Chapter 166. The Anemo Gnosis And The Electro Gnosis!
An unexpected, completely unexpected situation occurred.
Neither Yae Miko nor Sangonomiya Kokomi had expected this outcome.
When the two of them joined forces and launched their attack on the Fatui fleet, the enemy had not shown even the slightest reaction. Yet the moment everything appeared to be over, a sudden strike came—one that gravely injured Sangonomiya Kokomi in an instant.
If Dottore had intervened earlier, with his strength alone he could have easily blocked the tsunami. He might even have protected the ships while simultaneously fighting Kokomi and Yae Miko.
But he never acted. He did not release even a trace of his aura.
It was as though those three ships full of elite Fatui soldiers had merely been bait.
"Cough—!"
Kokomi coughed violently, blood spilling from her lips as well as the wound in her abdomen.
She tried to move. But her body refused to respond.
An invisible force restrained her completely, locking her in place.
"Don't struggle."
Dottore remained in the same posture as before while slowly withdrawing the hand that had pierced her abdomen.
Then he grasped her slender neck.
"I have no intention of killing you," he said calmly.
"You are still useful. Extremely useful. Of course…your death also holds value."
His gaze shifted toward the distance, where Yae Miko was rushing toward them.
"What I did not expect," he continued with a soft smile, "was that Guuji-sama—who has not openly taken action for centuries—would be guarding Watatsumi Island."
He chuckled lightly.
"To be honest, I enjoy speaking with intelligent people. And both of you happen to be very intelligent. I merely used some—inelegant methods to force this conversation."
"I hope you do not mind."
The young-looking Dottore spoke with extraordinary politeness. His tone was gentle, almost friendly—like a considerate older brother from next door. Yet the actions he had taken were enough to chill both Kokomi and Yae Miko to the bone.
A Harbinger ranked among the Fatui's top three—With a single move, he had shattered the advantage Watatsumi Island had just gained.
Yae Miko landed nearby, her expression dark.
"You've gone too far, Dottore."
The situation had already exceeded her expectations. She had suspected that a Harbinger might be hidden among the ships.
But during their joint assault, Dottore had remained completely silent—allowing them to destroy three vessels filled with Fatui elites without even reacting.
Only after everything ended did he suddenly strike, seizing total control of the battlefield. Now the initiative was entirely in his hands.
"Too far?" Dottore tilted his head slightly. "I suppose you could say that."
Still holding Kokomi by the neck, he continued in the same calm tone.
"However, I have not completely crossed the line. After all, I came to Inazuma as an ally of the Tenryou Commission."
He looked at Yae Miko thoughtfully.
"I know what you are considering. You wish to summon that Shogun puppet. Unfortunately—even if you do, the only thing you will receive is Sangonomiya Kokomi's corpse."
The gentle smile never left his face.
"You see, she is a rebel. Watatsumi Island does not worship the same god as Inazuma and has long been a source of conflict."
"Killing her aligns perfectly with the Tenryou Commission's wishes. And the Raiden Shogun who walks the path of eternity…would not strike against me for that."
He paused briefly.
"Of course, should the Shogun suddenly decide to change her mind and detain me—"
"then I will simply kill Sangonomiya Kokomi and turn Inazuma into a purgatory."
Dottore spoke these cold and ruthless words with unsettling gentleness.
He was not joking. Nor did he doubt Yae Miko's ability to summon the Raiden Shogun. As the Shogun's retainer—and perhaps her last remaining friend—Miko undoubtedly held a special place in Ei's heart.
But what did that have to do with Kokomi?
Silence fell.
Kokomi said nothing.
For a moment, even Yae Miko appeared stunned.
Yet inside the Chat Group, messages were already flying.
Sangonomiya Kokomi quickly explained that Dottore had been waiting for this exact moment—waiting for her to remove the Ceremonial Garment and abandon the power of Orobashi.
Yae Miko bluntly stated that this man was far more terrifying than Scaramouche, Signora, or Childe.
Makoto, Rukkhadevata, Zhongli, and the others immediately realized how dangerous the situation had become.
If Kokomi died now, the consequences would be catastrophic.
The Resistance would lose its leader. Hatred would erupt between Watatsumi Island, the Tenryou Commission, and the Fatui.
Such hatred would not easily disappear.
As Venti pointed out, hatred either fades with time—or it is extinguished at its source.
Zhongli calmly remarked that the Raiden Shogun might simply destroy the Resistance entirely in order to preserve eternity.
