(Good Evenings everyone ~ I have good news and bad news.
The good news is I have been promoted. My proposal was accepted and I was assigned to fully handle it. Most importantly, my salary was raised twice it is.
While the bad news, since I was assigned to FULLY HANDLE it, I might not have the time to update next week chapters. Even if I try to work around it; at most I could update half of the current chapters words.
So, if it is possible for me; MyDeRe and Rashorin chapters will be halved
if I don't have the time, I need to ask a leave for you guys. At most a week.
Thank youu~~)
Chapter 173. Condensing the Wishes of All Beings!
Two exchanges—no more than that—and Futsu Mitama, who had moments ago stood suspended in the storm-laden sky, was already driven violently into the earth by the hand of Raiden Shogun.
He himself understood what had happened.
Two strikes.
Clear. Distinct. Overwhelming.
Yet to those below—There had been no such clarity.
From the perspective of the countless eyes fixed upon the battlefield, the sequence of events unfolded in something far more brutal, far more absolute.
The Shogun drew her blade.
Futsu Mitama vanished.
And in the next instant—He fell.
That was all.
No one saw the first collision. No one perceived the second.
To the ordinary soldier, even to seasoned fighters, there had been no "exchange," no discernible technique, no opportunity to follow the flow of combat. Only a single, inevitable outcome.
Speed beyond perception.
Power beyond comprehension.
It was as though the heavens themselves had struck him down.
And that…was what truly unsettled them. A chill spread silently through the ranks of the Resistance. Faces paled. Breaths grew shallow.
Because the implication was undeniable.
If even Futsu Mitama—who had dared to stand before the Shogun, who had blocked her blade, who had spoken against her definition of eternity—could be cast down so effortlessly—then what hope remained for the rest of them?
What fate awaited them…if he fell?
"—!"
But while fear took root among the many, there were those who did not freeze.
Gorou moved first. He did not hesitate.
The moment Futsu Mitama struck the ground, Gorou was already in motion, crossing the distance at full speed. Dust still lingered in the air when he reached the impact site—a crater carved in the shape of a human form.
Without pause, he stepped into it, reaching down and pulling Futsu Mitama upright.
"Futsu Mitama! Are you alright?!"
His voice carried both urgency and restraint, as though he feared the answer before hearing it. A moment later, Kaedehara Kazuha and Kuki Shinobu arrived as well.
Neither spoke immediately. But the concern in their expressions was unmistakable.
Kazuha's gaze lingered on Futsu Mitama for a brief second before he finally spoke, his tone steady, yet heavy with awareness.
"Don't force yourself. You've already fought the Fatui."
His eyes flickered faintly, recalling the earlier phenomenon—the pillar of light that had pierced the heavens not long ago.
That clash…had not been trivial. If anything, it had been a battle of the highest order. Which meant—Futsu Mitama stood here now not at his peak, but already diminished. And yet the one before him—
Raiden Shogun had entered the battlefield in a complete, unweakened state. The disparity was not merely one of strength.
It was one of condition.
One of timing.
One of inevitability.
Kazuha understood this—and because he understood it, a quiet sense of despair brushed against his thoughts. And still—beneath that weight, there was something else.
Respect.
No… more than that.
Gratitude.
Because the one standing before them had no obligation to be here. Futsu Mitama was no ordinary combatant. As one acknowledged by the Shogun herself, his status stood at the very pinnacle of Inazuma's hierarchy—second only to one, above countless others.
He could have remained untouched by all of this. He could have ignored the suffering, the corruption, the conflict. He could have lived as Kujou Takayuki did—wielding authority, enjoying its privileges, and turning a blind eye to the consequences.
And yet—He had chosen not to. He had stepped forward.
Not for power. Not for recognition.
But for the people.
For an idea. For a belief that could not even guarantee victory.
That was what stirred something deep within Kazuha's chest.
"Thank you," though unspoken, lingered in his heart.
Beside him, Kuki Shinobu remained silent. But her silence was not emptiness.
It was restraint.
Because, unlike the others, she knew more. Through the Chat Group, through the live stream, she had seen enough to understand that Futsu Mitama was not truly "defeated" by those two strikes alone. And yet—
Understanding did not make it easier to watch.
