Takemikazuchi Appears in the World

"...Tell Welt to hurry to the Imaginary Space and inform Sirin. There's no need to drag this out any longer. Let Takemikazuchi descend."

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

They couldn't fail!

"Don't lose heart! We were able to defeat Amatsukami, so we'll definitely be able to defeat Takemikazuchi too!"

Changkong City.

"Attention, all residents. Attention, all residents. We are interrupting regular programming to issue an emergency notice. Due to extreme weather conditions, and in order to protect the lives of all residents, the underground Shelter measures have now been activated. Please prepare the necessities of daily life, do not take any chances, and proceed to the underground Shelter in an orderly manner..."

A shrill alarm rang throughout the city.

Kiana's expression shifted slightly as she handed out flyers on the street. She pulled back the flyer she was about to give to a passerby.

She had discussed it with Mei again yesterday. In the end, they had decided to remind people through flyers, leaving it up to them whether they believed it or not. That was how she had ended up handing out flyers on the street.

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

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

The other party had merely brushed her off with a few perfunctory remarks.

They had even said something about not spreading alarmist rumors.

Yet the emergency evacuation order being broadcast now was almost certainly because of Takemikazuchi.

The flyers in her hand were useless now.

She placed the remaining flyers on a roadside bench and ran toward the place where she had arranged to meet Mei.

The rumble of thunder had begun several minutes ago, but the same thing had happened yesterday, so most people chose to ignore it or took out their phones to record it.

Kiana also felt there was no need to pay too much attention to the thunder. After all, Yae Sakura had only taken the 'Narukami' yesterday.

Preparing for the subjugation should take some time, right?

But this sudden emergency notice made her feel vaguely uneasy.

After hearing the broadcast, the residents on the street reacted in all sorts of ways, but they all began walking more hurriedly.

She wondered how things were at Zhuohua Street.

Kiana decided to go back and take a look later. If anyone needed help, she would do her best to lend a hand.

"Kiana!"

Not long after Kiana reached the agreed meeting place, Raiden Mei came running over with the flyers she hadn't finished handing out.

"Don't rush, Mei."

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

Raiden Mei shook her head as she watched the thunderstorm, which differed from yesterday's in that streaks of blood-red lightning were mixed into the thunderclouds.

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

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

"Do you want to go take a look at Zhuohua Street?"

Raiden Mei still chose not to mention it. She thought it might just be an illusion.

She had only come into contact with Honkai energy yesterday.

She knew even less about Takemikazuchi.

Sensing Honkai energy from Takemikazuchi across such a great distance—when she thought about it, the whole thing seemed rather unlikely.

She suspected that she was simply under too much pressure.

There was no need to voice a baseless guess right now. Without knowing what was happening over there, they had no way to cross such a great distance and reach the battlefield to investigate.

Saying it aloud would only make Kiana anxious and perhaps even bring the matter of Honkai energy onto herself. It would serve no purpose.

Kiana nodded. "I want to go back and check on things. After all, I've been staying there this whole time in Izumo."

"I'll go with you."

Mei had kept her blade on her the entire time. After following Kiana yesterday and discovering traces of the Kishin, she had decided to carry it with her at all times.

That way, she wouldn't have to worry about being unable to fight if something unexpected happened.

She also needed to start practicing karate.

"Don't you need to make preparations at the shrine?"

Kiana turned to ask Mei, who was following her, as they headed toward Zhuohua Street.

"I don't plan on entering the Shelter." Mei looked at Kiana. "You aren't going into the Shelter either, right?"

Once they entered the Shelter, the community would certainly investigate their identities. Besides, both she and Kiana were capable of protecting themselves.

So they might as well remain outside. That way, they could keep watch on the thunderstorm at any time and respond accordingly.

"Yeah. I won't feel at ease unless I can see it."

The shops along the street closed one after another. The lively avenue quickly became deserted and bleak after the emergency announcement.

Kiana brought Mei back to Zhuohua Street. It was the same as the other streets: some people were closing their shops, while others were moving things.

It seemed they had heard the announcement as well and intended to reach the Shelter as quickly as possible.

"Kiana!"

Seeing everyone preparing, with some people already carrying their belongings downstairs and apparently planning to head to the Shelter, Kiana slowed her steps. Then she heard the voice of a child that gave her a headache.

A plainly dressed woman stood beside Xiaoji. She was only in her thirties, but because she had never paid much attention to her appearance, her complexion was somewhat sallow.

"So Kiana's back."

Xiaoji's mother knew Kiana as well. She smiled when she saw her, though her expression became slightly surprised upon noticing the shrine maiden beside her.

"Are you back to pack your things? Then you'll have to hurry. Everyone's planning to head to the Shelter together and claim a place to rest. Make sure you don't get separated from the others."

