Reisen Riou wasn't sure when his Perfect Barrier might break.
Two issues: Enkanomiya's ley lines were too thin, possibly starving the barrier of energy. And when Enkanomiya detached from Teyvat, massive elemental tremors could shatter the barrier's structure or hit it with Archon-tier force, breaking it.
These were low-odds risks, though.
That's why the Rock-Shadow-Thunderlight Brigade and Sangonomiya soldiers gathered here were the best of the best.
For days, Watatsumi Island stayed shrouded in a bloody haze.
Countless hidden Khaenri'ahns were found and killed. Nobles who aided them were demoted. If Watatsumi could afford more deaths, those nobles would've been executed.
The Straw Hat Squad handled purging the two transit camps and Khaenri'ahn spies on the island. Their swift moves kept the chaos low.
The Khaenri'ahn logistics camp got it worse.
The Brigade's Haori Squad first crippled their hard-won fleet.
Then they helped the Straw Hat Squad wipe out the sea isle's transit camp before assassinating the logistics camp's scouts, whose positions were long mapped out.
Finally, they stormed the logistics camp itself.
The camp handled supplies, repairs, and personnel for the Enkanomiya expedition. It had fewer war machines—about 200—but a top-notch repair team. The Grand Machinist, trapped in Enkanomiya, specialized in battlefield fixes, not overhauls.
Given time, this team could cobble parts into new war machines.
But the Inazumans, with prior recon, knew this.
As the main force moved, stealth-specialist agents slipped into the repair team's workspace. Then, as was normal for these killing experts, they struck only when all targets were present.
The 200-plus Khaenri'ahn repair team thought the camp was safe. They overestimated their allies.
Against masters of stealth, Khaenri'ahn knights fared no better than Inazuman samurai. Worse, even—samurai might not spot intruders but could sense them. Khaenri'ahns didn't.
The repair team was wiped out in under half an hour.
Next, the clerical staff.
Only then did the elite agents assassinate the knight command.
Losing half their numbers to take the camp was a massive victory for just over 100 Haori Squad agents.
True to Brigade style, they didn't wreck the intact war machines after killing everyone. They collected their fallen comrades' bodies, confirmed the headcount against Khaenri'ah's roster, and withdrew, setting a fire to ensure no survivors.
The Khaenri'ahn war machines, losing their Brigade pursuers, returned to their programmed patrol routes, wandering aimlessly with no living handlers left.
…
"My lord, the Rock-Shadow-Thunderlight Brigade Haori Squad has returned," Banjiao Nisei reported quietly.
"Losses?" Reisen asked.
"Heavy. Two full squads," Nisei said.
Reisen's mouth twitched, pained, but he pressed on. "Straw Hat Squad's progress?"
"They've cleared most Khaenri'ahn spies on Watatsumi, but we can't confirm if any slipped through," Nisei said, frowning. "Khaenri'ah's spies got smarter. They use single-line contacts and blend their minds well. We can't be sure what's left."
"If we can't confirm, assume there are," Reisen said.
"But it's not critical now. Focus on screening the ritual site. The ceremony's in a few days."
"Yes, sir."
Reisen dismissed Nisei and sought Sangonomiya Eigetsu.
"Lady Sangonomiya, when's the ritual starting?" Reisen's tone was sharp. The longer this dragged, the more variables could arise.
With the plan nearly done, Reisen hated variables.
Eigetsu looked awkward, gritting her teeth. "I didn't expect our procurement officer to be a Khaenri'ahn."
"The shrine maidens I sent aren't fully trusted, so it's taking longer. A few more days."
"Hurry!" Reisen said, rubbing his forehead.
It was a fluke. Sangonomiya's original procurement officer, a noble, wasn't purged but got spooked and colluded with Khaenri'ah after their arrival.
His sloppy plotting got him caught by the Straw Hat Squad.
So, they replaced him. The new guy, not a familiar face, spent more Mora and days to get the job done.
What a mess…
Two or three days later, the Brigade fully cleared known Khaenri'ahns from Watatsumi, helping Sangonomiya soldiers nab nobles colluding with them.
The ritual's supplies were finally ready.
Then came the closure of Enkanomiya's passage and the Three Realms Gateway Offering's final ceremony.
Orobashi's authority swept Watatsumi, the land reborn like spring.
…
"What now? The barrier's gone, but the passage is sealed."
In the Khaenri'ahn commander's tent, top brass stared at each other.
Reisen was right. The barrier shattered when Enkanomiya detached, but Khaenri'ah wasn't ready to charge, missing their one shot at escape.