"I learned something from the God of Strength, Eliog. They've also made their move on the Guili Plains."
Morax now shared what he knew.
"Their retreat likely means their plan failed," replied the Mountain Shaper.
"Those who returned from Guili Plains to Liyue all wore expressions of happiness and joy. This means the Lord must have saved them there," Cloud Retainer added her assessment.
"Ganyu, you were the one who escorted the Liyue people there. Did you notice anything unusual?" Skyward Guide inquired.
"No. I dropped them off and hurried back to Liyue to support you all. I didn't linger there long."
Without informing the others, they decided to investigate what had transpired at Guili Plains.
"I shall remain here," declared Azhdaha, "to guard against those creatures returning." He continued his vigil over Liyue.
"Very well, we'll return swiftly."
With that, Morax and the Adepti set off for Guili Plains.
They traversed the void, and as they collectively materialized above Guili Plains, the people below prostrated themselves in worship before Morax. They lay flat on the ground, chanting his revered title while bowing and kneeling.
Yet Morax remained oblivious to them, utterly transfixed by the scene before him.
It wasn't just Morax—the entire assembly of Adepti stood frozen in shock. Across the boundless grasslands, six colossal mountains had risen from nowhere. Behind them lay the devastated landscape, its original features utterly obliterated.
Two days had passed since the flood. The waters had flowed into the lowlands, forming vast lakes, while the rest had been absorbed by the earth.
"This... was done by the Sovereign, wasn't it?" Ganyu murmured in disbelief.
"Besides him, I can't imagine anyone else possessing such power..." Morax was utterly astonished.
Six mountains, each larger than Tianheng Mountain, had suddenly appeared on the Guili Plains. He dared not imagine the divine power required to create them. Based on his own strength, even if he completely drained his divine power, he could only create four Tianheng Mountains consecutively at most.
But these six mountains clearly weren't the full extent of Elliot's power; they were simply enough to block all the floodwaters. If the grasslands had been just a bit wider, Morax suspected Elliot could have created ten such mountains.
They descended slowly from the sky. Each person in the crowd wore an expression of profound reverence, desperately paying homage to Morax.
For a moment, Morax didn't know what to say. Should he mention that Elliot had done this? But Elliot had told him not to publicize his name. Would Elliot be displeased if he revealed it?
But if he remained silent, what then? He couldn't possibly claim credit for something that wasn't his to begin with—that would be utterly shameless.
Finding no solution, Morax chose evasion. Without a word, he hastily departed from Guili Plains. The Adepti seemed to understand his intent and followed suit, leaving together.
"You needn't come. I'll go alone."
Morax assumed human form and returned to Guili Plains. This time, the humans did not surround him.
Ghizhong spotted Morax immediately. She approached alongside Marchosius. Only when they reached a secluded spot did Ghizhong ask, "You didn't create these mountains, did you?"
"No, I didn't do this. I lack the power to summon so many mountains," Morax admitted.
"So this is the work of the 'elder brother' you often speak of?" Marchosius suddenly felt intense curiosity toward this unseen God.
"Yes. No other God in the world could accomplish such a feat."
"He protects Guili Plains like this, yet why has he never shown himself? I wish to meet him, to thank him in person. If not for him... Guili Plains would likely have been utterly destroyed," Ghizhong spoke with great sincerity.
"He dislikes appearing before the world, but I will convey this to him. Whether he chooses to meet you depends entirely on his own will," Morax replied to Ghizhong.
"Alright, I'll leave it to you then."
Ghizhong bowed her head slightly before letting out a sigh. Her eyes, filled with self-reproach, fixed on him.
"Morax."
"Hmm?" Morax acknowledged.
"You said..."
"...that I'm useless, didn't you..."
Hearing Ghizhong's words, Morax paused, momentarily bewildered. He asked in confusion, "Why would you say that?"
"In this great battle, I did nothing. I couldn't help you at all. I'm a God too—why am I so weak..."
As she spoke, Ghizhong's eyes reddened. She hated herself, cursing why she wasn't a combat-type God. She hated being utterly useless, even failing to protect her own people—all saved by Morax's elder brother.
"I'm like a useless ornament, good only for empty words. When real danger strikes, I'm so useless that I don't even feel like a God..."
"I watched the floodwaters surge in. I watched my people cry out, begging me to save them. Yet I could do nothing. All I could do was stand by and watch... just stand by and watch..."
"I'm so useless... Morax... I'm so useless..."
"If not for those mountains... I can't even imagine what would have happened..."
"A God like me... shouldn't I just cease to exist..."
Tears streaming down her face, she looked at Morax and asked from the depths of her heart.