As she continued to explore along Musoujin Gorge, the Electro Element concentration became increasingly astonishing. Sangonomiya Kokomi knew she was about to find the cause of the environmental anomaly on Yashiori Island.
Thinking of this, Sangonomiya Kokomi's heart couldn't help but start to feel anxious.
Even as the Divine Priestess of the Living God, able to harness the power of the ocean, she still felt uncertain. The severity of this incident far exceeded her imagination.
Though Sangonomiya Kokomi kept trying to reassure herself that the Moyun Sisters were the final line of defense, she knew she was only fooling herself. Such a critical location could not possibly be guarded by the Moyun Sisters alone. Loyalty aside, their strength was simply insufficient.
Despite her mental preparations, Kokomi's body trembled and her face contorted in shock when the figure finally appeared before her.
"Lady Yae..."
"Oh my, I must admit, I never expected to run into you here, Miss Sangonomiya."
Yae Miko approached Kokomi with an elegant, measured stride, a playful smile dancing on her lips.
"What a coincidence, wouldn't you say?"
Kokomi's heart sank. She stared in disbelief. "Lady Yae, why are you here? Does this anomaly have something to do with you?"
"My, my, how could I possibly possess such power?"
Yae Miko raised her hand and waved it forward coquettishly, her eyes almost narrowing into two slits.
"To be able to refine and amplify the remaining Electro Elemental Power in Musoujin Gorge, and at the same time expand it outward, requires extremely high Electro Control."
"I am just a lowly miko, how could I possibly achieve that!"
"So, Guuji Yae, are you also here to explore this place?"
"No, I have defected."
Upon hearing Yae Miko's words, Sangonomiya Kokomi almost couldn't hold it together.
Yae Miko helplessly spread her hands and said.
"There was no other choice, they offered too much."
"They even brought back a figure like our Fox Progenitor to this world, I have no reason to continue fighting them."
Yae Miko spoke casually.
After hearing this, Sangonomiya Kokomi's heart grew even heavier.
"The Raiden Shogun trusts you so much, yet you are willing to betray her so easily?"
"This is not betrayal, this is the most correct choice."
Yae Miko shook her head, then continued.
"It's just that Ei is too slow, her mind can't keep up for a moment, but when the final moment arrives, she will face her true heart."
"Even if it means sacrificing the lives of countless Inazuma people?"
Yae Miko paused slightly, then chuckled softly.
"This is indeed an unacceptable outcome, but if a choice must be made... I choose this side."
"To be honest, the fact that you are still struggling is a bit surprising to me. After all, don't the people of Watatsumi Island have a way out?"
Sangonomiya Kokomi knew the other was referring to Enkanomiya, but her heart did not waver in the slightest.
"Watatsumi Island is also a part of Inazuma. If Inazuma is destroyed, Watatsumi Island will not fare any better."
Sangonomiya Kokomi spoke firmly. One must understand that at present, the people of Watatsumi Island have a high probability of solving their survival problem, meaning that long-term settlement in Enkanomiya is not impossible. Even if a catastrophic wave were to strike Inazuma, it would not have much to do with them.
However, Sangonomiya Kokomi's vision was not so short-sighted. Although Watatsumi Island did not worship the Raiden Shogun, it was undeniable that the reason they had been able to continue their existence for over a thousand years was indeed due to the other party's favor. Therefore, the Raiden Shogun had actually bestowed great kindness upon Watatsumi Island.
Furthermore, if Watatsumi Island truly chose to betray Inazuma, no one or any other nation would take them seriously after Inazuma was destroyed.
At that time, although they could also survive in Enkanomiya, they would merely be existing. The thousands of years of poverty the people of Watatsumi Island had endured would simply continue.
"As the ruler of Watatsumi Island, it is quite rare for you to possess such foresight."
Yae Miko nodded. It was precisely because of Sangonomiya Kokomi's foresight and exceptional abilities that she had sought to communicate closely with her.
"However, no matter how you struggle, you cannot change the outcome."
"The moment they lay their chips on the table, Inazuma had already lost."
"Are you sure you still want to act as a mantis trying to stop a cart, Miss Sangonomiya?"
"How will I know if I don't try?"
Sangonomiya Kokomi knew all too well how slim the chances were. But after discovering that the Bathysmal Vishap bloodline could solve the survival problem of the people of Watatsumi Island, she was willing to fight for their future!
