Nilou's arms were still wrapped tightly around me as Greg's long body glided above the Akademiya. The wind brushed against us, carrying with it the shouts of chaos below. For a brief moment, despite everything, it felt like we were suspended between worlds—her warmth grounding me, the storm waiting ahead.
Her voice trembled when she finally spoke. "You've been gone for a whole week… where have you been?"
I glanced down at her. Her eyes were full of worry, but beneath them, I saw something steadier—faith. Even after all this, she still believed in me. A crooked grin slipped across my lips. "Reevaluated all my life choices and changed myself for the better. Turns out, almost dying really makes you think."
She let out a shaky laugh, her tears catching the light as she pressed closer. "You've changed… but you're still our Shigeru."
I chuckled, resting my chin lightly against her hair. "I did change… but I didn't at the same time. Some parts of me are just too stubborn to go away."
Greg rumbled beneath us, his golden glow flickering faintly. His long form wove effortlessly through the air, each movement smooth as a river. I could feel his power waning, and his voice echoed like thunder rolling across a valley. "Master… it is almost time I revert back. You two better get off now."
I gave a firm nod, patting his scales once. "Got it, partner. You've done more than enough."
The ground rushed toward us. With Nilou still clinging tightly, I leapt as Greg dipped low, landing hard upon the Akademiya's steps. Dust scattered under the impact. Behind us, Greg's body shimmered, shrinking rapidly until he returned to his small lizard form. He scurried up my arm, perching proudly on my shoulder again. No words now, but his little chest puffed out as if saying, Did you see that entrance? Legendary.
I smirked and scratched his head. "Yeah, buddy. You stole the show."
With brute force, I pushed through the massive doors, Nilou's arms still looped tightly around me. Inside the grand hall, I finally set her down gently. My tone turned firm, sharper now. "Lumine is in there. Wait for Dehya, then head to the Sanctuary of Surasthana. Greg and I will go ahead first."
Nilou's eyes widened, panic flashing through her. "You're going away again?! No—Shigeru, please—"
I lifted a finger to her lips, silencing her. This time, my smile softened, warm enough to melt the fear in her gaze. "Don't worry. I'll just go ahead and wait for you there. I've got a personal grudge to settle. Besides"—I winked—"someone's gotta make the dramatic entrance, right?"
Her cheeks flushed, though her tears lingered. "Okay… but you'd better not vanish on me again."
I reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Not this time, Nilou. Not ever."
Rolling my shoulders, I exhaled slowly. My neck cracked as I tilted my head, the sound echoing in the tense silence. Rage coiled inside me, sharp and unrelenting. "Alright. I've been itching to finish that bastard off. Time to unleash this built-up frustration. Azar… you're done for."
The Akademiya's corridors blurred beneath my strides, every step heavier than the last. When I finally pushed open the towering doors of the Sanctuary, the sight nearly made me grin. Cyno stood like judgment incarnate, spear in hand, golden eyes locked on Azar—who smirked, arrogant to the very end.
Perfect timing.
I surged forward before Azar could even blink. In a heartbeat my hand was around his face; the impact sounded like a cracked bell as I slammed him against the marble. "Bastard," I spat, voice a low, hungry thing. "You are under arrest. This is divine punishment."
He grinned at me at first—pure arrogance—but that smile never lasted. I let loose everything I'd been holding for years. Fists met bone and flesh with brutal, efficient force. I dragged him up by the collar and hurled him through the air; he smashed into a pillar and came back coughing, a wet, surprised sound.
I didn't let him recover. I blitzed forward, drove my knee into his gut so hard he folded, then planted both hands against his chest and pinned him while I rained down blows. "You traitor to Sumeru!" I roared. "You scorned the Archon, you trampled the small, you sold your honor for whispers and power. Look at you now—coward and liar!"
He tried to spit something at me—an excuse, a petty justification—but blood filled his mouth and choked his words into nothing. I pulled him up and slammed his back against the floor, the shock of it making the whole chamber tremble. Each strike I landed was a ledger being paid: every scream I'd swallowed, every night I'd gone without sleep, every promise I'd once made to protect. Azar's arrogance shattered piece by piece under my hands.
At one point I caught his jaw, twisted it, and crushed what arrogance remained into a silent, humbling gasp. I wanted him to understand the weight of what he'd done—not just to the Archons, but to every single soul he'd used as stepping stones. "You think yourself a god? You are a traitor dressed in someone's dreams. You will answer." My voice was the thunder he could not shield from. "This is for Nahida..."
I slammed him again, this time so hard he slid across the floor and struck the base of a statue. Pain lit every fiber in me, equal parts fury and catharsis. I could have kept going until there was nothing left of him, until his arrogance had been ground down to dust. The thought was almost delicious.
Then Cyno's hand shot out, seizing my wrist with an iron grip. His voice cut through the storm like a spear. "Enough, Shigeru. If you continue, you'll stain yourself with what he is."
