Genshin Impact: Watch me turn the tables and kill my servants at the start!

When the ship docked at the Nata coastline, Fanes had no intention of lingering. He carried two Hearts of God and simply wanted to find the nearest port to change ships and continue his journey to Winter. But the first Fool's officer he encountered at the dock stopped him: "Sir, the captain is under a lot of pressure at the front. If you could lend a hand, the brothers would be extremely grateful."

Fanes stood on the dock, glanced at the mountain outline shrouded in dark purple mist in the distance, then looked down at the half-finished cup of iced tea in his hand: "Is the captain short-handed?"

The officer stood ramrod straight, the hem of his uniform still stained with dried mud: "Recently, the activity of the Abyss Rifts has increased significantly, more than doubling in number, and some of them are also much larger than before. The captain is personally guarding the main battlefield and can't spare any manpower to deal with the scattered points on the periphery. If you could lead a team to clear the rift near the Lord of Smoke and Mystery, the captain would be less burdened."

Yakoda stood to the side, having already put her backpack back on: "I've also heard about the situation on the Smoke Master's side. The rift isn't very large, but it's in a remote location. If it's not dealt with in time, it might seep into the nearby residential area."

Fanes thought for a moment, then placed the empty teacup on the wooden box beside him: "Let's go take a look. It won't make a difference if we don't wait a day or two."

They walked along the mountain path for about an hour. The area where the Smoke Lord was located was quite different from other parts of Nata; the air was filled with a faint smell of sulfur and herbs, and the rock walls were covered with a fine layer of dark moss.

The abyss fissure was embedded beneath a wind-eroded rock wall, its edges still emitting a dark purple light, with tiny fragments of stone slowly rolling down its edge.

Fanes stopped, bent down to tighten his shoelaces: "How does the captain usually handle cracks of this size?"

Yakoda had already taken down the bow and was checking the tension of the bowstring: "According to the intelligence records within the Fools, the standard configuration is two teams of twenty-six men each. One team is responsible for frontal suppression, and the other is responsible for flanking maneuvers and clearing any remaining gaps."

Fanes straightened up, looked down at his hands, then looked up at the crack that was emanating a dark purple light: "This size... two squads?"

Yakoda pulled back the bowstring to test the feel: "Yes, each squad is equipped with complete firepower and logistical support, including melee, ranged, and medical personnel, all equipped with standard armor and weapons. The tactical procedure is to first use ranged firepower to suppress the monsters around the rift, and then have the melee squad break into the core area of ​​the rift to clear them out."

After listening, Fanes remained silent for about two seconds: "Then shouldn't we adjust our tactics?"

Yakoda had already drawn her bow to its fullest extent: "No need to adjust. Just stand here, leave the rest to me."

As Yakoda released the bowstring, the arrow traced a silvery-white path through the air, precisely plunging into the shadows gathering at the edge of the rift before dissipating into a continuously spreading silver stream of light.

The dark purple light around the rift began to flicker violently after coming into contact with the stream of light. The abyssal monsters that were gathering at the edge began to disintegrate after being covered by the light, as if they were being destroyed from the inside by that light.

Immediately afterwards, the second, third, and fourth arrows flew out in succession, each hitting a different part of the crevice with precision.

The vibrations from the crack lasted for about half a cup of tea's time before stopping. Then, the crack, which was emitting a dark purple light, began to shrink on its own, like a wound being stitched up, with the edges gradually closing until it was completely shut.

When Yakoda put away her bow, the area had completely returned to calm. The dark purple light that lingered on the rock face was gradually fading, revealing the grayish-brown rock texture and the moss clinging to it beneath.

The smell of sulfur and herbs in the air was being carried away by the wind. Fanes stood still, and indeed he remained standing there the entire time: "...You're definitely much faster than both squads."

Yakoda put the bow back on her shoulder: "Then I've saved you a lot of time. According to standard procedures, it would take at least a morning for two teams to complete the same task. I just spent less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."

Yakoda turned her head and glanced at him. "If you need to handle any similar tasks in the future, you can come to me directly."

