Chapter 91. Nahida Joined (2 in one)
Dottore's head had been severed.
Futsu Mitama was now pressing the Great Sage to reveal Lesser Lord Kusanali's whereabouts.
Everything had happened so suddenly that no one present had time to react.
"Y-You—! You—!"
Azar pointed at Futsu Mitama, his face flushed with fury.
Yet beneath that furious exterior, his heart was gripped by overwhelming panic.
Nothing had unfolded according to plan.
Originally, they had intended to stall for time through conversation before allowing Dottore to threaten Futsu Mitama into restraint.
No one had expected—Dottore to be killed outright.
It had happened far too quickly.
Azar desperately wanted to invoke the power left behind by Maha Rukkhadevata to restrain Futsu Mitama.
But he was not a fool.
The moment he made any drastic move, he would almost certainly incur Futsu Mitama's complete hostility.
And if that happened—
He would very likely lose his life.
After all—
Dottore's headless corpse was still lying right there.
Calm down— Calm down, Azar— Think—
Think of a way to break this deadlock!
He repeatedly reminded himself, almost as though hypnotizing his own mind into remaining composed. Yet no matter how hard he thought—
No solution came.
Question Futsu Mitama about why he had killed Dottore?
Ridiculous.
The two already possessed irreconcilable grievances. Moreover, Dottore's words moments earlier had unmistakably been a threat.
The threat had failed.
And he had paid for it with his life.
If anything—
Azar almost wanted to applaud.
Many of his own actions had been constrained by Dottore's interference. Originally, he had never intended to become Futsu Mitama's enemy.
But now— the other party clearly intended to free Lesser Lord Kusanali.
What was he supposed to do?
"Everyone—calm down."
At that moment, Firnas stood up, attempting to mediate.
Although, he himself was panicking just as much. Inwardly, he had already cursed both Dottore and Azar countless times.
Why... Why did the two of you have to provoke him?
—
Alhaitham silently stepped behind Azar, quietly making his position clear.
He neither drew a weapon nor assumed a fighting stance. The strike that had just killed Dottore had already demonstrated Futsu Mitama's terrifying strength.
If that sword had been aimed at him instead—he probably would not have survived. Alhaitham understood his own abilities very well.
"I am perfectly calm."
Futsu Mitama looked toward Azar with an expression as tranquil as ever.
"I came to Sumeru at an Archon's request. My purpose is to meet Lesser Lord Kusanali. I hope you won't make things difficult for me. In other words—"
"The person I wish to see is your nation's Archon."
His eyes rested quietly upon Azar.
"Or perhaps... Can you make decisions on behalf of Lesser Lord Kusanali?"
By the end, a faint trace of mockery appeared in Futsu Mitama's smile.
He genuinely wanted to see whether Azar would dare utter something outrageous enough to claim that he could decide matters on behalf of the Dendro Archon.
Of course—
That possibility was almost nonexistent.
After all, Alhaitham was present.
As the Akademiya's Scribe, every word spoken here would almost certainly be faithfully recorded. One should never be deceived by Alhaitham's seemingly honest appearance.
He was anything but harmless.
There was only one certainty.
He did not belong to the Great Sage's faction.
He understood perfectly well what the Great Sage had been doing. If the appropriate opportunity presented itself— He would betray Azar without the slightest hesitation.
Because, anyone who understood the Sages' actions would inevitably wonder whether they had all gone mad—especially the new generation thinker.
Tighnari had thought so.
Faruzan had thought so.
Even countless people within the Chat Group had repeatedly questioned whether the Scholars of Sumeru had pursued knowledge until they had lost all reason.
"I naturally cannot make decisions on behalf of Lesser Lord Kusanali."
Azar drew a slow breath before speaking solemnly.
"However, Lesser Lord Kusanali has remained in a deep slumber ever since five hundred years ago. For her own safety—I cannot bring you before her."
"I hope you won't force this matter, Futsu Mitama. I acknowledge your strength. But that does not give you the right to dictate the Akademiya's decisions."
His expression was perfectly composed, resembling that of someone who refused to yield before power. In reality—
His heart was racing.
He silently cursed Dottore over and over again.
Hurry—Activate the backup plan already! Could it be that after Futsu Mitama killed you—
You actually died?
"Hahahaha..."
Futsu Mitama nearly burst into laughter. Watching Azar speak as though everything he had done was for Nahida's benefit—
He simply could not help himself. Because— In Teyvat, lies were often the easiest things to expose.
The higher one's status—the less one dared lie openly. After all, no one ever knew when they might be forced to swear an oath.
"I swear in the name of the Raiden Shogun."
