Within this domain, no one could escape.
Based on the average height and weight of an adult, a person inside would be struck by more than twenty slashes from ten different directions every second.
For larger monsters, enduring thousands of slashes per second was normal.
The Rakshasa Domain had lasted less than ten seconds, yet tens of thousands of monsters were wiped out—none survived.
Crack… crack…
Crack…
Bang!
With a sharp shattering sound, the transparent barrier protecting Narukami Island finally broke apart.
Completely drained of strength, Elliot could no longer sustain his wings and fell into the sea.
Zebul transformed into lightning, plunging into the ocean in an instant. She seized Elliot before he could sink to the seabed, then shot back up, carrying him onto the ship.
"Cough!!... Cough, cough, cough!..."
Choking on seawater, Elliot coughed violently.
He could no longer open his eyes—he was blind.
That fall from the skies had been far too fast; the fierce wind had shredded his fragile eyes.
"How could you be so foolish… How could you shoulder so much all on your own…"
"You could have relied on us… Have you forgotten? We fought our way through the Archon War together…"
Holding Elliot tightly, Zebul sobbed uncontrollably.
"I'm sorry…"
"Forgive me… for stealing the Gnosis…"
"For acting on my own… for taking your place in the war…"
"You're all still alive… that's enough…"
A gentle smile appeared on Elliot's face. Slowly, he raised his right hand, and a brilliant Gnosis floated in his palm.
Everyone froze in shock at the sight.
None of them had ever imagined that Elliot had stolen the Gnosis—and even fought in the war in their stead.
If he had obtained the Vision, then surely he had confronted the Heavenly Principles. That would mean the protective barrier was left by the Heavenly Principles themselves.
It all made sense now.
Otherwise, Zebul would never have understood why the barrier Elliot released had been so impossibly powerful.
But why would the Heavenly Principles aid him?
And what war was this, exactly?
Was it that war which had drawn the Abyssal monsters?
If so, how had Elliot known, while she—Electro Archon herself—knew nothing?
The revelations came too suddenly, leaving everyone stunned.
Only Baal understood. With tears streaming down her face, she took the Vision from Elliot's hand.
"I will carry your name—"
"No." Elliot, his voice weak, interrupted before she could finish.
He reached his right hand toward her, as if there was something he needed to say.
Baal hurried forward and embraced him.
Elliot gently caressed her cheek, whispering in her ear.
"I have already… borrowed his body…"
"Let me… leave something behind for him…"
"Think of it… as repayment… for borrowing his form…"
"My name… doesn't matter…"
Elliot did not want Baal to speak his name aloud.
He cared nothing for titles left behind after death.
Hero, Second Archon—it meant nothing to him.
He wanted all of that to belong to Sasayuri.
"I understand…" Baal's tears fell upon him.
"Don't be sad… I'm only leaving for a while…"
"When the cherry blossoms bloom… that will be the day I return…"
Elliot smiled gently and let his arm fall.
The eighth life came to an end.
…
Note Important:
The eighth life can be said to be the most important of them all.
It was not perfect—just like Elliot himself, who was never perfect.
If the earlier lives were about the stories of the characters from Genshin Impact, then this life was entirely Elliot's story.
It belonged to him.
And it was in this life that everyone truly came to understand what kind of person Elliot was.
He could make mistakes. He could be careless. He could break down.
Everything an ordinary person could experience, he did as well.
He was just an ordinary man, striving to do whatever he could. But sometimes, even when doing one's utmost, carelessness can cause the loss of something precious.
For those who have been following the updates: if you have the time, try rereading the eighth life in one go. Experiencing it together will bring out its emotions more deeply.
Unlike fast-paced action stories that can be skimmed through for instant excitement, an emotional story like this is meant to be savored slowly—like drinking a fine cup of tea. Don't rush it.