Chapter 99
Wait a minute, my plan was to keep Ying from showing her true form and keep her hanging on so she would play along. I had even planned to take her with me to rescue the Lady Kitsune. Why did this happen all of a sudden? What is this idiot trying to do by suddenly revealing her identity?
164. Raiden Shogun, you are the challenger!
The resistance has been defeated!
The news that came back from the front lines at dawn invigorated the people of Inazuma City.
Because of the fighting on the front lines, both merchants and farmers had to prepare supplies for the soldiers. Although this was to support the Her Excellency's Shogunate Army, the Tenryou Commission and Kanjō Bugyō them ruthlessly, which put them in a difficult position.
However, the war continued, and they could not help but support it, so the residents of Inazuma City were also looking forward to the end of the war.
Now, the war is finally over, and at least their task of procuring food and supplies for the Shogunate Army at the front can finally be completed.
Kujou Sara conquered Watatsumi Island overnight, and the people of Watatsumi Island surrendered after being persuaded by their Human God Shrine Maiden, Sangonomiya Kokomi.
At least, surrendering offers a chance of survival; not surrendering means certain death!
Thor's arrival on the battlefield indicates that he has lost patience. With a god involved, Watatsumi Island is utterly powerless to resist. Watatsumi Island, which once had its own chief god, was easily destroyed by Thor. Now, without its own chief god, it is even less likely to fight against Thor.
Although Thor's Vision Hunt Decree led many Vision of Vision holders to join the resistance, they were completely powerless against Thor and were all wiped out in a single move.
500 years ago Watatsumi Island offended Inazuma, and ever since, they have been outwardly compliant but inwardly resentful. Now that Raijin has intervened again, they have no choice but to surrender.
Kujou Sara led the Shogunate Army to escort the surrendered prisoners of war from Watatsumi Island back to Narukami Island. They traveled through the night, transporting the surrendered prisoners and the rebels captured from the camp to Inazuma City. As for the ordinary people who surrendered on Watatsumi Island, they were left behind on Watatsumi Island, with a portion of the Shogunate Army stationed there to guard them.
The Shogunate Army escorted the rebels into Inazuma City, with Kujou Sara leading the way, receiving a warm welcome from the residents of Inazuma City on both sides of the road.
However, Kujou Sara did not feel particularly proud; she simply led the Shogunate Army forward with a cold expression.
From the entrance to Inazuma City, the army marched through the entire Inazuma City and finally stopped outside the Thousand-Armed Hundred-Eyed Statue outside the Tenshukaku, where Raijin was already waiting for them.
"Her Excellency."
Kujou Sara looked at the figure with its back to her, looking up at the thousand-armed, hundred-eyed statue, and stepped forward, kneeling on one knee.
"I have done as you instructed and captured all the rebels. Watatsumi Island has also surrendered."
"Thank you for your hard work, Sara."
"Serving the Her Excellency is my duty."
Kujou Sara answered seriously.
"Get up."
Shadow slowly turned around, looked at Kujou Sara, and waved to the side.
"Take them aside first."
"Yes!"
Kujou Sara stood up and waved to the shogunate soldiers behind him. The soldiers dragged all the rebel prisoners to the open ground next to them.
The open space in front of the Thousand-Handed and Hundred-Eyed Statue is much larger than in the game; it could even be used as a parade ground.
The Shogunate Army led the prisoners aside, and Kujou Sara also went to the upper level area. However, what surprised Kujou Sara was...
All three of Inazuma's Tri-Commission were here at this moment.
The heads and key personnel of the three families— the Kujo clan family that led the Tenryou Commission (the same Kujo clan family that adopted Kujou Sara), the Tori family that led the Kanjō Bugyō on the Rishou Island, and the Kamisato clan that managed the Yashiro Commission Magistrates—are all here.
"What's going on?"
Kujou Sara asked the person next to her in a low voice.
"General Kujo, it's the Her Excellency. Last night, the Her Excellency had Omokage's men inform the Tri-Commission overnight, and they came here this morning."
Those around her provided an answer: although Kujou Sara was Kujo clan's adopted daughter and not a true Kujo clan, Kujou Sara was deeply trusted by Raiden Shogun and was his top general, respectfully addressed as General Raiden Shogun.
