At the Jnagarbha Forge
The massive central platform of the forge was illuminated by a faint purple glow emanating from the giant humanoid ch, Shouki no Kami, the Prodigal.
The ch's chest platform was alight with activity. Standing on it were Dottore and Azar, their gazes fixed on streams of data flowing across a Void Terminal. They seed deep in discussion.
At the ch's head, Scaramouche was connected to the machine by a series of deep purple conduits embedded in his back, rging him with Shouki no Kami.
"All modules have been fully assembled. The Gnosis's core component has been integrated as well," Dottore said, his tone laced with manic excitent. His eyes glead behind his mask, barely concealing his delight.
"Now, we simply need to focus the Void's computational power and fully fuse him with the Electro Gnosis..."
Azar let out a low, displeased hum. His face, once stern, now bore deep wrinkles and dark circles under his eyes. He looked far older than he had just days ago, worn down by exhaustion and unease.
---
For days now, Azar had been plagued by strange, recurring nightmares.
In his dreams, hulking n and robust female beastfolk surrounded him, subjecting him to humiliating, unspeakably stimulating scenarios.
Sotis, even Hilichurl Rogues joined the fray.
The Void Terminal's dream-cleansing functions—designed to remove unwanted dreams—had proven ineffective. Even after his dreams were taken by the system, he'd find himself back in those depraved scenarios the mont he fell asleep.
Terrified of sleep, Azar had resorted to brief, shallow naps, only to be tornted even during those monts of rest.
Now, the re sight of a man taller than six feet caused him to reflexively tighten his grip and clench his—
"Soon, the Sabzeruz Festival will take place," Azar said, shaking off his thoughts. "We've already chosen the core individual for the dream harvest.
"On that day, all of Suru City's citizens will contribute their endless dreams, providing the Void with enough computational power to complete the fusion of the Heart of God. However..."
Azar's expression darkened. "Recently, there have been several instances where the Void's power was completely drained by so unknown force. This has slowed our progress significantly.
"Dottore, do you have any insights?"
Dottore chuckled, his grin sharp and derisive. "The Void is your Akasha's domain, is it not? Do you suspect of siphoning its power?"
"I never said that," Azar snapped, his tone cold and dismissive.
His gaze shifted to Scaramouche, who was still connected to the ch. "The plan is nearly complete, yet your colleague has been utterly useless in this endeavor."
"Oh?" Dottore laughed, his amusent unshaken. "Did you truly think a god's power could be controlled so easily?
"Rember, she's the caretaker of the Irminsul Tree. If she could be so easily subdued, all of Teyvat would already be under his control."
"Hmph." Azar's lip curled as he strode toward the forge's exit. His mind briefly flashed back to Luo Qing—how a single glance from the man had left him trembling in a bathroom for an entire day, vomiting and... worse.
One day, I'll make him pay for that.
---
As Azar departed, Scaramouche stirred, his cold, disdainful voice cutting through the silence.
"They think they can control ..."
"Of course they do," Dottore replied, turning toward Scaramouche with a smirk.
"They don't want divine guidance. What they seek is a machine—a tool to solve all their problems, one that listens to their commands and protects their interests.
"Did you really think they'd make you a god out of altruism?"
"Hmph. Ignorant ants," Scaramouche sneered, his eyes flashing with contempt.
"Don't worry," Dottore reassured him. "The control protocols Azar installed in Shouki no Kami's systems—I'll help you erase them.
"When the ti cos, Scaramouche, you'll be free to exact your revenge."
At the ntion of revenge, Scaramouche's expression darkened. His mind drifted to a certain woman, her face etched into his mory like a wound that refused to heal.
"What about that idiot, Brighella?" Scaramouche asked, referring to their less-than-diligent colleague.
"Fishing, probably," Dottore replied with a shrug.
"Hmph. Lazy fool. I have no idea what Her Majesty sees in him."
"Even the most skilled pawn remains a pawn," Dottore mused, his voice low. "But a figure like Luo Qing...
"He's a player who drags other players into the ga, forcing them to act like pieces.
"Perhaps not even he realizes it yet, but his ability to manipulate others is far more effective than the Void itself..."
---
Late Night in Suru City
In a modest ho, Kaveh reclined lazily on the sofa, flipping through an architectural reference book.
"It's so late already. Where's Alhaitham? Still out at this hour..." he muttered, reaching for a cup of tea.
Just as he lifted the cup, a sudden gust of wind blew the window open, and a figure appeared before him.
"You're Kaveh?"
"..." Kaveh froze, his hand hovering mid-air.
"Uh... yes?"
"I need a house built. A big one. Got ti?" the man asked, his tone impatient.
"Uh..." Kaveh blinked, struggling to process the situation. Where did this guy even co from?
"Like I said," Luo Qing repeated, his voice sharper. "I need a big house. Twelve bedrooms, minimum. You available?"
"Um, well, I already have a project—"
Before Kaveh could finish, Luo Qing pulled out a check from Northland Bank and tossed it onto Kaveh's lap.
"Twelve bedrooms. That's the only requirent. Write whatever amount you want. Got ti now?"
"..."
Kaveh glanced at the check, his breath catching in his throat.
A blank check?!
After confirming the check was genuine, Kaveh's eyes sparkled with excitent. He leapt forward, grabbing Luo Qing's leg.
"Brother, when do we start?!"
---
T/N: I loved Will Stetson's original Kaveh song! You should go check it out!
Thank you for reading this Chapter!
Wise-Senpai leads the way, sharing stories that inspire and connect us all. Your support is like the encouragent of a loyal companion, pushing this journey forward and lighting the path ahead.
If you'd like to support Wise-Senpai, you can visit:
/WiseTL].
Every contribution strengthens our resolve, paving the way for the stories yet to co!
Let's continue to explore these worlds together!
-Mash Kyrielight 💜
Reviews
All reviews (0)