Carried by the wind, Lin Mo led the group across the sea, flying toward the source of the outbreak—Watatsumi Island.
Along the way, Lin Mo could clearly see thousands of deep-sea vishaps roaming the ocean, successively landing on every small island within Inazuma's waters. The entire island of Tatarasuna was engulfed in the flames of war. Soldiers holding their ground at the Kujou Encampment were fiercely resisting the Ash-Scatterer deep-sea vishaps that had landed from the sky.
Keqing, Yoimiya, Sayu, and Klee understood immediately. They immediately deployed their Wind Gliders and soared toward the war-torn coast of Tatarasuna. It wasn't just the four of them. The hundreds of crew members aboard the *Alcor*, flying alongside the group through the air, also descended rapidly toward the combat zone under Captain Beidou's lead.
As they flew toward Watatsumi Island, figures continuously streaked down from the sky, supporting the fighting soldiers and the residents putting up a stubborn resistance.
Soon, carried by the wind, the group could already see the land of Watatsumi Island in the distance.
Looking out, Watatsumi Island was a scene of utter devastation. The entire island seemed to have become the territory of the deep-sea vishaps. On average, every five meters, one could see a three-meter-long deep-sea vishap entrenched.
Fortunately, the main camp of the Watatsumi soldiers was located at the Sangonomiya Shrine, which occupied an excellent strategic position. Because they simply couldn't withstand the terrifying numbers of the deep-sea vishap army, from afar, one could see the Shrine crowded with people. Soldiers and residents alike huddled together on the giant coral structure the size of a football field, helplessly awaiting reinforcements.
Seeing this scene, Ei could no longer suppress the killing intent in her heart. Although the residents and soldiers of Watatsumi Island worshipped the great serpent Orobashi, they were still people of the land of Inazuma. Watching them suffer the invasion of the deep-sea vishaps, the naginata in her hand already faintly flickered with lightning.
But before Ei could act, a low, authoritative chant came from Lin Mo.
"Heavenly Principles!"
Suddenly, beams of dazzling light pierced through the clouds, descending from the heavens. The blinding golden radiance naturally attracted everyone's gaze. In an instant, the sky and land of Watatsumi Island were dyed a resplendent gold.
"So... so beautiful..." Qiqi murmured, gazing at the brilliant night sky.
Makoto, looking at the resplendent night sky, also couldn't help but whisper, "This... is the power Sasayuri possesses..."
In the originally oppressive night sky, thousands of brilliant meteorites descended one after another toward the earth. Each golden meteorite was half the size of the Sangonomiya Shrine, akin to the size of a small island.
"You... you want to destroy Watatsumi Island?!" Kokomi immediately grabbed Lin Mo's arm in alarm. With so many small mountains crashing onto Watatsumi Island, not just Kokomi, but everyone felt the island would sink in an instant.
"Nothing will happen," Lin Mo gently held Kokomi's hand on his arm and smiled. "Just watch."
Kokomi wanted to say more, but... it was too late now. Everyone's vision was already blinded by the dazzling golden light.
"Boom!!! Boom!!!"
The earth rumbled incessantly. With each falling meteorite, dozens or even hundreds of deep-sea vishaps perished. The dense meteor shower left the vishaps with nowhere to hide. It was estimated that thirty to forty thousand deep-sea vishaps were entrenched across the island. The once scenic Watatsumi Island, under the successive impacts of the meteorites, became a river of blood. Crimson streams flowing from all parts of the island into the sea appeared exceptionally vivid under the brilliant golden light.
"See, my control is quite good, isn't it?" Lin Mo put an arm around Kokomi's shoulders proudly. "With so many meteorites imbued with my power crashing onto Watatsumi Island, doesn't it declare to the world that Watatsumi Island has become my territory?"
"Wishful thinking," Kokomi pouted, complaining, "Only if you fulfill your promise and marry me can Watatsumi Island be your territory. Otherwise, it will forever belong to the Sangonomiya Shrine."
"Hmm?" Ei immediately cast a cold gaze at Lin Mo. "Promise? Marriage?"
