At that moment, Scaramouche was completely detached, observing what was happening to his own body as if he were an outsider. He could sense himself controlling the Shouki no Kami's every movement and action, yet he was utterly powerless to stop it.
Having been betrayed three times, Scaramouche had lost all faith in this world. His relentless pursuit of power stemmed from a desperate desire to become so strong that no one could ever deceive, abandon, or betray him again.
Yet today, despite surpassing the threshold of a god's power, he remained a pawn in others' schemes, controlled by three factions against his will.
The final manipulation was particularly insidious. Unlike Great Sage Azar and Scribe Alhaitham's interventions, this one struck at his very core.
Scaramouche's formidable mental power originated from harvesting the dreams of all the people in Sumeru City. Among them, tens of thousands had been subtly altered.
Scaramouche's heart sank into utter darkness as he realized that, despite his desperate efforts to improve himself, he remained trapped in a fate controlled by others, a mere puppet in their hands.
As this realization festered, a pale gray aura began to emanate from Scaramouche's body, and the presence of the Shouki no Kami surged violently.
At that moment, the Shouki no Kami, suspended in mid-air with its hands raised, cradling a massive sphere of pale gray energy, truly radiated the aura of a god—an aura capable of shattering heaven and earth.
Dottore, now locked onto by the attack, felt his scalp tingle with dread. Though he had concealed some of his true power, he had no confidence in escaping unscathed from an attack of this magnitude.
Regret washed over Dottore. He could have left earlier, but his desire to eavesdrop on Dr. Edward's conversation had kept him rooted to the spot.
Now, he'd gained little useful information and found himself in a far greater predicament.
It seems I'll have to pay the price after all...
Of course, Dottore had briefly considered the matter of Irminsul, but he quickly abandoned the idea.
The danger was simply too great, and the potential gains were minimal. It wasn't worth it just to prove a point.
Besides, he was likely to sustain injuries after today's events. Best to stay out of this mess.
The others present were equally solemn. Though the Shouki no Kami's primary target wasn't them, the aftershocks alone could completely devastate Sumeru City. How many of them would even survive?
Dr. Edward's earlier words had clearly been no idle threat. The people of Sumeru City were undoubtedly the first sacrifices in his grand scheme!
The thought of the massive casualties her people would soon suffer shattered Nahida's heart.
She bitterly regretted her past sentimentality. If she had revealed her existence to others sooner, if she had restrained the Akademiya's unchecked ambitions earlier, her power wouldn't be so limited now, and she wouldn't feel so helpless in the face of what was coming.
If she could, Nahida would gladly sacrifice her own life to save these people, but her efforts were utterly futile.
Just moments ago, Nahida had gathered all her remaining strength to forcefully invade Scaramouche's mind, but she failed. Like Dr. Edward before him, Scaramouche's mind was completely cut off from the network.
"We're doomed! We're all going to die!"
"Traveler, hurry! Use your invincible Dull Blade and think of something!"
Paimon panicked, flitting wildly around before diving into Lumine's chest, hoping to find shelter there.
Lumine's expression turned grim, her lips twitching uncontrollably. One hand gripped the Dull Blade, while the other clamped down on Paimon's head, desperately defending her modesty!
"It's over... I never imagined I, Enjou of the Abyss, would die here. I guess this counts as shedding blood for the Abyss Order, right?"
Enjou, tears streaming down his face, gazed at Lumine and spoke again.
"Princess, I don't know if I'll ever have another chance to be reborn. But if I do, Enjou will follow you again!"
Great Sage Azar, overwhelmed by the Shouki no Kami's terrifying aura, was consumed by the fear of death. His eyes glazed over, his legs trembling.
Rattle!
Great Sage Azar, already advanced in years, lost control of his bladder, causing Cyno, who was detaining him, to turn his head away in disgust.
Before Alhaitham's eyes, streams of data swirled, countless calculations flashing across his vision. Yet the survival probability remained stubbornly at zero. He frowned briefly, but his brow soon smoothed, his expression settling into resigned acceptance.
He had accepted his impending fate.
All struggle was futile, a truth the others present also understood, having long since abandoned any hope of escape.
Even the people on the ground in Sumeru City felt a terrifying, oppressive force bearing down on them. Their bodies went limp, and countless citizens collapsed to the ground, paralyzed by dread, unaware of what was happening but gripped by primal fear.
Parchamdar Rukh Shah forced himself to stand, his body trembling uncontrollably. His face twisted in disbelief, his eyes wide with terror at what was about to unfold.
Almost everyone had given up fighting, but Nahida could not. As Sumeru's Dendro Archon, she had to seize even the slimmest chance to save more people.
Seeing Dottore's intention to flee, Nahida immediately shouted at him.
"Dottore, stop him at all costs! Whether you succeed or not, I'll hand over the Gnosis to you!"
Dottore, who had been about to make his escape, hesitated upon hearing Nahida's words.
In truth, whether he fled or stayed made little difference. The Shouki no Kami had already locked onto him; the only real difference lay in the price he would have to pay.
Still, Dottore was certain he would survive. Such was the confidence granted by his overwhelming power!
