Chapter 500

He knew very well that he in the video was three months away from coming of age, but that high-spirited self had strength greater than his current self!

That young man full of justice, heart filled with enthusiasm, and body flowing with hot blood—could he change all of this?

Thump!

The bottom of the wine bottle hit the tabletop.

Diluc decided to believe in that former 'self', to believe in that self who had changed and become stronger!

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

Knights of Favonius training grounds.

The field was spacious, and Varka had also arrived.

Varka, Gu Chen, Jean, Eroch, Bishop Simon, and other high-ranking members of the Knights and the Church of Favonius were all here, along with Dottore and other diplomatic envoys, all sitting in the viewing gallery on the high platform.

Further away was another viewing area, where Master Crepus, Lady Frederica, and the current head of the Lawrence clan were seated.

This tournament was not just a confrontation with the Fatui; Gu Chen also intended to demonstrate martial power to the internal factions of Mondstadt.

On the two sides below were the elites of the Knights of Favonius and the elites of the Fatui skirmishers.

And near the viewing gallery were some doctors, among whom were many nuns and priests of the Church of Favonius.

Although the Church of Favonius was a religious organization, the priests and nuns under its command were not just capable of praying.

Jean's gaze fell upon a petite girl with twin tails among the priests.

Seeming to feel her gaze, the girl looked up to meet her eyes, then immediately lowered her head, not daring to look again.

"Who is that?" Gu Chen asked curiously.

Jean came back to her senses, thought about it, and decided not to hide it, explaining in a low voice: "My sister, Barbara."

Gu Chen raised an eyebrow and nodded in understanding.

Glancing at Simon, who was sitting in the same row, Gu Chen said nothing.

Simon Page was an adventurer known across the continent. After coming to Mondstadt, he brushed off the dust of his travels, joined the Church of Favonius in a new capacity, and rose to become the head of the Church, known as the 'Cardinal of Dawn'.

He fell in love with Frederica, the eldest daughter of the Gunnhildr clan in Mondstadt, but parted ways with his wife when their two daughters were young, taking Barbara away to raise her.

Gu Chen did not know the details between Simon Page and Lady Frederica, nor did he intend to interfere.

He knew Jean had a sister, but he hadn't expected the little girl, a few years younger than Jean, to become a deaconess of the Church of Favonius, and it seemed she was also medical personnel.

Withdrawing his thoughts, Gu Chen looked at Dottore and said: "According to the rules we set, we will have seven matches, just like the seven elements. The Knights have already selected seven elite knights. How is your side prepared?"

"No need for the Vice Grand Master to worry; the Fatui have long been prepared." Dottore smiled and gestured.

As he called out a name, a person of enormous size walked out from the Fatui side, his whole body looking as if it were bloated with edema, and his palm, if opened, was probably larger than a human head!

Fatui Skirmisher - Cryogunner Legionnaire was the common term for this kind of fat guy.

Gu Chen only had to glance at him to know that the situation with that guy's body was not right; he didn't look like a normal person at all.

"Miles." Diluc stood up and called out a name.

A person immediately walked out from among the Knights.

Dottore scrutinized him.

Miles's appearance was more robust compared to a normal person, but it hadn't reached an exaggerated level; he was in a very healthy state.

From a hundred meters away, Dottore could feel the hidden power within the other's body, like flowing blood.

After a slight smile, Dottore said: "Once the life-and-death waiver is signed, feel free to use your full strength."

Miles's expression was resolute; he signed his name without the slightest hesitation, and the Cryogunner Legionnaire of the other side did the same.

After signing, both sides returned to their positions. No one spoke, and Miles launched the attack first.

The Knights of Favonius had standard-issue weapons: Favonius Sword, Favonius Lance, Favonius Greatsword, Favonius Bow, Favonius Codex, and other excellent weapons, as well as standard armor for protection. Miles used the Favonius Sword, which represented lightness and sharpness.

As the distance closed, the battle erupted.

