After Sam Li once again slew an Apocalypse-tier Ethereal and received his reward, his role-playing progress finally reached one hundred percent.
[Host]: Sam Li
[System]: Ultimate Role-Playing System
[System Points]: 7,327,000
[Current World]: Zenless Zone Zero
[Current Role-Playing Character]: Geo Archon – Morax (Zhongli)
[Current Role-Playing Progress]: 100%
[Abilities]: Spearmanship – Rain of Stone, Jade Shield, Stone Stele
[Weapon]: Vortex Vanquisher
[Items]: None
[Shop]: Statue of The Seven, Jade Chamber, Serenitea Pot...
...
Almost simultaneously, a golden light descended from the heavens, striking Sam Li directly.
An unending stream of the purest Geo energy instantly refilled the power he had expended—and beyond that, its intensity continued to surge. Within seconds, Sam Li's strength multiplied severalfold. His command over Geo had reached new heights; with a single thought, he could now control the Geo element across hundreds of miles—or even farther—at will.
His physical resilience grew stronger as well.
Feeling the changes coursing through his body, Sam Li gripped the Vortex Vanquisher with one hand and raised it high.
At once, torrents of Geo energy burst forth, forming a colossal golden phantom over a thousand meters tall around him.
When he swung his spear, the enormous golden silhouette shifted—morphing into a vast divine dragon of pure gold that coiled protectively around his body.
Suddenly, a mighty roar erupted, shaking half of Hollow Zero.
In that instant, Sam Li's power rivaled that of Morax at his peak.
Immediately afterward, the familiar chime of the system echoed through his mind.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host. Role-Playing Progress has reached 100%. Reward obtained: Planet Befall—]
[Planet Befall]: Summons a colossal meteorite from the depths of the cosmos, dealing immense Geo damage to all enemies within its impact zone and petrifying them...
The moment Sam Li unlocked Planet Befall, he lifted his head and gazed up through the veil of Hollow Zero at the star-filled sky above.
In that instant, his consciousness seemed to transcend time and space. He found himself drifting within the boundless cosmos, beholding the vast Milky Way, hearing the deep, resonant call of dragons, and feeling a distant summons from beyond the stars.
It was as though, with a single response, he could summon down a meteor from the heavens to annihilate everything below.
Before he could continue his observation, a sharp pain suddenly pierced his mind. Countless images, memories, and fragmented visions flooded into his consciousness all at once.
[Ding, System Alert... Alert... Alert...]
[System... Alert... System Malfunction...]
[Ding, ding, ding... System malfunction... Host Morax... Host... Host...]
...
Amid the chaotic noise and the flood of memories, Sam Li gradually remembered everything.
Sam Li—more accurately—was merely one of the many names he had used throughout countless ages. His true name was another.
"Morax," he murmured. "So that's how it is... I am Morax."
A faint sorrow crossed his face, and his once-calm gaze grew deep and timeless. In that moment, he regained every memory of his past.
He had been playing the role of Morax.
But he was also Morax himself.
Long ago, he had heard the call of a dragon echoing from the depths of the universe and followed that voice across the stars. Yet, the excessive use of his power had caused his erosion to worsen drastically. In his weakened state, he was ambushed by the Sun-Colored Starlight Giant.
Though he struck back fiercely and gravely wounded the giant, his own erosion reached its limit.
To prevent himself from harming others, he sealed away the majority of his power with his own hands.
And in the final moments before losing consciousness, he forged a pact with himself—to "play the role of Morax." He created the so-called system, constructing a false history through fragments of cosmic consciousness.
Thus, the story that followed unfolded.
Thus, Sam Li came to be.
Sam Li, who played the role of Morax, advanced step by step—seeking his "true self," restoring his strength, and overcoming his erosion—until he finally became Morax once more.
"So that's it... The mysterious being that summoned me here wanted to help me overcome erosion."
He had never imagined he could cure erosion this way—through something akin to rebirth.
Thinking further, it became clear. He had been brought here to escape the constraints of Teyvat's Heavenly Dao, allowing him to be free of erosion through this method.
After a moment of quiet contemplation, Sam Li sensed something.
He lifted his gaze toward the endless night sky. In the deepest reaches of the stars—beyond even his reach—he saw the faint phantom of an eternal dragon woven from starlight.
It was that being who had called him here.
Sam Li whispered softly, "Thank you—"
At once, a distant, indistinct dragon's roar echoed from the depths of the cosmos, as if in answer.
At that moment, for Morax, the erosion was gone, and his purpose fulfilled.
But for Sam Li—or rather, Sam Li as Morax—there was still something left undone: suppressing Hollow Zero and saving this world.
That was his promise—to Nicole, Zhu Yuan, Hoshimi Miyabi, Soldier 11, Qingyi, Belle, Nekomata, Anby... his promise to everyone in this world.
Just as Sam Li lingered in his recovered memories, he suddenly sensed intense hostility.
He snapped back to focus, turning his gaze behind him.
There, the Sun-Colored Starlight Giant glared with eyes like twin black abysses, its entire form radiating a dreadful, oppressive aura.
Perhaps it had sensed the overwhelming power now emanating from him—for it, too, unleashed a terrifying pressure, confronting him from afar. Yet despite its aggression, fear flickered in its stance, keeping it from attacking outright.
Sam Li looked upon the giant with calm indifference.
Now that his memories had returned, he understood far more than before. A single glance told him that this creature was no natural being.
Simply possessing two Sun-Colored Starlight Gems could never produce such an abomination.
Someone must have fused those two gems deliberately—intentionally crafting this monstrous entity.
Though he could not yet discern the creator's purpose, one thing was certain: this catastrophe had not occurred by chance.
With that thought, Sam Li slowly lowered his spear and turned his gaze upon the giant.
"No matter what you truly are," he said quietly, "the next time I return—will be the day you cease to exist."