Yae Miko confirmed it without hesitation. Both Ei and the Shogun would absolutely do such a thing.
Meanwhile, far away on Yashiori Island—
Futsu Mitama and Shenhe stood together outside the Fatui factory.
Their auras were somewhat unstable from the intense battle.
Their clothing was torn.
But compared to them, Scaramouche looked even worse.
One of the mechanical "Hand-Eyes" beneath his feet had already been destroyed, and the other was badly damaged.
Even the luminous halo behind him—similar to the Chakra Desiderata—had grown dim.
Fighting two opponents simultaneously had clearly pushed him to his limits.
Unlike him, Futsu Mitama and Shenhe could rotate their attacks and create breathing room for one another.
Scaramouche had no such luxury.
"Shenhe," Futsu Mitama said after reading the chat messages, "go to Watatsumi Island."
He intended to hold Scaramouche off alone.
Shenhe glanced at the chat briefly before replying calmly.
"It's too late. Even using talisman arts, it would take at least four or five minutes to reach Watatsumi Island."
"By then—the outcome will likely already be decided."
Although she felt some regret for Kokomi, Shenhe remained extremely rational.
If she left now, Futsu Mitama might be the one placed in mortal danger. Both of them could sense that Scaramouche still had trump cards remaining.
"You'll make it," Futsu Mitama said firmly. "With the blessing of the Anemo Archon, your speed will reach its limit."
"As long as your body can endure it, you can arrive in time. And once Kokomi is rescued, Miko will handle the rest with Dottore."
Shenhe's eyes widened slightly.
"Anemo Archon's blessing?"
She knew Futsu Mitama possessed the Anemo Gnosis. But she hadn't expected he could use it to grant divine blessings.
Such blessings were powers bestowed in a god's name—similar to authority itself.
Long ago, when the Geo Archon and the Adeptus marched to war, they had blessed the Millelith. Soldiers empowered by that blessing had fought with overwhelming strength.
Now Futsu Mitama intended to bestow that same kind of power upon her. Combined with her talismans and Aila's Broken Pocket Watch, the trip that normally took five minutes could be shortened dramatically.
Perhaps even under a minute.
And with the chat group's positioning function—If Kokomi marked her location, Shenhe might reach her before Dottore could react.
Just then, Scaramouche began to laugh.
"So you've learned what happened at Watatsumi Island."
He looked between them with mocking amusement.
"It must be that fox woman's doing. Well then—I won't bother pretending anymore. You've already fallen into the trap."
"Although I despise Dottore, I must admit his schemes are impressive."
He grinned widely.
"Now that you know—it's already too late. To be honest, I've always wanted to see your expressions after learning the truth. I didn't expect you to find out early, but this is satisfying enough."
Scaramouche did not attack. Instead he stood calmly atop the damaged construct, watching them with obvious mockery.
Would they stay and fight him to the death?
Or abandon the battle and rush to Watatsumi Island?
Either choice amused him greatly.
Because he knew one thing for certain—He would not let them have their way.
If one of them attempted to leave, Scaramouche would stop them—he would never allow either of them to depart so easily. Even if he were severely injured, as long as he did not die and could reach that place, Scaramouche did not believe he would lose to Futsu Mitama and Shenhe.
"Honestly," Futsu Mitama said calmly as he looked at him, "I don't know what you intend to accomplish. But for now, whatever it is, I will stop you."
The corner of Scaramouche's mouth slowly lifted.
He raised a hand to cover his face, as if trying to restrain himself from laughing in front of them. But the laughter bubbling inside him could no longer be suppressed.
"Stop?" he burst out. "How exactly do you plan to stop us? Even if I travel at full speed, it would still take me three minutes to reach Watatsumi Island from here. And that's with the two islands already close to each other."
"And you're telling me you'll stop us?"
His voice grew louder with each sentence.
"Even if the segment Dottore sent this time isn't his strongest, he's still taking this matter seriously. The moment he makes his move, the outcome of this war is already decided."
"Neither the Resistance nor the Shogunate Army will win."
"The Fatui will."
Scaramouche laughed wildly.
"And you say you'll stop us? You're going to kill me with laughter—"
The words cut off abruptly.
Scaramouche's eyes widened as he stared at the pure Anemo power surging from Futsu Mitama.
For a moment, he could not speak.
It was as if someone had grabbed his throat.
Shock and disbelief twisted across his face.
Because that power—was not merely Anemo. Other forces were interwoven within it—an authority so vast it inspired instinctive awe. This power came from the Celestia's themselves.
