Chapter 44. Upholding the Contract to Invite Bosacius
Yelan moved at the forefront, her steps steady and decisive as she led the group forward.
As they advanced, she spoke in a calm, controlled tone, laying out everything she had already confirmed.
This underground space had three exits—two of them led to the area Tartaglia had previously explored, while the third led to a far more unsettling place, one that reflected the deepest fears within a person's heart.
She did not dwell on it, but the implication lingered heavily in the air.
She, Tartaglia, and Lumine had all entered it, and each of them had seen something they could not easily ignore. Only Paimon had avoided stepping inside.
Futsu Mitama listened quietly.
A trace of regret surfaced within him—he was indeed curious about what could shake people like Yelan and Tartaglia—but that curiosity never reached his lips.
Compared to everything else, it was insignificant. Aila remained the priority above all, and before that, he still needed to verify a certain conjecture.
Not long after, under Yelan's guidance, they exited the tunnel and arrived at a vast open space. Suspended high above them was the enormous The Fantastic Compass, its presence dominating the entire area with an unnatural stillness.
"There's a smaller one over there."
Yelan raised a hand and pointed. Not far from them, a smaller Fantastic Compass stood quietly. Her gaze shifted upward again, settling on the massive structure in the sky.
"We've searched this place thoroughly. Every clue we could find has already been examined," she said, her tone composed yet firm. "But we've never found a way out. That means there are still secrets here—we just haven't uncovered them yet."
Her conclusion was clear.
This place was not empty; it was incomplete. If there was a way out, it would be hidden within this very area.
On the way here, she had already tested Futsu Mitama's intentions.
Would they leave after resolving Aila and Black Aila? His answer had been direct—yes.
The mission here was nearing its end. All that remained was the appearance of Bosacius to bring everything to a conclusion.
At that name, Xiao's gaze subtly sharpened. He said nothing, yet it was clear he had already grasped the implication. The impossible had been overturned once before—Guizhong's return was proof of that—and perhaps it could happen again.
"Hm, maybe," Tartaglia replied casually, his tone almost dismissive. "You all go look first. I'll cheer you on from the bottom of my heart—"
His voice stopped abruptly.
A sharp distortion tore through the air.
An Electro claw materialized in an instant, striking directly toward Futsu Mitama.
"Good timing—!!!"
Tartaglia's eyes lit up, and his entire demeanor shifted. Hydro condensed instantly in his hands as twin blades formed, and he surged forward without hesitation.
"Bang—!!"
The collision rang out as the Electro claw shattered under his strike, though the recoil forced him back a step. His expression only grew more excited.
"As expected—you're strong."
Electric arcs spread across his body as he drew upon his Delusion. This was no longer a trivial exchange—this was the kind of battle he had been waiting for.
A furious voice echoed through the space, filled with both rage and unwavering resolve.
"Filthy Abyssal Beasts…! I lured you here because I discovered your weakness! Then die here with me!"
More Electro claws descended in rapid succession, relentless and suffocating.
Yelan and Lumine immediately assumed combat stances. They recognized what stood before them—a Yaksha who had once fought in this very place five hundred years ago.
Yet something was wrong.
Yelan's gaze dimmed slightly.
He had forgotten everything—his name, his past, even his companions—and yet, even in that state, he continued to fight. Continued to protect. Continued to resist.
That persistence struck far deeper than any attack.
Meanwhile, Tartaglia laughed openly, his blades flashing as he intercepted the barrage, Hydro and Electro intertwining around him as his fighting spirit surged to its peak. This was the battle he craved.
But Futsu Mitama did not move.
"No need to rush," he said calmly, his gaze fixed ahead. "Let him enjoy this for a bit longer and besides, this isn't all."
As his words fell, the space shifted.
Figures began to emerge—first a few, then dozens, then over a hundred. The fallen returned. Millelith soldiers formed ranks, Exorcists stepped forward with talismans in hand, and alongside them appeared monsters, machines, remnants of a war long past.
Everything that had died here had risen again.
