He changed Tiwat

Diluc angrily ripped off his Knights uniform and threw it in front of Illok.

"...Don't forget, Mondstadt is made up of people like my father."

This is the whole story of Diluc's departure from the group.

Kripps once told him, "The world will not fail those who hold firm to their beliefs."

But why did his beliefs run counter to those of the Knights of Favonius?

How did the father himself view "belief" in his final moments?

Even if his father was kind as he was, he was nothing more than "a mere businessman" in the eyes of those in power.

What does it matter if one sacrifices oneself to uphold justice? In the eyes of the Knights of Mondstadt, who are also guardians of Mondstadt, the deeds of Kripps in protecting Mondstadt cannot even be made public.

He will avenge his father. Not only that, he will also find out the source of the evil power his father used.

Having the "Eye of God" is as useless as being a knight. Unable to protect what is precious, one is only fit to be discarded.

The moment he realized his own weakness, the "Eye of God" became a burden. Diluc resolutely abandoned everything, including the "Eye of God," and left the Knights of Favonius.

He doesn't want false fame; he wants a flame strong enough to burn everything, and unwavering faith. Only faith can awaken those who seek the truth, and only flame can melt the ice that seals justice.

Having taken the evil eye left to him by his father, Diluc entrusted the winery work to Head Maid Adeline and left Mondstadt alone.

Having traveled to seven countries, he visited various places and gradually got closer to the secret he had been searching for.

All clues point to the Fools—an organization as large as a behemoth and as evil as an abyss.

Did the father seek such evil power in order to uphold justice?

To this day, the truth remains unknown.

But Diluc refused to back down until he fully understood the truth.

Upholding justice cannot stop here.

Like an eagle soaring in the wilderness, Diluc begins his hunt. Mysterious clues and endless battles fail to ensnare the man with a heart burning with passion; though wounded, he never ceases his pursuit. His will is like a hurricane enveloped in flames, dispelling the thick fog.

He got closer and closer to the core of the secret, which finally prompted the Fools' Enforcers to take action.

He should have died a year ago.

But at the brink of death, Diluc was saved by an "Observer" from the underground intelligence network of the North Continent.

The "observer" was someone he knew very well, and also the person in Mondstadt who was best at "observing"—the "scout knight" who had left the Knights of Favonius with him four years ago, Amber's grandfather.

For the past three years, he has been entrusted by the organization to observe and protect Diluc from the shadows. The young Night Owl was able to gradually grow in the darkness because he had a seasoned bodyguard protecting him.

Having survived the ordeal, Diluc awakens from his prolonged rage and begins to examine his past. Realizing his weaknesses, he resolves to join this underground intelligence network—an unnamed organization founded a thousand years ago by Krysrid Lawrence.

In the church, it is called "the free man"; in the Knights, it is called "the wind flower"; no matter how the name changes, it always represents freedom and resistance.

Just like when he first joined the Knights of Favonius, Diluc approached everything with the utmost seriousness. With his talent and ability, he steadily rose through the ranks of the intelligence network.

The organization is composed of volunteers, most of whom are warriors who have given up their identity and honor, and some have even abandoned their names.

Within the organization, Diluc gradually uncovers some of the truth about what happened back then—

"The Fools' Executor 'The Doctor' subdued the dragon and manipulated it to attack Mondstadt and then aid Mondstadt in exchange for necessary diplomatic leverage. His true purpose was to recruit teenagers from Mondstadt as expendable subjects for the 'Evil Eye's' human experiments. And the one who colluded with 'The Doctor' in Mondstadt, releasing mechanical birds to various parts of Mondstadt to guide the dragon's attack, was Inspector General Ylock."

Chapter 212 The Dragon Ascension Sword! The verdict is hereby pronounced!

The man standing before him, Irok, was one of the culprits who released mechanical birds at the Legnford family's convoy, attracting the dragon and causing the death of Kripps Legnford.

More than a year ago, before the "Blackfire Case" occurred, evidence of Ilock's collusion with the Fools had already been presented to the Grand Master by the underground intelligence organization.

In the name of the benevolent rule of the first Grand Master Vanessa, the Knights of Favonius punished Ilrock with the same punishment as the Lawrence family: stripping him of everything in Mondstadt and expelling him from the country.

This punishment is quite merciful compared to the death penalty, but if the exiled person still has enemies alive, that's a different story. Previously, Iroq was the Inspector General of the Knights of Favonius; anyone wanting to harm him had to consider the Knights' backing. But after his exile…

So what Diluc heard from the organization was that "Illok has been 'purged'," or to put it more plainly, he's now a guest at the bottom of the Cider Lake.

