She is lightning that flashes and fades in an instant, yet she pursues "Eternity."
Despite her thunder arriving in a fleeting moment, she has missed so much by being just a step too slow.
Despite wielding supreme lightning might, she couldn't save her friends or her sister.
Every time, it seems she was always just a little too late…
Ei felt sorrow, and Paimon in the story felt the same.
[Paimon: "I… I don't even understand what just happened… but it feels so sad, so despairing…"]
Though Paimon isn't the brightest, she sensed something from the earlier dialogue.
In the story, Ei calmed her emotions and patiently explained to her that what they saw was likely a memory from the ley lines.
Memories tainted by corruption can manifest, and if the corruption is severe, they can become highly aggressive.
But if the corruption is purified, the memory returns to the ley lines, unable to persist for long.
That warrior from earlier was likely a memory from the catastrophe five hundred years ago.
The fact that his memory lingered here meant he had died in battle at this place.
Undoubtedly, this passage reminded everyone of Hanachirusato.
Though she herself was steeped in intense corruption, Hanachirusato suppressed her own aggression, letting her memory triumph over the corruption's taint.
Suppressing the malice and aggression of the corruption, she guided the Traveler to purify her—a truly great act.
In the story, Ei continued to explain to the Traveler, detailing the origin of that catastrophe. Yes, it's about you—Khaenri'ah.
When the catastrophe hadn't yet erupted in Inazuma, Ei was still in Inazuma. Then she sensed the catastrophe's outbreak in Khaenri'ah.
Her sister was in Khaenri'ah! Her heart was filled with immense worry for her sister.
But she also knew that, though the catastrophe hadn't yet struck Inazuma, it was still dangerous. If it erupted and wasn't addressed promptly, it could threaten all of Teyvat.
She couldn't abandon Inazuma, nor could she let go of her sister. Torn and restless, she was caught in a dilemma.
At that moment, her friend Kitsune Saiguu saw through her thoughts and told Ei that she would use all her strength to protect Inazuma, easing Ei's worries.
The implication was clear: go find your sister. She would do her utmost to protect Inazuma.
Ei knew then that Kitsune Saiguu was prepared to face death.
Her plan was to reach Khaenri'ah quickly, save her sister, and return to Inazuma. If she was fast enough, everything could still be saved.
But she was a step too slow—on both fronts.
By the time she reached Khaenri'ah, her sister was already gravely wounded and died in her arms.
When she returned to Inazuma, Kitsune Saiguu had already sacrificed her life, leaving behind only a massive "wound" for Ei and Inazuma.
That wound was in Inazuma—and in Ei's heart.
This was why Ei gave up on moving forward, because her two attempts at "advancing" had failed to catch up in time.
[Ei: "I possess immense martial prowess, capable of slaying Tatarigami and vanquishing beasts, yet I could not defeat time or keep those I cherished."]
["But after clashing with the 'wishes' of humans, I've thought a lot. My gaze cannot remain fixed on the past forever."]
["Advancing brings loss, but it also creates 'encounters.'"]
In reality, Ei reflected on these words. Yes, advancing had caused her to lose so much, leading her to think: If I hadn't moved forward back then, would these things have never happened?
But seeing her future self, she also knew that advancing would bring her many gains.
Especially Lucian's appearance, which further solidified her resolve. As long as she kept "advancing," she would surely "encounter" everyone again, right?
Moreover, her people, her friends—they fought so hard for a future that surely wasn't the kind of eternity she held in her heart, was it?
["As the God of Inazuma, it's time I responded to their expectations."]
["The warriors who shed their blood here, your radiant souls have merged with this land."]
["I will not forget your efforts."]
Inazumans were deeply moved. We won't forget either!
How wonderful—the child, ahem, the great Archon has grown up.
The "grown-up" Ei continued investigating the monsters with the Traveler, checking the damage to the Sacred Sakura.
They pursued the trail, using their super muscles to clear out monsters along the way. It felt like Ei's "muscles" had grown too.
[Paimon: "There are a lot of Rifthounds here too."]
[Ei: "Leave them to me."]
Ei consulted her super brain: how should she investigate the damage to the Sacred Sakura?
Her super brain told her: Quick, use your super muscles to figure out a way!
Ei went all out, mowing down every monster attacking the Sacred Sakura and any others they passed by.
So, why not just use her red form from the start?
However, this time, Ei's super muscles encountered a slight problem. She didn't wipe out all the monsters with a single "swoosh."
Instead, she used her naginata to methodically cut them down, "slash" by "slash," slowly clearing the monsters.
See, this is the price of using the super brain. When the brain (Ei) starts thinking, the muscles (the Shogun) stop obeying.
The Traveler and Paimon noticed the issue. Ei didn't annihilate all the monsters in one strike!? How could this be!? Ei, are you sick??
This was as absurd as Nobita Nobi firing blanks! Great Thunder Nobita, what's wrong with you?
Ei insisted she was fine, just conserving energy since the situation was uncertain. If a stronger monster appeared, she'd need stamina to deal with it.
That excuse might fool Paimon, and Paimon believed it, but the readers didn't buy it.
Do we look like we met you yesterday, Raiden Shogun?
You're actually using your brain now? This feels so unfamiliar!
We preferred the old you, who'd draw your blade at the slightest provocation, ready to carve the Traveler into a statue.
How did you become so "gentle" after becoming a teammate? Washed clean and weakened by a third?
A monster that could exhaust you? If such a monster existed, the stamina used on these little dogs wouldn't even matter.
Clearly, the readers saw through it—Ei was having physical issues, but she was too stubborn to admit it.
They'd rather believe Ei's body was failing than accept she was actually using her super brain.
It's not that Ei isn't smart or incapable of thinking—her intelligence, especially in combat, is high.
But for Ei, a matter this trivial shouldn't require thinking!
Before they could assess Ei's condition, something appeared before the trio—???
Another person's "memory" emerged from the ley lines. This time, it wasn't a Shogunate soldier but an elderly man.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice · Raiden Ei: About the Shogunate Warriors of the Past
"Their will was 'enough to influence Eternity.' It was they, in the past, who shaped me today."