Chapter 120

In the Serenitea Pot landing zone buffer, the temporary encampment on the pebble beach was neatly arranged. The realm gate rippled like a sheet of water as a squad of Sumeru desert guerillas stepped out, treading on phantom light. Twenty of them, travel-worn and battle-stained, their armor scuffed, yet with eyes as sharp as quenched blades. Pack beasts bore old elemental crossbows and sagging supply bags, leaving heavy, dragging tracks in the gravel with every step. Almost simultaneously, a twelve-man Knights of Favonius squad stood at attention in the open ground. Brand-new Pan Yan assault rifles gleamed with a cold, hard luster, Chuan Zao rocket launchers were slung diagonally across their backs, and Fontaine-standard grenades were neatly lined up in their waist holsters. They straightened their backs, youthful faces brimming with high-spirited fighting morale, forming a striking contrast with the guerillas' exhaustion. There was no lengthy ceremony. The two parties briefly intersected in the buffer zone. The guerilla captain gave a slight nod, and the knight captain tapped his left chest with his right fist. Glances crossed, and silent respect was conveyed amidst the scent of gunpowder and dust—the blood-soaked return of the veterans and the fearlessness of the expeditionary force coalesced into an unyielding silhouette of Teyvat at that moment.