At this thought, the aura around Sangonomiya Kokomi gradually rose as she stared warily at Yae Miko.
"So this final barrier is guarded by the Yae Shrine Maiden?"
"That's right, you know I can't let you pass."
After hearing Yae Miko's words, Sangonomiya Kokomi prepared to attack, yet at this moment, Yae Miko spoke again.
"Unless you call me Sister Yae."
Sangonomiya Kokomi choked on her anger, nearly getting struck by the backlash of her own power.
"Yae Miko, are you serious?!"
Sangonomiya Kokomi spoke with a bit of annoyance; her opponent was truly too skilled at manipulating one's emotions.
"Of course I am."
Yae Miko's lips curled slightly, and after seeing Sangonomiya Kokomi's reaction, the fox tails behind her swayed rapidly.
"You should know that with your strength, you're still no match for me, but you absolutely have to go through."
"So I've given you another choice. Have you considered it?"
Sangonomiya Kokomi opened her mouth, wanting to refuse and simply push her way through, but that idea was better left as a fantasy.
As fellow Archon's Retainers, the power gap between the gods themselves was already significant, and this gap was even more pronounced among their retainers. Moreover, she was a healer.
It had to be admitted that Yae Miko's condition was truly tempting; she would only have to abandon a tiny, insignificant bit of her dignity...
Sangonomiya Kokomi began to struggle inwardly, repeatedly convincing herself that it was just a name, nothing more.
Compared to that, the safety of thousands of Inazuma's people was far more important.
"Sister... Yae."
In the end, Sangonomiya Kokomi yielded, her face flushing as she uttered the name that filled her with such shame.
Hearing the address, Yae Miko felt a wave of satisfaction.
A long-cherished desire had finally been fulfilled today, causing the fox tails behind her to wag as fast as an electric fan on its highest setting.
"Say it again, but put more emotion into it this time!"
Sangonomiya Kokomi: ...
Ultimately, Sangonomiya Kokomi did as Yae Miko instructed. After all, she had already said it once, so the resistance to continuing wasn't as strong.
"Very good, very good. Since Little Sister Kokomi has called me Sister Yae, I can't let my little sister down, can I?"
Hearing Yae Miko's pet name for her, Sangonomiya Kokomi's face flushed red again.
"Go on, go on. The place you're looking for is about three thousand meters ahead."
Yae Miko stepped aside and cleared the path. This sight left Sangonomiya Kokomi feeling a bit uneasy. Was she really not going to stop her?
Wasn't this outcome a bit too childish?
Watching Yae Miko's leisurely expression, Sangonomiya Kokomi nervously gripped the hem of her dress, unsure if the other woman was telling the truth or just teasing her again.
After all, no matter how serious a matter was, it always seemed to turn strange whenever Yae Miko got involved.
But Sangonomiya Kokomi couldn't afford to waste any more time. In the end, she slowed her pace to about one-tenth of her usual speed and, under Yae Miko's gaze, cautiously passed her before immediately accelerating.
Only after she had run a great distance did Sangonomiya Kokomi finally look back. She saw Yae Miko still standing in the same spot, smiling at her, with no intention of chasing after her.
So she really just let me through?
Suddenly, Sangonomiya Kokomi's opinion of Yae Miko improved considerably. She had been prepared for the other woman to break her word, treating this as a mere attempt. She never expected Yae Miko to actually keep her promise.
In that case, selling out her integrity had been quite a worthwhile trade.
Sangonomiya Kokomi turned back again and accelerated even further. She had to resolve this before Yae Miko could regret her decision or anyone else arrived.
But soon, Sangonomiya Kokomi was forced to slow her pace. The Electro Elemental Power in the air had become so impossibly dense that she felt a tingling numbness in her lungs with every breath.
At this moment, apart from Electro and Hydro, all other elements had been completely banished from the air.
Suddenly, the Electro Elemental Power in the air began to surge violently, eventually converging into a terrifying blade of light.
Now, Sangonomiya Kokomi's body was completely immobilized, locked down by lightning. The surrounding Hydro Element was also completely squeezed out by the Electro Element. Sangonomiya Kokomi tried repeatedly but could no longer establish a connection with the sea, and her power rapidly declined.