Seeing him fall from the sky, seeing his body driven into the earth with such force… logic offered little comfort in the face of that reality.
Her gaze lingered on him, steady yet troubled. Because knowledge came with its own burden. She knew how far he had pushed himself.
Against Scaramouche, he had fought without reservation—unleashing Musou no Hitotachi, invoking techniques like Starfall, even drawing upon the power of a Gnosis more than once.
Against Il Dottore, he had already admitted he was nearing his limit. And after all that—He had not rested.
He had not recovered.
He had come here.
Immediately. Without hesitation.
Even requesting restorative items mid-transit, grasping at whatever means he could to sustain himself. A faint tightening passed through her expression.
He was overextending himself. Far beyond what anyone—human or otherwise—should endure. Even if his body was not ordinary… even if his resilience surpassed reason— There were limits. There had to be. And yet—He continued to stand.
"Cough, cough, cough… I'm fine."
With Gorou's support, Futsu Mitama forced himself back onto his feet. Dusting off the dirt from his clothes, he steadied his breathing, then tightened his grip on the Seven Thunder of Retribution: Narukami. A trace of helplessness flickered across his face as he spoke.
"I was careless. When sparring with Raiden Shogun, it's usually not this bad."
He exhaled, his gaze sharpening.
"Next—I'll be serious. Don't worry."
As his voice fell, he stepped forward. The wind gathered beneath him—Anemo surging—and in the next instant, his figure rose once more into the air, charging straight toward Raiden Shogun.
Below, all eyes followed his ascent.
Gorou, Kazuha, Kuki Shinobu—along with every soldier of the Resistance and the Shogunate Army—watched his departing figure in silence, their hearts stirred with complicated emotions.
In Inazuma, no one dared to defy a god. No one dared to oppose the will of Raiden Shogun.
The Resistance itself had never been born out of ambition. At the beginning, it had been nothing more than a desperate struggle for survival. Watatsumi Island lacked resources—if nothing changed, starvation would have been inevitable.
If they could live in peace, who would choose rebellion?
Who would willingly take up arms against the Shogunate Army… against a god?
And yet now—Someone stood against that very god.
Someone questioned the meaning of "eternity."
What was eternity?
Most present could not answer that question. They only knew that Raiden Shogun had spoken of it—and so they followed.
Such was the faith of a nation.
Mondstadt upheld freedom. Liyue honored contracts. Inazuma pursued eternity. Sumeru sought wisdom. Fontaine revered justice.
These ideals formed the backbone of each nation's spirit. But unlike the others, Inazuma's eternity was something few could truly describe.
Now, after hearing Futsu Mitama's words, they felt as though they had grasped a fragment of its meaning—yet it remained distant, elusive.
Even so, that was only natural.
Because even Raiden Shogun herself did not fully understand eternity. What she pursued was not eternity in its entirety—but "unchanging."
As Futsu Mitama ascended once more, he returned to stand before her.
This time, however, Raiden Shogun did not strike immediately. She looked at him, her gaze calm yet piercing.
"Who did you fight?"
Her voice was indifferent, but not without scrutiny.
"You are exhausted."
With only a brief exchange, she had already discerned his condition. As the one who understood his strength best, she knew—regardless of whether she had held back—he should not have been overwhelmed so easily.
Combined with the indigo pillar of light she had witnessed earlier, the conclusion was obvious.
Futsu Mitama had fought a formidable opponent before coming here.
"I fought a Fatui Harbinger—Scaramouche."
Since she did not attack, Futsu Mitama made no move either. If he could delay even a little, he might recover some of his stamina.
Right now, he was running on fumes.
"Kunikuzushi—"
Raiden Shogun blinked faintly, a rare hint of surprise passing through her expression.
"With his strength, that is not impossible. Though I had expected it would take you longer to reach this point."
Her gaze settled on him once more, calm and measured.
"You have grown. However—that power is not truly yours. Relying too heavily on external forces will lead you astray."
Her words were not an attack—but a warning. She had already sensed it.
The power of the Gnosis.
