Divine Madness, Big Hats, and Emotional Damage

Alright, so picture this: we were just about to head out. You know that feeling? That glorious, triumphant, post-drama stride when everything finally seems like it's calming down?

Yeah. Not for us.

We were seconds away from walking into what I hoped was a relaxing chapter when—

"HEY! HEY, WAIT UP!"

That voice. Bold. Confident. Slightly terrifying. And hot.

I turned, already grinning. "Waddup, Fire Mom!"

There she was. Dehya. Muscles. Attitude. Enough charisma to punch the sun.

And beside her?

...Oh.

Oh!

It was her.

Nilou.

Nilou the Divine. Nilou the Graceful. Nilou the walking "Please Don't Let Me Embarrass Myself In Front Of Her." She looked nervous, fidgeting like a bunny caught mid-dance. Her eyes darted around until they landed on Lumine, who immediately softened.

"Nilou!" Lumine smiled. "Hi!"

Nilou smiled shyly. "H-Hello... I—uh..."

Dehya didn't miss a beat. She smirked and gave Nilou a light nudge forward. "Go on. You said you wanted to say something."

Now, most people? They'd freeze. Maybe run. Maybe faint.

Nilou?

She stood her ground.

"I want to travel," she said, voice gentle but clear. "I want to see the world... not just Sumeru. I want to dance—not for an audience, not for tradition—but for Teyvat itself. I want to grow. To learn. To become something more than a stage performer." She turned to face us, a spark lighting in her eyes. "And if you'll have me... I want to go with you. Wherever you go. I want to walk the same roads, see the same stars, and maybe—just maybe—find my own rhythm in the journey we take together."

Boom. Right in the feels.

I blinked. I swear I wasn't crying. Just... eye sweat. From the heat. Or pollen. Definitely not emotion.

I opened my mouth to say something inspiring, heartfelt, maybe even dramatic. Something that would make Nilou smile, maybe laugh—

"I'm glad you'll be part of the team," Lumine said, holding Nilou's hands.

My mouth hung open.

"Blondie!" I whined. "That was MY line!"

Lumine raised an eyebrow, smug.

I turned to Nilou, slapped on my trademark grin—that one I wear when I'm about to cause emotional chaos—and declared, "Welcome to the team, Goddess. Where everything is a mistake, and every trail leads to chaos. You're gonna fit right in."

Nilou giggled. She actually giggled. Victory.

Dehya chuckled and folded her arms. "Well, that's my cue. I only came to make sure she caught up with you guys. Try not to scare her off, Shigeru."

"No promises, Fire Mom."

She shook her head with a fond smile and walked off.

So there we were. Me, Lumine, Paimon, Nahida still cosplaying as Katheryne like the world's cutest undercover boss, Greg in my bag stealing dried fruit, and now Nilou the Dancing Goddess, officially part of Team Chaos.

What could go wrong?

Oh right.

Everything.

Well anyway, Pardis Dhyai. A peaceful sanctuary. Birds chirping. Trees swaying. My stomach growling.

"Ugh," I muttered. "How come every place we go looks like it should have snacks and yet never does?"

Lumine smacked my arm. "Focus."

"I am focused. Focused on food."

Paimon zipped in front of me. "Shh! Look! Over there!"

A familiar voice floated over.

"Traveler? Is that you?"

I squinted. Oh no. I knew that voice. The voice of someone who spoke in dreamy metaphors and existential plot devices.

"Ah! It's Haypasia!" Paimon beamed.

Lumine waved. "Long time no see. Didn't expect to find you here."

"Ahh, what a pleasant surprise! It's so nice to see you again," Haypasia beamed. Then her eyes drifted to the rest of us. "And you brought... new friends!"

Nilou stepped forward first, her smile serene and warm. "Hello, Haypasia. I'm Nilou. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Then I followed, I flip my coat back dramatically like I'm walking down a fashion runway—because why not make an entrance, right? I jab both my thumbs at myself with a grin that could outshine the sun.

"And I—!" I declare, loud and proud, "—am Shigeru! Hero, dancer, part-time chaos dispenser, full-time eye candy! You're welcome!"

Paimon groaned under her breath, "Here we go again..."

