At first, Yilan had considered doing what he did in the game—using Nahida's power to create dreams, then searching for Dottore's weaknesses within those dreams.
But he quickly ruled out that method.
In the game, after experiencing several cycles of dreams, even the Traveler eventually noticed that something was wrong.
Yet the Balladeer, who experienced the same number of dream cycles, failed to notice anything amiss. This only demonstrated that the Balladeer's reasoning wasn't as sharp as the Traveler's—it didn't mean the dream cycles were flawless.
Yilan didn't believe that Dottore, as one of the foremost intellectual authorities in Teyvat, would be any less perceptive than the Traveler.
If he used the same dream loop tactic against Dottore, there was a high chance that Dottore would identify the flaw and break free of the illusion.
So, Yilan devised a new strategy.
Of course, his plan wasn't foolproof.
For instance, allowing Dottore to access forbidden knowledge might inadvertently enhance his power.
In the storyline, ordinary people exposed to forbidden knowledge sometimes became more formidable fighters.
However, effects vary from person to person.
For example, the Canned Knowledge of swordsmanship in the game only increased the Traveler's combat ability by 0.073%.
That was because the Traveler was already incredibly powerful. For an average person, the improvement would have been far more significant.
Likewise, forbidden knowledge that might drive a normal person berserk and grant a sudden burst of strength would likely have minimal effect on someone like Dottore, who already possessed near-godlike power.
But there was one key difference:
Once exposed to forbidden knowledge, Dottore would inevitably spiral into madness.
And in that madness, his greatest weapon—his intellect—would be sealed away.
Infected by forbidden knowledge, he'd no longer be able to think rationally.
Of course, even in that state, Dottore—fueled by the power of an Eleventh Harbinger and his own sinister genius—would remain a deadly threat.
That's why Yilan had prepared a contingency.
"Nahida, we can begin the special operations plan," Yilan said.
"Understood," Nahida responded softly.
Truthfully, the current God of Wisdom was still slightly confused.
In order to eliminate any leaks in the plan, Yilan had kept its details secret from everyone—even his allies.
However, when she heard the phrase "special operations plan," Nahida immediately understood.
She pressed her glowing hands to Yilan's forehead. A moment later, Yilan collapsed into her arms, his body going limp as he lost consciousness.
At the same time, his voice echoed in the mind of the Balladeer.
Skirmisher, can you hear me?
"Huh?" The confused Balladeer blinked.
It seems the consciousness link was successful.
"Wait a minute—why is your voice inside my head? I can feel your soul… inside me."
Listen carefully. Though you've gained the power of a god through that artificial body and gnosis core, you still lack the essential wisdom of a god. That's why you can't fully control this power.
Think of it like this—an idiot wielding a divine weapon and blessed with a mighty physique is still just an idiot. Understand the metaphor?
"Tch, could you say that a little less rudely?"
Let go of your pride and open your mind. I will transfer all the knowledge I've accumulated over my life into your consciousness.
My wisdom is yours to wield.
This had been Yilan's plan all along.
After all, his personal combat abilities were barely at the level of a follower. He couldn't pose a serious threat to someone like Dottore on his own.
That's why he chose to merge his soul with the Balladeer—to amplify his combat power and strategic capacity.
This was also the real reason Yilan had taken the blow for him earlier and insisted that the Balladeer would be the main combatant in this battle.
Of course, Yilan didn't claim his wisdom rivaled that of the gods.
But once his consciousness fused with the Balladeer, he could not only offer strategic insight but also seize partial control over the body.
He could subtly adjust attacks to maximize their impact.
He could issue warnings before danger struck.
He was essentially handing the Balladeer a divine script.
In this way, Yilan's support was no less than the insight of a true god.
But the crucial question remained—
Would the Balladeer truly accept him?
After all, opening one's heart completely to another was no small feat.
"I see! I see it now!"
