Inside Tenshukaku, a brilliant golden light burst forth, illuminating the entire room.
Within that radiance, threads of light descended from above, slowly weaving together into the form of a woman.
"It's working!"
Raiden Ei stared in amazement.
There was no mistake.
This was truly her sister, Raiden Makoto.
She was really being resurrected.
For the first time in five hundred years, Ei felt this excited.
Even the appearance of the game itself had not stirred her emotions this much.
As the body was fully reconstructed, the golden light gradually faded.
The woman lying quietly on the floor slowly opened her eyes.
"Where… am I?"
Makoto sat up, her mind in complete disarray.
Her last memory was dying in Khaenri'ah.
So why had she suddenly appeared here?
And judging by the surroundings, this place looked remarkably similar to Inazuma.
"Sister!"
A trembling voice drew her attention.
Turning her head, she immediately saw Ei's emotional expression.
"Ei…? What is this?"
Makoto was still dazed, unable to make sense of the situation.
"You're back."
Ei threw herself forward and hugged her tightly.
Five hundred years of longing had finally been fulfilled.
How could she not be overwhelmed?
"Ei," Yae Miko said dryly, "shouldn't you let Makoto put on some clothes first?"
"Oh. Right."
Ei hurriedly released her and began fumbling with the prepared garments, trying to dress her sister herself.
Unfortunately, her hands were far less suited to delicate work than to wielding a sword.
"Honestly, move aside."
Yae Miko sighed.
She stepped forward, took the clothes from Ei's hands, and dressed Makoto properly.
Some time later, the three women sat together in Tenshukaku.
"So," Makoto said after listening to Yae Miko's explanation, "a mysterious person descended with a game, and by winning these games, participants can obtain rewards?"
"And this time, the two of you won?"
"That's right."
Ei straightened proudly and puffed out her chest.
See? I did well.
"Heh. If not for my strategy, you'd have been crying in a corner somewhere. Don't take all the credit."
Yae Miko rolled her eyes.
She simply could not tolerate Ei pretending this victory had been entirely her own achievement.
After all, this win had clearly been due to her brilliant planning.
"Hmph. Without my protection, you would have been eliminated long ago."
"That remains to be seen."
Watching the two of them bicker like old times, Makoto smiled warmly.
"Ei, may I participate in this game as well?"
That was the question she cared about most.
A miraculous game that could grant such extraordinary rewards was naturally of immense interest.
"Of course! I'll ask Valerius right away."
"Ask him?"
Yae Miko gave Ei a speechless look.
"Makoto is already a player."
"Huh?"
Ei blinked.
She hadn't noticed any notification at all.
"Really?"
"Of course."
Yae Miko sighed.
"When Cocolia was revived, she automatically became a player. The same rule applies here."
"So that's how it works."
Under Yae Miko's guidance, Makoto quickly learned how to access the livestream interface.
[Raiden Ei: Valerius! Valerius! Are you there? Valerius!]
[Valerius: What is it?]
Valerius had only just returned home.
He found it odd that Ei was messaging him when she should be busy celebrating with her sister.
[Raiden Ei: Um… thank you. My sister has returned.]
[Valerius: That is good to hear.]
Valerius smiled.
So she was reporting back.
Although they weren't particularly close, her gratitude was sincere.
[Raiden Makoto: Lord Valerius, I offer my deepest thanks.]
Not knowing Valerius personally, Makoto could think of nothing more appropriate to say than to express her heartfelt gratitude.
[Valerius: There is no need to thank me.]
[Ruan Mei: Gods… have sisters?]
[Herta: I admit, that's a little surprising.]
[Kujou Sara: T-two Shoguns?!]
Double the Shoguns.
Double the joy.
[Kamisato Ayato: This is… a development I had never imagined. Then how should we address her?]
[Yae Miko: Naturally, as Her Excellency the Great Narukami Ogosho.]
Who else would she be?
This was the original Electro Archon.
Now that Raiden Makoto had returned, Ei would naturally have to step aside.
[Kamisato Ayaka: Greetings, Your Excellency.]
[Kuki Shinobu: Greetings, Your Excellency.]
[Kujou Sara: Greetings, Your Excellency.]
The people of Inazuma understood immediately.
This was their first true Archon.
Her return represented a tremendous strengthening of Inazuma.
[Nahida: I see. It is an honor to meet you, Senior.]
Nahida quickly pieced together the timeline.
The only event that could have claimed Raiden Makoto was the great catastrophe five hundred years ago that swept across all of Teyvat.
After all, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata had also disappeared after that disaster.
If Inazuma could bring back its former Archon…
Then perhaps Sumeru could do the same.
[Furina: Th-then that makes you my senior as well. Ahem… Greetings, Senior.]
Seeing Makoto's return set Furina's mind racing.
More and more incredibly powerful figures were appearing.
Perhaps she needed to work harder too.
She still didn't know exactly what Focalors intended.
But if she could obtain a reward capable of resolving Fontaine's prophecy…
Then perhaps Focalors herself could join the game.
"Yes," Furina thought firmly. "That's the plan."
She would continue her performance for now.
But once the prophecy was resolved, she would retire from the role for good.
Everyone else was gaining overwhelming new strength.
She couldn't leave Neuvillette carrying Fontaine all by himself.
[Raiden Makoto: These two are…?]
Makoto was puzzled.
She didn't recognize Nahida or Furina, yet both had addressed her as "senior."
[Raiden Ei: Sister, they are the current Dendro Archon of Sumeru and Hydro Archon of Fontaine.]
[Raiden Makoto: I see. Then it is a pleasure to meet both of you.]
So not only Inazuma, but Sumeru and Fontaine had also undergone changes in divine leadership.
Which meant…
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata and Egeria were both gone.
Memories of the old Seven gathering together in Sumeru surfaced in her mind.
A trace of melancholy crossed her expression.
The catastrophe five hundred years ago had clearly been even more devastating than she had imagined.
Seeing her sister's mood darken, Ei felt a pang in her chest.
But there was still some good news.
Some familiar faces remained.
Without hesitation, she typed:
[Raiden Ei: Sister, the gods of Mondstadt and Liyue are still the same people you knew.]
[Raiden Makoto: Oh?]
Makoto's eyes lit up.
So the disaster had not claimed all of her old friends.
Some had endured.
"Uh-oh."
In Mondstadt and Liyue, two individuals simultaneously felt a sense of dread.
What was that airhead planning?
Surely she wasn't about to expose them publicly.
[Valerius: Ahem. Please discuss that privately.]
At the crucial moment, Valerius intervened.
He still wanted to watch the Rite of Descension in person.
If Ei exposed Zhongli now, where would the fun be?
[Raiden Ei: Huh? We can't talk about that here?]
[Raiden Makoto: Ei, we'll discuss it in private.]
Makoto reacted immediately.
If those two were deliberately hiding their identities, then naturally the matter shouldn't be discussed in the livestream.
Still, she couldn't help but wonder.
What exactly were Barbatos and Morax doing?
Why were they keeping their identities secret?
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