"Boom!"
Lightning crashed down from the torn space, and Kazuha's pupils shrank sharply. His gaze darted to the bolt that had manifested out of nowhere, then slowly rose to Futsu Mitama—who now stood with an Electro-charged tachi in hand.
Purple light crackled in Futsu Mitama's eyes. Behind him, an eye of thunder hovered into view—its center marked with the unmistakable mitsudomoe of the Electro Archon.
The Shogun's symbol.
For a split second, Kazuha felt the world warp. That lone figure stepping toward him—it was the same oppressive silhouette he had seen in Tenshukaku, moments after his friend fell to the Musou no Hitotachi.
"How peculiar."
The hallucination faded. Futsu Mitama's voice pulled him back.
"After unleashing this move, the Electro around me feels like my own limbs," he said, excitement and disbelief mixing in his tone. "Wherever I point, lightning obeys. And it isn't just Electro—there's spatial distortion woven into it as well. Amazing… If I can—"
Kazuha exhaled, tension leaving his shoulders. For a moment he truly believed he was standing before the Shogun's will incarnate. Futsu Mitama, absorbed in his discovery, stretched out a hand. A thin violet flash shot forward—and the space it passed through… split. Just a hairline fracture, barely visible.
But it was enough.
The glimpse behind that crack wiped every trace of excitement from his face.
His expression froze—then twisted.
In the same instant, he dispelled Transcendence: Baleful Omen and slammed the gap shut.
Aila blinked. "Young Master? What's—"
"Shh!" Futsu Mitama clamped a hand over her mouth, eyes wide. "No talking. MOVE. NOW."
One look at him was enough. Neither Aila nor Kazuha asked questions—they simply ran. As they fled, embarrassment and dread churned inside Futsu Mitama. He had only wanted to test whether it could be used for spatial travel. If Hilichurl mages could teleport, why couldn't he?
But the moment he opened that sliver of space—
RAIDEN EI WAS THERE.
Seated in meditation within the Plane of Euthymia. Eyes closed— yet, when he sealed the crack, he clearly saw them twitch open.
No hesitation. No pride. No dignity. He ran.
————
Inside the Plane of Euthymia
Raiden Ei's eyes opened faintly. She scanned the empty expanse. Nothing. But she had sensed it—her domain had been pried open, just for an instant.
"...Miko?" she murmured. Only Yae Miko possessed the skill—and the audacity—to attempt an intrusion. But even she should not be able to enter without permission.
Soft nostalgia flickered in Ei's eyes before she tamped it down and returned to meditation.
Meanwhile, Futsu Mitama was frantically spamming the group chat.
[Futsu Mitama: "@Raiden Makoto WHAT WAS THAT??? I ALMOST DIED!!!"]
[Aila: "?"]
[Kuki Shinobu: "Wait—what happened?"]
[Kokomi: "You ran into a Harbinger???"]
[Raiden Makoto: "???"]
[Futsu Mitama: "I SAW THE SHOGUN. WHEN USING THE BALEFUL OMEN."]
[Raiden Makoto: "Space? Were you trying to use it for teleportation? I mean— theoretically that's possible."]
[Raiden Makoto: "But your luck is THAT bad? You directly connected to her domain?"]
[Raiden Makoto: "Ah. So that's where she's hiding. Typical."]
[Futsu Mitama: "So I can't use this technique at all??"]
Futsu Mitama slumped, devastated. He had just mastered an incredible skill—only to discover it was linked directly to Raiden Ei's personal realm. Unless his mastery rose to a certain level, any attempt at teleportation would toss him straight into the Plane of Euthymia. Every single time. A guaranteed way to die.
Makoto's reply came lightly.
[Raiden Makoto: "Don't be so gloomy. It's actually an advantage."]
[Raiden Makoto: "As long as you don't use it for teleportation, nothing will happen."]
[Raiden Makoto: "And look on the bright side—if you ever meet someone terrifying, just unleash it at full power. They'll get dragged straight to Ei."]
[Raiden Makoto: "Free god-level reinforcements, right."]
[Futsu Mitama: "She's so lucky to have a sister like you."]
[Raiden Makoto: "Naturally~"]
Futsu Mitama wiped the cold sweat off his forehead. Strange as it was, he did end up with a trump card. A guaranteed one-way ticket to the Plane of Euthymia—forcing the enemy to fight Raiden Ei herself.
If one day La Signora or Scaramouche went crazy and tried to abduct him, well— Was it not perfectly reasonable for a noble to summon a god?
Still, he couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry.
Kazuha scanned the forest with heightened senses. He didn't know why Futsu Mitama ran, but he could recognize danger when he felt it.
"It seems we've shaken it off."
Futsu Mitama exhaled in relief. No divine gaze. No lightning from above.
Kazuha finally asked, "Was it an enemy?"
"The one who resides in Tenshukaku," Futsu Mitama answered cryptically. "The technique I used originates from her. And she may have sensed it."
Kazuha didn't pry. Everyone had secrets—he had plenty of his own.
Futsu Mitama continued, "Because we ran for another half hour… we've fully entered Tatarasuna."
Kazuha listened quietly, then lifted his head. "The Shogunate Army isn't far. They intend to rest here before marching again. At this pace, they'll reach Yashiori Island soon."
After half a day of travel, they had caught up with Kujou Sara's forces.
"Let's sneak in," Futsu Mitama said lightly. "And wait for the Resistance to appear."
Kazuha blinked. "Appear?" The Resistance was weak—the Tenryou Commission strong. They should avoid confrontation. But Futsu Mitama only smiled.
"You'll understand soon."
They approached the camp, and Futsu Mitama informed Kokomi. Group chat messages flew. Kokomi was startled; Shinobu teased; Makoto speculated; Futsu Mitama explained the political layers behind the coming clash. When the camp settled for dinner, only Kujou Sara remained vigilant—bow at her back, fan at her waist, posture sharp as a blade.
Even Kazuha could sense the imbalance.
"Two forces with different hearts," he whispered. "One straining with everything they have— one treating war like a leisure outing."
As if on cue—
"Swish—!!!"
An arrow shot from the darkness. Kujou Sara reacted instantly—dropping her food, drawing her bow, and shattering the incoming arrow with an Electro shot.
"Enemy attack!!!"
She charged first.
The soldiers scrambled in confusion. From the opposite ridge, a young general with beast ears and tail charged forward with fewer than fifty fighters—yet their eyes burned with fire.
The first clash erupted, chaotic and fierce.