Silently, Yelan raised a hand in salute. Once, these people had protected Liyue with their lives. Now, they were forced to fight again—not as guardians, but as puppets bound to this space.
"The Millelith stand firm!"
"Unmoving as the mountains!"
"Armored like the ramparts—purging evil and defending the land!"
Their voices rang out in unison, unwavering even in death. Formation snapped into place, spears aligned, talismans ignited, and the battlefield escalated instantly.
Tartaglia's expression shifted—not fear, but clarity. This was no longer a duel. This was overwhelming force.
He stepped back decisively, abandoning the idea of trading blows head-on. Fire and lightning surged toward him in a relentless barrage, and within that storm, Bosacius descended, four arms crackling with Electro as they struck with unstoppable force.
"Help me—!!"
Even as he called out, excitement still burned in his voice.
In the next instant, his form transformed. Foul Legacy erupted, his aura surging violently as his twin blades shifted into a spear, meeting the Yaksha's blows head-on before he abruptly disengaged, flashing away from the incoming talismans.
His gaze locked onto the advancing formation.
"Extreme Skill: Havoc Whale—!!!"
A massive whale of condensed Hydro surged upward from the ground, roaring as it crashed toward the Millelith and Exorcists. For a moment, the sheer force of it seemed unstoppable.
Yet the response came immediately.
The Millelith tightened their formation, golden light spreading across their ranks as Geo energy gathered—not as individuals, but as one unified whole. Their spears rose in perfect synchrony, and within that unity, a massive Geo spear condensed, its presence heavy and immovable.
In the next instant, it shot forward, tearing through the air with unstoppable force, meeting the descending Havoc Whale head-on as Hydro and Geo collided in a single, deafening impact that shook the entire battlefield.
"Pfft—!!"
The Geo Spear pierced through the Devouring Whale, tearing into its enormous body and dealing heavy damage in a single strike.
In the next moment, the Exorcists cast their talismans in precise succession, and a chilling aura erupted forth, freezing what remained of the Devouring Whale before it could even collapse completely.
Tartaglia's expression changed drastically.
The coordination was flawless, flowing from one action into the next without the slightest delay, leaving no opening at all.
Before he could fully process what had happened, arrows began raining toward him one after another, forcing him to react instinctively as he swung his spear to intercept them.
When his vision cleared, the Millelith had already surrounded him, their formation tightening with the clear intent of hunting him down as though he were a dangerous Dark Beast.
Realizing the situation, Tartaglia immediately activated his teleportation, withdrawing from the encirclement and returning to the group without hesitation.
"Not fighting anymore?"
Futsu Mitama looked at Tartaglia, who had already deactivated his Foul Legacy Transformation, a faint smile appearing on his face as he questioned him. After all, the clash had barely begun, yet Tartaglia had already chosen to retreat.
Lumine and Yelan also turned their gazes toward him, their expressions carrying a hint of amusement.
He had repeatedly expressed his eagerness to face strong opponents earlier, yet now that such an opponent had appeared, he had withdrawn so quickly.
"I can't beat them,"
Tartaglia admitted directly, his tone calm and without any sign of embarrassment. He sought battle, but he had no intention of throwing his life away meaninglessly.
Through those brief exchanges, he had already understood the situation clearly.
Individually, the Millelith were not particularly threatening, but once they formed their battle formations and coordinated with the Exorcists, the entire battlefield became tightly controlled. No matter which direction he attempted to attack from, he would be intercepted and blocked without fail.
Because of that, he had immediately escalated his strength to test their limits, yet even then, they resolved his attack with remarkable ease.
Continuing to fight alone would only lead to a predictable outcome. Even if he managed to take down several opponents, he would ultimately be overwhelmed and beaten up even killed.
Moreover, Bosacius had yet to fully engage him. With such a presence still lurking in the shadows, any prolonged engagement would only worsen his situation.
Only now did Tartaglia fully understand why Yelan had quietly relaxed earlier upon confirming the presence of a hundred Millelith and a dozen Exorcists.
Compared to the present-day forces he was familiar with, the Millelith of that era operated on an entirely different level.
