Genshin Impact, all those behind-the-scenes big shots are me

Therefore, Appepp can try every possible way to gain power.

The Red King is also a crazy guy.

What good can happen when a 'traitor' and a 'madman' get together?

“The Crimson King… He once ventured into the depths of the world, seemingly searching for something.” The Flower Goddess suddenly spoke up. Although she appeared to be enjoying the banquet, she had actually been keeping an eye on the Great Compassion Tree King. As clever as she was, she also sensed that the timing of the Tree King’s arrival was too suspicious.

Now that we're talking about the Red King, it's understandable.

“My people have seen a glimpse of his search for traces. The ever-expanding ruins beneath the Red King’s palace also demonstrate that the Red King has indeed been thirsting for power. Whatever he intends to do with this power, it will inevitably affect Shurima in the future.”

“Marikata is right.” The Great Tree King nodded slightly. “There are many unusual things in this world. Some are allowed by the rules of the world, while others transcend the limitations of the rules. And what the Red King has gone to great lengths to find must not be so simple.”

The Flower Goddess said, "The ancient beings in that forest also harbor thoughts of usurpation."

The Great Compassion Tree King asked in surprise, "You know Him too?"

"When the full moon fell into the pool, I passed by that edge, but was warned by the will that it was hostile to me... no, to all beings in the heavens."

"If that's the case, then we should be even more careful."

The two women discussed it seriously.

Su Chen picked up his wine glass and took a leisurely sip, a smile on his face. He found that even just watching the two of them was a pleasure. As the saying goes, it's not the wine that intoxicates, but the person themselves. He hadn't believed it before, but now he did.

"What are you laughing at?" The Flower Goddess turned her head and saw Su Chen resting his chin on his hand comfortably. She said in an annoyed tone, "We are thinking about the future of Shurima. Why don't you be a little more anxious?"

The Great Tree King laughed and said, "I'm afraid Azir already knows what's going on."

Su Chen shook his head: "There aren't that many things that can be predicted. All we can do is try our best."

He understood the two women's considerations, and he even knew more about them. However, he couldn't be sure what agreement the Red King had reached with Apep, or whether he had simply gone there and been kicked out.

And Su Chen couldn't casually mention that forbidden existence.

Perhaps as intelligent as the Great Tree King, as the embodiment of the World Tree's will, she had already sensed something, but once the word "forbidden" was uttered, the situation would change.

If the taboo spreads to the desert, Shurima, whether innocent or not, will not be spared.

The goddess of flowers rested her chin on her hand, turning her head to look at the singing and dancing at the banquet. Her bright, jewel-like eyes shone with a thoughtful light. The king of the great tree lowered his gaze, staring at the ripples in his wine glass. Flowers in a mirror, the moon in the water—that hope amidst shattering was not so easily tainted.

The banquet lasted for three days, and news of the alliance formed by the Great Compassion Tree King spread to every corner of Sumeru through rivers, mountains, birds, and beasts. The unwilling demons persisted with a sliver of hope, while the wise either left or submitted.

Before the magnificent palace, a colossal statue of the emperor stood tall. The warriors of Shurima gathered there, their silver armor gleaming in the sunlight. Nasus stood at the forefront, followed closely by Renekton and Asna.

All eyes were fixed on the figure standing before the statue.

"The war has begun," you declare to all, proclaiming to the forces of this land that the iron cavalry of Shurima will mercilessly trample every inch of its soil; those who submit will prosper, and those who defy will perish.

[You unleash the power of the runes, merging them into the talents of Shurima's Glory. The light scatters upon these warriors, transforming into pure and boundless blessings.]

['My soldiers, advance!']

Da da da da da da!

The soldiers, clad in neat silver armor, strode out of the royal city gates. The ferocious aura emanating from the Ironclad Warriors resembled red demons painted from hell. The warhorses formed from the spirits neighed. Such imposing presence even amazed the two deities, the Great Tree King and the Flower Goddess.

"This is a power strong enough to shatter metal and stone," the Great Tree King praised.

The Shurima army is on another expedition. You ask the Flower Goddess to help defend the royal city, and then, led by the Great Tree King, head to the northern forest.

The Great Tree King is not now a grass god; her power is integrated with the forest. Perhaps things will be better if she negotiates with Apep.

As expected, when you arrived at the forest, you were met with resistance from its will. Countless vines and thorns piled up at the entrance. Although they posed no threat to you, this showed that Apep did not welcome your arrival.

"Great ancient will, we mean no harm," the Great Tree King spoke, releasing its power in an attempt to merge with the forest and communicate with it.

