The moment Morax's Geo energy erupted within Alatus's body, a miracle occurred.
The yaksha's heart began to beat again, thumping steadily. His blood began to flow once more. Endless vitality surged through his body, and his wounds slowly healed.
Not only that, but deep within the darkness that had drowned his consciousness, a faint golden light appeared. It grew brighter, clearer. Finally, the consciousness of the Alatus, which had been swallowed by the abyss, broke free and regained control of his small body. He awoke.
The moment he opened his eyes, he did not spare a glance for the young man before him. Instead, he urgently called out his brother's name.
"Brother Hepuyuan!"
He looked around frantically but saw no trace of him—only an endless blood-soaked land, dyed red by divine blood, and scattered shards of petrified stone, remnants of the shattered god. Seeing this, Alatus was lost. He did not know what had happened in the time he had been unconscious.
Then, as if remembering something, he looked down sharply and saw the green polearm in his hands. It was Hepuyuan's polearm—the weapon forged from a kite bird's body.
He clutched it to his chest. On its cold surface, he felt a familiar presence. His brother's presence. In that moment, he understood everything. He remembered everything.
After the god tore off Hepuyuan's wings, moments before death, the power of his wish erupted. With his broken adeptus body, he willingly transformed into a god-slaying spear, continuing to fight alongside Alatus in their quest for revenge.
Remembering this, the yaksha held the green polearm tight, murmuring over and over: "Brother Hepuyuan... the god is dead... we succeeded."
As he spoke, his eyes reddened. Two streams of tears fell.
Yakshas were a race of warriors. For a yaksha to weep was a shameful thing. But now, before Morax, before the assembled adepti, before the other yakshas, Alatus cried.
As he stood there, clutching Hepuyuan's spear, Morax spoke slowly. "From this day forward, you are free. No one on this land will ever enslave you again."
These simple words were both a promise to Alatus and a promise to himself. He would defeat every god and become the Geo Archon of this land, granting freedom and liberation to all who were oppressed.
Having said this, Morax turned to leave.
But just as he was about to go, the green spear in the yaksha's arms trembled slightly, catching his attention. Looking down at Hepuyuan, he seemed to see his brother, who had always cared for him. Faintly, he heard his brother's voice: "My wish is to protect the yaksha race. To protect this land."
Though Alatus had killed the god and taken his revenge, there were still many yakshas enslaved across Liyue, and much turmoil yet to be quelled. Hepuyuan's wish was far from fulfilled.
Gazing at the spear in his arms, he murmured, "Brother Hepuyuan, let me fulfill your wish for you."
With that, he turned and ran after Morax and his party.
"Sir, you helped me kill the god. Please, let me repay you. Let me fight by your side—to protect the yaksha race, to protect this land of Liyue."
He could see that the young man before him possessed power equal to any god—perhaps even greater. But he was not cruel.
Hearing his words, Morax stopped as if he had expected this. He turned to look at the yaksha. "Repay me? Very well. Then you shall guard Liyue for a thousand years."
With that, he turned and continued forward, leading the adepti.
But then, as if remembering something, he added, "From now on, you shall be called Xiao. That name may suit you better."
As Morax led the adepti away, a four-armed yaksha walked up to Xiao. He tried to put an arm around Xiao's shoulder, but found him too short. Instead, he clapped him on the shoulder with a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha—I knew you'd come running after us. Being able to follow Rex Lapis into battle is the fortune of a lifetime. By the way, my name is Bosacius. Don't be a stranger. Call me Brother Bosacius. If you ever need help, just come to me."
With another burst of laughter, he clapped Xiao on the shoulder again. Feeling the weight of that hand, Xiao snapped out of his daze. He tried to shrug it off, but when he looked up and saw the four-armed yaksha with crackling Electro energy and a cheerful grin, he found himself infected by his mood.
Half-pushed, half-reluctant, he fell into step with the other yakshas and adepti, following Morax.
Not only that, but he was astonished to discover that by Rex Lapis's side were not just one but many powerful yakshas. Flames of red like Indarias. The serene waters of Bonanus. The gentle and refined Menogias. The lightning-charged Bosacius. And beyond them, countless ordinary yakshas and mighty adepti surrounded Rex Lapis.
In that moment, a thought arose in Xiao's heart: this Rex Lapis would surely end the Archon War. This Rex Lapis would surely create a glorious age.
Unconsciously, the yaksha newly named Xiao tightened his grip on his spear and quickened his pace, catching up to the company ahead. He became one of them.
Thus ended the story of the yaksha's revenge. But another story was about to unfold on the land of Liyue.