After the light rain, the sky once again regained its familiar brightness. The warm sun bathed the grasslands in light, casting a brilliant rainbow across the horizon as raindrops slowly slid from flower petals.
BOOM!!!
The tranquil Guili Plains echoed with a thunderous sound. The Geo Emperor raised his hand slightly, forming two airtight stone chambers where Guizhong and Marchosius had fallen.
In this era, there was no such thing as burial—no notion of resting peacefully beneath the earth.
The Geo Emperor did it only to spare their bodies from the wind and rain, allowing those stone houses to become their final resting place.
"Your Excellency..." All eyes turned toward him.
"I'm going to find him," the Geo Emperor said in a low, resolute voice.
"The Sovereign would never do such a thing. He's not that kind of person," Ganyu said firmly.
At her words, the Adepti and Yaksha nodded in agreement—they all knew Elliot's character well.
"I know. Of course I know."
"That's exactly why I have to find him. I want to hear it from his own mouth—that he didn't do this."
The Geo Emperor looked at the stone chamber that held Guizhong's remains, his eyes clouded with deep conflict.
He knew clearly that anyone capable of entering the Guili Plains unnoticed could not have been an outside god.
It had to be either Brother Elliot himself—or one of the Yaksha disguised as him to commit the act.
But no one else came to mind.
The Yaksha had lived with him for years, meeting daily. The Geo Emperor knew they had no reason to do such a thing.
But Elliot did. He had once said he wanted to claim the lands bordering Liyue, so that together they could all become the Seven Archons.
Yet... Elliot had also made it clear that the Guili Plains belonged to the Geo Emperor and Guizhong—he wouldn't touch it.
So why...
Why did this happen?
The Geo Emperor couldn't understand. He simply couldn't.
He had to find Elliot and hear his explanation in person.
"Your Excellency, let us go with you. This can't possibly be the Sovereign's doing," Indarias said firmly.
"No. You stay in Liyue," the Geo Emperor replied. "Guard it well with Azhdaha. Do not let anything happen at this critical moment."
"If trouble arises, release your power to the fullest. I'll return immediately."
With that, the Geo Emperor slowly rose into the sky.
"But, Your Excellency, you made a pact—you said you wouldn't seek the Sovereign again," Cloud Retainer reminded him, recalling the moment Elliot had left.
"For this matter, I must know the truth—even if it means breaking the pact."
Without hesitation, the Geo Emperor flew off.
He had broken a pact only twice in his life, and both times it was because of Elliot.
But that was expected. Long before they made the pact, Elliot had already foreseen this.
The Geo Emperor arrived first at the territory neighboring Liyue.
This was the newly reborn land of Mondstadt, where the Lonely God of the Tower had only recently fallen. Barbatos had inherited divine power, scattering the mountains and driving away the cold winds.
The Wolf King of the North had poured the last of his life force and strength into the land, protecting its people.
The scene before him was one of vibrant renewal.
As the Geo Emperor stepped onto the land, a gentle breeze drifted by, carrying with it a youth with emerald eyes.
"God of War, Geo Emperor—halt your advance toward Mondstadt."
This was not the carefree, wine-loving bard of later days. Barbatos's expression was solemn, his presence vast and commanding, as though he could summon a tempest at any moment.
The Archon War had not yet ended. For any god to step into another's territory was dangerous—especially one known as the God of War.
Barbatos remained on high alert. He knew well the tales of the Geo Emperor's battles against the seven gods.
He had no desire to fight this man.
"I mean no harm," the Geo Emperor said quickly, seeing the other's caution. "I only wish to ask you one question."
"What is it?"
"Have you seen a man wearing a black coat and a mask?" the Geo Emperor asked bluntly.
"A black coat... wearing a mask?" Barbatos repeated, thinking carefully while keeping his guard up.
After a short pause, he replied, "No. I haven't."
The Geo Emperor's eyes dimmed slightly.
"I see. Then I'll take my leave." He turned to go—but after flying only a short distance, he stopped, as though something had just come to mind.
That sudden pause made Barbatos tense once again, ready to strike if needed.
"Oh, I haven't asked your name yet," the Geo Emperor said, glancing toward the vast land of Mond. From its scale, he could tell this youth's power was not to be underestimated.
"Barbatos, the Anemo God," the youth answered.
"Barbatos... your nation is quite fine. It's called Mondstadt, isn't it?"
The Geo Emperor's words made Barbatos frown, his vigilance rising further. He was seconds away from attacking.
"Yes," he replied sternly.
"Relax. I was only asking," the Geo Emperor said, then turned and continued on his way.
Barbatos watched him go, not lowering his guard until the Geo Emperor had completely disappeared from sight. The last thing he wanted was to fight the God of War.
Still, he couldn't understand why the Geo Emperor had simply asked a question and left.
He had been moments from attacking—after all, no god would visit alone just to ask a question and then depart. It was far too strange.
"Mondstadt..."
"It's a fine place," the Geo Emperor murmured as he flew onward.
He had already marked Mondstadt in his mind. The land was vast, close to Liyue—a perfect choice for Brother Elliot if he sought new territory.
But...
First, he had to find Elliot and learn the truth about Guizhong and Marchosius. Only then could he think of anything else.
The Geo Emperor had just reached the third great nation when he suddenly sensed the aura of Azhdaha.