In the middle of the night, a tremendous crash jolted Lin En awake.
He immediately got out of bed and took the shortsword from beside his pillow in his right hand.
Outside the window, a dark red light tore through the night sky above Inazuma City. It spread from the direction of Tenshukaku, hanging across the sky like a gigantic wound.
Ronava stood at the door, her silver hair loose. She had risen from her bedding on the floor much faster than Lin En.
"An Abyss invasion."
There was a trace of puzzlement in her voice.
Lin En was even more confused. An Abyss invasion? He had experienced one in Natlan, and now Inazuma was being invaded too?
But there was no time to think. The two rushed out of the inn.
The streets were already in chaos. Residents ran from their homes, some carrying children and others clutching bundles, fleeing away from Tenshukaku.
The Shogunate Army was maintaining order, though their expressions were grim. Several shrine maidens stood on a street corner, talismans in hand, trying to set up a barrier at the intersection.
Above Tenshukaku, the dark red rift was widening, and many more rifts appeared nearby.
Numerous purple rifts appeared farther away. Abyss monsters poured out of them and charged toward Inazuma City.
Lin En saw a familiar figure charging at the front, followed by quite a few Shogunate Army soldiers.
Lumine wielded the Sword of Descension, Anemo and Geo energy flowing alternately along its blade. She cleaved through an Abyss Mage's shield, then twisted away from an Abyss Herald's Hydro blade.
Several rifts had also appeared above Tenshukaku. Most of the Shogunate Army had gone to fight the monsters in front of the city gates, leaving them short-handed here.
"Come on, to Tenshukaku."
Ronava said.
The two raced toward Tenshukaku. Lin En channeled Anemo, a cyclone spinning in his palm. Although his left arm was still somewhat uncomfortable, he could use it normally again.
He rushed to the side of a Shogunate Army soldier surrounded by Abyss Mages and blasted out the cyclone, sending two Abyss Mages flying.
The soldier nodded at him, gasping for breath, then turned to protect the civilians behind him.
Ronava swept her gaze over the battlefield, as if searching for something. She held a spear but did not move, merely standing half a step behind Lin En and blocking an Abyss Mage that attacked him from the side.
"These are just small fry. The real thing hasn't arrived yet."
Before she had finished speaking, a purple figure rose from the roof of Tenshukaku.
"It's the Shogun! She's here to help!"
Several people who recognized her cried out.
The Raiden Shogun rose into the air amid flashing lightning and rumbling thunder. Her blade flashed from its sheath, and a gigantic purple eye appeared behind her. A giant hand wielding an enormous blade swept out from it. The strike cut across the sky, cleaving the dark red rift overhead in two and turning the sky an eerie red and purple.
She was preparing her next attack when a golden wave of energy shattered the giant eye behind her.
A figure stepped out of the rift, long golden hair fluttering in the night wind, his cape tainted with the aura of the Abyss. He held a golden sword, and his face bore a strong resemblance to Lumine's. It was Aether.
"Brother!"
Lumine spotted him from below and called out. She rushed onto Tenshukaku's roof, pointing the Sword of Descension at Aether.
"Why are you..."
Aether did not answer. His gaze passed over Lumine and settled on someone below.
Ronava.
"Ruler of Death."
Aether's voice came from the roof.
"So you really are here."
Ronava looked up, her golden eyes meeting those unfathomable eyes, deep as the Abyss.
"But it doesn't matter. I already have what I came for."
Aether put away his sword and turned to leave.
Lumine blocked his path, holding the Sword of Descension across his chest.
"Where are you going?"
"..."
Aether looked at her and fell silent for a moment.
"Lumine, you don't understand."
Just then, Ronava moved.
Her figure became a silver afterimage as her spear tore through the air, aimed straight at Aether's back. The strike was so fast it was almost impossible to see. Black deathly energy coiled around the spear tip, tearing even the air apart.
But a hand blocked it behind Aether.
The hand reached out of the void, pale and slender, golden runes of space and time appearing on its palm. The spear tip pierced the palm, and the golden runes suddenly blazed, swallowing all the black energy.
Ronava's pupils contracted sharply.
A figure stepped out of the void. It was a woman in white and black robes, her features marked by a lofty indifference. Her hair was an extremely pale white, drifting in the air.
"Asmoday!"
Ronava looked at her, unmistakable shock appearing in her golden eyes for the first time.
"It's been a long time, Ronava."
Asmoday's voice was calm, as if she were greeting an ordinary acquaintance from the past.
"You recovered faster than I imagined."
"So you really did pledge yourself to a new master."
Ronava's voice was cold, but Lin En could hear the suppressed anger in it.
"I chose the right path."
Asmoday withdrew her hand. The mark left by the spear tip on her palm was slowly healing.
"The Heavenly Principles will not fall, Ronava. You're only delaying the inevitable end."
"Did you get it?"
Asmoday turned her head to ask Aether.
Aether nodded.
"We can go."
Asmoday raised her hand and drew a line through the air with her fingertip. A golden portal opened on the roof, revealing a blurred scene beyond that could not be made out.
Lumine rushed forward to stop them, but Aether slipped past her and retreated into the portal.
"Lumine."
Before he disappeared, Aether looked back at her. There was guilt and reluctance in his gaze, but more than either was a resolve Lumine could not understand.
"Take care of yourself."
The portal closed, and the golden light faded.
Lumine was left alone on the roof, the Sword of Descension still held out before her, her fingertips trembling slightly. Paimon flew up and tugged at the hem of her clothes, her little face full of helpless uncertainty.
Ronava stood where she was, her spear still in hand. Her gaze remained fixed on the spot where the portal had disappeared for a long time.
Lin En walked over to her and saw that her fingers were gripping the spear shaft harder than usual, her knuckles white.
"Ronava."
She lowered her head and put away her spear.
"Let's go back."
"But..."
"The Abyss has retreated. The Shogunate Army and the Raiden Shogun can handle the rest."
With that, Ronava turned and headed toward the inn.
Lin En glanced back at Tenshukaku. The Abyss rifts were slowly closing, and the Abyss Mages and Heralds were gradually withdrawing, as if ordered to retreat after completing some task.
Lumine was still standing on the roof, looking in the direction where her brother had disappeared.
Lin En hurried after Ronava, and the two walked back along the deserted street. Barrier talismans that had not yet been removed fluttered in the night wind by the roadside.
"Asmoday."
Lin En spoke.
"She's the one you mentioned..."
"Yes, the Ruler of Space."
Ronava fell silent for a few breaths.
"Phanes created her and me together. I govern death, and she governs space."
Lin En was stunned.
"So you're practically sisters?"
"We merely came from the same source. She pledged herself to a new master, while I..."
The two entered the inn and went upstairs.
The room was just as they had left it. Ronava walked to the window and pushed it open. The night wind rushed in, blowing her silver hair back.
"What exactly is she trying to do?"