Inazuma's situation was best in three places.
First, Narukami Island's main island, home to the Tenryou Commission and Inazuma City. Packed with youkai and personally overseen by Reisen Riou, it handled the fiend surge well.
Next, Kujou Encampment, the military's stronghold. With plenty of samurai, it stayed secure despite numerous, stronger monsters.
The surprise was Watatsumi Island. Reisen figured the Abyss's ley line pollution started deep, but Watatsumi, a god-made island, lacked deep ley lines, only having shallow ones. Monsters appeared in a few spots and small isles but were easily crushed, leaving Watatsumi mostly unscathed.
Elsewhere—Ritou, Mt. Yougou, and beyond—took heavy hits.
Seirai Island suffered worst.
Its monsters weren't uniquely strong, but unlike Inazuma's martial-heavy regions, Seirai's forces were thin. Other areas had youkai alongside Vision-wielders, but Seirai, aside from Asase Shrine's cats, had none.
This left its Vision-wielders under crushing pressure.
Still, Seirai had its strengths. Its pirate-heavy past bred a tough populace. Local vigilante groups, rich in spiritual power, were numerous and capable. These groups held order in Seirai's remote areas.
Legalized, they thrived. Though steeped in ukiyo ideals, the Rock-Shadow-Thunderlight Brigade's subtle guidance kept them disciplined, patriotic, and martial.
…
In Chinju Forest, the great youkai tanuki Gorouzo, High Priest of Preservation, squashed a Beast Realm Hound with his bulk.
Then got scratched to high heaven by the others, wailing.
"These are the enemies! So scary! Yureisai! Hyakki! Save me!"
Chinju Forest was a mess, but the chubby tanuki was a master of escape. Despite new wounds, his scrambling disrupted the hounds' formation.
"Watch this!" Reisen Yanya swung her spiked club, Geo energy swelling it to giant size.
Bang! Bang! A few swings turned the pack of dozens into pancakes.
"You're so weak, High Priest," Yanya teased. At LV59, her freakish strength earned her the nickname Inazuma's Strongest Maiden.
"Damn mountain sprite, don't spit harsh truths! I'm Gorouzo, the great tanuki!" he huffed.
"Bleh, bleh, bleh!"
Chinju Forest's complex terrain and well-maintained ley lines drew heavy monster spawns.
Luckily, it was Gorouzo's turf, near the Grand Narukami Shrine, so shrine youkai often pitched in.
But Gorouzo's combat skills were pitiful.
He held out for backup but couldn't take down even the smallest enemy unit alone.
Yanya, with a lower vitality level, could wipe out a small hound pack solo.
Still, Gorouzo had guts. He always took the front, getting clawed and bitten to spare the smaller tanuki.
Reisen, like a butterfly flapping its wings, had influenced many. Even now, Khaenri'ah's dark tide was held at Kujou Encampment.
Yae Saiguu, knowing Inazuma's strength, didn't trick Gorouzo into hiding from the crisis.
Years ago, Yureisai made a mistake, getting sacked.
But even demoted, he served Inazuma, joining mobile units to atone.
"Lords! The General's back!"
…
Raiden Ei returned, gazing at the blooming Sacred Sakura. Memories pulled from Reisen's mind clicked, leaving her dazed.
"Ei! Where's the General!?" Reisen rushed up, snapping her out of it.
Ei turned. No time for memories.
She was about to retrieve Makoto's soul when something hit her. She grabbed Reisen, heading for the testing-ground Serenitea Pot.
"The Serenitea Pot's at Tenshukaku now, for work and research," Reisen said, recalling Celestia's watch.
They entered the Pot.
"'Revival,' activate the Sky-Veiling protocols," Ei ordered.
"Yes, Lord Ei."
"Sky-Veiling System activated."
"Pot information flow sealed."
"Independent information cycle online. Based on energy reserves, cycle sustainable for roughly 3,783 years, 7 months."
"Veiling mist deploying…"
"Sky-Veiling System self-checking…"
"Self-check complete. System running smoothly."
"Done," Reisen nodded to Ei.
Ei pulled out the World-Shielding Coffin, then the items she'd collected.
Makoto's shattered sword, a broken Narukami Mirror, a dozen spent solidified Thunder Elixirs.
And fragments of clothing, hinting at a brutal battle. Makoto, a spell-master, had been forced into close combat.
Most crucial: the soul and its shards.
"Where's the soul!?"