Chapter Text
For a place that for a long time was shackled by the distorted idea of ”unchanging eternity”, Inazuma City went through a variety of changes over the 5 centuries the ideal was in place. Trees grew and withered away, the city grew; buildings were torn apart and rebuilt. The cliffs around the city were tested by the relentless bashing of waves of the surrounding ocean – shaping and eroding the rock. Despite all this, the ideal of eternity held and one location remained unchanged, the most important of them all. Tenshukaku. The palace, abode of Her Excellency, the Almighty Narukami Ogosho God of Thunder, the Raiden Shogun.
Currently, the Almighty Shogun was resting in the calm and quiet Tenshukaku, meditating both in form and in essence, in the case of the latter, in the ever-sustaining calm and tranquility of the Plane of Euthymia.
Yet the meditation remained regrettably shortlived, as she felt something. A presence, and a strange, yet familiar force , followed by a surge of power, all far away from Inazuma. She opened her eyes, and sparing no thought, the Shogun headed out, to the highest rooftop of Tenshukaku. From the very top, nothing would escape her eye. Yet what she felt wasn't anywhere where neither her eye, nor her might could reach. Feeling the wind picking up, the Shogun gazed Northwest, over the deep blue ocean that separated Inazuma from the rest of ”continental Teyvat.” And though her eye couldn't see it, from the electricity in the air alone, the Shogun could feel unusually dark and menacing storm clouds gathering over a distant place hundreds of miles Northwest.
”How ominous...” She thought out loud, before deciding to head back into Tenshukaku. She had to consult someone on this strange issue. In the Plane of Euthymia, that certain someone also felt the same strange force and presence, interrupting her meditation as well. The overwhelming force and the presence she had felt it coming from had awakened Ei. Only moments later did the Shogun in its ”Baleful Shadowlord” form, appear in front of Ei in her own inner world.
Floating mid-air in her meditation pose, Ei opened her eyes, meeting the exact same eyes staring back at her in the form of the Shogun in her special form to differentiate herself from her creator. ”You're here. I take it you sensed it as well, Shogun?”
”Indeed. It is why I'm here. That power feels... oddly familiar, yet I cannot distinguish it clearly. What is it, Raiden Ei?”
Ei sighed and hung her head low. She stood up and walked to the Shogun. She eyed her mechanical, bare but armored body. While visiting the Plane of Euthymia, the Shogun had adopted its ultimate combat form – sans its weapons, as her primary appearance. That, and the artificial body both Ei and the Shogun inhabited were part of the story.
”It's him. Kunikuzushi.”
”Who?”
Ei sighed again. The one name she had hoped she wouldn't come across any time soon. ”He was a prototype puppet, initially designed for storing my Gnosis. However, something came up in his creation and he turned out more human than expected. But as my creations, I see you like how a mother would see her children. I simply could not destroy him, so I set him free, to live his life as he pleases.”
”Your creations, us, children...? Hmph, ridiculous! But what you're suggesting is that this...Kunikuzushi, as you refer to him, is the source of this immense power we sense?”
”Indeed. And based on what I sensed, I fear it may have something to do with the Electro Gnosis as well. But how is that possible, I handed it over to Yae Miko...”
”What do you suggest, or rather, what are your orders, Creator?”
Ei stroked her chin thoughtfully, planning their next move ”Such power cannot be left unchecked, as its misuse can be disastrous. My orders are to head there investigate it, in the worst case, neutralize it. Oh, and please don't call me that, it feels...dehumanizing, just say 'Ei', or even 'mother' if you'd like. Now go.”
The Shogun bowed before Ei. ”Understood, Raiden Ei. Will you be taking control of our body?”
”No. I will remain here and observe the situation, but I will step in if the situation requires it.”
”As you wish Mo- Raiden Ei.”
With those words, the manifestation of the Shogun's consciousness disappeared from the Plane of Euthymia, leaving Ei there by herself once more, to observe and assess the situation from there.
Back in real world, assuming control of the body once more, the Shogun stood up from her throne and walked down the inside of Tenshukaku throne room, approaching its twindoors. With one wave of her hand, she summoned her naginata, the Engulfing Lightning to her hand, and with another snap of her fingers, the doors of Tenshukaku slowly opened outwards in front of her.
The guards outside, who had nearly dozed off on a tiring guard duty, were alarmed by the creaking of the heavy wooden and metal doors, and hastily stepped aside to give way for them to fully open, standing on both sides of them on guard. As the only person inside, out of the building walked none other than the Almighty Shogun, with graceful steps, but radiating with power and authority.
”A-Almighty Shogun?!”
