"Hmm… as expected of the most mysterious shrine maiden. What exactly do you want from me? Surely you didn't come all this way just to give me a gift."
Ren Kai glanced at the katana Kitsune Saiguu was holding out to him as he spoke.
From Rexas's memories, he knew that shrine maidens across generations had always been mysterious figures. Their combat power might not be impressive, but even Rexas never dared to underestimate them. Their knowledge often surpassed even that of the gods.
Ren Kai's mind raced as he analyzed the situation.
How did Kitsune Saiguu know his identity?
Did she somehow know he was a transmigrator?
Judging from her tone, she seemed to acknowledge the existence of the War God Rexas.
"I do have a few questions I'd like answered. Of course, if it's inconvenient for you to answer them, I won't force the matter."
Kitsune Saiguu maintained her gentle smile.
"Oh? Then before I accept your gift, why don't you ask your questions first?"
Ren Kai did his best to imitate Rexas's tone—the voice Rexas used when facing enemies. Combined with Madara's imposing appearance, his presence radiated overwhelming authority.
"The first question: Lord Rexas… have you died once before?"
Kitsune Saiguu voiced the doubt that had been lingering in her heart.
"Yes."
Ren Kai wanted to lie, but he was standing before a shrine maiden. There was probably some method she could use to verify whether he was telling the truth.
"The second question: are you currently Lord Rexas… or that man named Ren Kai?"
Her smile never wavered.
"Both."
Ren Kai cursed internally.
Fox spirits were already hard to deal with—let alone one who was also a shrine maiden.
If he lied and got exposed, with his current strength, escaping wouldn't even be possible.
"My final question…"
"How do you view war?"
Kitsune Saiguu already had a vague answer in mind, but this was the question she cared about most.
"I hate war."
"But I cannot refuse it when it arrives."
Ren Kai spoke helplessly.
He also wished he could just live like a carefree slacker—spending his days holding a pink little fox while living peacefully with Raiden Makoto and Raiden Ei.
But whether it was playing the role of Uchiha Madara, carrying the identity of the War God Rexas, the will of the Heavenly Principles, or the coming disaster of Khaenri'ah and the monstrous hounds that would appear during that war…
War was something he could not avoid.
"Lord Rexas, please forgive my suspicions."
"Allow me to apologize."
"Please accept this blade. Through it, you will be able to contact me. I will do everything in my power to assist you."
Kitsune Saiguu stepped forward and bowed deeply, raising the sword respectfully with both hands.
Among all shrine maidens, she was considered the strongest of her generation.
She had once divined the future of Inazuma.
The result had been unbearably tragic.
Although Inazuma would ultimately survive, the ending was something no one could accept.
But after the War God Rexas suddenly appeared within the threads of fate, history began to change.
From that moment on, she could no longer accurately predict the future.
All she could see were scattered fragments.
In those fragments, people gathered together… smiling happily.
Ever since Ren Kai regained consciousness earlier, she had been watching from the shadows.
Whether the man before her was Ren Kai or the War God Rexas…
He would be the one who changed Inazuma's fate.
And if she helped him, perhaps everyone might survive.
"I don't like dealing with shrine maidens."
"From now on, call me Uchiha Madara."
"Farewell."
Ren Kai accepted the katana and turned away with dramatic flair, sprinting toward Ritou.
In reality, his heart was pounding.
Good… she didn't chase me, right?
With his current strength, he definitely couldn't handle a powerful white fox shrine maiden.
"Uchiha Madara… what a majestic name."
"The butterfly has appeared."
"What kind of future awaits Teyvat now?"
Kitsune Saiguu narrowed her eyes as she watched Ren Kai disappear into the distance.
Ren Kai ran more than ten kilometers in one breath, finally stopping on the sandy shore outside Ritou.
Only then did he dare turn around.
"Looks like she didn't follow… finally, I can relax."
He gazed back at the beautiful Narukami Island.
Cherry blossoms were in full bloom.
The wind carried drifting petals that danced through the air.
And yet, he was about to leave this gentle paradise.
He couldn't help feeling reluctant.
Raiden Makoto… Raiden Ei… and little Yae Miko…
"Aya! Aya-ya!"
Several masked hilichurls noticed Ren Kai beneath a nearby tree and began rushing toward him.
"Whoa… real hilichurls."
"So this really is a living world."
"Didn't expect the first thing I'd cut with my sword would be hilichurls."
Ren Kai stared at them in surprise.
One large hilichurl with a shield had already charged right up to him.
"Let's see if that shield of yours can block my attack."
Back when he played Genshin Impact, those shields had always annoyed him the most.
He drew the katana Kitsune Saiguu had given him.
The sound of the blade leaving its sheath was mesmerizing.
Slash!
With a single Iaido strike, the shield split cleanly in half.
Ren Kai immediately leapt forward and swung horizontally.
The large hilichurl's head flew into the air.
Looking at the blade in his hand, his first thought was how sharp it was.
The silver blade had elegant lines, resembling the Tang swords of ancient Liyue.
Whoosh—whoosh—
Two arrows shot toward him from the shadows.
Ren Kai activated his three-tomoe Sharingan and simply tilted his head, dodging them with ease.
Two smaller hilichurls rushed in close.
With a powerful kick from both legs, he sent them flying.
His gaze shifted toward the distance.
A Hydro Abyss Mage and a hilichurl archer were hiding there.
"Great Fire Annihilation!"
Ren Kai landed on the ground with his feet apart, hands forming seals before his mouth.
A torrent of blazing flames erupted outward.
The fire collided with the Hydro element instantly, creating a violent vaporization reaction. Steam filled the air in seconds.
Ren Kai calmly turned and walked away.
A true man never looks back at explosions.
All the hilichurls had already been incinerated by the flames.
Suddenly, a surge of power burst from within his body.
More memories flooded his mind—ninjutsu techniques and combat experience.
Ren Kai smiled.
Of course.
To play Madara properly, he had to stay cool and domineering.
After imitating Madara's actions, techniques, and aura so perfectly, his role-playing progress had increased again.
[Uchiha Madara]
Role-playing Progress: 10%
Strength: Peak Kage Level
Dojutsu Power: Mangekyo Sharingan
"The Mangekyo Sharingan… Madara really is insane."
"I just unlocked it and I'm already at peak Kage level. Hahaha!"
Ren Kai jumped excitedly.
Aside from powerful Adepti and gods, he could practically walk sideways across the world now.
Feeling smug, he continued toward Ritou.
But after only a few steps, his stomach suddenly churned.
"Right… I only inherited Rexas's memories."
"At my core, I'm still just an ordinary person."
"I have to endure this."
The problem was that Ren Kai had turned around out of curiosity.
The burnt hilichurls looked horrifying.
And the smell… was absolutely disgusting.
He quickly ran to the shoreline, scooping seawater to wash his face while rinsing off the hilichurl blood.
"Whew… much better."
Ren Kai lifted his head and gazed at the vast ocean.
The sea breeze carried a refreshing scent.
His heart gradually calmed.
Then he stood up and continued walking toward Ritou.
"No Gnosis. No Vision."
"What a mysterious power you possess."
"Good luck… Lord Uchiha Madara."
Kitsune Saiguu stood silently before the hilichurl corpses, feeling the lingering heat of the flames.
Moments later, she vanished.
Meanwhile, Ren Kai had already stepped onto Ritou.
Only then did he suddenly realize a very serious problem.
"I'm… completely broke."
That's right.
The War God Rexas possessed a very traditional virtue.
He didn't carry a single Mora on him.