As the corruption was purged, Hanachirusato's form began to change. Her clothes suddenly burst apart under the overwhelming power.
Seeing this, Kagami Ren frowned slightly while maintaining the authority of life and death. With a flick of his hand, a golden spatial barrier formed around the three of them, completely isolating the scene from the outside world.
Time passed slowly as the power of life and death continuously reshaped Fox Saiguu's body. Snow-white hair and flawless skin gradually took form before them. Before long, a peerless beauty stood there.
"Haa…" Kagami Ren withdrew his power, and Saiguu's perfect body was fully revealed.
"Wow… as expected of a fox spirit. Her body is truly flawless," Kagami Ren remarked as he looked at her. A divine beast indeed.
"Lady Saiguu!" Yae Miko rushed forward, unable to hold back any longer. She pulled a shrine maiden's robe from her storage and quickly dressed her.
"Mm…" Saiguu's fox ears twitched slightly as she slowly opened her golden eyes.
"Miko?" Seeing Yae Miko in her arms, a trace of complexity flashed through her gaze.
"You troublesome woman! Why did you lie to me and say you were just going on a trip?" Yae Miko choked out through tears. "Do you know how long I've waited for you?"
"I'm sorry, Miko. I had no choice," Saiguu said softly, gently patting her head.
"Hmph!" Yae Miko rubbed her eyes and stepped back. "Because of you, I've completely lost my composure."
Saiguu smiled faintly, then turned to Kagami Ren. Thinking about how she had just appeared before him unclothed, her cheeks flushed slightly. Still, she bowed respectfully.
"Thank you for reviving me and allowing me to see my old friend again. Such kindness—I will never forget it."
"What's the point of just thanking him?" Yae Miko snorted from the side. "Shouldn't you repay such a great favor with your body?"
She knew exactly what Kagami Ren wanted. He had made it quite clear—he liked beautiful women.
"Nice." Kagami Ren mentally gave her a thumbs-up. Truly his thoughtful little fox.
"Don't speak nonsense, Miko!" Saiguu glared at her. After hundreds of years, her once well-behaved little fox had become this mischievous?
"I'm not joking. Ah Ren is just a shameless pervert," Yae Miko muttered. Even her way of addressing him had changed. According to their agreement, since he had revived Saiguu, she would now stay by his side—becoming a "docile and obedient" woman.
"…"
Kagami Ren chuckled awkwardly and extended his hand. "She's just joking. Let me introduce myself—I'm Kagami Ren, the current High Priest of the Grand Narukami Shrine."
"Lord Kagami Ren." Saiguu reached out her jade-like hand and shook his, slightly surprised. Someone this powerful… was actually the High Priest?
"This isn't a good place to stay. It's dangerous. Let's return to the shrine first," Yae Miko said. Judging by the timing, the Raiden Shogun would likely arrive soon. No one knew what that rigid puppet might do.
"Alright." Kagami Ren nodded and dismissed the golden barrier.
But in the next instant, his expression changed. He raised his hand just in time to block a blade of lightning.
"Ei?" Saiguu looked toward the figure descending from the sky.
"No—it's the Shogun," Yae Miko said cautiously.
"You two head back to the shrine. I'll hold her off," Kagami Ren said seriously. "Saiguu has just been revived—she's still weak. Take her with you."
"But you…" Yae Miko hesitated. She knew exactly how merciless the Shogun could be.
"I have a way to deal with her," Kagami Ren said calmly.
"Go! Ah Ren, I'll wait for you at the shrine." Hearing this, Yae Miko made her decision. She picked up Saiguu and quickly retreated.
She was worried, but she knew this battle was beyond her level. Staying would only distract Kagami Ren.
The Raiden Shogun paid them no attention. Her gaze remained fixed on Kagami Ren.
"A god not of this world…" Lightning crackled around her as she spoke coldly. "You are a variable to eternity. Such a variable cannot be tolerated. Leave Inazuma."
"What I'm doing is for what I seek in this land. I won't leave," Kagami Ren replied, shaking his head. Leave now? Just after reviving Saiguu and getting close to Miko? Impossible.
"Then you stand against eternity." The Shogun's eyes turned cold as her naginata blazed with lightning.
"Eternity? Do you even understand what true eternity is?" Kagami Ren entered his Herrscher form. Subspace Spears appeared behind him, distorting the very fabric of space.
"The eternity you pursue is nothing more than a distorted fear of loss."
"Silence!" The Shogun vanished instantly, appearing behind him as her blade came down.
Boom!
The strike was blocked by a Subspace Spear. Kagami Ren instantly shifted positions, now standing at a distance. The Key of the Void appeared in his hand.
In the next moment, countless Subspace Spears surrounded the Shogun. Space itself sealed her in place, locking her movements.
"Evil Eye: Open!"
A surge of lightning tore through space itself. The Shogun broke free in an instant, her blade flashing as all the Subspace Spears exploded.
"As expected of you, Raiden Shogun…" Kagami Ren muttered. Truly worthy of Ei's power—to forcibly break through spatial restraints.
He wanted to draw Ei out, but the Shogun alone was already overwhelmingly strong.
"Hah!"
Kagami Ren mobilized all his spatial power. This time, the restraints binding the Shogun were even stronger, locking her completely in place.
But judging by the force of her struggle, it wouldn't hold for long.
"I'll have to go all out."
With a decisive motion, Kagami Ren grabbed the restrained Shogun and shot toward the open sea. If he unleashed his full power, he couldn't risk damaging Inazuma.
After several minutes of high-speed flight, they reached a remote stretch of ocean. The restraints finally reached their limit as lightning burst outward violently.
Golden light flared in Kagami Ren's eyes. Space itself trembled as countless black holes formed behind him, covering the sky.
"Musou… no… Hitotachi!"
Sensing the overwhelming threat, the Shogun drew her ultimate blade from her chest, unleashing her most powerful strike.