-Extra chapter today-
I awoke slowly. I felt heavy, as if my limbs were being weighed down by boulders. But the bed I was laying on was incredibly comfortable, and for a moment I contemplated falling back asleep. After all, I remembered what'd caused all this exhaustion; some rest was probably deserved after I brought down that corrupted soldier.
But my Genshin System didn't allow such comfort, and I was shoved with several notifications from the moment I opened my eyes.
[Detected defeat of Boss Monster, -General Longqu-. Rewards have been moved to the Inventory]
[Detected a powerful surge of desire from the User. Achievement -Celestial Strength- has been received]
[User's Elemental is now unlocked]
[Detected a significant shift in Teyvat's history. Achievement -Fate Defiance- has been received]
[The [Abyssal Trials] are now available]
I took a deep breath as I read through it all. It was that second last notification that truly left me breathless. Because the System said that I'd caused a significant shift in this world's history. As I suspected, Guili Assembly's destruction was something that should have happened.
But I'd stopped it.
I smiled. "I did it." A laugh bubbled past my lips as I sank back into my pillow. Though my body felt heavy, I felt freer for the first time in weeks. That worry I carried all throughout the past few days was resolved, and I could only hold a hand over my eyes as I struggled not to tear up from the relief.
I spent some time laying there to soak in what I'd just done. I'd stopped Guili Assembly from falling to the demons. Stopped the corrupted General Longqu, who could've definitely destroyed most of Guili on his own had I not been there. And in return I was greatly rewarded.
Ha. At least I don't need to spend Resin to get anything. Damn you MiHoYo!
"What does that even mean?" I whispered with a wry smile. Shaking away those odd thoughts, I carefully sat up, letting the lavish blanket I'd been sleeping under slip away. I blinked as I saw the bathrobe I was dressed in, and then blinked again when I realized that someone had likely-
My cheeks turned crimson as I quickly shook my head. That wasn't important right now.
[Venti - Wanderer
Body: 10
Speed: 7
Mind: 5
Energy: 4
Elemental (Anemo): 2]
I hummed. All Attributes aside from my Body rose quite a bit. Using two 5★ Talents at the same time to bolster my body, all the while my Energy kept being drained from my constant use of [Sunlight Healing]; considering the strain I was under during the fight, the increase was expected.
But the most exciting part was the fact that my Elemental was now unlocked! I held out my hand, and I grinned as a small gust of wind swirled atop my palm.
Then I heard the door to the room creak open, and I quickly dispelled the winds I controlled. The door opened, and in came Guizhong. She looked exactly as I remembered, but at that moment, the gentle aura she usually held wasn't there, replaced by a pressure I would instead expect from Morax.
The weight faded as she saw me, and a smile came onto her lips. "Good afternoon, Venti."
"Ah." I stared for a moment, taken aback by the sudden change. "Good afternoon, Lady Guiz-" I didn't manage to finish my words as she walked forward and swept me into a hug. I blinked as she held me close, filling my nose with the aromatic smell of incense. The goddess trembled slightly as she hugged me, and after I snapped out of my stupor I gently hugged her back.
"I'm sorry." She eventually said.
I slowly shook my head. "It is no one's fault." I whispered as I carefully pulled away. "No one could've known that demons would suddenly erupt from the ground like that." I smiled wryly. "It was only luck that I was close enough to find exactly where it was coming from."
"But it is my-" Guizhong stopped herself as she sighed. "Perhaps you are right, but I hold some blame, still." She pursed her lips. "This time is not like before; the demons that surround us are of the work of gods. It is my oversight not to think that they would act differently."
"And mine as well." A deep voice added, and I turned just in time to see Morax walk in. He was as regal as he usually was, but there was a deep gratitude in his bright eyes as he approached. "The demonic gods I slayed had led me out on purpose. I'd suspected it to be a trap, and I still came all the while. Had you not been there, I am certain Guili would have suffered greatly." He bowed deeply. "And for that I thank you."
Seeing Morax, Guizhong joined in and bowed as well. "It's…fine, both of you." I said, quite overwhelmed at having both of Guili Assembly's gods bow before me. What would everyone else think if they saw this? My already weird image would probably contort even more! "Everything ended well, and that's enough for me."
"A good deed is to be paid back with another." Morax said in return. "If you require anything, you are free to ask for my aid."
"And me as well." Guizhong smiled. "I probably would've lost my life had you not stopped the honored General. I'll be happy to help when you need anything!"
