The Raiden Shogun came to a halt beneath the Statue of the Thousand-Armed, Hundred-Eyed God.
In the next instant, she slowly turned around.
With an aloof, commanding gaze, she looked down at Thoma, who remained kneeling on the ground, unable to rise.
Among the crowd, Paimon nervously tugged at Lumine's sleeve and asked in a flustered whisper,
"Thoma… is he really going to have his Vision taken away?"
Lumine did not answer.
But a trace of resolve flashed through her eyes.
From the moment she had set foot on Ritou days ago, Thoma had taken care of her in every way.
Now, that warm-hearted and kind Thoma was about to have his Vision confiscated.
How could Lumine stand by and watch without doing anything?
At that moment—
The Raiden Shogun's gaze turned cold.
As she looked at Thoma, she slowly raised her slender, jade-like hand.
Crackle—! Bzzzt—!
The Pyro Vision at Thoma's waist was forcibly torn away by a streak of lightning, dragged free as crackling electricity wrapped around it and hurled it forward at blinding speed.
"No—! Thoma's Vision is being taken!"
Paimon finally cried out in alarm.
Lumine had clearly prepared herself long ago.
The instant the Vision flew out, she stepped forward and dashed after it, snatching the Vision out of the air just before it could be taken.
"Who goes there!?"
"Impudent! How dare you disrupt the ceremony!"
The two guards beside Thoma immediately raised their spears, trying to block Lumine's path.
But Lumine was the one who had defeated Tartaglia in the Golden House.
How could a pair of ordinary soldiers stop her?
With a single swing of her sword, two streaks of lightning burst forth, instantly knocking the guards aside.
In the next breath, Lumine reached Thoma's side.
"Traveler…"
Thoma stared at her in disbelief. "You… you actually stopped the ceremony for me…"
Lumine didn't speak.
Instead, she answered him with her actions.
She dared.
Just as Lumine was about to untie the ropes binding Thoma—
The Raiden Shogun moved.
She stepped forward, lightning crackling beneath her feet.
The violent, restless thunder seemed utterly submissive beneath her, transforming into a path of lightning that led straight toward the one who defied her.
As she walked calmly forward, a voice filled with supreme authority echoed in everyone's ears:
"You can wield elemental power without a Vision…"
"You are… an 'exception.'"
"And exceptions… are enemies of Eternity."
The thunder in the sky roared in response.
The crushing pressure made everyone present feel their hearts seize.
The onlookers began clutching at one another in panic.
From the terror in their eyes, it was clear that each of them was only a step away from collapsing to the ground under the majesty of the lightning.
Even Lumine froze in place when faced with the frost-cold expression of the Raiden Shogun.
Paimon shrank back, hiding behind Lumine, trembling and unable to move.
At that very moment—
The Raiden Shogun, wreathed in lightning, arrived before Lumine.
She slowly spread her arms.
Bzzzz—!
The thunder grew violent, screeching with an ear-piercing roar.
Behind her, a circular arc of violet lightning gradually took shape.
At the same time, a sword hilt—one that seemed to tug at the thunder of the heavens themselves—slowly emerged from her chest.
The Raiden Shogun raised her slender hand and grasped the hilt, pulling the violet blade free in one smooth motion.
BOOM—!
The moment the blade was raised, thunder exploded.
Heaven and earth resounded together.
High above Inazuma City—
"What's going on over there?"
Lin Mo looked toward the direction of the statue, frowning. "Is a battle breaking out?"
"Today is the ceremony for the hundredth Vision,"
Yae Miko said calmly.
"Probably another Vision bearer refusing to give it up, as usual. That's angered the puppet who enforces 'Eternity.'"
"The hundredth Vision…"
"Thoma…"
Only then did Lin Mo remember.
Right—this was Lumine following the original storyline.
If he recalled correctly…
The only time Lumine was truly beaten down in the original plot was right here.
The question now was—
Should he let things play out the same way?
…Probably not.
After all, Ei's old friends had already returned.
And Raiden Makoto would soon reclaim her authority as a true god and return to the world.
The so-called "Eternity" that Ei clung to had already lost its meaning.
Naturally, the storyline in Inazuma was destined to be completely overturned.
"Hmm… fine."
"Since Lumine helped me save the corrupted and tainted Chiyo, I'll return the favor."
Lin Mo made his decision at once.
Behind him, his black wings beat faster, tearing through the sky.
…
Beneath the Statue of the Thousand-Armed, Hundred-Eyed God—
The Raiden Shogun stared coldly at the one who defied her.
The violet blade in her hand pointed straight ahead.
"I will entomb you within the statue."
The moment her cold voice fell—
She swung her blade through the void.
"Wait—!!"
Lin Mo's voice rang out from the heavens.
But… it was too late.
BOOOOM—!
With the Shogun's slash, the space beneath the statue was cleaved open by a streak of violet light.
A massive, dark-purple barrier expanded outward from her, crushing everything in its path.
Lumine's eyes widened in shock. Before she could react, she was completely engulfed by the spreading purple glow.
In the blink of an eye—
A man with black wings dove down from the sky.
Rushing into the violet barrier alongside him were a lithe oni girl and two beautiful shrine maidens dressed in ceremonial robes.
As the purple barrier closed—
The figures within it vanished from sight.
"Ah—! Traveler—!"
Paimon screamed anxiously from within the crowd.
Beside her stood a white-haired girl.
She clutched her folding fan tightly, her eyes trembling as she whispered uncertainly,
"Lin Mo… was that you…?"
…
Within the Plane of Euthymia—
Ei carefully examined a skewer of tri-color dango in her hand.
"Strange… did something go wrong?"
She stared at the dango with a puzzled look.
In her eyes, it was perfect.
The softness, the sheen of the dumplings, even the dusting of sugar on top—everything looked flawless.
A moment later, Ei glanced down at the ground.
Looking at the countless failed attempts scattered everywhere, doubt crept into her heart.
Was this perfect dango… really made by her own hands?
Crackle—!
Just then, Ei sensed a portal opening behind her.
Without even turning around, she snapped irritably,
"I told you—don't disturb me unless it's something important!
Shogun, didn't you hear me!?"
"Ah!"
At that moment, Lumine tumbled out of the portal with a startled cry.
Ei turned in confusion.
Before she could draw her blade to punish the intruder—
Four figures stepped out of the portal in succession.
And when Ei's eyes fell upon the person at the front—
Her body stiffened violently.
The perfect skewer of tri-color dango slipped from her hand and fell to the floor.
"Ei,"
the man said with a smile,
"long time no see."
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T/N:
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