Boom...
Boom...
Small stones scattered across the ground began to tremble, bouncing lightly as if in a strange dance while faint vibrations rippled through the earth.
From all directions came the thunderous sound of colossal footsteps, echoing in every ear like the charge of ten thousand warhorses.
Mixed within that deafening cadence were deep, guttural roars—bestial bellows that sent chills down the spine.
"What's going on...? It feels like countless things are approaching Liyue..."
The people of Liyue stopped what they were doing, lifting their heads as if trying to catch the violent aura carried on the wind.
"So many gods... too many... it's over... we're all going to die here..."
Suddenly, a man crouched on the ground, clutching his head in terror, muttering frantically.
His strange state only heightened the fear already spreading through the crowd.
"Mommy... I'm scared..." A little girl, sensing the oppressive atmosphere, clung tightly to her mother.
"It's alright, don't be afraid. With the Geo Emperor here, everything will be fine." The woman stroked her daughter's head gently, speaking in a soft, steady voice.
"What nonsense! With the Geo Emperor here, how could anything happen to us? Keep spouting that garbage and you'll answer to my fists!"
A stern-faced man stepped forward, barking in a harsh tone.
Frightened into silence, the cowering man shrank back further, trembling as he hugged his head.
"That's right! With the Geo Emperor, nothing will happen to us!"
"The Geo Emperor has never let us down—he will protect us!"
"Everyone, stay calm! Don't panic. Do your work as usual—we must trust the Geo Emperor!"
Soon, the people of Liyue regained their composure, no longer shaken by the terrifying stomps and monstrous roars rolling across the land.
...
Atop Tianheng Mountain—
"All immortals, hear my command!" Morax's voice rang out, grave and commanding.
"Present!" the Adepti responded in unison.
"Take Tianheng Mountain as your line. Do not allow a single beast to cross it!"
"Understood!"
Before the echoes faded, Morax leapt from the mountain peak, landing squarely on Azhdaha's massive back below.
"Old friend, let us meet them head-on." Morax lowered his mask over his face, his voice deep and steady.
"It's time to fight without restraint." Azhdaha slammed a claw against the ground, unleashing a surge of wild, violent energy.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The great dragon charged northwest of Tianheng Mountain, each footfall making the land tremble.
Morax, meanwhile, sped northeast, his figure streaking across the sky.
The Adepti moved swiftly as well, activating countless mechanisms and fortifications at the mountain's front lines.
"You've grown, Morax..."
Watching Morax act with such decisiveness, Elliot felt a quiet surge of satisfaction.
In the past, Morax would have asked him what to do.
Now, he could command on his own—calm, orderly, and unfaltering in the face of crisis.
"Long time no see, Morax."
A voice boomed from ahead. A red-haired god with a chiseled face and a muscular, bare torso stood before him.
"The God of Strength... Eliog." Morax's brows furrowed.
"So you still remember me. What an honor. After a hundred years, we finally get to spar again." Eliog's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Of course I remember."
Morax's eyes shifted briefly toward the two other gods standing at Eliog's side, as well as the large horde of followers massed behind them.
"This so-called sparring seems anything but proper," he said coldly.
"I recall there were two other gods with you. One was the Dust god... and the other, the Stove god, wasn't it?"
"And I've also heard of a dragon who commands all five elements. Seems fair enough. So why didn't you bring them along?"
Mockery laced every word Eliog spoke.
Morax and Eliog had known each other long ago, in the days of uneasy peace before Elliot appeared. They had met because Morax had sought Eliog out for a spar.
Eliog was the God of Strength—his raw power was overwhelming. Morax had never been able to withstand his blows head-on; his shield could endure only a few strikes before shattering. But Eliog's speed was his weakness, much slower than Morax's.
Back then, their battles had always ended in stalemates—neither could defeat the other.
Eliog too wielded Geo, and his weapon was unique: the Serpent Spear. Its shaft was formed from the twisted coils of a serpent's body, grotesque and irregular—a weapon only he could wield.
"Enough talk. Kill him quickly," one of the female gods beside Eliog said coldly.
"What's the rush? It's been so long since I've seen an old friend. Surely a little conversation won't hurt?"
Eliog's smiling gaze locked onto her.
His tone was casual, but the pressure it carried was suffocating—so sharp it made her feel as if death itself were breathing down her neck.