Hearing Ganyu's words, the adepti froze in place.
Combined with the sight of the god clutching his throat in agony, they couldn't help but believe her. After struggling for a long while, the god's movements grew weaker and weaker until, at last, he collapsed and breathed his final breath.
The sight left the adepti utterly astonished. None of them had imagined that the first among them to slay a god would be Ganyu—and in such a ridiculous way at that.
"Huh!? Why is it so quiet?"
"Hey! Master! Can you hear me? What's happening outside?"
Unaware of what had occurred, Ganyu spoke with confusion.
Just moments before, the commotion had been deafening. Now the sudden silence left her bewildered. The crushing pressure had also vanished—she knew it had been the god's attempt to swallow her. Fortunately, her body was large enough to wedge tightly in his throat, rendering his effort useless no matter how much force he exerted.
The adepti cautiously approached the fallen god. After carefully checking several times, they confirmed he was dead beyond any doubt.
"Hold on, we'll get you out."
With great effort, they tore open a hole in the god's throat and finally pulled Ganyu free.
Seeing the light once more, Ganyu looked around at the scene. Meeting her masters' smiling gazes, she seemed to realize what had happened.
"He…"
"Could it be… I killed him…?" she asked, lips twitching.
"Only you could slay a god in such a way," Cloud Retainer remarked, as sharp-tongued as ever.
Ganyu's face immediately flushed scarlet.
"Still, killing a god with your own strength proves your great potential," Mountain Shaper added in consolation.
But the reassurance only made Ganyu more embarrassed. She flailed her little legs desperately, as though trying to flee the scene.
Watching her, Elliot smiled faintly, then slowly stepped back and turned toward Morax.
...
"No! You cannot kill our god!!"
"If you want to kill him, then kill us first!!"
"Yes! Kill us first! He is our god—our faith itself! If he dies, we will not live either!"
Morax stood with spear in hand, cold eyes fixed on the dozens of humans before him.
They spread their arms wide, glaring at him with furious determination as they shielded their god with their bodies.
Among them were men and women, young and old. Every one of them stared at Morax with death in their eyes.
Behind them, the wounded god staggered forward, blood spilling from two gaping wounds in his shoulder and abdomen. Dragging his heavy body, he slowly pushed aside his followers and stepped before Morax.
Even knowing he had no chance of victory, he still raised his blade and swung at him.
His staggering form resembled that of a dying old man, stripped of all divine might. He looked even weaker than an ordinary human.
Morax shifted slightly, dodging with ease, while the god swung sluggishly, like a drunken man.
One strike, two strikes, three strikes…
He kept swinging at Morax, tears streaming down his face.
He had long known he could never win, but still he refused to give up. For he too had people to protect—for he too clung stubbornly to life.
Clang!
With a sharp metallic ring, Morax's spear struck his blade aside. The weapon spun through the air several times before plunging into the ground.
The god froze. Slowly, he raised his head and looked at Morax, despair fading into desperate pleading.
"I ask only one thing of you."
"What is it?"
"Don't harm them."
As he spoke, he glanced back at his people with one final bitter smile.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't protect you."
The moment those words left his lips, Morax's spear pierced through his skull.
The humans' eyes widened in disbelief as their god collapsed before them.
One after another, they threw themselves over his fallen body.
When they realized he was truly dead, their eyes reddened with rage, and they charged at Morax with all their strength.
"I'll kill you!!!"
"You coward! What kind of skill is hiding behind a shield?! Come out and fight us!!"
"You think sparing us makes you kind?! You hypocrite!"
"You killed our only god! The god who saved our lives! And now you've killed him! May you die a wretched death!"
They clawed and roared, their frenzied attacks slamming against Morax's shield.
But Morax ignored them. He walked on steadily, his cold eyes betraying no emotion.
He slowly rose into the air, preparing to return to Tianheng Mountain—when suddenly, a man in black robes and a mask appeared at his side.