Every leg shook uncontrollably. Their instincts screamed to run, yet their resolve held firm. Not one person knelt or turned away.
"Good," Morax said at last. "I acknowledge you."
The oppressive aura lingered for ten full minutes before he withdrew it, nodding in satisfaction.
Anyone who could withstand ten minutes of that killing intent had truly accepted death and committed themselves to battle.
The instant the pressure lifted, everyone gasped for air, greedily breathing as if they had been drowning.
Cold sweat drenched their clothes, their bodies trembling even as relief washed over them.
"Do you have a name?" Morax asked after allowing them time to recover.
"We are the Millelith! Millelith, steadfast and immovable!"
"Millelith, steadfast and immovable!!"
"Millelith, steadfast and immovable!!!"
Morax nodded, clearly pleased. He liked the sound of "Millelith."
But though their spirits were strong, entering battle as they were would only mean certain death.
"Though you bear the name Millelith, your bodies are thinly clad and easily harmed," he said. "Today, I grant you the Armor of the Bastion—so that the Millelith may live up to its name. Wear it, and together we shall purge demons and drive away evil."
As he spoke, Morax forged armor modeled after his own, each piece imbued with divine power capable of withstanding tremendous force.
The members of the Millelith stared in awe. None had expected the Geo Emperor himself to bestow such a gift.
Overcome with gratitude, they bowed deeply before eagerly donning the divine armor.
"Of all the weapons, the spear is my favorite," Morax continued. "It can attack and defend, and its reach is long. Today, I grant each of you a spear. From now on, I will personally teach you the art of the spear."
Uniform weaponry would make training far easier—and the spear was indeed the wisest choice.
Mortals could not fly, so attack range was crucial.
Swords and blades were too short, requiring close combat—and mortal bodies, even in armor, could not endure that.
Bows offered range, but were too limited; once enemies closed in, there was no escape.
Thus, the spear was the best option—its reach allowed distance, and even up close, it still offered a chance to fight back.
The Millelith , deeply moved, accepted the spears with gratitude.
In the days that followed, Morax personally trained them in the art of the spear.
Meanwhile, Ghizhong continued tirelessly crafting her Ghizhong Machines, one after another.
The Adepti took flight beyond Liyue, gathering intelligence. They were not ones to accept humiliation quietly. Since their enemies had dared to strike first, they would retaliate with full force.
Could they simply let their foes retreat, rebuild, and attack again? Impossible.
So the Adepti scoured the lands for the seven demon gods who had once invaded Liyue—ready to strike the moment they were found.
As for Elliot, his whereabouts remained unknown. Since that war, he had vanished as if erased from existence.
Morax had searched far and wide, but Elliot's level far surpassed his own. If Elliot chose to hide, even Morax could not sense him.
Just like the demon gods who attacked Liyue—none had ever perceived Elliot's existence. To them, Liyue had only one ruler: the Geo Emperor.
Morax never understood why Elliot had left without a word.
At times, when nostalgia struck, he would clumsily brew himself tea—using utensils he had crafted from memory, far less refined than Elliot's.
Each pot turned out strange—too bitter, too bland, never quite right.
"Your Majesty! News!" Skyward Guide's voice broke the quiet. "They're in Dragonspine! The seven are still united, and they've already slain many gods. Their strength has grown even greater!"
Three years had passed since the seven demon gods' invasion of Liyue. After years of searching, they had finally found them.
But now came a grave dilemma.
Defeating those seven required both Morax and Azhdaha to take the field. Without them, sending only the Adepti and mortals would be suicide.
Yet if both Morax and Azhdaha left, who would protect Liyue?
Ghizhong? Impossible. Despite her effort, she wasn't strong enough yet.
"I'll stay and guard Liyue. You two go—and be careful."
As everyone wrestled with uncertainty, a familiar voice drifted down from the houses atop Tianheng Mountain.
They looked up—and there stood Elliot on the roof.
It was as if he had been there all along, never having left at all.