But just as Diluc didn't die in the Fatui's siege, Y'Roc clearly survived through some means. Moreover, he successfully gained the Fatui's protection and even became their secret regional head in Mondstadt.

The fact that Irod is not dead already says a lot.

Within Mondstadt, someone must have been protecting Ylock. Who could it be?

—There aren’t many people with this ability, but Diluc knows one, a cardinal with the same surname, Calvin.

Illock's twisted smile grew increasingly arrogant as his longsword, covered in black flames, struck Diluc's greatsword again and again, like whipping a lowly tenant farmer.

He had wanted to do this for four years.

The mere Legenfender, a mere brewer, was nothing more than a lowly servant of his ancestor. What right did he have to replace Imloka as one of the three great families of Mondstadt? And what right did he have to enter the power center of Mondstadt?

As a distant branch of the Imloka family and a descendant of the Calvin family, he is the one who is truly qualified!

"Why aren't you saying anything? Diluc, weren't you so eager to find me before? But what can you do even if you find me, hmm?"

Although Ylock kept provoking him, Diluc's anger did not affect his rationality or combat instincts.

Attack like wildfire, defend like an unyielding mountain.

Despite Yrok's relentless attacks, Diluc's defenses, seemingly on the verge of collapse, stubbornly held firm. Like a ember hidden beneath ashes, they were poised to reignite at any moment.

Diluc is much stronger now than he was four years ago.

His strength lies not only in his physique and skills, but also in his inner strength.

"Yes, I am not some genius chosen by God, nor am I a 'hero of the night'."

Diluc parried his opponent's longsword, and the Eye of God on his chest burned even more intensely.

The intense light was so intense that even the black flames on Ilock's body could not conceal it.

On the day the "Black Fire Case" was resolved at the "Badminton Festival" a year ago, "God's Eye" also returned to Diluc's side.

Years of experience have shed Diluc's naivety, transforming him into a hero who inherits his father's will.

Wearing the crimson tuxedo left to him by his father, Diluc, returning from his travels, began his journey to "repay sins."

Not only for his deceased father, but also to uphold the belief he had painstakingly sought, to protect Mondstadt in his own way.

He slightly altered the dusty old dress, transforming it into a brand-new battle robe. The familiar yet long-lost texture of the fabric made Diluc secretly cherish it.

In the still of the night, the sharp edge hidden beneath the name of the noble young master is swiftly drawn, aimed directly at the threat. Wherever the edge passes, the greatsword's arc of light flashes and disappears, blazing flames rise, and the lairs of hidden evil are completely burned away.

By the time the name of the "Hero of the Night" was etched into the memory of the people of Mondstadt, that crimson that could burn one's vision had long since become a color that monsters and villains held in the utmost awe.

He neither talks about the past nor denies it.

For those who cannot discern the way, the Eye of God may be a guiding light bestowed by the gods.

But for those who have clearly defined their beliefs, it is merely an extension of their strength, a model of their will, a medal for endless trials, and a marker for looking back on the path they have traveled.

A terrifying flame suddenly rose from "The Wolf's End," suppressing the black flames on the royal longsword.

"On the day my father passed away, I realized something... Justice is always only revealed when it is deliberately needed."

Diluc suddenly exerted force with both hands, sending Ylock, who possessed the power of the Evil Eye, flying far away, while Diluc leaped high into the air at the same moment.

"And all I can do is not forget."

If an outsider visits Mondstadt's largest winery, the most memorable thing will probably be the winery's signboard.

The fruitwood signboard of "Dawn Winery" proudly proclaims the winery's name, with a few smaller words below:

Never forget the beginning.

Wine connoisseurs often interpret this adage as meaning that the winery's finest wines remain consistently delicious, as hopeful as the first rays of dawn.

More pragmatic Zephyr Knights, on the other hand, would think of the long history of mutual support between the winery and Mondstadt.

The story behind this proverb is widely debated and there is no consensus.

However, for Diluc, its meaning is simple and unique.

"Sins must be brought to justice. Do not forget in your mediocrity that the true dawn has not yet arrived."

His father had hoped that he would become the best knight in Mondstadt, standing at the pinnacle of the Knights and watching over Mondstadt.

Unlike his father's expectations, Diluc understood that he would become a "pioneer".

Diluc's sudden outburst shocked Y'Roc, forcing him to abandon his teasing attitude.