Looking directly at Azar, Futsu Mitama spoke with complete seriousness.
"I have no intention of interfering in Sumeru's internal affairs. My purpose in coming here is only to reclaim what belongs to Inazuma, deal with the Fatui, and deliver something to Lesser Lord Kusanali."
"So, Azar— what about you? In whose name will you swear? Or perhaps—"
"Do you not dare? Can you truly swear that you're refusing to let me meet Lesser Lord Kusanali solely for her own safety?"
Futsu Mitama watched him quietly. He was genuinely curious about Azar's answer.
Azar immediately fell silent.
Swear an oath? In whose name?
If he were forced to swear in an Archon's name—
He would undoubtedly choose Maha Rukkhadevata without hesitation. Within Sumeru—Maha Rukkhadevata occupied an absolutely sacred position.
Although Azar and the other Sages looked down upon Lesser Lord Kusanali—Their reverence toward Maha Rukkhadevata came from the depths of their hearts.
She had bestowed wisdom upon Sumeru.
She had founded the Akademiya.
She had resolved countless crises throughout the nation's history.
Though she had long since passed away—Azar and the other Sages continued to worship her with unwavering devotion.
Because of that—he absolutely could not swear falsely in her name.
"Nothing to say?"
Seeing Azar's silence, Futsu Mitama was about to continue speaking.
Suddenly—His gaze shifted toward one side of the room.
"You arrived rather quickly."
Space distorted.
Another Dottore calmly stepped through. Without the slightest concern, he sat in the very chair occupied moments earlier by the previous Dottore.
He casually picked up his own severed head from the floor before speaking indifferently.
"You're being rather impolite, Futsu Mitama."
Alhaitham narrowed his eyes.
For the first time, genuine confusion surfaced within them.
What exactly was happening? Hadn't Dottore just been killed? A clone?
No... No clone could possibly be this convincing.
"This is?"
Firnas likewise stared in astonishment. He had never expected the dead Dottore to simply return. Naturally, he knew nothing about Dottore's slices.
Although the existence of the slices was hardly a secret within certain circles, it was certainly not information available to everyone.
Only Azar remained unsurprised.
During their previous discussions, Dottore had already informed him that if one "Dottore" died—
Another would naturally arrive to continue the experiment.
The only warning Dottore had given was that this particular slice possessed a rather unpleasant temperament.
Azar would need to be somewhat careful around him.
Now, the Great Sage quietly let out a sigh of relief.
At the very least—with Dottore present, Futsu Mitama's attention would no longer remain solely fixed upon him.
That alone was enough.
"Be careful."
"Be careful."
Aila and Black Aila immediately stepped to the front. Lightning and shadows flickered around their bodies as the power of the Demon God Realm quietly gathered.
The newly arrived Dottore—was extraordinarily dangerous.
This was clearly no ordinary slice. His aura was infinitely closer to the original body.
Or perhaps—he was the original body.
Even Black Aila herself knew little about Dottore. She only knew that many different versions of him existed. Throughout the Fatui, countless rumors circulated regarding Dottore.
Some claimed he possessed a violent temper.
Others described him as unfailingly gentle.
Some insisted he appeared astonishingly young.
Others even claimed Dottore was a woman.
The conflicting accounts only made him appear increasingly mysterious.
Yet one fact remained beyond dispute.
The disparity between Dottore's strongest and weakest slices was utterly absurd.
A weaker slice might struggle to defeat even an elite Fatui soldier.
A stronger one—could rival an Archon.
The slice Futsu Mitama had just killed was reasonably powerful.
But only reasonably so. Otherwise—it would never have died to a single strike.
The Dottore standing before them now was completely different. His strength alone was enough to rival an Archon/Demon God.
"Very strong."
Shenhe's expression became exceptionally solemn. Ever since synchronizing with her master, she had gained tremendous benefits.
Now, her instincts gave the same warning as Aila's and Black Aila's.
The Calamity Queller was already in her hand. Several adeptal talismans quietly floated beside her.
Sangonomiya Kokomi likewise became vigilant. She had also sensed the overwhelming pressure radiating from Dottore.
Kuki Shinobu, meanwhile, could only let out a helpless sigh. She clearly recognized the enormous disparity in strength.
A mere blink—that was all it had taken for Dottore to traverse space and calmly reclaim his former seat.
"Don't you think you're the truly impolite one?"
Futsu Mitama calmly looked at Dottore.
"I remember that the Fatui Harbingers are ranked according to strength. If strength determines everything— then you should understand perfectly well what mistake the previous 'you' made."
Dottore seemed faintly amused.
