Genshin Impact: It All Began With Me Being Stepped On by Arlecchino

Arlecchino took Lu Li out of the Court of Fontaine to the suburbs. This unexpected move showed him how seriously she was taking this matter. Otherwise, the training ground would have been sufficient.

They took the Callas Line aquabus towards the Fontaine Research Institute. On the way, Lu Li was a bit reserved, but with the gentle introductions from the lovely Melusine guide, he gradually started to chat with Arlecchino about trivial matters. To his surprise, she was quite talkative, which revealed a side of her he had never seen before.

After getting off at the station near the eastern foot of Mont Esus, they said goodbye to the Melusine and began to walk down the mountain. At first, Lu Li was still constrained by their difference in status, but with Arlecchino's calm words, he gradually relaxed and began to treat the woman who had always dominated his life as an equal.

Until she stopped and gestured for him to look ahead. Before them were several very large Hilichurl camps.

"Lu Li, you have five minutes. Determine the number, type, and distribution of the monsters in this camp."

In the blink of an eye, she had transformed from his companion back into the supreme ruler. Though startled by the sudden test, Lu Li quickly went forward and used the high ground to survey the camps. This was a reconnaissance skill he had learned since childhood. He quickly and calmly analyzed the situation.

"Reporting to Lord 'Father,' there are three medium-sized Hilichurl camps, located to the west, north, and northeast of our current position. In total, there are two Hilichurl Rangers, seven Mitachurls, six Samachurls, and about eighty regular Hilichurls."

Arlecchino crossed her arms and said calmly, "Then, are you ready?"

He paused, then realized what she wanted. His expression turned serious. "Understood. I'm ready. Am I to infiltrate and eliminate them?"

"No, not infiltration. A frontal assault," she said coolly. "Only in a frontal assault can I judge your true strength and figure out how to train you. So, are you willing to accept this trial? Of course, Lu Li, this is not a demand. You can refuse. After all, this is one against a hundred, an unprecedented challenge for you."

"No, Lord 'Father,' I will not disappoint you!" he said after a moment's silence. "Please watch me here. I will use my strength to complete your mission!"

Though he was nervous, he turned and walked towards the camps. The battle ahead could mean disability or death if he made one wrong move. Arlecchino watched him go, satisfied. If he had been the type to back down from a challenge, she would have been very disappointed.

She crossed her arms and began to observe his every move. If he was truly cornered, she would intervene. These low-level opponents were not even worth a glance to her. But she wouldn't tell him that. Only when a person is unaware of their safety net can they push beyond their limits.

She saw him take out the Hilichurl Shooters on the watchtowers first, using the Debt Collector's fiery boomerang. Then, he used Mist Grass and Pyro to turn invisible and silently execute the faster Hilichurl Fighters in their midst. In just ten seconds, nearly twenty Hilichurls were dead.

Arlecchino's expression remained calm. It was a good start, but clearing out the small fry was nothing special. Now, Lu Li, let's see how you handle the casters, chargers, and elites.

...

He only had time for a few deep breaths before the Mitachurls and Rangers charged. He was about to use his stealth trick again, but a localized rainstorm summoned by the Samachurls rendered it useless.

His sacrificial knife clashed with a Ranger's blade. He deflected and slashed, leaving a deep gash on the Ranger, but had no time to follow up as another enemy attacked. He dodged a cleave and leaped over a sweeping axe. While in mid-air, he chanted, "Yanling: Monarch's Blaze!"

A massive explosion of fire instantly disrupted the elements in the area, and the Mitachurl and Ranger caught in the blast were returned to the embrace of the leylines. And with that, the battle was essentially over.

He rolled to his feet, a little stunned as he looked at the charred devastation. He had never thought he could fight off over a hundred monsters by himself... But now, with the power of Yanling: Monarch's Blaze and the techniques of a Debt Collector... he was on a completely different level from his former self.

"Swoosh—"

A Samachurl in the distance fired a water jet at him.

Arlecchino frowned as she saw him standing there, neither dodging nor defending. This is no time to be distracted. But just as she was about to intervene, she noticed something. A new aura was emanating from him. An aura of a strong person's confidence!

"CLANG—"

This shift in mentality caused a qualitative leap in his strength. With a casual swing of his sacrificial knife, he sent a flying slash of fire that cut through the water jet and sliced the distant Samachurl in two.

(I see, I don't need to be afraid. I am no longer the person I used to be.)

A smile played on his lips. He took a step forward. The next second, nearly ten fiery afterimages burst from his body and swept across the battlefield, slaughtering the remaining, defenseless Hilichurls.

And then, in the blink of an eye... he swung his sacrificial knife in a beautiful flourish, and the fiery afterimages that had annihilated the Hilichurls dissipated.

He had achieved a breakthrough.

His own, unique Elemental Burst—Monarch's Blaze: Purgatory Shadow Formation.

Standing amidst the ashes of over a hundred disintegrating corpses, a smile touched Lu Li's lips. So this is the reward for facing my fears and overcoming difficulties... This... is my power!

At the same time, Arlecchino, who had been watching the entire battle, let out a soft breath, a smile gracing her own lips. Not bad... Lu Li, well done!

-------

Enjoying the story? Support the author and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!

Find me at My : pat*eon*com/RuneA

I, Herta's Fiancé, the Universe's Number One Male Fist (111 Chapter)

Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Succubus in Sixth Street (220 Chapter)

Reborn in Type-Moon, My Sister is Aoko Aozaki (220 Chapter)

MyGO!! A Story Voiced by Me (90 Chapter)

BLEACH: Blade of Purification (100 Chapter)

Konoha: Starting the Game as Yoriichi (260 Chapter)

My Real Job is Spying on Konoha, but I'm Also its Hokage (98 Chapter)

The Pinnacle of the Navy! Starting from Being Captured by Garp (100 Chapter)

Watching Yu-Gi-Oh! short videos is making the veteran players lose...(57 Chapter)

Uma Musume : The Trainer Who Just Wants to Live (100 Chapter)

Zenless Zone Zero The Random Kamen Rider (100 Chapter)

Genshin Impact: It All Began With Me Being Stepped On by Arlecchino (70 Chapter)

Naruto: I Can Synthesize Summoning Beasts (40 Chapter)

Demon Slayer: The Great Swordsman's System, Disciple of Yoriichi (61 Chapter)

My Wife is a General, but I'm an Emanator of Abundance! (40 Chapter)

If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it.