Chapter 171. Raiden Shogun Arrives
Scaramouche and Dottore departed, their leaving signifying that the Fatui would no longer interfere with Inazuma's affairs.
However, this was not good news, because the Fatui's departure did not mean that everything was over.
Quite the opposite—it was merely a beginning, or perhaps…an end.
Regardless, because of Dottore's words, Futsu Mitama realized something and immediately rushed toward Tatarasuna.
Futsu Mitama's sudden action left several people in the Group Live Stream confused.
Klee: "What's happening? Why is Big Brother Futsu Mitama suddenly heading over there?"
Albedo: "Something must have happened. Otherwise, he wouldn't be in such a hurry."
Kuki Shinobu: "What could possibly happen now? The situation is excellent—we're about to defeat the Shogunate Army. Watatsumi Island is temporarily safe, and the Fatui Harbinger on Futsu Mitama's side has retreated. We're going to win."
Aila: "No. Young Master is this tense for a reason. And… for him to be like this, it can only be about that matter."
Yae Miko: "Ah, yes. For the little one to be this tense, it can only be that matter. Lady Makoto, what should we do? Will you act at this time? Or should I step in?"
Sangonomiya Kokomi: "Guuji, do you still have a trump card?"
Yae Miko: "I don't—but I can create one. After all, I've lived for five hundred years; I should have some methods of my own. But my method isn't foolproof and carries risks, so we can only rely on Lady Makoto."
Raiden Makoto: "You're calling me 'Lady' again. It seems you still don't consider me a friend, Miko. But never mind. Given the current situation, it is indeed serious… I will act according to circumstances."
Raiden Makoto: "It has come to this—only one step remains. If it ends here, I would be very unwilling."
Azhdaha: "What? What are you all talking about? Why do I suddenly feel like I can't follow this conversation?"
Guizhong: "Azhdaha, let's not speak. This matter concerns Inazuma, not Liyue."
Keqing: "I'm also a bit confused, but this is indeed not something we should interfere in."
Kamisato Ayaka: "I think I understand a little. When I was in Inazuma City just now, I saw Futsu Mitama's attack—it was magnificent. If we could see it, then Raiden Shogun in Tenshukaku must have seen it as well."
Kamisato Ayaka: "Which means—Raiden Shogun may already be heading toward Yashiori Island. And to get there, she would definitely pass near Tatarasuna."
Zhongli: "In that case, Dottore's earlier words are not difficult to understand. What would Raiden Shogun, who pursues eternity, do upon witnessing this scene?"
Kuki Shinobu: "!!!"
Kuki Shinobu: "Don't scare me! If Raiden Shogun arrives on the battlefield, then the advantage we worked so hard to gain will surely—"
Sangonomiya Kokomi: "No need to worry. We also have Raiden Shogun, the omnipotent Guuji, and Futsu Mitama, who is rushing over. It's just…Futsu Mitama has expended too much stamina. Can he still hold on?"
Futsu Mitama: "I can hold on. My stamina is still slowly recovering, but I need external support. Does anyone have something for me to eat? The more I eat, the faster I recover. If there's some miraculous stamina-restoring potion, that would be even better."
Futsu Mitama: "If possible, I don't want to face Raiden Shogun so soon, but Dottore's words gave me a bad feeling. Anyway, with Dottore present, Scaramouche definitely can't be killed. I might as well head to the main battlefield. If Raiden Shogun comes, I can stall for a while."
Maha Rukkhadevata: "Indeed. There is a reason you are so highly regarded. An ordinary person would not be this decisive. I've decided. After you resolve the Inazuma incident, I will pass my legacy on to you. At that time, please look after my successor in Sumeru."
Raiden Makoto: "Don't try to poach him at a time like this!!! Let's resolve Inazuma's crisis first!"
Keqing: "I'll go to Wanmin Restaurant to order some food. What do you want to eat?"
Futsu Mitama: "Just a few simple Sweet Madames. Nothing too complicated—meat is fine."
