The moment they entered this strange domain, the violent turbulence of wills inside Ei's body completely dissipated.
Paimon finally let out a breath of relief. Lumine quickly fed her a pill to help her recover.
Only then did Lumine turn to Ei, who also seemed to have relaxed somewhat.
"Where are we?" she asked.
Ei's expression was complicated. After a brief silence, she answered softly,
"The space of Makoto's consciousness… and also the place where I sealed the Shogun's will."
She turned to Lumine.
"Thank you. Both of you."
"Oh, it wasn't really me," Lumine waved her hand casually. "Yae Miko asked me to come. If anything, you should be thanking her."
Ei paused, then seemed to realize something.
"Miko… she has joined Shushan as well?"
But almost immediately, a trace of irritation surfaced.
"That woman… sending someone else instead of coming herself. As expected, she isn't worried about me in the slightest."
"That's not quite fair," Lumine said helplessly.
"The Sect Master forbade her from coming. And Senior Sister Miko is preparing for tribulation right now—if she accidentally underwent it in Inazuma, the entire nation would be destroyed."
"Cultivators…"
Ei's gaze flickered, recalling another figure.
"The Conqueror of Demons… do you know him?"
"You mean Senior Brother Xiao?" Lumine grinned.
"He's the senior disciple of Shushan's Law Enforcement Hall. Sounds like he left you quite an impression."
She continued cheerfully,
"I'm a disciple of Tongtian Peak—my name's Lumine. The one who helped suppress the Shogun's will earlier is my partner, Paimon."
"She's also a Tongtian Peak disciple."
Shushan…
Ei engraved the name deep into her heart.
Then she spoke again, softly,
"For this, I am truly grateful. Later, I'll find a way to open a passage and send you back."
"This matter began because of me. You shouldn't have been dragged into it… but how is Inazuma now?"
Lumine pressed her lips together and sighed.
"Honestly? It's bad. If the current problems can't be resolved, Inazuma faces extinction."
Ei's eyes widened in shock.
"How could that be?! I was only gone for a short time!"
"Spiritual energy revival has begun spreading across all of Teyvat," Lumine replied quietly.
"A few days ago, something happened in the Dark Sea. A massive influx of spiritual energy surged in, and Inazuma is now completely engulfed."
"If it can't adapt like Liyue did, it'll be torn apart by rampaging ferocious beasts."
"And the war between the Resistance and the Shogunate may not even stop. The Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions are still clinging to the Sakoku Decree."
"If Inazuma doesn't keep pace with the times—if it has no cultivators—then its destruction is only a matter of time."
Ei lowered her head, guilt flooding her expression.
"This is my fault… I'm the one who harmed Inazuma…"
"Blaming yourself won't help now," Lumine waved it off.
"General Kujou and the others went to Liyue for aid and asked me to help you."
"You must resolve your own issues and take control of Inazuma again—quickly."
"Otherwise, no one can save it."
She hesitated, then added,
"But… I hope you won't blame General Kujou. What the Kujou Clan did has nothing to do with her."
Ei fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
"I will consider it."
She glanced around. A power no weaker than her own—both divine might and will—lay dormant throughout the space.
"But first… the Shogun must be dealt with."
Lightning flared in her hand, condensing into a resplendent blade.
Ei's heart ached. Her cowardice—her refusal to accept Makoto's death—had led to this.
Now, Inazuma itself, the final legacy Makoto left behind, stood on the brink of destruction.
Her heart bled.
She stared ahead and called out coldly,
"Shogun. I want to speak with you."
Her voice echoed endlessly through the empty domain.
After a long while, footsteps approached.
"You have betrayed Eternity."
From the mist emerged a figure identical to Ei—except she wielded a naginata, not a blade, and her eyes lacked Ei's violet glow.
Ei tightened her grip on her sword.
"I was wrong. Everything was born from my arrogance!"
"Shogun, I don't want to fight you. Inazuma is facing annihilation. The Eternity we pursued before was wrong!"
The Shogun's gaze remained fixed on Ei.
"Ei. You have suffered erosion. Correction is required."
"I am not eroded!" Ei shot back urgently.
"Spiritual energy revival has arrived—we must find a new path for Inazuma!"
"Eternity is the path," the Shogun replied calmly, just as resolute as ever.
"As you declared when you created me."
She slowly raised her naginata.
"Only Eternity approaches the Heavenly Principles. Only Eternity ensures nothing is lost again."
"Hey! Are you seriously this stubborn?!"
Paimon, having recovered some strength, glared angrily at the Shogun.
"Just open your eyes and look at Inazuma already!"
"Do you really think you can handle spiritual energy revival?"
"Can you protect Inazuma's people from endless waves of ferocious beasts?!"
"And by the way—the will of Teyvat itself has already attached to Senior Sister Ganyu!"
"The 'Heavenly Principles' you keep talking about are basically her subordinates now!"
Ei's heart stirred, but her eyes never left the Shogun.
