The phantom of the past

kicked open the collapsed rocks blocking the passage, and out of the smoke came an arrogant red and white figure holding a big sword, it was Phoenix.

He is lost.

Yes, you guessed it right, Phoenix, the Fire Demon God, is a real road addict. This does not mean that he will definitely get lost. In fact, when there is a clear destination, such as Mondstadt City, he can reach the destination. It's just that the straight line without turning is not suitable for most Teyvat's lives.

However, in the absence of instructions and signposts, such as when exploring ruins or mountains, he can only know when he reaches the place he has already visited again, oh, he has been here before, but he cannot find it quickly. exit.

Many times he even needs to trample every inch of the land, or fly into the sky to find a way out, but this obviously cannot be used in the ruins.

Therefore, this may also be a manifestation of low luck value. This is also the reason why he rarely goes to Sumeru. It is a place covered by the shade of trees that cannot be found even with a map.

Unfortunately, Bennett, who might know how to find the way, is not here. He disappeared just after entering the entrance of the ruins. It is not known whether he was teleported to other places or failed to enter.

Phoenix felt the fluctuations in space, but he was not good at tracking, nor did he want to violently demolish the ruins. In desperation, he lit up the surrounding fire racks and took stock of the surrounding environment.

There are many murals on the rough walls, most of which are no longer visible clearly. Only one on the ceiling is still barely intact.

Those were the people of Nata who had come to Mondstadt. On the mural, they were sitting by the fire and talking with the God of Wind.

So it seems that this ruins was built by the Natar people who once came to Mondstadt? Phoenix guessed that apart from the murals and the fire rack, there was nothing else worth paying attention to in this room, so he stood up and was ready to try his luck.

So, he swung his sword and smashed open the wall, making a huge roar.

Behind the wall is a passage. The builders obviously worked very hard to polish the stones to make them look smooth. They did a good job, but now, a gap has been violently opened on its side by a large sword.

Phoenix walked into the dark passage. There was no light, and he didn't need a fire to see the path under his feet.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the empty passage. In this silent silence, most people would involuntarily care about their own breathing and heartbeat.

It's just a pity that Phoenix has no heartbeat and doesn't really need to breathe.

The mastermind behind the scenes didn't know whether to continue making heartbeat and breathing sounds to put some mental pressure on the intruder.

After all, this guy is really violent and rogue this time.

And it actually didn't feel any offense at all, and even had a strange sense of intimacy.

Phoenix looked at his feet thoughtfully. The energy of the earth veins in this place was very strange. The power of the fire element was too full. The owners of the Fire Element God's Eye might be better off. Ordinary people and other holders of the God's Eye were there. If you can't hold on here for two hours, the elemental power will be disordered, and you will either go crazy or die.

[King, it’s the king, the king is here to take us home! ]

[What a cute king, so small. ]

[Look, the king is coming! ]

[Did the king discover us? ]

[Maybe, the king is coming, the king is coming! 】

Phoenix clicked his tongue, but the corners of his mouth raised slightly, and whispered, "It's so noisy, let's talk one by one."

The noisy voices in his mind seemed to have suddenly been pressed on the pause button, and then there were even more noisy voices. . Every voice was excited, and if they were still alive, they would probably be jumping to their feet.

Phoenix did not stop their noise and waited patiently. Soon, the noise gradually subsided, and finally only a young voice remained.

[King, it’s great that you are still alive. ]

Phoenix lowered his eyes, "Ah, still alive."

Perhaps because of Phoenix's response, the voice became obviously excited and spoke faster.

[Sorry, King, please punish us for taking our own initiative. 】

Phoenix raised his eyebrows, crossed his arms and said, "What is the punishment for you? To punish you for filling the beacon into the earth's veins? To punish you for not being willing to ask for help from Yu until your death? Or for punishing you for not even being able to express your grievances?"

" Stupid! Extremely stupid!" Phoenix shouted.