"Mom, Mom!" Xiaoji tugged at his mother's hand and swung it back and forth. He looked at Kiana excitedly. "Everything I said was true! There really was a huge octopus monster by the river yesterday! If you don't believe me, ask Big Sister Kiana! Big Sister Kiana's super amazing, just like a superhero on TV! She jumped up and went swish, swish, and knocked that octopus monster down!"

Chapter 25: Takemikazuchi Descends

Kiana, who had supposedly knocked the monster down with two quick swishes, was rendered speechless.

"What nonsense are you spouting?"

Xiaoji's mother tapped him on the head, then said apologetically, "I don't know what cartoon this child watched, but ever since he came home yesterday, he's been going on about some monster by the river."

"He really has watched too many cartoons." Kiana nodded in agreement and suggested, "This kind of thing happens when he doesn't have enough homework, so he spends every day daydreaming."

"I suggest giving Xiaoji more homework!"

"Big Sister Kiana!"

Xiaoji was stunned. He clearly hadn't lied, so why was Big Sister Kiana saying he had watched too many cartoons?

That wasn't the truth at all!

"Good idea!" Xiaoji's mother thought of how mischievous he usually was and turned around. "I'll go back and pack Xiaoji's homework too."

She had to give Xiaoji something to do. Otherwise, with so many people packed into the Shelter and Xiaoji being so restless, it would be disastrous if he wandered off.

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

"Make sure you bring plenty!"

Kiana added fuel to the fire.

Xiaoji was taken back by his mother to fetch his homework. The sight left the many children who had wanted to greet Kiana frozen in place, and they all timidly backed away.

What kind of hero was this? She was a devil!

"I feel much better now."

After playing a trick on the unfortunate child, Kiana placed her hands on her hips and smiled brightly.

"Let's go see Granny Zhuohua."

"You should pack your things too. You'll be staying at the shrine afterward," Mei reminded her.

"Mm... Okay!"

Staying together.

That meant she would be able to see Mei every morning.

This happiness had come far too suddenly!

She would move in. She would do it later!

After crossing the street, Kiana returned to the building where she lived. Outside Granny Zhuohua's room on the first floor, she saw several neighbors helping Granny Zhuohua move her belongings.

Granny Zhuohua stood outside her home, leaning on her cane and thanking the neighbors who had come to help.

"Granny Zhuohua."

Kiana stepped forward to greet her, planning to have one last chat with her.

"So it's Kiana and the Narukami Shrine Maiden." Seeing the two of them, Granny Zhuohua sighed in relief.

"Sigh, you young people really do think ahead. I never expected the city to issue an emergency notice today. Now I don't even know where to go to buy supplies."

If she had listened to Kiana's advice yesterday and packed her things and bought supplies in time, she wouldn't have to worry about living for the next month.

But now...

Many people didn't have much in the way of supplies stored at home, and no one knew how long they would have to stay in the Shelter.

If they really had to remain in the Shelter for a month, the supplies they had probably wouldn't last that long.

Raiden Mei said, "There's no need to worry too much. Since this is a citywide notice during a special situation, the city should distribute daily necessities uniformly from here on."

"Mei's right. Supplies aren't the real problem. Granny, what matters is that you all get to the Shelter and settle in as soon as possible."

Even if the battle dragged on, it probably wouldn't last too long. Judging from what Yae Sakura had said at the time, Izumo had made preparations.

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

Granny Zhuohua looked at every household moving their belongings and sighed again.

She was already this old, yet she still had to go through something like this. It was quite a trial for her.

"Kiana, you came back to pack your things too, right? Don't worry about us. Go pack your own things. Once everyone is more or less ready, we'll head to the Shelter together."

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

Granny Zhuohua was stunned, then remembered that Kiana's origins were unknown and that she had no proof of identity at all.

"Well... I have a granddaughter around your age. She's currently living in the neighboring county with my daughter and son-in-law. If anyone asks, just say you're my granddaughter and it'll be fine."

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

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

After chatting for a while, Kiana asked a few questions as well. Once she confirmed that the residents had made their own arrangements and would stick together, she went upstairs and quickly packed her things.

Finally, she put several photographs into her bag. After shouldering it, Kiana waved to Mei, who was waiting in the living room.

"All done, Mei!"

At that moment, a deafening boom came from the distant sky, making the doors and windows tremble.

It was as though the end of the world had arrived.

The pitch-black thunderstorm in the distance spread across the entire sky at a terrifying speed. In the far distance, where the thunderstorm had first appeared, a huge black hole tore open.

A pitch-black dragon poked its head out of the black hole, then burst through it with thunderclouds swirling around its body.

Its appearance was like a signal.

"Is that... Takemikazuchi?"

Raiden Mei was standing beside the living-room window. She saw the enormous void and watched the dragon emerge from it in full.

"Takemikazuchi?"

Kiana hurried over to the window as well.