But then a gust of wind swept through, and the power of everything in the forest surged, radiating a clear malice.

"Leave this place, you self-proclaimed wise tree king, rulers of the yellow sand, you are not welcome here." A deep voice echoed from the forest.

“Appepp, you’re hiding here and calling yourself king. Do you think this is your territory?” Su Chen sneered. “In the end, there can only be one king in Sumeru. If you refuse to communicate, when the kingdom’s iron cavalry arrives here, this forest will turn into a sea of ​​fire. I hope you’ll still be so leisurely then.”

Roar!

A strong wind swept in.

The wind pressed down on the tree branches, creating visible waves. Above the forest, a powerful will descended, transforming into the enormous figure of a verdant dragon.

"Arrogant invader, you should know what you're saying!" Appepp demanded angrily.

Although he was surprised that Su Chen knew his name, as one of the most powerful dragons born in Teyvat, Sumeru was his territory, and all the demon gods, including Su Chen, were invaders.

Apep was furious that the invaders had established order on his territory without permission, but he was powerless to change the situation.

But he didn't have a good impression of any of these demons.

The Great Compassion Tree King also looked at Su Chen with surprise. The latter was by no means an arrogant person, so why would he want to provoke this emerald dragon for no reason?

Apep... The Great Tree King sensed a powerful force emanating from the other party, originating from the ancient times.

What she didn't know was that Apep was a proud grass dragon, and now, as one of the few remaining dragon kings in Teyvat, even being kind to him was useless. In fact, this pride was somewhat closer to tsundere... If Su Chen remembered correctly, Apep eventually accepted Narcida's help in the game.

“I know perfectly well, do you want me to repeat myself?” Su Chen said calmly, “Apep, king of a fallen era, whether you admit it or not, in the present Sumeru, I have the ability to destroy this forest, if I so choose. But I do not intend to do so. I have no interest in the throne bestowed upon me by the heavens. I am here only to prevent a possible disaster.”

Apep was shocked. He realized from Su Chen's words that the latter knew far more than he had imagined.

But how could that be?

Was it that foolish Red King who accidentally revealed it while showing off?

Or is it that the ruler of the desert before us already possesses the power to understand the unknown?

"How do you know all this?" Apep asked in a deep voice.

"In the trajectory reflected by the stars, there exists the truth of the operation of all things. Everything that has happened or is about to happen has a trace." Su Chen's gaze was profound. "I understand the past and can foresee the future, so I know that the power did not come with good intentions. I see from the traces of countless destinies that what you have imagined will never happen. If you continue, even you will become a decaying thing that has lost all dignity."

He spread his hands and proclaimed, "You grass dragon who refuses to submit to the throne of heaven, if you still harbor pride, abandon your unrealistic ambitions and follow me, for that is to follow destiny. I will bestow upon you glory, and one day the ancient splendor will be restored!"

At this moment, both Apep and the Great Tree King showed expressions of shock.

...

Chapter 78 Unifying Sumeru! The Crimson King Falls, Obtaining Forbidden Power [8k5]

In Apep's view, the era of the Seven Dragon Kings has passed, and the world is ruled by the laws of nature. Apart from those beings who are still struggling in despair, most beings, including these so-called high and mighty demons, are nothing more than the 'lackeys' of the laws of nature.

What Demon God War? It's nothing but a game devised by the Heavenly Principle to make it easier to rule Teyvat. It's laughable that a bunch of fools are fighting to the death over it.

No one in the world dares to defy the laws of nature, except for them... This is what Apep believes. So when the defeated Red King revealed his ambition to him, Apep thought for a long time before finally agreeing to help.

Because regardless of whether the other party succeeds or not, as long as they are an entity that rebels against this world, they are a 'friend' to him.

When Su Chen revealed these presumptuous words to him, Apep was completely shocked.

After all, he believed that if Azir didn't court death and fall, the throne of Mount Sumeru would eventually belong to Azir.

Few can resist readily available temptation, so Appepp never believed that Azir could be his friend.

The Great Tree King was equally surprised; at that moment, she suddenly remembered something the Flower Goddess had once told her—

"He is an emperor who is unwilling to be subordinate to the throne of the Heavenly King. He is a born monarch who will one day wield the power of the heavens and make the whole world tremble."

Although the Great Tree King thought at the time that the Flower Goddess's words were influenced by her personal feelings and carried a hint of presumption and unruliness, it now seems that the Flower Goddess's evaluation was probably also influenced by Su Chen himself.

