The rising sun emerged from the clouds, its orange light illuminating the dark expanse below. The stars scattered across the night sky slowly faded away.
Standing tall in the heavens, Hiroshi gazed down at the apocalyptic world beneath him, his figure silhouetted against the roaring morning wind.
What was once a thriving technological civilization had vanished. Amidst the ruins, green vegetation crawled over what was once covered by steel and concrete. Intertwined with the greenery were blood-red, dandelion-like growths—the new creations of this apocalyptic world. Countless predatory beasts roamed the land.
Hiroshi stroked his chin, his eyes glimmering faintly, a look of realization crossing his face. With a sigh, he remarked, "So, the Mana civilization of this world was itself a living entity. It's similar to that pirate world, where the Devil Tree wasn't malicious towards humans or their civilization, allowing it to survive. But here, this entity devoured the entire civilization and began reshaping the planet."
Studying the gigantic lifeform that had turned the entire planet into its nest, Hiroshi summoned Zhongli and Infinite. These two hadn't yet had a chance to use their ultimate techniques against the hypothetical boss they'd been preparing for, so this seemed like a good opportunity.
Although Hiroshi could handle the situation alone, doing so would likely devastate the planet. Since he hadn't truly stepped into the divine realm, fighting such a planet-level creature at full power would make it impossible to preserve the environment.
Two beams of white light appeared beside him, and Zhongli and Infinite materialized at his side.
Zhongli, engrossed in the book in his hands, glanced up at the surroundings before lowering his gaze to the planet below. "Hmm?"
Frowning slightly, Zhongli asked, "Hiroshi, what are your plans for this situation?"
"None," Hiroshi replied nonchalantly, shrugging. Pointing to Mark and Bai Yuekui behind him, he continued, "I'm just here to end the apocalypse and collect some things I need."
"As for rebuilding afterward, this place isn't like Old Man Kizaru's world, where civilization was underdeveloped, and people's minds were closed. Despite the apocalyptic conditions here, with Mark and Bai Yuekui around, the situation isn't hopeless."
"Once we end this world's apocalypse, they will naturally step up and lead humanity to rebuild and develop again, likely quite quickly."
"Well then, let's begin."
Infinite, who had been studying his book with a headache, sighed in relief upon hearing Hiroshi's words. The task at Polusalino's location had been completed, and now the Navy was steering the world in a new direction.
Previously, Tsuru, Riku, Shubi, and Zhongli had already outlined plans for order and other aspects, but time was short, and certain matters remained unresolved. After the continent was formed, Riku had recruited Zhongli, Infinite, and Banir to help, with Venti reluctantly tagging along.
Infinite closed his book and spread his palm. A platinum-colored light shot skyward, enveloping the world. A massive sword materialized, and Infinite directed it toward the planet below.
"Slash!"
With a light exclamation, the sword, brighter than the sun's rays, transformed into a streak of light and sliced through the planet below. Like a bird returning to its nest, the sword returned to Infinite's side, where he effortlessly grasped it.
"Hiroshi," Infinite said, turning to him, "you need the pure life force contained within that creature below, correct?"
"Yes," Hiroshi nodded, looking at the massive, wailing lifeform that had been split open by Infinite's attack. "To fully revive Qiqi, we not only need to restore the Five Elemental Cycle within her but also require an immense amount of life force."
"After all, Qiqi isn't an ordinary zombie. If she can fully harness the power within her, she'll be formidable."
"Qiqi is a legitimate adeptus of Liyue, and seeing this creature gave me some new ideas," he added, glancing at Zhongli, who was stabilizing the planet and controlling the struggling Mana lifeform below. Hiroshi took a deep breath and clasped his hands together.
"Hiroshi's Domain, activate."
A new world began to take shape in the sky, responding to Hiroshi's words. Towering mountains glistened with silver streams flowing into verdant grasslands, a vast lake shimmering like a jewel under the sun. Herds of wild boars and other animals scattered from the lake's edge, dashing toward distant forests.
Standing at the center of this new world, Hiroshi extended his hands toward the split planet below.
"Refine!"
With a low shout, five streams of multicolored light burst forth from Hiroshi's domain, enveloping the planet below. The endless predatory beasts gazed upward as the lights formed a pattern, covering the entire sky. The beasts, which had been howling incessantly, suddenly fell silent. Their glowing bodies collapsed, wisps of light rising from them.
At the split planet's core, an immense surge of life force, along with the glowing wisps from across the world, converged and streamed into Hiroshi's small domain above.
The life force accumulated through the destruction of a once-thriving civilization was now completely extracted from the source of the catastrophe. Blue luminescence rose from every corner of the world.
One by one, the beasts' bodies crumbled to dust, carried away by the wind. In Hiroshi's domain, a deep blue gem formed in his palm, growing increasingly radiant.
Looking down at the now lifeless planet and the severely damaged Mana entity, Hiroshi condensed the formation to trap it. The creature, gravely wounded by Infinite's initial strike, had no chance to resist as Zhongli suppressed it and Hiroshi refined it further.
The blue luminescence connecting heaven and earth faded as the massive life force gathered into Hiroshi's domain. As the last echoes of the creature's cries died away, the glow disappeared.
Hiroshi closed his hand around the gem, splitting it into two. "Half is enough for Qiqi. The rest will return to this planet that birthed it."
Retracting his domain, Hiroshi handed one half of the gem to Zhongli. Zhongli glanced at him, nodded, and accepted the gem. A golden glow enveloped the gem as Zhongli crushed it in his hand, scattering it over the planet below.
With a rumbling sound, the split planet began to close, and the internal damage caused by the Mana entity rapidly healed.
Stretching out his hands, Hiroshi began to restore the planet's energy flow. As time passed, Hiroshi finally exhaled in relief.
"It's done."