System: "All popularity points invested?"
Mu Yang: "Yes, full send."
As the popularity points were poured in, Mu Yang could feel his power surging exponentially.
Eula whispered to Amber, "Do you feel it? That guy's aura… it's slowly getting stronger."
Amber nodded in agreement.
Rosaria observed the changes in Mu Yang's aura, silently musing:
"A sudden burst of power right before battle… Is this a Liyue technique?"
"No wonder he's so calm in the face of such danger—he's got a trump card."
"But… can he really stop an entire army of Hilichurls?"
Rosaria wasn't about to bet everything on Mu Yang alone. After a brief rest, she planned to join the fight as well.
The Hilichurls seemed to sense the growing pressure emanating from Mu Yang. Their war drums quickened in tempo, and the Frostarm Lawachurls accelerated their advance.
One of them crouched low before leaping, attempting to vault straight over Mu Yang on the bridge and dive straight into the Knights of Favonius' ranks—like a crow swooping down on its prey.
Mu Yang tapped the tip of his sword against the bridge's surface. The Cryo Vision at his waist flickered, and ice erupted from beneath his feet, rapidly spreading across the bridge and forcing the Hilichurls back to the bridgehead. Those too slow were frozen solid into ice sculptures.
Then, Mu Yang lightly stepped off the ground with his right foot, activating his lightfoot technique—Soaring Cloud. In two steps, he ascended into the air, intercepting the Frostarm Lawachurl mid-leap.
This was a pure contest of strength.
The Frostarm Lawachurl's massive frame dwarfed Mu Yang's by several times, yet it was as if it had slammed into an impenetrable wall—unable to advance even an inch.
Mu Yang stopped it with a single hand.
Then, with a spinning kick, he sent it flying back the way it came.
The Frostarm Lawachurl's enormous body crashed into the ground, skidding from momentum and plowing through the Hilichurl ranks. Nearly a third of their forces were wiped out in an instant.
Still mid-air, Mu Yang unsheathed his Skyrider Sword and unleashed a horizontal sword beam toward the bridgehead of Mondstadt's bridge, carving a clear boundary line.
He landed back on the bridge, sword resting behind him.
At the city gate, everyone stood dumbfounded, unable to believe what they had just witnessed.
A single man, with a single sword, had held back an entire army.
He had intercepted a Lawachurl several times his size with one hand—then kicked it away like it was nothing.
That sword mark at the bridgehead was the most direct warning:
"Cross this line—and you die."
Just what level of power was this?
Eula recalled her confrontation with Mu Yang that day and shivered involuntarily.
This man's strength truly is like the Abyss—bottomless.
Mu Yang's sword beam warning was mostly for show, though. The mind-controlled Hilichurls didn't understand its meaning.
After regrouping, they launched another assault—this time with not just war drums but also battle horns. Shouting incomprehensible war cries, they charged toward Mu Yang.
Mu Yang moved.
"Azure Dragon's Lunge."
Sword in hand, he plunged into the enemy ranks—his figure instantly swallowed by the horde.
Fischl, seeing this, shouted:
"Oz, help him!"
"At once, my lady!"
Just as Oz was about to dive in, a deafening dragon's roar shook the heavens—
An ice dragon burst forth from the swarm of monsters.
Its breath annihilated most of the Hilichurls before it surged toward the remaining Frostarm Lawachurl.
The collision wiped out another Lawachurl.
Meanwhile, atop the city walls, a fiery butterfly fluttered its wings, observing the battlefield.
"The God of Contracts… so that's how it is."
La Signora was relieved she hadn't chosen to escalate things with Mu Yang, opting instead to back down.
Had they truly fought to the death…
Not only would she have failed the Tsaritsa's mission, but she'd likely be bedridden for months recovering.
Near the bridge at the city gate, Rosaria muttered in confusion:
"What… was that?"
Amber and Eula, who had just arrived beside Rosaria after seeing Mu Yang disappear into the enemy horde, were ready to reinforce him.
Amber thought for a moment before answering:
"I've seen similar patterns on Liyue's kites and embroideries."
"According to the people of Liyue, their deity—the Geo Archon Morax—currently takes such a form in the mortal world."
The group exchanged glances and nodded in silent understanding.
Mu Yang had already done more than enough.
Mondstadt was their city—how could they keep hiding behind a Liyue native?
The Knights and adventurers behind them, inspired by Mu Yang's display, were already eager to join the fight.
"Charge! By the wind's guidance!"
"By the wind's guidance!"
The people of Mondstadt surged forward.
Mu Yang swiftly dealt with the last Frostarm Lawachurl before turning to Amber and the others:
"The rest is up to you. I'm going after the mastermind pulling the strings."
"Got it."
Mu Yang followed the trail of energy but arrived just a step too late.
In the distance, he saw a figure floating mid-air before vanishing into the void.
That method of escape… definitely the Abyss.
Judging by its silhouette, it was far higher-ranked than an Abyss Mage.
Mu Yang didn't pursue. Instead, he turned toward Mondstadt's side gate—a massive explosion had just erupted from that direction.
By the time he arrived, the battle there was already over.
The side gate had been under the command of Cavalry Captain Kaeya, with Noelle, Sucrose, and a group of seasoned adventurers holding the line.
They had succeeded.
This side had no Lawachurls, and the enemy forces were fewer in number.
Plus, they had the help of a certain little runaway sun—Klee had sneaked out and come to Kaeya's aid at the side gate.
As for the earlier explosion…
Well, the side gate had not only the lucky four-leaf clover Klee but also the ultimate unlucky magnet—Bennett.
The two had collided, creating… not so much sparks as a small mushroom cloud.
With the mastermind gone, the Hilichurls' strength plummeted, and they quickly scattered in retreat.
The defense of Mondstadt had ended in complete victory.
Mu Yang didn't return to the Knights of Favonius headquarters.
On the way back, Knights and adventurers alike swarmed him, eagerly greeting him, asking for handshakes and autographs.
Mu Yang disliked such situations—they were exhausting and bothersome.
So he simply bolted, finding a quiet spot atop the city walls to hide.
Once Acting Grand Master Jean returned, he could collect his payment and head to Liyue.
Looking back on the city defense, while he'd pulled off an impressive display in front of Mondstadt's people…
The main storyline's perspective wouldn't see any of it.
At most, when the Traveler (Lumine) returned, the Knights at the gate might mention it in passing.
In Mu Yang's original plan, he only needed to casually unleash a few skills—following the story's natural flow—so that Amber would later hype him up to the Traveler, earning him some player popularity points.
But now, he'd invested all his points into an over-the-top performance…
Only for the players to catch mere fragments of it through vague mentions.
What a waste!
"Ah well… at least I helped Mondstadt."
"Hope you guys hype me up properly."
Rosaria's voice came from behind him:
"This spot of yours is hard to find."
She approached, handing him a bottle of wine.
Mu Yang took it and drank in silence.
Rosaria wasn't much of a talker.
The two remained wordless until the bottle was empty.
Then, they parted ways without another word.