Chapter 643: Meeting the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata

The Traveler charges straight ahead with sword raised. With the help of the 'supercomputer', all of Scaramouche's attacks have their landing points predicted in advance.

Now, regarding the weaknesses of this mecha, the Traveler might know even more clearly than Scaramouche himself.

Such a battle naturally has no suspense. The opponent's Observation Haki can foresee the future—what about you, who doesn't even have Observation Haki yet? How do you fight?

No way to fight. Scaramouche doesn't hold out for long before being knocked to the ground, unable even to stand with the mecha.

Nahida extracts the Gnosis from the mecha, which panics Scaramouche terribly.

[Scaramouche exclaims excitedly, eyes wide: "No! Wait! Only that—only the Gnosis...!"]

In the scene, Scaramouche's emotions practically overflow the screen as he stretches his hand forward with great force.

That forceful feeling, even though it's not 3D, gives the impression that his hand is about to reach out from the screen.

The conduits 'pulling' him from behind are all snapped entirely, the force speaking for itself.

However, Nahida doesn't stop. Scaramouche's Gnosis is confiscated.

In the scene, Scaramouche collapses to the ground and falls into a coma. Tartaglia's smile at the corner of his mouth can barely be contained.

Look at these Executives—they've all been beaten worse than me. After I got beaten, at least I could still release an intact Ousia form.

Scaramouche remains outwardly calm, because he's already broken down once before. More importantly, he doesn't want to let the Tartaglia beside him and Beelzebul behind him see him as a joke.

It hurts, but he won't say it—everything is already in Lucian's system intel.

So Lucian turns back and gives Scaramouche a meaningful smile. Scaramouche knows this kid has seen through his vulnerability.

This is the most annoying thing about prophets—hiding emotions is utterly useless in front of him.

Raiden Ei understands this feeling quite well, because she herself is stubborn like that. It might be a genetic trait of the Raiden family.

Stubbornly refusing to voice one's own thoughts and emotions, yet unable to keep secrets, making it easy to see through.

Stubborn as a mule, and not even smart enough to avoid being deceived.

Except for Raiden Makoto, everyone else in the Raiden family has these flaws. What a headache.

Raiden Makoto rubs her temples. Why are there still Raiden family matters even in Sumeru?

Could it be that this world really is one massive, shoddily run operation?

Fortunately, the Raiden family matters come to a temporary close here. After obtaining Raiden Shogun's Gnosis, Nahida plans to interpret the memories left by Greater Lord Rukkhadevata.

The story reaches the key point. Lucian, who had just turned back to look at Scaramouche, shifts his gaze to Nahida and nods lightly.

Nahida understands Lucian's meaning. She closes her eyes, and glistening green light envelops both her and Lucian, bringing them into the 'consciousness space' and before the Irminsul.

In the movie, it's also this scene, just without Lucian in the visuals.

In the scene, the environment is dim with an eerie red hue, completely at odds with everyone's perception of Irminsul—one look and you know something's wrong.

This place has already been polluted by 'forbidden knowledge'—this is the outward manifestation of the pollution.

In the story, Nahida and the Traveler discuss what kind of existence forbidden knowledge is.

How to put this thing? Simply speaking, it's the consequence of King Deshret 'ignoring the risks and continuing the installation'.

He insisted, so it was given to him. As a result, Teyvat is incompatible with this 'knowledge' and got infected with a virus.

'Forbidden knowledge' is like an Outer God pollution—even sacrificing two Gods wasn't enough to quell it, and remnants still linger.

Nahida has come this time precisely to clean up the remnants, but at this point, neither the Nahida in the story nor the real-world Nahida knows what the remnants are.

The real-world Nahida knows about forbidden knowledge, so she's more concerned with another issue:

"Will I meet Greater Lord Rukkhadevata here?"

Nahida is a bit nervous, because she's unsure if she's qualified, or if Greater Lord Rukkhadevata is satisfied with her.

Most importantly, she could learn about past events through Lucian's books, but this time, before the future has even played out, she's been brought here by Lucian.

Lumine didn't come in with them, because she has other tasks to handle.

Lumine doesn't say anything about it—after all, if the 'external brain' arranges it this way, there must be some profound intent behind it.

Lucian has no profound intent; he just wants to give everyone a 4D experience.

Lucian: "Mm, it should be coming soon."

As soon as Lucian's words fall, his footsteps halt, because Greater Lord Rukkhadevata has already appeared before them—in Nahida's appearance.

The two of them are born from the same root, so it's not strange that their appearances are the same.

Moreover, this isn't the true location of Irminsul; to be precise, it's still a consciousness space, similar to Raiden Makoto's kind.

This is Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's consciousness space, situated on the 'timeline' when Irminsul was still connected to the land.

[Greater Lord Rukkhadevata says to Nahida: "This appearance... does it surprise you greatly?"]

Nahida has always been chasing Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's 'shadow', yet she never imagined the other was 'herself'.

Greater Lord Rukkhadevata tells Nahida that they are actually one and the same—a kind of 'reincarnation'.

And this reincarnation has already passed five hundred years. Greater Lord Rukkhadevata knows she should have been dead for five hundred years as well.

[Greater Lord Rukkhadevata: "You have finally come, I after the 'reincarnation'."]

This leaves the people of Sumeru utterly dumbfounded. Greater Lord Rukkhadevata is Lesser Lord Kusanali? Then aren't they all just clowns?

The two are essentially the same; it's merely a matter of drinking Meng Po's soup. Doesn't this mean they've discriminated against 'Greater Lord Rukkhadevata' because of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata herself?

Nahida, upon learning this news, is equally surprised.

Nahida: "The goal I've always admired is actually myself from a different fate..."

Upon learning this, Nahida is very happy, but at the same time, somewhat lost.

She is a new branch; she will grow into a new great tree. Will she become a better Archon?

Nahida is uncertain, but she is certain she is willing to strive for it.

Greater Lord Rukkhadevata can sense the emotions on Nahida and is very gratified, just like a mother seeing her outstanding child.

However, this touching reunion is not the endpoint, but the starting point. Greater Lord Rukkhadevata gradually unveils the truth of the past.

Forbidden knowledge erupted a thousand years ago, when she and King Deshret together quelled the invasion of forbidden knowledge.

But five hundred years ago, during the cataclysm of Khaenri'ah, forbidden knowledge resurfaced, so the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata of that time did not go to Khaenri'ah but stayed to protect Irminsul.

This truly ignites a nameless fire in the hearts of the Teyvat people—Khaenri'ah again! You again!

How is every nation's misfortune connected to you in some way?

The people of Sumeru are even more furious; whether from the desert or the rainforest, the anger is extraordinarily intense.

The eruption a thousand years ago cost them one King Deshret; the one a hundred years ago cost them one Dendro Archon. Damn Khaenri'ah!

Now everyone is worried that if the Abyss Order represented by Khaenri'ah stirs up trouble again in the future, will it require sacrificing the Dendro God as well?