"Knights of Favonius, we shall not falter!"
The rallying cry from Jean echoed through the camp, met with a thunderous response from the knights. A visible surge of Anemo energy swept through the camp, coalescing into the form of a massive, protective azure lion standing guard over the knights.
Above the lion, an equally enormous eagle soared in the skies, its piercing gaze sweeping across the battlefield. Even the non-Knights adventurers nearby found themselves momentarily breathless under its imposing presence.
This was the South Wind Lion—the legendary Lionfang Knight, Vannessa, who, along with her allies, had liberated Mondstadt from the old aristocracy. A hero of the City of Freedom and one of its greatest legends.
It was also one of the rare moments when Barbatos' quiet legacy stood front and center, a nod to the Archon who once guided Vannessa in her time of need. Surely, even she couldn't have foreseen the Archon of Freedom's whimsical nature.
Among the camp, clad in green armor, were members of the Adventurers' Guild's elite detachment—true handpicked experts trained under the Guild's banner, a far cry from the everyday adventurers like Bennett earning their living with Guild contracts.
As an international organization, the Adventurers' Guild had mastered the art of localizing its operations, recruiting and nurturing talent within each region. This ensured its foothold and staved off the emergence of competing factions like rogue adventurers' unions or guilds that could challenge its dominance.
For the Guild's upper echelon, however, maintaining a core elite force loyal only to them was paramount. Otherwise, there was no guarantee that locally trained personnel wouldn't end up as moles for rival powers.
Gu Sanqiu had once been blindsided by exactly this sort of internal betrayal. Though that mess was partially his own doing, stemming from an over-reliance on hired help.
Using a hefty sum, he had commissioned a top-tier Adventurers' Guild team to conduct a long-term investigation. In his zeal, he overlooked several administrative loopholes, creating opportunities for bad actors to exploit.
In the context of Mondstadt's current crisis, the Guild's leadership had played their hand masterfully.
Deploying their elite detachment to assist the city carried little risk. They wouldn't be assigned the most perilous tasks and could secure goodwill from Mondstadt's ruling authority—a win-win strategy.
Importantly, this alliance was with the righteous and fair Knights of Favonius. If Mondstadt were still under the rule of the old aristocracy, the Guild's leadership wouldn't have come within miles of the city.
Back then, they'd have been forced to comply with conscription demands, sacrificing their forces for an unjust cause. Or worse, their resources could have been seized outright.
"What is that? Why have I never seen it before?"
A younger adventurer stared in awe at the lion and eagle dominating the skies.
"Why haven't I ever seen the Knights of Favonius like this? When we drink with them, they seem so... approachable."
"Hah, youth. Still green."
An older adventurer shook his head with a sigh, eyes fixed on the twin beasts. "That's the manifestation of the Four Winds' will combined with the Knights' united strength. It's no laughing matter."
"The Eye of the Eagle, the Fang of the Lion, the Wrath of the Dragon, and the Spirit of the Wolf."
"Grand Master Varka once displayed a formation like this outside Mondstadt to deter potential threats before his expedition. And now, Acting Grand Master Jean has proven capable of the same. It means one thing."
The veteran's gaze grew solemn. "Jean—no, Grand Master Jean—has truly earned the unwavering trust of every member of the Knights of Favonius."
A rumbling tremor signaled the arrival of the enemy horde. Grotesque beasts charged toward the camp, but the prepared Knights raised their weapons without a trace of panic.
"Advance!"
The azure lion roared forward, scattering the monsters' ranks with a single, devastating charge.
Spears thrust forward, and the shattered horde was overwhelmed by the Knights' formation. Blood and viscera stained their armor, but the frontline held firm.
Though the lion's brilliance dimmed after the strike, the scene left the Guild adventurers in quiet awe.
If the Knights always displayed this level of strength, Mondstadt's reputation as a "soft target" in rogue circles would vanish overnight.
Despite the continuous waves of monsters, the camp remained unbreached. With the adventurers' assistance and strategic defenses, not a single casualty had been reported.
However, the unrelenting nature of the creatures, coupled with their fearlessness, left many uneasy. Even resting Knights couldn't help but glance upward.
The eagle still circled overhead, vigilant and unyielding. Unlike the lion, it hadn't yet unleashed its might.
Jean, stationed at the command post, was keenly aware of the situation. Concern clouded her thoughts.
Her comrades inside the valley had yet to return. Knowing their resolve, Jean had no doubt they would rejoin the battle despite their injuries.
But their absence, combined with the eagle's inaction, left her deeply unsettled.
What was happening in the valley?
Or worse—was there an enemy so formidable that even the eagle was forced to remain on guard?
---
Boom!
Within Dragonspine Valley, the battle between Gu Sanqiu and the dual-blade-wielding Abyss Apostle had reached a fever pitch.
Even with the protection of his Geo shield, Gu Sanqiu wasn't unscathed—his chest bore a deep, frightening gash.
Earlier, he had seized an opening to channel Geo energy into a devastating strike aimed at the Apostle's chest. But his opponent's elemental armor absorbed most of the damage.
Before Gu Sanqiu could retreat, the Apostle dispelled their armor and retaliated with two swift slashes—one fast, one slow. Though only one connected, it was executed with terrifying precision.
For the first time, Gu Sanqiu realized that Abyssal elemental shields could be toggled at will—a dangerous revelation that cost him dearly.
Were it not for his Delusion mitigating part of the flames, the Apostle's counter would've severely impacted his ability to continue fighting.
Faced with an opponent boasting high speed, overwhelming power, and unparalleled combat experience, Gu Sanqiu had no chance to unleash his strongest single-target technique, Mountain-Breaking Exorcist Staff.
The Apostle also held a decisive advantage in the hostile environment. While Gu Sanqiu burned his energy to resist the area's corrosive forces, the Apostle seemed completely immune, thriving in this cursed terrain.
"Klee, behave and don't make trouble for Sanqiu. Get to safety first."
Albedo pulled the others into his [Golden Field] for protection, holding Klee back as she tried to rush to Gu Sanqiu's aid.
He glanced at the writhing crimson mass in the sky, then at the fierce duel below, his brow furrowing.
If they combined their efforts, taking down the Apostle wouldn't take long. But for their comrades' sake, splitting up was necessary.
And yet, the shadowy presence manipulating events had clearly seized upon this moment of division, working to complete a laborious and dangerous scheme.