The light that had pierced the skies of Inazuma did not belong to him alone. Had it been the Electro Gnosis, she would not have objected. But what he wielded was something else entirely.
"So… will you hold back?"
Futsu Mitama let out a dry laugh, his tone almost pleading.
"I just fought Scaramouche. My stamina is nearly gone."
Raiden Shogun did not respond. Instead, she simply raised the Musou Isshin, its blade pointing directly at him.
Her answer was clear.
She had already given him a choice—ally of eternity, or enemy of eternity.
If he did not yield, then she would not hold back.
"Alright."
Futsu Mitama inhaled deeply. There was no more room for luck.
He steadied himself, gripping the Seven Thunder of Retribution: Narukami with one hand, the blade angled forward as his gaze locked onto hers.
"Then—Raiden Shogun-sama."
"Please enlighten me."
"Planet Befall."
Golden light surged.
Geo energy condensed high above, gathering into a massive celestial star that tore through the sky as it descended, its overwhelming presence bearing down upon her.
Raiden Shogun said nothing. Only a faint, unreadable glimmer passed through her eyes. Then—
She swung her blade. A single flash of lightning split the heavens.
The falling star—once thought unstoppable—was cleaved apart in an instant, shattered into countless fragments that rained down upon the battlefield below.
"Sizzle—!"
Before the debris had even begun to fall—
Futsu Mitama moved.
The Chakra Desiderata flared, and in a blink, he vanished from sight, reappearing behind her. His blade had already fallen—Musou no Hitotachi unleashed without hesitation.
"Clang—!"
Steel met steel.
The Seven Thunder of Retribution: Narukami collided with the Musou Isshin, and a violent surge of power erupted outward.
Divine pressure flooded the surroundings.
The blade he wielded carried the authority of the Electro Archon—infused into it at the moment of its forging. In his hands, it was as though a fragment of that authority had been made manifest.
Yet—
Before him stood Raiden Shogun herself.
That pressure meant nothing to her.
Even so, with both the authority within the blade and the authority he himself carried, the strike he unleashed was far from ordinary.
Against any other opponent—even Scaramouche in his mechanical form—such an attack would have demanded evasion.
But Raiden Shogun did not retreat.
With one hand, she held the Musou Isshin steady, taking a single step back as she deflected the strike cleanly.
"Not bad."
Her voice was calm, almost approving.
Then, her gaze sharpened.
"But if this is all… it is far from enough."
"I am the unchanging law that spans countless ages."
"I am the Eternal Guardian."
"If this is the extent of your resolve—then fall."
Thunder roared.
Lightning split the sky as countless bolts descended at once, crashing down toward Futsu Mitama.
He did not retreat. Golden light flickered in his eyes as a Jade Shield formed around him, standing firm against the storm.
Then—he charged again.
Above, the clash intensified.
Below, the battlefield descended into chaos as shattered stone and lightning rained down without restraint.
"Everyone! Disperse!!"
Gorou and Kuki Shinobu shouted at the same time, immediately recognizing the danger.
Even without their warning, soldiers on both sides had already begun to retreat, instinct driving them away from the devastation above. Some Shogunate soldiers, who had only just regained consciousness from earlier explosions, stared upward in confusion.
"What… what is happening…?"
Before long, those who had witnessed everything began explaining. And as the truth spread—
Shock followed.
A battle between the Resistance and the Shogunate Army had escalated into something unimaginable.
A clash—between Raiden Shogun and her own retainer.
Then—
A voice.
"Hello, hello, hello~ Can you hear me?"
It echoed directly within their minds.
"Hmm?" Kuki Shinobu paused, a trace of surprise flickering across her eyes. That voice—there was no mistaking it. It belonged to Yae Miko.
Had she already arrived at the battlefield? But that didn't align with what she had said earlier—she was supposed to be preparing a trump card for Futsu Mitama. Then why…was she speaking directly into their minds? And if this was directed at her, why hadn't she simply addressed her through the Chat Group?
"What's that sound?!"
Nearby, Gorou bristled like a startled animal, every muscle tense as he scanned the surroundings with sharp vigilance.
