Watatsumi Island, Sangonomiya.
"The Tenryou Commission is colluding with the Fatui, and Kujou Sara didn't know anything about it!?" Gorou was stunned.
"The 'official directives' from the Tenryou Commission are only known to Kujou Takayuki. As long as he chose to hide it, it's completely normal that Kujou Sara wouldn't know," Kazuha said, propping his chin on his hand as he thought it through.
"So what's the situation now?" Gorou asked anxiously.
"I don't know. But one thing is certain: this works in our favor. We need to be prepared to strike Tenshukaku at any moment. I can sense that things are about to turn."
The news Sangonomiya Kokomi brought this time sent a wave of excitement through the Resistance.
They had waited far too long for this day. Beidou and Kazuha, as hired allies, were among them as well, both seemingly ready to head straight for Narukami Island and overturn the Vision Hunt Decree in one decisive move.
And the long wait truly hadn't been in vain—the unexpected arrival of the Traveler had accelerated everything. The Resistance, who had been at a severe disadvantage, now finally had some confidence.
...
A few days later, Sangonomiya Kokomi received another explosive piece of news.
Kujou Sara and the Traveler had both entered Tenshukaku, intending to reveal the Tenryou Commission's deception directly to the Raiden Shogun.
Having anticipated this moment, Sangonomiya Kokomi finally sounded the full call to rebellion.
The entire Resistance had been waiting for this day.
Led by the Alcor, ships of all sizes were filled with Watatsumi Island's soldiers.
They charged straight toward Narukami Island.
Off the coast of Narukami Island, the Shogunate forces quickly spotted the movement and responded at once, steering their ships out to intercept.
However—
Without Kujou Sara to command them, they were like a dragon without a head—hesitant, fearful of death, and no real threat to the Resistance.
But the Shogunate still had numbers. Even if they couldn't repel the Resistance, they could stall them.
"Kazuha, Gorou, you take the crew of Ship Three and break through! Everyone else, clear a path for them!!"
Seeing that the situation was turning, Sangonomiya Kokomi immediately changed strategy. She decided to send only Kazuha and Gorou in with a small force first. If they let everyone get pinned here by the Shogunate navy, they could lose their one chance.
"Understood!" The Resistance moved as one, immediately adjusting their tactics following Sangonomiya Kokomi's orders.
Kazuha drew his blade, and together with his friend Gorou, rushed straight toward Narukami Island.
Without Kujou Sara leading them, even though the Shogunate soldiers knew what Kazuha and Gorou were trying to do, none of them dared to truly stand in their way. They only ran forward in a show of force, waving swords and spears as if to threaten.
Kazuha and Gorou forced their way across Narukami Island and headed directly for Tenshukaku.
But just as they arrived, they saw the Traveler and Paimon walking slowly out from within the keep.
In the next instant—
Lightning split open the air behind the Traveler, and the Raiden Shogun stepped out of the rift, blade in hand, bringing it down toward the Traveler in a single ruthless strike.
Kazuha's eyes went wide.
In that moment, Elliot overlapped with the Traveler.
It was as if Elliot were standing right there, smiling faintly at him, beckoning him over.
"You already had a Vision at such a young age?"
"Mhm. One day, I was sleeping in a little thatched hut. It was raining hard outside."
"So you received your Vision in a place like that…"
"Yes."
"Then I'll get one too."
...
"By the way, I still don't know your name."
"Elliot Yuan, 'Yuan' as in distant."
...
"You know how to catch fish, right?"
"I do."
"Let's catch a few and trade them for supplies."
"Alright."
"Why are you just standing there?"
"I'm allergic to fish."
"Then why did you suggest fishing?"
"Because you can catch fish."
...
"Deep in the mountains I tread through crimson leaves, and at my ear I hear the call of deer."
"Wild bamboo parts the pale mist, clear springs hang from emerald peaks."
...
"Have you heard of the Raiden Shogun's [Musou no Hitotachi]?"
"I've heard of it. Why?"
"That strike… isn't necessarily unreachable."
...
"Be free like a seagull."
Even now, years later, Elliot's voice echoed in his mind.
After Elliot's death, Kazuha had never once broken that promise. He lived like a seagull—free.
And during his wandering, he never stopped searching for answers.
Whether it was how to awaken a Vision again, or what a Vision truly meant—the gift the gods granted to mortals.
Kazuha simply refused to let Elliot die without an answer.
Once, just seeing the Raiden Shogun had filled him with such terror that he'd lost the will to fight. His only thought had been to run. Even the light of his Vision had gone out.
To this day, he still regretted it—regretted that moment of cowardice, regretted how carelessly he had drunk.
But now—
This time…
He would not run.
He would not make the same mistake twice.
Kazuha's grip tightened around his blade. His wide eyes filled in an instant with iron resolve.
The hollow, dimmed shell of a Vision suddenly burst into violet light.
"There will always be those who dare to face the majesty of thunder head-on!"
He drove his foot into the ground and launched himself like a fired cannon. Wind and lightning together carried him to impossible speed.
BOOM!!!!
A deafening impact rang out as Kazuha intercepted the Raiden Shogun's strike.
Everyone watching went wide-eyed.
Kazuha braced himself against the Raiden Shogun's crushing, thunderous force. His whole body was taut to the limit, his teeth grinding audibly.
Both Visions shone with brilliant light. Pouring out everything he had, Kazuha exploded with power in a single burst and knocked aside the Raiden Shogun's blade.
In that instant, the Raiden Shogun was clearly taken aback. It was as if she suddenly remembered who he was.
Since the Vision Hunt Decree began, only one man had ever received her strike and emerged unharmed. In Kazuha's counter, she could feel that man's strength.
The Raiden Shogun snapped back to focus and lunged again with a fierce thrust. Kazuha blocked, but the force sent him flying.
As he was hurled back, the violet Vision slipped free, bounced twice along the ground, and its light went dark again.
"Move in!"
"Charge!!!"
That single act from Kazuha sent the Resistance's morale surging. Led by Gorou, they rushed forward in full force.
At that moment, the Visions embedded in the Statue of the Omnipresent God began to blaze with light. The Traveler reacted, drew a blade, and unleashed a surge of thunder aimed straight at the Raiden Shogun.
But before the strike could land, he was pulled into the Plane of Euthymia.
As the two of them vanished from sight, Kazuha rushed forward and picked up the fallen Vision.
"I can feel you, Elliot."
"You really are… incredible."
Kazuha could clearly feel the strike Elliot had once shown him. Even now, it could still withstand the Raiden Shogun's [Musou no Hitotachi].