"Can't beat them? That wasn't your attitude earlier,"
Yelan remarked, a faint trace of sarcasm in her tone as she looked at Tartaglia.
She had clearly witnessed his eagerness to fight while they were resting, yet now he had withdrawn so decisively. Although she understood the reasoning, she could not help but comment on the contrast.
Of course, she herself had no intention of stepping forward. She was fully aware of her own limits, and against such a coordinated force, she would not last long.
Remaining behind as support was the most rational choice.
Tartaglia did not respond to her remark. His expression remained composed, as if the matter required no further explanation.
"Are we not fighting yet?" Xiao asked, his gaze fixed firmly on Bosacius, his tone already carrying a restrained urgency.
However, Futsu Mitama and the others still did not move. They merely prepared themselves, their weapons ready, yet no one took the initiative to engage. Meanwhile, Bosacius, the Millelith, and the Exorcists continued advancing steadily.
Seeing this, Xiao could not help but feel puzzled. Futsu Mitama's posture clearly indicated that he was waiting for something.
"It's here."
Futsu Mitama raised his head slightly, his gaze directed toward the sky as if he had sensed something.
Almost at the same moment, the others also felt a subtle fluctuation and followed his line of sight.
Space itself fractured.
A massive existence resembling a Geo Hypostasis broke through the void and appeared above them, suspended in the sky. Along with its arrival, an indescribable and profound divine pressure spread outward, enveloping the entire area.
Xiao's eyes widened instantly. "This is Rex Lapis's—"
Yelan reacted almost instinctively, lowering her head in respect. That pressure was something she had felt countless times during the Rite of Descension since childhood, leaving no room for doubt.
Shenhe did the same, recognizing that the descent of this authority was no different from the arrival of Rex Lapis himself.
"It finally arrived,"
Futsu Mitama said calmly, showing no surprise.
Due to earlier circumstances, the Geo Archon Authority that had been cast into The Chasm had taken longer to reach them, but now it had finally appeared, carrying the unmistakable aura of Rex Lapis.
At that moment, Bosacius, the Millelith, and the Exorcists all came to an abrupt halt. Their movements ceased completely as they lifted their heads to look at the Geo Hypostasis in the sky.
"This is—"
"Rex Lapis—?"
"Have you come?"
A flicker of clarity appeared in their eyes, as though something long buried had resurfaced.
This was not a miracle.
It was obsession.
Even after death, their faith had not faded. Faced with the presence of Rex Lapis, they disregarded all commands, even resisting the control of the spatial consciousness itself.
Futsu Mitama watched this scene silently before extending his hand toward the descending authority.
The Geo Hypostasis responded as if summoned, moving toward him before merging directly into his body.
"Buzz—!!!!"
A golden light spread from Futsu Mitama, his entire being enveloped in Geo elemental radiance. The pressure of the Geo Archon extended outward from him, steady and overwhelming.
At the same time, fragments of knowledge surged into his mind—Zhongli's spear techniques, Adeptus arts, and the inheritance of the Geo Archon, including the very technique that once sealed Osial.
"This gift is truly heavy," Futsu Mitama said quietly.
From Zhongli's actions, it was clear what his intentions were.
The inheritance and authority had already been handed over. What remained was only a matter of time.
However, he did not dwell on it. Instead, he raised his hand once more.
A golden light condensed, forming a long spear that closely resembled the Vortex Vanquisher, manifesting directly from the Geo Archon Authority.
"Rex Lapis!"
"Rex Lapis!!"
"Rex Lapis!!!"
Bosacius, the Millelith, and the Exorcists all knelt on one knee, showing absolute reverence toward the authority he carried.
Yet at the same time, the remaining enemies—Fatui, monsters, and mechanical constructs—continued their advance, driven entirely by the will of the space itself, attempting to eliminate Futsu Mitama at all costs.
Realizing the urgency, Xiao, Shenhe, Tartaglia, and the others immediately stepped forward to intercept them. The enemies were swiftly dealt with, as none of them could compare to the true threats that had already been subdued.
