Genshin Impact: The God Incarnate

Looking at Morax's stoic and unappreciative demeanor, Vorthis immediately knew that his little lamp hadn't made the desired impression.

Perhaps Morax found the idea of using a small fireball as a lamp a bit absurd.

But Vorthis didn't think it was so unreasonable.

With a glass casing and a glowing light, wasn't that exactly what a lamp was? A perfectly logical invention!

Furthermore, this lamp was conjured using one-fifth of Vorthis's power, infused with immense pyro elemental energy.

It wasn't just any lamp—it was an eternal light!

It could provide illumination for an entire city, remain bright for thousands of years without dimming even a little.

A true eternal flame!

Well, maybe he was exaggerating a bit.

After all, he couldn't just toss this thing away on a whim. For now, it was simply a lamp to decorate his home.

Once Vorthis mastered the ability to reclaim manifested power, he'd recover this little fireball.

One-fifth of his power was no trivial amount. Even his future self would find it a significant reserve of strength.

So, this wasn't just a lamp—it was a portable power source!

Enterprise-level innovation, he thought proudly.

Vorthis muttered to Morax, pouting, "You have no sense of appreciation. Don't you think this is a cool little gadget?"

... After a brief silence of about three seconds, Morax replied, "Uh, from a rational standpoint, I don't find it particularly impressive."

"Forget it, forget it. This just shows that my perspective is on a higher level—you wouldn't understand!" Vorthis waved dismissively, feigning a look of profound wisdom.

He then took the stellar night lamp back from Morax and began tossing it in his hands, playing with it like a toy.

Watching Vorthis's retreating figure, Morax shook his head slightly.

Vorthis was still the same Vorthis—unchanged in the slightest.

Would his childish demeanor ever evolve into something more mature? Morax sighed quietly.

Soon after, Vorthis entered the barrier that sheltered humanity.

Floating mid-air, he gazed down at the humans below. Moments earlier, they had witnessed a fierce battle and the demise of Hastus, the God of Swamps, all while under the protection of the barrier.

Now, as the subjects of the fallen God, what were they thinking?

Vorthis wasn't the Dendro God and couldn't read minds, so he naturally had no idea.

"The God of Swamps Hastus has fallen," Vorthis declared.

"Would you be willing to follow me to Guizoli City and begin a new life? If any of you wish to leave, you may do so now."

His voice was calm as he addressed the gathered crowd.

Almost immediately, voices of defiance erupted from several individuals who had already resigned themselves to death.

"Murderer! You're nothing but a murderer! How could you kill such a kind and benevolent God?"

"We'll never follow you! You murderer! Kill me if you want!"

"Die! You deserve to die!"

Countless venomous words spilled from the mouths of dozens in the crowd.

Vorthis's expression remained indifferent.

He had expected this.

It was only natural. If a God had no loyal followers even at their end, then they had failed miserably as a deity.

Stay calm. Don't let it get to you.

Breathe in, breathe out.

But it was hard not to lose his temper.

Even my mom never scolded me like this!

Coughing to clear his throat, Vorthis suppressed his anger.

"I am a kind God," he said calmly, "and I will not direct my wrath at such lovable people."

"Since that's how you feel, you may leave. I won't kill you because I am merciful."

Turning to the rest of the crowd, he continued, "Those who remain, come with me to Guizoli City to start anew."

While his expression was composed, Vorthis was already imagining a hundred different ways those defiant individuals could meet their demise.

The dissenters were stunned, their eyes filled with disbelief.

What? They had braced themselves for death, and yet he spared them? Could he truly be a kind-hearted God?

But no matter how kind he seemed, he was still the murderer of their beloved God. Such a crime could not be forgiven.

"Thank you for your mercy, great God!"

"We were forced to worship the God of Swamps. Most of us were taken from other God territories—this was not our choice."

"We are willing to follow you and start a new life in Guizoli City!"

The remaining crowd spoke earnestly.

Vorthis nodded.

It seemed that most of these people were captives from territories conquered by the God of Swamps.

The true devotees of Hastus were likely already dead, consumed by the swamp.

With a wave of his hand, Vorthis led the remaining people through the skies alongside Morax.

As they departed, Vorthis accidentally activated his stellar night lamp, and the "little star" escaped.

The dissenters, who had just been spared, wore looks of shock.

Had the God truly forgiven them?

Then they saw a flicker of light.

Was it dawn?

No—it was the blazing sun!

Moments later, their bodies ignited, consumed by roaring flames.

All of them were reduced to ashes under the relentless heat of the "star."

"Oh? So that's where my little star went," Vorthis said cheerfully, retrieving the lamp and securing the star back into its glass casing.

Morax's lips twitched slightly. He had, of course, understood what Vorthis had just done.

But, knowing Vorthis's nature, this was entirely in character—exactly the kind of thing he'd do.

Morax then returned to Liyue to report the God of Swamps' demise to Guizhong, the God of Dust. Together, they would head to Guizoli City.

Meanwhile, Vorthis led the surviving humans to Guizoli City.

"Lord God of Feather!"

