Everyone's attention was instinctively pulled toward the scene, their eyes widening in shock. None of them had expected the flood to skip any warning phase and erupt into a second wave so suddenly!
Without Morax, everything they had just done would have been meaningless—both the old and the young would have been swept away by the torrent!
"Rise!" Elliot thrust his massive hand upward, and the very earth surged like a living creature. As the ground rose higher and higher before their eyes, the crowd's terror only deepened.
BOOM!!!!!
The raging floodwaters crashed violently against the rising landmass. In moments, two enormous torrents split and roared past either side, completely cut off by the wall of earth!
The land rose higher still, piercing the sky, until it finally halted. Before them now loomed a colossal mountain range.
It blocked the flood entirely—and in that instant, the villagers saw Elliot and Morax for who they truly were. These were no humans. They were gods.
"Let me explain," Elliot said slowly.
It was the perfect chance: the villagers were still dazed, and since Morax wasn't the most eloquent, having him speak would only cause confusion.
"As you can see, we are not human. We are gods—though you may call us immortals."
"We disguised ourselves as humans and lived among you to observe how your village would act—whether you were kind, and how you would face disaster."
"It's clear now that you have passed the test. From this day on, this village will be under our protection, never again threatened by floods."
Elliot laid it out in the simplest terms, his tone colder than before.
Now that their identities as gods had been exposed, they could no longer live among the villagers as humans. The difference in status was too great. Even if the gods themselves didn't mind, humans would inevitably feel a barrier—that barrier was called respect.
It was like discovering that your closest friend, your brother, or your confidant was actually someone you worshipped or loved most deeply. From that moment, the old closeness could never return. You might lounge around or pick your nose in front of a friend, but never in front of your idol.
"Um..." For the first time, the village chief—usually a figure of absolute authority—looked lost for words before the people. In the village, he had always been the one in charge. Now, Elliot had taken that role from him.
"Speak freely, Chief," Elliot prompted calmly.
"How should we address you now..."
"He is the Rock god. I am the Dark god. Call us whatever you like."
"I see... We'll discuss and decide later."
The chief's mind was muddled and exhausted. He couldn't think of a proper title, so he set the matter aside for now. They couldn't just call them Rock god or Dark god. They needed a resounding title of honor—for Elliot and Morax had saved them all and become the guardians of their village. Such a name could not be chosen lightly.
"Very well. Once the flood recedes, gather the women and children back to the village. Until then, rest well."
At his words, the villagers nodded quickly, at last letting their exhaustion take over. They collapsed onto the ground, utterly drained—the struggle against the flood had cost them nearly all their strength.
"Morax, you can build houses, right?" Elliot turned to him.
"I can, but they'll look ugly."
"That's fine. They'll make them beautiful later. We just need to set the foundation."
"Alright then."
With that, the two rose into the air before the stunned eyes of the villagers. Lifting their hands, they summoned countless stone houses that rose from the earth. The sight was so magnificent that it left everyone dumbfounded.
Their homes had been destroyed by the flood, and rebuilding them would have taken untold time and effort. Yet here, in the blink of an eye, their greatest hardship had been solved by these two gods!
Once the houses were finished, Elliot flew toward the mountain he had just raised, with Morax following close behind.
When Elliot reached the summit, the familiar view beyond made him pause. Though much of the land was still covered by floodwaters, the sight stirred deep recognition.
This was Liyue's terrain. And the mountain he had just conjured—was Tianheng Mountain itself!
Until now, Elliot hadn't known where in Teyvat they stood. The world was still in its earliest days, mostly covered in mountains with no iconic landmarks—one could only guess based on impressions. But with Tianheng Mountain now standing, it all became clear.
"You mean to protect this village, don't you?" Elliot asked as he gazed into the distance.
"Yes. I will protect this land, this village, these people," Morax answered with unwavering certainty, not a trace of hesitation. And in his words, "humans" had now become "the people."
"Then why not give this village a name?"
"A name?"
"Yes. A symbol of belonging."
"Let me think..." Morax lowered his head in thought.
After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"How about 'Liyue'?"
"Oh? Why?" Elliot asked with interest.
"Well, it was because of our wager that I came to understand humanity, to see them differently. And it was because of that wager that we became guardians of this land. But I couldn't find a fitting word for 'wager.' So instead, let's call it 'Liyue'—to stand for our 'establishment of the pact.' What do you think?"
Hearing this, Elliot smiled faintly.
"Very well. Then it shall be Liyue."