One of the seven supreme relics placed upon Teyvat.
Every Fatui Harbinger knew it. After all, it was precisely what they were tasked to collect for Her Majesty, the Tsaritsa.
The Gnosis.
"Why did you stop laughing?" Futsu Mitama asked calmly.
He activated the authority of the Anemo Archon, fully awakening the power within the Gnosis. An endless torrent of energy poured from it—far surpassing the strength of any Vision.
A cyan radiance enveloped him. But he did not keep that power for himself.
Instead, he directed it toward Shenhe. Behind her back, a pair of wings formed—woven entirely from pure Anemo energy.
Even Shenhe herself looked stunned.
She had only ever wielded Cryo. Yet now, for a brief moment, she could command Anemo as well.
Futsu Mitama had not only drawn upon the power of the Gnosis. He had granted her a fragment of the Anemo Archon's authority.
But what would happen to him afterward? The Gnosis was not something one could wield casually.
Concern flickered in Shenhe's eyes.
Scaramouche, however, had no patience left. With a flash of lightning, he transformed into a bolt of Electro and charged straight at Futsu Mitama.
Whoosh—!
In an instant, he appeared before him, reaching forward as if intending to seize him.
"Get back."
Without even turning his body fully, Futsu Mitama swung his blade.
Seven Thunder of Retribution: Narukami flashed in his hand.
All the Anemo power surrounding him gathered onto the sword. The violet blade now carried a faint emerald sheen under the influence of Anemo.
Scaramouche did not dodge. He chose to clash head-on.
Bang—!
The collision erupted like thunder.
Scaramouche was blasted backward, unwilling fury filling his expression. He had planned to exchange injuries—to tear the Gnosis from Futsu Mitama's body even if it meant suffering a grievous wound himself.
But that strike had never been meant to injure him. It had simply forced him away.
"Damn it…! Damn it!"
Scaramouche roared as he flew back through the air.
That moment had been Futsu Mitama's greatest vulnerability. Yet he had failed to seize it.
Now, taking the Gnosis from him would be far more troublesome.
"Go," Futsu Mitama said quietly.
His face had turned slightly pale after channeling so much power.
"May the Anemo Archon protect you."
Through the Gnosis and the authority it carried, he had placed the blessing of the Anemo Archon upon Shenhe.
The wind gathered beneath her wings. Her speed soared to its absolute limit.
Shenhe did not hesitate. She said nothing.
She simply glanced at Futsu Mitama one last time before spreading her wings.
Whoosh—!
Her figure vanished instantly, racing toward Watatsumi Island.
Futsu Mitama exhaled slowly.
"That consumed more than I expected."
Granting that blessing had exposed nearly all his hidden cards. Yet his expression remained calm.
"You deserve to die," Scaramouche hissed as he returned, fury burning in his eyes. "You truly deserve to die, Futsu Mitama!"
Electro energy flared from the halo behind him. Countless violet projectiles rained toward Futsu Mitama.
"Is that all?" Futsu Mitama replied with a faint scoff.
Though his face was pale, he was far from exhausted. He raised Narukami and calmly cut down every incoming projectile.
If he had not spent so much energy earlier, he would not even bother defending.
With Geo energy layered together—wrapped in the Jade Shield—he could have simply stood there and watched Scaramouche attack.
After venting his anger, Scaramouche gradually calmed.
"You…" he said slowly. "Why? Why is this happening?"
He could not understand what he had just witnessed.
Futsu Mitama possessed a Gnosis. He had even granted part of its power—and part of the Archon's authority—to Shenhe.
Together, that was almost equivalent to the Anemo Archon himself appearing on the battlefield. If the person holding that power had been someone else, Scaramouche might not have been so enraged.
But it was Futsu Mitama. A retainer of the Raiden Shogun.
Someone personally valued by both Raiden Ei and that Shogun puppet.
Within the Fatui's intelligence network, he was classified as the highest-ranking individual in Inazuma beneath the Electro Archon herself. If Ei ever stepped down, there was even speculation that he might inherit the position of Electro Archon.
Jealousy?
Of course Scaramouche was jealous. Everything Futsu Mitama possessed was something he himself had once desired.
Recognition. Authority.
A place beside Raiden Ei.
Now a mere mortal had obtained all of it.
The legacy of the Electro Archon.
The inheritance of the Geo Archon.
And now—even the authority of the Anemo Archon and its Gnosis.
What made it worse was that Futsu Mitama seemed almost indifferent to these things.
