When Fengyan said this, Kujou Sara's mind drifted back to that day ,
to the two hundred Dragonriders she had seen with her own eyes.
Their numbers had been few compared to the other legions…
but their sheer presence , their aura , was something else entirely.
Two hundred of them alone could likely crush entire armies.
Fengyan wasn't exaggerating in the slightest; such a force was truly an invincible army.
To call them "an army that could fight gods" wasn't accurate ,
they were a legion that could obliterate gods.
It was no wonder that becoming a Dragonrider had become the greatest dream of every Liyue soldier.
Their majesty and might were things worthy of devotion.
"Are there… many Dragonriders?"
Sara asked the question patiently, but Fengyan only shook his head.
"No one knows for sure. The details of the Dragonriders are completely sealed.
All we know is that Liyue has such an undefeated army."
"Their numbers, their strength, their training methods , all of it is classified."
"They are tied to the deepest secrets of Liyue."
"Even their training doesn't take place within the mortal realm ,
rumor says they are trained inside a realm personally crafted by the Adepti and the Geo Archon himself."
"But one thing's certain , however many there are, the number is only greater, never less."
Fengyan sighed, a trace of longing in his expression.
The heavy cavalrymen riding beside him looked much the same , faces calm, but eyes gleaming with yearning.
The Dragonriders were every Qianyan soldier's ultimate dream ,
the living legend of Liyue.
There wasn't a single Qianyan trooper who didn't wish to soar skyward atop a dragon,
defending the nation with divine flame and Geo might.
But the selection process was impossibly strict ,
and worse, completely closed to the public.
No one even knew how to apply.
Whenever anyone asked the General Affairs Office, the answer was always the same:
"That matter is not under our jurisdiction.
If you wish to know, ask Lady Ningguang , or the Geo Archon, Morax himself."
Thus, even to the people of Liyue, the Dragonriders remained a symbol of mystery and awe.
Fengyan chuckled bitterly.
Even as the commander of Liyue's Heavy Cavalry, he knew that if he were ever offered the chance to become a Dragonrider ,
he would resign on the spot just to join as a regular soldier.
No one in the Qianyan Army could ever refuse the honor of soaring through the skies on dragonback,
protecting the homeland and upholding Liyue's eternal peace.
To become a Dragonrider was to bring glory to one's family ,
a name etched in gold upon the clan's ancestral record.
Even in death, their epitaph would forever read:
"Here lies a legend ,
A Dragonrider of Liyue."
Then Fengyan glanced toward Lumine, his eyes lighting with envy.
"I remember, Miss Lumine… you have quite a few dragons, don't you?"
Lumine grinned, clearly enjoying the attention.
"Mhm~ Paimon and I have six dragons in total!"
Fengyan's stoic face softened, and for the first time, he laughed a little awkwardly.
He scratched his head.
"Um… Miss Lumine, I know you're Lady Ningguang's sworn sister,
and a good friend of the Geo Archon himself…"
"Could you… maybe ask if I can join the Dragonriders?
I don't need to be a captain or anything , I'd be happy as a regular trooper."
Lumine blinked, clearly surprised that he was being serious.
After a moment, she rubbed her cheek and replied with a sheepish smile.
"I can ask for you… but I can't promise anything.
Ningguang keeps the Dragonriders' selection process very tightly controlled."
"And… let me warn you , the qualifications aren't what you think.
The difficulty is far beyond what anyone expects."
"But yes," Lumine added thoughtfully, "the Dragonriders have been expanding their ranks recently."
"Anyway, I'll do my best to ask."
Fengyan's face lit up immediately.
"Thank you so much, Miss Lumine! I'll be forever grateful if you can even try."
Kujou Sara completely understood his feelings.
In truth, if Inazuma ever had such a magnificent army, even she , a general , would gladly join as an ordinary soldier.
After a moment of thought, she spoke again, keeping her tone calm.
"Captain Fengyan, you said Liyue has seven main combat divisions. We've discussed five already , what about the remaining two?"
Fengyan straightened his posture, regaining his composure.
"Strictly speaking, the last two don't technically belong to the Qianyan Army.
The sixth division is… what people call Liyue's Air Force ,
the floating structure you saw hovering above the harbor earlier."
Lumine clapped her hands as realization struck.
"Ah! You mean the floating stone platform crafted by Sea Gazer, right?
And it carries Ningguang's Skyborne Anti-Dragon Cannon, doesn't it?"
Fengyan nodded solemnly.
"That's right. Though 'Air Force' is just the common name.
Its official title is, "
He paused for effect, then said it clearly:
"Aerial Fortress of Lethal Anti-Divine Assault."
Even Ei's expression hardened.
She had felt that overwhelming sense of danger earlier when they passed it overhead ,
but now, hearing its true designation, her unease only deepened.
"Lethal… anti-divine assault?" she repeated softly.
Fengyan nodded gravely.
"Exactly as it sounds.
That weapon is capable of instantly killing even a god.
Lady Ningguang once said that even the Geo Archon himself would be gravely wounded , perhaps even on the brink of death , if he were to take a direct hit."
Ei's brows furrowed tightly.
Such destructive power was well beyond her comfort or comprehension.
Fengyan continued:
"That fortress is piloted by Lady Ningguang's most trusted subordinates,
while an Adeptus oversees its movement."
"It carries the Skyborne Anti-Dragon Cannon, a weapon so powerful that no living creature can withstand even a single blast.
It's also armed with numerous Redstone Cannons and rotary alchemic guns,
capable of both ground and aerial bombardment."
"Strictly speaking, it's not an army , it's a weapon system."
"However, its construction cost is astronomical,
and it requires rare materials that even Liyue can barely supply.
Lady Ningguang doesn't intend to build many."
"Still, aside from the one you saw earlier, there are several smaller aerial bastions.
Their destructive power is lower , but that's only relative.
Even a single Redstone Cannon can annihilate a monster the size of a mountain."
"During the battle to subdue Osial,
those same cannons shattered his heads repeatedly , over and over again ,
proving they still retain divine-slaying power."
Ei pressed her lips together, her unease clear.
Though she said nothing, her eyes betrayed her concern.
Sara, meanwhile, couldn't help but let out a quiet sigh.
"Truly… incredible. Liyue's strength is beyond what I imagined."
Lumine giggled, resting a hand on her hip.
"If you ask me, Ningguang would've loved to build even more fortresses ,
but Sea Gazer just stopped cooperating.
He refuses to make any more floating stones."
"If it weren't for that, Ningguang wouldn't care how many resources it took."
Fengyan gave an awkward chuckle, rubbing his neck.
"W-well… that's not entirely wrong."
He recalled with a wince how Sea Gazer had complained to Lumine not long ago ,
and yet, despite all his grumbling, his workload hadn't lessened in the slightest.
No wonder the Adeptus had decided he'd had enough.