”Is there something we can do, Your Excellency?!”
Not paying attention to guards and their reactions, only to their question, the Shogun stared at the bright blue sky, and replied in her usual cold and commanding tone ”No, you shall follow your orders and remain in your posts. Something urgent has come up that I must attend to personally.”
”A-as you wish, Your Highness.”
Shogun stepped forth, spinning her naginata on her hands, electrifying the polearm with a fraction of her power. The tip of her long hair and eyes – as well as fake vision began emitting a bright purple glow. She tapped the naginata to the ground twice, and in bright purple flash of light, she was gone. Completely disappeared from Tenshukaku.
Following the strange source of power as a ball of lightning through the skies of Teyvat like a shooting star, took the Shogun away from her homeland of Inazuma, across the sea to continental Teyvat, far west. Over the high mountains and deep valleys of Liyue. Passing the Chasm and approaching the border of the western neighbor nation of Liyue; the land of Wisdom, Sumeru.
Inside her Plane of Euthymia, Ei sensed the presence of both the Electro Gnosis, and Kunikuzushi, growing stronger. She stood up to her feet, opening her eyes and spoke a command. ”Shogun, enough. I sense we're approaching the source.”
”Indeed, I can sense it as well. However, I also sense two additional presences in that location.”
Ei closed her eyes and focused, allowing her to see the outside world through the eyes of the Shogun. She saw a bustling city built around a massive tree on a hilltop near a small body of water. ”How interesting, the two additional presences, one of which is...oddly familiar, seem to be coming from the top of that tree. Shogun, land there. I will take over.”
”As you wish.”
The ball of lightning landed on a platform at the top of the massive tree, accompanied by a deep purple thunderbolt, sizable enough to scare the living daylight out of any bystanders, yet controlled enough not to set the entire tree on fire. From the ball, Raiden Ei – having ”switched places” with the Shogun – appeared, looking around cautiously.
”Hmm, so this is the place. I must admit, Sumeru has changed a lot since the last time I visited here.”
She set her eyes on the nearest doors and headed in...
”By the way, there's something I need to confess...”
”Even though I'm the archon and in control of myself again, I'm not very good at fighting...” Nahida sighed with defeat and disappointment in her voice, letting her hands and head drop down. She quickly raised her head back up to continue. ”You may have heard that an archon's power is derived from their people's faith. However, I'm not as well-loved as Greater Lord Rukkhadevata.”
”If we get into a situation where combat is our only option, I'll have to count on you, and I'll do my best to provide support.”
With a gentle smile on her face, the Traveler, Lumine squeezed her left hand into a fist and pulled it close to her chest. ”Don't worry, fighting is my forté.”
Hearing those comforting words brought a smile to Nahida's face. ”I'm glad I can rely on you.”
Before anyone could move a muscle, the great doors of the Sanctuary of Surasthana slammed open, blinding all three, Lumine, Paimon and Nahida with bright sunlight. All three could see a dark figure standing by the door, but couldn't tell who or what it was. All three were quickly overwhelmed by a sudden and powerful surge of static energy, filling the sanctuary. The person stepped away from the doors, letting them close behind their back. They spoke, pulling out a long weapon from behind their back ”Perhaps you'd allow me to help as well?”
”Who are-” Nahida's eyes widened. ”I recognize this power...”
”And I know that voice...anywhere.” Lumine whispered, pulling out her sword and stepping protectively in front of Nahida.
The person's figure and face became clearer the closer they walked. Tall, mature woman with purplish blue hair, dressed in a short kimono, wielding a polearm...
Paimon gasped, her eyes widening and nearly popping out of their sockets, realizing who was standing in front of them ”I-it's...the Raiden Shogun?!”
”Not quite. We meet again Traveler, Paimon.”
”Wait, Ei? Is that you?”
”Indeed, I'm surprised it took you this long to recognize me.” Ei lowered her polearm, spotting someone peeking behind Lumine's back. A small child with white hair and vibrant green eyes, she had an aura of familiarity. ”Who is- Oh you must be Buer, the Dendro Archon.”
Lumine stepped to the side, allowing Nahida to show herself completely. ”Indeed. I know you too. You're Beelzebul, or Raiden Ei, the current Electro Archon of Inazuma.”
Ei crouched down to Nahida's eye level ”It's an honor to finally meet you Buer.” She shook the Dendro Archon's small hand, trying not to squeeze it too hard. ”My, you are so adorable...” She gently patted the shorter archon's head, embarrassing her, which Nahida tried her best to hide.
”T-the pleasure is mine, but please, you can call me Lesser Lord Kusanali, or just Nahida if you'd like. What brings you here all of a sudden?”
