Khaenri'ah was a nation that did not believe in gods—there were no gods there.
Yet now, it had been destroyed by gods.
War raged without end, staining the sky blood-red.
Chains pierced through everything, as if tearing the earth itself apart.
The kingdom's people were cursed into monsters, while those of pure blood wailed and cried in despair.
By the time Raiden Ei arrived, it was already too late.
All she saw, amid the ruins, was her sister's body.
She held her sister's remains for a long time without saying a word, burying her face against her sister's chest.
There was no heartbeat, no trace of breath—only the tachi named Musou Isshin, embedded in the nearby ground, as if mourning the fall of its master.
"…Sister…"
Raiden Ei choked back a sob.
She felt a pain that tore at her heart and lungs.
Her sister's death was something she simply could not accept.
Memories of the past flooded her mind.
She could not imagine a future without her sister.
There was no one around.
In this desolate land, Inazuma's strongest shadow warrior could no longer restrain her emotions. She lowered her head and wept in silence.
She didn't know how much time passed.
At last, Raiden Ei sheathed her sister's blade.
Cradling her sister's body, she cast a deep look at the land of Khaenri'ah—then began her journey back to Inazuma.
All the way, she carried her sister's remains home.
Upon returning, Raiden Ei discovered that all of Inazuma seemed steeped in grief.
Looking across Narukami Island, she saw great yokai rampaging in the forests, sorrow spreading through the woods.
She saw a vast plain—once the home of foxes—now barren and desolate.
She didn't know what had happened.
Carrying her sister's body, she arrived at the Grand Narukami Shrine.
The shrine was filled with sorrow.
Many shrine maidens were covering their faces, quietly crying.
A bad premonition rose in Raiden Ei's heart. She quickened her steps into the shrine.
Soon, she saw Gu Chen—pale-faced, coughing repeatedly—and Yae, the little fox, clutching a torn piece of clothing and wailing loudly.
"Cough—cough—"
Gu Chen coughed hard. Several strands of his black hair had turned silver-white, as if streaked with frost.
His aura felt extremely weak.
When he looked up and saw Raiden Ei—and Raiden Makoto's body in her arms—his already heavy expression darkened further.
"You're back," he said.
"What happened?" Raiden Ei asked urgently.
Gu Chen fell silent for a moment before answering, "Lady Kitsune Saiguu… has fallen."
"What?!"
Kitsune Saiguu too?!
Like a bolt from a clear sky, Raiden Ei stood frozen in place.
"It's my fault for not realizing her plan sooner… I never expected it to be like this," Gu Chen sighed, sorrow written across his face.
Raiden Ei looked at Gu Chen for a long time without speaking.
His condition was terrible—how could she possibly blame him?
She could tell that Gu Chen himself was suffering from severe backlash, clearly from overusing that cursed power.
"And Makoto… she…"
Raiden Ei didn't know how to continue.
Gu Chen looked at Makoto's body for a long while, then finally sighed softly. "Sigh…"
"Waaah—Sister Makoto!"
Yae burst into loud sobs.
Enduring their grief, Gu Chen and Raiden Ei buried Raiden Makoto at the Grand Narukami Shrine.
The shrine stood high above the land.
In life, Makoto had loved this place—loved gazing at the distant scenery.
Now that she had fallen, she could no longer wander freely. They could only hope she would watch over Inazuma from here.
Kitsune Saiguu left no remains.
She had been completely swallowed by the calamity, leaving behind only half a tattered garment.
Gu Chen buried that fragment together with Raiden Makoto.
Gu Chen sat within the shrine. Raiden Ei was there as well, and Yae—exhausted from crying—rested nearby.
Gu Chen could clearly feel the overwhelming grief in Raiden Ei's heart, yet he had no strength to comfort her.
Like her, he was deeply hurt—but some things were simply unavoidable.
[Nilou]: Aaaah!!! After G百合, then Lady Makoto, and now Kitsune Saiguu!! Lady Ei has lost three loved ones already!! (Heartbroken)
[Kamisato Ayaka]: I'm starting to understand the Shogun's actions more and more. Even if they're wrong, that pain is far too heavy. (Heartbroken)
[Zhongli]: By common logic, losing three close companions in such a short time is unbearable. (Sigh)
[Venti]: Yes… losing even one is tragic, let alone—sigh. Mikoshi Chiyo probably also… (Childe · sigh)
[Yae Miko]: Brother-in-law doesn't look well either. Even though the scene of Saiguu sacrificing herself wasn't shown, he must've overused his power—his hair's already turning white! (Worried)
Inazuma could not be without a god for even a single day.
In haste, Raiden Ei ascended to the position of Shogun.