Albedo: "I can prepare fast-acting, side-effect-free stamina potions. It will take one or two minutes."
Zhongli: "I have some Adeptus elixirs. They may be of help."
Shenhe: "My master gave me a talisman that rapidly restores stamina and elemental energy. I have no use for it now."
Futsu Mitama: "Before a big battle, supplies are essential. I'll take everything—whatever I can recover, I will."
Yae Miko: "Little one, act within your limits. If Raiden Shogun truly follows 'procedure,' you must retreat immediately."
Yae Miko: "As for my trump card, you will know when the time comes."
Raiden Makoto: "Has this moment finally arrived? Much faster than I expected."
Aila: "…"
Aila, still on Yashiori Island, looked toward the direction where the pillar of light had shot into the sky. She clenched her fists. After her training on Mt. Aocang, she had believed she could finally be of use to her Young Master—but reality proved otherwise.
In this battle, aside from clashing with Scaramouche once, she had either been traveling or watching from the sidelines.
This was not what she wanted. She wanted to be the blade in her Young Master's hand—not a burden. Watching him fight again and again while she stood behind him—that was not what a maid should do.
Aila took out the perfect and elegant maid's manual once more. Clutching it tightly, she recalled its teachings—one core tenet stood above all: A maid must give everything for the one she serves.
"I can't do anything right now—"
Aila murmured softly.
She was not strong enough. She had to become stronger. As her Young Master grew stronger, the enemies he faced became more terrifying. She had to keep up—no matter what.
At this moment, she began to understand her other self's intention—why she insisted on waiting until reaching the Adeptus realm before beginning the fusion.
Because she was too weak.
Too weak to assist her Young Master.
Too weak to even handle the Fatui's Sixth Harbinger.
And if she couldn't even face the Sixth, how could she ever face the Second?
At that moment, Aila made a silent vow. She would walk that path as soon as possible. If her other self could obtain the power of a god—then so could she. As Aila made her decision, on the other side of Tatarasuna, the battle between the Shogunate Army and the Resistance was already nearing its end.
In the distance, a group of people carried an unconscious old man, rapidly approaching the Shogunate Army's encampment.
"!!!"
At that moment, the previously unconscious old man suddenly woke. He looked around frantically, as if realizing something, then grabbed a trusted aide beside him and shouted, "What's the situation on the battlefield?!"
Yes, this old man was Kujou Takayuki.
Earlier, he had collapsed, vomiting blood and falling unconscious, unable to accept the Fatui's "betrayal" and the Resistance's tactics. Now that he had awakened, he still could not accept this cruel reality.
Kujou Takayuki hoped that, during his unconsciousness, several powerful generals comparable to Kujou Sara had emerged within the Shogunate Army and led them to victory. As long as they had won, everything would still be salvageable.
"Takayuki-sama… it's over."
The trusted aide hesitated briefly before replying, "After you fainted, the Resistance launched another surprise attack. All the generals were captured and taken prisoner by those strange devices."
"A complete rout. It's all over, Lord Takayuki. Even until the very end, the Fatui never appeared."
At this point, the aide couldn't help clenching his fists. He wanted to say it outright—that all of this had happened because Kujou Takayuki had fainted, causing such a drastic shift in the battlefield.
The Resistance's numbers were inferior, and their overall combat strength was weaker. Even with a surprise attack and a decapitation strike, they should not have collapsed so quickly.
But Kujou Takayuki, the commanding general, had fallen unconscious on the spot.
The three ninja-clad assassins judged the battlefield too dangerous. The girl who had ambushed them earlier was too strong; they could not guarantee Kujou Takayuki's safety amid the chaos, so they withdrew him immediately.
The other aides, seeing this, were at a loss. In the end, they could only grit their teeth and follow, escorting the unconscious Kujou Takayuki away.
And after that—there was no "after." In wartime, the sudden disappearance of the commanding general—what kind of blow would that deal to morale?
Thus, even those loyal to Kujou Takayuki couldn't help but feel a trace of resentment.
"…"
Kujou Takayuki remained silent.
