The deeper we walked into the foundry, the heavier the air became. I could hear the grinding hum of machines echoing off the walls, like the heartbeat of something unnatural. The heat and glow of molten metal painted the chambers in a sickly red, shadows stretching and twisting with each step we took. This was the heart of the sages' ambition — and at the center of it, their so‑called god.
Greg tapped his claw against my head like a metronome, tick, tick, tick, as if counting down how long before disaster struck. I swatted at him, whispering, "Yeah, yeah, I get it. Bad vibes. Thanks for the reminder, buddy." He flicked his tail against my cheek in response, smug as ever. Nilou stifled a nervous laugh behind me, though her hand tightened around mine.
Nahida lifted her hand, her tiny frame steady even in front of something like this. "This place is saturated with ambition... and fear." But before she could summon whatever power she had in mind, the core pulsed — and the thing inside stirred. A single, immense wave of force rippled through the chamber, slamming us back like we were nothing more than paper caught in a storm.
I hit the ground, rolled, and came up on one knee. My teeth clenched, my eyes fixed on the massive figure now awake in the center of it all. My heart pounded, but my grin slipped in anyway. So this was it. The Balladeer, no longer just a Harbinger, but something far more dangerous.
His voice cut through the air, sharp and cold. "Who would have thought... the world would be so eager for my birth."
I spat dust to the side and muttered under my breath, "Yeah, yeah, dramatic entrance, ten out of ten." Greg smacked my chin with his claw like not the time.
I could feel Nilou tense beside me. Greg hissed low from my shoulder, tail curling tighter than usual. Lumine's hand hovered near her weapon. Paimon froze in mid‑air, wide‑eyed.
The Balladeer's gaze shifted, locking on Nahida. "I remember you. Buer, the God of Wisdom. And standing beside you... the Traveler."
Paimon's small voice trembled. "Is he... all‑knowing and powerful now, like Greater Lord Rukkhadevata?"
Nahida shook her head, her expression calm despite the tension. "No. I can't feel the same kind of divinity I felt from the Greater Lord. It seems the sages didn't get the chance to infuse the Divine Knowledge Capsules into him. But even still... he has undoubtedly become a true god now."
I muttered, loud enough for my group to hear, "A god with an ego problem. Great. Just what Teyvat needed." Lumine's lips twitched, halfway between a smirk and a grimace.
Paimon slapped my arm, whispering, "Shigeru, shhh!"
The puppet's voice echoed again, deeper now, carrying something unnatural within it. "The Balladeer. 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... the existence of what once called itself 'Kunikuzushi' appears infinitely small. And ugly."
I crossed my arms, raising a brow. "So he's doing the rebranding thing again. Next he'll be selling merch." Greg nodded sagely, puffing his throat as if to say limited edition plushies, buy now.
Nilou shot me a worried glance, whispering, "Shigeru... maybe less jokes, more focus." I gave her a sheepish shrug.
He spread his arms wide, light erupting behind him like a false dawn. "Shouki no Kami, the Prodigal. The Everlasting Lord of Arcane Wisdom."
Even I had to admit, the aura pressing against us felt suffocating. Like standing at the edge of a cliff with a storm raging below. My chest felt tight, but I refused to let him see me falter.
Paimon shuddered. "This imposing aura... it really feels like a god's..."
Nahida, however, tilted her head, analyzing even now. "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."
I muttered to myself, "Human wisdom, huh... Funny how it always turns into human stupidity." Greg clapped his claws once like an unimpressed audience member.
Paimon spun toward Nahida in disbelief. "You sure are something, dishing out compliments at a time like this..."
But Nahida only continued, her gaze unwavering. "Even so, I don't think he's reached the spiritual height of a god."
Lumine's grip on her sword tightened. "So he's still the same old Balladeer on the inside. I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing."
The Everlasting Lord's laughter rang like broken glass. "Strife is engraved upon every god and every Gnosis brought forth into this world. Can you feel it? The exhilaration of such power, and the thrill of anticipation for our contention..."
Paimon crossed her arms, glaring as bravely as she could manage. "Nahida wouldn't feel the same things as you!"
His eyes narrowed, his words like venom. "Do you not realize... that you are interrupting a conversation between gods? Lowly creature, know your place."
Paimon gasped, shrinking back. "!!!"
I snapped, stepping forward, "Hey, you leave her out of this. She's worth ten of you, god costume or not." Greg raised his claws like pompoms in support. Paimon peeked from behind me, cheeks red. "Shigeru..."
