Chapter 2: The Geo Gnosis — Ascension of a New Demon God
Zhongli's question lingered in the air, carried on the mountain breeze.
"Then tell me, Kael—how would you rule this world?"
Kael fell silent for a moment, eyes lowering in contemplation. Images of his past world flashed in his mind — nations that fell to corruption, civilizations that devoured themselves under banners of justice.
When he finally spoke, his tone was calm but deliberate.
"First," he began, "I would establish a true system of oversight — one that unites both the Adepti and you, Zhongli, as guardians of balance.
"If corruption appears, it must be purged.
If someone threatens the peace of Liyue, they must be dealt with — swiftly, without hesitation.
Second, education. A nation's strength lies not in its riches, but in its minds. Every soul, no matter their birth, should have the right to learn and rise.
Third, opportunity. The ladder of power must be open to all. No family, no merchant clan, no Qixing seat should become a throne that time cannot touch."
---
Zhongli listened, his golden eyes glinting with thought.
It was strange — he had always trusted in humanity's ability to govern itself, believing his withdrawal would grant them freedom. But hearing Kael's vision…
He felt a quiet unease.
Perhaps his decision to step away entirely had been a mistake.
---
Without another word, Zhongli lifted the Geo Gnosis in his hand. It pulsed faintly — a heartbeat of divine energy, heavy with the weight of history. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he cast it forward.
"If it is for the protection of Teyvat," he said solemnly, "then I offer this freely. May it serve you well."
Kael reached out. The moment his fingertips brushed the Gnosis, a surge of power erupted like a volcano breaking through stone.
Boom.
Golden light spiraled around him, the air thickening into molten brilliance. The mountains trembled as Geo energy poured from his body — vast, ancient, and divine.
Zhongli instinctively took a step back. Even as an Archon, the force made his chest tighten.
"Impossible…" he whispered. "Can a Gnosis truly awaken power of this magnitude?"
Kael's aura twisted and expanded until it engulfed the mountaintop, shimmering like molten gold beneath the moon.
In that instant — Kael had ascended.
Not to the level of an Archon, nor a mortal blessed by Vision.
But to that of a Demon God.
---
The shockwave rolled outward like thunder. Zhongli, sensing the danger, raised a hand and released his own Divine Authority, forming a dome of Geo energy that contained the surge before it reached Liyue below.
When the brilliance faded, Kael opened his eyes. They gleamed with faint golden hues — the mark of divine resonance.
He exhaled slowly, a faint smile curving his lips.
"Interesting…"
Zhongli lowered his hand, his curiosity piqued.
"It seems you've gained quite a bit."
"Not just power," Kael replied. "Something greater."
He raised a hand, fingers tracing invisible sigils in the air. Light gathered around him, forming intricate patterns of golden runes.
"Let's see if this works…" he murmured.
---
Zhongli blinked as a sudden voice echoed directly in his mind.
> [Welcome to the Teyvat Chat Group — A Community United in Harmony!]
Zhongli's brow furrowed. His consciousness was linked — directly — to Kael's construct. There was no resistance, no sense of intrusion, just seamless connection.
In all his thousands of years, through contracts and wars and divine bargains, he had never felt such a method of communication.
Was this… the authority of the new Heavenly Principles?
But as the link stabilized, Zhongli realized something else. It wasn't control. It was sharing. A bridge, not a chain.
Kael smiled faintly. "This is a manifestation of my divine authority. Through this system, you—and others—can purify the corruption of the Abyss and the remnants of fallen Demon Gods.
"But there is a cost. The more you use it, the more of your own strength it consumes."
---
Zhongli's heart stirred. Consume my own strength?
He almost laughed.
To a god of stone and contracts, such a cost was nothing.
Power could always be regained — but to erase the lingering hatred of ancient gods? That was priceless.
His gaze drifted toward the horizon. He remembered the Archon War, the countless gods he had defeated, their dying curses still staining Liyue's mountains. Certain lands remained barren, haunted by echoes of divine malice.
If this new system could cleanse those scars, then Liyue's future would be limitless.
---
Kael continued, his tone calm and absolute.
"Any energy you purify will flow back to me, strengthening the new Heavenly Principles.
"You'll also earn contribution points. These points can be exchanged for various blessings — including the suppression of erosion."
Zhongli's head snapped up. "Erosion…" he whispered. His hands clenched slightly. "Then tell me — what if I wish to remove erosion from another?"
He thought of a familiar roar echoing deep beneath the earth.
Kael's eyes softened with understanding. "If you gather enough points," he said, "you can purify anyone. Even Azhdaha."
Zhongli's expression tightened. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, softly,
"…Then this is more than just a gift."
It was hope.
---
"But tell me," Zhongli said after a pause, "do you intend this power only for gods and Adepti? Or do you mean to share it with mortals as well?"
"The latter," Kael replied without hesitation. "Even Vision bearers and ordinary humans will benefit. I can strengthen their elemental attunement, refine their energy flow, enhance their bodies."
He smiled faintly. "And soon… I'll create a new power system entirely."
Zhongli's brow lifted. "A new system?"
"Yes," Kael said. "Visions are flawed. When a wielder dies, their Vision remains—a relic of tragedy and loss. I will not dismantle the system, but I refuse to let it remain the only path.
"I intend to forge a discipline independent of Celestia's will. A path where strength is earned, not bestowed."
Zhongli crossed his arms, the faintest of smiles touching his lips.
"Then the world will change. Perhaps faster than even you expect."
---
Kael's gaze turned distant. "It must. Or else it will collapse before I can save it."
He closed his eyes once more. Golden circuits of light flared beneath his feet as his mind entered the vast plane of the Principles. Data, equations, divine sequences—all unfolding in his vision like an endless tapestry.
He wasn't simply absorbing the Geo Gnosis.
He was analyzing it. Deconstructing it. Rebuilding it.
In his mind, a new framework took shape—
a cultivation path for mortals, a way for them to grow stronger without the chains of the divine.
It was not mercy.
It was strategy.
The stronger humanity became, the stronger he would become.
Their progress was his ascension.
And that was why he needed Zhongli's alliance.
Because soon—
Teyvat would no longer be a world ruled by gods.
It would become the cradle of something greater.
A world ruled by law, evolution, and Kael's divine design.
✨ End of Chapter 2