A few days later...
Baal returned from Celestia, bringing back the Gnosis and officially becoming the true deity of Inazuma.
On the third day after her return, Inazuma held its founding ceremony. The entire nation celebrated.
Meanwhile...
That very same day, Orobashi led the forces of Watatsumi Island in an assault on Yashiori Island.
He chose this exact moment because Inazuma's defenses were at their weakest—everyone was busy with the festivities, no one would notice a surprise attack.
No one... except one person.
"So it begins…"
Elliot slowly opened his eyes from meditation. His gaze, sharp as a hawk's, seemed to pierce through everything.
Out across the ocean, he saw several massive warships and countless smaller boats drawing near. Beneath the surface, the enormous shadow of a serpent loomed.
This wasn't just an invasion. Orobashi had come with the resolve to die.
The soldiers accompanying him weren't just any soldiers—they were liabilities.
Orobashi had carefully chosen them. He planned to use Zebul's hand to eliminate these unstable elements.
After all, as the patron deity of Watatsumi Island, he could never kill his own people.
Those left behind on Watatsumi were the ones Orobashi truly wished to protect. They wouldn't take part in this war—their safety would be preserved.
Elliot took a slow sip from his final cup of tea, calmly watching the approaching tide of war.
Once he'd finished, he rinsed the cup, stored it away, and rose to his feet.
At that moment...
The sea surged upward. A torrent of water crashed down like a waterfall as a massive serpent's head rose into view, blotting out the sky before Elliot.
"Tengu Clan… Sasayuri…?"
"You? What are you doing here?"
Today was Inazuma's founding celebration. As Zebul's top general, Sasayuri shouldn't have been anywhere near this battlefield.
"I've come here… to end your life," Elliot said coldly.
"You? Hah—!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
Orobashi burst into maniacal laughter, his booming voice stirring the entire sea into chaos.
With a body that size, he didn't even need special techniques. One swing of his tail could cause unimaginable devastation.
"You think someone like you can challenge me—Orobashi?!"
He let out a thunderous roar.
In an instant, violent winds tore through the forest, uprooting trees. The sky darkened under a cloud of swirling yellow sand.
The sea raged, and a tsunami—towering dozens of meters high—came crashing like a wall of death.
Elliot pressed his thumb against the guard of his blade, snapping it loose with a click, and slashed.
BOOM!!
The tsunami split cleanly in two, crashing past him on both sides.
Orobashi narrowed his eyes. He could tell—Elliot wasn't playing around.
"Head east. Take Yashiori Island at once. I'll join you soon."
He turned and issued orders to the fleet behind him.
"You think I'll let you go?"
Elliot's eyes flashed. He leapt back and shot up the cliffs in a blur of motion, reaching the highest peak.
Now level with Orobashi's towering form, he had a full view of the enemy fleet.
Sure enough, they were moving around to the side.
"Did I say you could leave?"
As the words fell, a terrifying slash of violet lightning tore through the sky, streaking past Orobashi with unnatural speed.
It split the sea apart—two of the warships were sliced clean in half.
Orobashi's fury exploded.
In an instant, he lunged with his gaping maw, wide enough to swallow a fortress, aiming straight for Elliot.
But Elliot had already anticipated it. He vaulted away just in time.
The cliff where he'd stood was bitten clean through, crumbling beneath the serpent's jaws.
Yet Elliot wasn't going to let that slide.
He countered with a barrage of sword slashes—three waves of razor-sharp energy flew out in rapid succession.
For a beast of Orobashi's size, dodging was nearly impossible, no matter how fast he was.
Each strike sliced across his flesh, and bright red blood sprayed out.
Only then did Orobashi realize—this Sasayuri wasn't the same as before.
He had changed.
Before him stood a warrior—lean, powerful, poised—with a blade slung casually over his shoulder and a hunter's grin on his face.
To him, Orobashi wasn't a god.
He was prey.
Enraged by the insult, Orobashi lunged. His pride couldn't bear it.
Don't be fooled by his massive body—he was shockingly fast.
Elliot found himself completely on the defensive. Blow after blow came with no pause, giving him no chance to breathe.
Each strike from Orobashi shook the entire landscape.
He was massive enough to level this entire region—Elliot was sure of it.
"Tch…"
"Still a god, after all…"
Elliot gritted his teeth, fending off the attacks with everything he had.
As Orobashi lunged to swallow him whole, Elliot dodged again with practiced ease.
But just as he leapt into the air—a tail, massive as a house, came whipping toward him.
Elliot's eyes widened. He barely had time to raise his blade.
BOOM!!!!!!!!!
A deafening impact exploded across the battlefield.
Elliot was launched like a meteor, crashing through three towering trees before slamming into the mountainside.
The force carved a massive crater into the rock, embedding him deep into the cliff face.