My breath ripped out of me, body still humming with the aftershocks of violence. Knuckles slick with someone else's blood, I let my fists fall to my sides. The chamber was stunned into silence. "Thanks, Cyno… I almost lost myself there," I rasped, each word raw. I flexed my fingers, the tremor of adrenaline slowly ebbing. "Take him away before I do something I'll never forgive myself for."
Cyno's sharp gaze lingered, then he gave a single nod. "Welcome back, Shigeru."
I forced a grin, the familiar spark barely hiding the storm still boiling inside. "Yeah… I'm back."
When Azar was dragged out, silence filled the room like a heavy curtain. My gaze shifted—and there she was. Nahida. The real Nahida. Suspended in that cruel dendro sphere, so small, so fragile it made my chest ache.
Step by step, I approached. Anemo swirled around me, lifting me upward as my hand stretched out. The prison pulsed green, defiant, but I wove dendro into my fingertips, unraveling the bonds strand by strand. The barrier cracked, light spilling through until it shattered like glass.
Her body drifted downward, weightless as a feather. I caught her gently, her tiny frame trembling in my arms.
A soft smile tugged at my lips. My voice dropped to a whisper, tender and certain. "Hey there, little Nahida. Told you we'd free you."
***
The first thing Nahida saw when her eyes fluttered open was me—standing there with the biggest, dumbest grin I could muster. I couldn't help it. After everything, after years that felt like lifetimes, I finally saw her awake and free.
"Oh, Shigeru! It's you," she said, her small voice light and warm.
I grinned wider, like my face might split in half. "Yep. Didn't we promise we'd save you? Here I am now. Don't worry, Lumine and the others will be here soon."
She giggled softly. Gods, hearing that laugh after so long—it hit deeper than any trial I'd endured. She leaned into me as I carefully lifted her onto my shoulders. "Shigeru, you've grown stronger. I can tell."
"Stronger and handsomer too, but mostly stronger," I said with a mock-serious nod. Greg flicked his tail against my cheek as if saying don't push it.
Nahida's laugh doubled, and I found myself chuckling with her. For once, I could laugh without it feeling like a mask. Then my tone shifted. "So, how's the situation with the Balladeer? Already serious?"
Nahida thought for a moment, her expression dimming slightly. "Yes. But with your current strength, I think you won't have any troubles facing him."
I set her down gently, my hand lingering at her shoulder. My chest tightened. I can feel them now, I thought. The bond pulling me closer.
And as if on cue, the door burst open.
There she was. Lumine. Tears already streaming down her face. Nilou right behind her, and Paimon too. Greg… well, Greg waddled in like a champ beside me, chest puffed out as if he had singlehandedly rescued Nahida.
Before I could even react, Lumine rushed forward. No words, just her arms wrapping around me so tight I thought my ribs would crack. Tears fell against my chest as she punched me lightly, again and again. "You said you'd only be gone for a while! It took you a week to come back! Do you know how worried I was? Idiot…"
Her fists weren't really punches—they were reminders. Reminders that I had someone waiting. Someone scared. Someone who cared.
Paimon joined, her small body pressing into me. Her voice trembled. "Paimon missed you a lot, you idiot! Paimon couldn't even eat properly when you were away."
My throat tightened. Even Paimon couldn't eat? That's when you know things are serious. I couldn't hold it in anymore. I hugged them both tight, burying my face in their hair, my tears spilling freely. "Don't worry. It's all done now. I've accomplished my task. I'm here."
Nilou stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me too, her soft warmth grounding me further. Even Greg clambered onto my leg, puffing his chest like he was part of this reunion hug. My family. My idiots. My everything.
Fourteen years of torment for me. A single week for them. But none of that mattered now. We were together again. I couldn't ask for more.
Nahida smiled from where she stood, her hands clasped over her chest. I caught her gaze and grinned through my tears. "Hey, now that we're all here, isn't it time to save our cute little radish and deal with that hat guy with… let's call them personality issues?"
Lumine let out a watery laugh, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "Yes. Let's do that." Her voice steadied as she smiled. "Together."
Paimon sniffled and blinked, finally spotting Nahida. "Hey! Nahida!" she squeaked.
Nahida tilted her head. "Should I say 'It's nice to meet you'? This is the first time we've met in real life. Before, it was only through dreams, consciousness, or someone else's body."
Lumine's smile softened. "We finally meet, Nahida."
"Thank you so much for coming to rescue me," Nahida said gently, then lowered her head. "But I also need to apologize… During this time, I did some self-reflection. My sense of inferiority and yielding to the Akademiya led to all of this. It created so much trouble for you all."
I shook my head immediately, voice firmer than I expected. "Don't blame yourself. You were carrying burdens no one else could. What matters is you're here with us now."
Lumine nodded in agreement. "Don't worry about it. You've also helped us a lot. You deserved to be freed."