Scaramouche's earlier rage had come from humiliation. He had just mocked them for being unable to reach Watatsumi Island. He had declared Dottore's plan unstoppable. And yet in the next moment—
Futsu Mitama pulled out the Anemo Gnosis and sent Shenhe flying across the sky.
For a moment, Scaramouche felt like a complete fool.
"Why?" he demanded again.
Futsu Mitama gave a small smile.
"Why what?"
"You know what I'm asking," Scaramouche snapped.
"The Gnosis. Why do you have it? How could Barbatos give something that precious to you?"
"The Anemo Archon didn't want it anymore," Futsu Mitama replied seriously. "So he gave it to me. He said it was only temporary. But judging by his actions… he probably doesn't plan to take it back."
For once, he was not lying. He had asked Venti multiple times whether he wanted the Gnosis returned. The answer had always been the same.
"Next time. Come find me when I leave the Nameless Island."
Until then, Futsu Mitama was to keep it safe.
Scaramouche's expression darkened. His eyes filled with killing intent.
Did this man really think he was an idiot?
A Gnosis—the proof of an Archon's authority—and the Anemo Archon simply disliked it?
"If you won't talk," Scaramouche said coldly, "I'll make you. Your Liyue friend has already left. Do you really believe you can suppress me alone?"
Confidence returned to his voice. Earlier, it had been two against one.
Now Shenhe was gone. Did Futsu Mitama truly believe he could fight him alone?
"What made you think I was going all out before?" Futsu Mitama asked quietly.
Scaramouche answered with a sneer. Electro energy gathered between his outstretched hands.
Futsu Mitama's pale face earlier had not been an act. Using the Gnosis through Archon authority always carried a cost. Which meant—
Right now, he should be at his weakest.
Scaramouche had no hesitation about striking someone while they were down.
"Now," he declared, power surging violently in his palms. "The time of annihilation."
But Futsu Mitama moved first.
His blade flashed.
Musou no Hitotachi descended once more.
The strike split the charged sphere of Electro energy before it could even explode and continued straight toward Scaramouche.
The damaged Hand-Eye beneath Scaramouche reacted instantly, rising to intercept the attack as a shield.
Crack—!
Already weakened, the construct shattered completely under the strike. Only the halo behind Scaramouche remained.
He stared at Futsu Mitama with undisguised apprehension.
"What are you? A monster?"
He had believed Futsu Mitama was exhausted. Yet even now he could still unleash another Musou no Hitotachi. Both sides had already spent enormous energy in their earlier battle.
As a divine creation, Scaramouche had always believed his endurance far surpassed that of mortals. Yet the man before him seemed tireless. Even after releasing that strike—he still stood there, sword in hand.
Futsu Mitama's complexion grew slightly paler after that strike, yet Scaramouche did not dare to act recklessly. No one could tell how many more slashes he could still unleash.
If Futsu Mitama suddenly released several Musou no Hitotachi in succession, even Scaramouche might not survive. Compared to gambling his life here, it would be far safer to stall for time—wait until Dottore finished his task and then regroup.
Silently, Scaramouche glanced again toward the factory that had been smashed apart by the meteor. A faint trace of hesitation flickered in his eyes.
Futsu Mitama also noticed the glance. Since the battle began, Scaramouche had repeatedly looked in that direction. So there really was something inside the factory.
For the moment, the battlefield fell into a strange stalemate.
Futsu Mitama quietly recovered his stamina.
Scaramouche remained wary, calculating how many more slashes the man before him could still deliver.
—
Meanwhile, far away on Watatsumi Island—
Dottore, who still held Sangonomiya Kokomi by the throat, was beginning to lose patience.
Looking at Yae Miko, he spoke calmly.
"Remaining silent will not help you. Yae Miko, I know how intelligent you are. If you had enough time, scheming against you would become—very troublesome."
"But right now," he continued softly, "you must give me what I want. Otherwise, Inazuma will become a living hell. And that is not something you wish to see, is it?"
Dottore had decided to take the initiative. He had expected Yae Miko to lose her composure quickly. Instead, she had remained silent for nearly a full minute.
It was almost as if she were waiting for something. If not for the fact that she had made no suspicious movements, Dottore might already have killed the hostage and withdrawn.
"What do you want?" Yae Miko finally asked.
Continuing to stall was meaningless now. Shenhe had already indicated that she was close to the marked location.
She only needed a little more time.
When she arrived, Yae Miko would create an opening and draw Dottore's attention away.
"Hehehe."
Dottore smiled faintly, as though he had been waiting precisely for that question.
