Raiden Ei watched the figure in the distance, as both of them had now ceased fighting.
This battle had ended, yet it had no result.
The opponent was slightly weaker than her, but since they were both incarnations of lightning and both possessed vast combat experience, it was nearly impossible to defeat her in a short time. Moreover, if the opponent chose to retreat, it would be difficult for Raiden Ei to stop her.
Ultimately, seemingly realizing that continuing this battle would be pointless, the two stopped fighting one after the other.
Raiden Ei looked down at Yashiori Island. By now, the island's appearance had drastically changed. Large swathes of land had sunk beneath the waves, with seawater rushing in to form lakes. Several new peaks had erupted from the ground, and countless sword-carved, massive chasms crisscrossed, giving Yashiori Island an aura of stark devastation.
Further away, land that had once been submerged beneath the sea was now emerging piece by piece, forming a vast expanse of beaches or smaller islands around Yashiori Island, like stars orbiting a central point.
As for the villages that had originally been on Yashiori Island, they had all completely vanished. Raiden Ei could also barely sense any signs of life.
Raiden Ei frowned and sighed inwardly.
This was the battle between gods. Even though she had desperately tried to restrain her excess power, it had still inflicted indelible damage upon Yashiori Island, and this was already the second time.
Raiden Ei sensed the terrifying concentration of Electro Element on Yashiori Island, and she could basically confirm that this island had now become a Forbidden Zone for life.
During the battle, Raiden Ei had not even had time to sense whether there were still innocent people on Yashiori Island, and now it was too late to do anything even if she wanted to.
Raiden Ei shook her head, then looked at the opponent again.
"You are very strong. Tell me your name."
Raiden Ei could basically confirm that the opponent had absolutely nothing to do with her sister. Although the opponent's martial arts were very similar to hers, there were still obvious differences.
"Raiden... Mei."
The opponent murmured softly. If one did not listen carefully, they might not even hear that the opponent had spoken.
This name...
At this moment, Raiden Ei truly felt as if the opponent was actually her long-lost sister. But obviously, this deduction was very unreasonable. If she really had a twin sister, she would definitely know about it.
"My name is Raiden Ei."
After Raiden Ei introduced herself, she paused, then continued.
"You are not from this world, are you?"
"Also, have you seen another person who looks exactly like me?"
Hearing Raiden Ei's words, Raiden Mei did not open her mouth to explain again this time. After a moment of silence, she turned around and left directly.
"Wait, tell me the answer!"
Raiden Ei's figure flashed through the air, and the airflow erupted with a sharp screech. In almost the blink of an eye, she arrived behind Raiden Mei. However, in the next moment, another blade swung horizontally to block in front of her.
Clang!
The sound of metal clashing erupted once more, and a terrifying impact brewed between the two of them.
Raiden Ei's eyes were red, glaring at Raiden Mei's back. After suffering for so long, she had to know the answer today!
Raiden Ei bit her lip, and the aura on her body soared again, even completely overwhelming the other party.
At this moment, Raiden Mei's aura was like a small boat sailing in giant waves, about to be engulfed by the seawater at the slightest mistake. However, Raiden Mei's expression remained calm.
Suddenly, Raiden Mei's figure abruptly vanished from midair. At the very last moment before she disappeared, she finally spoke slowly.
"That one does not need trash."
Hearing these words, Raiden Ei's expression froze slightly.
Did the other party mean that someone looked down on her sister's strength?
But thinking about it from another perspective, the fact that the other party would say this most likely meant she could truly bring her sister back from another world!
"Sister!"
Raiden Ei could hardly suppress the excitement in her heart. Although she had not seen Raiden Makoto yet, she saw a glimmer of hope.
Though it was only a glimmer of hope, it was as if a beam of light had shone into her Plane of Euthymia.
No matter what, she had to bring her sister back!
At this moment, Raiden Ei's mind was already made up, and she began to sense the direction Raiden Mei had departed.
She did not plan to let the other woman leave just like that, even if she had to pester her relentlessly to tell her how to bring her sister back to this world, or take her to someone who could do it.
However, at this moment, Raiden Ei's heart was somewhat uneasy, feeling as if she had overlooked something.