Haypasia giggled, clearly amused. "Well, it's certainly never dull around you, is it?"

"Who's this?" Nahida/Katheryne asked.

"She's a scholar we met in the Avidya Forest," Paimon explained. "Last time we saw her, she was still training in... uh... Satyavada Life?"

Haypasia nodded. "That's right! We're old friends. You've come at just the right time. No one here wants to talk to me. It's been lonely."

"Can't imagine why," I muttered. "Maybe because you sound like Siri fell into a philosophy class."

Smack.

Lumine. Again. Ow.

Haypasia giggled. "You're just the same as Lumine described you... loud, chaotic, and a bit too honest for your own good."

"Tragically," I sighed.

"So wait," Paimon said, squinting. "You left the forest? Does that mean you finished your training? Did you reach... Paripurna Life?"

Haypasia beamed. "Hehehe... What do you think? My consciousness has already made contact with the divine."

Nahida tilted her head. "...Hmm?"

Paimon gasped. "You did it!? That's amazing!"

Lumine smiled genuinely. "I'm happy for you. Truly."

Haypasia twirled slightly. "It's so exhilarating to finally share this sublime joy with others! When my consciousness made contact with the gods—it was beyond words."

"Sounds like you ascended into a TED Talk," I whispered.

Nilou elbowed me gently. "Shh, be nice."

"I am being nice," I said. "I haven't asked if her consciousness got frequent flyer miles yet."

Lumine shot me a look. I shut up.

"Actually," Lumine said, "We're here for Tighnari. We're in a bit of a rush."

Haypasia nodded, then perked up. "Oh! But wait! I haven't forgotten my promise! Remember? I said I'd help you understand what you saw in Irminsul. And now, I can help you connect to the divine directly!"

Paimon's mouth fell open. "Y-You can do that?!"

"Do you believe her, Nahida?" Lumine asked.

Nahida paused. "I've never heard of anything like that... but if you want to try, I'll protect your consciousness."

Haypasia clapped her hands. "Great! I brought Spirit Borneol! It's crucial to the ceremony."

"Not the incense again," Paimon groaned.

"Hold my hand," Haypasia said. "I'll help you connect."

"Okay," Nahida said softly.

I blinked. "Wait, what part of the plot is this again? I swear I blacked out last time this happened."

Greg popped out of my bag and shrugged. Even he didn't remember.

And that, dear reader, is how we accidentally walked back into divine consciousness shenanigans.

...Again.

***

So there we were again.

Floating in this freaky spiritual plane like jellybeans in a cosmic soup. Everything smelled like incense, mystery, and terrible decisions.

I exhaled. "Man... I guess it can't be hell. Let's see what kind of hellhole we'll be in this time."

Nilou tilted her head, graceful and confused. "Is this... a normal thing for you guys?"

"At this point," I said with the flatness of a man who's seen too much, "it's just another Tuesday."

Haypasia took a deep breath, eyes glowing with divine devotion, and gently guided Nahida forward. And then—

Scaramouche's Voice Echoed Around Us:

"It took three betrayals for me to finally understand: The world is just an elaborate tapestry of lies. My fury will never be quelled. The first to betray me was a god. My creator... my mother. Valuing strength above all, she saw no worth in me, and I was discarded. The second was a human. My family... my friend. Consumed by fear, he saw me as an abomination. The third was one exactly like me. A hope for the future... a fledgling barely out of the nest. Powerless before his mortality, he broke his promise to me. Humans... they can't be trusted. And the gods fill me with pure loathing. So I said good riddance! I denounce the world and laugh in its face. My chest will never again be defiled by worldly filth. I will scrub away every last trace of human emotion. Then it will be empty, a blank slate. And ready to receive a supreme Gnosis, brimming with pure divinity. Hehehe... Ahahahaha! There is no need to fear. The pain will be brief... Your era... is coming to an end."

I blinked.

Laughed.

"Ah right," I said. "The backstory of that smug weirdo with the umbrella hat."

Lumine sighed. "You mean Scaramouche."

"That's what I said."

Paimon was spinning in the air like a stressed-out fidget spinner. "Wh-What was that!? That wasn't the Greater Lord or King Deshret's consciousness!"

