A few minutes earlier—
When the massive firebird came crashing toward him, Jia Changjiang genuinely panicked for a split second.
But in that instant, desperation sparked inspiration.
He slammed his foot into the ground and yanked.
With a deafening crack, a slab of stone was torn straight out of the street. Jia Changjiang wrenched it up and held it in front of himself like a shield, letting it take the brunt of the firebird's impact.
Even so, the scorching heatwave blasted past the makeshift barrier, searing his skin. For a moment, Jia Changjiang honestly thought he was about to be roasted alive.
The pain stabbed into his nerves—and instead of killing his fighting spirit, it sent it soaring even higher.
But just as he impatiently forced himself upright, ready to continue the battle—
A shout rang out behind him.
"Who goes there?! Fighting inside Mondstadt?!"
Jia Changjiang could only watch as Diluc, without the slightest hesitation, withdrew the instant that voice appeared.
At the same time, the system's notification chimed in.
"GET BACK HERE! WE'RE NOT DONE YET!!!!"
Jia Changjiang was practically frothing with rage.
"System, take the damn reward back—we haven't finished fighting yet!!!"
And then—
The Knights of Favonius arrived, surrounding him from all sides.
What the knights saw was a man covered in burn marks, gripping a terrifyingly huge battle axe, standing in the middle of a devastated street and roaring in fury.
Some of the newer knights instinctively took a few steps back, visibly shaken by his appearance.
"DAMN IT ALL!!!"
Jia Changjiang raised his axe high over his head and brought it down with every ounce of strength he had left.
BOOM—!
The ground beneath the knights' feet trembled violently.
Cracks spread outward from the impact point like a spiderweb, tearing through the stone pavement.
There was no elemental surge.
No divine power.
Just raw, extreme physical violence.
"…Hah."
After venting a good portion of his anger, Jia Changjiang let out a long breath, forcing himself to calm down.
He pulled the axe free from the ground and rested it lightly at his side.
Looking up at the star-filled sky, the battle-fueled exhilaration drained away—replaced by an overwhelming emptiness.
It felt like—
Throwing a punch with all your strength… only to hit cotton.
Like burning your mouth on hot food.
Like smashing your pinky toe straight into a table leg.
Anger, frustration, nowhere to vent it.
It left Jia Changjiang deeply unsatisfied.
"Ha…"
He sighed heavily. As his body relaxed, the pain he'd ignored in the heat of battle came rushing back all at once.
"Who are you? What happened here?!"
One of the more seasoned Knights of Favonius stepped forward, demanding an explanation.
"The Knights of Favonius really have the worst timing," Jia Changjiang muttered, clenching and unclenching his fist.
"I was in the middle of a fight, and it got interrupted."
Then, loudly and righteously:
"I REPORT THIS! I was attacked by a guy in black clothes wearing a mask! I was forced to fight back! I'm a law-abiding citizen! I demand that Acting Grand Master Jean personally see justice done for me!"
"…A law-abiding citizen?"
The surrounding knights stared at the spiderweb of destruction in the street, expressions filled with doubt.
"Don't joke around! Most of these battle marks were clearly caused by you!"
One of the more hotheaded knights was about to say more—maybe even draw his sword—when a hand pressed down firmly on his shoulder.
"That'll be enough. I'll take it from here."
A familiar voice spoke from behind him.
The knight froze.
"Captain Kaeya!"
The arrival of Kaeya immediately eased the tension.
"Captain, you're here—thank goodness!"
Kaeya stepped past them, smiling as he gestured for the others to handle the aftermath.
"You deal with the scene. As for him—leave that to me."
"Kaeya…?"
Hearing the name, Jia Changjiang turned to look at the man being addressed as Captain.
"…The Lord Who Walks on Ice Across the Sea?"
"This should be our first proper meeting, Mr. Jax," Kaeya said, approaching with an amused smile.
"Didn't expect it to be under circumstances like these."
"You look pretty badly hurt. How about coming with me to the cathedral for treatment?"
The surrounding knights stiffened.
"Captain Kaeya?!"
This guy clearly looked dangerous—why invite him so casually?
"Really?" Jia Changjiang's eyes lit up.
"That'd be a huge help. I honestly don't have any way to heal myself quickly…"
As if he'd expected that reaction, Kaeya chuckled.
"Then come with me. There are… a few things I'd like to discuss as well."
Under Kaeya's arrangements, the disturbance caused by Jia Changjiang and Diluc was quickly smoothed over as much as possible.
Still, some nearby residents had likely witnessed the fight.
In the end, it would probably just become yet another exaggerated tale traded among drunkards in the taverns.
Walking behind Kaeya, Jia Changjiang couldn't help but study him carefully.
Unlike the game, Jia Changjiang no longer believed character rarity or gameplay strength meant anything here.
Once they were far from prying eyes, Kaeya finally spoke.
"Mr. Jax, you really caused quite a stir tonight."
"You're fighting the Acting Grand Master tomorrow, yet you let yourself get this injured beforehand. Is that really wise?"
"Today is today. Tomorrow is tomorrow."
Jia Changjiang shook his head.
"My fight with Jean—I'll take that just as seriously."
"Haha~ Seems you have your own way of thinking," Kaeya said with a wry smile.
"Still, brawling with someone in the city late at night… you've made things difficult for the Knights."
"I'm sorry. Truly."
Jia Changjiang apologized without hesitation—so firmly and sincerely that even Kaeya paused for a moment.
"So… this won't affect tomorrow's challenge, right?" Jia Changjiang asked, looking up.
"Even now, you're still thinking about the duel?" Kaeya laughed helplessly.
"And you apologized that cleanly?"
"Why wouldn't I think about it? And why wouldn't I apologize?"
Jia Changjiang looked genuinely puzzled.
"I was the one attacked, sure—but I still caused trouble."
"I'm a weapon master, not some brainless thug. If I mess up, I apologize. What's strange about that?"
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