Suddenly, Raiden Ei seemed to realize something, looked down, and then her pupils abruptly constricted.
What met Raiden Ei's eyes at this moment was a purple ocean!
Sensing the concentration of the Electro Element in the seawater, Raiden Ei's mood sank. Ordinary life forms could no longer adapt to this level of pollution.
Not only that, but looking out, this purple ocean already stretched to the horizon, completely without end.
At this moment, Raiden Ei finally understood what she had overlooked: the other woman had actually taken the opportunity of fighting her to completely pollute this sea area.
For some reason, the Electro Elemental Power contained within it was so corrosive, and its aura so destructive, as if it were about to dye the entire world in its own color.
Moreover, Raiden Ei could feel the polluted area gradually expanding. Before long, it would likely affect the people of Inazuma on other islands.
Raiden Ei gripped the Musou Isshin tightly in her hand, never having imagined that the other woman would use her as a tool to bring Inazuma to the brink of destruction.
And even after realizing this, she was powerless to stop it.
She only knew how to destroy and did not know how to govern; otherwise, she would not have left the situation in the Musoujin Gorge unresolved for so many years.
"Have I... done something wrong?"
Raiden Ei thought of those trusting, respectful, and excited faces, a flicker of struggle crossing her eyes.
As the protector of Inazuma's people, she had ultimately swung her sword against the very thing she was meant to protect.
After all her friends and even her closest kin had left her, the people of Inazuma had become the sole reason she wielded her sword. Yet now, she had become one of the murderers bringing calamity upon them.
Raiden Ei suddenly felt a strong sense of resistance from her body, making even the simplest movements difficult.
This was because her actions went against the Raiden Shogun's programming, and the Shogun was resisting her.
Truthfully, the fact that the Raiden Shogun hadn't resisted her during their previous battle was already a great concession.
Raiden Ei sighed inwardly, then relinquished control to the Raiden Shogun.
"Do you wish to destroy the Inazuma you swore to protect?"
The moment she regained control, the Raiden Shogun issued a sternly worded question.
There was even a hint of anger in her words, which Raiden Ei could feel.
It must be my imagination, right?
"I thought you, who share my memories, would understand my choice," Raiden Ei said calmly. Though making this choice had caused her immense inner turmoil and pain, she did not regret it.
"But I was wrong. After all, you are just the Raiden Shogun."
"Even if it means making this choice, even if it requires you to deny your own existence?"
The Raiden Shogun questioned her again, but her words failed to waver Raiden Ei's resolve.
"No matter what, I must see Makoto again."
Upon hearing these words, the Raiden Shogun's face once again displayed an even more obvious expression of rage than before.
"You are utterly unworthy of being Inazuma's guardian."
"You are right, Shogun."
Raiden Ei was slightly surprised by the Raiden Shogun's reaction, but her mood quickly calmed down again as her eyes gazed into the deep void of the Plane of Euthymia before her.
"I indeed have no right to be Inazuma's guardian. For me, even if you added up all of Inazuma, none of it is more important than that one person!"
"From the very beginning, protecting Inazuma was merely that person's wish. I am her shadow, and everything I do is to protect her wish and carry out her will."
"Then you are truly pathetic."
At this moment, the Raiden Shogun's expression actually calmed down, because she knew she could not persuade Raiden Ei to change her mind, and what she had to do now was to do everything in her power to prevent the next events from happening.
"If you continue to try and stop me, I will eliminate you first," the Raiden Shogun said slowly, after which her body erupted with an aura even more violent than before, as countless bolts of lightning struck around her, coating her body in a layer of violet-black light.
Countless battle armors formed from the Electro Element materialized on the Raiden Shogun's body. Her eyes grew even more indifferent as she slowly raised her hand, countless bolts of lightning flowing over her arm, each one radiating an extremely terrifying aura. At this moment, she was the undisputed Ruler of Lightning!
"You... have actually become stronger."
Raiden Ei was inwardly shocked after sensing the power currently emanating from the Raiden Shogun.
The Raiden Shogun was clearly just a weapon she had created using countless precious materials. Yet, under her perfect will, the Raiden Shogun had actually broken through her own limits to master an even more terrifying power, even faintly surpassing the full strength that she, as the creator, could exert.