"Nope," I said. "That was the voice of Edge himself."

"Did we just see the Balladeer's memories!?" Paimon asked.

"Everything matches what we know about him," Lumine muttered.

"But why is he connected to the divine consciousness Haypasia was talking about?!" Paimon exclaimed.

Haypasia, now glowing like a cultist who drank three Red Bulls too many, clasped her hands.

"You saw it, right? You felt it, right!? Such a majestic god, such a noble will, such sublime emotion!"

I tilted my head. "You sure we're talking about the same dude? He laughs like he orders murder frappuccinos for breakfast."

"Alas, a shame..." Haypasia whispered. "If only... If only that which beats within my chest wasn't a filthy, mortal heart... O great and merciful god, please grant me forgiveness and salvation..."

Nahida looked worried. "Do you understand now? I'm afraid this is no Paripurna Life, but rather..."

"A Paripurna Nightmare," I added helpfully.

Lumine stepped forward. "Wake up, Haypasia!"

Haypasia blinked rapidly, as if snapped from a dream.

"Ah...! You... Why are you so mean to me? Why is everyone hiding from me?" Her voice cracked.

"Haypasia..." Paimon said, gently.

"I found divine wisdom! Shouldn't I receive praise and honor? Haven't I uncovered that light in the darkness?"

I muttered under my breath, "Yeah, and a whole lotta red flags."

"That's how I always thought everything should be..." Haypasia whispered. Then, trembling: "Wait... have I... already lost my mind?"

Lumine looked down, silent.

Nahida's eyes suddenly widened. "Wait, something isn't right!"

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. "Fuck... here we go again."

***

Look, I didn't wake up that morning thinking I'd be doing action stunts worthy of a movie starring Greg as the lead ninja. But hey, that's what happens when you're traveling with Lumine. One minute you're chilling, the next, you're dodging knives thrown by guys in red scarves who look like they're auditioning for an Eremite fashion show.

We were in a garden. A peaceful garden. A suspiciously peaceful garden.

Too peaceful.

"I don't like this," I whispered, squinting at the bushes.

Greg was on my head like always. He flicked his tail. Translation: Danger. Imminent. Idiots.

"Thanks, Greg."

Then boom.

Out jumps a whole squad of Eremites. I don't mean two or three. I mean ten. Maybe fifteen. I stopped counting at twelve because one of them lunged at us with a spear like we owed him money.

"RUN!" Lumine shouted.

So we ran.

Well, they ran. Lumine grabbed Nahida-in-Katheryne's-body and bolted like she was racing for the last discounted boba tea.

Me? I stayed.

Because someone had to be the meat shield.

And guess what? That someone was me.

"Alright, fellas," I said, flipping a coin into the air because it looked cool and I saw a guy in a drama do it once. "Let's dance."

They didn't want to dance.

They wanted to stab.

I launched forward, anemo bursting from my palm as I punched the ground. A shockwave of anemo scattered a few of them. Greg hissed and leapt into action, kicking one guy right in the forehead. Good boy.

Nilou was beside me now, spinning into the chaos like a ballerina crossed with a hurricane.

"Shigeru!" she called. "Cover Lumine and Nahida!"

"I'm TRYING!" I yelled as I blocked a sword with my bare arm (don't ask how, I think I screamed so loud the sword got scared).

Meanwhile, Lumine was dragging Nahida's body away, but I could already see the problem.

Nahida's body wasn't made for cardio.

"Wait for me—!" Nahida wheezed.

"MOVE!" Lumine reached back, trying to pull her, but it was too late.

I saw it.

A glint of steel.

A scream.

The weapon pierced her side, right through the body she possessed.

"NO!" I shouted, about to bolt forward, but then—

Something weird happened.

Lumine touched her hand. And then she froze.

Lights flickered.

Something crackled in the air.

Boom.

They switched.

Lumine collapsed. No... Nahida collapsed? No—wait, that was Lumine, but it was Nahida's body—

Okay, this was hurting my brain.

Nilou and I cleared the last wave of attackers together. She spun gracefully, water blades slicing through the air like poetry. I, on the other hand, just yelled, tackled someone, and threw Greg at another guy's face. It worked.