He said nothing, because he understood clearly—this situation was no longer within his power to reverse.
At this point, he could only salvage what remained. The Kujou Clan's century-long plan had failed—but he still had to secure victory in this war.
"Let's go. Return to Inazuma City—to Tenshukaku—to see Raiden Shogun."
His tone was cold and resolute. He had decided to request Raiden Shogun to personally act—to unleash Musou no Hitotachi upon the rebels. Under that strike, no matter how much advantage the Resistance held, they would be reduced to nothing.
"!!!"
Everyone present was stunned, staring at Kujou Takayuki in disbelief.
What kind of decision was this? After his defeat, he intended to ask Raiden Shogun to intervene?
The situation had not yet reached that level.
Although the Resistance had won a major victory, if Kujou Takayuki dispatched Kujou Sara to the front lines—coordinating with the Yashiro Commission and the Kanjou Commission—then with the Tri-Commission united and Kujou Sara commanding, there was still a chance to annihilate the Resistance.
To put it plainly, a single defeat was not sufficient reason to request Raiden Shogun's intervention. If Raiden Shogun personally acted, the Tenryou Commission and the Shogunate Army would lose all face.
At that point, Kujou Takayuki would likely be forced to resign. As the head of the Tenryou Commission and leader of the Kujou Clan, commanding such forces yet failing to defeat the Resistance—and still requiring divine intervention—his authority would collapse entirely.
Moreover, once Raiden Shogun took action, his prestige among both the populace and the Tri-Commission would be completely erased.
The trusted aides stepped forward one after another, attempting to persuade him. Even the three assassins spoke urgently. This was no trivial matter—handled poorly, Kujou Takayuki could be imprisoned.
After all, the former head of the Kanjou Commission was still in prison, receiving no special treatment, even subjected to daily torture.
The assassins knew exactly what Kujou Takayuki had done. His aides, too, were not ignorant.
"No need for further words."
Kujou Takayuki waved his hand.
"As long as Raiden Shogun unleashes Musou no Hitotachi, I will bear all consequences. Even if I must resign as head of the Tenryou Commission, I will atone for my mistakes."
He spoke with righteous conviction. But in truth, he understood it well— If the Resistance gained power, the one who would die…would be him.
Yae Miko and Futsu Mitama would never let him go. As retainers of Raiden Shogun, they had undoubtedly already gathered evidence of his crimes. If this continued, he might, through some "accident," fall into the Resistance's hands. At that point, there would be no escape.
Seeing his unwavering resolve, his subordinates fell silent. But just then—
"You…why are you here, Head of the Kujou Clan?" A majestic female voice rang out.
Everyone turned at once. There, suspended in mid-air, stood Raiden Shogun.
Raiden Shogun gazed down at them indifferently, a faint trace of confusion flickering in her eyes. She had come for Futsu Mitama. Earlier, she had already seen Yae Miko at sea, and now, passing by, she had encountered Kujou Takayuki—and so, she paused.
The Three Commissions were also crucial pillars in maintaining Inazuma's eternity. Kujou Takayuki should have remained in Inazuma City, contributing to eternity—not wasting time here.
However, Raiden Shogun was not arbitrary. She still chose to ask him why he was here and what he was doing.
"Raiden Shogun-sama!"
Everyone dropped to one knee, saluting her, their eyes filled with reverence and devotion. In Inazuma, Raiden Shogun was heaven itself. No one could defy her will.
And every Inazuman held deep admiration for her. They believed that as long as she existed, no matter what chaos arose within Inazuma, it would be quelled beneath her thunder.
At this moment, Kujou Takayuki looked at Raiden Shogun as though he had seen salvation. His eyes were filled with joy; he had never expected her to appear at such a critical moment.
Heaven helps me! Heaven helps me!
"No need for formalities."
Raiden Shogun allowed them to rise, her tone indifferent.
"What happened?"
"Raiden Shogun, it is like this—"
Kujou Takayuki quickly recounted the situation, embellishing the matter of the Resistance. He had already reported on them before, so now he only needed to explain briefly how they had grown so powerful.
