A Person in Izumo, Making Honkai Great Again

"...Tell Welt to get to Imaginary Space and notify Sirin immediately. There's no need to stall any longer. Let Takemikazuchi manifest."

If the 'Heaven' Edict Blade could no longer be used, their chances of defeating Takemikazuchi would plummet.

They could not afford to fail!

"Don't lose heart! We defeated Amenotokotachi, and we can definitely defeat Takemikazuchi too!"

Changkong City.

"Attention all citizens, attention all citizens. We are now interrupting regular programming with an emergency notice. Due to extreme weather conditions, and to protect the safety of all residents, a decision has been made to activate the underground shelter measures. Please prepare your essential living items, do not take any chances, and proceed in an orderly manner to the underground shelters..."

The piercing wail of alarms rang through the city.

Kiana, who had been handing out flyers on the street, changed her expression slightly and pulled back the flyer she was about to offer a passerby.

She had discussed it again with Mei yesterday, and they'd finally decided to use flyers—a take-it-or-leave-it approach—to warn people. That was why she was out here distributing them now.

"Strange... Didn't they reject Mei's proposal over there?"

Early this morning, Mei had contacted the person in charge of Changkong City, but her suggestion hadn't been adopted.

The other party had just brushed her off with a few perfunctory words.

Even said not to make a mountain out of a molehill.

But now, the emergency evacuation announced over the radio—the source of the disaster was almost certainly Takemikazuchi.

The flyers in her hand were useless now.

She set the remaining flyers on a bench by the roadside and ran toward the meeting point she'd arranged with Mei.

The thunder from the horizon had started rumbling a few minutes ago, but the same thing had happened yesterday, so most people ignored it or just pulled out their phones to record the scene.

Kiana also thought there was no need to worry too much about the thunder for now. After all, Yae Sakura had only taken the 'Narukami' yesterday.

The subjugation would probably take some time to prepare, right?

But this sudden emergency notice made her vaguely uneasy.

The residents on the street reacted differently to the broadcast, but they all shared one thing in common: hurried footsteps.

She wondered how things were on Zhuohua Street.

Kiana decided she'd go back to check later. If anyone needed help, she'd do what she could.

"Kiana!"

Not long after Kiana arrived at the agreed meeting spot, Raiden Mei ran over, still holding the flyers she hadn't finished handing out.

"Don't rush, Mei."

Kiana took the flyers from her hand and tossed them aside casually. "The disaster came earlier than we expected."

Raiden Mei shook her head, staring at the thunderstorm that was different from yesterday's—streaks of blood-red lightning now wove through the thunderclouds.

She wanted to tell Kiana that she could sense the power there, similar to Narukami, was no longer pure.

Within that power resembling Narukami, she vaguely detected the contamination of Honkai energy. In other words...

"Do you want to go check on Zhuohua Street?"

Raiden Mei chose not to bring it up. She thought it might just be her imagination.

She had only encountered Honkai energy yesterday.

She knew nothing about Takemikazuchi.

Sensing Honkai energy on Takemikazuchi from such a distance—no matter how she thought about it, it seemed far-fetched.

She suspected she was under too much pressure.

There was no point in voicing baseless guesses now. Without knowing the situation over there, they couldn't cross such a vast distance to reach the battlefield and see for themselves.

Saying it would only make Kiana anxious, or worse, make her take the Honkai energy issue onto herself. It would be meaningless.

Kiana nodded. "I want to go back and see how things are. After all, I've been staying there the whole time I've been in Izumo."

"I'll go with you."

Raiden Mei's blade was always on her. Ever since yesterday, when she'd followed Kiana and caught a trace of the ghost, she'd made up her mind to keep her sword with her at all times.

That way, if an unexpected situation arose, she wouldn't be without a means to fight.

But she still needed to practice her karate.

"Don't you need to prepare at the shrine?"

Kiana walked toward Zhuohua Street, turning her head to ask Mei, who was following her.

"I don't plan on going into the shelter." Mei looked at Kiana. "And Kiana isn't going into the shelter either, right?"

Once inside the shelter, the community would definitely conduct identity checks. Besides, both she and Kiana had the ability to protect themselves.

So it was better to stay outside. That way, they could keep an eye on the thunderstorm's movements and respond accordingly.

"Yeah, it's only when you see it that you can feel at ease."

The shops along the street were closing one after another. The bustling avenue, lively just moments ago, quickly turned cold and desolate as the emergency notice spread.

Kiana brought Mei back to Zhuohua Street. It was the same here as on other streets—shops shutting down, people hauling their belongings.

It seemed they'd heard the notice too and were all hurrying toward the shelters.

"Big sister Kiana!"

Seeing everyone preparing, with some already carrying things downstairs, apparently heading for the shelter, Kiana slowed her pace. Then she heard the voice of a kid that gave her a headache.

Beside Xiaoji stood a plainly dressed woman, around thirty-something, but with a sallow complexion from lack of upkeep.

"Oh, Kiana's back."

Xiaoji's mother knew Kiana too. She smiled at her, though her expression showed a hint of surprise when she saw the shrine maiden beside her.

"Back to pack up? You'd better hurry. Everyone's planning to head to the shelter together and grab a spot to rest. Don't get separated from the group."