I looked over. Lumine—now in Nahida's body—was breathing hard, eyes wide, disoriented.

"Uh, are you... you?" I asked.

"I think I'm Nahida now," she replied, voice all high-pitched and tiny. "I mean—this body—this is... weird."

"Yeah," I nodded. "So you're the Archon now. Sweet. Wanna pass a law that says I don't have to pay for my meal ever again?"

Nilou gently put her hand on Lumine's shoulder. "We need to go. Now."

"No, wait," Lumine said, still in Nahida's voice. "I saw something when I was in there. In her consciousness. It's... it's a giant mecha."

I froze.

"A what now?"

"A mecha," she repeated.

"A GIANT MECHA?!"

She nodded slowly. "With Scaramouche in the middle, grinning like a maniac."

I put my hands on my head.

"Oh my god. I KNEW it! Giant mecha bullshit! I CALLED IT! This—THIS is exactly what I've been talking about since Chapter 10 and Chapter 34! You all thought I was just being crazy!"

Greg squeaked in agreement.

"What is wrong with bad guys and building oversized robots?!" I continued ranting. "Like, are you that insecure that you need a titan-sized Gundam to prove a point?"

Nilou giggled softly. "Well... it's dramatic, I guess."

"Oh, it's dramatic alright. He's probably in there making evil monologues about how he's ascending or something."

Lumine nodded solemnly. "He literally said 'I see you.'"

"I bet he practiced that in the mirror," I muttered. "Had a whole script ready. 'Oooh, look at me, I'm a nascent god with eyeliner and unresolved trauma!'"

Nilou sighed, but she was smiling. "Shigeru."

"Yeah?"

"Focus."

"Right, right." I cracked my knuckles. "Let's go find that oversized tin can and knock it into next week."

Greg squeaked again.

Translation: Activate Mecha-Smashing Mode.

That's how we ended up charging toward the Sanctuary of Surasthana like absolute maniacs.

I led the charge because duh. I'm the distraction. That's my thing. That's why Greg rides on my head like a general. Nilou came beside me, swift and graceful. Lumine (back in her body now) hovered in the back, slightly floating, slightly panicking.

Then we heard it.

Boom.

A low mechanical hum. Energy. It vibrated through the walls.

The giant mecha was powering up.

I swear I could hear Scaramouche laughing like a Saturday morning cartoon villain.

"Okay," I muttered, "let's do this."

And I pulled out every element I had.

Fire ignited in one hand. Ice crackled in the other. Lightning danced on my shoulders. Greg glowed ominously.

"Let's kick this toaster's ass."

Paimon floated beside him, arms crossed. "Wait! Shouldn't we look for Tighnari first?"

I snapped my fingers. "Right! First, we find the scholarly fluffball hunter—then we kick this toaster's ass!"

__________________

End of Chapter 110

Quests Completed:

*Nilou has officially joined the team. Prepare for sparkles, style, and synchronized spinning.

*Discovered that yes, she's still delightfully unhinged, and yes, she absolutely thinks Scaramouche is God.

*Listen to Scaramouche's dramatic villain origin speech without interrupting. Shigeru failed—twice.

*Check on Haypasia's mental state Spoiler: She's not.

*Successfully survived divine madness (again) and unlocked more of Scaramouche's tragic villain monologue.

*Prepare to delve into Scaramouche's subconscious trauma hub. Recommended: therapy.

Rewards:

*Primogems x60 (as compensation for trauma)

*Nilou Friendship EXP +400

*Shigeru's Ego +1000 (I was RIGHT. And I said "toaster" again.)

*Greg's Trust Rank: S++ (Launched into combat. No hesitation.)

*Haypasia's Lore Dump Unlocked (Whether we liked it or not.)

*New Boss Preview: Balladeer Mecha Mk.1

*Adventure EXP +2,000 

*Crown of Insight x1(Because someone's gonna need wisdom soon.)

*Nilou Bond Level +1

*Lumine Smile +1

*Greg's Lizard Fang (Key Item) (Can be used once to pierce divine arrogance.)

*Paimon Patience -10(She's had enough for one day.)

*Emotional Damage Resistance +30% (Temporary buff after surviving Haypasia's speech.)