Moreover, the Gnosis was exactly what he needed. It was crucial for another research project he was conducting, and the Dendro Archon's Gnosis was hidden within the Akasha. Without Nahida's cooperation, finding it would be nearly impossible—otherwise, he wouldn't have wasted so much time in Sumeru.
"Very well," Dottore agreed after careful consideration. "But you must give it to me first."
He could sense Nahida's determination to sacrifice herself, her plan to exhaust every possible means to save as many people in Sumeru City as she could.
If something were to happen to Nahida, their agreement would become nothing more than a meaningless scrap of paper.
Upon hearing Dottore's words, Nahida hesitated briefly before retrieving the Dendro Archon's Gnosis.
"I still need the Gnosis. I'll give it to you after this is over," she declared. "As the Dendro Archon of Sumeru, I won't break my word."
Seeing Nahida produce the Gnosis dispelled Dottore's lingering doubts. He turned his attention to the Shouki no Kami, narrowing his eyes slightly.
Meanwhile, observing from the sidelines, Scaramouche watched as the entire population of Sumeru prostrated themselves on the ground. Even Dottore, who usually looked down on him, wore an unusually serious expression for the first time. A surge of perverse satisfaction welled up within him.
Despite being controlled by another entity this time, Scaramouche felt strangely elated. Isn't this exactly what I've always wanted?!
Just then, a voice echoed in his mind.
"Scaramouche, become my dog. I will grant you power, freedom, and dignity."
"Get lost!" Scaramouche roared without hesitation. "You lowly insect! How dare you insult a God?!"
"Become my dog," the voice continued. "Serve the organization, and you will attain a status surpassing all others in this world. Then, even the Seven Archons will be mere pawns in our grand scheme."
Despite the sheer arrogance of these words, Scaramouche found himself half-believing them. He recognized the voice as Dr. Edward's—a Numbered Member of the mysterious organization that had wreaked havoc in Fontaine and Sumeru.
Although this organization's current sphere of influence was limited to Sumeru and Fontaine, its prestige far surpassed that of the Fatui.
But the idea of Scaramouche submitting to anyone? Preposterous!
Scaramouche rejected the entity's command once more: "You may control my body, but you will never control my heart!"
"Don't you want to personally take revenge on the Raiden Shogun, Beelzebul?"
The words struck Scaramouche's mind like a thunderclap, shaking his very soul.
"If you can help me defeat that woman, what's wrong with pledging loyalty to you?!"
Scaramouche didn't bother asking how they knew his secret. Given their powerful connections, uncovering his past was hardly impossible.
After enduring endless torment under Dottore's command, he had barely managed to reach the threshold of Archon-level combat strength. Yet with a single scheme, this faction had multiplied his battle prowess several times over, forcing even Dottore to exert his full strength to counter him.
Perhaps they truly could grant him the power to defeat Raiden Shogun Beelzebul!
"Bark twice like a dog to prove your loyalty."
"You—!!!"
Scaramouche nearly exploded with rage at this humiliation, but his opponent's tone remained utterly calm.
"Hurry up. My patience is limited."
"And now you're completely under my control. Even if I ordered you to streak naked across the Seven Nations, you'd have to obey."
Hearing these words, Scaramouche nearly died of rage.
Shameless!
Scaramouche knew the truth in the other's words. Even if he wanted to kill himself, he couldn't.
If I can't even preserve my dignity in this world, I won't find peace even in death. He finally broke through his mental defenses and barked, "Woof woof woof!"
"Mm, such a good boy."
Bastard!
I'll definitely kill you!
Countless negative emotions surged within Scaramouche's heart, his murderous intent reaching a fever pitch!
Suddenly, Scaramouche realized he had regained control of the Shouki no Kami. An unimaginable power, far beyond anything he had ever conceived, was now his to wield. Overwhelmed with joy, a surge of vindication coursed through him. Gazing at Dottore's silhouette, he roared as if to vent his pent-up humiliation, "Dottore!"
Without hesitation, Scaramouche hurled the massive ball of energy in his hand at Dottore.
Dottore was utterly stunned. The hatred in Scaramouche's voice was so thick it was palpable. Does he really hold such grudges?
Sure, I experimented on Scaramouche in the past, but I also gave him immense power! As for this time, I had a contingency plan, but I haven't even had a chance to use it yet!
Even Great Sage Azar and Alhaitham, both far more detestable than him, were present. Why had they singled him out?
Scaramouche's furious roar alerted Dottore to the possibility that his opponent had regained consciousness, or perhaps even struck a deal with Dr. Edward.
As he watched the terrifying spectacle above—a celestial body falling like the Sun itself—Dottore activated his still-experimental Dream Device, unleashing his full power without restraint.
Meanwhile, Nahida, heedless of further corrupting her own consciousness, once again forged a mental link with Lumine. Lumine channeled all her remaining strength into her blade, slashing upward with desperate force.
Suddenly, a torrential rain began to fall from the heavens—and the water was black!
The people of Sumeru City watched this apocalyptic scene unfold, their hearts gripped by terror.
At that moment, Nahida's pale face appeared on the Akasha Terminals.
