Lumine gripped the Favonius Sword and quietly slipped around the hidden lookout's line of sight.
She reached a protruding rock, grabbed it, and pulled herself up.
The moment the hilichurl archer sensed something—
She struck.
Bang!
The hilichurl archer was knocked off the rock before it could react.
Lumine followed up instantly.
Leaping into the air, she delivered a downward slash.
A streak of Anemo energy flashed along the blade.
The sword smashed down—
The ground cracked beneath the impact.
The noise shattered the quiet of the hilichurl camp.
"Yaya ika!"
Two hilichurl archers on the towers woke up.
Inside the tent, the Dendro Samachurl also stirred awake.
At that moment—
A burst of Hydro energy exploded across the campfires.
Every flame went out instantly.
The forest was plunged into darkness.
The sudden shift from bright firelight to pitch black left the hilichurls temporarily unable to see.
Creatures accustomed to light needed time to adapt to darkness.
"Breastplate!"
Noelle shouted.
Golden Geo particles swirled around her body, forming a protective shield.
Holding her claymore with both hands, she charged straight through the thorn barricades.
Crash!
Her massive sword swept forward.
Three shielded hilichurls staggered backward.
But their wooden shields absorbed most of the damage.
Arrows from the watchtowers rained down—
Clink!
They bounced harmlessly off her Geo shield.
"Noelle is strong, but these hilichurls… they're tougher than the ones I've fought before."
She said nervously.
In the past, one swing of her sword could cut a wooden shield in half.
Now they held firm.
At that moment—
Green energy gathered beneath her feet.
Leaves began swirling.
The Dendro Samachurl had begun chanting.
The surrounding hilichurls became excited.
Instead of attacking immediately, they surrounded Noelle's shield, hopping left and right impatiently.
With the shaman's magic—
This human would soon become dinner.
But as every hilichurl focused on the glowing Geo shield—
A shadow appeared behind the shaman.
Flames ignited along a greatsword.
A blazing strike fell.
The attacker was Diluc.
With a Pyro claymore and superior level, the fight was completely one-sided.
One slash killed the fragile shaman instantly.
Diluc stepped forward.
"Searing Onslaught."
His burning blade swept again.
Three hilichurls raised their shields—
Too late.
The sheer force knocked the shields out of their hands.
The wooden shields caught fire midair and burned to ash.
The hilichurls stared helplessly as their beloved weapons vanished.
Diluc stopped before delivering the final strike.
The flames faded from his sword.
He glanced briefly at the young knight.
Then stepped back into the darkness.
"Ya!"
The hilichurls roared in rage.
Without shields, they charged Noelle with wooden clubs.
Her Geo shield trembled under the assault.
"This… isn't a normal adventure…"
Noelle suddenly realized something.
Diluc had intentionally left the remaining enemies to her.
"Is this the training Captain Kaeya mentioned?"
"The special way Vision holders grow stronger?"
Her eyes lit up.
The Geo Vision tied to the red bow at her waist began glowing brilliantly.
Geo energy surged around her.
The hilichurls instinctively stepped back.
The golden energy flowed along her blade—
Forming a gigantic glowing claymore nearly four meters long.
"Sweeping Time!"
Noelle swung.
BOOM!
Three hilichurls were sent flying.
The nearby watchtowers shattered.
Archers crashed down with them.
Holding the enormous Geo blade, Noelle's combat style became brutally straightforward.
Just like the name of her skill—
She was cleaning the battlefield.
By the time Lumine arrived—
She could only watch.
Getting closer would risk friendly fire.
Soon the entire camp was reduced to rubble.
The captured Pyro Slime tried to escape.
But Barbara calmly eliminated them.
Better that than letting them start a forest fire.
From the ruins of the camp, ley line energy rose and flowed into Noelle.
Noelle ran back excitedly.
"Boss Jiang Chen… was this trip actually training?"
Her bright green eyes sparkled as she looked up at him.
No one had ever taken her outside the city like this to train.
Jean and Kaeya were too busy running the Knights.
Other knights weren't strong enough.
And organizing large teams wasn't possible—the Knights were already short-handed.
After all—
Not everyone possessed a Vision.
"Yes."
Jiang Chen smiled.
"Of course."
Noelle hesitated.
Originally she had come along to protect the group.
Yet now she realized they were actually helping her grow stronger.
She stepped back gracefully.
Holding the hem of her skirt, she bowed with perfect etiquette.
"I will repay this kindness."
"No matter what it takes."
"Cooking, baking, washing clothes, cleaning floors—even washing windows!"
"If there is anything you need, please tell me!"
Noelle said earnestly.
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