Kujou Sara's breathing was ragged. She didn't understand what was wrong with this Oni; he swung that heavy Nodachi like an electric fan.
Fortunately, he was a big simpleton. After he exposed a weakness, she immediately unleashed the Thousand Rays of Lightning, completely stunning the poor guy.
Taking Arataki Itto's Vision, two pairs of black wings appeared behind her. Kujou Sara flapped her wings and left the White Fox Plain. It was a while later before a few of the Arataki Gang's younger members came out to carry their boss away.
"Boss, you can't be hurt, Boss!"
"Yeah, yeah! Boss, wake up quickly! What will the Arataki Gang do without you!"
Two younger members, one fat and one skinny, kept shaking Arataki Itto, but clearly, it was useless.
Finally, a tall woman stepped forward.
"None of that is working. Watch me."
"Arataki Itto! I threw away the Little Cards you won!"
"Huh!!!"
Arataki Itto immediately sat up with a snap! That was fast!
"You damn Kuki Shinobu! Do you know these are limited edition cards I collected after winning against thirteen kids in a row!"
The woman called Kuki Shinobu shrugged indifferently, then turned to the younger members and said, "See? That's how you have to call him to wake him up."
"I'm talking to you, did you hear me, This Great Lord!" Arataki Itto shouted.
Kuki Shinobu calmly picked her ears upon hearing this: "So, you big simpleton, you still haven't realized that was just something I said to wake you up?"
"So that's it! I knew you, as the Second-in-command of the Arataki Gang, would never betray me! Hahahahahaha!"
"I didn't. I gave all those cards back."
"What!?"
Arataki Itto felt blood rush to his head, then his Vision went black, and he fell straight back onto the ground.
"Ah, Boss! What's wrong, Boss!"
Arataki Itto's Diary:
April 16th, Sunny
The Vision Hunt Decree was issued. This Great Lord fought Kujou Tengu, and my Vision was stolen. Kuki Shinobu even returned all the limited edition cards I won. Damn it! I've noted this grudge!
..."I can't believe they actually let us go," Fujiwara said with some astonishment, watching the Tenryou Commission Foot Soldiers leave with helpless expressions.
"We are nominally people of the Kamisato Clan now. According to Shiki's words, we are temporarily not on the Vision Hunt Decree list."
"Sigh, I wonder what she's been busy with lately. We can't even catch a glimpse of her."
"It must be something important. Didn't she say she would need our help after a while?"
Compared to the restless Fujiwara, Kazuha remained very calm. The situation inside Inazuma City matched exactly what Shiki had predicted.
Therefore, he would fully support the plan Shiki had laid out within Inazuma.
"It's a real shame. My original plan was to challenge the Vision Hunt Decree enforcers to a Duel before the Shogun right about now!"
"Do you think I would let you go? Especially since you lost in your duel against Shiki."
"That's why I'm mentioning it! But that move of hers was truly incredible. Can you imagine how I felt? Three slashes attacked from completely different directions, as if three swords were cutting at you simultaneously. How is one supposed to block that?"
Fujiwara rubbed her forehead as she spoke. Even now, that scene still echoed in her mind. She felt like the Petrel that Shiki had cut down from the sky that day.
"Don't overthink it. Everyone develops differently. Ryougi's speed of development in techniques is unmatched. What we need to do is surpass her in elemental power."
Kazuha has always been open-minded, as he is naturally a broad-minded person. He only feels happy when his friends become stronger, and it gives him more motivation.
"You're right. I'll win it back someday!"
Fujiwara quickly regained her fighting spirit. Or rather, she had never lost it; she was just regretful that she couldn't witness General Yu's Musou no Hitotachi.
"Yo, you two, ready to go?" Thoma leaned by the door, only his head visible in the doorway.
"Where are we going this time?"
"Ritou. We need to establish a force there, but it'll only be us, because we can't let them see our connection to the Kamisato Clan. That means we have no backup."
"Haha, we Ronin have never had backup, have we, Kazuha?" Fujiwara said, nudging Kazuha with her elbow.
"Exactly! Just watch us perform!" Kazuha said with a light chuckle, arms crossed.
"Then I'll just lie back and let you two carry me!"
Thoma and his group packed their luggage and headed to Ritou. For the next period, they would be living there.
Sending the three of them to Ritou to establish a force was, of course, Shiki's idea. The Hiiragi Clan was destined to be overthrown, and the information published in the Inazuma Times needed a definite source, didn't it?
Moreover, the Kanjou Commission would definitely need a new person to take office later, as Hiiragi Shinsuke was already dead. The three people establishing a force in Ritou were very strong candidates.
Meanwhile, on Watatsumi Island, the westernmost island of Inazuma...
"Miss Guanshangyu, it's confirmed that the Vision Hunt Decree has begun to be enforced in Inazuma City. Should we initiate the resistance movement now?" an Foot Soldier in Watatsumi Island attire asked.
"Wait a bit longer. Now is not the time. Once they realize the consequences of losing their Vision, we will establish the name of the resistance."
Miss Sangonomiya, who looked soft, put down the book in her hand. Her lineage burdened her with the responsibility of revitalizing Watatsumi Island, although she herself was not skilled in governance.
She was better at offering advice than at making the final decision.
But as the current Human Archon Priestess of Watatsumi Island, she had to bear this responsibility, even if she wasn't good at it.
The most important thing was that there were many warmongers on Watatsumi Island, who constantly yearned to attack Inazuma to avenge their own Watatsumi Omikami, who died on Yashiori Island.
Little did they know, Orobas's death was actually caused by the foolishness of Watatsumi Island's ancestors.
As a loser of the Archon War, could Orobas not understand the gap between him and Beelzebul?
Orobas wasn't foolish, but he couldn't stand the constant nagging from the 'smart' people of Watatsumi Island, plus the erode brought by time. He launched an eastward invasion when both Lei Archons were absent. However, this was just a facade; the truth of the matter was far more complex.
Therefore, Miss Sangonomiya understood that as long as the Raiden Shogun was present, Inazuma could not be defeated.
Her main goal was to restore trade between the two regions, as the saline-alkali land truly couldn't grow grain.
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