As those close to Kujo said, the reason the Tri-Commission were all here was because of Raiden Shogun's orders. After leaving the Komore Teahouse last night, Kage returned to the Tenshukaku and immediately summoned the Omokage. He then ordered the Omokage to knock on the doors of the Tri-Commission's houses overnight and tell them to gather here this morning.
However, after gathering, Shadow just stood there staring at the Thousand-Armed, Hundred-Eyed Statue, doing nothing else. They didn't dare ask Shadow what he was going to do, so they could only wait there.
When they saw Kujou Sara and the others return, the Tri-Commission assumed that it was Raiden Shogun who had brought the Tri-Commission to welcome Kujou Sara, especially the Kamisato siblings, who knew best how the resistance was wiped out.
However, Kage's actions just now made them realize that this was not the case. Kage had no intention of celebrating Kujou Sara's victory, and Kujou Sara had no intention of celebrating either, because she knew that this war was entirely due to Raiden Ei's efforts, and she was just leading the Shogunate Army to pick up the scraps from behind.
"So, what exactly is the Her Excellency trying to do?"
Seeing Raiden Shogun turn back and look up at the Thousand-Armed, Hundred-Eyed Statue of Lightning, everyone was once again filled with doubt.
However, the Kamisato siblings were relatively familiar with the situation, had already come up with a new guess.
If it wasn't to welcome General Kujo, then there's only one possibility: to welcome the new Geo King from Liyue.
After returning to the Kamisato Estate last night, the Kamisato siblings have been analyzing the conversation between the Shogun and the Iwao.
Raiden Shogun has an older sister named Shin, while Raiden Shogun's name is Kage. He claims to be a member of the Thunder God's family, but the Kamisato clan, who are in charge of the rituals, know best that the so-called member of the gods' family is actually Yae Miko. However, Yae refers to herself as a priestess throughout the Guuji and keeps a very humble attitude.
If all of this were true, then the Kamisato siblings should have been silenced by the Her Excellency immediately. But they weren't, which means one thing: it was all fake, and the Her Excellency and the Guuji were acting together to portray the new Rock King.
Although I'm curious about the fact that the Her Excellency and the Guuji are both playing the Geo Archon of Liyue, at least the Raiden Shogun is alright, which is the most important thing for Inazuma.
The residents of Inazuma City who were watching were very curious as all the high-ranking officials of the Tri-Commission gathered again, the Shogunate Army was also there, and the prisoners of the resistance were also placed there, but nothing happened.
The less anything happened, the more curious everyone became, and then word spread, and almost everyone in Inazuma City gathered here.
Finally, when almost everyone in Inazuma City had gathered, the situation changed.
Among the crowd, Yaeguchi, the Yae Guuji of Grand Narukami Shrine, appeared and began to move from the outer edge of the crowd toward the inner edge.
At first, the crowd didn't know what was happening behind them, but when they turned around and saw that it was Yae Miko, they immediately made way for her. Soon, the crowd parted to make way for the esteemed Yae Guuji pass through.
Behind Yae Guuji was a man dressed in black and gold clothing and wearing a hood. He followed Yae Miko through the passage and arrived at the plaza in front of the Thousand-Armed, Hundred-Eyed Statue.
"So you've finally arrived, Geo Archon of Liyue."
Shadow sensed the elemental fluctuations behind him, slowly turned around, and looked down at his opponent.
"What? The Geo Archon of Liyue? Could it be Morax, the Geo Archon?"
A gasp of surprise rippled through the crowd.
Li Yue took off her hood, revealing her hair, which now had five different colors, and looked up at Ying.
"I have arrived, Raiden Shogun."
"I heard you want to challenge me."
Ying spoke with a cold expression.
"Although I am indeed here to fight you for some reason, there are some things I need to make clear."
Li Yue raised her left hand and flicked her index finger, pointing at Raiden Ei.
"Raiden Shogun, you are the challenger before me!"
Boom—
The once clear sky suddenly turned into rolling dark clouds, with purple lightning streaking through the clouds.
"Oh dear, the Her Excellency is angry."
Yae Miko stood beside Li Yue, looking at Raiden Ei lightning rings that were beginning to appear behind him, and asked Li Yue in a low voice.
"Lord Geo Archon, can you win?"
Li Yue was incredibly confident.
"Dumb tape, with the power of the Emperor and the previous Thor, I am invincible!"
165. The power of the third god, Takemikazuchi!
The Rock King battles the Thunder God!
