hunt. (on hold)

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[ unbetaed, replaced corrosion for erosion ]
[ possible ooc characters ahead ]

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FINDING OUT someone important died hurts. That's what Liyuens felt when one day their god, Rex Lapis fell from the sky rather than descending like he normally does. The era of adeptus ended, and it was the start of humans governing the nation, especially with no god.

Zhongli was on a vacation after months of work after that fearful fight against Osial that almost drowned Liyue if not for Lady Ningguang's sacrifice of the Jade Chamber. He shook his head, remembering how the beautiful island fell for Osial, sealing him once more.

That island must've cost a lot, I should repay the Tianquan.

Zhongli thought, before realizing he does not have his gnosis no longer and sighed. He only retired because he knows he might undergo erosion soon like Azhdaha, and he needs to find a place to lock himself soon or he'll wreck havoc worse than Osial.

Besides, who wouldn't be shocked if one day the god you worshipped suddenly appeared from the sky, very much alike and is out for blood? Zhongli shook his head, hoping that time never comes.

Sadly, he did not find a place to hide himself as he feels like he's on fire. He knelt near the stream, submerging his face in the water, hoping it will cool him down. Zhongli vaguely remembers that he's in Mt. Hulao, planning to go inside Azhdaha's domain to spend his erosion period there when claws started forming on his hands.

Lifting his head up, Zhongli looks at his eyes, only to find out that his human form had his horns already out, and it's glowing gold. The brunette mustered up energy just in time to enter Azhdaha's domain before his full erosion period worsens.

"Morax? What are you doing- you smell of erosion. Old friend, what happened-" Azhdaha, in his human formed asked the other before watching his seals get broken in an instant and barely dodging a slash in his torso.

The dragon in human form immediately summoned his own spear and tried to keep Morax in an arm's length. They continued to fight until he feels that the other is gaining more strength, now in full-blown corrosion. Azhdaha is panicking about the rapid growth of strength his god is earning that he suddenly gets cut on his right arm, making Azhdaha scream in pain.

He feels his right hand crystalizing, but thank the archons it's not his dominant hand. The man with in robes continued to defend himself as the man in front of him slowly turns unhinged, a man thirsty for fighting.

Morax, the God of War, is the man he's currently fighting and Azhdaha knows he's gonna lose. He's gonna die.

Yet Azhdaha perseveres, refuses to give up, even when his arms and legs are now full of slashes and cuts, and starts to absorb the power of Hydro. He catches Morax off guard enough to completely absorb it and cover his polearm on water, healing his crystallizations and forming a shield for himself.

Zhongli, long gone and Morax in his place, summons a pillar that Azhdaha bumps into before immediately dodging the weapon pointed in his face. Oh how he really hates erosions. He's now back to defending while the god attacks, and attacks, and attacks. Was Azhdaha like this when he, too was in erosion?

Should he try calling out for Zhongli? Will Zhongli respond?

Before he tried calling out for the refined man that works in Wangshu Funeral Parlor, the man who knows more about history than story-tellers, the man who helped during the Rite of Parting, the man who helped him be one once more, he feels stabbed in the stomach, heat slowly seeps into his body.

Morax growls, feeling victorious as he watched Azhdaha's face make up the emotions shock, pain, and then acceptance. He pulls his polearm back out, leaving the human-dragon bleed as he walks out of the domain, proceeding to search the area for the adepti residing there.

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MOUNTAIN SHAPER, Moon Carver, and Cloud Retainer suddenly felt a foreboding sense of war located near Mt. Hulao, the latter two immediately rushing to go there on their adepti forms while Mountain Shaper changed into a man with a sword, waiting for the enemy to strike.

By the time Moon Carver and Cloud Retainer arrived, Mountain Shaper was close to being killed when Moon Carver kicked Morax's back, sending him flying to the wall. They immediately took the time to transform as well and healed Mountain Shaper.

"What happened, Mountain Shaper? Why is Rex Lapis alive and is attacking you?" Moon Carver asked while fighting Morax, exchanging blows so strong a breezes of airs knocks a few trees down.

"Rex Lapis... Rex Lapis is eroding! We must subdue him! One saw him come out of Azhdaha's domain, and this one thinks he killed him!" Mountain Shaper immediately replied as he forms another sword as Cloud Retainer heals him.

"We should try subduing him there, do you think we can lure him there?" Cloud Retainer yelled, her voice almost unheard because of the exchange of blows.

"We can't! He knows he just came out there. This one already tried it beforehand, and he led us to this one's own abode!" Mountain Shaper answered, bowing at Cloud Retainer before joining the fight.