"Descend, Void Realm!"
Kagami Ren spread his arms as if embracing the world itself. Endless energy poured out from the black holes behind him.
At that moment, all of Teyvat seemed to tremble. The ocean roared under the bombardment of void energy, as if it might surge upward and swallow the sky.
In Liyue, Zhongli, who had been leisurely listening to opera, suddenly felt the tremor. His eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed toward the distant horizon.
"What a violent power… what kind of existence is this?" Zhongli murmured. This level of force was already enough to threaten him.
In Mondstadt, inside Angel's Share, a green-clad bard paused mid-drink.
"What a terrifying power… the wind tells me this is truly dangerous. I just hope it doesn't affect Mondstadt…"
"Hey! The ground's shaking and you're still drinking? Run!" the bartender shouted, dragging him outside.
"Hey! My cider!"
…
In the waters of Inazuma, the Musou no Hitotachi unleashed by the Raiden Shogun had already been shattered by the void energy. The overwhelming force blasted her straight into the sea.
"Damn…" Kagami Ren quickly shut down the void space, stunned by the sheer destructive power of his full-force attack.
He only wanted to force Ei out—not damage the Shogun. After all… both Ei and the Shogun were his targets.
His tastes weren't limited to humans.
The next moment, the Raiden Shogun rose from the sea.
She didn't seem heavily injured, but her clothes were torn apart by the blast, revealing large portions of her body, leaving her in a rare state of disarray.
Clearly, she was exhausted, no longer able to continue fighting. Yet her gaze remained locked onto Kagami Ren.
In an instant, Kagami Ren appeared beside her.
"Shogun, let Ei come out."
"Hmph. The inner self has already awakened," the Shogun replied coldly.
"…"
Kagami Ren felt speechless. So cold.
He reached into imaginary space and pulled out a wide robe, draping it over her shoulders.
"As the Shogun, this is hardly appropriate," he said.
At that moment, darkness rapidly enveloped him. He knew he was about to enter the Plane of Euthymia.
"Shogun, I truly mean no harm to Inazuma!" Kagami Ren called out.
He wanted to at least clarify—after all, the puppet was rigid and had just been beaten. It might hold a grudge.
"…"
The Shogun paused slightly before returning to her usual indifference. Still, her hand tightened subtly around the robe.
Inside the Plane of Euthymia, Kagami Ren saw Ei sitting cross-legged in midair.
"You are the foreign god who defeated the Shogun?" Ei frowned. "Why have you come to see me?"
"Raiden Ei, correct?" Kagami Ren said. "My name is Kagami Ren, current High Priest of the Grand Narukami Shrine."
"High Priest?" Ei frowned. "Why did Miko not inform me?"
"Miko can't even meet you. What would she tell you?" Kagami Ren said helplessly.
"We are not familiar. Why address me so casually?" Ei asked.
"What's the issue? Once we meet, we'll become familiar," Kagami Ren replied. "I came to tell you that I mean no harm to Inazuma."
"I have an agreement with Miko. Since I've descended into this world, Inazuma can be considered my home."
"But you question eternity," Ei said.
"I question eternity because your eternity is flawed," Kagami Ren replied. "Look at Inazuma now. The Sakoku Decree has pushed the people into suffering."
"The Sakoku Decree and Vision Hunt Decree are the best means to achieve eternity!" Ei shook her head. "You may be a god, but you do not understand my eternity. There is no point in arguing."
"Haa…" Kagami Ren nearly choked on her stubbornness.
"The eternity you pursue is born from losing those dear to you," he said. "What if I told you I could bring them back?"
"What?"
In an instant, Ei appeared before him, staring intently.
"Say that again."
"I said, if I can revive Raiden Makoto and the others, what would you do?" Kagami Ren smiled faintly.
"That's impossible!" Ei shook her head. "No one can revive the dead—not even the Heavenly Principles."
"Do not try to deceive me."
"I can," Kagami Ren said calmly. "Fox Saiguu—I've already revived her."
"Fox Saiguu?" Ei was shaken once more. How could that be possible?
"If you don't believe me, come with me to the Grand Narukami Shrine," Kagami Ren said. "While I fought the Shogun, I had Miko bring her back there to avoid the aftermath of the battle."
"…"
Ei was already more than halfway convinced. Recalling the Shogun's memory, she faintly remembered a white-haired fox-eared figure in Miko's arms—but her attention had been focused entirely on Kagami Ren at the time.
"Ei, I told you. My authority can bring them back. I'm not joking," Kagami Ren said.
"If you truly possess such power… then revive Makoto for me," Ei said, her voice firm.
"Of course. But I have a condition," Kagami Ren replied.
"What is it?" Ei asked.
"You."
Kagami Ren smiled.
"I want you to be my woman."
"No… impossible." Ei's eyes trembled slightly as she shook her head. "I am the most exalted being, the Raiden Shogun who governs Inazuma. How could I—"
"Ei, Miko has already chosen to be with me. In return, I revived Fox Saiguu," Kagami Ren said.
"But we've never even met before," Ei frowned. "Why me?"
"I have observed this world for a long time," Kagami Ren said softly. "And I like you. Everything about you."
"It doesn't matter that we've just met. We have time—plenty of it. Though I wish to have you now, I'm willing to prove myself."
"One year, ten years, a hundred years, a thousand years… even eternity itself. I will make you understand my feelings."
"True love… will last forever."
At that moment, the "Teyvat's Most Devoted" title seemed to activate. Kagami Ren's gaze was filled with undeniable sincerity.
For someone like Ei, straightforward honesty was the only way. Subtlety would never reach her.
Ei fell silent.
For some reason… his words didn't sound entirely unreasonable.
"…Then we shall go to the Grand Narukami Shrine," Ei said after a long pause.
"If I see Fox Saiguu with my own eyes… and if you truly can revive Makoto…"
"…then I will become your woman."