Simon said softly: "The gunner is still a bit clumsy due to his physical condition."

"In terms of agility, our knights have the absolute advantage, unless that gunner possesses power beyond reason." Varka chuckled.

"How do you know without trying?" Dottore smiled.

Miles relied on his agility to suppress the Cryogunner. Seeming to know that he would surely lose if this continued, a fierce and ominous power erupted from the Cryogunner. He then discarded his cryo-gun, brandished his fists, and his figure became several times more agile as he attacked Miles.

"This kind of power..." Simon was somewhat displeased.

The Fatui member had clearly used some evil power, but the waiver had already been signed and could not be changed.

After a brief shock, Miles let blood-red energy permeate his Favonius Sword.

"Oh? Is this the 'blood energy projection' of the Knights?" Dottore asked.

"Only knights who have practiced to a certain level can do this. Mr. Dottore, there is no need to be nervous." Varka waved his hand with a smile.

Dottore smiled without a word.

After the blood energy was projected onto the Favonius Sword, Miles's offensive became even more fierce.

When the Favonius Sword stabbed into the Fatui member, that blood energy seemed to burrow into the other's body, destroying the blood vessels and internal organs.

"Is it too cruel to treat an opponent this way?" Dottore asked.

"Cruel?"

Simon shook his head and said: "Since they are opponents, it is a matter of life and death. The power your side is using seems even more evil and contrary to the righteous path, doesn't it?"

Eroch said nothing.

Varka smiled and did not speak.

Gu Chen took a sip of tea nonchalantly before saying: "Bishop Simon, since we all know the other side is the Fatui, there's no need to be surprised by anything they do, right? After all, the Fatui are just like that."

Simon reached out to adjust his glasses, smiled, and nodded: "The Vice Grand Master is right."

Despite the subtle mockery of the Fatui, Dottore's smile remained unchanged.

Looking through his plague doctor mask at Miles, who had already struck the Cryogunner to the ground, he was full of appreciation: "Thick blood energy; truly an elite."

Although he had long known that body-refining techniques could improve a person's constitution, Miles was clearly not practicing an ordinary body-refining technique.

Dottore knew this trip was worth it.

People with such robust physiques were the experimental materials he needed even more!

"First match, the Knights win!" Jean stood up to announce.

Simon glanced at his daughter before withdrawing his gaze, turning to whisper to Gu Chen: "Vice Grand Master, does Jean have to participate?"

Gu Chen looked at him, saw a father's worry for his daughter in his face, and nodded: "You still don't understand her. Don't worry, she is not weak."

A girl who could dismantle several Ruin Guards with her bare hands at a young age—how weak could she be?

Simon nodded and said no more.

Soon, the second match began.

The Fatui sent out a Electrohammer Vanguard, robust in build, holding a large hammer that carried a significant sense of oppression.

The Knights also sent out an elite knight.

After signing, the two charged at each other.

The Electrohammer Vanguard was far more agile than the Cryogunner, and the hammer in his hand fell with great force.

But most of the knights had practiced body-refining techniques for at least eight years, and the one sent out was an elite who had practiced the advanced version.

Caught off guard and taking a hammer blow, the Favonius knight merely let out a muffled grunt, his blood energy flow stalling for an instant, but he quickly recovered.

Dottore's eyes, hidden under the mask, narrowed slightly.

This kind of resistance to impact was quite impressive!

This meant the Favonius knight's endurance was very strong!

Dottore's smile grew even wider.

In this match, the Favonius knight pierced the Electrohammer Vanguard's throat with his lance at the cost of a slight injury.

Soon, the third match began.

No suspense.

Then the fourth match.

Still the same.

The fifth match was also an Electrohammer Vanguard, but the sense of oppression was stronger, at least twice as strong as the previous one.

After the Favonius knight killed his opponent, his arm was trembling from being grazed by the hammer.

The sixth match.

The Fatui sent out a Pyro Agent.