Chapter 4. Raiden Ei's Return
Raiden Ei descended upon Snezhnaya, Engulfing Lightning held firmly in her grasp.
She did not draw Musou Isshin. Ever since learning that Raiden Makoto's consciousness resided within that blade, she had made a resolute decision—
No matter the circumstance, she would not wield it lightly again.
Even if the blade itself was nearly indestructible… even if nothing in this world could truly damage it…
She would not gamble with even the slightest possibility.
Before her, the blizzard howled.
And within that endless white—Tsaritsa stood unmoving.
Raiden Ei's gaze fell upon her, cold and absolute.
Without hesitation, she raised Engulfing Lightning. Violet arcs of electricity coiled along the spear's length, humming with restrained authority.
"Hand over the Gnosis."
The words were simple.
But beneath them—was a will that permitted no refusal.
"...?"
For a brief moment, even the Tsaritsa was taken aback. She had not moved against Inazuma. She had not made any attempt to seize Ei's Gnosis— And yet the other party had crossed nations, descended directly upon Snezhnaya—and demanded hers?
"If you desire my Gnosis," the Tsaritsa replied, her tone calm yet edged with frost, "then that will depend on whether you possess the strength to take it."
Her refusal was immediate.
Decisive.
Whatever Beelzebub's purpose—For the sake of that plan, she would not yield.
"Not yours."
Raiden Ei's voice cut in, sharper this time. A faint crack of thunder echoed in the air.
"It is mine."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, the lightning within them growing more intense.
"Where is Il Dottore? Have him come out."
"He took the Gnosis—from the Guuji."
At the final sentence, the surrounding air seemed to grow heavier.
"If you cannot give me an answer today—"
The tip of Engulfing Lightning lowered ever so slightly—As if aligning itself with its target.
"Then I will take one myself."
No threats.
No bluster.
Just certainty.
Tsaritsa fell silent.
Dottore.
That name alone was enough for her to piece together a rough outline of the situation.
So he had already acted. And succeeded. But before she could respond—
Raiden Ei moved.
There was no warning. No transition.
Only a sudden flash—And lightning had already descended.
"—!"
The Tsaritsa reacted instantly, raising her weapon. In an instant, several massive ice spears condensed beside her, their surfaces gleaming with biting cold.
They surged forward, colliding with the descending thunder.
The impact did not erupt outward.
Instead—It compressed.
Then twisted.
Then—Vanished into the sky.
The next moment, both figures had already ascended.
Without discussion. Without hesitation.
They rose into the sky, their figures tearing through the blizzard before disappearing entirely—as though stepping beyond the boundaries of the current world.
Raiden Ei was angry. But she was not irrational. If she fought here—
Then the aftermath alone would be enough to annihilate cities, to erase countless lives without distinction.
She would not allow Snezhnaya to suffer such destruction.
Not out of mercy—But because she understood the consequence.
If she abandoned restraint here—Then one day, the same blade could fall upon Inazuma. And she would be the one forced to bear that result.
So the battlefield shifted.
To the sky.
To a place where only gods could reach.
In truth—Had things remained as they once were—Had there been no Futsu Mitama—Then even if the Gnosis had been taken, Raiden Ei would not have cared.
A Gnosis was not essential to her eternity. So long as the Fatui did not interfere with Inazuma's path, its loss was…irrelevant.
But now—
Her gaze darkened slightly. That was no longer the case.
Above, thunder and frost had already begun to clash beyond sight.
Below—
La Signora stood frozen in place. Her mind… struggled to process what she had just witnessed.
What… just happened?
Moments ago, she had been cursing that name under her breath—
And now, that very existence had descended upon Snezhnaya… and initiated battle without hesitation?
"..."
Snow fell heavily.
And within that silent storm—
Three figures emerged.
Their steps were soundless, their presence undeniable.
The surrounding Fatui operatives immediately knelt, lowering their heads in absolute respect.
They did not need to speak.
Their identities were already known.
Pierro.
Il Dottore.
Columbina.
"You've come."
La Signora spoke, her voice steadier now, though her brows remained tightly knit.