"Exactly!" Paimon chimed in, hands on her hips. "We're here because you're a good archon—and our friend!"
Nahida's smile trembled, tears threatening her eyes. "Hehe… thanks, you guys." Her gaze shifted upward. "Whew… so this is how it feels to walk out of that cage with my own body. It's like I just had an endlessly long dream. I can't even tell if I just woke up, or if I've only just been born into this world. My concept of 'self' feels so clear now… But I know this isn't the time to indulge in it."
I tilted my head, voice softer now. "When we're done saving the world, you can indulge all you want. We'll even throw a dance party. Nilou will choreograph, Greg will… uh, supervise."
Greg slapped my cheek with his tail like don't volunteer me for things, but Nilou brightened at once. "A celebration dance… I'll hold you to that, Shigeru."
Lumine's expression hardened. "The Akademiya's god creation plan. And saving Irminsul."
Nahida nodded. "This is really embarrassing. You just rescued an archon, and now she needs your help to save her country—and the world."
Paimon flailed her arms. "It's okay! With you here, everything will work out. Paimon's sure of it!"
Nahida's voice grew firmer. "For all the things the Akademiya did to me, and for all its folly in the name of wisdom… As their archon, I will make them pay."
I smirked. There it was—the fire she always had. Paimon gasped, then cheered, bouncing in the air. "Wow! That's the spirit! You're finally standing up for yourself!"
Nahida giggled lightly. "I understand now. To be a better archon, I must first better myself. If you haven't even figured out how to be a caterpillar, how can you become a butterfly?"
Lumine's smile softened again. "That's wisdom only you could have discovered."
Nahida nodded firmly. "Yes, true. But I wonder… how far along is the Akademiya with their god creation plan? We need to hurry and prevent the birth of that false god. I need to establish a direct link to the Akasha now that I'm free. First, I'll remove the restrictions the Doctor placed on me. Then, I'll revoke the sages' permissions. The Akasha will return to its original state—only operable by the archon. After all, the Akademiya betrayed Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's trust."
Her eyes then turned to me, glowing with certainty. "But with you here, Shigeru, we can definitely win."
I grinned, wiping the last of my tears. "Well, if little Nahida says so, then what are we waiting for? Let's roll out."
We started forward, but not two steps in, Lumine tugged at my sleeve. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Welcome back, Shigeru." Then she leaned in and kissed my cheek.
Heat rushed to my face, and I chuckled, rubbing the spot she kissed. "Love you too, Blondie."
Nilou's pout could rival the storm god's fury. She crossed her arms, cheeks puffed. "I still haven't given him a kiss yet. Lumine beat me again."
Lumine smirked proudly. "First girlfriend perks."
Nilou gasped, scandalized, then broke into a laugh. Paimon rolled her eyes. Greg smacked my shin with his tail, as if to say stop making women cry over you.
And just like that, laughter filled the air. After so much pain, so much silence, their laughter was the loudest, sweetest sound I'd ever heard.
_____________
End of Chapter 146
Quests Completed:
*Descended upon the Akademiya with Nilou in your arms and Greg's scales blazing, leaving an entrance etched in legend.
*Unleashed years of rage against Azar, fists delivering justice where words would fail.
*Shattered Nahida's cruel prison, carrying her as if she were the world's most fragile treasure.
*Felt Lumine's punches, Paimon's tears, Nilou's warmth, and even Greg's smug tail flicks — proof of bonds that never broke.
*Turned pain into laughter, giving everyone the moment of joy they thought they'd lost forever.
*Witnessed Nahida's rebirth of will, her declaration to stand tall as the Archon of Sumeru at last.
*Accepted their faith, their love, their tears, and stepped forward knowing you were no longer alone.
Rewards:
*+1 Permanent Bond: Nahida's Trust
*+1 Title: The Disciple Who Arrested a Sage (scrawled into Akademiya rumor scrolls)
*+1 Cheek Kiss from Lumine (buffs Shigeru's ego for 24 hours)
*+1 Nilou Pout (dangerous debuff, applies until compensated)
*+1000 Simp EXP (earned instantly during reunion scene)
*Greg's Bragging Rights (Passive: Greg will not shut up about being a serpent for the next 3 chapters)
*Cyno's Approval (Temporarily raises law-abiding stat by +5)
*+1 Group Hug of the Century (Irreplaceable, permanent morale boost)
*+1 Future Promise: Celebration Dance with Nilou (pending quest)
*-15 Azar's teeth (Those Punches were Personal)
*-(4-x2)² x=9 Azar's dignity
*Atleast 100+ Multicombo Punches to Azar (Probably More if Cyno didn't Interrupt)
Achievement Unlocked:
"The Week That Broke Chains"-Endured fourteen years of torment in trials, returned after only a week in their eyes, and reunited with everyone while bringing justice to Azar and freedom to Nahida. Rage was tempered, bonds reaffirmed, and laughter restore