After Reisen Riou's trap decimated Khaenri'ah on Watatsumi, their activities in Inazuma noticeably quieted.
Despite the Rock-Shadow-Thunderlight Brigade agents and Final Watch ninjas working overtime, they caught little. Even North Continent's intelligence networks only snagged Khaenri'ah's final order to their Inazuma spies:
"Enter deepest silence. Don't surface without the wake signal."
This left Inazuma blind. They knew spies were out there but couldn't find them.
Still, it had upsides. Free from Khaenri'ahn meddling, Inazuma could focus on boosting its strength. Without foreign chaos, the nation ran smoother.
But without threats like Khaenri'ah, the Shogunate's samurai grew lazy. Reisen countered with events like the Inazuma Youth Martial Arts Tournament and the Inazuma Unrestricted Martial Arts Tournament. These fueled trade, burned off the samurai's excess energy, fostered a martial culture, and raked in taxes.
Sure, taxes were cut during events, but people spent more.
Reisen kept busy with routine work, dabbling in Tsurumi's ancient secrets when free. He often visited Sangonomiya Eigetsu as a Shogunate envoy, dragging Ei along to resist her charm.
Time flowed fast, everything ticking along smoothly.
…
At Tenshukaku, Raiden Makoto, the Narukami, hummed a joyful Inazuman folk tune—a harvest melody brimming with simple happiness.
Makoto loved these tunes.
Inazuma was thriving, and it warmed her heart.
Suddenly, her brow furrowed. She sighed. "The time's come, hasn't it?"
A clone split off, and she vanished instantly.
Outside Khaenri'ah's borders, the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles hovered, summoning the gods.
First came a wisp of the Thousand Winds, Barbatos of Mondstadt, bleary-eyed, clearly just roused from slumber.
Then the Tsaritsa, once a young girl, now a mature god whose name of love echoed from Snezhnaya to Teyvat.
Raiden Makoto and other gods arrived, followed last by Morax, draped in a white robe swapped for war attire.
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata didn't appear, tasked by Celestia with guarding the World Tree.
With the gods gathered, the Sustainer explained: "Khaenri'ah has touched forbidden knowledge… linking with powers beyond the world…"
"I've cursed them, but the outer forces shield them…"
…
Reisen handled daily governance, but something felt off. His heart raced.
Even with Makoto, the usual calm was gone.
When Ei returned, that comfort came back.
"Ei, something's wrong with Big Sis Makoto," Reisen said.
"Let me sense her," Ei replied.
As Ei focused, Okuzumeshu soldiers reported: the Tenryou Commission's magistrate urgently sought the General.
Before Reisen could react, Makoto was gone.
What? Had Khaenri'ah started fighting? It must be intense—Makoto couldn't even sustain her clone.
Good thing Ei, the Shadow Warrior, was still here.
"Reisen, Sister's in danger. I have to find her. Inazuma's in your hands!" Ei said. Though she'd anticipated this, she couldn't help rushing off.
Reisen grabbed her hand. "Prepare for the worst, and sharpen your blade first."
He pulled out gear, piece by piece.
"This is a Spirit-Seeker, tracking soul fluctuations."
"This is a World-Shielding Coffin, blocking Celestia's perception."
"Here's a sealed Perfect Barrier. Toss it to deploy, with a passage sigil."
"This is a Ley Line Submersible, for diving into ley lines. Took me ages to craft, yanking hair from those Geo sprites. It's fast."
"And this…"
Reisen handed Ei a dozen gadgets. She hugged him. "I'll be back soon."
"Inazuma's safe with me."
"In the name of the Narukami Ogosho's Shadow Warrior, Reisen Riou takes temporary governance."
"Yes!"
Ei vanished. Unlike Makoto, summoned instantly, she had to travel herself.
The Tenryou magistrate rushed to Reisen. "Lord Reisen, reports from all regions: ley lines are rioting, spawning hordes of monsters, including dangerous hound-like beasts."
"Notify the Yashiro Commission. Pull special armor from storage, distribute to hatamoto and generals, and ramp up production," Reisen ordered.
Before he finished, Okuzumeshu reported the Yashiro magistrate had urgent news.
"Where's the General?" the Yashiro magistrate asked, baffled to see Reisen in charge.
"The General was summoned by Celestia and vanished, appointing me acting governor," Reisen explained softly.
The Tenryou magistrate backed him up.
The Yashiro magistrate reported that half a month ago, shrine barriers showed synchronized damage. Experts suspected ley line issues, but no cause was found, so they escalated it.
Delivery delays slowed the report, and they rushed to the General, only to find her gone.
Reisen compared their reports. "I understand the situation. Both of you, initiate full alert. I suspect this is a prelude to an otherworldly invasion."
"!?"
"Those hound-like monsters—Beast Realm Hounds. Otherworldly creatures, resonating with Khaenri'ah's bio-weapons."