She knew nothing of governance and could only learn while moving forward.
"Thankfully you're here," Raiden Ei said with a sigh as she looked at Gu Chen. "Otherwise, I really wouldn't be able to handle all this."
"Then learn quickly," Gu Chen replied, shaking his head as he coughed again.
"Are you really okay?" Raiden Ei asked worriedly.
"I'm fine. Just need some time to recover," Gu Chen said, shaking his head.
"Y-you… take care of yourself," Raiden Ei said softly, her eyes flickering.
"I know."
Every day, Gu Chen traveled between the Grand Narukami Shrine and Tenshukaku—
teaching Raiden Ei how to govern, teaching the little fox how to be a shrine head.
Day after day passed.
On the surface, the three of them seemed to have emerged from their grief.
But whenever they gathered, the sadness still lingered.
Raiden Ei cried more than once.
Before her people, she remained the Raiden Shogun, no different from before—because they never saw this hidden pain.
Only in private did she appear so fragile.
What use was great power?
The loss of loved ones dealt her a devastating blow.
How could she stop losing people?
Raiden Ei closed her eyes in thought.
[Sangonomiya Kokomi]: Is this the moment when the Shogun began to obsess over "Eternity"?
[Gorou]: Looks like it. I can't even imagine how extreme she'd become if Mr. Gu Chen were to leave her too.
[Raiden Makoto]: A-Chen is Ei's last support now. She's slowly growing dependent on him. If he were to leave her one day… she'd probably go mad.
[Collei]: No, please! Mr. Gu Chen, live longer! (Collei · no response)
[Nilou]: Mr. Gu Chen, please—use your invincible power and think of something! (Klee · please)
[Gu Chen]: What am I supposed to think of? (Qiqi · flop)
The task had a script.
Gu Chen was merely playing a role within it, following the predetermined path.
Breaking the script would lower his score and rewards—possibly even result in outright failure.
As a hardcore grinder, he wouldn't allow that.
What he hadn't expected was that a world he once regarded as merely a "dungeon" would leave such a deep impact on Teyvat.
Unfortunately, that was already long in the past.
Several years passed after the calamity.
Inazuma gradually recovered.
In Inazuma City, the little fox clung to Gu Chen, insisting he buy her fried tofu. Gu Chen naturally agreed.
Raiden Ei followed behind them in silence.
Seeing her still immersed in sorrow, Gu Chen had brought her out to get some fresh air.
"You should try some too," Gu Chen said, buying fried tofu and sweets.
Raiden Ei took them. After tasting a bite, she said quietly, "Not as good as what you make."
"Of course," Gu Chen nodded. "There's a fireworks show tonight. Let's go watch it."
"Alright," Raiden Ei nodded.
The little fox looked up at her.
She felt that Her Excellency was always gloomy now, her expressions far fewer than before.
"Let's go—what are you thinking about?" Gu Chen said, patting the fox's head.
"Oh!"
The little fox snapped out of it and hurried after them.
Night fell quickly.
Stars filled the sky.
In the fields, Inazumans gathered around bonfires, laughing and playing.
With soft whoosh sounds, fireworks bloomed in the sky—not especially dazzling, but beautiful for this era.
Gu Chen, Raiden Ei, and the little fox watched from afar, not wanting to disturb the others.
The glow of the fireworks illuminated Raiden Ei's face.
Her violet eyes trembled slightly as she lowered her head and whispered, "Makoto would have loved this."
Makoto's ideal was transience.
Like fireworks—brief, fleeting, yet beautiful. She would have loved them.
Raiden Ei felt a surge of longing.
"Transience was her ideal. She loved every beautiful moment of the present," Gu Chen said softly.
"But she definitely wouldn't like seeing you so gloomy all the time."
Raiden Ei slowly turned to look at him.
Her lips trembled, but she said nothing.
She understood what he meant—but she still couldn't accept the loss of her loved ones.
Her heart aching, Raiden Ei reached out her hand. "Hug."
Gu Chen pulled her into his arms, gently patting her back in silent comfort.
The little fox stood to the side, eyes wide.
She noticed that the gloom on Her Excellency's face had eased a little.
Big Brother Gu Chen really is amazing.
The little fox was full of admiration.
"I'll… try to pull myself together. I think," Raiden Ei whispered.
"I believe in you," Gu Chen nodded.
"Then teach me more. And don't laugh at me for being dumb," Raiden Ei said softly.
"Who would dare laugh at the Shogun?" Gu Chen raised an eyebrow, then turned to the little fox.
"You're not allowed to laugh at the Shogun, got it?"
"Got it!" the little fox nodded repeatedly.
"I was clearly talking about you…"
Raiden Ei pouted and lightly smacked Gu Chen.