"Do not speak."
The Raiden Shogun exhaled a breath that shimmered with lightning, her eyes radiating a brilliant light.
"You only need to watch."
As soon as her words fell, the Raiden Shogun's body soared into the air. Countless bolts of lightning appeared around her, but soon returned to calm, repeating the cycle over and over.
Sensing the aura from afar, a piercing clap of thunder echoed between heaven and earth, and the Raiden Shogun transformed into a violet-black stream of light, flying toward Tatarasuna.
She did not know how to stop all of this. She only knew how to fight, so she would keep fighting!
-
"I never would have thought that even Miss Hina would become a miko by our Lady Sangonomiya's side!"
"Hahaha, just thinking that I can see Miss Hina every day from now on makes me feel like my life is filled with hope and motivation again!"
"I'm going to confess my feelings to Miss Hina. I am the most valiant warrior under Lord Gorou, so I believe Miss Hina will definitely fall for me!"
-
Returning after finishing his tasks, Gorou listened to the noise outside the room, unable to shed a tear.
"Cough, cough, cough... Uh, looking on the bright side, Brother Gorou, this also counts as boosting military morale."
Seeing the expression on Gorou's face, Thoma felt like laughing. But feeling that doing so would be truly immoral, he raised a hand to cover the corner of his mouth that he couldn't keep down.
What Thoma said was also the truth. Ever since they had retreated to Enkanomiya for refuge, although everyone had not shown it much on the surface, they were all sighing in despair secretly. They had completely lost hope and could even be said to have become somewhat numb.
The enemy this time was simply too strong, even leaving them without the courage to resist. Though Watatsumi Island was clearly their own home turf, they had been driven out like stray dogs, and the difference in casualties between the two sides was so huge.
Furthermore, the environment in Enkanomiya was somewhat harsh. The reason all this had not broken out was based on everyone's trust and respect for Sangonomiya Kokomi.
But if the current situation did not change, it would sooner or later erupt completely.
However, when they saw the appearance of "Miss Hina," all of this changed.
"I also never thought that so many people were Miss Hina's fans."
Sangonomiya Kokomi also sighed with emotion, never expecting Gorou to help her out so much.
Sangonomiya Kokomi had originally planned to inform everyone once she made a breakthrough in her research, allowing them to regain hope. Gorou easing the current situation was an unexpected bonus.
Whether on the front lines or in the rear, Gorou could carry the whole team! Gorou was just too useful!
"I don't want to hear this kind of comfort!"
Hearing their words, Gorou wanted to cry even more.
"I need to get stronger! I must change back as soon as possible!"
Gorou wiped the corners of his eyes and clenched his fist, speaking with determination.
Even if it was just for the pride of a real man, he couldn't afford to slack off!
"I don't want to discourage you, but given your current strength, I think it would be more realistic for you to pray that I find a solution to your physical problem sooner."
A somewhat arrogant voice came from Gorou's shoulder. Gorou curiously looked down and then saw a miniature version of Miss Hina sitting on his shoulder.
"Ah!"
Gorou was startled, then got tapped on the head by the little person on his shoulder who jumped up.
"Keep it down, you're disturbing me."
Gorou clutched his forehead, speaking in shock.
"Y-You're Daphne?!"
"No, this is just a clay doll, one that can search for useful materials in this world."
"I've also come to terms with it. Since I'm here, I might as well make the best of it. Anyway, I'm already dead in my world, so I'm in no hurry to go back."
Hearing these words, Gorou wept.
"No, you shouldn't have come to terms with it!"
At this moment, Sangonomiya Kokomi and Thoma also recovered from their shock and spoke.
"Miss Daphne..."
"Just call me Daphne, there's no need to be so formal."
Daphne waved her hand.
"I'm very interested in that research from earlier. If you agree, I'd like to participate."
Hearing Daphne's words, Sangonomiya Kokomi's heart stirred slightly.
"Of course you can."
"Gorou, just take the materials out and put them on the table. Daphne, you can review them yourself."
"Yes, Lady Sangonomiya!"
Gorou cupped his fist in salute, but in her current form, making this gesture felt somewhat awkward. However, no one was paying attention to that right now.