The arrogant king had so blatantly uttered words of usurpation, forcing the Great Compassionate Tree King to consider the consequences of traveling with this emperor for herself and her people.

Apep suddenly burst into laughter.

"Ruler of the Yellow Sands, what gives you the right to speak such words? Do you know that your proud kingdom, if it were to violate the rules of heaven, would be destroyed in an instant!"

"That's not something you should worry about. What you need to consider is the choice you have now." Su Chen wasn't worried about the consequences of his words. Apep was eager for him to rush to Sky Island. As for the Great Tree King, the latter would find out sooner or later and would also have to face a choice.

The Tree King is a wise and kind god. As can be seen from the original era of the three gods of Sumeru, even if he knew that the Red King had touched a taboo, he did not let it go unchecked, nor would he go to the heavens to 'tell on' it.

“Azir, I admire your courage, but it’s too late.” Appepp shook his head. “I will not submit to anyone, and I know why you are here. I did make a pact with the Red King to help him gain power beyond this world... It’s too late. He has already embarked on that path, and you cannot stop him.”

Su Chen raised an eyebrow: "Where is he?"

“Deep within the world, in the winding, serpentine corridors, at the end of the passage, he should have already obtained that part of the power... Perhaps he has already left. Azir, ruler of the desert, if you can truly do as you just said, then go and stop him, and prove to me that it was not just your arrogant boast.”

At the end of the road, Apep released a pure elemental power to explore the road. In the end, he was unable to find any trace of the Red King, but could only sense the terrifying residual power on it.

Although he was tempted to act against these forces, Apep did not lose his mind; he suddenly wanted to know exactly what Su Chen was going to do.

"Is it too late...?"

Su Chen shook his head inwardly. Perhaps his appearance accelerated the Red King's pace of acquiring power, but without a doubt, the Red King had already begun to explore the abyss long before this, and Apep was merely using his power to open the door.

In a game, this task should have been completed by the Flower Goddess.

However, forbidden power is extraordinary, and even if one successfully obtains it, it will take a very long time to absorb and control it.

During this time, the Red King will inevitably choose a safe place.

When the goddess of flowers learned of this news, she immediately said, "The golden dreamland, the true eternal paradise that the Red King seeks, is the reflection of Aru."

“Aru…” The Great Tree King gently shook his head. “That king of the Red Sands was indeed excellent, but he was also too stubborn. I have witnessed Aru’s prosperity. Now the territory of the Red Sands is all under your rule. Perhaps there is still a sliver of hope to find Aru’s reflection.”

"We can only try our best to find it."

Su Chen entrusted this task to the two goddesses, while he himself was busy dealing with the upcoming war in Shurima.

As the Shurima army once again embarked on its conquest, proclaiming the Desert Emperor's determination to unify Mount Meru, many human tribes chose to surrender, while the resisting city-states, led by Nasus, unleashed a merciless slaughter. Blood stained the sands, and wherever the desert army went, only submission and death remained.

This clearly crossed the last line of the remaining demon gods. Some wanted to negotiate with Su Chen to show that they would not fight for supremacy and only wished to guard a corner of the world. Others began to plan a decisive battle with Shurima.

Su Chen readily agreed to the former, but it was actually a delaying tactic, because after he dealt with most of the demon gods who dared to resist, he would eventually take action against the remaining demon gods.

"The Lava Demon God in the west is the most powerful. Most of his subjects are created from lava, and ordinary humans find it difficult to defeat him."

"The Dark God of the Northeast can summon the night, and his people are like ghosts sneaking into the shadows, which is equally troublesome."

"Besides, there are some big guys who escaped from Liyue, unwilling to accept defeat... Hmph! Do they think that the power of that Noble Gold God is greater than that of the Emperor?"

Inside the palace, Nasus explained the current situation to Su Chen.

The most intense battle between the demon gods was undoubtedly in Liyue, but Sumeru was not far behind. Sumeru was a vast land, and although it had many desert areas, for the gods, once they won this game, the rest was not difficult.

"These are all minor matters," you said.

Although many demons remain in Sumeru, only a handful pose a threat to you. However, even the weakest are still demon forces, and Nasus leading his legion alone is insufficient to achieve your goal.

[You arrive at the underground palace, sensing the power emanating from the Sun Disc. The power of runes pulses within you: 'Precision,' 'Domination,' 'Witchcraft,' 'Resolution,' and 'Enlightenment.' Each rune corresponds to a powerful effect, and now, under the influence of your power, they release five different lights.]