Chapter 169. Raiden Shogun in Tenshukaku
"Incredible—"
At this moment, Scaramouche's heart was filled with shock. Something that should have been impossible was unfolding right before his eyes. Even as he stared at it, he still couldn't quite believe it.
But belief didn't matter.
The blade of the Seven Thunders of Retribution: Narukami now carried the authority of two Archons—along with the power of the Gnosis itself.
Inside the mech, Scaramouche's hair stood on end as an overwhelming sense of crisis enveloped him.
Death.
He would die. This attack would absolutely kill him.
He didn't understand how Futsu Mitama had managed to fuse these forces together so perfectly.
The Authority of the Anemo Archon and the Anemo Gnosis were naturally compatible—they shared the same origin.
But the Electro Authority was different. That power belonged to Raiden Ei. How could it possibly merge with the Anemo Authority and the Anemo Gnosis?
And yet—
The three forces had fused together flawlessly. The aura alone was terrifying, as if the sky itself were about to collapse.
This—
This was the true power of an Archon.
It felt as though an Archon had personally descended onto the battlefield.
Earlier, Futsu Mitama had used the Anemo Authority and the Gnosis to temporarily grant Shenhe the protection of the Anemo Archon.
Now, however—He had poured every bit of that power into the blade of the Seven Thunders of Retribution: Narukami.
The next strike would be enough to annihilate Scaramouche completely.
Futsu Mitama's expression remained calm. He wasn't worried that Scaramouche would flee.
If Scaramouche attempted to escape now, he wouldn't get very far. Unless a rift leading directly into the Abyss suddenly opened in front of him—and he conveniently fell into it.
Otherwise, escape was impossible.
And indeed—
When Scaramouche sensed the incoming attack, which had clearly reached the level of an Archon—
His first instinct was to run. Facing such overwhelming power head-on would be foolish. But when he tried to move—
He realized something.
He couldn't escape.
Yes. He simply couldn't move.
An invisible force had already locked onto him.
That familiar sensation made Scaramouche's gaze shift toward the Chakra Desiderata floating behind Futsu Mitama.
"Hahahahahaha…"
Scaramouche laughed coldly.
"You really did inherit Beelzebub's true power. Even the targeting method is nearly identical."
A month ago, when the Raiden Shogun severed his limbs—
He had felt the same thing. No matter how far he tried to flee, the opponent's strike would always find him.
It was all because of that eye.
The Chakra Desiderata and The Omnipresent God Wheel.
Once locked onto by that eye, escaping its targeting was impossible within a short time.
"Then come on!"
Scaramouche roared angrily.
"Do you really think you're Beelzebub?!"
A month ago, the Raiden Shogun had severed his limbs.
Now he might die at the hands of Futsu Mitama?
Ridiculous.
If he truly died like this—Then it would mean he had been nothing special from the beginning.
"Buzz—!!!!"
Inside the mech, Scaramouche unleashed his full power. This time he poured all his energy into the Electro element.
He deliberately abandoned the Cryo power he had used earlier.
Unlike Futsu Mitama, he couldn't perfectly merge multiple elemental authorities. Simultaneously controlling two powerful elements was extremely dangerous.
If he made the slightest mistake, he might destroy himself before he even struck the enemy.
Several spatial tunnels appeared behind him. From within them, countless Electro light bullets erupted like a raging storm, surging toward Futsu Mitama in an overwhelming tide.
"Impregnable."
While continuing to charge his attack, Futsu Mitama calmly activated the Geo element.
A Jade Shield formed around his body. At the same time, several massive stone pillars erupted from the ground, forming a barrier that blocked the incoming storm of Electro light.
"Damn inheritance of the Geo Archon—"
Scaramouche muttered under his breath.
But there was nothing he could do. If he rushed forward now, Futsu Mitama's strike would immediately fall.
So he stopped holding back.
The mech's chest opened.
Violent Electro energy surged outward.
High above the battlefield, a massive sphere of lightning began forming in the sky.
"… "
The stone pillars around Futsu Mitama slowly dissipated.
