South Heavenly Gate, beneath the Dragon-Queller Tree.
Two figures walked side by side, step by step.
"Azhdaha～"
Looking at the Dragon-Queller Tree that now coexisted with his old friend, Zhongli sighed in his heart:
"The pain of erosion shall cease."
How many years had it been?
The exact span of time had already grown hazy.
He only vaguely remembered that back then, after fighting from The Chasm all the way to the South Heavenly Gate, all of Liyue had been thrown into turmoil.
If not for Azhdaha's good will awakening at the last moment, returning to the Dust of Remembrance,
Willingly sealing himself beneath this Dragon-Queller Tree with him and the other adepti,
Locking himself within the cavern…
The consequences would have been unimaginable.
"Azhdaha has been sealed for many years. With malice surging within, it is inevitable… that resentment will overflow."
"He'll curse endlessly."
Thinking of what might happen when they faced Azhdaha, Zhongli could not help but feel somewhat helpless.
"No problem."
Taro shook his head without care. "In the end, he just needs a beating."
"Otherwise he won't behave."
"Just a light beating is enough. I'm not that petty."
Being sealed for so many years…
Azhdaha's remaining goodwill had likely nearly vanished, perhaps completely swallowed by malice.
Losing clarity of mind, falling into mania and violence.
That was to be expected.
"I must ask Taro-dono to show mercy."
"Strike a little lighter."
Hearing this, Zhongli gave a bitter smile.
Even the God of Death had fallen easily before Taro's hand.
What chance did Azhdaha, long sealed and weakened, have?
He only hoped his old friend would not speak too much, or he would be the one to take the blows.
Injuries from a beating were normal.
After all, one hammer strike breaking bones was inevitable.
As long as Taro did not wield Xie Binggel's golden long spear…
That spear was far too murderous. Azhdaha would not withstand even three thrusts.
As long as the spear stayed unused,
All else could be managed.
Even if the injuries were severe, they could be healed.
Besides, Azhdaha was not ungrateful by nature.
Though violent, he was still reasonable.
"By the way."
Taro turned to Zhongli:
"His horn—do I take it myself, or…?"
"Take it yourself." Zhongli nodded with a smile. "Though we cannot see Azhdaha's sulking face,
I am sure he will complain endlessly.
Better to let you retrieve it while I endure his grumbling."
After all, it was Azhdaha's malice that erupted first. If Taro broke a horn while treating him,
It would be understandable.
"Mm. Azhdaha will understand."
With that thought, Zhongli no longer worried.
He guided his soul to the array beneath the Dragon-Queller Tree. A golden door appeared,
Loosening the seal that had bound Azhdaha for a thousand years, now opened by a corner.
The next moment, golden light pulled them inside the seal.
The scene shifted.
A vast platform appeared.
At the center, the array built upon Azhdaha's sigils glowed.
Within it, the dragon king's form had taken shape—an incarnation of malice born from the loosening of the seal.
The manifested body stood thirty meters tall, over sixty meters long, solid and heavy, with a build somewhat like a snapping turtle.
It looked fat.
Azhdaha's true body could not yet emerge.
It was said his limbs reached higher than Mt. Tianheng,
That a mere step could cause landslides and quakes.
Teyvat's ancient elemental dragon kings were all colossal.
Azhdaha was no exception.
But compared to Nibelungen's skeletal remains,
He was like a dwarf beside a mountain.
His true body was still under a thousand zhang,
Nothing like Nibelungen's ten-thousand-zhang bulk.
"Morax…"
A deep, ghostly growl echoed through the cavern.
Azhdaha's manifested body slowly opened scarlet, malice-filled eyes.
One by one, his limbs pulled free from the platform and landed heavily,
Shaking the array and shattering stone ridges.
The seal cracked further.
"Hum hum hum… ha ha ha!"
"The 'usurper' dares to break my seal!"
"Morax, you come to me yourself. Convenient for me to take revenge!"
"Ant, I'll crush you!"
Even as a body of malice alone,
Azhdaha's dragon palm already seemed unstoppable.
If the seal cracked further, it would no longer hold him.
He planned to destroy the 'usurper' first.
"Cough…"
Not seeing any trace of Azhdaha's goodwill, Zhongli sighed, stepping back silently.
"Dragon King Azhdaha, your opponent today is not me…"
"Hm?"
Seeing Zhongli retreat, the malice in Azhdaha froze—then boiled into fury.
"Damn 'usurper,' who told you to back away!"
"Sealed for a thousand years, and you've grown this weak? Don't dare face me?"
"Coward!!!"
"…"
Watching Azhdaha's sudden rage, Taro glanced at Zhongli.
Should he say—this was brotherhood?
There was no hatred in Azhdaha's words.
It was more like anger at his weakness.
Even if malice ruled him now…
"Taro-dono～"
Zhongli turned away, out of sight, out of mind.
"Don't think too much. Strike quickly."
"Alright."
Taro nodded, saying no more.
It was just a body of malice.
Why use a world-class artifact?
Mana surged within him. He raised his hand, releasing thirteen consecutive spells:
"Jikan Teishi (Time Stop)!"
"Kōki Seiken (Radiant Holy Sword)!"
"Seijō no Uta (Song of Purity)!"
Gray light burst forth, engulfing Azhdaha.
A holy sword formed overhead and fell, piercing his body.
Ethereal song echoed, purging the corruption.
Black smoke curled and vanished.
Time up.
Time Stop ended.
No sign of the manifested body remained.
Boom—
The cavern shook violently.
Azhdaha's malice form was destroyed.
But his true body's fury roared through the cave, shaking it apart.
He now tried to break free by force.
His original plan had been to use the body to stall Morax, then break free completely.
Now that had failed, he had no choice but to force it.
If the broken corners of the seal were repaired, he would have no chance.
"Seal!"
Zhongli raised both hands. Infinite golden light poured into the platform, holding against Azhdaha's destruction.
"Taro-dono, act quickly!"
"There is no time!"
Once Azhdaha went mad, his destructive power was overwhelming.
Even the aftershocks of his rage could shake Liyue with a prehistoric earthquake.
"Got it!"
Taro rushed straight into the array, facing the frenzied Dragon King head-on!
(End of Chapter)
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