Naturally, he avoided mentioning that Futsu Mitama and Yae Miko were aligned with the Resistance. He was uncertain—if Raiden Shogun learned of their involvement, would she turn back immediately?
Though he didn't understand why she had left Tenshukaku, to him, this was a rare opportunity. He might even witness Musou no Hitotachi first-hand, striking down the Resistance.
With that thought, his speech quickened, eager to finish as quickly as possible.
"…"
After hearing him out, Raiden Shogun's gaze turned cold.
"Is this all you have done? As Head of the Tenryou Commission, you failed to suppress the Resistance and even abandoned the battlefield without authorization. According to military law, desertion in battle is punishable by death."
Kujou Takayuki's expression stiffened, his face turning pale.
No one dared move.
Before Raiden Shogun, even risking their lives would not change his fate. Even the assassins remained still. Against her, there was nothing they could do. They could only watch him die—and later return to report everything.
"Yes."
Kujou Takayuki did not resist. If she chose to strike him down, he could only accept it. But Raiden Shogun did not act immediately.
After a moment, her tone softened slightly.
"However, considering your years of service and contributions to eternity—the death penalty is waived. The living punishment remains."
"Effective immediately, you are removed as Head of the Tenryou Commission. You will also relinquish your position as Head of the Kujou Clan. Further punishment will be decided after this matter is resolved."
At the same time, she sensed that Futsu Mitama's Electro Authority was no longer declining—but rapidly recovering.
The battle on his side had ended. He was safe—for now.
"I will personally resolve the Resistance."
Her voice remained calm. She would not allow resistance to exist within her eternal nation. Her body was the guardian of eternity. Anyone who opposed eternity—was her enemy.
Ordinarily, such a matter would not require her intervention. But the Shogunate Army had been defeated. Further delay would only harm eternity. And anything that harmed eternity justified her action.
Moreover, suppressing the Resistance was not difficult.
She had absolute confidence. Those who persist in defiance—will be struck down.
With that, she turned her gaze toward Tatarasuna. Her figure vanished instantly. She was already heading for the battlefield.
"Go! Go! Go!"
Kujou Takayuki's face twisted with fanatic excitement as he shouted,
"Raiden Shogun-sama is taking action! This battle is already won!"
His subordinates shared the same fervor.
Even knowing he would suffer afterward, they could not suppress their anticipation. Because Musou no Hitotachi would appear again.
That legendary strike—something most would never witness in a lifetime.
Now, they would see it once more. And this time, it would fall upon the Resistance. Without hesitation, they rushed toward Tatarasuna—faster than their retreat had been. They feared arriving too late—and missing the moment the Resistance was erased.
—
Meanwhile, at Tatarasuna.
Only a small remnant of the Shogunate Army remained. Most had already been captured by the Resistance and the capture mechanisms. The last troops fought desperately, unwilling to surrender.
Though defeat was inevitable, they refused to accept it.
Kuki Shinobu, through the Chat Group, understood that something was about to change. She immediately ordered Gorou and Kazuha to launch a final assault. They had to end this quickly—before any unforeseen variables appeared.
Gorou and Kazuha did not fully understand her urgency. Victory was already certain; they could have taken their time. But they trusted her judgment. Both personally entered the battlefield, leading elite squads to subdue the remaining forces.
One captured general roared in fury, calling the Resistance traitors, rebels against Raiden Shogun—deserving death.
His voice was too loud.
Kuki Shinobu silenced him with a freshly made Jumpy Dumpty, knocking him unconscious.
At last, all Shogunate forces in Tatarasuna were neutralized. Some had fled—but overall, it was a decisive victory.
"Phew…it's done!"
Gorou beamed, his tail wagging as he spoke cheerfully,
"This victory means the Shogunate Army has no strength left to resist. We've won! Next, we will meet Raiden Shogun and request the lifting of the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree!"
The Resistance erupted in cheers.
Some newer members, however, felt a strange disbelief.
