"When the early phase of the Archon War was nearing its end…"
"You and the Geo Archon, Morax, fought a great battle."
"If you were friends…"
"Why did that battle happen?"
Yae Miko looked at Qiu Nian's back and asked seriously.
She wasn't about to trust him so easily.
After all—
She still remembered how he had just toyed with her.
—
Back then, no one knew the result of that battle.
They only knew that afterward—
This ancient god…
Disappeared from Teyvat.
—
When the other gods learned of this—
They were unsettled at first.
But once they confirmed that the "mad god" was truly gone—
The entire world of gods celebrated.
—
And Morax's reputation—
Rose to terrifying heights.
No god dared provoke his territory again.
Some even took the initiative to befriend him.
—
After all—
Two gods fought.
One vanished.
The other remained.
—
Even without knowing the result—
Anyone could guess who "won."
—
This event was recorded across all nations.
It was even said—
That those decades…
Were the most peaceful time among the gods.
—
Because that mad god—
Had already slaughtered most of them.
—
The few that remained—
Fought each other for territory.
—
Then—
Three thousand years ago—
The true Archon War descended from the heavens.
—
And peace—
Shattered.
—
This time—
Not only gods died.
But countless humans…
And living beings.
—
If Qiu Nian's cruelty—
Was cruelty only toward gods—
Then the Archon War's cruelty—
Was cruelty toward the entire world.
—
"…Hmm."
Qiu Nian rested his chin on his hand.
Thought for a moment.
Then answered—seriously:
"Our strengths were about the same."
"So… two good friends sparring a little—"
"That's perfectly reasonable, right?"
—
Yae Miko's lips twitched.
…Strangely—
That did sound reasonable.
—
"As for what happened after…"
"I can tell you."
"After that battle, I stayed in Liyue for ten years as an adeptus."
"Then I left."
—
"When you see Ganyu next time…"
"Tell her this name."
"See if she remembers."
—
"…Gui Xu…"
Yae Miko murmured.
Her eyes widened slightly.
—
"You… you're the Gui Xu that Sister Ganyu mentioned?"
—
The contrast hit her hard.
The "Gui Xu" Ganyu spoke of—
Was gentle.
Elegant.
Refined.
—
…Not this chaotic, teasing existence.
—
Although—
He was gentle.
—
…Except for earlier.
—
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
She would remember this.
And one day—
She'd get her revenge.
—
Still—
She felt relieved.
At least—
He wasn't some deranged god of slaughter.
—
"Yes."
"That's me."
"So don't call me that anymore."
"It doesn't sound very nice."
"Just call me Qiu Nian."
—
"…Mr. Qiu Nian."
Yae Miko smiled faintly.
—
"Lady Guuji."
Qiu Nian returned the courtesy with a smile.
—
"No need to be so formal."
"Just call me Miko."
—
"…Miss Miko."
Qiu Nian nodded lightly.
"Then if there's nothing else—"
"I'll continue my stroll."
—
Yae Miko hesitated.
As if she wanted to say something.
—
Qiu Nian turned—
And began walking back toward Inazuma City.
—
"…Wait."
—
She called out after a moment.
—
He stopped.
A faint smile returning.
—
"…Forgive my bluntness, Mr. Qiu Nian."
"May I ask—"
"With your current strength…"
"Can you defeat the Electro Archon?"
—
"…Defeat…"
"The Electro Archon?"
Qiu Nian turned.
His expression shifted—
From calm—
To slightly surprised.
—
"Yes."
"Raiden Shogun."
"Beelzebul."
"My old friend—Ei."
—
Yae Miko stepped closer as she spoke.
Stopping in front of him.
—
"I've never met the previous Electro Archon."
"Nor the current one."
"But I know of her feats."
—
"One of them…"
"Is slaying the god—Orobashi."
—
Qiu Nian shook his head slightly.
Then said seriously:
"…You may not know this."
"But during the early Archon War…"
"Orobashi was once a god of Liyue."
—
"And back then…"
"I was no match for him."
—
"But the Electro Archon…"
"Defeated him."
—
"And now that I'm severely weakened…"
"I stand even less of a chance."
—
"…?"
—
Yae Miko froze.
—
This ancient god—
The one who terrified all of Teyvat—
—
Wasn't even a match for Orobashi?
—
So that means—
Orobashi > Qiu Nian ≈ Morax
—
Which means—
Orobashi > Morax
—
And yet—
Orobashi was slain by Ei.
—
Her mind…
Was spinning.
—
Orobashi: ?
—
"…No need to be so shocked."
Qiu Nian sighed.
"Even I didn't expect…"
"That someone as powerful as Orobashi…"
"Would fall to the Electro Archon."
—
Orobashi: ???
—
"..."
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