Shouki no Kami

The Sky Screen unfolded once more, revealing a location all too familiar to the members of the Akademiya.

On screen, the former Grand Sage Azar, Dottore, Scaramouche, and several other Sumeru scholars were deep in discussion regarding the creation of a god.

"When do we begin?"

At this moment, Scaramouche's expression was visibly agitated.

"Heh, you seem rather impatient. You should know that ascending to godhood is no simple feat."

Dottore's voice betrayed no emotion, neither joy nor sorrow.

Azar continued, "The biological modifications will take quite some time. I also suggest we start as soon as possible; once the connection is finalized, his body will be fused with the machine system and will no longer be able to move freely."

"I have already endured such things many times over!"

"You are the most resilient test subject I have ever encountered. Thanks to you, I have obtained much of the information I desired. However, after that period, you went to the Abyss, and we rarely saw each other. The speed at which knowledge updates has slowed down."

"What hypocritical rhetoric. You are just afraid that others will find out that, aside from your insane experiments, you care for nothing else."

"It would be best to use a more respectful tone when speaking to me, Scaramouche. While you are very useful, that does not mean you are indestructible."

Though the conversation was far from pleasant, the god-creation project continued, with Scaramouche serving as the test subject while Dottore handled the rest.

The images on the Sky Screen flickered like a revolving lantern. As those who had lived through it, many in the Akademiya knew these were the atrocities committed by Dottore and Azar's faction against the people of Sumeru.

However, compared to the Douluo Continent, these atrocities were truly nothing; the fallen ones of the Douluo Continent were far more beastly than Dottore.

The Sky Screen paused on a comatose female scholar. Scaramouche still remembered her; she could be considered his first believer. Her name was Haypasia.

Here, Scaramouche communicated with the Traveler through his consciousness, the god-creation project now essentially complete.

"I have already achieved deification. Even if you have rescued Lesser Lord Kusanali, it is to no avail. As gods, the difference in our power is like heaven and earth."

"Forcing a child-like deity to stand against me is hardly a wise move."

"Scholars view gods as their faith, only then can they simultaneously hold reverence while carrying out a god-creation project. This goes to show that human worship is both profane and sacred—it is laughable."

"I was born to become a 'god.' Everything in the past is meaningless, just as a blank sheet of paper has no meaning; what matters is the content written upon it."

"What I left behind before were merely painful memories and tedious emotions; they should have been discarded long ago."

"Humans are such creatures—only in ignorance can they find happiness."

"Gods require believers. Haypasia was fortunate enough to be chosen by me. Her appearance signifies that I have truly stepped toward the authority of a god; her faith shall forge my glory."

"Dottore has always been arrogant. A mere human, even now, still wishes to interfere in the affairs of a new god."

"I shall bestow a gift upon you. Whether it is good or bad, it is still a gift. Such is the tyranny of a god."

The camera pulled back. The sky was thick with dark clouds, and with a rumble, bolts of violent lightning descended. Tighnari and Dehya were dodging the strikes, and Tighnari was unfortunately hit by a bolt of lightning.

Fortunately, the storm came and went quickly, or he might have been in grave danger.

Tighnari wore a look of confusion. He remembered this event; he and Dehya had been preventing the Fatui from taking Haypasia away. The sudden lightning had struck friend and foe alike, forcing the Fatui to retreat while hitting him in the process.

But he did not remember this having anything to do with Scaramouche.

Tighnari looked toward Nahida and Ouyang Kong, and seeing their expressions remained unchanged, he understood—they were aware of the truth.

He was not in a hurry; the Sky Screen would surely clarify the whole matter soon.

The scene on the Sky Screen shifted, showing Scaramouche connecting with a massive mechanical construct.

Lesser Lord Kusanali, Nahida, awakened him, and the elemental energy he unleashed upon waking forced her back.

"The world has been so impatient for my birth. We finally meet, God of Wisdom, Buer."

"Although you have reached the level of a god, the Gnosis-derived knowledge has not yet been injected. You are still incomplete, Balladeer!"

"Balladeer! That is a long-forgotten codename to me. When my spirit ascended to godhood, I felt as though I had lived through countless ages. Looking back from this form, the existence known as Kunikuzushi is so small, so ugly."

Balladeer completed his fusion with the mechanical construct, and the Sky Screen revealed its true name.

[Shouki no Kami — The Prodigal]

Such a god was something never before seen on the Douluo Continent.

Or rather, there were few on the Douluo Continent who had ever truly seen a god.

On Sea God Island, the High Priestess Bo Saixi looked at the Shouki no Kami on the screen and couldn't help but ask, "Is that truly a god? Lord Sea God is nothing like that at all."

Yet, Scaramouche himself laughed self-deprecatingly.

"Shouki no Kami... what a ridiculous name. To deny one's own past is to be doomed to failure from the very start."

The images on the Sky Screen continued.

"It is the ultimate manifestation of the concept of the Balladeer as a puppet, powered by the constant energy of a Gnosis. The sages and the Akademiya must have contributed a great deal."

"But from a technical standpoint, it is indeed worthy of praise. It is no exaggeration to call it a crystallization of human wisdom."

Nahida gave a fair assessment, though her tone shifted.

"However, from a spiritual perspective, I do not believe you have reached the level of a god."

"Every god born into this world, and every Gnosis, should have the word 'strife' engraved upon them."

"Can you not feel this surging power, this thrill rising from the very depths of your heart?"

"I do not share your sentiments. As for the word 'strife' engraved upon the Gnosis, are you referring to the Archon War?"

"The peace currently enjoyed by Teyvat was hard-won. Although I did not participate in the Archon War, in my view, it was nothing more than a meaningless attrition under the guise of rules."

"What purpose does it serve to bring it up again now?"

"Unlike you, I feel nothing but regret that I could not participate in the Archon War. A god who does not crave power—you are truly the first I have ever met."

"The god who presides over wisdom; it is no wonder even your own people have forsaken you."

"Let us end this here, Buer, God of Wisdom."

"You should know that wisdom cannot solve every problem. Just like now, fighting me is your only choice."

"Come... let us recreate a corner of the Archon War here and now, to justify my birth in the name of a god."

Shouki no Kami launched its assault, manipulating various elemental powers such as Electro, Pyro, Anemo, and Hydro, while its four arms wielded immense strength.

Soon, the platform collapsed, and Shouki no Kami revealed its complete form, colossal and possessing an overwhelming sense of oppression.