Chapter 297: Majesty of the Thunder
With those words, the trajectory of the naginata in Raiden Ei's hand abruptly changed. What had been a forward thrust instantly transformed into a sweeping horizontal slash.
"And your strength is far too little."
Although Ayaka reacted in time, raising her own blade to parry, the power behind the polearm was simply too immense. A bone-jarring shockwave surged through her katana, and a searing pain exploded in the webbing of her hand. Her grip shattered.
In less than a second, her weapon was torn from her grasp.
The Mistsplitter Reforged spun through the air before gravity took hold, plunging point-first into the ground directly in front of Heiji Hattori with a solid thump.
Immediately after, the razor-sharp tip of Raiden Ei's naginata came to rest against the delicate skin of Ayaka's neck.
"It is over."
Heiji stared, his breath hitched, at the elegant sword quivering in the earth before him. His expression was a mask of pure shock and disbelief.
"So fast..." he muttered, his voice laced with an awe he couldn't conceal. He felt as if his eyes had failed to process what they had just witnessed.
Indeed, both Kamisato Ayaka and Raiden Ei had moved with the swiftness of a gale, their forms blurring into a dance too quick for the untrained eye to follow. Every moment of the brief exchange had been a showcase of extraordinary speed and skill.
Yet, as someone with a keen eye for combat, Heiji could clearly see the truth of the duel. Ayaka's swift defeat was not a result of her own weakness, but a proof of the overwhelming power of her opponent. This match was exactly as Ayaka had stated from the beginning—merely an opportunity to seek guidance from a true master.
What was truly astonishing was that Raiden Ei had barely taken more than a few steps. With a single, fluid motion, she had disarmed one of the most skilled swordswomen he had ever seen.
"Whoa!" Genta, Mitsuhiko, and Ayumi cried out in unison.
Their mouths hung open, their eyes wide with a mixture of shock and admiration. Though they were too young to gauge the chasm in strength with Heiji's precision, they could feel the sheer, oppressive power that radiated from Raiden Ei. A sense of reverence bloomed in their hearts, and they gazed at her as if she were a figure from legend.
A flicker of surprise also crossed Conan Edogawa's face. He had been somewhat skeptical of Raiden Ei's abilities, but seeing her handle Ayaka's determined assault with such casual ease forced him to reconsider. Perhaps Natsume truly wasn't a match for this mysterious woman.
"And so it ends," Yae Miko sighed, a faint, knowing smile playing on her lips. "In all these years, besides that little one, it seems only Kaedehara Kazuha has ever managed to truly surprise Ei."
Conan's eyes narrowed slightly. He didn't know who Kaedehara Kazuha was, but he silently committed the name to memory.
The purpose of their visit to the Grand Narukami Shrine had been achieved. Though the outcome wasn't quite what they had anticipated, their tour was complete. It was time for Heiji, Conan, and the others to depart.
To no one's surprise, the Kamisato siblings prepared to travel with them. The final match of the tournament was fast approaching, and as the head of the clan and a key figure in the event, Ayato could not afford to be absent any longer. It was only natural they would return together.
What did surprise them, however, was that the revered guest of the Kamisato Clan, Raiden Ei, also intended to leave with them.
Her seniority, combined with a distant, almost untouchable aura and the recent display of martial prowess, had a chilling effect. Even the normally fearless Detective Boys didn't dare to be rowdy in her presence. They stuck unusually close to Ran Mouri, their voices hushed as the group began their descent from the mountain.
It was Conan, of course, who couldn't contain his insatiable curiosity. After a firm, unsubtle push from Heiji sent him stumbling toward Raiden Ei, he shot the Osakan detective a withering glare before composing his features into a mask of childish innocence.
Heiji, for his part, wasn't idle. He casually ambled over to Kamisato Ayato, striking up a familiar conversation to draw his attention and ensure he wouldn't interrupt Conan's investigation.
Raiden Ei did, in fact, seem to possess a certain tolerance for children. Seeing Conan's deliberate attempt at acting cute, her placid expression remained unchanged, but she answered his question with grave seriousness.
"Why are you going down the mountain, Sister Raiden?" Conan had asked.
"Naturally, it is to punish those who dare to offend the Majesty of the Thunder."
Hearing the word "punish," Conan's expression tightened for a fraction of a second before he smoothed it over. He pressed on, his voice full of feigned excitement. "Um... Is it like when Sister Natsume beats up bad guys? You know, she goes 'swish, swish, swish' and knocks them all down!"
"The Traveler?" Raiden Ei lowered her gaze, her violet eyes seeming to look through him for a moment. She pondered his question, then replied, "It should be different. My actions will be... slightly more excessive. But those who do wrong should naturally accept punishment. Since they dared to commit the act, they must be prepared to face the consequences."
Conan's mind raced, keenly seizing on the implications of her words. He continued in a casual tone, "So, who are 'they,' Sister Raiden? If there are a lot of them, will you be in danger?"
"That is not important." Raiden Ei didn't seem to notice his probing, her gaze distant. She glanced down at him, her voice as calm and final as a coming storm. "No one can stop the descending thunder. And no one can stand against the Majesty of the Thunder."
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