The Shogun glanced sideways at Paimon and Ei. Sensing the familiar aura of cultivators, she grew wary.
"Variables… Inazuma's Eternity does not permit your interference. Leave Inazuma."
"Hah?"
Lumine bristled.
"You tell me to leave and I'm supposed to just go? Do I look that easy to push around?"
"Be sensible and put the weapon down!"
Ei shook her head slightly.
"It's useless, Lumine."
"The Shogun's will was set by me. The pursuit of Eternity is an unchanging directive."
Lumine gave Ei a strange look, making her momentarily avert her gaze in embarrassment.
After a pause, Lumine snorted.
"So… we really have to fight, huh?"
"I'm sorry for dragging you into this," Ei said softly.
"I'll find a way to send you out afterward."
"When you're out, please tell Kujou Sara not to worry about me. Let her handle Inazuma's affairs."
"Tell her to find a way to save Inazuma—fast."
Lumine cut her off sharply.
"Nope. You can tell her that yourself."
"My commission was simple—bring you out. That's it."
True essence surged within her, the pressure making even Ei feel a twinge of alarm.
"If fighting's unavoidable, then so be it."
Lumine clasped her hands and slowly rose into the air.
Behind her, the plain sword split into countless blades.
The Shogun's gaze turned icy.
"Variable."
"Variable my ass!"
Lumine pointed forward.
"Go!"
A vast sea of swords crashed down upon the Shogun. She swung her naginata, deflecting the blades—
But the moment they were knocked away, the swords curved back and stabbed again.
Caught off guard, the Shogun's body was instantly pierced.
Before she could react, Lumine seized the opening and drove the sword sea downward in one relentless surge.
The Shogun's body shattered, drowned beneath the blades.
Lumine sighed.
"This one's on you. You were the stubborn one."
She turned to Ei.
"Easier than expected. Let's go—"
Ei's expression suddenly changed.
"Watch out!"
A naginata tore through space, lightning roaring as it lunged at Lumine.
Her plain sword flipped effortlessly, knocking the weapon aside.
Lumine spun around, staring in disbelief.
The Shogun stood there calmly—unharmed, her aura even more oppressive than before.
"How…?"
"In this space," the Shogun said evenly,
"I cannot die."
Lumine froze, then looked at Ei.
Ei turned her face away awkwardly, avoiding Lumine's stare.
Now Lumine had a headache.
"You're strong, Variable," the Shogun said as she rose into the air.
"Massive mechanical arms formed behind her, lifting her aloft. Violet hair billowed, pressure flooding the domain."
"Leave Inazuma. I will not pursue your interference in Eternity."
Anger replaced Lumine's earlier irritation in an instant.
"Immortal?"
"I've never heard of anyone who can't be killed!"
"You think you're harder to kill than a demonic cultivator?!"
"Perfect!"
"If you can't die, then let's really fight!"
Her hand seals changed. The boundless sword sea condensed into a silent, roaring divine dragon that coiled around her, occupying most of the domain.
"Obstinate."
The Shogun's eyes turned cold as she charged.
"Silver Spirit—Manifest!"
Paimon suddenly pointed at the Shogun.
In the gray void, a pure white crescent moon appeared.
Its radiance fell upon the Shogun.
The sword-dragon surged forward at once.
The Shogun faltered—and Ei seized the moment, slashing across space with overwhelming force.
The combined attacks detonated. The entire domain trembled, its edges cracking and collapsing.
Lumine couldn't help feeling relieved they weren't fighting in Inazuma—otherwise, Inazuma City would've been wiped off the map.
The Shogun dispersed again.
But in the next instant, she reformed.
Unscathed. Undiminished.
"Useless," she said, staring at Ei.
"You know this best."
"Here, you—and they—can never defeat me."
Ignoring Lumine and Paimon, the Shogun leveled her naginata at Ei.
"Abandon resistance, Ei. Return to the path of Eternity."
"Only Eternity is Inazuma's future."
"If you return, I will become your sharpest blade."
"Even with spiritual energy revival, I will guard Inazuma for you."
Ei looked at her, conflicted.
After a long silence, she spoke softly,
"Shogun… I was wrong."
"And so were you."
"The Eternity we promised our people was never meant to be like this."
The Shogun remained impassive.
"You insist on defying your original will?"
Ei stepped forward, placing herself directly before her.
"An incorrect path will never grant Eternity—only destruction."
"Without Eternity, the tragedy of five hundred years ago will repeat," the Shogun countered.
Pain flickered through Ei's eyes.
"I feared loss… and so I betrayed my people again and again."
"Even now, I don't fully understand Makoto's intentions."
"I don't know whether Eternity or transience is the right answer."
"But I know one thing."
"If this continues—Inazuma will perish."
"I will not allow that!"
"What Makoto left behind—I will protect with my life!"
"I love her. And I love Inazuma."
"If only change can save Inazuma, then—"
She lifted her blade, eyes resolute.
"Transience, too, can be Eternity!"
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