But in the next second, Sangonomiya Kokomi no longer cared about any of that. In her eyes, there was only that blade of thunderlight that seemed ready to split heaven and earth.
At this moment, Sangonomiya Kokomi finally understood why Yae Miko had let her through so easily. It was because there was simply no need to garrison this place.
The one causing the abnormal environment on Yashiori Island was a single person!
-
At this moment, on the other side of Yashiori Island, Thoma also witnessed the blade of light in the distance that made heaven and earth lose their color, a look of horror appearing on his face.
Even from such a great distance, the aura emanating from that place still left him breathless.
In the next second, a blinding light filled Thoma's entire field of vision, and all sound vanished from his ears. Heaven and earth fell completely silent at this moment.
Thoma's mind went blank. In the face of such mighty power, he felt so small and insignificant.
After an unknown amount of time passed, when Thoma could clearly see what was before him again, his pupils suddenly constricted.
Several hundred meters in front of him, a canyon spanning the entire Yashiori Island had appeared out of thin air, filled with a terrifying and heart-stopping Electro Element.
The purple seawater flooded into the canyon. Looking out, this newly appeared canyon crossed the more distant Musoujin Gorge. From afar, it looked as if someone had drawn a giant purple "X" on Yashiori Island, and this canyon seemed to be a second Musoujin Gorge!
"Gulp!"
Thoma swallowed hard, a bitter taste filling his mouth.
What right did he have to witness firsthand how the Musoujin Gorge was formed back then!
Thoma had initially thought that no matter what happened, as long as Raiden Ei intervened, everything could be completely resolved, but that idea had completely vanished now.
Without a doubt, the opponent also possessed Archon-level combat strength.
Although he couldn't judge exactly how strong the opponent was with his own abilities, he could almost conclude from this single display that the opponent's strength would not be weak.
Inazuma was in danger!
Wait a minute, the opponent wouldn't have used such immense power just for the hell of it.
Therefore, the most likely possibility was that they were fighting someone.
Since the opponent had to unleash such power, the other side must clearly not be weak either... Oh no!
Thoma suddenly thought of something, his expression changing as he looked back at where the blade of light had appeared.
Thoma clenched his fists. After a moment of hesitation, he gritted his teeth and forced his trembling legs to run toward that place.
-
Tenshukaku.
"Sister!"
Still wrestling with the Raiden Shogun, Raiden Ei also felt this heart-palpitating power. Her expression instantly changed, and she could no longer restrain herself, forcefully taking control of the Raiden Shogun's body.
A purple figure appeared at the top of Tenshukaku with extreme speed, her eyes gazing toward Yashiori Island with three parts anticipation, three parts excitement, three parts apprehension, and one part shame.
"Sister, is it you?"
In this world, besides herself, only her sister, Raiden Makoto, could possess such mastery over lightning.
Raiden Ei had already pondered whether her sister might return to this world, but to prevent her hard-won peace of mind from sinking back into despair, she dared not hold onto too much hope.
At this moment, even after clearly feeling the existence of another being capable of controlling lightning just like herself, Raiden Ei did not dare to be fully certain. She was afraid, afraid that her hope would fall through.
"Where is Miko?"
At such a time, Raiden Ei urgently needed someone to share the inner pressure she felt. She raised her hand and tore through space, causing an Eye of Storm-Soothing to gradually form in the sky above Grand Narukami Shrine.
Looking at the closed gates of Grand Narukami Shrine, Raiden Ei found no sign of Yae Miko.
Finding no sign of Yae Miko, Raiden Ei didn't dwell on it, simply assuming she had gone off to play somewhere again.
As for Lumine's appearance, Raiden Ei was aware of it; after all, the fluctuations from the previous battle were impossible to ignore even if she wanted to. But right now, she had no desire to deal with her.
Sensing the activity on Yashiori Island growing weaker, Raiden Ei thought of the possibility that her own cowardice might cause her to miss the chance to meet Raiden Makoto. Unable to hold back any longer, she transformed into a streak of purple light, tearing across the sky above Inazuma City and hurtling toward Yashiori Island.
"Sister, wait for me!"
This sight was witnessed by countless citizens of Inazuma City, who pointed excitedly at the elemental traces left in the sky.
"The Almighty Shogun has finally emerged from seclusion! Inazuma will be at peace!"