"So it was Morax who brought me to the surface?"
"So it was Morax who gave me eyes to see all things?"
"And because I violated our agreement after suffering erosion, that's why I was sealed?"
"So… there was never any betrayal at all?"
After hearing the light screen's explanation, Azhdaha's eyes widened, filled with disbelief.
Everything it had believed until now—
was completely overturned.
For a long moment, it fell silent.
Azhdaha no longer remembered the past.
But the fragments of reason still remaining in its mind told it something important—
This was likely the truth.
The light screen's credibility was undeniable.
There was no reason for it to deceive him.
And yet—
Azhdaha was still under severe erosion.
Most of the time, it remained little different from a beast, devoid of reason.
Hatred that had accumulated over thousands of years was not something that could be erased so easily.
"No!"
"I am Azhdaha, the Dragon King born of crystallized Geo!"
"I bear the power and memories of the land itself, eternal as mountains and seas!"
"I am no friend of insignificant humans!"
"No!"
"I… I was Morax's comrade!"
"We once protected Liyue together!"
"No!"
"..."
"No!"
"..."
The rational remnants stirred by the light screen clashed violently with the madness of erosion.
Two opposing beliefs fought fiercely within Azhdaha's mind.
Its emotions spiraled out of control.
Crack—
Crack—
Rumble—
Rumble—
As it thrashed in agitation, the earth itself began to tremble and roar.
Palais Mermonia
Neuvillette watched the light screen in silence, his expression complicated.
Though he had never met Azhdaha,
they were still of the same kind.
Seeing one of the few remaining dragons reduced to such a state,
he could not help but sigh inwardly.
Beside him, Furina looked equally shaken.
"First Mondstadt's Dvalin… now Liyue's Azhdaha."
"One corrupted by Abyssal power and controlled."
"One driven mad by erosion."
"They even turned against the nations and people they once protected…"
She sighed.
Then suddenly, she thought of something and turned toward Neuvillette.
"Neuvillette—since you're also a Dragon King…"
"Will you… will you end up like this one day?"
Her expression grew tense.
He was Fontaine's strongest pillar.
If he ever succumbed to erosion and turned on Fontaine—
Who could possibly stop him?
She and Focalors certainly didn't possess Morax's overwhelming power.
Fontaine could be annihilated.
And beyond politics—
Furina didn't want him to suffer.
After four hundred years of working together,
they were friends.
Neuvillette fell silent for a moment, then spoke seriously.
"It's fine."
"When the time comes, you can ask Miss Navia to bombard the Dragon King."
Furina: (⊙_⊙)
She froze.
"…Excuse me?"
Had she misheard?
Since when did this stern, straight-laced man start joking?!
The sun must be rising in the west today.
But she didn't have the mood for jokes and rolled her eyes.
"By the time you erode, Navia will be long gone."
"Be serious."
Neuvillette paused, slightly embarrassed.
He had intended to lighten the mood.
Instead, it backfired.
Human emotions really aren't easy to grasp…
I'll need to study them further later.
Then he gave her a genuine answer.
"Azhdaha's power is extraordinary."
"If even he succumbed to erosion, I will not be spared either."
"If one day I become like him…"
He stopped, his expression darkening.
"…I would follow the example of the God of Gold."
"I would make arrangements for Fontaine."
"Then leave."
"After that… Fontaine would rely on you, Lady Furina."
Though not a god,
after four hundred years in Fontaine,
he had grown to love the nation.
He would never wish to destroy it.
Furina opened her mouth, wanting to respond—
Then closed it again.
Rely on me…
I'm just a normal person with a divine title but no divine power…
She sighed softly.
Neuvillette shook his head with a gentle smile.
"No need to worry."
"I was born not long ago. There is still time."
"For now, Fontaine is safe."
"Besides, I still have the Mysterious Water Cup."
"Perhaps I'll randomly draw something useful."
"So instead of worrying about erosion, we should focus on the prophecy crisis."
"…You're right."
Furina nodded.
Though his luck was terrible,
there was at least some hope.
Compared to that, the prophecy was far more urgent.
Otherwise, Fontaine might fall long before erosion ever became an issue.
And thinking of the prophecy—
Her brows furrowed tightly once more.
Extraordinary Chat Group
Lumine:
So that's what happened! Azhdaha got angry because his home was mined away! (realization)
Paimon:
Yeah! He was already suffering erosion, then his home got destroyed. Anyone would snap!
Alice:
And after that he was sealed for thousands of years! Way worse than Dvalin! (sigh)
Dvalin:
...
Dvalin:
Is there a possibility that I also had a home… before someone blew it into ruins? (hinting wildly)
Alice blinked innocently.
"Oh… right?"
Neuvillette:
In that case, you really are the more tragic one.
Alice:
Cough—accident! Accident!
Alice:
To make things fair, next time we'll go blow up Azhdaha's home too.
Alice:
Turn it into ruins—then it'll be even. (serious face)
Venti:
Ehe~ sounds good~
Dvalin:
Uh… I wouldn't object~
Azhdaha:
...
Zhongli:
...
Thank you very much.
The rest of the chat fell into awkward silence.
What started as reflection and guilt
had turned into a misery competition.
All emotional buildup—gone.
Thankfully, the light screen moved again, pulling everyone's attention back.