Without hesitation, he crushed his own severed head before casually kicking the previous corpse into an unknown space.
"I understand perfectly."
His voice remained utterly indifferent.
"The weak possess no qualifications to negotiate. He attempted to threaten you without possessing the strength to support those threats. His death was entirely deserved."
"I don't care that you killed him. But I advise you not to continue. Because it would interfere with my experiment. So—"
"Futsu Mitama. Would you do me the courtesy of stopping here? If you continue—"
"That would be rather impolite."
His tone remained perfectly calm.
Almost detached.
He genuinely did not care about the death of another slice.
But the experiment had to continue.
If Lesser Lord Kusanali were freed—
Or if the Electro Gnosis were taken away now—
The experiment would immediately come to an end. That was something he could not permit.
Truthfully, he despised cleaning up other people's messes. Unfortunately, he had no choice. Futsu Mitama possessed the qualifications to stand as his equal. Had he not appeared personally—
Azar would never have been capable of stopping him.
How laughable.
So this...was Sumeru's current Great Sage.
"How arrogant."
Futsu Mitama paid no heed to Dottore's words. The Seven Thunders of Retribution: Narukami once again emerged from the void into his grasp.
"You want me to stop here? Then— we'll see whether you possess the strength to stop me."
At that moment—
A hint of anticipation stirred within him. Ever since stepping into the Demon God Realm—
He had never again encountered an opponent capable of matching him. There were simply too few beings in Teyvat who had reached that realm. Now that he had finally found one—
Naturally, he wished to test himself. To determine which of them truly stood superior.
"Oh?"
The corners of Dottore's lips slowly curved upward.
He rose from his seat.
Ominous black-and-blue energy steadily spread from his body.
"Stop? No... no... no..."
"Futsu Mitama. You should understand something. If we truly fight— No matter who wins— Sumeru City will undoubtedly be destroyed. I would not recommend such a course of action."
"However, if you insist on fighting, I'll accompany you to the very end. It's simply that, when that happens—many innocent people will die. Is that truly what you want?"
His tone carried equal measures of amusement and sincerity.
He was not joking.
Should they truly clash—he would not hesitate to drag Sumeru City down alongside them.
Battles between Demon God-level beings could never be settled lightly. The aftershocks alone would devastate the entire city. If both sides fought without restraint—Sumeru City would vanish from history.
Whether Dottore survived—was uncertain. But Futsu Mitama—would undoubtedly be condemned by the people of every nation throughout Teyvat.
As for Dottore himself... His reputation had long since become irredeemable. He simply did not care.
"No!"
Azar's expression changed dramatically. He had never imagined matters would escalate to the possible destruction of Sumeru City.
He understood Futsu Mitama's strength now. He understood Dottore's strength equally well.
If the two truly fought within the city—
Even invoking forbidden knowledge would accomplish nothing. It would merely hasten Sumeru City's destruction.
"No! Both of you... please calm down!"
Firnas also panicked.
Although he possessed ambitions of his own as a Sage— He genuinely cherished every tree, every blade of grass, and every citizen of Sumeru City.
If the city were destroyed today—They would forever become Sumeru's greatest sinners.
After all—both Futsu Mitama and Dottore had been invited into the Akademiya by them.
Neither Futsu Mitama nor Dottore responded.
They simply stared at one another. The atmosphere steadily grew heavier.
He really intends to fight?
Dottore quietly observed Futsu Mitama's unwavering gaze.
His heart sank slightly. He could clearly sense it.
Futsu Mitama truly wished to cross blades with him.
Has he gone mad? Is he really unconcerned that such a battle would destroy Sumeru City?
Or...
Has he already seen through my intentions?
If that were true—
Then the situation had become troublesome.
Dottore's heart gradually grew heavier. He had no desire to fight here. Not because he feared Futsu Mitama. But because—
This was the wrong battlefield.
This was the Akademiya.
The very heart of the God Creation Project.
It was also the place where Lesser Lord Kusanali remained imprisoned.
If a battle erupted here, not only would Scaramouche's incomplete God Creation Project be exposed, but the location of Lesser Lord Kusanali's imprisonment would also be laid bare.
At that point, not only would Dottore's experiment be ruined—
If Futsu Mitama joined forces with Lesser Lord Kusanali, he himself would likely be unable to leave Sumeru City alive.
As for Scaramouche— Whose divine transformation remained incomplete—
He was hardly worth mentioning.
Only those who had truly stepped into the Demon God Realm understood the terrifying significance of that domain.
Two combatants who had entered the Demon God Realm— Against a single Demon God-level opponent. To be perfectly honest—
Dottore did not consider himself an Archon on the level of Rex Lapis or the Raiden Shogun.
