Several days later, Elliot led the adepti back to Liyue.
Morax was overjoyed to see his return, though puzzled by the group he had brought with him. After Elliot explained, Morax could only nod in admiration again and again.
He had never imagined that one trip would bring back such formidable strength. Individually, they were not the equal of gods, but working together and combining their power with mechanical arts, they could still bring down gods.
This alone greatly eased Morax's burden. After all, he was constantly torn between fending off gods and safeguarding humanity, leaving him restless and exhausted.
To accommodate the new allies, Elliot and Morax cleared two additional plots at the summit of Tianheng Mountain: one for the four adepti, and one set aside solely for Ganyu.
The day after their dwellings were completed, a voice from Celestia echoed directly into the minds of every god in Teyvat.
[To the gods of Teyvat: From among you, we shall select seven of the most exceptional to serve as the Seven who rule the mortal realm. You shall wield divine authority and reign over the Seven Nations.]
[Time limit: one thousand years.]
That voice from the sky island flung open the gates to the Archon War.
At that moment, Morax's eyes widened as he stared up at Celestia, suspended high above the distant heavens, stunned into silence.
And not only Morax—the gaze of every god across Teyvat turned toward that place. All could feel it clearly: the voice striking their minds had come from that [Untouchable Sky Island].
That island—many powerful gods had once tried to reach it, only to find themselves blocked. A transparent, unseen barrier forever shut them out.
To this day, not a single god had set foot there.
Morax, as one of Teyvat's mightiest beings who had lived for thousands of years, had tried as well. He could not approach. He could not attack.
No matter how strong the strike, none could break through that transparent shield.
Thus the gods called it the [Untouchable Sky Island].
In Teyvat, gods were the strongest beings. If even they could not breach that place, one could only imagine the power of those who dwelled within. Some suspected that the creators of the continent resided there.
Now, that silent island had spoken at last—issuing a command. A strange, incomprehensible command.
"Brother, did you hear it?" Morax asked, his gaze still fixed on the heavens.
"Yes. I heard."
"What do you make of it...?" Morax muttered, bewildered.
To be precise, his mind was blank. Countless questions whirled within him with no answers.
Who lived above Celestia?
Why could they speak directly into every god's mind?
How strong were they?
What did they want?
Why choose seven rulers for the mortal realm?
What purpose lay behind it?
None of it could be explained.
"Morax, prepare for the worst," Elliot said gravely.
"What do you mean...?" The weight in Elliot's tone made Morax sense the severity of the matter.
He could not see Elliot's face, but one thing was certain: Elliot had never been this serious before.
"War is coming." Elliot's voice was heavy. The good days were over.
The next thousand years would be anything but peaceful...
"War!?" Morax flinched, his pupils widening in disbelief at Elliot's words.
"Brother, do you truly believe that mysterious voice?" he asked in shock.
"Whether we believe it or not doesn't matter. What matters is that someone will."
"You don't believe because we have Liyue. We have a nation. We have people."
"But what of those gods with no nation, no people, no land? What do you think they will do?"
Elliot's words struck Morax like lightning, snapping him awake.
Their doubt came from confidence—the capital to dismiss such things. Even if it were true, they would not necessarily suffer.
But those gods with no subjects, no kingdoms, no territory—if it were true, it meant death and ruin for them.
So they would fight desperately to seize land, to found nations.
And Liyue would be no exception.
If it were true, Elliot and Morax would not only have to defend Liyue from invaders, but also fight other gods tooth and nail for resources, for survival.
If it were true, with Liyue's current meager population, even if they endured to the final thousandth year, there was no guarantee they would be chosen as one of the Seven.
If not, then they would either be erased by the mysterious power of Celestia or survive only by living under another god's protection.
And then, they would forever be bowed low, second-class gods beneath another's roof.
Even the people they swore to protect might find their status diminished...