Was the Shogunate Army really this weak?
"…"
Kuki Shinobu frowned, her gaze fixed on the distance.
"Something wrong? Are you worried about Futsu Mitama?"
Kazuha asked quietly. The pillar of light earlier had been…unsettling.
"No… not him."
Kuki Shinobu began—
Then her pupils suddenly contracted. She stared at the sky.
Kazuha followed her gaze.
At that moment, everyone with even slight sensitivity felt it.
They looked up.
"This… this…!"
Gorou's body trembled.
Not just him—everyone froze.
Because the figure in the sky—was known to all.
The faith of Inazuma.
Its divine protector.
Raiden Shogun.
She stood high above, gazing down.
No emotion. No aura.
Yet her mere presence was enough to suffocate the battlefield.
The Resistance's morale plummeted instantly. Some even knelt without thinking.
Raiden Shogun did nothing. She simply watched. And that alone was terrifying.
Whispers spread below—
"Sh-Shogun-sama—!"
"How is this possible?! Why is she here?!"
"Could it be…this was all planned?"
"Impossible… she wouldn't eliminate us herself…, right?"
"Or… does she intend to lift the decrees?"
Hope and fear intertwined.
Then—Her gaze shifted.
"General of the Resistance?"
She looked directly at Gorou.
Gorou stiffened. Even so, he stepped forward, saluted, and spoke carefully,
"General of the Watatsumi Army greets Raiden Shogun. May I ask…your purpose here?"
He did not dare ask more.
Not about the decrees. Not about their cause.
That question… was not his to ask. Only Sangonomiya Kokomi, Yae Miko, or Futsu Mitama held that right. And here, now—he dared not risk it. Because if she refused—everything they had achieved would collapse.
After a brief silence, Raiden Shogun spoke.
"Disband the Resistance. Release the Shogunate Army. You and the people of Sangonomiya will bear responsibility for disrupting eternity and will be imprisoned."
"If you comply, I will not pursue others."
Her tone was calm.
Absolute.
Like a verdict already decided.
The words struck Gorou like thunder. His body swayed. Disband… surrender… imprisonment? After everything?
He clenched his teeth, staring upward—but said nothing.
Because refusal meant one thing: war against a nation Archon. And that…was a burden no one here could bear.
"It seems you are unwilling."
Raiden Shogun showed no patience. Seeing Gorou remain silent, she silently drew the Musou Isshin from her chest. Her tone was indifferent as she said, "Then, in the name of eternity, I sentence you to death."
Purple lightning flickered along the blade. An indescribable divine pressure instantly enveloped the surroundings, paralyzing everyone.
"This is bad—"
A trace of panic flashed in Kuki Shinobu's eyes. She quickly @everyone in the Chat Group, stating that if they didn't come or provide assistance immediately—then Gorou would truly die. Raiden Shogun had already drawn her sword.
"…"
Kazuha stood nearby, watching the scene unfold. A moment of daze passed through his eyes. He placed a hand on his sword hilt, his gaze wavering between struggle and resolve.
"Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle."
The Vision at his waist, which had shown no reaction until now, began flickering with faint purple lightning.
"Buzz—!!!"
In the next instant, however, the Musou Isshin in Raiden Shogun's hand erupted with an even more terrifying aura.
Gorou, who had intended to resist, was instantly crushed to the ground by the overwhelming pressure.
"Argh—ah—ah—ah!!!"
He roared, but it was useless. The divine pressure alone rendered him immobile. Even the slightest movement became nearly impossible, let alone resistance.
The soldiers beside him were likewise engulfed by the descending pressure, their bodies locked in place.
It was clear—Raiden Shogun intended to eliminate Gorou and the surrounding Resistance soldiers in a single strike.
These soldiers were elites of Watatsumi Island, veterans since the Resistance's founding. If they fell here, the Resistance would lose a significant portion of its command structure. This was no trivial matter. And clearly, Raiden Shogun had recognized this and chose to erase them entirely.