Inazuma probably never imagined that the Geo Archon from Liyue would one day come to Inazuma to fight the Thunder King, since they are so far apart, it is really difficult for them to have any conflicts.
However, now, the Geo Archon from Liyue has indeed appeared in Inazuma, and even pointed at the Thunder God in front of all the Inazuma people, saying: You are the challenger!
This is a provocation! Liyue is provoking Inazuma!
"Her Excellency! Defeat the Rock King!!"
Suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted something, and in an instant, the entire square became lively as everyone cheered for Raiden Shogun.
The shogunate's soldiers began to raise their spears high.
"The eternal way is magnificent, and the resounding spirit is eternal!"
"Her Excellency!"
"Narukami Eternal!"
The atmosphere in the entire Thousand Hands and Hundred Eyes Square reached a highly praiseworthy level.
Surrounded by these people, Li Yue has become the villain who opposes the entire Inazuma.
Standing beside Li Yue, Yae no Yae Miko was also amazed by the scene. How long had it been since Inazuma had seen such a united scene? The internal situation had been so chaotic before, but now, facing the threat from the external gods, the Inazuma people were so united.
"Lord Geo Archon, can you really win?"
"We will win!"
"Then I'll take my leave. This place is no longer a place for me."
After Yae finished speaking, she immediately retreated to the outer edge of the square. Last night, after Thor revealed his identity, Yae had no choice but to reveal her own true identity. In fact, Li Yue even guessed that the real identity was the previous Thor, so she deliberately went into her Inner World to question Makoto Raiden.
After Makoto Raiden awkwardly admitted his mistake, he once again begged Li Yue to teach Ying a good lesson!
She had only just started pretending to be a member of the Thunder God's familiar when her own sister exposed her the very next day. How boring! Look at the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, Nahida was almost made the Dendro Archon by Li Yue without her knowledge, and her identity was never exposed!
Meanwhile, outside, Yae, as a member of the Thunder God's familiar, asked Li Yue to defeat the Shadow so that she could break free from her past obsessions. Li Yue agreed to Yae's request and, in the name of the new God of Contracts, signed a contract with Yae to defeat the Thunder God.
After the Yae Miko withdrew, Li Yue was left alone in the middle of the square.
Li Yue walked to the center of the square and looked up at Raiden Ei.
Do you need me to give you time to prepare?
It was clearly an attitude of accepting the challenge.
"Unnecessary."
Raiden Ei gave a cold reply, and at the same time took a step forward, stepping directly on the air, and began to walk towards Li Yue step by step.
"Geo King of Liyue, as the God of Contracts, you call me a challenger. So, as the challenger, I must make a contract with you."
"Oh? What kind of contract do you want to draw up?"
Li Yue crossed her arms over her chest, her body shimmering with golden light.
"If you lose this battle, you will stay in Inazuma!"
Raiden Ei, stood on equal footing with Li Yue made demands of her.
Li Yue understood why Raiden Ei suddenly revealed her identity last night. It was because Zhen had said she would return to Liyue with her, so she wanted to keep her in Inazuma. If she stayed in Inazuma, then Zhen would also be kept in Inazuma.
"A reasonable request."
Li Yue nodded.
"The contract is established, and the one who breaks the promise shall be punished!"
"Alright, let's begin!"
In Raiden Ei's hand, her most frequently used Grass Cutting Gleam flashed, and she directly charged towards Li Yue with one hand.
"Solid as a Rock!"
Li Yue spread his arms, and a transparent golden shield appeared around his body, completely enveloping him.
The naginata struck Li Yue's shield directly, but the shield didn't budge.
"Morax's shield..."
Raiden Ei's expression was not good. She had learned last night that Li Yue had Morax's consciousness inside her, but she did not expect that Li Yue could even use Morax's shield.
If that's the case, then ordinary martial arts skills seem to be of little use.
What martial art could break Morax's shield? It simply doesn't exist in Teyvat!
"It seems you want to skip the part about sparring."
Can I tell you that I don't know any martial arts at all?
Li Yue stood calmly inside the shield, arms crossed. Sorry, although he had been Bleach for so long, Li Yue had never practiced any swordsmanship. From beginning to end, he relied on sheer strength to throw bricks, combined with Reiatsu and various abilities. You expect me to do fancy moves with you? Sorry, I can't.
"That's right. For us, there's really no need to spar in a normal way."