"Did I... make it?"
Such a thought surfaced in Yu Xie's mind.
Everything that had just happened flashed through his mind like scenes from a movie. He and Chiyo had teamed up to slay the beast from the Abyss, but in its final desperate strike, the creature had aimed its deadly blow at Makoto.
The intense shockwave and howling wind came at them, and wherever the shock struck, it left terrifying marks.
The soldiers couldn't resist, and were thrown into the air by the force. Yu Xie had rushed to Makoto's side, using Cloud Cutter to cut through the force of the blow.
After that, Cloud Cutter slipped from his grasp, and his consciousness began to fade.
Before his eyes, everything seemed to turn black. It felt as if he were submerged deep under the sea, unable to see the sunlight, surrounded only by a chilling cold.
Maybe this was the end of his life.
If it ended like this, he could accept it. At least, he wouldn't have died without doing anything.
Makoto should be fine now. She would live well with Ei, and she would witness Inazuma's future. The painful tragedy would not come to pass.
"Yu Xie... Yu Xie!"
Yu Xie heard a familiar voice calling him. He tried to open his eyes, but he had no strength left to do so.
He was exhausted, and he wanted nothing more than to fall asleep.
"No! You can't sleep! You... can't die!" Makoto's voice broke through the darkness, cutting through the depths of the sea, reaching Yu Xie's mind.
Yu Xie was momentarily stunned.
Sorry... It seems like I'm really going to die.
As a mortal, death is inevitable, so don't be sad for me.
"You all stay outside, don't let anyone in!" Makoto commanded the soldiers in the tent.
Yu Xie had been transferred to a bed in the tent, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
Makoto reached out and placed her hand on his chest to assess his injuries.
Several ribs were broken, and his internal organs were severely damaged, with massive internal bleeding.
These injuries, for a mortal, could be considered fatal.
Chiyo stood nearby, adjusting her breathing, her worry clear in her eyes.
She had also been injured in the fight earlier, though not as badly as Yu Xie. She hadn't been able to join him in blocking the monster's final strike.
"Makoto, Yu Xie... he—"
"He'll be fine." Makoto gently placed her hands on Yu Xie's chest. "I won't let him die."
A faint glow began to emanate from Makoto's hands, carrying a soft, warm energy, like the gentle sunlight of spring.
This was truly the aura of the Archon.
Makoto had no healing skills, and ordinary medicine wouldn't be able to save Yu Xie in this condition. So, she had no choice but to use this method.
She would channel her Archon aura into him, giving him a slim chance of survival.
Humans might find it difficult to endure the aura of a Archon, but at this moment, she had no other choice.
Time passed second by second, and sweat began to bead on Makoto's forehead. Her breathing started to grow irregular.
But she didn't stop. The gentle light in her hands only grew brighter, like a lamp, illuminating the entire tent.
Finally, the light faded.
Makoto withdrew her hands, her breath unstable, sweat dampening the hair at her temples.
"It seems not only am I unskilled in martial arts, but as a Archon, it seems I'm failing in every aspect..." Makoto thought to herself, her gaze never leaving Yu Xie's form.
"Makoto, how is he...?" Chiyo asked, her voice full of worry.
"I've transferred my Archon aura to him. Fortunately, his body hasn't rejected my energy, and his injuries have been stabilized. But... my power is insufficient, and I haven't been able to fully heal him. If only Ei were here..."
No one had expected things to turn out this way.
"We can't wait until we get back to have Ei..."
"It will be too late by then. If we miss the best time for treatment, no matter how skilled the method, it will be useless..." Makoto looked at the unconscious Yu Xie, ripples appearing in her violet eyes.
Yu Xie had been injured trying to save her, but now she couldn't heal him.
"How could this happen..." Chiyo's voice was soft, and her red eyes trembled with emotion.
"Chiyo, you're injured too. Go rest and take care of yourself." Makoto said, her voice gentle but firm. "I will think of something for Yu Xie."
"..."
Chiyo fell silent.
The tent grew very quiet, as though they could hear each other's heartbeats.
The night wind howled as it passed, causing the tent to rustle, like some kind of eerie melody.
Eventually, Chiyo had no choice but to leave the tent.
"General Chiyo, how is the Commander's condition?" The soldiers, seeing Chiyo come out, anxiously asked.
Chiyo hesitated for a moment. Her face was far from relaxed. She glanced back at the tent and spoke slowly:
"He's not in any immediate danger to his life."
Hearing this, all the soldiers let out a collective sigh of relief.
"That's great! The Commander's luck is strong, he's going to be fine!"
Seeing this, Chiyo felt a pang of guilt. These soldiers respected Yu Xie deeply, and they were all hoping for his recovery.
Although she hadn't lied, she couldn't bring herself to tell them the full truth.
At that moment, a messenger came rushing from the front of the camp.
"Report! The Geo Archon, Morax, is here!"
Perhaps fate always has a way of working in strange ways.
Chiyo's heart suddenly trembled.
"Quickly, please!"
Under the guidance of the soldiers, Morax arrived at the front of the tent, his robes flowing in the wind.
The Geo Archon, Morax, exuded a powerful aura that every soldier present could feel. It was a stark contrast to the aura of their commander.
"Please." The soldier leading the way stopped at the entrance of the tent and gestured for Morax to enter, also helping to lift the tent flap.
Morax hesitated for a moment before stepping into the tent.
"Baal, it's been a long time. I trust you've been well."
Baal—this was the name of Raiden Makoto's Demon God.
"I've been well, Morax." Makoto stood up.
The tent wasn't very large, and it didn't take long for Morax to notice the person lying on the bed. His gaze slightly tightened.
"This person is...?"
"He is the commander of my Guard Regiment. He was gravely injured in the battle earlier," Makoto said slowly.
Morax stepped forward. Even he, in all his life, had never encountered such a thing.
He couldn't forget the appearance of his former friend, and now, that same friend, who had long passed away, was standing before him again.
Makoto sensed the unusual look in Morax's eyes and couldn't help but ask:
"Do you know Yu Xie?"
Yu Xie—the name was the same.
"It's a long story." Morax slowly replied, and images of the past, from Guili Assembly, began to resurface in his mind.
Makoto didn't think much of it. Yu Xie was from Liyue, and it would make sense that he might know the Geo Archon, Morax, through past experiences in Liyue.
"Morax, I have an unseemly request."
"Speak, there's no need to hesitate."
"Earlier, in order to save Yu Xie, I transferred my Archon aura to him to protect his heart vein. However, my abilities are limited, and I was unable to fully heal him. So, I would like to ask for your help."
End of chapter
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