"This—"
Kazuha felt the crushing pressure, shock filling his eyes.
"This is different from last time—"
"Is she serious? Why? This should be a trivial matter for a god—why treat it with such gravity?"
Kuki Shinobu glanced at him, understanding exactly what he meant.
Kazuha had once witnessed the terror of Musou no Hitotachi. His friend had lost a duel before the throne with Kujou Sara—and was subsequently executed by Raiden Shogun. Kuki Shinobu had also been present that day, equally stunned by that strike.
But this time…it was different.
She knew more than he did.
The Musou no Hitotachi being unleashed now was on an entirely different level from the one used in that duel.
Raiden Shogun was not "angry" in the conventional sense—but as Yae Miko had said, that distinction hardly mattered.
Within her logic, eternity was absolute. No one—not even Raiden Ei, her creator—could override it.
To her, Gorou and the Resistance were elements disrupting eternity.
She would first offer a resolution: surrender, accept imprisonment, and the matter ends.
But if they refused—She would proceed according to her directive.
Draw the blade. Execute the instigator.
Once the sword was drawn, there was no de-escalation.
"!"
As the pressure intensified, Kazuha gritted his teeth. His hand tightened around the hilt. Even if it meant death—he could not stand by and watch. Last time, his friend had died under the rules of the duel. Kazuha had no right to interfere.
But this time was different.
The Resistance represented hope. Having walked alongside them for so long, he understood that. If that hope were to be crushed—He would not stand aside and watch it happen.
As that conviction solidified, the dormant Vision at his side flickered once more with faint lightning.
It had heard him.
It was responding.
"Don't rush."
Just as Kazuha prepared to step forward, Kuki Shinobu stopped him, her voice firm.
"Futsu Mitama is here."
"Huh?"
Kazuha froze.
In the next instant—
Raiden Shogun swung her blade. A blinding violet radiance erupted as the Musou Isshin descended from the sky.
"Hold your blade!"
A familiar voice cut across the battlefield.
At the same time, another surge of lightning rose from below, colliding with the descending strike mid-air.
"Sizzle—Sizzle—Sizzle—!!!"
A harsh, grinding sound tore through the air as the two Musou no Hitotachi clashed and canceled each other out.
But only for a moment. The upward strike was overwhelmed.
"Buzz—!!"
A faint golden light flared. A Jade Shield formed, protecting the Resistance below.
The descending slash struck the ground—But Gorou and the others remained unharmed.
Silence fell.
Both the Resistance and the remnants of the Shogunate Army stared in disbelief.
Raiden Shogun's strike—had been blocked.
Who?
Who dared?
"…"
Raiden Shogun said nothing.
Her gaze shifted forward. There, a young man in standard Inazuman attire stood—sword in one hand, a chicken leg in the other.
It was obvious he had just come from battle, arriving without pause.
As for the food—She ignored it.
That detail was irrelevant.
What mattered was this:
Why had Futsu Mitama stopped her?
Why was he protecting them?
"Phew~"
Kazuha exhaled in relief. But beneath that relief, something stirred.
If Futsu Mitama hadn't arrived—
If he had stepped forward instead—
What would the outcome have been?
In that moment, he finally understood the expression his friend had worn before facing Musou no Hitotachi.
Anyone would wonder—Could they block it?
Kuki Shinobu also relaxed slightly. She had been watching the group stream.
At the moment the blade fell, Futsu Mitama had still been far away. He must have used Chakra Desiderata to instantly close the distance.
Regardless—He had made it.
With him here, things might still turn. Though—
Yae Miko had mentioned a "trump card."
What exactly was it?
"Raiden Shogun-sama."
Futsu Mitama finished the Sweet Madame in one bite, casually tossed the bone aside, and saluted.
"…"
The bone landed on Gorou's head. He hesitated, speechless.
Raiden Shogun looked at Futsu Mitama.
"You should not be here. Leave. Return to Tenshukaku. After I deal with the Resistance, I will judge you."
Futsu Mitama simply shook his head.
If he left—Everyone here would die.
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