Check out my new translation!
=====
Azar stared at the horrifying sight before him, his mind completely blank with terror as he screamed at the top of his lungs.
"Ahhh! Someone help! Stop that masked lunatic!"
At that moment, Shao Yun—his eyes bloodshot and reason lost—was consumed by a violent madness. He shouted in a voice bordering on insanity.
"In my eyes, the only ones still alive around here… are you, me, and that little clown monkey beside you!"
By now, most of the scholars, preceptors, mercenaries, and even the disciplinary officers of the Akademiya had long since fled.
Those foolish enough to remain and try to stop Shao Yun either lay sprawled lifelessly across the floor—bodies cruelly torn open, viscera spilling—or had already bolted, their souls scared out of them.
The scene looked like the end of the world itself. Who would care whether one was the Grand Sage anymore? Staying alive was all that mattered now.
Realizing no one was listening to his orders, Azar turned in desperation toward Ghulam and, with all his strength, shoved him forward, barking, "Go! Stop him! I don't care how—just stop that man!"
Caught off guard, Ghulam stumbled forward. Perhaps the thick, choking sulfur fumes clouded his mind, for his thoughts seemed to short-circuit.
He stared blankly at Shao Yun for a heartbeat, then raised a trembling fist and charged at him, screaming hoarsely, "Ahhh! I'll fight you to the end!"
Shao Yun looked on with a blank expression as the frail scholar rushed at him with suicidal resolve.
He gave a lazy swing of his machete—its edge slicing cleanly into Ghulam's soft abdomen.
A wet shhk echoed through the hall as blood sprayed violently across the floor.
Ghulam's eyes bulged wide, mouth agape.
He clutched his split belly with both hands, but crimson gushed endlessly through his fingers. He could feel his intestines slowly sliding free.
Then he collapsed into the spreading pool of blood, his body convulsing uncontrollably from the pain.
Each breath brought searing agony, forcing strangled screams from his throat.
"Ahhh…"
But Shao Yun felt no sympathy whatsoever.
He stepped forward coldly and kicked Ghulam's body hard.
The scholar rolled several feet across the ground like a ragdoll.
Looking down at the dying man, Shao Yun said coolly, "You know… when facing an enemy like me, you should've run instead of charging in like a fool."
Without another glance, he stepped over Ghulam's twitching form and continued after the fleeing Azar.
…
By now, Azar was utterly terrified—his mind blank, running through the corridors like a headless fly.
Shao Yun followed close behind like a demon, the distance between them shrinking with every step.
Finally, Azar burst into his own office, slamming the door behind him.
He barely had time to gasp for air before Shao Yun appeared in the doorway.
In a panic, Azar grabbed the nearest books on his desk and hurled them wildly.
But the books merely brushed past Shao Yun, thudding harmlessly against the wall.
Realizing his attack was useless, Azar screamed in despair and ducked behind his chair, trembling.
He stared at the figure before him—the one wearing that eerie Pagan Skull Mask.
Shao Yun advanced slowly, each step deliberate, until only a few paces separated them.
Azar's entire body shook as he stammered, "Y-you… who are you? Are you really the messenger of the Scarlet King, come to avenge the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata?"
He himself had told Ghulam not to believe in such nonsense—but this scene before his eyes left no room for doubt.
Shao Yun sneered. "Heh. Look at you—a pitiful little clown monkey! You can't even recognize my voice?"
Azar was now so terrified he could barely think straight. He screamed hysterically, "Who are you?!"
Shao Yun calmly reached up and removed the mask hiding his face. From his bag, he pulled out a familiar black gambler's hat and set it on his head.
A chilling smile curled his lips as he said softly, "It's me."
Azar's eyes widened to the size of saucers as recognition hit him.
His mouth opened, but no words came out.
After several long seconds, he finally managed to croak, "Heavens… it's you… Tacitus Kilgore!"
Clearly, he had never imagined that the person before him would be this man.
Seeing Azar recognize him, Shao Yun nodded with satisfaction.
Then, like a starving predator eyeing its trapped prey, he licked his lips and said darkly, "My name doesn't matter anymore. What matters is—you're going to hell."
Azar, realizing his doom, stammered desperately, "Mr. Tacitus! Please, calm down! You wouldn't really kill me!"
"You're revered in both Mondstadt and Liyue, admired by all! I don't believe you'd do this—you're a good man!"
But when he met Shao Yun's cold, empty gaze, despair filled his heart.
At the word good man, Shao Yun let out a soft, mocking laugh.
He narrowed his eyes. "Tell me something. Aren't you curious why nothing about me was ever reported from Inazuma?"