Villa
Luo Chen continued.
"As an elemental Dragon King, Azhdaha possessed overwhelming power."
"And was nearly impossible to kill."
"So Morax chose suppression instead."
"He first ordered the adepti to construct a pocket realm together."
"Then personally engaged Azhdaha in battle."
"That battle shattered heaven and earth."
"From the Chasm all the way to Nantianmen."
"In the end, Azhdaha was forced into the pocket realm and sealed by the adepti."
"Thus, the disaster was quelled."
"But it's worth noting—"
"Azhdaha did not lose due to inferiority."
"He willingly accepted the seal."
"Because deep down, he still loved Morax."
"And loved Liyue."
"Even under erosion, he remembered that."
"So—for Morax, for Liyue—he accepted sealing himself."
Luo Chen sighed.
Mondstadt had Dvalin.
Liyue had Azhdaha.
Fontaine had Neuvillette.
Inazuma's Thunder Dragon… well, that one ran off.
And Sumeru—
It had a powerful Dendro Dragon.
But one hostile to the Little Archon.
Even after being saved by her and the Traveler, it still showed no warmth.
Comparatively—
Nahida really had it rough.
Sumeru had it rough.
He shook his head and continued.
"Though Azhdaha was sealed, time weakened the seal."
"One day…"
"A fragment of his power manifested as a child—Kun Jun."
"Severe erosion had erased his memories."
"Leaving only hatred toward Morax."
"He believed himself betrayed."
"And spoke of his resentment through the child's body."
"But simultaneously—another force awakened within him."
"This force represented his remaining kindness."
"His respect for contracts."
"His wish for coexistence with humanity."
"If the child embodied memories of the earth—"
"Then this force embodied memories of living alongside humans."
"This fragment found Morax—now Zhongli."
"And together with the Traveler, defeated Kun Jun and resealed him."
"After reminiscing briefly with Morax, this fragment dissipated."
"That… is Azhdaha."
"In youth—he repaid Morax by fighting for Liyue."
"In erosion—he repaid Morax by accepting sealing."
"And even then—he left behind a failsafe."
"So that if he ever fully lost himself…"
"He could still be sealed again."
"With a guardian like this—Liyue is truly blessed."
Luo Chen then played Zhongli's second Story Quest.
The video was long.
But everyone watched in silence.
When it ended, emotions ran deep.
Another god who loved humanity.
First Morax.
Then Azhdaha.
Liyue was truly fortunate.
And Liyue's people—
Were overwhelmed.
Ordinary Chat Group
Chef Mao:
Looks like there's sand in my eyes again…
Ying'er:
The winds in Liyue are fierce today—bringing lots of sand… (tears)
Zhiqiong:
Even after losing reason, he still retained kindness toward Liyue… Azhdaha truly…
Uncle Tian:
This is our fault! For development, we ignored too much!
Uncle Tian:
If not, Azhdaha might have suffered less…
Uncle Tian:
I hope we can make amends someday—like Mondstadt did.
Iron Tongue Tian:
As a storyteller, I'll correct my past tales and tell Azhdaha's story alongside the Geo Archon's!
Kun Jun:
Being chosen by Azhdaha was the greatest honor of my life. I will not disappoint him!
Beneath the Dragon-Queller Tree
"…Heaven-shaking meteors… mountains and seas take form…"
"…Stars born from wastelands, blazing like the sun…"
Azhdaha froze.
Its violent movements slowly ceased.
It lay back down, staring at the light screen.
Its massive eyes filled with conflicted emotion.
Though its memories had not returned—
Something stirred deep within.
After a long silence, it sighed.
"Morax… if fate allows, we shall meet again."
"So this light screen… is our bond?"
Wangsheng Funeral Parlor
"…Azhdaha…"
Zhongli sighed.
Their last meeting had been sealing.
This meeting—also sealing.
Was this fate?
Venti poured him a drink and handed it over.
"That was old fate."
"Since the light screen appeared, destiny isn't fixed anymore."
"If there is fate—then you'll meet again."
"Maybe even today~ ehe~"
Zhongli paused.
Then smiled, drained the cup, and hope lit his eyes.
Extraordinary Chat Group
Dvalin:
To retain one's core under such erosion… admirable.
Neuvillette:
If fate allows, I would gladly share water and conversation with you.
Ei:
Liyue truly is fortunate…
Nahida:
Yes… why is Sumeru…
She sighed.
Why were other nations' dragons so wonderful?
Hardworking. Loyal. Protective.
Meanwhile, Sumeru had none.
"…Once the Akademiya issue is resolved, I'll go look for Apep."
"If others can do it—so can Sumeru!"
She clenched her tiny fist.
Ningguang:
Liyue is fortunate—but perhaps Azhdaha was not.
Ningguang:
We owe him a debt.
Keqing:
If Azhdaha returns one day, I hope Liyue can make amends.
Cloud Retainer:
Well said. If Azhdaha could read this, he would be pleased.
Mountain Shaper:
Speaking of which—where is Azhdaha now?
Moon Carver:
Yes, surely he watched this too?
Xiao:
…I wonder how he feels.
After a pause—
Azhdaha:
Everyone… and Morax as well—be well.
To read advanced Chapters, head over to p@treon:
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