[Location: Jueyun Karst – The Foot of the Mountain]
[Time: 3:15 PM]
The engine of the Motorcycle Eradicator whined down as I killed the power. The silence of Jueyun Karst rushed in to fill the void—a heavy, misty silence broken only by the cry of cranes and the rustle of wind through ancient amber trees.
"We're here," I announced, hopping off the bike and storing it back into my [Stomach] with a swirl of black smoke.
Aether rubbed his wind-blown hair. "That was... fast. Terrifying, but fast."
"Paimon thinks her soul is still back at the inn!" Paimon floated dizzily, holding her head. "Next time, warn us before you use the nitro boost!"
I chuckled, adjusting my leather gloves. "Speed is life, Paimon. Besides, we made good time. The Millelith are miles behind us."
I looked up at the towering peaks. The stone pillars pierced the clouds, glowing with faint elemental markings. To a normal human, it was just scenery. To me, with [Magic Sense] and [Elemental Sight] active, it was a fortress. Layers upon layers of barriers, seals, and Adeptal energy.
[Great Sage]
Nature: Geo and Spirit manipulation.
Warning: The environment itself is semi-sentient.>
"Tread carefully," I warned Aether. "This isn't just a mountain. It's a house. And we didn't knock."
[Location: Moon Carver's Altar]
[Time: 3:45 PM]
We climbed the stone steps to a large viewing platform. In the center stood an altar with offerings that looked centuries old.
"So..." Paimon whispered, "How do we call an Adeptus? Do we yell? Or offer food?"
Before Aether could answer, the air pressure dropped. The temperature didn't change, but the weight of the atmosphere crushed down on us.
"WHO DARES TRESPASS UPON JUEYUN KARST?"
A voice boomed from everywhere and nowhere.
In a flash of golden light, a massive stag materialized. Its antlers were like branches of amber, glowing with divine power. It looked down at us with eyes that had seen empires rise and fall.
Moon Carver.
Aether stepped forward, holding up the Sigil of Permission. "We are not enemies! We bear a Sigil!"
The Stag narrowed his eyes. "A Sigil of Permission... It has been an age since a mortal bore such a thing. But merely holding it does not grant you audience. Why have you come to disturb our solitude?"
"The Geo Archon..." Aether started, his voice wavering slightly under the pressure. "Rex Lapis... has been assassinated."
The silence that followed was absolute. Even the wind stopped.
Then, the mountain shook.
"PREPOSTEROUS!" Moon Carver roared, stomping a hoof. The stone beneath us cracked. "Rex Lapis is the Prime of the Adepti! The God of Contracts! No mortal blade could touch him! You speak lies!"
The killing intent was sharp. He was ready to trample us.
I stepped in front of Aether.
[Dragon's Haki] – Activate.
A dark, violet-blue aura exploded from my body, clashing against the golden pressure of the Adeptus. The air crackled with black lightning. Moon Carver flinched, his head snapping toward me.
"Calm down, Antlers," I said, my voice resonating with a draconic growl. "The boy isn't lying. I was there. I saw the Exuvia fall from the sky. I saw the Qixing seal the harbor. Liyue is in chaos."
Moon Carver stared at me, his eyes widening slightly. "This aura... You are not human. Yet you walk on two legs. A Vishap? No... different."
"I am Raiden," I stated, crossing my arms. "A traveler. And a Dragon. If I wanted to lie to you, I wouldn't have brought a witness."
Moon Carver snorted, the golden light dimming slightly as he regained his composure. He looked back at Aether, sensing the honesty in the traveler's posture.
"Assassinated..." Moon Carver murmured, a deep sorrow replacing his rage. "At the Rite of Descension... How could such a thing come to pass?"
Suddenly, [Great Sage] pinged.
"There they are!" A voice shouted from down the stairs. " The fugitives!"
A squad of Millelith soldiers burst onto the platform, spears raised. "Arrest them! They have conspired with the murderer!"
Moon Carver's sorrow turned instantly to cold fury.
"IGNORANT MORTALS."
He didn't even move. He simply glared.
"You dare intrude upon Jueyun Karst with weapons drawn? While I mourn the loss of my Lord?"
"Uh oh," Paimon hid behind Aether.
"Support him," I told Aether. "Show him we're on his side."
Aether drew his sword and engaged the soldiers. I stayed back, analyzing the flow of battle. Moon Carver was testing us. He wanted to see if Aether was worthy of the Sigil.
A sergeant lunged at me. "Die, monster!"
I didn't dodge. I raised my hand.
"[Steel Strength]."
CLANG.
The spear tip shattered against my palm. I looked at the soldier, bored.
"Wrong move."
I flicked his forehead. The impact sent him flying twenty feet backward, crashing into a tree.
Within a minute, the squad was routed. They fled down the mountain in terror.
Moon Carver huffed. "To think the Millelith have fallen so low... disturbing the Adepti. It seems the Qixing have lost their way."
He turned to us, his demeanor shifted. We were no longer intruders; we were messengers.
"Traveler. Dragon." Moon Carver bowed his head slightly. "I believe you. But I cannot act alone. You must inform the others. Seek out Mountain Shaper and Cloud Retainer. And... the Conqueror of Demons, if you can find him."
"Where are they?" Aether asked.
"Mountain Shaper dwells on Mt. Hulao. Cloud Retainer resides on Mt. Aocang. Go. Taking the Sigil to them will serve as proof."
I nodded. "Consider it done."
[Location: Path to Mt. Hulao]
[Time: 5:00 PM]
We walked away from the altar, the adrenaline fading.
"One down, three to go," Paimon sighed. "But Raiden! That was cool! You stopped that spear with your bare hand!"
"Naturally," I flexed my hand. "My scales are harder than iron. It would take a Vision-holder or a heavy siege weapon to scratch me."
"So," Aether looked at the map. "Mt. Hulao next. That's the one with all the amber, right?"
"Right," I said. "Mountain Shaper. He's... particular. He likes to trap intruders in amber crystals. Don't touch anything orange."
As we walked, I opened my status screen mentally.
[System Notice]
Interaction with Adeptus (Moon Carver) complete.
Analysis of Adeptal Energy successful.
[Extra Skill] Acquired: [Spirit Perception].
Allows the user to see and interact with spiritual bodies and divine remnants.
I grinned. Slowly but surely, I was building my arsenal.
"Hey Raiden," Aether asked quietly. "Back there... Moon Carver said Rex Lapis was the God of Contracts. If he's dead... what happens to all the contracts in Liyue?"
I looked toward the setting sun over the peaks. The golden light bathed the stone forest in a melancholic glow.
"Chaos," I answered. "When the God of Order dies, the only law left is power. That's why Childe is excited. And that's why we need to get stronger. Fast."
I clenched my fist.
"Because before this is over, Aether... we're going to have to fight a God."
Aether swallowed hard, but nodded.