"This is…Guuji Yae Miko?!"
Kaedehara Kazuha, in contrast, immediately recognized the voice. His expression shifted into unmistakable astonishment.
He had encountered her once before, years ago, at the Grand Narukami Shrine atop Mt. Yougou. Though brief, that exchange had left a deep impression. Time had passed, yet her voice—elegant, languid, and faintly teasing—remained unforgettable.
It was not only them. Across the battlefield, reactions rippled outward. Some soldiers stiffened in alarm, unable to comprehend why a voice had suddenly manifested within their minds. Others, more composed or more familiar with Inazuma's prominent figures, quickly identified its source. As the head shrine maiden of the Grand Narukami Shrine, Yae Miko's voice was not unknown to those of status or experience.
Even for those who did not recognize it, whispers spread swiftly. Within moments, understanding dawned across both the Resistance and the Shogunate ranks—
The voice belonged to Guuji Yae Miko.
Though confusion lingered regarding the method, no one dared interrupt. Attention converged, and the battlefield—despite the chaos above—fell into an unusual stillness as all listened.
"Greetings, everyone. I am the wise and beautiful Guuji Yae Miko."
Her tone carried its usual playful lilt, light yet deliberate.
"You must be wondering why my voice has appeared in your minds. That, of course, is a secret Fox Art Not something I can simply teach, even if you wished to learn"
A brief pause, as though allowing curiosity to settle.
"But more importantly… you have all seen him, have you not? The one currently battling Raiden Shogun in the skies above."
Her voice sharpened, though it retained that signature elegance.
"His name is Futsu Mitama. At present, like myself, he is a Retainer of Raiden Shogun. However~ he also bears another title."
"The future Eternal Guardian."
A heartbeat of silence.
"Simply put… should nothing unexpected occur, he will one day ascend as the next Electro Archon—the next Raiden Shogun."
Shock detonated across the battlefield.
Pupils constricted. Breaths hitched. The weight of those words struck far harder than any lightning.
"Ah?! This—?!!"
Gorou's tail froze rigid, his composure shattered as he stared upward at the figure still clashing in the heavens.
"The next… Raiden Shogun?!"
Kazuha's voice carried genuine disbelief. The contrast was too extreme—someone he had once guided, now revealed as the heir to divinity itself. The revelation was staggering, almost absurd.
Instinctively, his gaze shifted toward Shinobu.
She remained silent, her expression composed—too composed. There was no trace of surprise, as though this truth had long since been known to her.
The same upheaval unfolded among the Shogunate forces.
"This… this… how could that be?!"
Kujou Takayuki staggered, his voice trembling as disbelief overtook him. He, too, had been drawn into this unseen channel.
"Raiden Shogun…he is to become the next Raiden Shogun?!"
In that instant, fragments of past confusion aligned.
Why Kujou Sara had withheld information. Why certain truths had never reached him. It was never reluctance—it was impossibility.
Some knowledge simply could not be disclosed.
Understanding dawned, but it brought no relief. Instead, a heavier realization followed: Futsu Mitama's standing in the Shogun's eyes far exceeded anything he had imagined.
"Wah—!"
A mouthful of blood burst forth as Takayuki collapsed once more, consciousness slipping away. Panic spread among his retainers.
Today, their lord's composure had utterly unraveled. Yet even amid the shock, no one dared turn away. Yae Miko had not finished speaking.
"You all seem quite surprised. But yes… it is the truth."
Her tone shifted—less playful now, carrying a rare note of clarity and intent.
"One reason Futsu Mitama and I stand with the Resistance—is to bring an end to the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree."
"Another lies in the negligence, corruption, and deliberate deception within the Tenryou Commission—failures that have driven Inazuma into increasing disorder."
She did not rush her words. Each point landed with deliberate weight.
"Yet the root of the matter—remains Raiden Shogun herself. She has remained within Tenshukaku for far too long—cut off from the voices of her people, unable to perceive what they truly desire."
A faint pause followed.
"Futsu Mitama stands there now—to make her see once more the nation she governs. To force her to confront her own 'eternity.'"
"And beyond that—"
Her voice softened, but its clarity deepened.
