Bzzz~
Crack…
With the second contraction of the thunderstorm, its range had gradually shrunk to a circle around the vicinity of the Amakumo Peak. Compared to the beginning, when it had nearly covered the entire island, the difference was striking.
However—
It was far from over. The first two Warding Stones were relatively convenient to handle, but the remaining two would be troublesome.
They weren't on the ground; instead, they floated among the fragmented rocks suspended above Amakumo Peak, held aloft by the storm's magnetic field. Moreover, each of the paper charm mechanisms was positioned at different floating points. It would be tedious work—but tedious or not, for the current Shogun, it merely meant a little more 'walking.'
On the floating stones, where endless thunder danced, violet light particles gathered and slowly formed into a slender figure. The figure held the hand of another girl, slightly taller than herself.
Sara was still a bit dazed. Being led by Shogun-sama like this felt like a dreamlike journey.
The Shogun observed the surroundings with her sharp gaze. The air was filled with a gloomy purple hue. Though violet was also her own color, hers seemed purer in comparison. They were now standing upon one of the many floating isles near Amakumo Peak—one of dozens of similarly sized suspended mountains.
Before them, the vortex of thunder grew ever closer. Even from here, they could feel the radiating shocks of Electro striking against their faces.
Sara tightened her grip on the Shogun's hand, glancing around nervously. She unconsciously stepped backward—only to find nothing beneath her feet.
Whoosh…
Her foot slipped into empty air!
"—!"
Her body tilted downward, starting to fall.
"Watch out!"
The Shogun, feeling the tug at her hand, reacted swiftly. Turning in an instant, she caught Sara's arm and pulled her up just as the crumbling rock fell away into the bottomless, misty abyss below—swallowed by the violet haze.
"Phew… thank you, Shogun-sama, for saving me."
Sara wiped the cold sweat from her brow, her voice soft with gratitude.
"Look at you… insisting on coming with me, nearly losing your life."
Her tone carried a hint of reprimand, yet remained gentle.
Originally, she had intended for Sara to wait on the ground with Etsuko and Taisuke. But the girl had been adamant about accompanying her, and seeing her earnest expression, the Shogun couldn't bring herself to refuse. Thus, here they were.
Really now… this was the same Kujou Sara who, within the Tenryou Commission, was so dignified and resolute. Yet before her, she turned into a clingy little girl.
"I'm sorry… I only slowed you down."
Seeing the guilt on Sara's face, the Shogun sighed softly, then took her hand again and led her toward the center of the floating platform.
"No need to apologize… since you've come with me, I bear the responsibility to protect you."
To shelter her people—that was her duty as a god.
"Shogun… sama…"
"Enough. What's done is done. Let's focus on this Warding Stone."
She gestured with her gaze toward the mechanism ahead. To its left was a single device, while two others were located farther away on separate floating rocks. They would need to fly over to inspect them.
Hum~
She raised her hand to touch the sealed mechanism. With a sharp crack, the barrier shattered, revealing its true form.
"Sara, I will send you to the fourth Warding Stone. Wait for me there."
"Understood."
Zzzt…
The Shogun clasped her hand again, and in the next instant, their bodies became streaks of lightning. Normally, a person would need to rely on Thunder Sakura Boughs to traverse these spaces—but she had no need for such devices. She herself was lightning incarnate. And by holding Sara's hand, she could take her along—one of the privileges of her divine authority as the Electro Archon, a power granted jointly by Ei and Makoto.
In the blink of an eye, Sara found herself atop the highest floating mountain—where the last Warding Stone stood. She understood the Shogun's plan: to leave her here first, then handle the third Warding Stone before regrouping.
"Please be careful, Shogun-sama."
As the Shogun turned to leave, Sara called out softly, concern clear in her tone.
"You as well. Don't wander off. If you disobey, this vessel may grow… displeased."
Stopping in her tracks, the Shogun turned around, as if to startle the girl—half teasing, half playful. Of course, such a little trick could never harm her. If anyone needed to be careful, it was the other one. But she understood that Sara's words came only from concern—a kind gesture she accepted in silence.
"U-understood!"
Sara straightened her back and responded solemnly.
The Shogun couldn't help but find her reaction endearing. With a faint smile, she turned again—and vanished into a flash of lightning.
Although the floating stones were scattered across a wide area, at her flying speed, it was merely a matter of seconds to cross the distance—like walking across flat ground.
Zzzt…
One by one, she approached each device, memorizing the number and direction of the paper charms attached to them. Finally, she reached the third Warding Stone.
She raised her hand and rotated it from a distance.
The dull grinding of stone filled her ears as she pieced together the directions and numbers of charms from memory.
Click…
The next moment—the seal opened.
