idolpro | Zhongli Ideal World: Session 3

[ childe had a (sinking) feeling. ]

[ nudges tsukasa and motions up at her. ] It's the Geo Archon. [ said as if he's explaining things, but another swift nudge means to imply that's their target. ]

[ but if he doesn't take the hint, then childe summoning a hydro bow to fire a charged arrow at her should SAY PLENTY. elm5. ]

[ He knows. But he was truly hoping that perhaps they could... talk her into complying with what they need instead. This twists his stomach. The only weapon that comes natural to him is a bow. He's been trained in how to use one since he was a young child.

. . . Though he hasn't touched one since the hunger games. He swallows, summoning his own bow up. ELM5.

He just needs to tell himself that this person isn't real, and perhaps that will make it easier. ]

[ The two arrows strike sure and true, one in her shoulder and another in her abdomen.

She places a hand to her mouth so the blood she coughs up does not stain the front of her robes. ]

Ah, you have done so well this far. You have my thanks.

But also my plea to endure a little longer for his sake.

[ While Guizhong does not retaliate, it appears the world around her does on her behalf. Make a stat roll (STR/SPD/ELM) to dodge an earth spear skewering you from the sky. 6+ succeeds. ]

[ childe raises his bow a second time, but doesn't have time to fire off a shot as, instead, he's got to avoid getting skewered. he tries to evade the earthen spike that surges down in retaliation, but he's not quick enough and it strikes him... or it would if not for the jade shield zhongli had put on him earlier. the shield takes the full force of the attack and bursts as a result. spd 4.]

I think I got a little bit more in me. [ childe staggers back and summons a hydro polearm, hurling it directly at her... but missing entirely. elm3. he takes a knee, CLEARLY STILL REELING FROM ALMOST DYING. ]

Edited 2022-01-01 23:00 (UTC)

[ He isn't sure if he likes that she isn't physically fighting back on her own. Perhaps it gives them a better chance, but it feels as though they are attempting to kill an innocent even if the world is attacking them for the treachery of attacking such an important being.

Fortunately, he sees the speer, dodging with ELM8. Rolling to the side, he lifts the bow smoothly up once more, pulling the arrow back to attack with an ELM6, attempting to aim for her heart. He wants to finish it as painlessly as possible for her.]

Caeli-san, hold on-!

[ Unfortunately for the world, it is severely weakened as three of the four erosions have already been cleared. It has nothing left to fight back with. The ideal is hanging by a thread - fragile and inevitably destroyed.

So when Tsukasa does let that arrow flight, the winds of anemo guiding it straight and true, it does pierce Guizhong's heart.

And she falls to the pavilion stone, black ash and dust swirling around her as the power wrought from the death of a god gathers----

And explodes outwards, petrifying all of Liyue until every inch of it is caked with dust. Preserving it. Like the insides of a macabre and untouched house that has been left for decades or centuries to linger.

But this time the world is not remade.

As for the Geo Archon herself, not even one grain of sand remains of Guizhong as that is how the passing of gods go.

Congratulations, you have defeated the false Geo Archon.

[ whelp. ]

[ he somehow ruined everything. again. is he really surprised? no, not really. just disappointed for breaking one of the only promises he's ever made. he pulls his mask over his face and just stares at the ground... letting the weight of his failure crush him. ]

Edited 2022-01-01 23:13 (UTC)

[ Somehow, despite this being necessary, it doesn't feel as though they won. As though they did what was right. It may have been their only option. But the aftermath feels terrible.

Moving over to Caeli, his ears low against his head, tail flat and still, he reaches out to him while removing his cape.]

Let me help wrap your injuries.

[ it sure does feel terrible. this is not how he wants to see liyue. but, yes, it had all been necessary... at least that's what he's going to tell himself until this nightmare ends. his own ears and tail are flat and still, the frown on his face hidden by his mask. ]

...sure. [ he's not going anywhere. ]

[ Carefully, he uses his teeth to tear at the cloth and works on wrapping and tending to the injury. He's no expert, but he knows he has to help stop the bleeding. He doesn't speak as he works. What can he say?

'Are you okay?'

Of course he isn't right now. Anyone can see that he is suffering- not just physically.]

We helped Zhongli. You did. This is all we could do.

[ At least... that much is true. What other choice did they have? ]

No matter how cruel it is.

This is not the ending I... [ his throat tightens and he trails off, simply shaking his head. ]

I'm am sorry for dragging you into this. I thought we might have been able to find the last piece of erosion, but then... [ again, he trails off, his hand coming to rest on the mask as he presses it more firmly to his face. ]

So this... it was not that? Then what...

[ Do they still need to find it? But he thought... ]

[ Next to Tsukasa, Zhongli appears. Or at least it looks like Zhongli. Same hair and eye and build.

But he is wearing long white robes, his arms look like they are carved from stone itself - gold geo lines coursing up them in symmetric patterns. He's also floating. And even with the brand new introduction to the world, you just get a sense that you are standing next to the true Geo Archon of Liyue. ]

You have my thanks.

[ He shakes his head, throat tight. He didn't do anything. Hardly a thing. All he managed to do was emotionally harm Zhongli. Isn't that the case...? Even if he didn't have any other choice.

As he is, he feels the need to bow small and painfully human. A mere mortal in the presence of someone great.

And also because of the pain he is sure they inflicted. Right now, he cannot properly face him. ]

I am sincerely sorry.

I know.

And that is why I am even more grateful.

[ He reaches out to tentatively touch Tsukasa's shoulder. ]

Raise your head. You made the right decision. So walk out of here with your head held high.

[ He nods, rising fully though he is still sorry for the end results. ]

That woman... she must have been very important to you. Are you going to be alright?

She was.

But if you are looking for something to ease my mind...

Perhaps in the waking world, you will allow me to tell you her story. I would like nothing more than her story spread among the stars.

[ A smile, gentle- ]

I would be honored to know her true story.

[ Zhongli - or that is to say Morax - floats over to Childe's side. ]

The Guili Plains were uninhabitable after her passing.

That is why I took the people south - toward the harbor.

[ faceplants. ]

[ just... faceplants. ]

[ Childe is caught before he falls ]

Will you be okay?

Yes. I will be.

She was never here, after all.

She has not been anywhere for millennia now.

...this still feels pretty terrible, especially when I tried so hard to simply clear out the erosion, so things could take place as normal. [ but somehow, someway, ...this. ]

Zhongli Ideal World: Session 3

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