"The Electro Gnosis."
Yae Miko's eyes narrowed.
"I don't have it," she replied evenly. "You should go to Tenshukaku and ask the Shogun."
But the moment Dottore revealed his goal, Yae Miko understood why he had chosen this moment to seize Sangonomiya Kokomi.
This man had studied Inazuma thoroughly. How did he know the Gnosis was with her?
Her mind raced. And soon a name surfaced.
Scaramouche.
If it was him—then the conclusion was not surprising. After all, he was one of the few who knew the truth behind the puppet Raiden Ei had created. From that alone, it would not be difficult to deduce certain things.
Though Yae Miko's thoughts moved rapidly, her expression remained calm.
"I don't have the patience to continue this conversation," Dottore said quietly.
His grip tightened. Kokomi let out a pained groan.
"Which will you choose?"
"Her… or the Electro Gnosis?"
"It is a difficult decision. But I believe Sangonomiya Kokomi matters more to you."
"After all," he added lightly, "the current holder of the Gnosis does not even seem to want it."
"So why not trade it to me? I promise I will take good care of it."
His tone remained gentle, but the pressure in his hand increased little by little.
"Alright…alright."
At last, Yae Miko seemed to relent. She reached behind her and withdrew a small object.
The Electro Gnosis.
Dottore's eyes narrowed with satisfaction. The moment he saw it, the force on Kokomi's throat relaxed.
"No… don't…" Kokomi struggled weakly, clearly unwilling for the Gnosis to be handed over.
"Hehehe," Dottore said softly, glancing down at her. "You may not realize how valuable you are. I calculated long ago that if the current leader of Watatsumi Island were to die here, the Resistance would fall into complete chaos."
"Inazuma would descend into endless war. And I believe—you do not wish to see such a future."
His gaze returned to Yae Miko.
"Why did I secretly encourage the Resistance? Why did I cooperate with that fool Kujou Takayuki? Everything—everything—was for this Gnosis."
The smile slowly vanished from his face.
"Throw it over. I will return Sangonomiya Kokomi. I am interested in her, yes. But for now, exchanging her for the Gnosis is a very worthwhile trade."
Yae Miko silently calculated the timing. Then she spoke calmly.
"Fine. But if you harm her—"
Dottore shook his head slightly.
"Kill her, seize the Gnosis, plunge Inazuma into chaos, and then have you, Futsu Mitama, and the Raiden Shogun hunt me across the world?"
"Being targeted by Morax is already troublesome enough. If the Electro Gnosis were not so useful, I would not personally intervene in this matter."
"So rest assured. I am not like those idiots who kill after taking the reward."
For a brief moment, the air fell silent.
Then—
Yae Miko suddenly threw the Electro Gnosis far out toward the sea. Her action was so decisive that even Dottore paused.
A moment later, he tossed Kokomi aside like discarded baggage.
Whoosh—!
A white figure flashed through the air. Shenhe appeared instantly and caught Kokomi. Her speed had been so great that the motion was somewhat rough.
"Cough—!"
Kokomi coughed violently, blood spilling from her mouth as her injuries worsened. Yet she said nothing.
"Oh?"
Dottore looked at Shenhe with faint surprise.
"The adeptus disciple from Liyue."
Her arrival meant something important.
Had Scaramouche already been defeated?
Or had the contingency he left behind failed?
"Hehehe… so you've arrived," Yae Miko said with a smile.
Then her expression turned cold. She drew out a talisman. Her eyes blazed with killing intent.
"Trying to leave? You're not leaving today."
For the first time, Yae Miko's anger was fully visible. She had never felt such humiliation before—being threatened openly and forced to hand over the Electro Gnosis. Now that it had been thrown away—
Whether Dottore could retrieve it was his own problem. If he could not—
Then he would stay here.
"Boom—!!!"
A bolt of lightning erupted from the gohei in Yae Miko's hand, several times more powerful than before.
Her fox tails unfurled behind her. This time, she was completely serious.
Shenhe did not hesitate either. She poured every trace of the power Futsu Mitama had given her into the Calamity Queller and hurled the spear toward Dottore.
Lightning and spear tore through the air together.
Dottore's expression darkened. But he had already seized the Electro Gnosis.
"Crack—crack—crack—!"
He raised a hand. A chilling divine pressure erupted outward. The surrounding space began to freeze. An ice-element shield engraved with ancient patterns formed around him.
Yet the lightning and the spear ignored that pressure entirely. They smashed straight through the Cryo shield—
And struck Dottore's body directly.
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