But what shocked him even more was yet to come.

Diluc's crimson figure paused slightly in mid-air, and two golden-red wings made of flames appeared behind him.

—Just like the legendary phoenix of fire.

This time, he didn't use his usual "Reverse Flame Blade," but a stronger, fiercer, and more intense sword technique that he had honed in order to take revenge on the demon dragon Usa.

Its name is "Dragon Ascension Sword".

"The verdict is hereby pronounced!"

Diluc drew his sword and delivered his verdict.

From the "outer ring" of the ruins to the center, one must not only traverse the path formed by those seemingly dangerous floating stone platforms, but also risk being attacked by monsters hidden within the ruins.

Even if we overcome these difficulties and obstacles, it's hard to say whether there might be a trap set by the Fools ahead.

Therefore, Han Fulai's strategy was simple—to maximize his own side's mobility advantage.

In martial arts, speed is the ultimate weapon. No matter how many traps or schemes are laid in this ruin, I just need to be fast enough to prevent you from launching any attacks.

Although they couldn't let Xiao break through space to enter the ruins directly, the fact that Xiao could fly remained unchanged, and the overwhelming power of their side, consisting of a demigod and a true immortal, also remained unchanged.

Even with two people flying together, the long path of several thousand meters from the outer ring of the ruins to the center takes only a few minutes.

Xiao quickly flew with the two to the building in the center of the ruins that was enveloped by a tornado field.

Just as he was preparing to force his way through using his magical powers and the advantage of the Puyuan, a golden-red fire phoenix suddenly broke through the wind wall in front of them!

Chapter 213 I got up, one shot and I was dead. Nothing more to say.

Xiao nimbly carried the two of them through the air, dodging the sudden fire phoenix, while warning his two passengers on "Yaksha Logistics": "Be careful, we may have been discovered by the enemy."

Yura responded to Xiao with her actions, the azure "When the Pine Sounds" sword already appearing in her hand, ready for battle at any moment.

Han Fulai laughed: "It seems someone has already scouted the way for us inside and even thoughtfully created a gap in the wind wall for us. Immortal Xiao, we need to speed up and rush into that gap, otherwise the credit will all be stolen by others."

The walls of the corridor were shattered by the fire phoenix, and the howling cold wind outside fiercely rushed into the corridor, as if trying to sweep everything inside away.

Debris and dust flew everywhere, obscuring the entire space. From the outside, the scene looked like the epicenter of a massive explosion.

But in this broken corridor, there are still two people who will not be swayed by the cold wind and dust.

Even with the black flames protecting him from the Evil Eye, and after taking Diluc's full-force attack, Illock could no longer maintain his pretentious noble demeanor.

His white robe with gold trim was charred by the flames, his golden curls were swept away, revealing his bald scalp, and billowing black smoke rose from his body, making him look like a piece of charred charcoal.

The family's longsword, passed down for a thousand years, shattered in his hand. Along with the sword, the silver-carved mask on his face also broke.

Diluc finally saw Illok's ugly face, which was hidden by the mask.

—The literal meaning of an ugly face.

His face was no longer human; his skin was completely purplish-brown, covered with various bumpy, square-shaped layers of keratin, and his features were very flat... No, rather than calling him human, this appearance was more like "a lizard wearing a wig."

While other fools wear masks to abandon the past, Iroq, a madman obsessed with his family's past glory, probably wears that mask to cover up his ugliness.

Diluc bluntly expressed his true feelings: "It's disgusting."

This statement may be even more powerful than the "Dragon Ascension Sword" attack that was used against Ilock.

After being expelled by the Knights, Iroq was assassinated, or rather, purged, by the "Crown of Thorns" when he was leaving the country.

The battle nun, who always secretly dealt with sinners, ruthlessly pierced his chest from behind with a spear—a despicable act of ambush.

The purple-haired nun who carried out the attack didn't even leave a single word, as if killing him was no different from killing a wild boar, not worth the trouble of saying a word.

The chilling air emanating from the gun completely froze his once handsome face.

Although he was later given a healing spell by the Church of the West Wind and had surgery performed on him by the Fools' executor "Doctor," he barely survived, but his face was completely beyond saving.

In compensation, he received another face.

A face made from the skin of the demon dragon Ursa.

And a portion of the power of the demon dragon Usa.

Conversely, he forever lost the right to appear in public.

For a descendant of a noble family with a glorious past, and a ruler who was once only a few steps away from the highest power in Mondstadt, this fact may be more painful than killing him.