["Azhdaha…"]
[High above the clouds, Morax stood rigid, cold sweat forming on his brow.]
[Though the Dragon King's body had shrunk after millennia of sealing and erosion, his essence remained unchanged.]
[Azhdaha was a primordial creation of the earth—born with elemental crystals that allowed him to resonate directly with the ley lines and draw power from them.]
[He could simultaneously wield water, fire, ice, and lightning.]
[His body was harder than stone itself.]
[Ordinary attacks were utterly meaningless against him.]
[Even if Morax personally intervened, all he could do was suppress and reseal Azhdaha—never truly destroy him.]
[Without Morax… Liyue had no path to victory.]
["Morax," Aerin said calmly, a faint smile on his lips.]
["This time, I merely released dangers that already existed within Liyue itself."]
["That's not unreasonable, is it?"]
Morax's breath faltered.
For the oldest surviving god of Teyvat, emotions long buried were violently dragged back to the surface.
If he had never sought Aerin out—
If he had never spoken of human rule—
Liyue would not be suffering this trial.
He had never truly intended to abandon his people.
His plan had always been to withdraw on the surface while continuing to protect Liyue from the shadows.
If humans failed, he would intervene.
But Aerin did not accept such half-measures.
He wanted to see how humanity faced calamity without a god standing behind them.
To see where their confidence truly came from.
Morax knew that if he acted now, Aerin would act personally.
And that outcome would be far worse.
"…I was negligent," Morax said hoarsely.
"Liyue is surrounded by forces far beyond human resistance."
Aerin said nothing.
Morax continued, voice heavy with regret.
"If I had clearly guided them in mineral extraction…"
"They would not have disturbed the ley lines."
"Azhdaha would not have broken our contract."
"The disaster at the Chasm would never have occurred."
This was no excuse.
The ley lines were Azhdaha's lifeline.
Liyue's unchecked mining—conducted in ignorance—had shaken them repeatedly.
That damage eroded Azhdaha's sanity.
And so came the war that scarred Liyue's history.
"…But now," Morax said, looking at Aerin,
"the people who will die—"
Aerin tilted his head.
"Did Barbatos not tell you?"
"Those who perish through fate's weaving can be restored."
"When I take full control of this world, the worthy will be answered."
The words struck like a seal.
Morax fell silent.
Power alone was terrifying.
Power with responsibility and means of restitution was something else entirely.
Those who were qualified would survive.
Those who were not—
Their fate was irrelevant.
Liyue — The People's Despair
Human hearts froze.
They had barely recovered from Osial's appearance when another calamity emerged from the mountains.
Worse still—
Monsters across Liyue were mobilizing, surging toward Liyue Harbor in hordes.
The Liyue Front Line
Cloud Retainer swept across the ranks of the Millelith.
One by one, talismans infused with adeptal power descended upon the soldiers.
"This is an art I learned during the Archon War," her voice echoed.
"These talismans will enhance your strength."
"The Millelith once fought gods with this very technique."
Keqing clenched her lips.
She knew—
Every soldier.
Every citizen.
They were all silently calling upon the same name.
Rex Lapis.
But he isn't here.
"…So we fight anyway."
Her grip tightened on her blade.
"Millelith, advance!"
"Within the talismans' duration—slay every monster!"
"Do not allow them to approach Liyue Harbor!"
Near Nantianmen
Rows of Guizhong Ballistae were already deployed.
Azhdaha roared.
"MORAX!"
The sound alone made Ningguang's legs weaken.
As if commanded—
Geo Vishaps surged forward like a tidal wave.
"These monsters are ours," a cold voice said.
Xiao, mask in place, vanished in a gale.
He knew the truth better than anyone.
They could not stop Azhdaha.
They could only buy time.
Even if that meant dying.
Azhdaha Advances
Each step shattered the earth.
Massive craters formed beneath his claws.
Cloud Retainer stared without blinking.
"Leave command to Ningguang," she said tightly.
"We must prepare the Adeptal Sealing Formation."
"Ningguang—delay him."
"If we fail… evacuate Liyue Harbor."
Before Ningguang could respond, the adepti were already gone.
She clenched her fists.
There was no room for weakness.
"Fire!" she commanded.
Golden light rained down upon Azhdaha's colossal body.
He roared in fury.
"Where are you, Morax?!"
"Humans violated my ley lines—yet I was sealed!"
"Traitorous god!"
Hearing those words—
Liyue's people felt a bitter ache in their hearts.
They had not known.
They had never known.
But without Morax, such ignorance would have destroyed them long ago.
Collapse
Azhdaha stomped.
The ground split apart.
Xiao moved like lightning, saving those he could—
But not all.
His jaw tightened beneath the mask.
Then—
Flames fell from the sky.
"Ningguang—retreat!" someone shouted.
Her vision swam.
Overused elemental power… now, of all times—
A white figure swept past.
Boom!
The Guizhong Ballistae were annihilated.
"Guizhong Ballistae…!"
Ningguang's chest tightened.
Their last ranged weapon—gone.
"How do we delay him now…?"
"I could only save you," Shenhe said quietly.
"I'll try to buy time."
"That's suicide," Ningguang snapped.
Shenhe paused, then replied calmly:
"Without Rex Lapis, we cannot stop him."
"Sacrifice is only a matter of time."
Her expression did not waver.
As if she already knew the ending.
The Truth Revealed
Azhdaha's roar split the sky.
"You seek to seal me again?"
"You insects!"
Lightning erupted in the distance.
Ningguang's heart sank.
"That direction…"
"The adepti…"
Conclusion
As the future unfolded—
The truth became undeniable.
Without Morax—
Liyue, before Azhdaha,
Was fragile—
Like clay chickens and tile dogs.
To read advanced Chapters, head over to p@treon:
patreon.com/nani_kaito