"I am Lesser Lord Kusanali. Sumeru faces a life-or-death crisis. I apologize deeply, but my power alone cannot guarantee everyone's safety!"
"I implore you all: lend me your strength! Please!"
With no time for elaborate explanations, Nahida delivered her plea urgently. Yet, everyone in Sumeru City sensed the world had changed. They instinctively trusted her words.
Seeing the girl in the Akasha Terminal, her face streaked with tears and her eyes pleading, most people felt a pang of sympathy and decided to trust her.
"Thank you, thank you all!"
Sensing the surge of faith pouring in from all directions, Nahida expressed her gratitude through the Akasha Terminal while channeling this power unreservedly into Lumine. Lumine's aura exploded, becoming even more terrifying than when she had unleashed her peak sword strike earlier!
Yet even with this immense power, the expression on Lumine's face remained grim.
"Insignificant insect! How dare you gaze upon a God?"
A colossal gray-white energy sphere crashed down. Dottore and Lumine temporarily joined forces to resist it, but they could only slow its descent.
"Ha ha ha ha ha!"
Seeing the once-invincible Dottore struggling under his attack, Scaramouche erupted in maniacal laughter.
Earlier, when Lumine had seemingly cheated her way to severing his arm, he had been consumed by resentment and disbelief.
Now, having tasted the power of "cheating" himself, he was utterly intoxicated.
So exhilarating! Cheating is just too exhilarating!
Then, a ruthless glint flashed in Scaramouche's eyes.
"I'll unleash a glimpse of the Archon War and leave an indelible mark on this world!"
"Let's start here!"
The Shouki no Kami forcefully clapped its hands together, and a strange energy wave emanated from its body.
"Explode!"
Sensing the gray-white energy sphere suddenly becoming violently unstable, Dottore and Lumine's expressions instantly changed. Without hesitation, Dottore tore open a Spatial Rift and prepared to flee.
However, under the distortion of this power, even space itself had become dangerously unstable. Yet Dottore still plunged into the Rift without hesitation.
Compared to the chaotic maelstrom of distorted space-time, enduring the full force of this explosion at close range was far more perilous.
At this moment, Dottore had abandoned all thoughts of the Gnosis. To him, his own safety was paramount.
His initial assessment of the Shouki no Kami's threat level had been slightly off. The price for staying was far too high—a cost Dottore refused to pay. He changed his mind.
Seeing Dottore flee, everyone's hearts grew even colder.
Nahida sensed the energy sphere was on the verge of exploding, her heart aching with bitter sadness.
Is there truly no way to stop it after all?
Nahida silently apologized to Lumine in her heart.
It was her fault for dragging her into this, Nahida thought, her heart heavy with guilt.
Finally, images of her five hundred years of tireless effort to absorb all knowledge flashed through her mind, along with memories of her own insecurity and timidity.
It's my fault Sumeru's people are suffering, she thought. If they hadn't been saddled with such a useless god, none of this would have happened. They wouldn't be dying here.
I really am a completely incompetent god, she thought. Even after all my efforts, I still couldn't accomplish anything, still couldn't save anyone.
The gray-white energy sphere finally shattered. In an instant, a colossal black hole formed in its place, its immense gravitational pull unleashing violent hurricanes.
The ground collapsed in vast swathes, and countless human remains and architectural debris were sucked into the sky amidst wailing screams.
Simultaneously, the gray-white Domain rapidly expanded outward from the black hole's epicenter, transforming everything it touched into a Forbidden Zone, utterly devoid of life.
Fortunately, many had sensed the anomaly in Sumeru City and evacuated beforehand. Only a handful of fearless, stubborn individuals remained behind to watch the spectacle, so casualties remained relatively low in the immediate aftermath.
But everyone knew deep in their hearts that under such overwhelming power, if nothing unexpected happened, everyone would be in grave danger.
Through her tear-blurred vision, Nahida thought she saw a colossal pillar of water erupting skyward, crashing directly into the black hole.
At the same moment, the rain intensified, yet within the black torrent, clear raindrops mingled, brightening the world's colors.
Wait, this isn't a hallucination!
Before Nahida could wipe away her tears, an invincible aura—one that dwarfed all living beings—suddenly surged from the distance.
"Be reduced to foam!"
The black hole lasted only a few seconds before being pierced, annihilated, and the ashen aura was completely washed away by the relentless torrent.
Simultaneously, each clear raindrop falling from the sky contained terrifying power. Yet when they struck the ground, they made no sound. But when they landed on the Shouki no Kami's colossal body, they triggered a series of violent explosions.
"Who... who is it?!"
Instantly overwhelmed, Scaramouche seethed with rage. Without hesitation, he unleashed his full power in the direction from which the aura emanated.
"Illumination of All Things!"
A torrent of pale gray energy beams erupted, blasting forward like a raging flood. Yet they were completely repelled by a massive pillar of water. Even the Prime form of Shouki no Kami was struck directly, its colossal body losing balance and crashing heavily to the ground.
Everyone froze, stunned by this display of absolute dominance. At that moment, an invincible azure figure materialized in mid-air, gliding before them with effortless grace.