Time is kind to long-lived species, granting them wisdom, knowledge, and power.
For mortals, it's the enemy—turning beauty to bones, heroes to dust. White hair, shrinking muscles, fading strength: every mortal fears this.
Now, a chance to become near-immortal? No mortal could resist the gamble.
As Reisen Riou predicted, over two-plus years—nearly three—all LV80+ powerhouses sorted out their family separations.
Honestly, Reisen almost gave up on a few. They were ancient—some over 140. Their vitality was nearly gone. Without Raiden Ei's Archon Essence (a material from slaying god-tier kin), they wouldn't have survived the surgeries.
Inazuma's LV80+ count far exceeded Reisen's estimates: over twenty. Except for Watatsumi's two Watatsumi Omikami, everyone showed. Sangonomiya Kyouen even sent her attendant shrine maiden.
They trickled in, so Reisen and Ei staggered their tasks. Once everyone had visited the Tenshukaku, Reisen summoned them for a meeting.
"Looks like you all made the right call. I'm thrilled," Reisen said, grinning. "Now, please welcome the Shogun."
Reisen nodded to Ei, yielding the floor.
"You're Inazuma's finest—legends in your prime. With the laws dormant, all below Archon level are affected, and Inazuma's powerhouses face a generational gap. Thus…" Ei began.
Her speech was nothing new, just the usual spiel.
Official rhetoric—everyone knew it, including Ei, but it had to be said.
"Next, your assignments. Fushigawa, hold the Tenshukaku. Kombumaru, guard Mt. Yougou, and wipe out those magical beasts fast. Banjiao Nisei, station at Tsurumi Island. Amama, oversee the Grand Narukami Shrine, and cover Byakko Plain and Chinju Forest."
"Yanagi, hold Ritou and nearby islets."
"Sangonomiya's representative, return to Watatsumi."
"The rest of you, your posts are…"
Ei swiftly outlined the assignments.
Then Reisen detailed their benefits. Longevity Surgery and Sealing Rituals were just the start. He and Ei knew these alone wouldn't bind them to the Shogunate forever.
They'd prepped more: rare resources and secret techniques to boost these elders' strength.
Reisen aimed to shift their loyalty from families to personal power.
Post-surgery, they could grow stronger again—slower, sure, but now they had time.
Before, they'd hit a ceiling with no time to spare.
Of course, he didn't tell them that.
…
Besides the LV80+ big shots fully integrated and retired by the Shogunate, LV70+ powerhouses were also informed about the shackles, Longevity Surgery, and Sealing Rituals.
Unlike the LV80+ crowd, who needed coaxing, LV70+ human powerhouses weren't part of the Shogunate's plan.
They were the next generation, outside the core strategy.
By Raiden Shogun's order, Reisen formed a research team to enhance their perception.
"This is your grand plan?" Dottore scoffed, eyeing the proposal with disdain.
"Not quite," Reisen said, exasperated. "Who saw the law dormancy coming?"
"This is the real plan." Reisen tapped Dottore's forehead before he could dodge, transferring a rough outline of the Demigod Plan.
Even that sketch made Dottore's heart race.
"You're insane!" Dottore growled. "This is straight-up blasphemy!"
Dottore preached near-blasphemous theories, but his current, incomplete self had no real intent to defy gods. Theories were just that—he lacked the power to make them real.
Let alone rivaling Raiden Shogun, one of the Seven's martial heavyweights.
Blaspheming her? That's a death wish.
"Who do you think I am?" Reisen chuckled, brushing off Dottore's words.
The old Raiden Shogun? Untouchable. Now? Cough—those in the know, know.
"Forget that. This perception project is more urgent. The Demigod Plan's way off. Got any ideas?"
"Perception: sight, touch, taste, smell, hearing, and the elusive sixth sense—the six human senses," Dottore said.
"Sight, touch, taste, smell, and hearing are basic. Enhance them with tweaks. I'm no LV70+ powerhouse, but I know you don't sense laws with those five."
"That leaves the mysterious sixth sense."
"Research shows the sixth sense is distinct from the five, with instinct as a bridge."
"The five senses combine into instinct—smelling shapes, hearing images. All senses feed the brain."
"Per Sumeru's sixth sense research, it also ties to the brain."
"So, to boost perception, enhance the brain."
"Give someone a sharper brain, better at coordinating and sensing the sixth sense, to feel laws clearer."
Dottore's theory stayed in his framework—clearly his genuine take.
"Ever heard of the Ship of Theseus, Dottore? Not a science tale—a philosophy problem," Reisen said.