A sharp clap of thunder followed. The storm barrier around them began to contract again, pulling back past the perimeter of Amakumo Peak and retreating toward its core. The dense Electro particles scattered, and the overwhelming radiation gradually subsided.
"Phew… the last one."
She murmured softly, lifting her gaze toward the thunder vortex in the distance. Only that remained.
As the violet light particles gathered once more before Sara and took form, the Shogun appeared. Sara immediately ran over to her, tail-wagging like an eager little puppy.
"You've worked hard, Shogun-sama."
The Shogun gave her a brief sidelong glance, her lips curving faintly.
"…You didn't wander off, did you?"
She asked, pretending to sound stern.
"No! Absolutely not!"
"Oh? Truly not~?"
"R-really… not…"
The girl lowered her head, voice small and pitiful.
"Just teasing you. Look at you, so frightened."
The Shogun chuckled softly. Then, turning toward the Warding Stone, she began working on it with practiced ease.
As always, Sara handled the notes while she performed the decryption. Within seconds, the seal opened once again.
Boom!
But unlike before, the thunderstorm did not contract. Instead, the terrain itself began to shift. The scattered floating rocks were drawn toward the central vortex, gradually assembling and reforming into a massive floating mountain.
At its base, countless streams of Electro converged, creating an almost radiant display. The ground beneath their feet began to move as well, automatically rising higher, merging with the surrounding fragments to form a new landscape.
Throughout it all, she kept hold of Sara's hand, ensuring the girl didn't slip and fall again. In that moment, she felt oddly like a mother guiding her child. Strange—wasn't she but a puppet herself? Yet somehow, she'd developed a touch of maternal instinct.
Ah… what a feeling.
The platform beneath them rose again, hovering over the vast open plain ahead. That flat expanse marked the heart of the vortex—now enveloped by a barrier of radiant lightning. Something within was stirring, surging with immense Electro energy.
This must be… the final stage, she thought.
From the center of the open plain ahead came the unmistakable surge of a powerful Electro aura—a monster's presence. To be safe, the Shogun turned back and instructed her little assistant:
"The area ahead is dangerous. Sara, wait here."
It wasn't that she feared Sara would hold her back. Rather, if something happened to the girl, she might not be able to save her in time. The safest course was to proceed alone, for she could sense the overwhelming power of the creature ahead.
"But…"
The girl's tone was reluctant—she clearly wanted to follow. She couldn't let Shogun-sama go alone.
"That monster is restless. When the battle begins… this vessel may not be able to protect you. Be good… don't be willful."
That last be good carried such gentle warmth, like a mother softly advising her child. Sara's heart melted instantly. Since Shogun-sama had said as much, insisting further would be rude and selfish. In front of the Shogun, she would always be that little girl from the stormy night long ago.
"Sara… understands. Please, Shogun-sama, take care."
It should be the monster that needs to be careful, she mused inwardly, amused. Still, her companion's worry pleased her greatly. Such thoughtfulness—how admirable.
"This vessel… will return shortly."
Zzzt…
The woman holding a parasol dissolved into faint violet particles and vanished. That light streaked across the air as a bolt of lightning, landing gracefully upon another floating platform. In the blink of an eye, she returned to human form.
She had not changed attire, nor even drawn Engulfing Lightning. Still clad in her casual kimono, she twirled the parasol handle idly between her fingers as she walked forward, the hem of her skirt brushing her white-stockinged legs that traced perfect curves. Her pace was calm and leisurely—like a stroll through the rain.
"Monster that rages upon Seirai, reveal thy true form. Breaking the seal was your unforgivable sin. Today, this vessel shall bind you again—so you may no longer bring harm to others."
Her clear, melodious archaic voice spread through the space, echoing into every corner—reaching even into the swirling thunderstorm ahead.
It responded.
ROOOOAR!!
A deafening roar split the heavens!
BOOM!
The thunderstorm erupted, and from within it coalesced a shimmering purple figure—like a spirit born of lightning.
From a distance, its form resembled that of a great bird, but its wings did not gleam like metal. Instead, they fluttered softly, like ribbons of silk—hence its ghostly appearance.
The Shogun narrowed her eyes slightly at the sight.
—Thunder Manifestation.
A being born of condensed, chaotic Electro energy. Its form was similar to the Hydro Hypostasis of Liyue, yet there were clear differences—the hue, the delicate shapes of its wings, and above all… the crushing intensity of its aura. Unlike the Hydro creature, this one possessed no trace of intellect. It was born only from wrath and violence.
From its essence, she could discern its origin: anger made manifest. It was the concentrated malice of the Great Thunderbird Kapatcir, struck down long ago. The embodiment of pure rage.
That was why the thunderstorm of Seirai never ceased—because its fury had yet to fade.
But to her, such wrath was meaningless. Its anger did not earn mercy.
ROAR!!
