"Lord Narukami, I swear I didn't come here because playing with slimes at Banjiao Shrine was boring," Banjiao Yanya protested.
"…Sorry, Big Sis Makoto, this kid's got no filter. Anko, take her to watch the matches," Reisen Riou said, exasperated.
"You're right," Banjiao Anko nodded, the two rarely agreeing on anything.
"Ugh, damn you, Reisen! Damn you, Anko! What're you plotting?" Yanya whined.
"Shut it, brat!" Reisen bonked Yanya's head without mercy.
He wove a barrier around them, and Anko dragged Yanya off.
"Sorry for the scene, Lord Narukami," Reisen said. "That kid's been spoiled since she was little."
"No worries. It's fun watching the younger youkai," Raiden Makoto smiled. "By the way, Reisen, how're you handling the Sangonomiya matter?"
"Uh…" Reisen glanced nervously at Sangonomiya Eigetsu.
She seemed normal, but as Teyvat's top barrier master, Reisen sensed the illusion barrier cloaking her abdomen.
If he could feel it, Makoto definitely did.
"Ask Ei," Reisen mumbled. "Honestly, that woman scares me a bit."
"Eigetsu's actually one of the milder Sangonomiyas," Makoto said. "Her mother and grandmother were fierce—slamming tables with Ei."
"That bold?" Reisen was floored. Ei didn't slice them?
"Sangonomiya's dominant genes are strong, so their fathers' identities are tightly guarded," Makoto explained. "But I know them all."
"For example, the current Divine Priestess's father was a human Archon, a minor Narukami samurai from 40 years ago."
"Her grandfather was a Sumeru scholar."
"Great-grandfather, a Fontaine adventurer."
"All were exceptional, yet many never knew they were tied to Sangonomiya."
"Surprised I know? They report to me afterward."
"So, you knew all along?" Reisen asked, stunned.
"You're a special case," Makoto said, her expression odd. "Due to your status, Eigetsu reported in advance, hoping you'd ease up on Watatsumi. You weren't supposed to know yet. I was still debating whether to agree."
Reisen had walked right into it.
"…So I'm the clown," he muttered.
"Still, leave it to Ei," he insisted.
The matches below moved fast. Unless opponents were evenly matched, a few probing moves and attacks settled things.
Human Archon duels took longer.
Unlike traditional samurai, Archons opened with Dominator Body and shields, making fights trickier.
Reisen's fault—he'd simplified Dominator Body and shield tech so even dimwits could learn them.
But crowds loved it. Quick fights lacked spectacle.
Even experts gained little from brief bouts. Dominator Body and shields let samurai shine and spectators learn.
Kombumaru and other talented samurai flashed eureka moments, picking up tricks from the arena.
Soon, swordmaster and archer matches wrapped up. Next were polearm fights—long weapons, not just spears.
These were the most thrilling.
Most in the top 16 had LV6 naginata or spear skills, but their wide, sweeping moves were a crowd-pleaser.
Long-weapon users were battle-hardened, often rising from lower Doushin ranks. Their strikes were precise, stamina abundant, lacing every attack with blade aura.
"Long-weapon skills are easy to learn, hard to master. Tough for these guys," Reisen said.
As someone privy to Narukami's data, Reisen knew their struggle.
Long weapons were common among lower samurai, but not popular. They burned energy for little payoff.
Upper samurai favored swordsmanship—better for tight spaces and unarmored monsters, no need for extra piercing power.
"Who's your pick to win?" Makoto asked suddenly.
"For sword and archery, Kombumaru," Reisen said. "Kids these days are terrifying. His swordplay's leveled up, and his archery's almost caught me. That rapid-fire's insane."
"For polearms, I'm less sure, but data points to Yousen. His naginata skills are the strongest, with solid combat experience. Downside? No Vision."
No Vision meant a big disadvantage and risk.
"Yousen's a first-generation samurai, right?" Makoto asked.
"Yeah. Data says he left Kujou Encampment three years ago. Back on Narukami, he spent 18 months refining his battle-forged naginata skills. Now he's deep into LV7," Reisen said.