"Mom, Mom!" Xiaoji tugged at his mother's hand, shaking it, and looked at Kiana excitedly. "I'm telling the truth! Yesterday there really was a huge octopus monster by the river! If you don't believe me, ask big sister Kiana! Big sister Kiana is super strong, like a superhero from TV! She jumped up, went shua shua twice, and knocked that octopus monster down!"

Chapter 25: Takemikazuchi Appears

Kiana, who Xiaoji claimed had taken down the monster with two shua shuas, was left speechless.

"What nonsense are you talking?"

Xiaoji's mother gave him a light smack on the head, then said apologetically, "This kid must've been watching some cartoon. Ever since he got back yesterday, he's been yelling about a monster by the river."

"Yeah, he's definitely watching too many cartoons." Kiana nodded in agreement and suggested, "This kind of thing means he doesn't have enough homework. That's why his mind wanders every day."

"I suggest bringing more homework for Xiaoji!"

"Big sister Kiana!"

Xiaoji was stunned. He hadn't lied at all, so why was big sister Kiana saying he'd watched too many cartoons?

That wasn't the truth!

"Good point!" Xiaoji's mother thought about how mischievous Xiaoji usually was and turned to go back. "I'll go pack Xiaoji's homework too and bring it along."

She had to find something for Xiaoji to do. Otherwise, with so many people crammed into the shelter and Xiaoji's restless nature, if he ran off, it'd be a disaster.

"No, Mom!" Xiaoji tried to hold his mother back, shouting, "I didn't watch any cartoons! I'm not lying!"

"Make sure to bring a lot!"

Kiana added fuel to the fire.

Xiaoji was dragged back by his mother to get his homework. This scene left the other kids who'd wanted to greet Kiana frozen in place, all shrinking back.

This wasn't a hero—this was a demon!

"Much better now."

Having tricked that unlucky kid, Kiana put her hands on her hips and let out a relaxed smile.

"Let's go see Granny Zhuohua."

"You need to pack your things too. You'll be staying at the shrine from now on," Mei reminded her.

"Mm... okay!"

Living together.

That meant waking up to see Mei every day. This happiness was way too sudden!

She'd move—right now!

Crossing the street, Kiana returned to the building where she lived. At the entrance to Granny Zhuohua's first-floor room, she saw some neighbors helping the old lady move her things.

Granny Zhuohua stood outside, leaning on her cane, thanking the neighbors who'd come to help.

"Granny Zhuohua."

Kiana walked up and greeted her, planning to have one last chat.

"Oh, it's Kiana and the Narukami Shrine Maiden." Granny Zhuohua saw them both and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Ah, you young people really have foresight. I didn't expect the city to put out an emergency notice today. Now if you want to buy supplies, you don't even know where to go."

If she'd listened to Kiana's advice yesterday and packed up in time, buying supplies, she wouldn't have to worry about the next month.

But now...

A lot of people didn't have much stockpiled at home, and no one knew how long they'd have to stay in the shelter.

If they really needed to live there for a month, the supplies they had probably wouldn't last that long.

Raiden Mei said, "Don't worry too much. In these special times, since it's a city notice, daily necessities should be distributed uniformly by the city government."

"Mei's right. Supplies aren't the real issue, Granny. It's more important that you and the others get to the shelter early and settle in properly."

Even if the battle dragged on, it shouldn't last too long. From what Yae Sakura had said back then, Izumo was prepared.

"I suppose that's all we can do."

Granny Zhuohua watched every household moving out and let out another sigh.

At her age, having to go through something like this was quite the ordeal for her.

"Kiana, you're back to pack your things too, right? Don't worry about us—just go pack your own stuff. Once everyone's about ready, we'll head to the shelter together."

"I probably won't be going to the shelter."

Granny Zhuohua paused, then remembered that Kiana's origins were unclear and she had nothing to prove her identity.

"Ah, about that... I have a granddaughter about your age. She's living with my daughter and son-in-law in the next county over. If anyone asks, just say you're my granddaughter—that'll be fine."

"Thank you for your kindness, Granny." Kiana glanced at Mei and said, "But I plan to go to the shrine with Mei."

"Staying with the Narukami Shrine Maiden?" Granny Zhuohua nodded. "That's not a bad choice either."

After a bit more small talk, Kiana asked a few questions and confirmed that the street had its own plan and everyone would stick together. Then she went back upstairs to pack her things simply.

Finally, she tucked a few photos into her bag, slung it over her shoulder, and waved to Mei in the living room.

"Ready, Mei!"

Right at that moment, a deafening roar came from the distant sky, rattling the doors and windows.

It was as if the end of the world had already arrived.

In the distance, a pitch-black thunderstorm consumed the entire sky at terrifying speed. At the farthest point, where the storm first appeared, a massive black hole tore open.

A jet-black dragon thrust its head out of the hole, its body wreathed in lightning as it burst forth.

Its appearance was like a signal.

"So that's... Takemikazuchi?"

Raiden Mei stood by the living room window, watching the enormous rift and the dragon that had fully emerged from it.

"Takemikazuchi?"

Kiana hurried over to the window as well.