The Thunder Manifestation spotted her and gave a feral scream. Of course, it did not recognize her—it lacked the mind for that. Anything in sight was its enemy.
Its body twisted like a serpent through the air, and its wings swept low, unleashing a surge of crackling Electro in a sweeping wave. The storm crashed down like a tsunami of lightning, tearing toward the seemingly 'frail' woman before it!
The Shogun showed no surprise. Calmly, she lifted her hand. A violet barrier bloomed before her, spreading like a wall from her position outward.
BOOM!
The impact shattered the stone slabs beneath their feet. The gale from the blast whipped her hair and kimono wildly, yet not a speck of dust touched her.
ROAR!
The Thunder Manifestation roared again, transforming into a bolt of lightning as it shot straight toward her.
The Shogun lowered her hand slightly, then brought her palms together.
Before her, the barrier shifted form, condensing into a single point—precisely where the creature's attack would strike.
BANG!
A thunderous crash resounded. Ripples spread across the barrier's surface as the creature's force rebounded. The Thunder Manifestation was sent hurtling backward into the sky.
The creature did not relent. Rising into the sky, it summoned a torrent of Electro particles that condensed into countless blade-like arcs—spinning barriers that crossed over one another in midair before sweeping downward in a deadly rain. The blades shot toward her with incredible speed, cutting through the air like whirling saws.
"Foolish," she breathed, almost in pity. "To challenge the embodiment of thunder with thunder itself."
The Electro particles around them might have been the Thunder Manifestation's domain—but who was she? She was the Raiden Shogun. Wherever lightning existed, it was hers to command.
With a flick of her fingers, an instant later, the air around her shimmered. A storm of her own making rose to meet the incoming blades. When her blades of lightning met those of her foe, the entire sky quaked from the impact!
To call oneself a 'Thunder Manifestation' here in Inazuma—what audacity indeed. Today, she would see what power this 'manifestation' truly possessed.
The Thunder Manifestation continued to twist through the skies, gathering more Electro particles into its wings before releasing them as luminous orbs. They rained down in a violent torrent.
Calmly, she lifted her oil-paper parasol before her. The faint violet pattern upon its surface glowed, and every orb that struck it was instantly absorbed—then reflected back with multiplied force!
BOOM!
She could deflect the blasts—but her opponent could not. The reflected orbs struck the creature squarely, detonating upon impact. Several explosions erupted in the air, and the Thunder Manifestation reeled, thrown into chaos by its own attacks. The once-blinding violet glow of its body dimmed, its thunderous aura weakened.
Now was the time.
She raised her hand—then brought it sharply down.
Above the creature's head, space itself split open, and from within the rift, a vast, ominous eye appeared. From that eye fell several massive, tuning fork–shaped spikes, each striking with precision—pinning the Thunder Manifestation by its neck, body, tail, and wings, forcing it down to the ground.
ROAR!!
The trapped beast howled furiously, its voice shaking the heavens as it struggled against the bindings.
Hum~
The earth beneath it began to glow with a sigil of the Ba.
At each corner of the plain, enormous eyes of malice opened—Eyes of Stormy Judgment—their gazes converging upon the restrained creature. From each eye burst concentrated streams of Electro energy, gathering with divine intensity. The formation blazed like a sacred rite of purification.
BOOM!
Four beams of light shot forth, piercing the Thunder Manifestation's body. The sigil on the ground flared to life, sealing light engulfing the entire area.
CRAAASH!!
A blinding explosion of Electro energy surged skyward, blooming into a cloud of violet light.
Rumble…
When the radiance faded, the Thunder Manifestation was gone. Only a single glowing violet wisp remained—its essence sealed away.
The Shogun walked to the center of the plain, her steps quiet. Reaching out, she allowed the wisp to drift into her palm. As its glow dimmed, its true form appeared—a single soft purple feather, about thirty centimeters long, imbued with faint Electro power that shimmered subtly in the air.
This was the feather Kanna Kapatcir had entrusted her to retrieve—or so she believed. No other creature could have left behind something so rare.
The Thunderbird had told her she need not return it—that she might keep it as she pleased.
"Alas… I have little use for such a thing."
She sighed softly, murmuring under her breath.
Still, a promise was a promise.
Hum~
The feather dissolved into violet motes of light, fading into the wind.
"My old friend… will you rest easy now?"
Her quiet voice drifted across the clearing as she looked up at the tranquil sky. The thunderclouds that had blanketed Seirai Island finally dispersed with the Thunder Manifestation's defeat. The once-purple skies gradually regained their natural hue—though the island remained shrouded in its eternal gloom. That was, after all, Seirai's nature.
No doubt the adventurers below were in an uproar by now. Yet this achievement was not theirs to claim.
This victory belonged to her—Raiden Shogun.
It was, after all, merely a small offering of strength from a goddess to her land and her people.