"Alright, alright, I won't say it anymore."
"Really?"
"Well… depends. What if I can't help myself?"
"You jerk!"
Raiden Ei pretended to hit him again.
Gu Chen laughed and grabbed the little fox, breaking into a run.
"She didn't say she was going to hit me!" the fox shouted in confusion.
"Just run—so many questions!" Gu Chen shouted back.
"Hey! You two, stop!" Raiden Ei chased after them, brows knit.
They laughed and played all the way to Tenshukaku.
"Get some rest early," Gu Chen said with a smile.
"You too," Raiden Ei nodded. "Little fox, don't pester your brother."
"This shrine head is very well-behaved!" the little fox said proudly.
"Alright."
Raiden Ei watched Gu Chen and the fox leave, then reluctantly returned to Tenshukaku.
On the streets of Inazuma—
"Cough—cough…"
Gu Chen leaned against a wall, coughing violently.
The little fox stood beside him, patting his back, her face full of worry.
"Phew…"
After a few deep breaths, Gu Chen exhaled slowly. "Much better."
"Big brother, why don't you tell her?" the little fox asked anxiously. "You even stopped me from saying anything."
"Telling her would only make her worry for nothing," Gu Chen said, smiling as he rubbed her head.
"I know my own body. There's no external cure—only slow recovery."
"But your condition is getting worse!" the little fox protested.
Gu Chen fell silent for a few seconds. "You're seeing things, aren't you?"
"No way!" the little fox shook her head fiercely.
"…Alright."
Gu Chen sighed helplessly. "But you have to keep it a secret, okay?"
"I…"
The little fox hesitated, then sighed. "You're so stubborn."
"Am I?" Gu Chen chuckled. "Come on, let's go back and rest."
"Okay!"
The little fox knew that when her brother was with Her Excellency, he always acted like nothing was wrong.
Only when he was with her did he show how weak he really was.
Was he afraid Her Excellency would worry?
But didn't he worry about her worrying?
How could he be cured?
That night, the little fox didn't sleep at all.
She searched through the books Kitsune Saiguu had left behind—strange and varied texts—hoping to find a way to save her brother.
Day after day passed.
Gu Chen knew what she was doing. After failing to persuade her to stop, he let her be.
"Big brother, I heard something today," the little fox said.
"What is it?" Gu Chen asked.
With a complicated expression, she said, "It's about Mikoshi Chiyo. She disappeared for years, then suddenly reappeared and started killing people… When Her Excellency arrived, they fought. In the end, one of Chiyo's horns was cut off. Her Excellency seemed very sad."
"Mikoshi Chiyo…"
There might have been a way to save her—somewhere in the world.
But Gu Chen didn't have it.
Raiden Ei didn't have it.
The little fox certainly didn't.
All of Inazuma couldn't find one. Envoys sent to other nations found nothing.
Mikoshi Chiyo's corruption had deepened.
She used to go mad only occasionally—now she was sane only on rare occasions.
"Cough—cough…"
Gu Chen coughed again, his face suddenly turning paler.
"Big brother! Don't die!"
The little fox panicked.
"I-I'm fine…"
"Everything has a price. This is one of them," Gu Chen said after catching his breath.
"It's okay. I can still live another hundred or so years."
"Really?" the little fox eyed him suspiciously.
"Of course. When have I ever lied to you?" Gu Chen smiled.
"That's exactly when I'm afraid you are lying!" she huffed.
"I won't. I promise."
He really wasn't lying.
"Alright, go rest early. Tomorrow morning, come with me to Tenshukaku to see her."
"Okay!"
The next day.
At dawn.
After washing up, Gu Chen and the little fox set out from the shrine.
Mt. Yougou's steep paths posed no challenge for them.
They walked down forest trails, the little fox munching on sweets Gu Chen had made.
Suddenly, she was lifted and placed behind him.
Startled, she saw Gu Chen standing in front of her—and ahead of them stood a figure holding a tachi.
Filthy, clothes in tatters, blade worn and broken—like a warrior who had wandered for ages.
The little fox noticed the two horns on the figure's head—one of them already severed.
Mikoshi Chiyo.
Her face was twisted with madness. Her red eyes overflowed with bloodlust, her body steeped in killing intent.
Gu Chen's right arm turned black, a tachi forming in his hand as he faced her.
The little fox's eyes widened.
If her brother fought again, he might not even have a hundred years left.
Panicking, she shouted, "Mikoshi Chiyo! What are you trying to do?!"
"ROAR—"
Chiyo let out a beast-like howl.
In the next instant, she moved like a ghost, blade raised, slashing toward Gu Chen.
"NO!!!"
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