"Watatsumi Island was, after all, created by Watatsumi Omikami using the coral branches from his body, and coupled with the surrounding seawater pouring in and corroding the island, the land inevitably gradually turned a pale, moonlight-like color. This led to Watatsumi Island being unable to grow grain on a large scale like the Inazuma archipelago."
"Every now and then, we need to go to Enkanomiya to obtain something called Coral Jade Branches, used to reverse the sacred land transformation of Watatsumi Island."
"But this is not a long-term solution. Like drug resistance, according to records, the time for each reversal of the sacred land transformation is decreasing."
"Watatsumi Island has been completely unable to grow grain for a year now, and there are still several weeks until the ritual, which is only activated once every few centuries."
"Perhaps, the reason Watatsumi Omikami launched the eastern invasion back then was just like our situation today?"
"And if things continue like this, eventually, the time it takes for Watatsumi Island to reverse the sacred land transformation will not keep up with the activation of the ritual."
This was the most reasonable reason Sangonomiya Kokomi could think of, but the truth behind Orobas's eastern invasion was far more terrifying than she imagined.
"By the way, have you never thought about integrating into Inazuma? As long as you disband your military and independent government, the Shogunate will accept you," Thoma said after some thought.
"According to your statement, Watatsumi Island will eventually be completely transformed into sacred land. Will you then launch another war?"
"Besides, after you join the Shogunate, we can also help you complete that ritual. Although you haven't said it, I know that Enkanomiya place must be very dangerous, right?"
"Sigh..."
Sangonomiya Kokomi sighed softly, then fell silent. Just as Thoma said, Enkanomiya was very dangerous, and every ritual basically left many people there forever.
Enkanomiya is located in the Seam between Teyvat and the Abyss, so in addition to common monsters from Teyvat, creatures from the Abyss also appear.
"Mr. Thoma's words, I will consider..."
"Okay, then I will take my leave first." Thoma said, then left the shrine.
Who was it, back then, who proposed to start the war?
Sangonomiya Kokomi could no longer remember. Her own abilities were completely mismatched with the position of leader. If she could, she wouldn't want to take on the role of Priestess.
But there was no 'if,' only the duty brought by her bloodline, which she could not shirk.
'Perhaps, it's time for the conflict between Watatsumi Island and the Shogunate to disappear.'
This thought had appeared in her mind more than once since the war ended. She was tired; Sangonomiya Kokomi didn't want to continue formulating policies under immense pressure.
Those countless eyes looked at her with hope, expecting her to make Watatsumi Island better.
Every time Sangonomiya Kokomi recalled these scenes, the pressure on her felt even heavier.
Ultimately, did she start the resistance war because of the unavoidable sacred land transformation? Or was it due to willfulness under immense pressure?
But at this point, discussing such matters was meaningless.
Sangonomiya Kokomi just wanted to rest well for a while; she wanted to shed some of the pressure on her.
She had made up her mind: if Shiki came to Watatsumi Island before the ritual, then she would disband the military and political power and announce Watatsumi Island's incorporation into Inazuma.
If she didn't come...
If she didn't come, then they would see.
...
"Ayaka, let's meet on Seirai Island."
In the ship's cabin, Shiki could already feel the resentment contained within the thunderstorm. It was the anger formed from the fall of an ancient Archon; the Archon's power had polluted this ley line and created a perpetual thunderstorm that would never dissipate.
"Hmm, be careful on your way."
Ayaka nodded lightly, then Shiki, under the girl's gentle gaze, transformed into electro element and vanished within the ship's cabin.
A dark cloud began to gather above Seirai Island, golden lightning flashing within the cloud. Using the dark cloud she created, Shiki could move freely within it like true lightning.
"Damn it!"
Listening to the deafening thunder, Captain Madarame's face was very grim. It was bad enough that there was a thunderstorm above Seirai Island, but why did another one appear before they even arrived?
"Where's the First Mate? Quickly tell him to notify the flagman to wave the slowdown signal, we're in trouble!"
"I'm on it!"
A burly man ran out of the cabin, then shouted loudly to the flagman on the mast: "Slowdown signal!"
The flagman immediately raised a reflective flag, transmitting the slowdown signal to the other ships.
The fleet's speed slowly decreased. Now, Captain Madarame only hoped that the thunderstorm would last for a shorter time, but he didn't know that the instigator of the thunderstorm was currently traversing within the dark cloud.
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