"Judgment" from the God of Justice

Dottore didn't think he would lose this battle.

After all, the God of Wisdom wasn't known for combat, and this Fontaine's God of Justice, according to their intel, hadn't displayed any divine power for centuries… no, not since she ascended.

Although it wasn't impossible that she was hiding her true strength, based on the Fatui's intel over the past century, there were many times when just a little display of the Hydro Archon's power would have made things much easier.

This could only mean—this God of Justice was either as weak as Sumeru's God of Wisdom, or… for some reason, couldn't wield her divine power.

"Indeed, this is the power of a god."

Looking at [Furina]—no, it should be Focalors now—radiating an Archon-level aura, Dottore, unleashing his Delusion and years of research, sighed.

"It seems the intel from our Fontaine agents wasn't entirely accurate."

As a scholar, Dottore, keen observer that he was, could easily judge the power dynamic between them.

After all, for a wise man, being overly confident and misjudging the situation was a fatal flaw.

"As expected of the God of Justice. Facing you, I even feel like I'm facing Her Majesty, the Tsaritsa."

He stated calmly, his raspy voice holding a hint of awe.

"But don't misunderstand, this is not fear." There wasn't a trace of fear in Dottore's deep voice.

How could someone as arrogant as him, someone who dared to "desecrate" gods, back down because of a difference in power?

Besides…

The power displayed by this Archon wasn't enough to intimidate Dottore.

Centuries of research and accumulation, everything he had obtained from the ruins of Kaenri'ah and that nation's royal mage, had elevated his power to a level unattainable by ordinary people.

"If this is all you have, you probably won't be able to uphold the justice you speak of, God of Justice."

The vengeful spirits swirling around him converged in his armored hand, forming a dark green sphere.

Victory was inevitable.

Everything… should have been like this.

The dark power gradually faded, and his previously clear vision became blurred.

All he could see was a holy, silver greatsword slowly descending towards him.

[Focalors]—Jiang Qiao, in a long dress, displaying the demeanor of a god, her clasped hands radiating surging Hydro energy, like a flowing river.

Her lips parted slightly, a soft whisper barely audible:

"—Judgment."

A light drizzle inexplicably started within the supposedly sealed Sanctuary of Surasthana. [Focalors] raised her hand slightly, her fingers spread, letting the water droplets fall, soaking the floor and forming clear puddles.

"What… happened?" Nahida stared blankly at this scene. She had been carefully observing the battle since it began, trying to find an opportunity to assist [Focalors], but… that Fatui Harbinger, who had been standing there just a moment ago, without [Focalors] seemingly doing anything, had collapsed on the ground as if severely injured.

And regarding this question, even Focalors herself, who had observed the battle more closely within [Focalors]'s body, had the same question.

"…How did he just collapse?"

Logically, as a part of Focalors, her senses should be more detailed and accurate, but in reality, she only felt her authority being invoked for an instant, and then Dottore was down.

Wait, was her authority that powerful?

Focalors questioned her existence.

She had thought that Jiang Qiao would be locked in a long battle with the Fatui Harbinger. After all, at the Archon level, it was basically a clash of elemental powers, and if it reached a stalemate, then some physical combat. It would be the same for her.

Therefore, Focalors had even planned to offer some tactical guidance and support. After all, this was her body, her power and authority. Even if Jiang Qiao was stronger, he might not be as familiar with them as she was.

But… before she could even offer any assistance, the battle seemed to be over.

Could it be… that he was simply too weak?

Focalors stared at Dottore, who had fallen to the ground, resting her chin in her hand, slightly puzzled.

"…It's the authority of 'Justice'."

Egeria's voice startled Focalors.

Then she nodded in realization.

"I see, it's the authority of Justice…"

"Wait, can that authority be used in battle?"

Focalors was confused.

She naturally didn't only have the authority to "manipulate Hydro elements."

Just like Barbatos' wind could sweep across Teyvat, gathering information and bringing hope; the Geo Archon, because Mora was essentially his lifeblood, was known as the God of Contracts; the Raiden Shogun; and even Buer, the current Dendro Archon,

Focalors, the Hydro Archon, besides her title representing the Hydro element, her other well-known title, the God of Justice, also had a corresponding authority.

The Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale's ability to judge crimes stemmed from this authority.

And the "Sword of Judgment" used for her "execution" was also a manifestation of this authority.

It sounded powerful, but Focalors knew very well that this seemingly powerful authority wasn't actually that useful.

The initial judgment mechanism was incredibly vague. Even Focalors herself, the wielder of this authority, didn't understand how it worked.

For example, the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale's absurd judgment mechanism… Focalors had to clarify that she wasn't manipulating it behind the scenes; it was completely automated.

