The group stood behind Makoto as she planted the Sacred Sakura's seed within the space that bridged past and present.
Planted in the present, it would take root in the past. Over the next five centuries, the Sacred Sakura would shelter all of Inazuma—granting Ei the time she needed to find her path.
They watched as the seed took hold instantly. Light flared. Branches surged outward, thick and radiant, leaves unfurling in a cascade of pale pink.
Makoto turned back with a gentle smile.
"Alright. Let's go."
They stepped out of the consciousness space together. Once they had fully withdrawn, the space itself dissolved quietly, as though it had never existed.
Inside the cave, Yae stood with her arms folded. At her feet lay an Abyss Mage, bound tightly in arcs of crackling lightning.
She regarded the newly arrived figures with amused interest.
"Let me guess," she said lightly. "Which one is Makoto, which one is the Ei I know—and the Shogun is here as well?"
Even she seemed momentarily taken aback by the sight of three nearly identical forms standing together.
"I manifested separately through my consciousness," Ei explained calmly. "The Shogun's body was not required."
She had never truly been confined to that vessel. If she wished, she could separate from it and act freely. Her defenses might lessen somewhat—but if she struck first, few would survive long enough to retaliate.
Makoto smiled warmly at Yae.
"My, my. The little fox has grown."
At the sound of her voice, Yae's posture stiffened almost imperceptibly.
Something about it felt achingly familiar.
Lora stepped forward.
"You can reminisce later. What's going on here?"
She gestured toward the mage on the ground.
"Oh, him?" Yae Miko nudged him lightly with her foot. "Why don't you explain yourself?"
The Abyss Mage groaned awake—only to find himself staring up at five beings whose presence pressed down like the weight of heaven itself.
He began trembling violently.
"Oh dear," Makoto said softly. "Have we frightened him?"
"Yes," the Shogun replied.
"Pathetic," Ei added.
"Wielding the Abyss' power, yet trembling before true authority," Neuvillette observed coolly.
Lora crouched down slightly.
"Did your 'Prince' send you? Looking for me?"
The mage swallowed hard.
"H-His Highness ordered me to deliver a message… If you wish for your familiar to return safely… then surrender the power of the Hydro Dragon."
"Is your 'Prince' insane?" Lora's brows drew together, water rippling faintly at her fingertips. "I am the Hydro Archon—not the Hydro Dragon Sovereign."
"What His Highness seeks is the power of the Primordial Sea," the mage stammered. "Whether it belongs to the Dragon… or to you."
Her expression went cold.
"Go back and tell your 'Prince' this: holding my people hostage to force my compliance is delusion. If Rhodeia is harmed in the slightest, I will erase your entire Abyss Order."
"You—"
She stepped closer, her voice lowering to something far more dangerous.
"Actually… no. I'm not in the mood to negotiate."
"You should just die first. I'll speak to him myself."
Water rose from the cavern floor, coalescing into a massive hand that seized the mage and slammed him into the earth. The impact crushed stone and silence alike. When the water receded, nothing remained.
Lora exhaled slowly.
"The Abyss is unpredictable. Be cautious."
Neuvillette nodded once.
"Their reliance on hostages proves they lack the strength to confront us directly. We need only guard against subtler threats."
Even empowered by the Abyss, they did not possess the force required to challenge either the Hydro Dragon Sovereign or the Hydro Archon head-on.
Lora turned to Makoto and Ei.
"I'm sorry. My conflict with the Abyss disrupted your reunion."
Makoto shook her head gently.
"The Abyss is an enemy to us all. There is nothing to apologize for."
Ei's gaze sharpened.
"If those responsible for my sister's death dare set foot upon Inazuma again, the thunder will leave neither flesh nor spirit behind."
"Agreed," the Shogun said evenly.
With three Raiden gods aligned in will, the Abyss would find no foothold in Inazuma. If the Shogunate's forces proved insufficient—true thunder would answer instead.
"If there is nothing further that requires my presence, I should return to Fontaine," Neuvillette said.
"So soon?" Lora tilted her head.
"As Chief Justice, a prolonged absence invites unnecessary speculation."
She sighed at the ever-diligent dragon.
"Oh, don't be so rigid. Trust Chaya—I'm not exaggerating. Her grasp of governance is even more seasoned than yours. Fontaine will be perfectly stable in her hands."
Makoto added warmly, "You are our benefactor. Surely you can stay for a cup of tea?"
Neuvillette glanced at Lora thoughtfully.
"A deity of such capability—yet I have never heard her name. Who is she?"
"Ah… that's classified." Lora smiled faintly.
"May I know?" Yae Miko asked lightly.
"If you're prepared to be hunted by a god," Lora replied.
"…On second thought, ignorance is bliss." Yae Miko folded her arms.
Makoto clapped softly.
"Let us return to Tenshukaku. This cave is hardly suitable for tea."
At her insistence, Yae reverted to her pink fox form and leapt gracefully into Makoto's arms—just as she had five hundred years ago.
The return of the first Electro Archon sent ripples through all of Inazuma. At the Raiden Shogun's command, preparations began immediately for a grand ceremony at Tenshukaku.
Below, in the cavern beneath the castle, Lumine heard the commotion while exploring and hurried toward the surface.
"Wow! There are so many people!" Paimon gasped, staring wide-eyed at the gathering crowd.