Lumine felt she couldn't be so unfair.
"The ley lines in Inazuma are blocked by the Shogun. The teleport waypoints won't work. Little ones, you need to get to the outer islands as quickly as possible."
Yae Miko added another instruction, smiling warmly at Lumine.
"As payment for helping you so much, and for taking the blame for you, I'll accept this staff."
"Come on, come on. If we don't leave now, it'll be too late."
Seeing Miko standing there alone, facing the Raiden Shogun in such a heroic yet desperate way, Lumine gritted her teeth and summoned the three-headed dragon.
"Let's go together!"
"Miko, you want to see her the moment she's revived too, right?"
Hearing this, Miko fell silent.
There was no denying it—if Baal was truly revived, she naturally wanted to be the first to embrace her.
To tell her she had grown up, that she had become a capable Guuji, inheriting Narukami Shrine.
To tell her all that had happened in Inazuma over the past years.
To tell her how lonely she had endured, because Ei had shut herself away.
To tell her how much she had missed her.
But…
If she left now, who would stop the Raiden Shogun?
Throughout all of Inazuma, Lumine was the only one the Shogun wouldn't strike to death.
"Miko, don't hesitate! Trust me, I've got a plan!"
Lumine decisively cut her off and dragged her onto the dragon's back.
Miko barely had the strength to stand; if left to climb on herself, she probably would have fallen.
Lumine smiled confidently and whispered:
"As long as we leave the stormy area over Inazuma, Liyue can provide support."
"So, Miko, come with us to witness that world, to witness Baal's revival!"
Miko sighed, finally giving in, and teasingly said:
"Alright then… looks like you've kidnapped me…"
"If by chance the Shogun catches us, make sure to say it's because you forcibly took me away."
"That way, when Ei deals with me, she'll be gentler."
Lumine didn't reply and glanced at Ayaka.
"Ayaka, are you ready?"
Ayaka nodded. She had already realized things weren't going well and had hastily written a letter to Kamisato Ayato.
She trusted that once he saw it, he'd know how to handle things.
Using her elemental power, she forcibly sent the letter to the mountaintop.
Once the shrine maidens saw it, someone would deliver it to Ayato.
Having done all this, the three of them mounted the dragon without hesitation, soaring into the sky, flying toward Liyue at top speed.
At Narukami Shrine, Yuki, who had just returned with fried tofu, saw another letter floating directly in front of her.
Infused with Ayaka's unique elemental energy, Yuki immediately recognized it.
The handwriting was messy—it didn't look like Ayaka's style.
The elegant eldest daughter of the Kamisato clan was known for her superb calligraphy.
Yuki's expression changed.
Ayaka was in trouble!
She wasn't here anymore and the letter needed to reach Ayato immediately.
Yuki quickly picked up the envelope and held it close.
Just as she was about to turn and run downstairs, a bolt of lightning tore through the sky, smashing into the shrine with a deafening roar. Stones flew everywhere, and the oppressive divine presence made it hard for anyone to breathe.
Yuki looked up, her heart skipping a beat.
"Milady Shogun!"
The Raiden Shogun's expression was calm, but her gaze was icy and piercing, with brilliant lightning coursing through her eyes.
Clearly, this was the time for Ei to take control.
"What about Miko?"
Another shrine maiden cautiously asked:
"Guuji Yae had to leave for some matter and isn't currently at the shrine. Milady Shogun, do you need to see her?"
Ei closed her eyes and sensed Miko's elemental energy, realizing she was indeed not on Mt. Yougou.
However, she had no idea where exactly Miko was.
Mt. Yougou was sacred territory of the Sacred Sakura, and Ei didn't dare to manipulate the ley lines recklessly.
After a brief pause, she turned to Yuki:
"Who came looking for her today?"
Yuki pursed her lips, unsure how to answer.
"Speak!"
Ei's voice rose slightly, thunder laced with boundless fury rolling through it.
Yuki panicked and hurriedly said:
"It was a Traveler and the Kamisato clan's eldest daughter!"
"Traveler… Kamisato Ayaka…"
Ei's eyes widened in realization. It was Lumine, who had just arrived in Inazuma yesterday.
That traveler with such a shocking background.
Ei didn't care why they sought Miko. Right now, she was furious.
Miko had taken two outsiders into the true consciousness space.
She knew what that place meant!
It was Ei's deepest taboo.
"Miko…"
Ei clenched her fists and didn't hesitate. Transforming into a storm of lightning, she surged toward the true consciousness space.
The shrine maidens finally breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed to the ground.
The oppressive power of a raging Archon was beyond their ability to resist.
Yuki steadied herself against the wall and gritted her teeth.
"You all watch the shrine and wait for Guuji Yae to return. I have to leave for a bit!"
The maidens, still anxious, nodded and watched Yuki leave, exhausted.
Yuki muttered in frustration.
What is even going on here?!
From yesterday until now, it's either running errands or on the way to run errands.
Am I a shrine maiden, or a delivery person?!
Yet Yuki couldn't help but worry.
Things were progressing in an eerily abnormal way.
Inazuma…
The wind was rising…
~~----------------------
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