In the air that he couldn't see, many souls lowered their heads, looking like they were seriously reflecting. Some were quietly wiping away tears, but without exception, they all had a satisfied smile.

Five hundred years ago, they came to support Mondstadt. Before leaving, Phoenix gave each of them a sign and told them not to leave their hands at any time.

They didn't know what it was when they were alive, but after they died at the claws of the demon dragon, they knew that it was a fragment of the heart of God.

As long as there are fragments of the Heart of God, even if no more thousand winds pass through the Ember Sea, their souls can return to their homeland instead of being trapped in the land of death.

It’s just that plans can’t keep up with changes. The unexplained disappearance of the Seven-Heaven Statue has affected the ley lines. They need a new anchor to replace the Seven-Heaven Statue to fix the ley lines.

This anchor point is the fragment of God's Heart that belongs to Vulcan in them.

[Please forgive us, wise and gentle king. 】

They just said it over and over again, without grievances or resentments, as if these five hundred years of loneliness and pain were irrelevant at this moment, the moment they recognized the gods.

I'll beat up that Barbatos guy when I get back, and I won't care if I lose my idol.

With a dark face, Phoenix stretched out his hand forward, mobilizing his few divine powers.

The huge formation spread out under his feet as he moved, gradually revealing the appearance of soul bodies. They were very young, the oldest was only in his early thirties.

[King, have you forgiven us? 】The oldest soul looked at his companions excitedly while groping for his body.

Phoenix withdrew his hand, looked at the demons dancing in front of his subjects, clicked his tongue helplessly, and then let out a long sigh.

Then, under the nervous gaze of his people, the former Vulcan showed a bright smile.

"Young warriors, I will always be proud of you."

[Did you hear that? The king said he was proud of us! 】

【heard it! Hear it with both ears! ]

[Don't stick your hands into my head! 】

【 Even if you die, just poke it! What do you want? ! 】

【Climb, crawl, the king is here, I don’t have the same experience as you. ]

I knew it would be like this.

Phoenix folded his arms and helplessly allowed these young guys to make a fuss. It was finally time to say goodbye, so let's just make a fuss.

In the end, the eldest soul stopped the farce, looked at the boy-sized God of Fire, and said worriedly: [King, we are very worried about you. 】

His eyes stayed on Phoenix's arm, where he felt a disturbing and disgusting aura, just like those black beasts from the abyss, even stronger than that.

Over the past five hundred years, the power contained in the Heart of God has more or less affected this soul body, allowing them to reach an astonishing sensitivity to the power of the abyss.

[If it weren’t for us, the king would be free. 】A young man with an animal bone forehead chain on his forehead lowered his head in frustration.

"Huh? Stop joking." Phoenix sneered, softening the sharpness in his eyebrows, and said: "Even birds need branches to shelter on."

"The gods can be Nata's gods, but Nata cannot be gods. Nata!" Phoenix read out again just like he had said countless times in the past.

The spirits raised their arms, gathered around the gods, and shouted loudly together, even if no one heard them. They kissed the crown of the king's hair, outlined his eyebrows, embraced him, and sang and cheered wildly.

[King, if there is a next life, we will still be your people...]

The last bit of firelight dissipated between his fingers, Phoenix smiled brightly, looked at the direction of the soul body leaving, in the warm and beautiful red eyes, It seems that I can still see the last smiling faces of my people.

What a bunch of reckless guys.

Phoenix clenched his palms, leaving only the chess piece on the base sinking deeply into his palms, carrying a trace of residual warmth.

They have not seen a new God of Fire. In their eyes, there is only one God of Fire. They love their gods passionately and are willing to sacrifice everything for them.

The maintainer of heavenly principles was sleeping, and the role of the Seven-Heaven Statue was now dispensable. Phoenix put away the Heart of God, turned around and walked towards the entrance of the ruins.

If nothing unexpected happened, Bennett should be looking for his companions who suddenly disappeared and thinking about the ruins that he couldn't get into.