He raised his head and looked calmly at the enormous sphere of Electro energy forming above them.
This attack was terrifying.
If that sphere fell—
The entire region would be destroyed. The landscape itself might be permanently altered. An attack capable of reshaping terrain like that had already reached Archon-level power.
As the Sixth Harbinger of the Fatui, Scaramouche would never have reached this position without possessing a trump card capable of challenging an Archon.
Inside the group livestream, the spectators watching the battle began to comment.
[Yae Miko: "So he has finally become a true calamity. If I were there, I would probably only be able to flee in disgrace."]
[Guizhong: "Hmm… he is indeed very strong. That Fatui Harbinger named Scaramouche—if I fought him now, I would probably lose."]
[Azhdaha: "Strong? He's merely average!"]
[Azhdaha: "Guizhong, you haven't recovered to your peak yet. If you returned to your full strength—even if you were among the weaker Archons—you would still defeat him."]
[Guizhong: "Azhdaha, are you praising me or insulting me?"]
[Azhdaha: "Heh~ Hahahahahaha!"]
[Raiden Makoto: "The puppet Ei created has actually reached this level of power? The Raiden Shogun is like this, and now Scaramouche is as well…"]
[Raiden Makoto: "I suddenly have a rather bold idea."]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "Perhaps he wasn't originally this strong. But through time, effort, and assistance from others, he eventually reached this realm."]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "And that mech appears to combine technologies from Sumeru, Khaenri'ah, and Snezhnaya. I have a rather ominous premonition."]
[Venti: "Ehe~ Human problems should be solved by humans. Only when humans fail should the Archons step in. Besides, you're currently trapped within Irminsul. Even if you worry, there's nothing you can do."]
[Venti: "So let's simply enjoy the show."]
[Venti: "Let's see whether my future Anemo Archon of Mondstadt is stronger—or if this Fatui Harbinger will win."]
[Albedo: "Lord Anemo Archon is correct."]
[Zhongli: "Please refrain from casually declaring Futsu Mitama as your successor. The Geo Archon and Electro Archon have yet to give their approval."]
[Raiden Makoto: "Hmm?!"]
[Azhdaha: "Exactly! Exactly!"]
[Yae Miko: "That's outrageous! Futsu Mitama is an Inazuman!"]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "Guuji-sama is correct. Futsu Mitama is from Inazuma and should naturally become the next Electro Archon."]
[Kamisato Ayaka: "Indeed, Futsu Mitama has inherited the Raiden Shogun's legacy and approval. In time, he will surely become the next Electro Archon." ]
[Guizhong: "I believe there are also families named Futsu in Liyue. We could have someone check their genealogy—perhaps his ancestors came from Liyue." ]
[Keqing: "I'll get right on it." ]
[Shenhe: "After returning, I can ask my master. It's not impossible." ]
[Aila: "Young Master also said that Liyue is his retirement 'home.' If nothing unexpected happens, he plans to live in Liyue or Mondstadt long-term in the future…"]
[Raiden Makoto: "Ah?! When?! How come I didn't know?!" ]
[Venti: "Ehe!" ]
[Zhongli: "Excellent." ]
Unknowingly, the topic in the group chat had drifted again.
Even so, everyone continued watching the livestream.
Both Futsu Mitama and Scaramouche had charged their attacks to a critical point. At any moment, either side could unleash a blow comparable to that of a god.
This single strike would determine the victor.
"You will die here."
Scaramouche spoke coldly. He did not believe he would lose, even though he admitted that his attack was inferior to Futsu Mitama's.
But he was very "hard." Not only was his own body extremely durable, the mech specially built by Dottore was also incredibly tough. Although it was inferior to the prototype currently being developed in Sumeru, it was still strong enough to withstand Futsu Mitama's attack.
Moreover, Futsu Mitama had spent too long charging his move. No matter how powerful it was, Scaramouche's own attack should weaken it significantly. The only thing he feared was that a collision of this scale might destroy the devices Dottore had set up beforehand.
If that happened, Beelzebub—or the Raiden Shogun—might come personally.