Thus, although a trace of anxiety had begun to settle within him, his outward composure remained utterly undisturbed.
It was as though nothing in the world could shake him.
While Futsu Mitama appeared to be staring directly at Dottore— His consciousness had already entered the Chat Group's livestream.
He quietly began discussing the situation with everyone inside.
[Futsu Mitama: "This is becoming troublesome. Dottore refuses to give an inch. Still, if a fight really breaks out here, I'm confident I can throw him into another dimension."]
[Futsu Mitama: "@Aila, what do you think? Should we join forces and kill him?"]
[Aila: "Young Master, even if Black Aila and I work together, we can only use the Authority's power to restrain him temporarily. If Black Aila and I merged, he'd immediately sense the danger. At that point, he'd probably threaten the people of Sumeru City to keep us from acting recklessly."]
[Kuki Shinobu: "That's exactly the sort of thing Dottore would do."]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "Not probably. He absolutely would."]
[Eula: "Hasn't he already done enough? He committed countless atrocities in Mondstadt."]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "Everyone, stay calm."]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "The fact that Dottore dared appear before you means he isn't afraid of fighting. Besides, a hastily created pocket dimension cannot withstand a battle between Demon God-level beings. Before long, the battlefield would simply burst back into the Akademiya. So for now..."]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "Don't fight!!!!"]
[Raiden Makoto: "This is the first time I've ever seen Maha Rukkhadevata this flustered."]
[Venti: "I can understand completely. If Futsu Mitama and Dottore started fighting inside Mondstadt, I'd probably be scared out of my mind too. Although... if I used the Anemo Gnosis to create a barrier, I could temporarily imprison someone of roughly the same level~"]
[Venti: "Of course, by 'same level,' I certainly don't mean your Shogun or the old man. Someone insignificant like me could probably be trapped just fine. Ehe~"]
[Futsu Mitama: "?"]
[Azhdaha: "Really?"]
[Guizhong: "Obviously not."]
[Raiden Makoto: "Hehe. The Anemo Archon still enjoys hiding his true capabilities."]
[Zhongli: "From a rational standpoint, a barrier created through a Gnosis is indeed capable of restraining an ordinary Archon. However, should the battle become sufficiently intense, the barrier can still be broken."]
[Azhdaha: "Eh? Zhongli, how do you know an Archon can be trapped by a Gnosis barrier?"]
[Zhongli: "Mm~ I privately consulted the Anemo Archon regarding the matter."]
[Venti: "Pfft! Hahahahaha! That's right~"]
[Raiden Ei: "It depends on the Authority represented by each Gnosis. The Electro Gnosis excels at destruction rather than imprisonment. It cannot effectively restrain enemies, but it can eliminate them with ease."]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "If Nahida is rescued and obtains the Dendro Gnosis—Then even two Archon-level beings fighting inside Sumeru City would cause minimal collateral damage."]
[Kuki Shinobu: "The problem is... How do we rescue Nahida?"]
[Kuki Shinobu: "We've already exposed ourselves. Are we supposed to force our way into the Akademiya?"]
[Shenhe: "Insufficient manpower."]
[Albedo: "Would you require my assistance? I can reach Sumeru very quickly now."]
[Lumine: "Paimon and I can come too."]
[Paimon: "Eh? How are we getting there so quickly???"]
[Lumine: "Didn't Klee blast open a tunnel a few days ago? Apparently it's a shortcut leading directly to Sumeru."]
[Keqing: "That tunnel does indeed lead toward Sumeru. However, it has long since fallen into disuse, making it difficult for ordinary people to travel through it."]
[Keqing: "Still, Traveler, you can't leave yet. Your work in Liyue isn't finished."]
[Lumine: "..."]
[Paimon: "Hehe! Sumeru is way too dangerous! We should stay in the Chasm and finish everything here first. Once Futsu Mitama and everyone else finish over there, we can travel to Sumeru peacefully!"]
[Lumine: "You're not wrong— But I can't shake the feeling that if I don't go now— I'll end up missing something important."]
[Albedo: "Klee and I can go instead. We've already produced a considerable amount of purified water. Besides, I've always been interested in Sumeru. It's called the Nation of Wisdom. Although the Akademiya's recent actions seem rather strange, I believe most of its people are still good-hearted."]
[Klee: "Mm! Just like big brother Tighnari and big sister Faruzan! They're both really nice people!"]
[Futsu Mitama: "Wait. I'm thinking about something."]
[Albedo: "What is it?"]