"to make her hear the true voices within the hearts of her people."
Above them, the clash continued.
And then—
"Boom—!!"
A figure plummeted from the sky once more.
Futsu Mitama struck the earth with violent force, the impact sending debris scattering outward.
"Cough… cough—!"
Blood spilled from his lips as he struggled upright, the Seven Thunder of Retribution: Narukami driven into the ground to steady himself. Even standing required effort now.
A flicker of helplessness crossed his gaze.
Archon-level power…was overwhelming beyond measure.
Had Raiden Shogun intended to kill him, this battle would have ended long ago.
Above, the Shogun hovered, Musou Isshin held loosely in one hand. Violet lightning pulsed through her eyes as she regarded him with calm, unshaken indifference.
"You are nearing your limit."
Her voice was even, devoid of malice—merely stating fact.
"Repeatedly invoking the legacy of the Geo Archon—unleashing Musou no Hitotachi multiple times—to persist this long, your stamina exceeds expectation."
A brief pause.
"But as things stand, persistence alone cannot alter the Eternity"
Her gaze sharpened, though her tone remained composed.
"If you truly wish to change it—you must first become stronger. You possess such potential. In time, perhaps."
A faint shift of her stance.
"But now—" The blade rose. "you will fall."
As she spoke, Raiden Shogun raised the Musou Isshin in her hand and, with a motion that seemed almost casual, brought it down toward Futsu Mitama.
"Boom—!!!"
Thunder roared. A blazing arc of violet lightning tore through the sky, its brilliance illuminating the battlefield as it descended with crushing force.
There was no hesitation in her gaze, no trace of mercy. She understood his condition with absolute clarity. Not long ago, he had already exhausted himself in battle against Scaramouche. Even now, despite pushing himself to the limit, he had only managed to momentarily inconvenience her.
But that was all.
His endurance was remarkable—astonishing, even—but he had spent too much. The outcome had already been decided.
It was over.
Yet Futsu Mitama had no intention of falling here. If he did, then the Resistance below would not be spared. The Shogun did not make idle declarations—her will would be carried out without deviation.
As for the "Sly Fox's" trump card… he still could not see it.
In this moment, there was only one choice left—stall for time.
He invoked the authority of Anemo once more, not once, but three times in succession, forcefully stimulating the Anemo Gnosis within him.
"I have no limits!"
"Om—!!"
The Gnosis responded. An immense surge of Anemo elemental power erupted outward, enveloping his entire body. Strength flooded back into his limbs, vast and unceasing, as though an inexhaustible current had been opened.
"Ah?"
For the first time, surprise crossed his face.
There was no resistance. No strain. No cost.
The activation—had been effortless.
As though—someone, somewhere, had intervened.
A fleeting image surfaced in his mind: a carefree bard, smiling as though the world itself were a stage.
Could it be—
The thought vanished as quickly as it came. There was no time to dwell on it.
In the next instant, Futsu Mitama drew upon that surging power and poured it directly into the Seven Thunder of Retribution: Narukami. The blade hummed as Anemo energy coursed through it, then—
"Swish—!!"
A cyan arc of wind cleaved through the air, meeting the descending lightning head-on.
The collision was immediate.
The Shogun's strike had been measured—precisely calibrated to render him unconscious, nothing more. But the power now flowing through him—was anything but measured.
To those watching below, the result was unmistakable—
The lightning was shattered.
The Anemo slash, undiminished, surged forward, cutting straight toward the Shogun in the sky.
"…!"
A faint, almost imperceptible shift crossed Raiden Shogun's eyes.
She moved. The Musou Isshin flashed once more, and the incoming strike was cleanly divided, dissipating into nothingness.
"Venti—Barbatos."
Her voice remained calm, but the recognition was immediate. That power did not originate from Futsu Mitama alone. It had been triggered—deliberately. Whether it was interference from afar, or a contingency laid long ago—the implication was the same.
Her gaze deepened. It seemed a journey to Mondstadt would be inevitable.
Elsewhere, within the live stream—
[Venti: "Oh dear Looks like my little contingency has been activated"]
[Raiden Makoto: "You do have a talent for surprises, Barbatos."]