Azar blinked, startled. "W-what do you mean?"
Shao Yun stared at him as though looking at a corpse. "It's simple. Everyone who knew the truth—either died or was too afraid to speak."
He paused for a moment, then added, "And you, Azar, are about to join the first group."
Azar's nerves snapped. He screamed, "What do you mean?! If you're going to kill me, at least let me die knowing why!"
Shao Yun's tone grew almost casual, yet filled with menace. "You've heard that the Raiden Shogun was replaced, haven't you? Don't you wonder why?"
He gave a cold smile. "And tell me—why did I go to Mondstadt and Liyue, but come here to Sumeru instead of Inazuma? Was it because your climate's good for a vacation?"
Even a fool would understand now.
Azar's body trembled uncontrollably as he whispered, "D-don't tell me… the second Raiden Shogun—was you who killed her?"
Shao Yun chuckled, nodding. "Hah, not bad. You really are one clever little monkey."
Before Azar could react, Shao Yun swung his bloodstained machete, flinging droplets across Azar's face.
"Enough talk. Your time's up. Once I finish with you, I'll personally destroy that false god you created."
Azar's eyes widened in horror. "No—you can't! You'll destroy Sumeru's only hope!"
But Shao Yun was unmoved. He tightened his grip on the machete and advanced slowly.
Then, almost conversationally, he asked, "Tell me, I've always wondered—if it takes twenty minutes to walk up to the Akademiya, how long do you think it takes to go down?"
Azar blinked in confusion. "W-well, normally… I suppose if one were to walk—"
He didn't finish. Shao Yun swung his blade again, cutting him off.
"No need to calculate. Let's find out firsthand."
Azar's face went pale. "W-what are you doing?! Aaaahhh!"
…
Shao Yun grabbed Azar by the back of his collar and dragged him toward the outer plaza.
Azar hung limp like a dead dog—his arrogance and pride long gone.
They reached the broad platform outside the Akademiya.
The sight was apocalyptic. The rainforest burned furiously below, the sky raining molten sulfur. The acrid stench of smoke and scorched earth filled the air.
A gray-blue haze cloaked all of Sumeru, dimming even the sun.
Azar's monocle was shattered, one lonely frame clinging to his face.
His features were unrecognizable—bloodied, broken, his limbs bent at unnatural angles.
Shao Yun stopped at the platform's edge and tossed Azar against the railing.
With a dull thud, Azar groaned weakly, too battered to resist.
As Shao Yun prepared to hurl him off the platform, he suddenly paused, as if remembering something.
"Oh right," he said. "You haven't delivered food to the ones in the confinement room yet, have you?"
At those words, Azar's nearly lifeless eyes flickered. He forced his lips to move, whispering weakly, "N… no…"
Shao Yun's smile turned chilling. He patted Azar's cheek lightly.
"Then let's take a look, shall we? Let me see the color of your organs."
"Or maybe," he added with a low laugh, "let's see what you had for your last meal."
Without warning, Shao Yun's left hand clamped around Azar's throat, lifting him easily off the ground.
With his right, he drew a dagger and drove it deep into Azar's stomach.
A piercing scream split the air—so sharp it echoed through the smoke-choked sky.
Blood poured from Azar's mouth, drenching his chest. His eyes bulged; his twisted face froze in sheer agony.
Shao Yun twisted the knife cruelly, each turn wringing out another soundless cry.
Then, with a sudden jerk, he yanked the blade free.
The bloodied steel glimmered coldly in the dim light.
He gazed down at Azar, voice calm and deadly. "Now we'll finally know… how long it takes for a man to fall."
Azar summoned the last of his strength and screamed, "You—madman! Help! Somebody!"
Shao Yun lifted him high, then flung him over the edge like garbage.
Azar plummeted through the smoke, the roar of the wind in his ears, heart filled with boundless terror.
Memories flashed before his eyes—his carefree childhood laughter, the sunlit days at the Akademiya, the pride of becoming Grand Sage.
Then came the end.
With a sickening crack, his skull struck the ground. His neck snapped instantly.
All sound, all thought, ended.
Azar was gone—crushed by the same gravity that held the world together.
To be sure, Shao Yun fired six bullets into the corpse. Each one thudded into flesh with merciless precision.
"If he survives that," Shao Yun muttered coldly, "then the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata herself must've intervened."
He turned toward the smoke-shrouded horizon, where burning embers rained from the sky.
Coughing lightly, Shao Yun glanced back at the Akademiya and murmured, "Now… the next step is to get them out."