On the land of Liyue, yakshas were truly a remarkable race. They possessed the bloodline of adepti, being a branch of the adepti themselves, and were born with powerful physical strength. But unlike true adepti, they lacked inherent adeptal power. Thus, for ordinary yakshas, they were far from being true immortals—they could barely be considered powerful warriors with traces of adeptal blood. That was precisely why gods dared to control and abuse them so wantonly. These terrifying deities never regarded yakshas as immortals. They treated them like ants, like slaves.
But now, when Hepuyuan awakened the power within his bloodline and manifested his true form as a kite bird, he became a true adeptus—a being on the same level as a god. Even the god had to take him seriously.
Though he had only just manifested his true form and was far from unleashing its full power, the kite bird's formidable strength was already enough to match the god.
"Alatus, I cannot maintain this adeptus form for long. Fight with me—kill the god."
Hepuyuan in his kite-bird form knew that his transformation into a true adeptus was an accident. The god's attack had triggered the adeptal power slumbering in his bloodline. But this power, forcibly awakened, came from an external stimulus—it was not something Hepuyuan had voluntarily manifested nor could he control it. Moreover, his transformation into the kite bird was irreversible. He could never return to his former yaksha form.
When the kite bird's adeptal power was exhausted, his own elemental power would be drained dry. Then, only one outcome awaited him: death. Hepuyuan knew this. He did not fear it. If he could gain enough power to avenge his brothers, he would willingly die.
Hearing his voice, the wounded Alatus felt renewed resolve. "Brother Hepuyuan—I'm coming!"
With that, following his brother's lead, he raised his spear and charged at the god. Because the god was so massive and Alatus so small, he had to leap high into the air, aiming for the god's knee.
They struck almost simultaneously. Under their combined assault, the kite-bird Hepuyuan swept his wings across the god's chest, carving a deep gash. A spray of divine blood arched across the sky and splattered onto the earth, so hot it melted everything it touched. Shielded by the kite bird, Alatus drove his spear deep into the god's knee. When he pulled it out, a jet of divine blood erupted from the wound, nearly splashing him.
Seeing this, hope of victory flickered once more in the young yaksha's heart.
In that moment, the tide of battle between yakshas and god had completely turned. The kite-bird Hepuyuan and the spear-wielding Alatus attacked like rain, striking the god again and again. Blood gushed. The god's brutal body was stained crimson.
They were about to kill him. Victory was within reach.
But a god is called a god because it is the closest being to the divine—the most tenacious life form under the heavens. It could not be slain so easily.
Just as Hepuyuan and Alatus prepared to deliver the final blow, a surge of immense elemental power erupted from the god's fallen body. "Mere mortals—"
"Dreaming of killing a god—"
"Die!"
The god's massive form, which had been knocked down, suddenly reached up with both hands. He moved with such speed that even the kite-bird Hepuyuan could not dodge.
The next moment, the god's enormous hands seized the kite bird's wings. He let out a furious roar: "A lowly yaksha—"
"Playing dress-up as an adeptus—"
"Seeking death!"
With that, the god poured all his power into his hands and pulled them apart with savage force. He tore off one of the kite bird's wings.
Blood rained down from the sky like a storm, splattering on Alatus's face. Feeling the warmth of that blood, his heart pounded violently. The severed wing seemed to expand infinitely before his eyes.
In that moment, he was frozen. He wanted to save his brother from the god's grasp. He wanted to kill the god. But his body was rooted to the spot. He could only watch, powerless.
Then the god finally released his grip and cast the torn kite-bird down.
With a crash, one blood-soaked wing landed on the ground. With another crash, the second blood-soaked wing fell farther away. Finally, the kite-bird's body fell before Alatus.
Though both wings had been torn off and though he had lost so much blood, Hepuyuan was an adeptus. When he hit the ground, he was not yet dead. Coughing blood, he opened his eyes and saw Alatus standing frozen, trembling.
With his last breath, Hepuyuan forced out his final words: "Alatus... forgive me... I could not kill the god."
No one had expected it. Only moments ago, the kite bird had been crushing the god. Now, the god had crushed him in an instant. So this was the power of a god?
On the verge of death, Hepuyuan finally understood the gap between them and the divine. Even transformed into a kite bird, even wielding the power of an adeptus, fighting a god was still immensely difficult. Even a wounded god was beyond them.
In his final moment, Hepuyuan was filled with regret. He regretted not sending Alatus away from this battlefield when he first transformed. He had believed the kite bird could defeat the god. He had believed he could take his revenge. But the god's overwhelming power had shattered his last illusion.
Then, before Alatus's eyes, Hepuyuan's mouth moved a few times, trying to speak another final word. But no sound came. Slowly, he closed his eyes.
The fifth yaksha was dying. Of all the yakshas on the battlefield, only Alatus remained.