The Dustborne system: tales of the runaway goddess

Guizhong—was running for her goddamn life.

Again.

This time, however, the entirety of Liyue seemed hell-bent on betraying her.

The stone beneath her feet shifted, throwing off her balance. The wind itself seemed to whisper her name to Zhongli.

The mountain paths that once welcomed her in the past now trapped her, forcing her into dead ends.

And worst of all?

Zhongli was still not running.

He didn't need to.

The land itself moved for him.

[Projected Capture Rate: 95%]

"I AM GOING TO DIE." Guizhong mentally screamed.

[Incorrect. You are going to be captured, worshipped, and—]

"DON'T. SPEAK. IT."

Chapter 2 part 2: Hunted by the Geo Archon

The once great Lady of Dust scrambled through the backstreets of Liyue like a common fugitive.

A former goddess, now reduced to hiding behind a fruit stall while peeking her head out occasionally searching for something or someone.

How the mighty had fallen.

Her breath was ragged. Every fiber of her being screamed danger, danger, DANGER.

And yet—

The streets were quiet.

Too quiet.

She peeked around the corner and there, standing a few feet from the fruit stall where she hides is Zhongli just standing there, hands folded behind his back, eyes trained on the street before him.

His golden gaze did not waver.

He knew she was there.

He was waiting.

This hard rock bastard was waiting.

Guizhong quickly clapped a hand over her mouth, forcing herself to stay completely silent.

[EMOTIONAL SURGE DETECTED: MORAX—PREDATORY FOCUS. +2,500 EP]

"THIS ISN'T A GOOD THING, SYSTEM!" Guizhong internally screamed.

She must get out.

But how?

If she made a single move, Zhongli would be on her in an instant.

And judging from the way the very air seemed to tense, she knew exactly how that would end.

Feeling anxious and almost in despair, Guizhong looked for something to distract Zhongli. A way out. Anything.

And then—

A divine inspiration struck her.

Slowly, Guizhong reached into the nearest fruit basket, fingers curling around the ripest, the juiciest Sunsettia she could find.

She took aim.

And with the precision of a seasoned warrior—

She threw it directly at Zhongli's head.

Chapter 2 part 3: The Forbidden Act

The fruit smashed against Zhongli's perfect, golden-brown locks while the liquid from the fruit trickled down his face.

For the first time in over 3,700 years, the Geo Archon looked…

Stunned.

He blinked. Slowly.

His expression unreadable.

The world held its breath.

And Guizhong—who had just thrown fruit at an actual god—

RAN.

[EMOTIONAL SURGE DETECTED: MORAX—BEWILDERED CHAOS. +4,000 EP]

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA—!" Guizhong cackled as she leaped onto a moving cart, using it to gain distance.

"YOU CAN'T CATCH ME, YOU CRAZY ROCK LIZARD—"

And then—

The cart turned into stone right beneath her feet.

Her laughter died.

[Projected Capture Rate: 99.9%]

She turned.

Zhongli was walking toward her.

Each step was measured, precise, filled with a godly patience that made her stomach turn.

This wasn't just a chase.

This was a hunt.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

And Guizhong knew.

She was screwed.

[Projected Capture Rate: 99.99%]

"NOPE. NOPE. NOT HAPPENING." Guizhong screamed internally.

She had exactly one chance.

With a deep breath, she did something absolutely insane.

She slammed her foot into the cart, using it as a launch pad, and threw herself off the edge of the harbor.

Liyue's port loomed below her.

The sea rushed to greet her.

And just before she hit the water—

She grabbed onto a passing ship's sail, twisting her body mid-air to flip onto the deck.

SPLASH.

The dockhands gasped as she landed like a drenched rat, panting.

[EMOTIONAL SURGE DETECTED: MORAX—SUDDEN PANIC. +5,000 EP]

She grinned wildly.

"I DID IT. I ESCAPED."

But then—

The entire ship lurched as if a mountain had stepped onto it.

The sailors screamed. The mast cracked from the sheer weight of divine presence.

And Guizhong felt it.

A cold, searing gaze on the back of her neck.

Slowly, she turned.

Zhongli stood at the dock's edge, golden eyes locked directly onto her.

Zhongli fingers twitched.

The ship beneath her feet shuddered, the planks creaking ominously as if they would turn to stone at any second.

[Projected Capture Rate: 90% → 45%]

[System Commentary: Wow, you actually escaped. I'm impressed.]

"DON'T YOU DARE SOUND SO SURPRISED!"

Guizhong knew she wasn't out yet.

She needed one final push.

Chapter 2 part 4: The Ultimate Bluff

Guizhong gritted her teeth.

She had one last card to play.

With all the confidence she did not have, she cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted at Zhongli from the deck:

"IF YOU TRY TO CHASE ME AGAIN, I SWEAR TO CELESTIA, I WILL FIND A WAY TO STAY DEAD AND TRAUMATIZE YOU ALL OVER!"

The dock went silent.

Zhongli's entire body tensed.

The very air around Liyue Harbor froze.

For the first time in 3,700 years, the Geo Archon hesitated.

Guizhong took her chance.

She grabbed a lifeboat and immediately started paddling towards Mondstat

Chapter 2 part 5: Temporary Victory onwards to Mondstat

Somehow she escaped.

Panting, Guizhong paddled herself into open ocean intending to get to Mondstat as fast as possible and away from Zhongli, her heart hammering.

She could still feel his presence, searching, waiting.

But for now, she was safe.

[EMOTIONAL SURGE DETECTED: MORAX—EXTREME FRUSTRATION. +4,000 EP]

[NEW STATUS: HUNTED BY THE GEO ARCHON]

Guizhong sank in the lifeboat.

"I. Hate. Everything."

The system chuckled.

[But you love the points.]

Guizhong groaned while paddling.

This was not over.

Not even close.