Dottore's voice suddenly rang out, manic and unhinged. His body trembled with an ecstatic madness.
"This was all part of your plan, wasn't it, Yilan?!"
"The Balladeer exposing himself, me being lured into attacking—everything was orchestrated by you!"
"Even you taking that blow for him—it was all part of your scheme to lower my guard and dismantle this formation without interference!"
"I must admit… you rival me in strategy. In this war of wits, you have the upper hand!"
"Still trying to sow discord, Dottore?"
A divine voice echoed, a fusion of Yilan and the Balladeer, resounding from within the celestial construct known as the God of Righteousness.
"Yes, I did take the blow on purpose. But that's where we differ."
"To see my plan succeed, I'm willing to risk my own life. You, on the other hand, hide in the shadows, sacrificing others for your selfish goals."
Dottore's expression twisted with rage. A divine voice boomed behind him:
"You think you can compare yourself to me?!"
The God of Seiki ascended into the sky.
A golden halo—symbolizing both wisdom and divinity—shimmered behind him.
At that moment, the Balladeer truly stepped into godhood.
Go, Skirmisher, Yilan whispered in his mind. Take your revenge.
The God of Righteousness raised its head. The Balladeer, burning with vengeance, glared down at the man who had destroyed everything.
With a primal fury, he roared:
"ROAR——!!!"
The cry stirred the air like a hurricane, unleashing a gale across the radiant golden formation. It echoed through the heavens:
"Dottore! Your death is at hand!!"
***
The sky roared.
A terrible wind swept across the desert, carrying dust and divine light alike into the heavens.
The God of Seiki—a construct born of forbidden knowledge and divine design—stood tall. Golden light streamed from its eyes and heart like rivers of wrath.
Dottore narrowed his gaze.
He had already lost control of the House of the Decree.
The surrounding machinery no longer responded to his commands.
Even worse, a horrifying silence had taken hold within his mind.
The forbidden knowledge had infected his consciousness like a worm burrowing through a scroll of sacred text, chewing through reason and leaving only gibberish in its wake.
He still had strength.
Still had that godlike body, forged by merging countless test subjects and engineered over centuries of research.
But strength without clarity—was that power at all?
The God of Righteousness stepped forward. Its golden wheels turned slowly, crushing sand and steel alike beneath its feet. Each step echoed like judgment through the still air.
A voice rang out—not quite Balladeer's, not quite Yilan's, but something between:
"Dottore. Your crimes are beyond counting. You manipulated the Akademiya, betrayed your nation, and played with lives like toys."
The machine's arm transformed into a radiant spear of light, aimed at the heart of the broken scientist.
"Today, we deliver judgement."
Dottore laughed.
Even now—corrupted, unraveling—he laughed.
"So this is justice? You think dressing up in divine armor makes your cause righteous?"
"Let me tell you something, Yilan. There is no righteousness. No fairness. There is only power—and those who dare to wield it."
"Then let's test your philosophy," the voice replied coldly.
The spear launched forward, shattering the air with a thunderous boom.
Dottore raised his arm to block it. The force sent him skidding across the sand, his boots carving deep trenches in the earth.
Smoke curled from his forearm. Flesh peeled away in layers, revealing shimmering circuits and unnatural muscle.
His eyes burned—not with pain, but something close to satisfaction.
"So, this is the power of unity. A mortal mind and a machine body. A god born not of Celestia, but of rebellion."
"You've done something truly dangerous here, Yilan."
"If I survive this… I'll steal your idea."
He grinned manically.
"I'll perfect it."
"You won't survive," came the voice of the god-machine.
What followed was a battle the world would never forget.
Two gods—not of heaven, but of human creation—clashed in a desert long abandoned by mercy.
One wielded madness, hatred, and knowledge stolen from forbidden realms.
The other wielded unity, memory, and the will of countless dreams.
Blades met. Energy surged. And high above, the stars looked down in silence, as if holding their breath.