The citizens busy with the construction of Guizoli City stopped their work upon seeing Vorthis.

They turned to look at him, curious about the group of unfamiliar people he had brought with him.

From their attire, it was clear these newcomers were not from Liyue.

Vorthis gently set the 5,000 people down from the sky, removing the barrier that had been controlling them. Turning to the people of Guizoli, he spoke:

"These are the former subjects of the God of Swamps. Not long ago, the God attempted to destroy our land of Guizoli. Now, the God has fallen."

"They will now join Guizoli. Do not harbor prejudice against them. You are to work together to build Guizoli and create a future worth living."

Having said this, Vorthis vanished on the spot and returned to a pavilion among the clouds.

He had explained all that needed explaining and said all that needed saying. The rest of the matters would naturally be handled by the human administrators of Guizoli.

Seated in the pavilion, Vorthis poured himself a small cup of Coca-Cola, sipping it slowly.

"Phht!" Vorthis spat it out in one burst.

The Coca-Cola tasted like pure sugar water.

It turned out the Coke in the teapot had been sitting there for three days. After that long, it was no surprise it tasted like sugary syrup.

At the time, when the God of Swamps, Hastus, had come looking for trouble, this was all that remained of Vorthis' stock.

Dumping the stale Coke, Vorthis conjured a fresh pot of iced Coca-Cola.

Ah, Coke with ice—truly the perfect way to enjoy it.

Not long after, two beams of light appeared in the sky. It was none other than Morax and Guizhong arriving.

Standing atop the clouds, Morax seemed unsurprised. He had long grown accustomed to Zennos and his peculiar creations.

These clouds must have been Zennos' doing, a manifestation of his authority.

"Morax, Guizhong! Please, have a seat."

"Since the inception of the Guizoli city project, it's been quite some time since the three of us gathered like this," Vorthis remarked.

"Just over a year—hardly a long time, is it?"

"Guizhong, what would you like to eat? I'll conjure it for you," Vorthis offered.

After some thought, Guizhong smiled and said, "I'd love some golden shrimp balls. Ever since we parted ways last time, I've missed their flavor. Sadly, no one in my domain knows how to make them."

"Heh, Guizhong, as many as you'd like—it's on me!" Vorthis laughed.

With a wave of his hand, several plates of golden shrimp balls appeared on the table.

Then, Vorthis turned to Morax.

"As for you, Morax, I already know—a fine pot of tea, right?"

Morax nodded slightly.

Vorthis conjured a pot of premium tea for Morax. Its aroma wafted through the air, rich and inviting.

Yet Vorthis still preferred his Coke—perhaps he had yet to develop a taste for the passage of time.

"Eh-heh~"

Morax smiled faintly and poured himself a cup of tea.

After a satisfying meal, Vorthis, as the architect of the Guizoli construction project, led Morax and Guizhong through the clouds, introducing them to the city.

Seeing the city in person was entirely different from viewing its blueprints; the impression it left was worlds apart.

The construction of Guizoli had been underway for a year and a half.

The city walls were complete, though some sections of the perimeter wall were still under slow construction.

Building these walls was no simple task. The interior was filled with compacted soil, while the exterior was constructed with fired bricks, creating a majestic and sturdy barrier.

The trio turned their gaze to the residential areas of Guizoli. The city's housing was divided into four sections, each in a different quadrant of the city.

Each residential area was designed with essential amenities such as wells and marketplaces.

The eastern residential district was fully complete, and residents who had previously lived outside the city had now moved inside.

Their living standards had greatly improved, and they eagerly awaited the day when the entire city of Guizoli would be completed.

In this era, only the people of Liyue could construct such a grand city.

A sense of pride blossomed in the hearts of Liyue's people.

How could they not feel proud?

With two powerful gods watching over them, their safety was assured. The seeds bestowed by the God of Feather ensured they wanted for nothing.

Now, they were building a magnificent city that promised even greater living conditions and a bright future.

Living in such an environment, how could they not be proud?

"Well, what do you think?" Vorthis asked Morax and Guizhong with a smile after finishing his introduction.

Guizhong's face lit up with a smile, full of anticipation.

"Vorthis, you truly are a master builder. I love this city. I can't wait to see it completed," Guizhong said.

Morax added, "From a rational perspective, given the current pace of construction, Guizoli will likely take another four and a half years to complete."

"Four and a half years is not long at all," Vorthis remarked.

"Eh-heh, I must ensure the city's construction proceeds smoothly. I can't let you down, Morax and Guizhong."

Morax and Guizhong exchanged a glance and smiled.

They were already deeply satisfied. How could they ever feel disappointed?

One day, this would be their shared city.

After more than a day of gathering, Morax and Guizhong departed from Guizoli, returning to their respective territories.

They continued to support Guizoli's construction by providing materials and labor.

As the years passed, the city took shape. Roads were paved with bricks, drainage systems were completed, and more residents moved in, leaving their old cities behind.

Eventually, there would be no cities named Liyue or Guizhong—only Guizoli.

Pride surged anew in the hearts of its people, as their magnificent city stood as a testament to their unity and determination.