Lin Mo instantly knew this woman was going to bring up Inazuma's newly enacted law again!
"Ahem, Ei, resolving the deep-sea vishap crisis is the priority now!" Lin Mo nervously pointed toward the direction of Enkanomiya. "Look, two super-large primordial vishaps just emerged over there. They are the leaders of the deep-sea vishaps. Deal with them, and the leaderless vishaps won't be a threat!"
Who would have thought, the moment Lin Mo finished speaking, Ei's body flickered with dazzling purple lightning.
"Now, the moment of annihilation!" A sharp cry.
The might of lightning! A thunderous slash tore through the sky, streaking straight toward the exit of Enkanomiya. The moment this slash appeared, the entire sky over Watatsumi Island was dyed an eerie purple.
"Roar!!! Roar!!!"
The two leaders of the deep-sea vishaps, under the ultimate slash of Ei's martial prowess, didn't last a second before being cleaved in two by the lightning.
"Ei! That slash was so cool!" Lin Mo immediately changed the subject. "Let's hurry and clear out the scattered vishaps in the sea. We can't let them threaten Inazuma's people."
"Sasayuri, do not think you can evade the judgment of the law," Ei said calmly.
"Law? Judgment?" Kokomi blinked her large eyes, her face full of confusion.
"Ahem, now is not the time to discuss this. I'll go clear out the scattered vishaps." With that, Lin Mo fled toward the sea as if escaping.
With slashes of Anemo, Lin Mo's figure wreaked havoc across the dark sea. Under the flight of emerald sword energy, blossoms of crimson roses bloomed one after another in the ocean.
Seeing Lin Mo clearing them so easily, the others weren't in a hurry to join. Kokomi, however, curiously asked Ei, "General, what law has Lin Mo... violated?"
Ei looked toward Lin Mo's figure speeding across the sea and said calmly, "The Lin Mo you speak of, that is, Sasayuri, is a repeat offender of arson in Inazuma City."
The next moment, Ei's gaze turned to Sangonomiya Kokomi, and she said seriously, "The resistance army and people of Watatsumi Island are under your charge, correct?"
"Yes... they are," Sangonomiya Kokomi replied, somewhat nervous.
"If you acknowledge that Watatsumi Island and the Sangonomiya Shrine are part of Inazuma, if you acknowledge yourself as a citizen of Inazuma, then Inazuma's laws will become your strong shield. I will have Sasayuri fulfill the promise he made to you in the past—to marry you and take responsibility for your well-being and your feelings."
Listening to the beautiful future Ei painted, Kokomi's beautiful eyes trembled; she almost agreed on the spot.
Coincidentally, Lin Mo returned at this most critical moment.
"Ei! You can't drag Kokomi into this!" he cried. "Even if she acknowledges being a citizen of Inazuma, a part of Inazuma, her identity... inherently creates a separation from Inazuma!"
Lin Mo's words immediately attracted everyone's attention.
Ei instinctively asked the rapidly approaching Lin Mo, "Identity? What's the problem?"
"Because... Kokomi's origins are very special," Lin Mo said with a bitter smile, looking toward Kokomi. "Her birth stems from a power from beyond this world... She is our greatest asset in opposing the Heavenly Principles. If she acknowledges herself as a citizen of Inazuma... it might draw the hostility of the Heavenly Principles, inviting their descent ahead of time."
"Power from beyond this world... Greatest asset in opposing the Heavenly Principles... What does this mean?" Ei frowned deeply.
Not just Ei, everyone couldn't help but cast puzzled looks at Lin Mo.
"Uh... this matter goes back to that war long ago," Lin Mo explained with a bitter smile. "The truth behind Orobashi's and my death in the war on Yashiori Island is actually different... Orobashi initiated the war primarily because of a deal with the Heavenly Principles. And Kokomi, as the current Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island... is precisely the reason Orobashi was forced to wage war and willingly go to his death... She is also the seed Orobashi left behind to resist the Heavenly Principles."
--------
T/N:
You'll also get 5 extra chapters just for being a free member!
Access 40 chapters in advance on my Patreon : [email protected]/furinaimpact