[System Notification]: New training target added — Amber.
Target Name: Amber
Level: Lv.5
Element Mastery: Pyro
Skills: Baron Bunny Lv.1, Fiery Rain Lv.1
Jiang Yan examined the system interface.
Amber had helped Lumine take down three wooden-shield hilichurls on the outer platform, then defeated another three on her own inside the temple—jumping two levels in one go.
Lumine was the same. She had already reached Lv.4.
With Fischl as precedent, Jiang Yan knew that early levels rose quickly. There was nothing surprising about it.
"Here."
Lumine pulled a white handkerchief embroidered with golden flowers from her pocket and offered it to Amber.
"Shouldn't you be the one using it?"
Amber laughed.
She casually wiped the sweat off her face with her sleeve instead.
Between fighting the slime hilichurl and dealing with the archer hilichurls, Lumine herself looked rather disheveled too.
"I'm fine."
Lumine shook her head.
Her gaze shifted toward the other exit of the hall, her brows knitting slightly.
There was only a small platform there—and beyond it, a sheer cliff. No visible path forward.
But a Pyro totem stood quietly at the edge.
"As expected," Amber said immediately, catching on.
"Since this was once a temple, there has to be a way up."
She drew her bow.
A charged Pyro arrow shot straight into the elemental totem.
The totem ignited.
A powerful updraft suddenly surged from below the cliff.
The ground beneath their feet trembled, nearly knocking them off balance.
"So it's a mechanism,"
Lumine realized.
"Right! Let's fly up!"
Amber opened her Wind Glider and leapt into the air.
"We're going too."
Jiang Yan followed, letting the strong wind lift him effortlessly to the highest chamber of the temple.
"That's the condensation point of the dragon's power!"
"According to Lisa, Stormterror was using that to draw on the temple's remaining energy."
Amber pointed toward a dark green stone in the center of the hall, wrapped in swirling Anemo.
She raised her bow again.
Using the reaction between Pyro and Anemo, she shattered the stone in one clean shot.
Only then did she let out a long breath.
"That should do it. The Temple of the Eagle of the West is finally cleared."
"So tiring…"
"But at least we've helped ease Jean's burden a little."
She said cheerfully.
It was obvious—the moment the stone was destroyed, the dragon's lingering power within the temple began to dissipate rapidly.
The three of them retraced their steps and exited the ruins.
"Before, our defensive strength was at least enough to keep the city safe," Amber said as they walked.
"Simply put, that was because Jean was there."
"But now Stormterror has directly attacked the city itself…"
"The wind has changed. So our strategies have to change with it."
"That sounds… kind of philosophical,"
Lumine said uncertainly.
Amber's face reddened.
"It's something Lisa likes to say."
"If you don't understand something, just ask Lisa later."
She waved her hands quickly.
"Not that I don't know things! It's just—Lisa's the librarian. Her knowledge base is naturally more complete than a reconnaissance knight's."
"Is that so…"
Lumine murmured, though her eyes drifted sideways toward the boy walking beside her.
Honestly… this one seems to know more than enough already. No need to ask Lisa at all.
Back at the temple entrance, they could see Mondstadt in the distance.
Dark clouds still churned above the city, storms raging unabated.
The problem clearly wasn't solved yet.
"Kaeya and Lisa aren't finished?"
Jiang Yan inferred the situation at a glance.
"The Temple of the Wolf of the North and the Temple of the Lion of the South are much farther away than this one,"
Amber replied matter-of-factly.
"And they're more dangerous too. Even Kaeya and Lisa can't clear them that fast."
Truth be told, without Jiang Yan and Lumine, she wouldn't have finished this one so quickly either.
"Should we go help them?"
Lumine asked proactively.
In truth, she was very interested in the enemies inside those two temples.
More hilichurls… more slimes…
More chances to grow stronger.
Jiang Yan looked at her eager expression and felt a little speechless.
Why does this girl feel like a battle maniac in the making…?
Just as he was about to speak—
A figure running out from the bridge near Mondstadt's city gate caught his attention.
At this time, civilians were all hiding indoors. The only ones active in the city should've been the Knights of Favonius.
Anyone else was suspicious.
The man wore a cold expression.
A black-and-gold formal coat over a white shirt, crimson hair tied into a ponytail behind his head, red eyes sharp and piercing.
Black gloves, black trousers, tall boots.
Handsome. Elegant.
Dangerously so.
"Oh?"
He noticed the three by the temple gate as well, a hint of amusement curving his lips.
"Boss Jiang Yan, since when did you start moving around with little girls from the Knights?"
Amber clenched her fists, clearly displeased.
Little Paimon instantly took up arms.
Setting aside the friendship she'd just built with Amber—
Amber was also the major sponsor who was going to treat her to a feast.
Pointing her stubby finger at the man, Paimon spoke with exaggerated authority:
"Hey! Redhead! I'm talking to you!"
"What do you mean 'little girl'?! Amber's amazing! Don't you dare underestimate her!"
"Oh?"
The man smiled faintly.
Paimon was about to fly forward to argue—
But Jiang Yan reached out and stopped her.
Then he looked at the newcomer and said calmly,
"Out at a time like this… where are you headed, Diluc?"
"With your intelligence, Boss Jiang Yan, you should already know."
Diluc waved casually.
"I'll be going on ahead."
With that, he walked straight past them.
Jiang Yan watched his retreating figure, then turned his head to look at the adorable Outrider beside him.
He fell into deep thought.
Question.
If I already have Amber…
Do I still need to train Diluc?
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