bitter smile.
So trusting Jean meant they could neglect their duties at a critical moment?
So because Jean worked herself to exhaustion, others were allowed to slack off?
This wasn't a matter of diligence versus laziness.
Against the Fifth Descender, the gap in strength was simply too vast.
No amount of vigilance could make up for it.
Just like the light-screen showed—
The Hilichurls smashed through Mondstadt's gates, charged straight toward the Knights' headquarters, and fired Pyro arrows directly into the office.
They weren't fighting for victory.
They were demonstrating power.
Demonstrating that the Fifth Descender could control Mondstadt at will—
That no one could stop him.
Fortunately, no one mocked Mondstadt for being set ablaze.
Anyone with sense could see how terrifying those Hilichurls were.
No one would casually ridicule them like certain unhinged Fatui Harbingers.
After all—
This wasn't just Mondstadt's problem.
[Childe]: "That red-haired man's strike wasn't weak. And yet it couldn't even faze the Hilichurl Brute?"
[Arlecchino]: "You sound genuinely surprised."
[Rosalyne]: "These Hilichurls appearing in Teyvat is already absurd."
[Rosalyne]: "Do we need gods just to deal with Hilichurls now?"
[Yelan]: "How to handle them should be our priority."
[Yelan]: "Once the Fifth Descender finishes with Mondstadt, the next target will be one of us."
[Yae Miko]: "The key lies with the Fifth Descender."
[Yae Miko]: "Control him—and everything else solves itself."
[Kujou Sara]: "The Guuji speaks wisely."
[Jean]: "But the Fifth Descender has been hiding. He hasn't shown himself at all."
[Ningguang]: "Jean, I know you're anxious—but don't rush."
[Ningguang]: "Someone like him will eventually surface."
[Keqing]: "But no one knows his true strength."
[Keqing]: "If he can make Hilichurls this terrifying…"
[Sangonomiya Kokomi]: "Then he himself may be even stronger."
[Alice]: "Not necessarily~"
[Alice]: "Some people have terrifying power only in creation."
[Alice]: "Lacking combat experience themselves isn't unusual."
[Jean]: "Miss Alice!"
[Alice]: "Jean, don't worry—I'm already on my way back to Mondstadt."
[Alice]: "If that Fifth Descender really dares control Hilichurls to attack Mondstadt—"
[Alice]: "I'll blow his Hilichurls to pieces!"
The deepest depths of the Abyss.
A cold, beautiful woman with golden hair and emerald eyes stopped mid-search.
Ever since Rhinedottir discovered a dead god's remains deep within the Abyss—
She had often wandered there, hoping to uncover a method to create power comparable to the Primordial One.
"…Is Alice talking about me?"
Rhinedottir couldn't help but laugh.
"Who says those obsessed with creation lack combat experience?"
"Honestly…"
After muttering a complaint about Alice's nonsense, Rhinedottir fell into deep thought.
She had been closely observing the mutated Hilichurls.
The post-mortem erosion ability—
Was identical to Abyssal corruption.
Yet it wasn't Abyssal power.
The arrival of a Descender signified that new power systems were flowing into Teyvat.
Just like these mutated Hilichurls.
From their behavior, one thing was clear—
Their consciousness was under collective control by the Fifth Descender.
Rhinedottir could create many beings of terrifying destructive power—
But even she couldn't control her creations like puppets on strings.
If she could…
Then the black beast tide that destroyed Khaenri'ah would never have spiraled out of control.
Interest sparked in her eyes.
"The Fifth Descender…"
"Perhaps I should return to Teyvat."
"And meet this mysterious Fifth Descender in person."
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