"A massive, self-repairing Khaenri'ahn war machine that can deflect Kagei Tengu's attacks and shrug off Yae Saiguu's spells. That's some serious tech," Reisen Riou said, eyeing the shrine maidens' report.
"Sealed in the end, though. Classic shrine maiden move," he added, shaking his head.
The sealing spot was solid—deep in the collapsed ruins, far from civilians.
"Wait a second!"
Reisen flipped back to the report's start.
"Khaenri'ahn machines possibly contaminated by ley lines? What kind of joke is this? Machines can't be tainted by ley lines."
"Unless someone used ley line energy to rewrite and commandeer them."
"What's going on in Khaenri'ah?" Reisen sank into thought. Problem was, he couldn't reach Ei or Makoto.
Even the North Continent intelligence network had been conscripted by the Shogunate, cutting off Khaenri'ahn intel.
Not that Reisen thought they'd get anything useful from Khaenri'ah's warzone. The North Continent network was strong, sure, but compared to national powers, it was outclassed. In normal times, these shadowy groups thrived because everyone needed them. In a crisis? Useless. A few noble houses with samurai could overrun their bases.
…
Raiden Ei, transformed into a thunder spirit, sped along with Streamlight Technique. It was fast and light on stamina.
She was nearly at Khaenri'ah's borders.
For over ten days, she hadn't rested—a breeze for an Archon like her.
Suddenly, mid-flight, Ei materialized, lightning crackling. "Sister!"
She'd just sensed Makoto's aura fading fast—not to death, but badly wounded.
No time to think, she burned all her energy, racing toward the signal.
The closer she got, the heavier her heart grew. Makoto's aura was dropping in a smooth, steady line.
Impossible. Archons heal fast, and Makoto carried a maxed-out Longevity Thunder Elixir.
This wasn't from a strong foe's sustained attacks but something else—something Ei didn't understand.
"Sister!" Ei arrived, bewildered. No enemies around.
Makoto lay on open ground, a sea of lava from a battle nearby. Seeing Ei, she smiled. "Ei, sorry. I might not make it back with you."
Makoto felt an Abyssal curse eating her life essence. This high-priority curse targeting her core left her no counter, and her purification spells failed.
Ei summoned a Longevity Thunder Elixir mirage, channeling currents into Makoto.
Useless. It couldn't even slow the curse.
"Who's the enemy?" Ei growled, voice shaking.
"They're gone," Makoto said, touching Ei's face. "Seeing you before I go makes me happy. Is Inazuma okay?"
"Inazuma will thrive," Ei said, tears welling.
"Then… the General's seat is yours." A purple chess piece appeared in Makoto's hand. As she tried to pass it, her hand fell, lifeless.
"Soul—her soul!" Ei fumbled for the Spirit-Seeker, locking onto Makoto's soul signature.
She scoured the battlefield, even diving into ley lines with the Ley Line Submersible.
She found fragments of Makoto's soul—shards, even a couple of chunks—but not the main soul.
Hesitant, Ei aimed the Spirit-Seeker at herself.
A weak, scarred soul slept in a purple seed inside her, wrapped in Longevity Thunder Elixir. The elixir nurtured souls, not just bodies.
"Lucky I know the plot, or I'd have missed it… but…" Ei gave a bitter smile.
Now wasn't the time.
As her beloved Archon, Makoto had fulfilled her duty to Celestia. Her final act spared Khaenri'ah's people from her lightning's wrath.
Unlike Archons who died in the Archon War, turning to elements, Makoto left an intact body.
Ei placed her in the World-Shielding Coffin and left.
Her return was slower.
The roads were worse. Khaenri'ah's elite were gone, but the war was just starting.
Ei saw Khaenri'ahn war machines slaughtering everything, their frenzy disrupting her journey more than once.
…
Reisen frowned. "How's the Sacred Sakura?"
"We need a Grand Sacred Sakura Purification now. It's absorbed too much ley line pollution," Yae Saiguu said.
"Pull from my personal guard. Take twelve elite Rock-Shadow-Thunderlight Brigade agents," Reisen said, brow tight.
Despite his preparations, the dark beast tide overwhelmed Inazuma's limits.
Manpower was stretched thin. Reisen's Okuzumeshu guards were already swapped for regular Tenryou soldiers.
He was grateful he'd unified Inazuma's forces before this hit. Otherwise, the losses would've been catastrophic.