"At the very least," Kaeya said calmly,
"judging from his behavior in Mondstadt over the past week, he's an opponent you can't underestimate."
"Even without a Vision, his combat experience is undeniable. He's clearly someone who's fought many battles before."
"The battle axe he uses is an exceptional weapon—and it's very likely he has more combat methods than just that."
Kaeya concluded succinctly:
"Don't take him lightly."
"As for tomorrow's challenge," he continued to Jean,
"I didn't inform anyone else. Thanks to a certain someone, the news didn't spread through Mondstadt."
"After all, whether he truly lacks a Vision… no one can say for certain."
What Kaeya didn't tell Jean was that he'd already arranged for a few people to be on standby.
If—just if—Jia Changjiang tried anything underhanded during the duel, Kaeya wouldn't hesitate to resolve the problem by means that went beyond knightly courtesy.
"I see…" Jean frowned slightly, then nodded.
"Understood. I'll accept the challenge seriously tomorrow."
Only after hearing that did Kaeya leave her office.
The moment he stepped out, he was immediately surrounded.
Amber grabbed his arm.
"So? What did Jean say?!"
"Klee wants to know too!" chirped Klee, her red hat bobbing as she leaned in.
"Is Master Jean really going to duel someone tomorrow?"
"So someone challenged Jean without us noticing?"
Even Lisa had shown up, unusually serious.
"Kaeya, did you find out who that man really is?"
"Hah~ no need to worry," Kaeya replied lightly.
"The Acting Grand Master will accept the challenge properly. But let's keep this between us for now."
"I've cleared out the training grounds for tomorrow. We'll watch together."
"With us there, nothing will happen to Jean."
Worst case, Kaeya thought to himself with absolutely zero knightly shame,
we can always gang up on him.
Jia Changjiang had no idea that his casual challenge had stirred up such a ripple within the Knights of Favonius.
At this very moment, he was simply walking back to his inn after downing apple cider and dandelion wine at a tavern that had just closed.
"Today's a great day for throwing hands~ yo~"
He hummed an off-key tune, strolling along Mondstadt's quiet streets, already planning how he'd fight tomorrow.
Then—
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a sudden flare of fire.
His buzz evaporated instantly.
He bent low.
A flaming greatsword swept cleanly over his head.
"Who's there?!"
Jia Changjiang jumped back several steps—and finally got a clear look at his attacker.
A man clad in black, wearing a mask.
In his hands, a greatsword wreathed in flames.
And at his waist—
A Pyro Vision.
"Hah!"
Instead of fear, excitement surged through Jia Changjiang.
With a flick of his hand, the Aegisong Axe appeared, slamming into the ground and shattering a stone tile.
"You here to fight me? Perfect! I'm always ready!"
"A Pyro Vision, a two-handed sword, black cloak… You're the Darknight Hero people talk about in the taverns, aren't you?!"
He hoisted the axe onto his shoulder, lowering his stance.
"You're strong… right?"
[Target detected. Quest triggered.]
[Defeat or drive back the Dark Side of Dawn — Diluc]
[Quest Reward: Grandmaster's Might (Jax)]
Jia Changjiang froze for a split second.
This reward—
It was even better than Jean's quest.
And that name…
"You're stronger than Jean from the Knights of Favonius!"
His eyes burned as he stared at Diluc.
"Hah! I didn't expect to meet someone like you before fighting Jean!"
"Come on—fight me!!!"
His cheeks were flushed from drink, alcohol coursing through his veins, stripping away any hint of fear.
Diluc simply watched him coldly, tightening his grip on the greatsword.
"Fight! Fight!!!"
Jia Changjiang roared the words he'd been saying most often lately, leaping high into the air, locking onto his opponent.
Both hands gripped the massive axe as it came crashing down.
[Leap Strike: Jump toward a target, dealing damage.]
This was a skill Jia Changjiang had unlocked over the past few days using scattered skill fragments.
It wasn't perfect—unlike in the game, it could be dodged.
But now—
The Weapon Master had a gap-closer.
Even if a Hilichurl stood on a cliff's edge, Jia Changjiang could leap up and cleave its head clean off.
"Hahahahahaha!!! Come on!!! Fight me!!!"
Perhaps because he was drunk, his laughter sounded especially wild.
Diluc retreated instantly the moment Jia Changjiang jumped.
He didn't know where that enormous axe had come from—but the sheer power behind it far exceeded his expectations.
Just setting it down shattered stone.
Its weight was terrifying.
Yet Jia Changjiang swung it effortlessly.
Diluc considered himself physically strong—years of wielding a greatsword had seen to that.
But the man before him…
…was beyond common sense.
A monster.
Until he could gauge the enemy's true strength, retreat was the correct choice.
The axe came down like a falling star.
BOOM!
Mondstadt's street exploded under the impact, stone tiles pulverized to dust.
The blade bit deep into the ground, a testament to its wielder's ferocity and exhilaration.
"You really are dangerous."
After witnessing that display, Diluc's eyes sharpened, like a night owl's.
Flames surged, wrapping around his greatsword—and his body—granting him power.
"State your purpose in coming to Mondstadt."
"Purpose? Sure!"
Jia Changjiang casually yanked the axe free, spun it twice, and rested it on his shoulder again.
"Beat me. And I'll tell you everything."
"Come on!!"
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