The main force guarding the city gate had taken a heavy blow.
Seeing this, the Knights of Favonius support unit rushed forward under the cover of other fighters, carrlumine Diluc back into the city and placing him under Barbara's care.
At the exact moment Diluc was sent fllumine, Jean seized the fleeting opportunity—
Her blade darted out like a striking falcon, aiming straight for the Stonehide Lawachurl's heart.
CLANG!
Sparks erupted.
Jean's sword scraped across the Lawachurl's stone armor and was knocked aside effortlessly.
"ROOOOAR!"
Enraged, the massive creature raised both rock-covered arms and slammed them toward the Knights.
Three roaring waves of stone energy burst forth.
"Everyone, be careful! Let the wind lead."
Jean raised the broken tip of her sword before her chest.
A massive Anemo barrier formed, stopping the surging rock waves in their tracks.
But then—something changed.
A blue water bubble suddenly manifested in front of Jean, ready to imprison her.
Her reflexes, however, were razor sharp—
She sidestepped and slashed, bursting the bubble open.
Yet the moment it shattered, dozens of razor-sharp icicles shot toward her from all directions.
They were already inches away.
"Watch out, Acting Grand Master."
A green arrow streaked across the air.
A whirlwind erupted, deflecting all the icicles away.
It was Venti on the city wall.
His shot had arrived at exactly the right moment.
"Lord Barbatos…"
For once, Jean found his unserious smile soothing—almost divine.
Meanwhile, as the Knights fought desperately, Farmas remained hidden at the back of the slime formation, watching several Electro Cicin Mages converse.
"Do we… need to charge too?"
A young-sounding mage asked, clearly new to the job.
All Electro Cicin Mages wore purple hoods that obscured their faces.
Farmas could only hide behind a cluster of Electro slimes and listen quietly.
"We're only here to collect information on Visions for the Doctor. Those filthy Abyss Mages aren't worth our help,"
a more mature voice answered.
The Electro Cicin Mages hovered far behind the monster army.
"The Delusions made by the Doctor—are they really as powerful as Visions?"
"Of course. The Eleventh Harbinger, Childe Tartaglia himself, was personally granted a Delusion by Her Majesty."
Hearing the senior's words, the young mage nodded with pride.
Behind her mask was likely an innocent expression.
"Then I'll work hard too! I want the Queen's blessing someday!"
"Delusions, huh?"
Farmas's interest sharpened as he listened to their chirping chatter.
"Copies of Visions…? If a Delusion imitates a Pyro Vision, does it contain divine power? If so—would it be the Ice Queen's power?"
Visions were merely manifestations of divine power.
When a god sensed a human desire burning strongly enough, a fragment of their divinity would descend, resonate with the human spirit, and form a Vision.
This was also why Visions continued working even after he retracted his own divine power.
As the mages continued recording battlefield data with their lanterns, they suddenly felt an overwhelming surge of Pyro energy behind them.
"Who's there?!"
Lightning crackled in triangular patterns around them as they assumed a defensive stance.
"Ladies…"
A figure in blood-red armor, holding a long spear and wearing a sharp, jagged mask walked toward them.
Every slime along the way scattered in fear.
Farmas had arrived.
"This Delusion you were talking about… is it pretty?"
"It's not about looks—it's special, and powerful—"
"Mm!"
A senior mage quickly covered the young one's mouth.
"A spy?"
The experienced mages shifted into combat stance—
All except the young one, who simply stared blankly at Farmas.
"…So handsome."
"If you want to play, call more friends. Hahaha."
Snapping open their lanterns, the senior mages summoned swarms of Electro Cicins and lunged at him.
"Crimson Flame—Tempest!"
With a sweeping motion of Farmas's arms, a violent pyro cyclone burst forth.
From behind, the young Electro Cicin Mage witnessed everything:
Their combined attacks were torn apart like paper.
Her seniors were sucked into the roaring flames—shredded, incinerated, erased.
Reduced to drifting ash.
When the firestorm faded, the field was barren—charred earth and deep, jagged scars carved by his spear.
Before she even processed it, the spear tip was already touching her nose.
"Now," Farmas said with a feral grin, red eyes glowing behind the mask,
"You may continue explaining Delusions."
The young mage trembled.
Tears slipped down her cheeks beneath the mask.
Her lips formed words, but fear choked them back to silence.
The rising Pyro energy cast a faint crimson glow on Farmas's white hair, making him appear unreal—dangerous, almost beautiful.
The young mage stared, dazed.
Seconds passed.
Farmas held the cool pose, but the lingering flames in the air were starting to dissipate—
his dramatic effect was fading fast.
"Delusions… are in the Doctor's factory…"
Finally, just as Farmas considered lowering his spear, the girl squeaked out the information.
"Good. Thank you."
Relieved, Farmas used his spear to lift her purple mask.
Underneath was a very young face—messy mint-green hair and tear-streaked cheeks.
"So young… There are so many better things you could be doing than joining a nest of conspiracies."
He retracted his spear and launched himself toward the hilichurl army.
Leaving only the stunned little mage behind—
and faint, fading traces of crimson in the air.
~~---------------------------
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