(For those who are curious, here an AI generated image of Xiao Lan)
Their journey resumed after the encounter, now far smoother thanks to Xiao Lan and the Giant Octopi. The once-perilous voyage became almost serene, the massive sea creatures ensuring their passage remained unchallenged.
Ray stood at the bow of the ship, the salty breeze ruffling his fur as he gazed out at the horizon. Behind him, Freya lingered like a steadfast shadow, ever watchful and loyal. Meanwhile, Xiao Lan, the newest addition to their group, perched nonchalantly on the ship's ramp, her legs swinging lazily in time with the gentle rocking of the vessel.
Since Ray had clarified his intentions—not to harm her or her kin but simply to satisfy his curiosity—Xiao Lan had noticeably relaxed. She accepted her role as his subordinate with surprising ease, her demeanor shifting from guarded to casual. For her, submission had become a path of survival, one she embraced without resistance.
Ray's mind, however, was elsewhere. As the wind carried the tang of the sea, he reflected on his decision to pursue the mantle of the God of Beasts rather than Humanity. It wasn't power he craved; his strength, even in its diminished state, was already beyond most beings. If not for his weakened condition during his battle with the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles, he would not have been defeated.
No, his goal wasn't ambition—it was necessity. Divine power, versatile and boundless, held the potential to surpass even the Demonic Power of the DxD world. Most crucially, it offered hope for his loved ones. Within him, his wives and daughters slumbered, their souls awaiting the day they could be awakened. That day couldn't come soon enough for Ray; each moment of delay felt like a lifetime. If achieving godhood meant speeding their return, he would pay any price.
Resolute, he pushed his thoughts aside. There's no room for doubt, he told himself. No matter what it takes, I will see this through.
But first, there was another matter to address.
"Xiao Lan," Ray called, his tone casual.
The Octopi Goddess turned, her legs still swinging over the ship's edge. "Yes, boss?"
Ray raised an eyebrow at the title but let it slide. Instead, he pressed on with the question that had been troubling him.
"Why are the Sea Gods so fixated on invading the Land of Geo? Why not target other regions?"
The question caused the lightness in Xiao Lan's expression to fade. Her gaze shifted to the sea, where the massive octopi swam in formation. For a moment, she remained silent, the weight of his inquiry evident in her solemn demeanor.
"The ocean," she began, her voice tinged with sorrow, "isn't the endless haven it once was. Over time, the birth of countless Sea Gods and their believers has crowded the waters. Space is tight, and food…" Her voice cracked slightly. "Food is critically scarce. Wars between Sea Gods and their followers are constant, brutal, and often senseless. We fight for resources, even if it means feasting on the corpses of enemies—or our own fallen kin."
Her gaze darkened, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion. "That's why the Vortex Overlord rallied us. Alone, we're weak, scattered. Together, we had a slim chance to conquer Geo's fertile lands. Its rivers, plains, and coasts could have sustained us for generations. Or so we were told. Desperation and the promise of salvation drove us forward."
Her legs stopped swinging, and her expression turned distant. "But it wasn't just survival. It was hope—hope for a better future, for an escape from the endless cycle of war and starvation. The Land of Geo became a beacon of that hope. But hope, as we learned, comes at a price."
Ray listened intently, his mind piecing together the desperation that had fueled the Sea Gods' invasions. "And the other regions? Why not try them?"
Xiao Lan shook her head. "They're inhospitable or outright deadly. The Land of Pyro is a volcanic hellscape, its rivers boiling with Pyro energy that would kill us on contact. The Land of Dendro's deserts are barren, its marshes unstable, and its creatures hostile to invaders. The Land of Electro?" She let out a mirthless chuckle. "Let's just say Electro and Hydro don't play well together."
Ray's gaze narrowed, understanding dawning. "So, the Land of Geo was the only viable option."
Xiao Lan nodded, her voice heavy with regret. "Yes. It wasn't just fertile—it was the only place truly suitable for us. If we had succeeded, we might have found a real chance at survival. But…" She exhaled deeply, her shoulders sagging under the weight of her memories. "We underestimated the Warrior God and their people. No matter how vast our numbers or how fierce our might, we were repelled time and time again.
"I wasn't just any Goddess of the Sea—I once commanded an army as powerful as the Vortex Overlord's. But even I eventually saw the truth behind the promises. The sweet words of hope were nothing more than a veil for what the war truly was: a calculated culling. Those who fought did so clinging to illusions of a better future, and when those illusions shattered, many of us returned to the sea—emptier now, after countless deaths."
Ray's gaze sharpened, his eyes fixed on the horizon. "So, it's either achieving the impossible goal or dying to nourish the remaining living," he murmured. "It was about survival. Desperation drove your kind into an unwinnable war—a fight for the right to exist."
Xiao Lan tilted her head, studying him curiously. "That's right. You're not mad about it?"
"Me? Mad?" Ray scoffed, a sly grin spreading across his face. "No. I don't waste energy on something as fragile as morality. But…" His grin widened, his eyes glinting with intrigue. "If survival is what you're after, I might have a solution."
Xiao Lan blinked in surprise, a tentative smile creeping onto her lips. "Hehe… Guess I picked the right boss after all."
Ray's grin faded into a deadpan expression. "Don't get ahead of yourself. This isn't a charity. If you want my help, you and your kind are going to have to earn it."
To his surprise, Xiao Lan's smile didn't waver. Instead, it grew, her gratitude evident. Her optimism only served to irritate the part of him that refused to admit he cared.
Shaking off his thoughts, Ray produced a fruit from his belongings. Its vibrant emerald and sapphire hues shimmered like gemstones, refracting light into a cascade of colors. A faint, greenish aura emanated from it, exuding a palpable vitality.
"Eat it," Ray instructed curtly, folding his arms as he watched her reaction.
Xiao Lan hesitated briefly before taking the fruit. Its aroma—a blend of floral sweetness and earthy richness—was intoxicating. She bit into it, and the taste was otherworldly, an explosion of euphoria that transcended mortal comprehension. Warmth flooded her being, washing away fatigue and filling her with renewed vigor.
Her eyes sparkled with awe. "What… What is this? It feels like I've eaten pure lifeforce itself." Ray's expression remained unreadable. "Just something that can solve your food problem," he muttered, deliberately concealing the truth about the fruit's origin—it was borne of the World Trees planted within his Shadow Space that fed on his vitality.
This is only the beginning, Ray thought. She is the first amongst many. Once he united these scattered Gods in the ocean under his name. He will obtain the right to negotiate with the so-called 'Warrior God'. The crucial key for the next stage of his plan.
Ray's expression grew stoic as a landmass emerged on the horizon, its contours gradually taking shape against the vast expanse of water. Even from this distance, the towering peak of the infamous Mount Tianheng pierced the skyline, its silhouette stark and commanding as it loomed before the sun.
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(AN: I know this is getting confusing with plenty of back and forth, info dump and stalling. But hey, this is writing.
Anyway, this is the end of it. Next chapter, mc is going to pre Archon War Liyue and meeting plenty of characters that should have been dead by the canon timeline. So, I have to adapt on my own a lot and possibly even alter the original facts. Like the reason why the Overlord of the Vortex is invading Liyue.)
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