[Kamisato Ayaka: "Hmm? Are you thinking about how to deal with Dottore? Or perhaps how to rescue Lesser Lord Kusanali?"]
[Futsu Mitama: "Ayaka, you're right. I'm close enough to Nahida now that I want to see whether I can invite her into the Chat Group. If I can— Everything becomes much easier."]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "What?! Is something like that actually possible?!"]
[Cyno: "That would be wonderful! If Lesser Lord Kusanali joins the Chat Group, then Lord Futsu Mitama will no longer be constrained by Dottore's threats."]
[Zhongli: "If it succeeds, invite her immediately Then use the positioning function to rescue her as quickly as possible."]
[Raiden Makoto: "Will the Dendro Gnosis definitely be with her?"]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "Unless something unexpected has happened, yes. Even if it isn't physically with her— She possesses a method of retrieving it."]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "In that case... Dottore's greatest advantage disappears."]
[Paimon: "That's amazing!!!!"]
[Klee: "Yay!!"]
With that thought in mind, Futsu Mitama silently opened the invitation permissions. Since he was already so close to Nahida— perhaps he could invite her into the Chat Group after all.
If Nahida joined...
They would no longer need to fear Dottore's threats. With both the Anemo Gnosis and the Dendro Gnosis working together to construct a barrier—
They could imprison Dottore before dealing with him at their leisure.
Wouldn't that be the perfect solution?
Unfortunately...
When the invitation list appeared...
It contained Alhaitham.
Azar.
Firnas.
Along with numerous Scholars throughout the Akademiya. Only one name was missing.
Nahida.
A trace of disappointment flashed through Futsu Mitama's eyes. He quietly sighed inwardly.
It seemed, he was still just a little too far away.
"Oh?"
Dottore noticed the fleeting helplessness in Futsu Mitama's expression. Believing the other party had finally completed his internal deliberation, he smiled faintly.
"It seems you've made your decision. To be honest, I'd very much like to fight you. But for now—"
"My experiment is the greater priority. How about we postpone our battle until after the experiment concludes?"
To Dottore, this was already a considerable concession. He absolutely could not fight Futsu Mitama now. Should battle erupt... The experiment would inevitably fail.
Lesser Lord Kusanali would almost certainly be freed.
At that point— Even if Sumeru City were destroyed— What would be the point?
His life's work would already have come to an end. That outcome was something he absolutely refused to accept.
"Very well."
Futsu Mitama nodded. His thoughts were currently focused entirely upon finding a way to invite Nahida into the Chat Group. Once that succeeded— He would naturally rescue her immediately.
Afterward... Using the combined power of the Anemo Gnosis and the Dendro Gnosis...
He would prepare an enormous surprise for Dottore.
"Whew..."
"Whew..."
Azar and Firnas simultaneously let out long sighs of relief. The two quietly exchanged glances. Neither could describe the overwhelming pressure they had just endured.
Had Futsu Mitama and Dottore truly begun fighting—
What would they have done? Which side could they possibly support?
Theoretically—
The Fatui were Sumeru's allies. They should have sided with Dottore.
Yet Futsu Mitama's identity was infinitely more complicated. From everything they had gathered— He possessed an extraordinarily close relationship with both the Raiden Shogun and Rex Lapis.
Azar had even learned from Dottore that the Anemo Gnosis was currently in Futsu Mitama's possession.
The Anemo Gnosis.
The very symbol of the Anemo Archon. Yet Barbatos had willingly entrusted it to him.
Regardless of the reason—
That alone silently proclaimed one fact to the entire world.Futsu Mitama enjoyed an exceptionally close relationship with the Anemo Archon.
Offending the Fatui— Might invite the Tsaritsa's wrath.
Offending Futsu Mitama... Would very likely invite the wrath of the Anemo Archon... The Geo Archon... And the Electro Archon...
Not to mention, his own strength was already terrifying enough. That was precisely why Azar and Firnas had been so terrified moments ago.
Without powerful strength— One truly could do nothing.
At the same time, their determination only deepened. Once this crisis had passed—they would push the God Creation Project forward at all costs.
They would create— Sumeru's true Archon.
Nearby, Alhaitham quietly observed the unusual reactions of Azar and Firnas. A thoughtful gleam flickered through his eyes.
His gaze then shifted toward Futsu Mitama and Dottore.
The situation is even more complicated than I imagined.
Alhaitham had long known that the Akademiya was secretly conducting something significant. He had spent considerable time investigating. Unfortunately—the Great Sage and the other Sages had concealed everything remarkably well.
Even he had failed to uncover any concrete evidence.
Yet today—
One astonishing revelation after another had unfolded before him.
Lesser Lord Kusanali's likely imprisonment.