Lumine stepped forward, her voice steady despite the pressure. "Still the same Balladeer we know..."
Nahida's tone hardened. "The strife engraved upon a Gnosis... You're talking about the Archon War. 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 the laws. There's no point in bringing it up again."
The Everlasting Lord chuckled darkly. "Hehehe... 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 — encountering a god in this world who does not crave power. No wonder your own people have abandoned you, God of Wisdom."
Nilou's voice, soft but unwavering, carried through the air. "But from now on, Nahida's followers will only continue to increase in number."
I squeezed her hand, murmuring, "Well said." Greg gave her a respectful bow, tail curled like a flourish.
Lumine nodded firmly beside her. "That's right."
He sneered, the air vibrating with his disdain. "Hmph. Your judgment 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."
Silence pressed for a moment, broken only by the pounding of machinery. My thoughts churned like gears. Fight or stall? Laugh or rage? Maybe both.
The Everlasting Lord extended a hand, a cruel smile twisting his lips. "Come. Let us reenact a scene of the Archon War. Come and inaugurate my birth as a god."
I stood there, breathing out slowly. My fists clenched, my body tensed, ready to move. But instead of charging, I looked at Lumine, Nilou, and even Paimon. My voice came out steady, but sharper than usual. "Lumine. Nilou. Paimon. Show us what you've got. Let me see if you've become powerful as well."
Paimon spun around to stare at me like I'd lost my mind. "Wait, what?! You're just standing back?! The Shigeru?! The battle maniac who always dives headfirst into chaos?!"
I smirked. "What? Can't a guy delegate once in a while? Character growth, Paimon." Greg wagged his claws like jazz hands. Nilou giggled nervously, though her eyes shone with determination.
But Lumine only stepped forward, lifting her weapon, eyes locked on the false god. "We got this."
Her confidence cut through the tension like a blade. I couldn't help the small grin tugging at my lips. Serious or not, part of me was itching for the storm about to unfold.
The fight erupted the way storms do—sudden, violent, with no time to prepare. Lumine and Nilou moved first, blades flashing and water blooming like bursts of life against the cold machinery of Shouki no Kami. But it was useless. Every strike was swallowed, every effort dissolved like rain against stone. I watched, jaw tight, fists at my side. My heart screamed move, but my mind whispered wait.
Nilou stumbled back, her dance broken by the crushing force of a metallic limb. Lumine caught her, teeth clenched as she tried to push forward again. And me? I stood still. Not out of hesitation. Not out of fear. Something else gnawed at me—rage simmering, frustration mounting. Maybe I was waiting for the right moment… or maybe I was just sick of being too late to stop anything.
Greg tapped my neck twice with his claw like well? gonna move or not? I swatted at him, muttering, "I know, I know. Not exactly heroic to stand around looking pretty while everyone else breaks their bones." He flicked his tail against my cheek, unimpressed.
Nahida's small figure darted forward, blocking that massive limb with a courage that made my chest twist. The Balladeer's voice slithered out from beneath the shell. "This is supposed to be a battle between gods, yet you choose to hide behind a mortal."
He leaned closer, voice dripping mockery. "And now, you act like you'd sacrifice yourself for a human. Are you having fun proving a false sense of heroism to yourself, Buer?"
My nails dug into my palms. Every word he spit out felt like it was aimed at me too.
Before any of us could move, the giant hand rammed straight through Nahida's chest. My breath hitched. Nilou screamed. Lumine's blade faltered mid-swing. Paimon's voice broke into a shriek. Even Greg froze, his tail stiff and unmoving on my shoulder.
But Nahida… she didn't scream. Her voice stayed steady, almost calm. "The data collection is almost complete. Do you even know how many times you've tried to take my Gnosis from me?"
The world cracked like glass. The ground, the shrine, the air itself shattered into shards and pulled us back to the beginning. In the blink of an eye, we stood where we had before the fight began. My stomach churned. Déjà vu, but sharper. Wrong. I hate loops. I hate being trapped. I hate watching everyone die while I do nothing.
Nahida's voice rang in the silence. "We just concluded the 168th loop. Did you know that, in the effort to create you, the people of Sumeru were forced to live through the exact same number of Sabzeruz Festivals and samsara cycles?"