Only after this vague judgment phase could the truly powerful part of the "Justice" authority take effect.

This thing had no practical use in combat!

"I didn't expect this authority could be used like this."

Egeria, appearing beside Focalors, sensed this authority and sighed in amazement.

This authority was naturally also given to Focalors by her.

After all, although Focalors wasn't weak, as just a powerful Oceanid, she didn't possess any other characteristics. Her strength lay entirely in manipulating Hydro elements.

However, just like Focalors, Egeria was also clueless about the authority of "Justice."

She didn't even know why she, as the heart of the Primordial Sea, possessed such an authority.

Because of her personality, and also because of the prophecy crisis, she had rarely used it.

Five hundred years ago, during the handover, she had simply given this to Focalors along with her Gnosis.

Focalors's development of it had been… well, like that.

But with Jiang Qiao, Egeria was truly amazed.

So this authority could be used like this?

"So… what exactly did he do?"

Focalors was confused.

Although she knew Jiang Qiao had done something amazing… she didn't understand at all!

Egeria looked at Focalors, slightly speechless, then said softly, "…He reversed this authority."

"Reversed… what?"

Focalors was first understanding, then stunned, then in disbelief.

The "Justice" authority should be used as "judgment before punishment," right?

Reversing it… wouldn't it become "punishment before judgment"?

Reversing the order would make this authority chaotic!

"Normally, it should be like that."

"But… he directly replaced judgment with punishment."

The thoughts within her body didn't waver in the slightest, the water droplets still dripping from her fingers and hair, because… rain washed away sins.

[Focalors] looked calmly at Dottore, who was struggling on the ground.

Using the authority to judge sins as the foundation, merging it with rainwater, the result was this "Rain of Judgment" that cleansed all sins.

On the surface, this rain was harmless, even to ordinary people.

Only one type of being was an exception.

That was… "sinners."

The more sins one bore, the greater the pain they would suffer.

This wouldn't change even if the punished didn't know or acknowledge their sins. The authority of "Justice" would deliver the most impartial judgment and "punishment" equivalent to their crimes.

Even blocking one's senses couldn't allow escape, because this was a mental attack.

At this moment—

It wasn't just Dottore who was experiencing this pain. Because of his foolish act of dividing his life into Segments, this "punishment," following the "connection," also found all his other "Segments" in Mondstadt, Liyue, Snezhnaya, and the other nations.

All the sins committed by the sinner named Dottore over the past four hundred years came back to haunt him.

And there was no escape.

Because the source of this "Justice" authority was a "fragment" of Phanes, the judgment delivered by this authority was directly connected to Teyvat's system.

"Fatui Harbinger, this is the 'punishment' I bestow upon you as the God of Justice."

[Focalors] lowered her hand and looked at Dottore, who was writhing in pain, her clear, girlish voice filled with divinity.

This guy, just like that certain snake in a certain village, was incredibly resilient.

With his Segments scattered, completely eliminating him across such vast distances wasn't an easy task.

But it didn't matter.

For someone like Dottore, death wasn't enough to make him submit, and it would be too lenient.

Compared to his crimes, a simple death sentence would be an injustice for her, the God of Justice.

But fortunately, this world had a better way to deal with such people—curses.

Celestia had once cursed the people of Kaenri'ah for their grave sins,

Transforming them into Hilichurls, who roamed the land, unable to die.

And Jiang Qiao had learned this method from Focalors and Egeria.

And through the authority of Justice, he cast a "judgment" that was essentially a curse.

It would transform all of Dottore's sins into pain and inflict it upon him, a curse that wouldn't dissipate.

As long as Dottore existed, this inescapable pain would accompany him until he atoned for everything.

"This judgment…" Focalors, as a part of [Focalors], instantly understood everything. While amazed that her authority could be used like this, she was also conflicted about this judgment.

"Isn't this a bit too much?"

Although, after learning about the Fatui Harbinger's crimes, she felt that punishment was warranted, and even this curse wasn't unacceptable, as the God of Justice, Focalors, with her kind heart, was still apprehensive about using such cruel methods, similar to Celestia's.

Wouldn't this make her seem like the bad guy?

[Focalors]—Jiang Qiao, after a moment of thought, felt that she had a point.

Therefore…

"Buer, lend me your authority."

"Mmm… huh?" Nahida, who had been watching from the side, instinctively nodded. After all, they were on the same team, helping each other was only natural, right? But the next moment, she was filled with confusion and question marks.

Wait, how could she lend her authority?

An Archon's power was one thing, it could be lent, but an Archon's authority… that was usually only usable by themselves, right?