"Bosacius, have you awakened?" Xiao stepped forward, his voice carrying a trace of complexity as he looked at his elder.
Bosacius did not respond. He remained kneeling, as though unaware of Xiao's presence.
A hint of sorrow passed through Xiao's eyes.
"Don't worry," Futsu Mitama said, placing a hand on Xiao's shoulder. "There is still hope."
Xiao seemed to understand something and stepped back without another word.
Futsu Mitama then turned his attention fully to Bosacius and the others. The Geo Archon Authority responded, releasing a gentle golden light that enveloped them.
"I am not Rex Lapis, but the war is over," he said steadily. "It is time for you to rest. Leave the rest to me."
"I swear by the name of the Rex Lapis' successor that the Abyssal Beasts will not be allowed to escape, nor will the one who enslaved you go unpunished."
(You swear not in the name of Rex Lapis, is it still count as a contract? Since even Rex Lapis' successor did not fully brought in open yet)
As his words fell, the golden light grew stronger, wrapping around each Millelith soldier and Exorcist. The clarity in their eyes returned, and their awareness was restored.
They stood once more, looking at Futsu Mitama and the others behind him, understanding what had happened. Expressions of apology appeared on their faces, as though ashamed that even in death they had brought danger to those they once protected.
Gradually, their forms dissolved into golden light, dispersing into the surroundings.
One of the Exorcists lingered for a moment, his gaze resting on Yelan's bracelet. His lips moved slightly, but no words came out. In the end, he only smiled, a quiet and relieved expression, before fading away completely.
Yelan watched silently, her expression complicated.
"So, only Bosacius remains."
Unlike the others, Bosacius did not dissipate.
Because he was not merely an obsession.
Though his soul had been eroded over time and his memories lost, he still existed in a fragmented state, bound by the space yet not entirely gone.
Futsu Mitama turned his gaze toward the interface before him. The invite-in permissions appeared, displaying several names.
When he saw [Bosacius] among them, he made his decision without hesitation.
He reached out and selected the name.
At the same time, a notification appeared.
[Group Announcement: Ding!!!]
[Welcome Bosacius to the Teyvat Continent's Loving Family Chat Group.]
"!!!"
In an instant, Bosacius's body reacted violently. His eyes snapped open, and a dark aura began to seep out from within him.
"This is?!" Xiao's expression changed immediately as he recognized it. "This is karma and Abyssal power! Everyone, retreat!"
The atmosphere shifted abruptly.
What had just been resolved—had not yet truly ended.
"Why would karmic debt and Abyssal Energy emanate from Bosacius?!"
Although Xiao was not entirely certain what was happening, he still reacted immediately, warning his companions to retreat. Once that kind of power came into contact with an ordinary body, it could very well be fatal. Not everyone possessed the powerful physique of a Yaksha, nor could they withstand such corruption without consequence.
In truth, even without Xiao needing to say anything, the others had already responded in perfect coordination. They withdrew swiftly and decisively, clearly unwilling to come into contact with even a trace of the karmic debt or Abyssal Energy.
At that moment, Futsu Mitama calmly condensed Geo energy, gathering it with precise control as it enveloped the dark aura continuously spilling from Bosacius's body.
Without the slightest hesitation, he struck forward, punching through space itself. A rift tore open, and that mass of karmic debt and Abyssal Energy was forcibly expelled into another dimension.
Only after completing all of this did the tension ease.
Bosacius's rather large body collapsed heavily onto the ground. A moment later, he struggled, forcing himself upright again. One hand covered his face, while shock and confusion filled his eyes without concealment.
His thoughts were in complete disarray. Questions surged one after another, impossible to suppress.
Before him, a translucent screen hovered in the air, lines of text flowing across it in steady succession.
Within those lines, he seemed to recognize several names—Maha Rukkhadevata, Azhdaha, and Guizhong.
But was this merely a hallucination?
Had his consciousness not yet fully stabilized?
Why would he be seeing the Dendro Archon of Sumeru, along with Azhdaha and Guizhong?