The Fatui Harbinger's experiment in Sumeru.
The reason Azar dared not swear an oath.
Every revelation raised even greater questions.
Just then—
Futsu Mitama suddenly looked toward him. And winked.
?
Alhaitham froze ever so slightly. He genuinely failed to understand what that gesture meant. Had Futsu Mitama already realized— that he was not loyal to the Great Sage?
Before Alhaitham could continue pondering the matter, Futsu Mitama had already shifted his gaze toward Azar.
"Very well, Azar. I'll let today's matters end here. But, you should at least show me around the Akademiya."
His intention was simple. Since he could not invite Nahida into the Chat Group from here—then he would simply move elsewhere.
Perhaps another location would bring him within range.
The highest point in Sumeru City was the Sanctuary of Surasthana. The place where Nahida remained imprisoned.
The Akademiya itself stood roughly midway up the great tree.
Although still separated from the Sanctuary, the distance was not especially great. If he continued walking...would Nahida's name finally appear on the invitation list?
"You're certain you're only sightseeing?"
Dottore clearly had no intention of believing him.
"How strange. I can't help feeling— That you're searching for something."
Neither Azar nor Firnas spoke. Both had entirely given up interfering, allowing Dottore to deal with the situation however he wished.
After all, had Futsu Mitama merely requested a tour of the Akademiya from the beginning—
Neither of them would have objected.
They probably would have enthusiastically encouraged him to wander wherever he pleased. As long as the previous incident was forgotten— Everything else could be negotiated.
But now—
They already knew Futsu Mitama's true objectives.
Lesser Lord Kusanali. And the Electro Gnosis.
Under such circumstances, there was absolutely no possibility of allowing him to roam freely. If he accidentally discovered the God Creation Project— Or found his way directly to the Sanctuary of Surasthana—
The consequences would be disastrous.
Futsu Mitama turned toward Dottore. His voice grew noticeably colder.
"Are you merely asking or are you attempting to restrict my movements?"
Dottore answered with nothing more than a faint smile. As though silently saying—
Interpret it however you wish.
Buzz—
The Seven Thunders of Retribution: Narukami released a brilliant violet radiance. Divine authority surged from the blade.
Dottore's smile gradually faded. He could clearly sense it.
Futsu Mitama was angry.
Perhaps, he should not have exposed his intentions so directly. Perhaps he should simply have accompanied Futsu Mitama on his stroll through the Akademiya.
Had he acted too hastily? Was he too eager to witness the completion of the experiment? Or... Had arrogance clouded his judgment?
The thought flashed briefly through Dottore's mind.
But before another could arise—
Futsu Mitama's blade had already descended.
"Whoosh—!!"
Gripping the Seven Thunders of Retribution: Narukami in one hand, Futsu Mitama vanished from his position in an instant.
The next moment, he appeared directly behind Dottore. Purple lightning raced along the blade as the Seven Thunders of Retribution: Narukami descended toward Dottore without hesitation.
"Clang—!!"
This time, Dottore raised both hands to receive the strike, preventing his head from being severed as before.
His hands had turned jet-black, their surface as hard as claimed by Armament Haki. Even so, a deep slash remained across them. It was clear that even Dottore could not completely defend against Futsu Mitama's sudden attack.
"I won't interfere with your movements anymore."
Dottore had no desire to continue fighting. He took the initiative to seek a truce.
A prolonged battle would benefit neither of them. He admitted that he had spoken out of turn by attempting to interfere with Futsu Mitama's actions.
"Heh."
Futsu Mitama let out a cold sneer. He had no intention of letting Dottore off so easily. Since the other party had chosen the wrong words, he naturally had to pay the price.
Moreover, Dottore's attitude made one thing abundantly clear.
He absolutely did not want the situation to spiral out of control.
That alone worked in Futsu Mitama's favor. Just as he was about to press the attack once more, his gaze suddenly shifted to the side.
A trace of surprise flashed across his eyes. Without another word, he dismissed the Seven Thunders of Retribution: Narukami, abandoning any intention of continuing the assault.
Black Aila, who had been preparing to attack alongside him, blinked in confusion. She could not understand why Young Master had suddenly stopped.
She had already intended to unleash the full power of her Shadow Authority and assist him in striking down Dottore.
She was not the only one puzzled.
Kuki Shinobu, Sangonomiya Kokomi, and Shenhe likewise stared at Futsu Mitama in surprise.
Was he really so easy to persuade? Dottore merely suggested ending the fight—and he actually stopped? At the very least, shouldn't he have swung his sword a few more times?
That hardly seemed like Futsu Mitama at all.