”Ah yes, that.” Ei rose up, crossing her arms. ”The Shogun and I both sensed an ominous presence outside Inazuma and since it felt quite familiar to us, we decided to pursue it. However, we felt two additional presences along the way, following which led us here. Now I know those two were you.”
”Oh, right!” Paimon exclaimed, having figured the whole thing out in record time. ”The Balladeer is a puppet just like the Shogun, so it must have been him and the Electro Gnosis that you sensed!”
”The Balladeer? Is that what they call him these days, my Kunikuzushi?”
Nahida spoke up, alternating gazes between Lumine and Raiden Ei. ”I may be a little out of the loop, but I'm afraid the puppet you referred to as ”Kunikuzushi”, is now a member of the Fatui Harbingers, under the name of the Balladeer.”
”Ah, I see...”
”It has also come to my knowledge and attention that the Sages of Sumeru are trying to create a new God of Wisdom out of him. The people of Sumeru don't seem to believe in my abilities as their god and want him to replace me...” Nahida's head dropped down again, closing her sentence with last words muttered out in pure disappointment and sadness.
Ei stroked her chin thoughtfully, her voice gradually rising as she thought out loud, coming to sound more like the Shogun's than her own. ”Create a new god? To overthrow the current Dendro Archon and God of Wisdom? For the people's lack of faith in her?! Unacceptable!”
”He also said something about taking revenge on the Gods.” Paimon commented.
”Taking revenge for what, exactly?”
”(For abandoning him.)” Ei heard the voice of the Shogun reply inside her mind. As two consciousnesses sharing the same body, they had the ability to converse inside their mind.
”(What are you saying, Shogun?)”
”(After I had taken over the duty of the Shogun in your stead, he came back to Tenshukaku one day, claiming that I abandoned him, unaware that it was me and not you. He tried challenging me to a duel, but I simply refused and sent him out.)”
”(Abandoned?! I could never-)”
”(You said yourself that you set him free, did you not, Ei? Perhaps Kunikuzushi saw that as an abandonment and betrayal. Still, there might be more to this than I am aware of...)”
”(I- You may be right Shogun, thank you for this insight.)”
”Hmm, thanks to an insight provided by the Shogun just now, it would seem that Kunikuzushi harbors...resentment towards me. Perhaps by claiming godhood, he is trying to prove to me that he is still worthy of what he thought I saw as a failure. Nonetheless, we must put a stop to whatever he's attempting. Misusing powers of that magnitude and attempting to overthrow a God are not to be taken lightly. Don't worry Nahida, I will make sure that nothing threatens your position as the Dendro Archon, certainly not a creation, a son of mine!”
Ei patted and lightly stroked Nahida's hair to comfort her, and somehow it seemed to work, as Nahida lifted her head once again, and smiled faintly at Ei. ”Thank you, Ei. I've located where the false god is. Time is of the essence, so let's skip to it.”
Lumine, Paimon and Nahida, now accompanied by Raiden Ei, exited the Sanctuary of Surasthana via a secret passage, that led them straight to the Deus Foundry, a massive workshop where the false god was being put together. On the way down to the forge, which happened to be directly under the Sumeru Akademiya, all 3 told the ever-curious Nahida everything they knew about the Balladeer – or Kunikuzushi, as he was referred to by Ei, it was his birthname given to him by her, like a mother would give his son a name. The insight on his origin by Ei, and past encounters by Lumine fascinated Nahida, who proclaimed knowledge as power to wield against him. Nahida filled Ei in on her plan, but the Electro Archon assured there would be no need for such drastic measures, as she was more than strong enough to take down her son by herself in any circumstances. But if all goes downhill, they'd still have Nahida's original plan as backup.
The group made their way through the vast and labyrithine mechanized space that comprised most of the forge, with Lumine doing most of the fighting while Ei watched their backs and mainly protected Nahida, but every now and then stepped in to lend a hand in taking out several Fatui infantry units, who had been put on guard duty. Most of the time, fighting would be a messy and noisy ordeal, but with the assistance of Ei – who displayed a little more than a fraction of her true power, leaving only ashes of her enemies in her wake – taking out the guarding troopers went smoothly and alarmed none. Though mostly straightforward, traversing through some parts of the forge required some creative, out-of-the-box thinking, but the group eventually made their way to an elevator, that brought them down to a round, empty space with only twin doors as a way out. Behind those doors would lie the reason they come in the first place. They stopped for a brief discussion.
”Looking at its operational status, we must prepare for the worst. The god they wanted to create...is likely close to completion, or already completed.” Nahida thought out loud, bringing something related to the subject to Lumine's mind.