She was not surprised. An Archon descending directly upon Snezhnaya—And Her Majesty personally engaging—This was no ordinary disturbance.
And more importantly—They all understood a single fact.
The Tsaritsa—would not be able to hold for long.
It was not a matter of capability.
At her peak, she would not fear the Raiden Shogun.
But now—Her authority had been divided.
Fragments of divine power had been granted to the Harbingers, enabling the acquisition of the Gnosis.
What remained—Though still immense—Was no longer complete.
And Raiden Ei—Was more whole.
Snow drifted between them, the silence pressing heavier with each passing second.
Finally, La Signora spoke again, her voice low:
"Why…is the Raiden Shogun here?"
Pierro stood amidst the falling snow, half his face concealed beneath a pale mask. His gaze shifted slowly toward Il Dottore beside him, and when he spoke, his voice carried a weathered calm, as though the unfolding chaos was nothing more than an expected variable.
"Dottore, you should know the reason."
At those words, both La Signora and Columbina turned their attention toward Dottore as well. Raiden Shogun's sudden descent upon Snezhnaya was far too abrupt, far too direct—there was little need to speculate. If one traced the cause, it could only lead back to him. After all, he had personally assisted Scaramouche in stirring upheaval within Inazuma, and by all calculations, today was precisely when that plan should have reached its conclusion.
Dottore merely inclined his head slightly, a faint chuckle escaping his lips as though he were discussing something trivial rather than a chain of events that had drawn an Archon across nations.
"The plan succeeded," he said lightly. "Though I encountered some…inconvenience along the way. For the time being, I will need to seek refuge in Sumeru."
The moment those words settled, the expressions of the three shifted, however subtly. Success meant only one thing—the Gnosis had been secured. As for the so-called inconvenience, there was no need for elaboration. The answer was already written across the sky. Raiden Shogun herself was tearing through Snezhnaya at this very moment; what greater explanation was required?
"In that case, you have already prepared for the consequences," Pierro continued, his tone unchanged, yet carrying an unmistakable weight. His gaze rested on Dottore, steady and measuring.
"You have provoked the Geo Archon and now the Raiden Shogun. Tell me, Dottore—how many of your 'selves' do you intend to sacrifice this time?"
There was no accusation in his words, only calculation. For the one who had descended upon their doorstep was no ordinary enemy. Whether it was the true Raiden Ei or the Shogun puppet, both were existences forged in the crucible of the Archon War. Snezhnaya was not without the means to slay a god—but the cost required to do so was not one they were willing to bear.
Dottore's smile did not change. He offered no answer, because none was needed. Everyone present already understood. What would be lost would only be expendable segments. So long as the experiment advanced, so long as the plan moved forward, such losses were insignificant.
"Let us go," Pierro said at last, as though closing the matter. "Her Majesty should not be left alone for long."
As his voice fell, space itself seemed to distort. In the next instant, Pierro, Dottore, and Columbina vanished, tearing through the fabric of reality as they headed toward the battlefield where thunder and frost clashed beyond mortal reach. Only La Signora remained behind, silent, because she understood clearly—such a battlefield was not one she could enter.
—
Far to the south, within Inazuma, the atmosphere was entirely different.
Kujou Sara stood still, her expression shaken in a way rarely seen. She had listened to everything, yet the weight of it had not fully settled.
"Is that so…?" she murmured, her voice quieter than before. "So that is how it happened?"
She had never imagined that Kujou Takayuki would act in such a manner. Blind trust in the Fatui, the collapse of command on the battlefield, even abandoning his post at a critical moment—each revelation struck like a blow. Though she had not been present, the account given by Futsu Mitama was enough for her to reconstruct the scene in her mind. The confusion of the soldiers, the collapse of morale, the silent realization that their command had failed them—it was all too clear.
"There are many who can serve as soldiers—but few who can stand as generals."
The old saying in Inazuma surfaced unbidden in her thoughts. She had always understood its meaning, and it was precisely why she had demanded strict discipline from herself. Every order, every decision she made could determine the fate of those under her command. It was also why she had earned the respect of the army, the trust of the people, and even recognition from the Resistance.
