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The following is a fan-based

FICTION

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Geo: The Price of A Contract (3)

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

IMPORTANT AN: So, last time I promised Daughter vs. Prick, but I realized as I was writing this chapter that I couldn't fit it in this interlude. Especially since I couldn't find a narrative reason until... next chapter!

Kratos was regretting his decision to follow the infuriating boy.

The guy, Childe, wasn't stopping nagging at him about a spar. It was giving him some familiar emotions to the ones he had when facing Baldur and Heimdall. He had the suicidal craving for combat from the former, and also the bold arrogance of the latter. It was vexing how such a combination existed, and Shenhe seemed to share the same irritation as she spoke just once through the whole trip.

"Shut up."

And yet Childe hardly paid her any attention. It was only the saving grace of reaching their destination at once that prevented a potential 'issue' between him and the duo. Kratos could just handle so much irritating arrogance before violence became a viable option. Yet, his focus was not that eased over the sight of the so-called Wangsheng Funeral Parlour.

"Oh, Mr. Zhongli. I got these two as you have asked."

The chirpy tone felt more 'intense' than before, and it was met with a nod as this 'Zhongli' turned out to be the brown-haired man that they met the first day in the harbor - it was Rex Lapis, the Geo Archon. And he looked particularly tense as the two arrived.

"Thank you for your help. Childe. And do get going, I wish to not disturb you any further."

"Got it. See you next time, Mr. Kratos and Shenhe."

They didn't return the words, waiting for Childe to truly be out of sight and they turned to Zhongli.

"What is the meaning of this?" Kratos finally pressed, his patience having been thinned well enough to not spare much courtesy towards this deity.

"It's not a trick or a trap. Admittedly, I am not sure what Childe told you to gain your interest to join me here, but it is particularly urgent. Especially in your regard, Kratos."

The bald man's eyes narrowed at this response, but he offered a quick nod and slowly sat in front of the fellow deity, Shenhe tensely doing the same as she realized that it was indeed the Geo Archon.

"You are... Rex Lapis," She muttered - not a question, but an affirmation.

Zhongli nodded. "That would be the case, Shenhe. But I am afraid explanations will have to wait for now. Kratos, I understand you are aware of a situation unfolding in Liyue."

"Is it your plan?"

Surprise briefly entered Kratos' mind as Zhongli shook his head.

"While retiring has been in the works in years, the current circumstance involving the Fatui is something entirely different."

"And how come you have not rushed to help your people?" Kratos pressed back, and Zhongli hesitated in answering those words.

"As much as I love Liyue, I... I have decided to take a step back."

"Even though your people may be at risk."

"Yes."

...

"Why?" Kratos asked, and he could tell there was more to it.

One thing may be that Rex Lapis was willingly doing so out of stupidity, but the way the man spoke highlighted a degree of humble wisdom that wasn't missed to him. Yet, the decision, with all he knew up to this point, felt flawed if not outright cruel towards those Zhongli said he cared much for.

"...I am sure you are aware that despite the Archons being known by many as Gods, we aren't the same as you or, I assume, the gods from where you come from, Kratos."

"Yes-"

"The weaker power, the limited approach, even our willingness to influence our people. The truth is that, while for a time our powers were ours to claim, things have not been the same since it was just the seven of us, our lives have now limitations and mine, being one of the oldest, is bound to find closure earlier than the other Archons."

To Kratos, this added to what little clue Venti had left for him during their talks: the Archons were not immortal, and their power was not tied to the worship of the people - something else, these Gnosis, were keys to the true source of strength. And yet this power was not theirs. It was similar but... not the same as the one they once bore before the Archon War.

Shenhe was the one that spoke up after this monumental confession, with Kratos taking a moment to ponder on this response.

"Y-You mean that you will eventually die?"

Zhongli closed his eyes and nodded, a tired and sorrowful look appearing on his face. "Despite common belief, everyone dies in this world. But the divine passing is not the same of dying of age. It's a process that happens each day - we call it 'Erosion'. Our bodies, the Archon's bodies, but also our souls... they degrade. It is not something that always was the case, but rather an imposition from Celestia. Hence why, despite what both of you may think of my decision, I have to be careful with the possibility of this crisis forcing me to once more retain the role and-"

"Force you to renege on your disappearance," Kratos finally quipped, his tone uncertain to some extent as he knew more key information was missing before he could draw a conclusion on the matter. "You do not wish that since then retiring properly would be impossible."