The questions pressed in relentlessly, yet before he could continue dwelling on them, Bosacius abruptly lifted his gaze, locking onto Futsu Mitama not far away.
"This is…Rex Lapis's power? Who are you?"
His voice was low, but firm with certainty. The divine pressure emanating from the other party was unmistakable.
That aura belonged to Rex Lapis.
As the first Yaksha who had once fought countless battles alongside him, Bosacius could never mistake it.
He straightened, preparing to speak further, but in the next instant, his gaze shifted—and froze.
Behind Futsu Mitama stood a familiar figure.
"Alatus?!"
"Bosacius…"
At the sound of that voice, even Xiao's composure faltered. His tone trembled slightly, the steadiness he always maintained breaking for just a brief moment.
Meanwhile, Tartaglia and Yelan remained where they stood, utterly bewildered.
What exactly had just happened?
The Millelith and Exorcists dissipating into specks of light could still be understood as their obsessions finally dispersing, but Bosacius—this situation could not be explained so easily.
Had he truly recovered?
And if so, how?
Was it truly because of Rex Lapis's power?
Questions accumulated faster than they could be processed, to the point that neither Tartaglia nor Yelan could even form the words to voice them.
"Is it really you? Alatus?!"
Bosacius's expression shifted again, excitement surfacing as he gestured toward Xiao, disbelief evident in his voice.
"I'm not seeing another hallucination, am I?"
He paused briefly, as if trying to grasp the reality before him.
"No… wait… this doesn't feel like a hallucination. This is real…but then what exactly am I…"
As his voice trailed off, his gaze drifted forward once more, drawn back to the translucent interface.
This time, the text was no longer distant or unclear.
It was addressing him directly.
—
Inside the Chat Group:
[Futsu Mitama: "@Bosacius, don't get too excited. I know how you're feeling right now, but please, don't get ahead of yourself—"]
[Futsu Mitama: "@Zhongli @Azhdaha @Guizhong, why don't the three of you explain what's going on?"]
[Azhdaha: "@Bosacius, hahahahaha, long time no see! How does it feel to be revived? By the way, what's your current state? Futsu Mitama hasn't started a group livestream, so I'm not sure what state you're in right now."]
[Guizhong: "Are you still alive? Or are you in a remnant soul state like me? How are things now? By the way, @Futsu Mitama, why don't you start a group livestream so we can prescribe the right medicine?"]
[Raiden Makoto: "Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations! In just one day, our group has gained people from Mondstadt, Liyue, Sumeru, and Snezhnaya."]
[Raiden Makoto: "Sigh~ When will we Inazuma add another person?"]
[Venti: "The one from Snezhnaya has already been kicked out, so don't beat a dead horse. Besides, you Inazuma people have the most members, so stop complaining."]
[Yae Miko: "Alright, alright, stop interrupting. The little one has started a group livestream, let's go see what's happening over there first."]
[Albedo: "Sigh! If only I had known, I would have gone faster!"]
[Klee: "Klee is still flying!!!!! Wahhh!!!! It's all water below! Klee wants to know if I can throw Jumpy Dumpty down!"]
[Keqing: "No!!! Little Klee!!! You need to save Jumpy Dumpty for The Chasm!!! Sister Keqing will let you blast away to your heart's content!!"]
[Guizhong: "Mmm mmm mmm!!! Don't throw bombs!"]
[Group Announcement: Group Leader Futsu Mitama has started a group livestream.]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "Has the group livestream started? @Cyno, do you know how to enter?"]
[Cyno: "Yes, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, this is much simpler than Genius Invokation TCG."]
[Eula: "Genius Invokation TCG? What's that?"]
[Keqing: "It's said to be a popular game in Sumeru recently."]
[Kamisato Ayaka: "It's quite famous. At the last wine-tasting event, someone even specifically applied for a Genius Invokation TCG booth. Winners got fine wine, losers only got juice."]
[Kamisato Ayaka: "I played it for a while and found it quite interesting, so I approved it, but there was a small incident at the time."]