”That's not a surprise... I've already seen him control the weather.”
”Oh no, what should we do... Paimon can't imagine how hard it would be to fight against a Fatui Harbinger with a Gnosis...” Paimon moaned, making all the others think.
”Are you nervous, Paimon?”
”If you really want to know...of course Paimon's nervous! Aren't you too, Nahida?”
”Yes, I am. This is probably the first time I'm faced with a calamity of this degree since my birth. I feel not just nervous, but curious as well.”
”I understand your curiosity and thirst for knowledge, Nahida, but we must remain careful and vigilant. We do not know what we're up against.” Ei interjected, lightly patting the Dendro Archon's back.
”Curious...?” Paimon spelled out loud ”Curious about what?”
The answer Paimon got was likely not what she had expected. Nahida went on to speak about their fate and how everything perceived in the world can be in a way considered knowledge. How fate of someone, a person cannot be known, since it is yet to happen, that especially had Nahida's curiosity and the priviledge of being – according to her own words ”the ultimate knowledge.” After a few additional exchanges of words, they headed in from the twin doors, behind which Nahida could feel the presence they had been searching for...
Lumine, Paimon and Nahida entered a great, vast hall-like space with design language similar to the Akademiya itself. In front of the platform they stood on – connected to both a lowered floor platform with something, and to the high ceiling with wires – was a gigantic suit of armor with Inazuman styling cues, and most apparent, the shape of an Electro Mitsudomoe, the symbol of Inazuma and the Raiden Shogun Herself. The top part, head, or helmet of the armor was open from face, with just the person they were looking for, seemingly lifelessly hanging there from several tube-like wires connected to his back.
All gasped in awe at this.
Nahida extended her hand forward and channeled her power, getting a reaction from the Balladeer himself – and a gust of wind, that blew all the backwards. The Balladeer, Scaramouche had awoken.
”Who would have thought... The world would be so eager for my ”birth.” ” He spoke with an eerily calm, yet pompous and grandiose tone, before getting more serious. Tone that was sure to send chills down one's spine. ”I remember you Buer, the God of Wisdom. And standing beside you...the Traveler.”
”Is he all-knowing and powerful now like Greater Lord Rukkhadevata?” The frightened Paimon asked, uneasily looking around, unable to look straight at their foe. She slowly withdrew behind Lumine's back.
”No.” Nahida replied, completely calm and unfazed. ”I can't feel the same kind of divinity I felt from the Greater Lord. It seems that the Sages didn't get the chance to infuse the Divine Knowledge Capsules into him. But even still...”
The arms of Scaramouche's armor moved and its body rose to a move upward position. The three gazed upon his form.
”He has undoubtedly become a true ”god” now.”
”So we're too late? The Balladeer has already...already become a god?”
”The Balladeer.” He repeated. ”A long bygone title. When my spirit ascended to divinity, I felt as if I had existed for the same number of epochs as heaven and earth. Looking back...” He squeezed his extended hand into a tight fist and brought it closer to himself. ”The existence of what called itself ”Kunikuzushi” appears infinitely small and ugly.” The armoring on the helmet closed before him, encasing the Balladeer into his new divine body.
Enter: Shouki no Kami, the Progidal – Everlasting Lord of Arcane Wisdom.
”This imposing aura...It really feels like a god's...”
Lumine let out a barely audible grunt, while Nahida – still unfazed and unfaraid, was more fascinated by the creation before her. ”A body that capitalizes on the Balladeer's original construction as a mechanical puppet, with the Gnosis serving as a constant power supply... How much effort and resources did the sages put into this...?”
”From a purely technological perspective, it's a commendable achievement indeed. It's no exaggeration to say this is the culmination of human wisdom.”
”You sure are something...” Paimon commented once again, more surprised than annoyed at Nahida. ”Dishing out compliments at a time like this...”
”But I don't think he's reached the spiritual height of a god.”
Lumine turned to Nahida to confirm what she had just said. ”So he's still the same old Balladeer on the inside? I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing...”
”Strife is engraved upon every god and every Gnosis brought forth into this world.” The newborn Shouki no Kami spoke out of nowhere, with a mechanical tone overlapping with his usual tone of voice. ”Can you feel it? The exhilaration of such power, and the thrill of anticipation for our contention...”
”Nahida wouldn't feel the same things as you!” Paimon yelled, frantically waving her tiny fists around and stomping the air with her feet.
”Do you not realize...that you are interrupting a conversation between gods?! Lowly creature, know your place!”