He had to either eliminate Futsu Mitama quickly or leave immediately.
"I'll return that line to you," Futsu Mitama replied calmly. "Let's see whether you can truly withstand this move. Besides, I cannot spare your life like the Raiden Shogun did."
He was referring to the incident a month ago, when Scaramouche was struck by the Raiden Shogun and left with only one arm and one leg. At that time, the Raiden Shogun had held back. Otherwise, with her strength, she could have kept Scaramouche there—or at least left behind a complete corpse.
"Hehehe…"
Scaramouche laughed coldly. One should never slap someone in the face or expose their weaknesses.
Yet Futsu Mitama had done both.
Scaramouche could no longer tolerate it.
He raised the mech's hands, and the massive Electro Element sphere hanging in the sky seemed to receive a command as it began to descend.
Despite its enormous size, the giant Electro sphere fell at an astonishing speed.
Seeing this, Futsu Mitama understood that he could no longer continue charging.
"Hoo…"
He took a deep breath.
Then he swung the Seven Thunder of Retribution: Narukami.
The strike carried the authority of both Anemo and Electro, along with the power of the Gnosis.
To be honest, Futsu Mitama felt a bit uneasy—not because he doubted he could defeat Scaramouche.
Back in Mondstadt, while receiving guidance from the Raiden Shogun, he had unleashed an attack that made her slightly serious using nothing but elemental transformation.
At that time, he did not even have the Seven Thunder of Retribution: Narukami.
Now, with his companion weapon in hand and the power of the Anemo Gnosis supporting him, even Futsu Mitama did not know how terrifying his next strike would become.
He only hoped it would not carve another chasm into Yashiori Island.
When Raiden Ei slew the great serpent, Orobashi, she left behind a natural landmark on the island.
Futsu Mitama had no intention of creating something equally "magnificent."
In fact, if possible, he would rather not use this move at all. Its destructive power was unknown, and he had little control over its output. Once unleashed, the only question would be whether the enemy—or the land itself—was durable enough to survive it.
But there was no choice. Without this trump card, he truly had no way to defeat Scaramouche inside that mech.
'I just hope Kokomi and Ei won't hold me accountable afterward,' he thought silently.
His movements, however, did not slow.
As the Seven Thunder of Retribution: Narukami descended, blinding Electro light and gentle Anemo light intertwined along the blade.
In the next moment, they transformed into a thick purplish-blue energy cannon that shot straight toward Scaramouche's mech.
At the same time, the giant Electro sphere in the sky rapidly descended, landing directly in front of the mech.
But this sphere—charged for so long—managed to resist the energy cannon for only a few seconds before exploding with a deafening bang.
It failed to provide any meaningful resistance.
"!!!!!"
Inside the cockpit, Scaramouche's eyes widened in disbelief. His move had been crushed so easily.
"Freeze it for me—!!!"
He reacted instantly. If one attack failed, he would use another.
Scaramouche fully activated the authority granted to him by the Cryo Archon.
The mech extended its hands, releasing a bone-chilling cold that condensed into layer after layer of ice shields.
Crack! Crack!
Like shattering glass, the shields broke apart one after another. Even the Cryo Archon's authority represented only a portion of her power.
Meanwhile, Futsu Mitama's energy cannon contained the authority of two Archons—Venti and Raiden Ei—as well as the power of the Gnosis. Holding for even one or two seconds was already proof of the Cryo authority's strength.
Boom—!!!
As the final ice shield shattered, the mech crossed its arms. All of its elemental power erupted at once as Scaramouche attempted to rely on the mech's formidable body to endure the attack.
BOOM—!!!!
The moment the energy cannon struck the mech, a terrifying explosion erupted. A purplish-blue pillar of light shot straight into the sky, while a shockwave powerful enough to destroy everything spread outward.
The Fatui factory, the dismantled Hand-Eyes, and the already-broken trees were blasted even farther away.
Seeing this, even Futsu Mitama was slightly stunned. Without hesitation, he quickly reinforced his Jade Shield.
