Outside Inazuma City, the black-robed figure had just materialized when a blade of light crackling with thunderbolts instantly materialized.
Terrified, the figure burrowed back into the spatial rift.
The thunderbolts annihilated the figure's former position, turning the surrounding hundred meters into charred wasteland in an instant.
As the lightning dissipated, Raiden Ei appeared, her right hand gripping her longsword. Arcs of Electro crackled in her eyes as she clutched a charred fragment of the black robe.
Ei stared intently at the spot where the black-robed figure had disappeared for a long moment before sheathing her blade and vanishing herself.
-
Grand Narukami Shrine.
Yae Miko sensed the Talisman carried by Yuna activating the moment it did. She immediately departed from Narukami Oogami and arrived at the Kuki House in no time.
Just then, Kuki Shinobu emerged, carrying her sister on her back. Yae Miko collided directly with them.
Yae Miko noticed the bloodstains at the corner of Yuna's mouth and frowned.
"Just hand her over to me."
Kuki Shinobu didn't refuse. Entrusting her sister to Lady Guuji was undoubtedly the best course of action.
Yae Miko conjured a sphere of Electro energy, enveloping Yuna within it.
Throughout the entire process, Yuna remained unconscious. Kuki Shinobu, deeply worried, stayed close by Yae Miko's side.
-
On the other side, Chu Xi was staying with Yuna's parents and her Big Sister.
"Little Xi, what's happening over there?" Yuna's mother asked, tears streaming down her face. She kept trying to go check, but Chu Xi stopped her each time.
Yuna's father: "What exactly is going on? This is Inazuma City, guarded by the Raiden Shogun herself! Who would dare cause trouble here?"
Chu Xi was just as anxious, but her priority was protecting Yuna's family.
After a long while, when no further sounds came from the other side, Chu Xi told the three to wait and went to investigate herself.
"Little Xi, be careful!"
Chu Xi entered the courtyard but didn't find Yuna or her friends. Her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately ran out of the courtyard.
At the end of the road, Chu Xi caught a glimpse of Kuki Shinobu before she disappeared around a corner.
Chu Xi took a few steps to follow but suddenly doubled back, running back to Yuna's parents and Big Sister. After reassuring them that everything was fine, she quickly hurried after Kuki Shinobu and the others.
-
When Yuna awoke again, she found herself at Grand Narukami Shrine, with her second sister, Kuki Shinobu, and Chu Xi by her side.
"Little Yuna, are you feeling better?" Kuki Shinobu asked worriedly.
"Second Sister, I'm fine now... Thank you, Chu Xi."
Chu Xi managed a weak smile. "I'm just glad you're okay."
Yuna tried to sit up, but Kuki Shinobu and Chu Xi immediately rushed to help, each supporting her from one side.
Yuna sighed helplessly. "Second Sister, Chu Xi, I was just shaken up a bit. I'm fine, I can sit up on my own."
Kuki Shinobu didn't reply, her mind preoccupied with the many questions she wanted to ask her sister.
On the way to the shrine, she had tried asking Lady Guuji Yae, but the Guuji had refused to elaborate, telling her to wait and ask Yuna directly.
"Yuna, what exactly... happened this time?"
Chu Xi also leaned in, her ears perked up.
Yuna hesitated. "...Well..."
There was no point in hiding it now. Gathering her thoughts, Yuna explained about the Pure Soul.
"According to the Traveler's theory, I possess a Pure Soul, and the Abyss is collecting such souls. So..."
Kuki Shinobu was exceptionally intelligent; her sister needed only hint at something for her to grasp the entire picture.
Pure Souls...
Mondstadt, Liyue, Sumeru—all three nations had been attacked by the Abyss. Such massive incidents couldn't escape Kuki Shinobu's notice.
Previously, she had found it puzzling. While humans and the Abyss were natural enemies, launching such elaborate operations without any apparent purpose seemed rather far-fetched.
But if their goal was to collect Pure Souls...
"Then... the events in Mondstadt, Liyue, and even Sumeru—were they all orchestrated by the Abyss to gather Pure Souls?!"
Kuki Shinobu didn't even realize her voice was trembling.
If this were true, then her little Yuna...
Yuna watched her sister's eyes suddenly redden, and after a moment of silence, she offered no reply.
"That's how it is in Mondstadt, and it seems to be the same in Liyue. I'm not sure about Sumeru, but it's probably similar."
Neither of the Kuki sisters noticed Chu Xi, who had frozen in place after hearing Kuki Shinobu's question. Her mouth hung slightly open as she silently backed away a few steps.
Pure Souls... Silaya...
Though Yuna didn't speak, her silence conveyed everything to Kuki Shinobu.
Kuki Shinobu removed her mask, tears welling in her eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me?!" she demanded. "Such a huge thing—you were trying to hide it?! If it weren't for Lady Guuji's foresight, you'd be dead!"
"Sister..." Yuna's voice trembled. "I didn't know... I thought I wasn't a Pure Soul, just a coincidence. I... I didn't mean to keep it from you. I just didn't want to worry you, the Bosses, Mom, or Dad..."
Yuna's voice trailed off, fading to a whisper.
Seeing the fear in Yuna's eyes, Kuki Shinobu's anger melted away. She pulled Yuna into a tight embrace.
"You idiot! If you'd told me sooner, we could have figured something out together! But it's not too late now. Don't be scared—we have the Raiden Shogun and Lady Guuji. The Abyss won't succeed!"
"The Raiden Shogun?"
"She was just here. She's outside now, conferring with Lady Guuji."
Sister Ei is here too?
Hearing this news, much of the tension in Yuna's heart instantly vanished.
The assailant who had ambushed her earlier was incredibly strong. She could sense that his attack had been casual, yet even so, she had been completely unable to withstand it. If not for Lady Guuji's talisman and Sister Ei's little weird thing, she would have been dead already.
Yuna was no coward; she wouldn't have wreaked havoc in Inazuma with Lumine back then if she were.
But this situation was entirely different. The Abyss's power was immense. Rumor had it that in Sumeru, they had simultaneously challenged three Gods, and though they ultimately failed, the attempt alone demonstrated the Abyss's terrifying might.
Yuna cherished her current carefree life, where she could do whatever she pleased. She desperately didn't want to die.
Yet, even more than death itself, she feared bringing calamity upon Inazuma, endangering others, especially her dear friends.
The thought of her friends and family suffering because of her made tears uncontrollably well up in her eyes.
"Don't be afraid!"
Chu Xi embraced Yuna from behind. Through teary eyes, Yuna turned her head.
"I'll protect you. I'll definitely protect you!" Chu Xi's voice was gentle, yet her tone rang with unwavering resolve.
Grand Narukami Shrine, beneath the Sacred Sakura Tree.
"Ei, the Abyss has found us. We couldn't escape after all."
"It's fine," Ei replied. "I've already prepared to fight to the death for Inazuma. But... I'm entrusting Yuna to you."
Yae Miko smiled wryly. "You're really giving me a difficult task. But rest assured, I'll protect the little one with my life."