Lumine's eyes widened, horror and anger flashing in equal measure. Nilou covered her mouth, tears forming. Even Paimon was quiet for once. I swallowed hard, muttering, "One-hundred sixty-eight times too many…" Greg bobbed his head once, solemn for once.
The Balladeer sneered. "The power of dreams… when did you use it on me?"
Lumine's brows furrowed, remembering. "Back then… Nahida used it through the Neo Akasha Terminal."
He laughed, sharp and brittle. "You can't even defeat me in a dream. What do you hope to achieve with this little trick?"
Nahida floated higher, gaze firm. "Come, everyone, just like before. Allow me to awaken the memories in your dreams."
Her light washed over us. A rush of visions, knowledge, battles fought and lost, battles refought and remembered. My head spun with it, my body felt heavier and lighter at the same time. Every cut, every fall, every scream—I remembered them all. No wonder rage burns hotter each time.
Paimon gasped. "All that battle experience!"
Nahida shook her head softly. "It's more than that. Compile everyone's wisdom in the name of the Archon. That is the original function of the Akasha."
Her voice didn't waver as she continued. "I've sent everything that happened just now to the people of Sumeru in the form of knowledge. I've asked them… to help you find a way to defeat the false god."
Greg shifted on my shoulder, puffing his throat and tapping my jaw, like see? teamwork actually matters. I grumbled, "Don't rub it in."
Nahida's light flared, connecting countless minds through the Neo Akasha Terminal. "Now, all of Sumeru's wisdom is at your disposal."
The Balladeer roared, Shouki no Kami's massive frame trembling. "Meaningless tricks won't save you!"
The shrine quaked as he slammed his giant limbs down, the force sending us staggering. An Electro beam carved through the air, blinding and merciless. But this time, the strikes that once pinned us down in endless cycles missed. Lumine darted aside with deadly precision, Nilou's water shield curved just right, and even Paimon managed to dodge without screaming too much.
I chuckled low, muttering, "Look at that. Character development all around." Greg high-fived himself with his claws, smug.
He growled low. "Heh… are you done with your tricks? Can I finally take this as a real battle between gods?"
Nahida's glow dimmed slightly, but her resolve didn't. "Mm. I'll leave this to you… the First Sage of Buer."
All eyes turned to Lumine, but I stepped forward. My lips curled into a smile I hadn't worn in a long while. A different smile. Less careless, more certain. Rage, patience, hope, all woven together.
"Alright," I muttered, voice low but carrying through the trembling shrine. My fists clenched, heart steady. "This ends here."
Nilou glanced at me, her voice trembling but hopeful. "Shigeru…"
Lumine straightened, determination sharpening her face. "Then let's do this together."
Paimon fluttered closer, eyes wide. "About time you stopped standing there like a rock!"
Greg flicked his tongue twice and bopped my cheek with his tail. Yeah, message received. No more standing still.
I rolled my shoulders, cracking my neck as I stared at the hulking god before us. "You've had your fun, Balladeer. But I've got news for you…" My grin widened, teeth bared. "Gods fall too."
____________
End of Chapter 149
Quests Completed:
*Step deeper into the sages' ambition, where molten metal and the heartbeat of machines turn shadows into monsters.
*Get smacked on the head repeatedly by your lizard as he ticks down the seconds to disaster.
*Watch as the Balladeer awakens within Shouki no Kami, renaming himself with all the drama of a child launching a new toy line.
*Cross your arms, throw insults, and crack wise about his hat and branding, despite the crushing aura pressing down on you.
*Resist the urge to charge in, letting Lumine and Nilou clash first, while rage and restraint fight inside you.
*Watch her step forward and take the blow, her small form struck through — but revealing the loop had already begun.
*Feel Nahida's light link you to the people's shared knowledge, their countless minds standing behind your fight.
*Step forward at last, fists clenched, smile sharp, declaring what your heart has always known: even gods can fall.
Rewards:
*+168 Headaches (from loop memories downloaded directly into your brain)
*+1 Greg Metronome Passive (Claw tapping every time you hesitate)
*+1 False God Roast (Effective debuff against Balladeer, cooldown: never)
*+100 Wisdom Packets (Shared via Radish Wi-Fi 2.0)
*+1 Existential Crisis (New Game Plus Edition)
*+1 Patience Stat (Finally didn't rush in… until the last second)
*+1 Nilou Hand Squeeze Buff (Temporary Courage +50)
*+1 Lumine Trust Token (She actually followed your lead)
*+1 Greg Support Cheer (Jazz Hands Variant)