I opened my mouth, and then closed it with a wry smile. They were both adamant on paying me back, and it seemed there wasn't much I could do about it. Besides, perhaps I'd need their help someday, so having the promise of two gods at my back was reassuring, to say the least.
"Anyway, how's everything going?" I asked them. "That one tunnel the general came from probably wasn't alone, was it?"
Guizhong's eyes darkened at my question, though she refused to speak. "You are correct." Morax answered in her place. "Due to the diligence of our people, dozens of tunnels were discovered, all of them connected to burrows filled with demons." He frowned. "There were easily thousands of demons waiting beneath the earth, more than even the horde outside our walls."
A chill went down my spine. If that was true, then I could see why Guizhong looked so aggrieved about it. Those demons were probably waiting for General Longqu to cause enough chaos or something. Had they rushed into Guili at the same time I was fighting the general, I wasn't certain I could've come out alive.
I grit my teeth. "How did they stay hidden? Couldn't you have detected them long ago?"
He shook his head. "They had infused the earth itself with karma, shielding them from my gaze." He closed his eyes. "In my foolishness, I believed that it was the land itself that had accumulated karma over the hundreds of years Guili stood. And so I never thought that the subtle corruption within the earth was all but natural."
…for some reason, I could almost imagine Morax's dragon tail drooping as he spoke. The image was quite cute, if rather comical.
I resisted the urge to call one of the strongest gods in the world a 'wet dog' as I sighed. "As Guizhong said, no one knew the demons were capable of this. The demons have never shown anything as intelligent as this." I smiled. "But now we know, and we can prepare for the future."
Morax fell quiet as he stared. Those words, spoken as freely as the winds, yet carrying a promise of a boundless future.
Even now, standing before him, he knew not what Venti was. A mortal whose strength resembled an immortal. A human that was a god-yet-not. But those questions fell away as he was bathed in the gentle song pouring out from Venti's soul; a hymn of human strength, filled with promises for the future.
Morax smiled. Mortals truly were incredible to behold.
I tilted my head slightly, confused as to why he was smiling. "So, did you deal with those demons?"
Guizhong nodded. "We did. And Morax ensured no other demons would ever make those burrows their homes." She sighed softly. "Alas, this is a temporary measure. Others could begin burrowing new tunnels." She looked physically pained as she continued. "Guili Assembly is simply too open. We are open to being besieged from every direction."
I hummed. She wasn't wrong. Guili Assembly stood in the center of many different locations. It meant that travelers from all over could convene at Guili Assembly, which was why there were so many people within the city. But that also meant that there were no natural defenses the city could rely on.
But Guili no longer needed any people. They were a culture that had lasted centuries, and as long as that remained, Guili itself could never die. And if that was the case then-
""We must relocate."" Morax and I spoke at the same time. We stared at each other for a moment, before I laughed slightly. Morax chuckled as well, satisfied to see that I had the same idea as he did.
Seeing Guizhong's reluctance, Morax gently placed his hand on her shoulder. "A city is impermanent. A house can be rebuilt. But it is the people who are the beating heart of Guili." He smiled. "It is they who are the culmination of our efforts over these years, are they not?"
Guizhong pursed her lips, before she sighed. "I know you're right, I'm just being…sentimental." Her brows furrowed. "But where shall we even go?"
Morax went quiet in contemplation, but my lips spoke before I could even think. "The empty space south from us; it's still empty, isn't it?"
He hummed. "I believe I know the location you speak of." He rubbed his chin, deep in thought. "Your suggestion has merit. The mountains on its west will serve a great protector to a budding city, and the close oceans will present us swift access to the ocean's waters."
Guizhong's eyes went bright as she smiled. "And there's even space South from it to grow some crops!"
I nodded slowly. I didn't actually know what the location I suggested looked like; the answer just fell from my lips without me thinking about it. Still, from the way they spoke, it seemed like an ideal location to move Guili to.
It would be a new future for Guili.
"Then we shall leave now to ponder further." Morax said as he turned to leave. "Rest, Venti. You have done more than enough."
Guizhong nodded, giving my head a gentle pat as she smiled. "Mhm. I can tell you're still tired. Go back and sleep. We'll make sure Guili remains peaceful."
For a moment I wanted to say otherwise, but Guizhong glared at me, somehow knowing what I was going to say. I shivered and quickly laid back down on the bed. Guizhong nodded in satisfaction, and gave me one last cheerful wave before she left. Morax smiled ruefully as he followed.
And soon, I was once again alone in the room. Tired, but not quite willing to sleep.
…I guess I could play around with my new Anemo powers for a little bit. I'm sure Guizhong wouldn't mind.