Only Aila remained calm. She believed Young Master must have had his own reasons for withdrawing. Since he had made his decision, there was no need for her to question it.
"Hoo... Hoo... Hoo..."
Azar drew several deep breaths. For a brief moment, he had truly thought he was about to die of fright. It was fortunate beyond words that Futsu Mitama had chosen to stop.
Had he continued exchanging blows with Dottore—
The consequences would have been unimaginable.
After all, that brief clash moments earlier had already sent stray elemental energy surging throughout the reception room, leaving tables and chairs damaged to varying degrees.
And that...
Could hardly even be called an exchange.
Futsu Mitama had merely swung his sword. Dottore had merely caught it.
Neither of them had even used an Elemental power. If they truly fought without restraint—
Then the destruction of Sumeru City would be no exaggeration.
Still... why had Futsu Mitama stopped?
In Azar's opinion, there had been no reason for him to hold back. He should have relentlessly pursued Dottore until the latter was thoroughly suppressed.
Futsu Mitama, however, paid no attention to anyone else.
His gaze rested upon the name "Nahida" that had just appeared within the Chat Group's invitation list.
He found himself momentarily speechless. He only needed to move forward a few more steps—and Nahida had entered the invitation range? Wasn't this just a little too dramatic?
Had he known beforehand, he would have simply walked a little farther instead of making up an excuse about touring the Akademiya.
With that thought, Futsu Mitama selected Nahida's name and silently sent her an invitation to the Chat Group.
—
On the grasslands outside Sumeru City—
Nahida, possessing Katheryne's body, stood opposite Signora with an exceptionally solemn expression.
Beside her stood the injured Faruzan. Helplessness and indignation filled the scholar's face.
Standing shoulder to shoulder with Nahida was Dehya, greatsword in hand. She was already wounded, breathing heavily after an intense battle.
"Lesser Lord Kusanali?"
Signora looked at the Katheryne before her and smiled mockingly.
"I never expected you to reveal yourself just to protect a mere Scholar. To be honest, if you had continued hiding in the shadows, I might never have realized that the imprisoned God of Wisdom could project her consciousness this far."
"But you're truly foolish. You've been imprisoned by the Sages for five hundred years, yet you've never resisted. You're foolish to the core."
Facing Signora's ridicule, Nahida answered calmly.
"It's not too late to begin resisting. Though I must admit... I didn't expect you to treat even your own subordinates with such ruthlessness."
Not far away, two Electro Cicin Mages remained frozen solid in blocks of ice, their bodies still locked in attacking postures. Unfortunately for them—
They had been frozen before they could even make their move.
"I merely rendered them temporarily incapable of moving."
Signora spoke indifferently. She showed no surprise that her own subordinates had been controlled and turned against her.
After all—
Nahida was still an Archon. Every Archon's Authority possessed unique characteristics. Had it not been for the Authority granted to her by Her Majesty the Tsaritsa— She herself might have fallen victim to Nahida's abilities.
Signora's gaze settled upon Nahida and Dehya.
"I don't have time to continue this childish game. Hand Faruzan over. I have no intention of killing her. I merely need to use her as leverage against Futsu Mitama and his companions."
Faruzan was precisely the person Dottore had ordered her to capture. As the one who had helped Futsu Mitama's group enter Sumeru City.
She possessed sufficient value as a hostage.
That was why Dottore had entrusted this mission to Signora. He knew perfectly well... If Faruzan attempted to leave Sumeru City...
Someone had to stop her.
How had Dottore known all this?
He had already learned of Futsu Mitama's arrival. Naturally, he had arranged informants well in advance.
Allowing Signora to handle matters merely reduced the burden on himself.
Reduced...
Not eliminated.
Not everyone resembled Tartaglia— Whose thoughts revolved around little besides fighting—
And searching for his next worthy opponent.
"Pah!"
Dehya spat onto the ground. She glared at Signora like a lion defending its territory.
"As long as I'm standing here— You can forget about taking Miss Faruzan! I've been a mercenary for years! I've never feared anyone!"
With that declaration, Dehya swung her greatsword. Her Pyro Vision erupted with dazzling brilliance as crimson flames wrapped themselves around the blade.
The injured Faruzan likewise raised her catalyst. She focused entirely upon supporting Dehya.
Gentle Anemo energy enveloped Dehya's body, making her movements lighter and swifter.
Faruzan excelled in support rather than direct combat.
Already injured... This was all she could do.
Meanwhile, Nahida could only watch in silence. The amount of power remaining within Katheryne's body was already running dangerously low. If she exhausted it completely—
Her consciousness would immediately return to the Sanctuary of Surasthana.