Just like in the storyline, the possibility of obtaining the power of foresight had to be transmitted through a medium for the Traveler to use.

"Relax your mind."

"Eh?" Nahida subconsciously relaxed her mind, and then… she felt something enter her, warm and comforting, like fertilizer being applied to a sapling, filling her completely.

… She had lost control of her body?

Nahida, stunned for a moment, instantly realized what was happening. Of course—she was mostly shocked.

What?!

Her body… was being controlled by someone else?

For Nahida, this was difficult to accept. After all, her only strength was perhaps her ability to invade and control the minds and bodies of Sumeru's people.

And yet, she had lost to someone else in her area of expertise…

But she could only watch helplessly as her body was "controlled" and "used."

"[Nahida]" slowly opened her eyes, a strange glint in her emerald green eyes.

Looking at her small arms and legs, the unfamiliar sensation made Jiang Qiao shake his head slightly.

The technique of a mental fusion warrior was indeed very different from his "body swapping."

Controlling someone like the Hydro Hypostasis or the Primo Geovishap was one thing, but controlling an Archon like Nahida… the effect was quite limited.

But it didn't matter.

Let me see…

[Nahida] closed her eyes slightly, searching within this body—like rummaging through something, eliciting a childish cry of "Ah!" … Wrong one, forget it, put it aside.

…

"Found it."

[Nahida] opened her eyes, a smile appearing on her childish face.

Then,

An emerald green seed appeared in her hand, floating towards Dottore and merging with him.

Then, her consciousness faded. Nahida, finally regaining control of her body, her cheeks flushed, was about to say something angrily when she stumbled and fell to the ground.

"My power… it's all gone…" Feeling her internal state, Nahida gritted her teeth.

This guy! Not only did he steal her body, but he also used up all her power!

Of course, what made her even more dissatisfied was—she had no idea what he had done with her body.

Nahida, barely able to stand up, was ready to confront him.

However—Dottore, after the seed merged with him, his body suddenly disintegrated.

This wasn't surprising. After all, Dottore's Segments were essentially a hodgepodge of different things. Maintaining their powerful forms required a strong mind.

But under the "Justice" curse, the excruciating pain was enough to cause his mind to collapse.

Without a strong mind, how could he suppress and control the numerous vengeful spirits?

Unable to maintain his form, the rampaging vengeful spirits tore apart Dottore's carefully crafted, strongest Segment.

However, these rampaging spirits were also a great threat to the current Sumeru.

"Focalors!"

"I know."

[Focalors]—Jiang Qiao curled his lip, raised a hand, and the vengeful spirits, rampaging and trying to break through the crystal dome and escape the Sanctuary of Surasthana, froze. The next moment, the Pristine Dome contracted, forming a cage, trapping the spirits and forming a small sphere.

"Mmm, René might be interested in this."

He examined the raging wills within and said.

Egeria frowned:

"Vengeful spirits aren't good things…"

"Indeed, but we can turn them into good things, can't we?" Jiang Qiao chuckled, playing with the crystal sphere, making Nahida's eye twitch.

Vengeful spirits weren't good things. As the final madness of deceased gods, their negativity was second only to an Archon's resentment. But they also possessed great power.

Otherwise, Dottore wouldn't have put them inside his body.

But fearing and rejecting them was clearly not the right approach.

After all, without research, they would always be feared.

Even if not for mastery, but simply for countermeasures, research was necessary.

This was a path Fontaine's people had to take themselves.

"…Indeed." Both Egeria and Focalors nodded in agreement.

Although Dottore was wicked, and his research was unsettling, the current Snezhnaya was impressive.

While other nations were still limited to Visions, Snezhnaya's Fatui had already begun popularizing the use of elemental power.

From a combat perspective, this was indeed something Fontaine needed to learn.

Focalors was slightly suspicious:

"Speaking of which, what did you do with the Dendro Archon's body just now?"

"Mmm~ Nothing much, just prepared a small parting gift for that Fatui Harbinger."

"…A parting gift?"

"A small gift from the 'God of Wisdom'." Facing Focalors's question, Jiang Qiao—[Furina], having shed her divine attire, chuckled and said, "Even just for a moment, as Nahida, as Sumeru's God of Wisdom, I have the duty to punish fools who 'desecrate' and 'abuse' wisdom."

—Even burdened by unimaginable pain and having lost his powerful strength, he believed that the Tsaritsa, and even the Fatui, wouldn't abandon Dottore. After all, what Snezhnaya needed most was Dottore's wisdom.

All their future plans were closely related to him.

But… if a wise man, having committed foolish acts, lost his prized wisdom, would that cold winter nation still tolerate his transgressions?