The purplish-blue pillar of light pierced the heavens.
It was so conspicuous that Yae Miko, Sangonomiya Kokomi, and Shenhe could clearly see it even from Watatsumi Island.
"This…" Yae Miko glanced at the livestream and shook her head with a sigh.
"This little fellow is making quite a commotion. If nothing unexpected happens, Ei should already sense it. If she personally rushes to Yashiori Island, things might become troublesome."
Sangonomiya Kokomi, who had been pleased moments earlier, also frowned upon hearing this. Because if the Raiden Shogun came personally, she would very likely pass through Tatarasuna.
And the Resistance and the Shogunate Army were still fighting there.
According to Kuki Shinobu's report, the Resistance currently held a clear advantage. They could completely defeat the Shogunate Army within half an hour. Even if they did not pursue the victory afterward, the battle would still belong to them.
War could be slow—but sometimes it ended in an instant.
Was the Shogunate Army weak?
In truth, they were not. In both soldier quality and the number of generals, they far surpassed the Resistance. If they had formed proper battle formations and fought head-on, the Resistance would have died with great dignity.
But reality was different.
The Shogunate Army was currently being suppressed largely because the Fatui troops had not appeared. Many of the Shogunate's generals had already been neutralized by the decapitation squad led by Kuki Shinobu and Kazuha.
An even more crucial factor was Kujou Takayuki.
The head of the Tenryou Commission, the leader of the Kujou Clan, and the current commander of the Shogunate Army had vomited blood and fainted on the battlefield.
He had been dragged away by his trusted aides.
Without leadership, the Shogunate Army had fallen into chaos. The remaining generals capable of command had either been captured or incapacitated by Kazuha and Kuki Shinobu using Jumpy Dumpty bombs or restraint devices.
This was the main reason the Shogunate Army could no longer resist effectively.
But now, Futsu Mitama's enormous display of power introduced a new variable.
The Raiden Shogun. Or Raiden Ei.
If either of them passed through Tatarasuna, the Resistance's morale would plummet instantly, while the Shogunate Army's morale would surge. Even worse—
If the Electro Archon chose to speak or act personally—the consequences would be far more terrifying.
"Did Dottore calculate this?" A cold glint flashed in Yae Miko's eyes.
She had a feeling he had anticipated this outcome when he threatened her earlier.
"Perhaps," Kokomi said quietly, worry filling her eyes.
An Archon was an insurmountable existence.
Everything else could be managed. But if an Archon personally entered the battlefield, the seemingly powerful Resistance could collapse overnight. After all, although Watatsumi Island provided the core of the Resistance, many of its soldiers came from across Inazuma.
They had joined to oppose the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree.
But opposing an Archon directly was another matter entirely.
The wise adapt to circumstances.
Most people would rather smuggle themselves out of Inazuma than fight a god.
Shenhe remained silent. She had no place in Yae Miko and Kokomi's strategic discussion. Her gaze stayed fixed on the purplish-blue beam in the distance.
A faint light flashed in her eyes.
That strike was incredibly powerful. Even she could not achieve such a feat. Even her master would likely need to use formations and draw upon ley line power to create a similar attack.
The three women on Watatsumi Island were astonished.
The same was true in Tatarasuna.
Gorou, Kazuha, and Kuki Shinobu all turned toward Yashiori Island, immediately recognizing that the attack must have come from Futsu Mitama.
Gorou quickly informed the soldiers.
Instantly, the Resistance's morale soared.
Meanwhile, the Shogunate Army's morale dropped further.
Even inside Inazuma City, the phenomenon could be seen.
The pillar of light shooting into the sky was simply too conspicuous. People throughout the city stopped and looked toward Yashiori Island.
And inside Tenshukaku—
Raiden Shogun sensed it as well. She slowly opened her eyes and gazed toward Yashiori Island, a faint trace of surprise appearing in her eyes.
"The power of a Gnosis."
Her voice was calm. She took a step and instantly appeared above Tenshukaku, allowing her to observe the pillar of light rising from Yashiori Island more clearly.
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