She would once again awaken inside that lonely cage— Forced to wait until enough strength had recovered before projecting herself outward again.
Therefore...
She had to wait.
Wait for the perfect opportunity.
Then unleash every remaining ounce of power within this vessel—
To create an opening for Dehya and Faruzan to escape.
"Heh."
Seeing Dehya charge forward, Signora laughed.
Bright. Unrestrained.
She might have been unable to defeat Futsu Mitama's group... But defeating a mercenary like Dehya?
That was another matter entirely. With a casual wave of her hand—
A terrifying blizzard swept toward Dehya. Countless weapons of ice materialized behind Signora.
Icicles. Ice spears. Ice blades. And countless others.
"Swish! Swish! Swish—!!!"
The frozen weapons shot forward in a relentless barrage. Dehya swung her greatsword with all her strength, shattering every incoming projectile. Yet the effort drained her stamina at an alarming rate.
"So this is the strength of a Fatui Harbinger—"
She staggered back several steps, breathing heavily.
"The difference between us is overwhelming."
As one of Sumeru's strongest mercenaries— Dehya possessed considerable strength.
Yet before an existence like Signora— The gap remained painfully obvious.
"Leave the rest to me."
Nahida understood that Dehya could not continue fighting.
She stepped forward. Looking directly into Signora's eyes, she spoke with quiet resolve.
"As long as I can delay you—that's enough. Dehya. Take Faruzan and leave immediately."
A conflicted expression crossed Dehya's face. Abandoning an ally went against everything she believed in.
Even knowing Nahida's true body remained safely elsewhere— She still could not bear to leave her behind.
Yet—
The enemy before them was simply too powerful. Even all three of them together stood no chance of victory.
After a long silence—
Dehya finally steeled herself.
Nahida's sacrifice could not be wasted.
"Do you truly possess that kind of strength, Buer?"
Signora looked down upon Nahida with open disdain.
"If you were truly capable of stopping me— You wouldn't have relied on controlling my subordinates to attack me earlier. Without your true body— How much power does this vessel have left?"
As she spoke—
Her gaze shifted toward Dehya, who was already preparing to carry Faruzan away. A terrifying surge of freezing power erupted once more. She had absolutely no intention of allowing them to escape.
If Faruzan slipped away—
How was she supposed to explain herself to Dottore?
"Om—!!"
Brilliant emerald light blossomed around Nahida. She raised both hands toward Signora. Her voice carried unwavering determination.
"As long as I can stop you — That's enough!"
Pure Dendro elemental energy burst outward. An emerald barrier materialized before her, colliding directly against Signora's overwhelming cold.
"Heh. You're far too weak, Buer."
Signora refused to waste another second. Drawing upon the Authority bestowed by the Cryo Archon...
She struck.
"Bang—!!!"
Nahida's Dendro barrier shattered instantly.
"It's not over yet!!!!"
Determined to keep Faruzan from falling into Signora's hands—Nahida forcibly drew upon every last fragment of power remaining within Katheryne's body.
"Stay where you are!!!"
The emerald light surrounding her flickered violently.
Then...
Nahida's vision darkened. She collapsed to the ground. Yet the emerald radiance remained. As though alive— It expanded into a prison of light, trapping Signora within.
Signora immediately attacked the surrounding barrier with her Authority.
Yet... It refused to break immediately.
"Well done, Buer. You've succeeded in wasting a little of my time. But the ending won't change. I will capture Faruzan."
With that— Signora devoted her full attention to breaking the barrier.
—
Inside the Sanctuary of Surasthana—
Nahida slowly opened her eyes within her lonely cage. Looking upon the familiar prison surrounding her, she let out a quiet sigh.
"I hope the two of you escape safely... This is all I can do."
She truly had done everything within her power. If even this failed to stop Signora— Then there was nothing more she could offer at the moment.
Protecting Faruzan...was her duty as the God of Wisdom.
Although, Nahida privately believed that Futsu Mitama was the one who truly deserved that title. After all, he had inherited Maha Rukkhadevata's legacy.
Perhaps, she herself was merely an Archon whom the Akademiya had picked up by chance. Even so, she still had to protect Faruzan. Protect the scholar who respected her.
Even if it meant exposing her own existence.
As Nahida gathered her remaining strength, preparing to search once more for another vessel to possess—
A gentle voice suddenly echoed within her mind.
At the same time— A line of text appeared before her eyes.
"Ding! Are you willing to join the Teyvat Continent Loving Family Chat Group?"
Nahida blinked. Her emerald eyes filled with bewilderment.
"...?"
What... Was this?