Bang!
In an instant, blades clashed.
The Raiden Shogun's movements were as swift as lightning—each strike a blur too fast for the naked eye.
But Gu Chen was no weakling either. He had once crushed Vortex God with ease, and now, even facing the Shogun herself, he did not falter.
Their figures intertwined in a storm of blows, and the shockwaves from their battle tore through the streets of Ritou, toppling buildings in their wake.
Sensing the danger to the people nearby, the Raiden Shogun subtly drew the fight away from the settlement.
Gu Chen, fearless as ever, followed without hesitation.
Meanwhile, in hiding, Lumine, Paimon, and Thoma watched anxiously.
"Th-that's the Raiden Shogun?" Paimon stammered, trembling as lightning flashed across the darkened sky.
"Why did she come after us the moment we arrived? It's like she's trying to kill us!"
"I don't know," Lumine said gravely, shaking her head. "Let's just hope Gu Chen can get away…"
"That'll be difficult…" Thoma muttered, unease written on his face.
"The Shogun pursues Eternity. Given Inazuma's current state… she might see Gu Chen and you as variables—threats to her ideal.
If that's the case, she won't stop until she's erased you all… unless you never set foot in Inazuma again."
"Th-then…"
Paimon fell silent, her eyes wide with fear.
Lumine clenched her fists.
She had just found her brother—and now she was traveling with Gu Chen to explore the seven nations.
But to be driven out of Inazuma the moment they arrived?
Who could possibly accept that?
To be hunted down for no reason, without even knowing what crime they had committed—
it was unbearable.
"Sigh…" Thoma exhaled heavily.
"The Vision Hunt Decree, the Sakoku Decree… it's all too much.
If you ask me, the Tenryou Commission bears the greater blame."
"The Tenryou Commission?" Lumine asked.
"Not the time to talk about that now," Thoma said quickly.
"We need to get off Ritou. Even if Gu Chen manages to escape, if we're caught here, we'll just cause him more trouble!"
"Right!" Lumine nodded decisively.
"Stay here for a moment—I'll go scout around."
Thoma threw on a dark cloak and ruffled his hair.
At a glance, he barely looked like himself anymore.
No wonder he's the local fixer—he's good at this.
[Yae Miko]: My, my~ Our dear Shogun's being quite aggressive, isn't she?
The guests just arrived, and she's already swinging her sword?
[Kaeya]: Yeah, seriously—what did Gu Chen ever do to her? (Nahida·pointing)
[Hu Tao]: I don't get her logic at all.
If she doesn't want outsiders in Inazuma, just say so!
Why immediately start a fight? (Keqing·confused)
[Kujou Sara]: Illegal entry is a crime! This isn't about targeting Mr. Gu Chen—
it's simply the law of the land! (Sakoku Decree – Article I)
[Zhongli]: From a rational standpoint, that does constitute a violation of Inazuma's isolation decree—
but the punishment hardly warrants death.
[Furina]: Even I'm not that tyrannical!
Whatever you do, there should be laws to justify it!
[Raiden Ei]: Reasonable. (nods)
In Inazuma, within the Plane of Euthymia…
Raiden Ei's face showed a trace of confusion.
She herself couldn't quite understand what her past self—the puppet Shogun—had been thinking.
The moment those outsiders arrived on Ritou, she'd charged in blade-first, as if desperate to kill Gu Chen.
But why?
Even for the sake of "Eternity," simple expulsion should have sufficed.
They bore her no grudges, and had committed no grave offense.
Death was far too severe a response.
"Could it be… that the Shogun puppet malfunctioned somehow?" Ei wondered quietly.
The video continued, the camera still following Lumine's perspective rather than Gu Chen's.
Soon, Thoma returned.
"Good news," he said. "The Shogun hasn't issued any official decrees, and we're not wanted.
Bad news is… no one knows where she and Mr. Gu Chen went.
They've already left Ritou's territory."
"I see…" Lumine said softly, worry clouding her eyes.
"What do we do now?" Paimon asked, lost.
"We can't be sure whether the Shogun will issue new orders," Lumine replied after thinking for a moment.
"We have to leave Ritou first!"
"Agreed," Thoma nodded.
"Once we're outside, we can search for Gu Chen and gather information."
[Kaeya]: So, she's found her brother… Now she's off to find her boyfriend? (smirk)
[Paimon]: That's right! (nods seriously)
[Lumine]: (Qiqi·faceplant)
[Cyno]: Is no one actually worried about Mr. Gu Chen right now?
[Kamisato Ayaka]: I hope Mr. Gu Chen is safe… (praying)
[Yae Miko]: Oh? So you're saying you want the Shogun to be in trouble then? (Yae Miko·teasing)
[Kamisato Ayaka]: (Ayaka·confused)
[Kujou Sara]: (secretly watching)
[Kamisato Ayato]: (sigh) Lady Miko, please don't tease my sister.
If the Shogun takes offense, that could be… problematic.
[Yae Miko]: Hmph, brat.
Do you take our dear Shogun for someone so small-minded? (Yae Miko·smirk)
[Kaeya]: Hard to say.
After all, she did try to kill Gu Chen the moment he landed. (grin)
[Venti]: Whatever else she is, she's definitely not easy to reason with. (nods)
[Prince Neuvillette]: I support the Raiden Shogun! Eliminate the evil Gu Chen!
[Lyney]: Oho~ someone's got serious beef with his sister's suitor.
[Prince Neuvillette]: Hmph. If you had a sister, how would you feel?
[Lyney]: …I actually do have a sister.
If it were me… um, that's… complicated.
[Lynette]: (silent stare)
[Prince Neuvillette]: @[Kamisato Ayato] What about you, Lord Ayato?
[Kamisato Ayato]: Haha, if it were Mr. Gu Chen, I wouldn't mind.
It all depends on my sister's feelings. (Ayato·sipping tea)
[Paimon]: Wow, Ayaka's brother is so open-minded! (Hu Tao·cute pose)
[Yae Miko]: Really~? You wouldn't secretly send Shuumatsuban to assassinate him? (Yae Miko·snicker)
[Kamisato Ayato]: Haha, of course not. (smile)
[Gu Chen]: (shivering emoji)
[Azhdaha]: I told you, our brother Gu Chen is powerful—see?
Even the Raiden Shogun can't take him down! (thumbs up)
[Tartaglia]: Wait, so you're saying Gu Chen's strength is on par with the Seven Archons?! (Childe·shocked)
In the video:
With Thoma's help, Lumine and Paimon aided Chisato Hiiragi, managing to escape Ritou.
In Konda Village, they sought news of Gu Chen.
Villagers spoke of seeing two beams of light clashing by the sea,
their battle moving inland toward Inazuma City.
The three hurried off in that direction.
Before long, Thoma returned with more information.
"I found out more," he said.
"Mr. Gu Chen was injured and retreated.
The Shogun stopped pursuing him to avoid harming the citizens near the city.
But… according to witnesses, his wounds looked serious."
Lumine's expression darkened, worry filling her eyes.
"At least the Shogun has lost his trail for now," Thoma continued.
"Miss Lumine, we might be able to turn things around if we address the root cause—
the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree.
If we can overturn them, perhaps there's hope."
"Alright!" Lumine agreed firmly.
As the three set off, the camera shifted—
to a distant cliff overlooking their path.
There stood Gu Chen, silently watching their figures fade into the horizon.
From his right shoulder to his left flank stretched a searing wound,
crackling faintly with purple lightning and slick with blood.
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