hunt. (on hold)

2. Loss

[ currently no beta, will probably contain misspellings and grammar mistakes ]
[ possible ooc characters ahead ]

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THE FIGHT went on, but the longer it did, the weaker they get. Morax finds out about this and grins, making the adeptis shiver. This was not the god they contracted to, but the God of War everyone feared. And this is not a good sign, the God of War has been always known as undefeated. But still, they continued to challenge the man, hoping for a blind spot that may appear once a certain time in the fight occurs.

And lucky for them, it does.

Morax faltered, tripping on a bump that Mountain Shaper made. This gave them the moment to strike his back, weapons held tight. They didn't wanna do this, harming the person that held them all together. But to think that Rex Lapis-no, Morax is still alive...

Did Rex Lapis plan his "death"? If he did, why so?

That moment of weakness also gave Morax to summon a series of geo spikes, covering the ground beside him. Mountain Shaper and Cloud Retainer lifts Moon Carver up, stepping on the sharp spikes in the process. The God of War grins, glad to have bled his enemy even more.

Battered and bruised, they fled. The three adeptis ran back to the tree above Azhdaha's domain and hid on the branches. Cloud Retainer's adeptal energy slowly weakens as she heals the three of them.

"Cloud Retainer... you can't do this. One must not exert themselves too much while the midst of a battle." Moon Carver held both of their hands, a look of resignation rests on his face. His brown hair starts to glow, forming a shield around each of them. Mountain Shaper catches on and glances at their weapons, making them sharper and more resistant to heat.

"This battle will determine whether Liyue can be saved under tyranny, for we know Morax will try to take over once more after his supposed... 'death'." Mountain Shaper worringly glances at where the city of commerce is, hoping that they too can rest at ease knowing that Morax is subdued.

"Come out." The deep voice vibrating through air shocked them all and immediately separated. Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper dodged, but not Cloud Retainer. She ran to his back and stabbed him with an arrow. But to her horror, she saw a geo mark form on the part she stabbed as it glowed bright. Like a Cor Lapis.

But the part close to his heart bled, like a mortal. She was then suddenly thrown, her allies shouted in fear. Cloud Retainer was drained of adeptal energy, and all she could do is stare in horror as her god pierce her stomach. Her blue hair earned a splash of red as she fell down, lying on her side.

Both men looked at each other and ultimately decides on how to possibly kill Morax. To stab his heart and hope that he'll never awaken once more. They're both afraid but they know they can do this and they will survive it all.

"This one will distract him as you try to pierce his heart. If we can't focus his attention, let's tag team him, he might not work under pressure." Moon Carver spoke, voice full of determination as he looked at Mountain Shaper, in which the latter nodded and held his sword tightly.

"This one did not wish for such things to happen, yet destiny plays with people." Mountain Shaper whispered, before surging towards the deranged man once more.

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MORAX LAUGHED. Did these puny adeptis thought that they can subdue him? Even his old friend, Azhdaha couldn't, and he just bled in vain. His bloodied fingers rest on his face as his other hand holds his polearm as he thinks. He turns around to see the three bleeding adeptis, back in their adeptus forms and unmoving.

Great, now no one can stop me from going to Liyue.

Morax smirked before walking away and knelt near the stream of water. He washed his hands and with a snap of his fingers, the God of Contracts appeared with his signature robe. The god now proceeded to walk to his nation, thinking about making it into a dynasty, with him as the Emperor. But to be the Emperor means to have a gnosis, to be a god once more.

A tiny voice inside him keeps screaming.

[ Stop, I do not wish for this! Please, halt! Do not move a step more! ]

but Morax replied, [ Shut it. ]

It made the voice deep inside quiet down before fully silencing. Thinking about godhood and gnosis, Morax touched the grass, and searched for his gnosis. Why did the gnosis end up so far away- oh. The human in him gave it away due to a contract. A sinister laugh erupted frkm Morax's mouth, realizing that it was his human who screamed for him to stop.

Sadly, dragons are greedy. And he will get what he wants, even if he needs to use violence. Maybe he should also overthrow the Tsaritsa.

That doesn't sound bad.