"Yes-"

"Which means that, despite what you say about the love of Liyue you have, you are still doing it for selfish reasons... to keep yourself out of the conflict."

Shock appeared on Zhongli's face, but as he considered rebuking the claim leveled onto him by Kratos, he actually paused and he sighed.

"I suppose your words carry some truth. I admit that I don't wish to further strain myself over another complex plan for my retirement - especially if it becomes clear that my 'deaths' may not be confirmed until my essence is truly gone."

There was a brief pause at this, and then Zhongli schooled his expression into one of seriousness.

"At the same time, I have to ask you, for the good of Liyue, to refrain from intervening in this crisis. Regardless of the escalation."

...

"What?!" Shenhe exclaimed in shock.

For a brief moment, Kratos felt rage flare at such request. "Do you even understand what you are asking from me?"

"I am. But I am not sure you are seeing why I have to raise this point. Let me ask you this, if you were to tell the citizens of Mondstadt of your divine nature, do you expect any of them to worship you?"

"No," The answer was immediate, yet it took Zhongli a moment to fully show Kratos why he made that comparison.

"In a time of needs, the people rally at the first divine name they find. They are like children that yearn for a parent to keep them from harm's away. If you were to intervene now that your divine nature is known to others, there is a reasonable chance that-"

"People would worship me, demand me to become the new 'archon' and then put me at odds with the other elements of authority in Liyue."

Zhongli smiled at the interjection from the bald man. "Yes."

Kratos didn't like it, he didn't like it at all as he could tell this was not a bad view of the matter. He had seen how many mortals would easily bow down to the new deity the moment gifts and praises are offered back ot them. Loyalty is fickle when a deity is lazy, even more when the deity is known to have been killed.

There was no doubt in his mind that could happen - Liyue, despite its material view of the world, was a spiritual land nonetheless. The 'passing' of Rex Lapis didn't truly turn it to a land without deity, as he had heard in the streets how some were already expecting the Adepti to step in as the new Archons or some idiocy of the kind. No, if Kratos was to stand up, make his power known and have Liyue made aware of his divine nature, then it would cause issues for the harbor and beyond.

As much as it pained him to admit, Rex Lapis had raised a very valid point and... he had taken notice of Kratos' own unwillingness to become a 'God' once again.

"I see your point. But... to outright deny them help is- it would be too much."

"Perhaps. But I have faith in my people to stand up and survive the upcoming threat. During the Archon War... we all faced far worse than what is to come."

Ultimately Kratos nodded and left with Shenhe on tow. He had much to think about after he was done finding out where the Girl and the Brat were but-

"Something's wrong."

Shenhe's comment wasn't tied just to the unusually dark sky, but the growing feeling of power emerging in the distance, as something was approaching the harbor. Something big, strong and bearing a resemblance to the local divine energy pattern.

And thus...

Kratos was regretting his decision to follow the foolish old god's plan.

AN

So, I am going to iron out some important things that are needed to explain Zhongli's points on the situation since, rightfully so, I expect the classic comments putting Kratos to his Pre-GoW4 mindset or outright crapping on Zhongli (I don't like him either on how he handled the situation, but his plans here are not meant to be perfect, but a 'good fit' for the situation).

He is not wrong about the Harbor turning to Kratos as a new deity to worship if he was revealed as one, and he would definitely not want it - The Valhalla DLC happened literally because he didn't want to take Tyr's throne when he was asked to. He would be the best choice now, but he is not interested in it since he doesn't trust himself with that kind of power and authority.

Also, as mentioned up above by the title of the chapter, next time I will write the Daughter vs. Prick battle. The main reason I didn't do it here is because Childe was on a tight schedule on getting the apocalypse started and he couldn't lose time in a fight. Still, next time, since Lumine did not go and fight him as in canon, he is yearning for a brawl while the rest of Liyue's Big Hitters are busy with a resurging Water God trying to get revenge on Rex Lapis.