Paimon shrieked, hiding behind Lumine's back once more, while Lumine herself simply nodded as a confirmation, a barely noticeable smug expression coating her face. Her suspicions had been correct. ”Still the same Balladeer we know...”
”The strife engraved upon a Gnosis... You're talking about the Archon War!” Realization of what the newborn fake god was chasing, hit Nahida harder than a Sumpter Beast. ”Teyvat's current peace was not easily won. I didn't personally participate in the Archon War, but the way I see it... All those losses were meaningless, driven by the demands of ”laws.” There's no point in bringing it up again!”
The Shouki no Kami let out a devilish chuckle. ”Is that so? Yet I am deeply disappointed that I was never allowed the fortuity to personally participate in the Archon War.”
”This is a first...” He sighed in disbelief. Though not visible, he was clearly rolling his eyes. It was evident in his voice ”Encountering a god in this world who does not crave power. No wonder your own people have abandoned you, God of Wisdom!”
Lumine groaned in anger, gritting her teeth. She stepped forth. ”But from now on... Nahida's followers will only continue to increase in number.”
”Hmph. Your judgement is as your existence: unsubstantial. This is where everything ends Buer, the God of Wisdom.”
”You should know that wisdom cannot solve every problem. Like now, where your only option is to face me in combat!”
Nahida remained silent and only furrowed her brow as the only outwards reaction to the what sounded like both a threat and a challenge.
”Come... Let us reenact a scene from the Archon War. Come and inaugurate my birth as a god.”
Before another word could be said, or another finger lifted, a strict and commanding, yet soft female voice replied from seemingly out of nowhere ”You speak lightly of the Archon War, like it was some foolish game, yet you never experienced its horrors and have no right to speak of it. Neither your insolence, nor ignorance will not go unnoticed. Thus, I shall accept your challenge.”
All eyes turned towards the doors. On the catwalk leading from the doors to the platform, stood none other than Raiden Ei, her polearm resting firmly on hand.
”You...mother!” Shouki no Kami audibly gasped in genuine shock, before quickly correcting himself to act more ”in-character” as a god. Calm, composed and mighty. ”Beelzebul... You were the last person I expected to see on this battlefield today. The one who created me... Have you come here for the Electro Gnosis, to steal from me what once was yours but is now rightfully mine?”
”No. I have come for you, Kunikuzushi. I am here to put an end to this madness.”
”Madness?” Shouki no Kami laughed. ”This is not madness, this is the beginning of a new era. The birth of a new God of Wisdom. Don't you see Beelzebul, this is all your doing. You created the being known as Kunikuzushi. You are directly responsible for your son becoming a god to rule above them all!”
”Hmph. Then it's also my responsibility and duty as a mother to drag her son's head out of the clouds. Your ascension to godhood poses a threat to the natural order and to my eternity, thus I shall eliminate you!” Ei's eyes lit up with a purple glow, as did the tip of her ponytail and highlights on hair.
Shouki no Kami spread out his four arms. ”Then come! Experience my unsurpassed power first hand and see...how hopelessly outmatched you are!”
So began the battle between Lumine and Raiden Ei, and the latter's son, now Shouki no Kami. The two attacked in tandem, utilizing Lumine's control over 4 different elements – and a device called ”Neo-Akasha”, created by Nahida - and Ei's absolute mastery over Electro - or took turns attacking the false god, who struck back just as hard. His attacks varied from shooting out massive energy blasts or waves, to creating tornadoes and water vortexes, waves of scorching fire and freezing ice. Lumine and Ei quickly found a weakness to exploit; the immense size of Shouki no Kami's body left him vulnerable to many attacks, and the elemental matrices on the floor – intially used by him to channel elements, could be used to counter and avoid some of his elemental attacks. Though difficult, it did not require Ei to exert more than 5 – maybe 10 percent of her power, without resorting to the Shogun's aid.
After a while of dueling, Shouki no Kami had gotten filled up with the absolute clownery of fighting his foe, the Traveler, and his mother – the next on his list, right after Traveler and Buer. Resorting in brute force, he slammed his hand down, trying to crush the Traveler and Ei, who both managed to hold off the massive hand for a moment, but the floor under their feet gave out and eventually crumbled under the weight and force put into the strike.
While Lumine landed into the pile of rubble and debris, Ei landed smoothly near her, and with Paimon, helped her back to her feet. They had but a moment to catch their breath, seeing Shouki no Kami's upper body descend from the upper, destroyed platform down there, to what looked like a lower half of something – and it was massive. Both Lumine and Paimon let out a frightened gasp, as they realized what was happening, the two halves of Shouki no Kami's body, coming together and locking onto each other to form a war machine of colossal size and unimaginable power...