[Venti: "Ehe~ If your sister comes after me, you'll cover for me, right?"]
[Raiden Makoto: "That can be arranged. As for you 'stealing' the heir—that is another matter."]
[Azhdaha: "A timely move. Without it, the boy would not have endured."]
[Rukkhadevata: "Indeed. The timing was critical. Sustaining that power will buy him time."]
[Zhongli: "Or provoke the Shogun further. One must consider both outcomes."]
Above the battlefield, there was no such pause.
Having received Yae Miko's urging, Futsu Mitama advanced once more, riding the currents of wind.
Power surged through him—palpable, overwhelming. Yet something had changed.
The Shogun's strikes grew heavier.
Sharper.
Even with the Gnosis sustaining him, he found himself driven back again and again, unable to seize the advantage.
Below, Yae Miko's voice rang out once more—this time, faster, more urgent.
"Everyone…pray for him."
"Entrust your wishes to Futsu Mitama. Let him carry them…and show the Shogun what her people truly feel."
"He is fighting for you. For Inazuma…and for a better tomorrow."
Confusion lingered among many.
Pray? What could that possibly change?
And yet—some did not hesitate.
Gorou clasped his hands tightly, his expression tense.
Kuki Shinobu exhaled softly, her gaze steady and unwavering.
Kaedehara Kazuha closed his eyes, his posture calm.
One by one, across both armies, people followed.
Because they remembered.
They remembered an Inazuma before the Sakoku Decree.
Before the Vision Hunt Decree.
Before everything had fallen into turmoil.
The Resistance did not rise without reason.
The Shogunate did not fight without doubt.
At some point, the conflict had ceased to make sense.
And now—someone stood in the sky, bearing all of it.
"Bang—!!"
Futsu Mitama crashed down once more, blood at the corner of his lips. Even with the Gnosis, he could not prevail.
Archon-level power—was overwhelming.
And still—no sign of that so-called trump card. Until—light appeared.
Faint at first.
Golden motes, drifting upward from the battlefield below. One by one, they gathered, converging into a radiant current that flowed into his body.
"This is…Devotion?"
His eyes widened slightly.
"So this is your answer…Miko?"
A soft laugh sounded beside him.
Yae Miko stepped forward, her presence calm, composed.
"My dear, charging head-on in your current state is hardly wise."
She raised a hand, placing it lightly upon him.
"What you need—is a little help."
"Feel them. The wishes of the people."
"You are not fighting alone."
Power flowed.
Her power.
Through a secret art, she transferred it without reservation.
For a fleeting moment, the Guuji of Narukami Shrine stood as she was meant to be—graceful, radiant—and utterly devoid of concern for her own loss.
Within Futsu Mitama's mind—voices arose.
Clear. Countless.
"Young Master, you must win."
"Wake up that guy Ei for me!"
"Everything is up to you, Futsu Mitama."
"Don't lose."
"Go, Futsu Mitama!!! For the Resistance and Inazuma!!!"
"Please, end the Vision Hunt Decree. Don't let the war continue."
They echoed, overlapping, yet distinct.
The will of the people.
The same kind of voices he had once heard before.
"So this is it." Above, Raiden Shogun observed in silence. "Miko's design."
Her gaze flickered, faintly.
"Impressive. But even so—it is not enough to overturn eternity."
Far away, within the Plane of Euthymia—Raiden Ei opened her eyes.
She saw it all.
Heard it all.
The prayers of her people.
A tremor passed through her heart.
"Was I mistaken?"
Back on the battlefield—Futsu Mitama rose once more.
Golden light intertwined with violet radiance. Behind him, a wheel began to take form—shaped from devotion itself.
Step by step, he ascended.
One. Two. Three. Four.
With each step, a point of light ignited upon the wheel behind him, until it shone in full brilliance—The Omnipresent God's Wheel, forged from the wishes of countless lives.
He stopped before Raiden Shogun once more.
For the fourth time.
Blade in hand, gaze unwavering.
"Shogun-sama…I have not fallen yet."
A breath. Then, with absolute resolve—
"Please enlighten me."
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