Just as Fanes was about to reply, a series of heavy footsteps came from behind him. The footsteps were neither fast nor slow, but each step was much heavier than usual. He turned around and saw a figure walking down the hillside.

The man was at least four meters tall, his head almost level with the crown of the old tree next to him. He wore a dark robe with bone trim and a pair of metallic wrist guards.

He stopped closer, looked down at Fanes and Jakoda, his gaze lingering on them for a moment, then spoke in a deep, resonant voice: "Have you finished dealing with it?"

Fanes looked up at him, then down at himself, realizing he only reached the other's waist. He paused for a moment, then said, "Even sitting down, he seems taller than Xiao Shangxian."

Jakoda, standing to the side, paused slightly as she was putting away her bow upon hearing this. She glanced at Fanes but remained silent.

The giant still looked down at them: "I am Piran, the leader of the Yanmi chieftain tribe. Recently, abyssal rifts have been appearing in this area, disrupting many affairs nearby. I just came from the tribe, intending to handle it personally, but you have already done it first."

Peran bent down slightly to see their faces more clearly. "Who are you? Why are you here?"

Fanes said, "I was just passing by. I happened to see a crack here, so I fixed it."

Peran straightened up, as if assessing the credibility of the information in his own way: "Your efficiency is indeed very high. Normally, a rift of this size would require at least two teams to clear. You only had two people, yet you completed the task in such a short time."

Piran paused for a moment, then said, "If you're not in a hurry, I'd like to invite you to sit with the Yanmi chieftain. Consider it a token of our gratitude for your help."

Fanes glanced at Jakoda, then turned back to Perrin: "That's perfect, I was a bit hungry after finishing up. Then I'll take my leave."

Peran turned and walked up the hillside, his steps still heavy, but each one firm. Fanes and Jacoda followed behind him, walking for a while along a path that gradually ascended.

Along the way, you can see the outlines of some buildings embedded in the rock walls, with slender bone ornaments and feather woven pendants hanging from the eaves, swaying gently in the wind.

Peran stopped in front of an open wooden door and stepped aside to let people in: "Please come in. I have already had food prepared."

As Fanes stepped across the threshold, he saw a low table already set inside, on which were several dishes of local specialties: a plate of roasted meat brushed with a dark sauce; a plate of rice wrapped in large leaves, garnished with a few dark beans; and a pot of steaming beverage.

Fanes sat down at the low table, and Perrin sat down opposite him. His posture made the low table look particularly small, but thankfully he didn't slouch over it.

Fanes picked up the cup and took a sip. He felt that the drink tasted like it was made from some kind of plant root, with a slightly sweet taste and a fresh, herbal aroma: "The food here is quite good."

Piran also picked up his cup: "This is a common drink in Yanmizhu. It is made by drying the roots and stems of plants that grow in the mountains and then boiling them. Drinking it regularly helps one adapt to the high-altitude environment."

Peran set down his cup, his gaze shifting between Fanes and Jakoda. "Which direction do you plan to go next?"

Phanes said, "Go north. Return to winter."

Piran nodded: "That route will pass through several active abyssal rift regions. If you encounter any trouble on the way, you can mention the name of Lord Smokemy. Several nearby tribes know us."

Fanes placed the empty cup back on the table: "Okay."

Piran didn't ask them why they went to Winter's End, nor why they were in Nata. He simply sat there and waited until he finished his plate of roasted meat before saying, "If you have the chance in the future, you can come to Yanmizhu again. The people of the tribe will remember the help you gave us today."

Fanes stood up: "I'll remember that. I'll say hello next time I pass by."

Fanes turned and took two steps toward the door, then stopped, glancing sideways at Piran: "By the way, if there are any other fissures that need cleaning in the future, you can send someone to Zhidong to find us. Although we can't always arrive on time, if you contact us in advance, I will try my best to arrange a time."

Peran remained seated behind the low table, giving him a slight nod: "I will remember."

As Fanes stepped out the door, Jakoda was already waiting outside. She turned to look at him and asked, "Shall we set off now?"

Fanes walked along the path down the mountain for a while, then turned his head to look at the silhouette of the Nata Mountains in the distance, which was darkening in the twilight: "Let's go. If we're any later, we'll miss the next ship."