After a long breath, Kujou Sara raised her head again. The hesitation in her eyes had already faded, replaced by resolve.
"I understand," she said steadily. "Whatever fate awaits the Kujou Clan, I will accept it. But as its adopted daughter, I will not ignore the sins of its head. I will atone for them."
Futsu Mitama looked at her, a trace of hesitation passing through his expression. He knew better than anyone what that "atonement" truly meant. Because of Kujou Takayuki, the Gnosis had been lost to Dottore. That single matter alone was not something that could be repaid in a lifetime. In the end, however, he said nothing more than, "Do your best."
That was enough. Kujou Sara nodded firmly. "I still have matters to attend to. Thank you for the information. When this is over, I will treat you to a meal."
With that, she turned and left, her steps swift and unwavering. Now that she understood the truth, she also understood her responsibilities. As a general of the Shogunate and a member of the Kujou Clan, there were still many things she needed to do.
Futsu Mitama watched her retreating figure and let out a quiet sigh. "She has it difficult as well…" he muttered, before casually picking up another skewer of dango.
After finishing his meal, he placed mora on the table and made his way home. The day was still young, and there was time enough to continue brewing wine. Though he had already earned a considerable amount of mora in Mondstadt and Liyue, there was no such thing as too much. And if nothing else, the wine could always be used to lure Venti into offering some form of compensation. After all, the sensation of using the Anemo Gnosis freely during his battle with the Raiden Shogun had been… undeniably exhilarating.
Time passed quietly, minute by minute, until night fell.
With it came the news from Tatarasuna.
In an instant, all of Inazuma was thrown into turmoil. The Shogunate Army had suffered a humiliating defeat, while the Resistance had achieved a decisive victory. Rumors spread rapidly—of how the Shogun herself had descended upon the battlefield, only to be stopped by Futsu Mitama, who spoke of the people's suffering and exposed the crimes of the Tenryou Commission. Of how Yae Miko had appeared, gathering the wishes of the people and entrusting that power to him. And finally, of how the Shogun, unwilling to turn her blade against those wishes, had taken his attack head-on before vanishing.
There were even whispers that she had once raised her blade toward Yae Miko afterward, though what had transpired in that moment remained unclear.
What was clear, however, was the public's outrage. The Tenryou Commission became the target of widespread condemnation, and the name of Kujou Takayuki was cursed throughout the land.
Meanwhile, within Inazuma City, calm slowly returned. Kamisato Ayaka, Shenhe, and Kuki Shinobu reunited with Futsu Mitama, and the group gathered within his residence. The war had ended; the Shogunate retreated in order, and the Resistance stabilized under Sangonomiya Kokomi. A fragile peace had taken hold.
Inside the house, the atmosphere was unexpectedly tranquil. Wine was being brewed—Futsu Mitama and Aila handling the main process, while Ayaka and Shinobu assisted. Shenhe stood to the side, quietly observing, fully aware that her involvement might only complicate matters.
"I believe that after this campaign, Inazuma will usher in a new era,"
Ayaka said softly, her eyes shimmering with anticipation. Hope was evident in her gaze. With the reconciliation of Raiden Ei and Raiden Makoto, with strength and governance reunited, Inazuma was poised to rise once more.
Kuki Shinobu nodded in agreement. "The Tenryou Commission will undergo a purge, and the Kujou Clan will lose its former standing. But the future—will be brighter."
Futsu Mitama gave a small nod, though a trace of concern lingered in his expression.
"I just wonder how Ei is doing," he said. "She hasn't responded in the group. If she's been held up in Snezhnaya—someone might need to intervene."
"Someone?" Shenhe tilted her head slightly, curiosity evident in her gaze. The others looked over as well, their thoughts turning to the same possibilities—Venti, or perhaps Azhdaha, the few beings capable of interfering in a battle between Archons.
Futsu Mitama was about to respond—
"No need."
The voice came without warning.
Calm. Familiar.
At some unknown moment, Raiden Ei had already appeared within the room.
"I have returned."
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