Faced with Jia Changjiang's blatant provocation, Diluc tightened his grip on the greatsword.
His Pyro Vision flared, fire-elemental energy surging and wrapping itself around both his blade and his body, amplifying his strength.
"So," Diluc said coldly,
"you have no intention of speaking honestly."
He lowered his stance. The flames on his greatsword suddenly burned fiercer.
"Then don't blame me."
With a sharp burst of speed, Diluc lunged forward. His greatsword swept upward in a rising slash, cutting straight toward Jia Changjiang's torso.
"Head-on clash?"
Jia Changjiang's face lit up with exhilaration. He raised his battle axe and met the strike head-on.
"I LOVE IT!!!!"
BOOM!!!!
Greatsword and axe collided, sparks exploding outward—only to be swallowed immediately by the roaring flames clinging to Diluc's blade.
The stone tiles beneath their feet cracked and shattered under the pressure of their struggle, breaking apart with sharp, grinding sounds.
In the clash of strength, Diluc's heart skipped.
This man—
He wasn't using a Vision at all.
He was matching Diluc purely with physical power.
And even now… he was smiling.
Like a madman.
As Diluc pushed harder, the flames around him grew even more violent. Fire crept along the greatsword and leapt onto the axe's blade, the heat nearly scorching Jia Changjiang's hands.
"Hot! Hot—HOT!"
Jia Changjiang pulled back just in time, shaking his hands as Diluc's sword swept past his side, barely missing him.
"Hah—!"
Jia Changjiang retreated a few steps, blowing on his palms.
"That's scorching hot… figures for a Pyro Vision."
"Being able to control elemental power like that—man, it's convenient."
Instead of frustration, the fire in Jia Changjiang's chest only burned brighter.
"But that just makes beating you even more worthwhile!!"
Eyes blazing, he stared at Diluc.
"Jia Changjiang. That's my name."
"As I said—if you beat me, I'll answer anything you want."
"But I'll also give everything I have to defeat you—to win for myself!"
He spoke each word clearly, forcefully.
"You don't want to give your name? Fine. I don't care!"
"We're fighting right now!"
"So show me your resolve!!"
"If you fight for yourself—then win for yourself!"
"If you fight for justice—then show me your justice!"
"And if you fight for your beliefs—"
"Then let me see which burns hotter!"
"Your convictions… or your Vision!!"
He threw his head back and laughed wildly.
"Don't hold back! Let's fight with everything we've got!!"
"COME ON!!!"
To Diluc's astonishment, Jia Changjiang suddenly pulled out a handful of gleaming Mora and flung them straight at him.
Diluc frowned, thinking the man had finally lost his mind—
Until the Mora struck his greatsword.
BOOM!
Violent explosions erupted.
Geo-elemental detonations reacted fiercely with the flames on Diluc's blade, momentarily engulfing the battlefield in smoke and fire.
His vision blurred.
And then—
A razor-sharp axe blade tore through the haze, cleaving downward toward him.
Diluc barely managed to raise his greatsword horizontally in time to block.
CRASH!
The impact sent a violent shock through his arms, leaving his hands numb.
But Jia Changjiang didn't stop.
The enormous axe came down again and again, each strike carrying a weight that no normal person should have been able to wield—let alone swing freely.
Diluc realized something chilling.
Jia Changjiang wasn't fighting with elemental power.
He was fighting with himself.
If not for the fact that Jia Changjiang looked nothing like a Hilichurl, Diluc might have thought he was facing some kind of Mitachurl berserker.
Still, after enduring the storm of blows, Diluc gradually adapted.
He began to read Jia Changjiang's rhythm.
And finally—
He found an opening.
The raging Pyro energy suddenly snapped into order, gathering tightly along Diluc's greatsword like soldiers receiving a command.
"Hereby—judgment is passed."
He swung.
All his power poured forth.
The unleashed Pyro energy took the shape of a massive night owl, screaming through the air toward Jia Changjiang.
The moment it made contact—
BOOOOOOM!!!
A devastating explosion erupted, fire roaring through the street.
Under Diluc's precise control, the flames avoided the surrounding buildings—but the road itself was scorched.
Diluc exhaled deeply.
Then—
"Who goes there?!"
The commotion had finally drawn the attention of the Knights of Favonius.
Hearing their voices, Diluc snapped back to reality.
"So much trouble…"
Annoyance flickered across his face.
With the Knights arriving, he had no choice but to withdraw.
Careful as he always was, he had let himself be provoked.
He didn't even look back to check Jia Changjiang's condition, turning instead and vanishing back toward his tavern.
Inside the tavern, Diluc removed his mask and sheathed his greatsword.
Then he clenched his fist.
He had lost his composure.
For a brief moment during that fight… he had truly cast aside everything else and fought wholeheartedly.
Was it because of what Jia Changjiang said?
Those words spoken in the midst of battle?
Diluc frowned deeply.
"Jia Changjiang…"
"So that was his real name."
Recalling the clash, his hand unconsciously rested on the hilt of his greatsword.
That feeling during the fight—
For a fleeting instant…
It reminded him of his younger days.
The tavern fell into silence.
[Quest Completed!]
[Distributing reward… Grandmaster's Might!]
[Grandmaster's Might (Jax): Your attacks will carry a small amount of your weapon's innate attribute damage. Your defensive capabilities are significantly increased.]
"THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"
Jia Changjiang's furious shout echoed from the wrecked street.
"TAKE THAT REWARD BACK AND LET ME FINISH THE FIGHT!!!!"
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
https://patreon.com/RogerTL