"What an unsympathetic body..." Watching his body begin to spontaneously combust, Phenex sighed inwardly.
"By ordinary rational standards, this doesn't look like 'nothing happened' at all." Morax walked over and reached out to press down on Phenex's shoulder.
Vast and majestic elemental power surged into Phenex's body, pulling out the sharp spears that had pierced through him and sealing the wounds with elemental power.
Guizhong walked over, pinched her fingers to form a spell, and activated adeptal arts to heal the wounds on Phenex's body.
However, even the two gods could only slow down the exhaustion of Phenex's body.
Crimson flames spread along the slender body. No one knew what the scene would be like once the flames engulfed Phenex's entire body.
Morax and Guizhong did not want to know, nor did they want to see such a scene.
The input of elemental power and adeptal energy was increased further, but the speed of the flames' spread showed no sign of slowing down.
Feeling his body gradually disappearing, Phenex shook off Morax's hand and said: "That's enough."
Morax and Guizhong fell silent and stopped.
"I'm sorry." Morax apologized.
"I'm the same. I'm sorry." Guizhong echoed.
"Don't make such expressions. It's not like I'm leaving right now." Phenex chuckled lightly. "And if anyone should apologize, it should be this god who still has one breath left."
"I should have taken you to the battlefield."
"Me? To the battlefield? That doesn't sound like something the Lord of Geo, who values contracts the most, would say."
"If you had been by Morax's side, things wouldn't be like this now." Guizhong's eyes were red-rimmed. "The one who should have stayed in the Guili Assembly back then was me."
"Then the one who would have faced the God of Dreams' entire force alone last night and ended up like this would be you."
Phenex smiled lightly: "You've known Morax longer. If it were you who ended up like this now, Morax would be even more heartbroken."
"We're all old friends of a hundred years. At a time like this, we should talk about something else. Otherwise, if Morax loses the Archon War because of his emotions, I'd be the sinner."
Morax looked toward the Guili Assembly that Phenex had protected behind him and said: "Actually, you didn't have to do this. You never made a contract, and you don't have the nature of one who loves others."
"You could have simply turned and left. With your strength, emerging unscathed wouldn't have been difficult."
"And then?" Phenex countered. "Watch the people of the Guili Assembly get slaughtered in their sleep?"
"Morax and I wouldn't resent you."
"But I would." Phenex said calmly. "From the time I was born until now, the time that has passed isn't very long, but it's still a very long time in the eyes of ordinary people."
"And during this time, aside from the wilderness, the only thing in my memories is the Guili Assembly. The Guili Assembly is the only colorful place in my memories."
"You want me to leave this place and watch those familiar people or things be destroyed by such a coward..."
"Do you think I could do that?"
Phenex suddenly laughed: "When you think about it this way, it seems you two have no reason to apologize. Because it wasn't that you failed to protect me, but that I actively went to seek death."
"Don't joke at a time like this." Tears finally spilled from the corners of Guizhong's eyes.
I'm not joking. I just want the two of you to carry a little less burden. Phenex lowered his head slightly, not letting Morax and Guizhong see his current expression.
The contract that Morax and Guizhong had made back then was remembered not only by the two of them, but also by Phenex, the beneficiary.
It was already painful enough for old friends to pass away. What was even more painful was that they had once made a contract promising not to let the other suffer any harm.
Morax valued contracts the most otherwise, there would not be the words "The contract is formed. Those who break their word shall suffer the punishment of being devoured by rock" after a contract.
Yet the God of Contracts had failed to fulfill the contract he had made.
That was why Phenex deliberately said this to lessen the guilt in the hearts of the two gods, especially Morax.
At this moment, the flames spread to his chest. Seeing this, Phenex smiled: "Looks like time has reached its limit."
"After a normal god dies, their authority will go berserk and cause very serious consequences to the environment of heaven and earth. I wonder if a naturally born god like me will do the same..."
"But it's still best to avoid that possibility. Let this body of mine serve one final purpose."
Phenex crouched down, gripping the throat of the God of Dreams with one hand. His slightly illusory fiery wings spread open.
"The encounter between life and life will always give birth to new things, but that will never be a permanent farewell."
"Morax, Guizhong, we will meet again one day. I hope that when that day comes, it will be an era of peace throughout the world." The youth whose entire body was burning with flames turned around, faced the rising sun, and spread his wings to fly.
The fiery wings were like flowing flames, leaving a trail of sparks across the sky.
Guizhong's tears burst forth like a dam breaking. For the first time, this god faced the departure of a cherished friend. She squatted on the ground and cried like a real human girl.
Morax reached out and caught the falling sparks, feeling only a rich warmth remaining in his palm.
A god born from heaven and earth, without the nature of one who loves others even though he used the element most prone to destroying the world what he left behind when departing was only the warmth in the palm.
Closing his eyes, scenes of time spent with Phenex emerged in Morax's mind.
Their first meeting had stemmed from a misunderstanding. Through calculation, they turned from enemies to friends, and with insignificant favors, he had kept the newly born god in the Guili Assembly.
In truth, he had not been good to him. At the very beginning, he had even regarded him as an enemy.
Yet he had saved the Guili Assembly from fire and water, and because of his request, had willingly offered all the fruits of his hard labor.
The people of the Guili Assembly had nothing to do with him, yet he was willing to offer all the grain without seeking anything in return, simply because it was what he had asked for. And all he had given in return was a trivial contract.
Yet he, the God of Contracts, had failed to fulfill even this insignificant contract.
It was precisely because of his "good intentions" that he had caused him to depart like this.
With actions like these, can you still call yourself the God of Contracts? Morax asked himself inwardly.
"Phenex, I failed to fulfill the contract I promised you. Those who break their word shall suffer the punishment of being devoured by rock." As Morax spoke, he spat out a mouthful of blood.
This was the backlash caused by the contract.
Morax did not care much about it. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked in the direction Phenex had departed: "Though I failed to complete my contract, the words you said must be fulfilled."
"I will definitely win the Archon War! This Liyue will surely become a land of peace throughout the world! When that time comes, you must keep your promise and return to reunite with us."
...
In the Abyss, the forbidden land of Liyue.
Phenex returned once more to the place that had given birth to him. Then, without any hesitation, he carried the God of Dreams who still had one breath left straight toward the magma at the bottom of the abyss.
The birthplace of a naturally born god even the berserk authority of a god could not shake the origin of this place.
"From here it began, and from here it shall end."
The youth whose entire body was burning with flames carried the God of Dreams, who still clung to life, and plunged deep into the magma.
[Beep. The first character background completion task has been successfully concluded. The host's consciousness is returning to the main body...]