[Cyno: "An incident?"]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "What incident?"]
[Kuki Shinobu: "Hmm... I seem to recall something."]
[Kamisato Ayaka: "It is said that many children won the competition at that time, so Miss Sara forcibly canceled the booth in the end."]
[Cyno: "Is that so—Well, that's not surprising—After all, heroes emerge in their youth."]
[Kamisato Ayaka: "Youths are also minors, so they are not allowed to drink alcohol."]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "Hmm, speaking of which, I seem to remember...during the wine-tasting event, Kazuha also participated and got drunk after drinking some juice with a bit of alcohol."]
[Futsu Mitama: "Huh?!!! How come I didn't know about this!!!"]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "I only found out about it afterwards. Gorou felt it was too embarrassing at the time and immediately carried Kazuha away from the scene."]
[Futsu Mitama: "I actually missed such an interesting event."]
[Shenhe: "Is this...interesting?"]
[Kuki Shinobu: "Very interesting."]
[Yae Miko: "Extremely interesting."]
[Bosacius: "Group livestream? I'm in! So amazing! I can actually see myself!!!"]
[Zhongli: "Your current state doesn't seem too good."]
[Venti: "It's more than just 'not good'."]
[Raiden Makoto: "How about a certain Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Consultant goes and asks Director Hu how much mora it costs to handle a service?"]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "This appearance—it seems your situation is similar to mine, an existence that can only live in a [specific area]."]
[Azhdaha: "So weak and pathetic, where's your powerful body? How come you look like you'd fall apart with just a tap?"]
[Guizhong: "It's alright, it's alright, his situation is still better than mine. At least he's still alive and can move."]
[Albedo: "Let me see— Hmm...this situation is probably a bit better than Guizhong's at the time."]
—
At this moment, Bosacius stood completely still.
After his "revival," his worldview had just been subjected to an overwhelming, almost incomprehensible impact.
"Bosacius? What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Xiao asked, unable to hide the concern in his voice.
From Xiao's perspective, Bosacius's regained consciousness was clearly linked to the removal of the karmic debt and Abyssal Energy. Once those had been stripped away, Bosacius had stopped attacking and could communicate normally again.
That alone should have been cause for relief.
And yet—
Why was he just standing there?
"No, I'm fine."
Bosacius answered, but his tone carried a subtle restraint.
Regarding the Chat Group, he made no mention of it.
With Azhdaha, Guizhong, and even Maha Rukkhadevata appearing within it—and every presence there exuding an unfathomable depth—he chose, for the moment, to remain silent.
Until he fully understood what this "Chat Group" truly was, he would not reveal anything.
If there was even the slightest danger, he could not allow it to involve Alatus.
Alatus was his only remaining family.
"It's just..."
Bosacius gestured toward Xiao, his voice turning faintly subtle.
"How long has it been—and you still haven't grown taller?"
"..."
Silence fell instantly.
Even Xiao's breathing grew slightly uneven.
He had been concerned—genuinely concerned—for his elder brother.
And yet—this was what Bosacius chose to say?
How many years had passed?
Did he think growth was still possible?!!
They had both survived the Archon War together!
"Pfft—"
Tartaglia failed to suppress a laugh.
In the very next instant, every hair on his body stood on end.
A killing intent had locked onto him.
Xiao's gaze had already shifted, cold and sharp, his grip tightening around his spear with unmistakable intent.
"..."
Tartaglia immediately stopped.
He was not Bosacius.
That distinction mattered.
Bosacius could say such things.
He could not.
He glanced around, only to realize that no one else had laughed aloud.
Even Paimon looked at him with visible shock, as if silently questioning his judgment.
Was he…the only one who found that funny?
"...?"
A rare trace of confusion crossed Tartaglia's expression.
Xiao, however, had already withdrawn his attention from him.
He turned back to Bosacius, his voice steady once more, though the emotion beneath it had not fully faded.
"Welcome back, Bosacius."
"Ah~ I'm back, Alatus."
Bosacius smiled faintly.
If one could live—then no matter the cost—who would willingly choose death?
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