Even Miko hadn't expected that Ei would actually seal the Raiden Shogun's consciousness inside the Realm of Consciousness.
If not for that, everything today would have gone so much more smoothly.
"Miko, give me the staff!"
Lumine gritted her teeth, reaching out her hand toward her.
Miko looked at her, amused.
"Oh my, after I've helped you this much, can't I at least keep a little reward?" she teased.
"Besides, is now really the right time to be asking for that staff?"
Lumine rolled her eyes.
"This is for Inazuma, you know! I already used up one of my precious master-tier spell scrolls — and even Ryen doesn't have many of those!"
She sighed, exasperated.
"And didn't I already give you a Totem of Undying? If you want the staff so badly, why don't you just come back for it later?"
"But right now, I really, really need it!"
At that, Miko didn't argue further. She sighed softly, reluctant but obediently handed the staff back to Lumine.
She had to admit — she really wanted to keep it for herself.
With that staff in her hands, her power had soared to a true godlike level.
It was a treasure beyond anything she had ever seen — and there was something strange sealed within it, something she hadn't yet had the chance to examine.
But there was no time now.
Taking the staff, Lumine turned toward the roiling mass of thunder and lightning behind them.
Judging by the storm's intensity, there was no way they'd escape unscathed this time.
Her best plan now was to cast a Lich Barrier — to hold back the lightning just long enough to break through the storm's perimeter.
As long as they escaped Inazuma's storm range, Liyue's allies could provide support.
But her own Lich Barrier staff was still on cooldown.
That meant she'd have to rely on this staff instead.
And if even that failed…
She still had one last trump card — Ryen's Peacock Feather Fan.
If things came to a fight, just one swing of that fan could forcibly push back Ei — enough to buy them a few precious seconds.
Beside her, Ayaka was already battle-ready.
The outer trio of dragons raced along the storm's edge, while the inner three carried Lumine and her companions through the maelstrom.
At this speed, the dragons could easily cross the distance from Inazuma to Liyue in less than a day.
But the danger wasn't whether they'd make it in time — it was whether the Raiden Shogun herself would appear mid-flight.
The dragons were already showing signs of fatigue.
Flying this fast for so long — this wasn't the Minecraft world where physics could be ignored.
Yes, their speed was higher here, but the energy cost was massive.
Lumine quickly pulled out raw fish from her inventory and tossed them toward each dragon.
"Come on, faster! Once we reach Liyue, I'll let you all return to that world and feast to your hearts' content!"
She patted one of the dragon's necks encouragingly.
But the truth was, they were already flying at their limit — a speed so great that they could fly from Inazuma to Liyue twice in a single day.
Still… it wasn't enough.
Lumine frowned.
If only Beidou were here — or if Venti could bless their flight with divine wind — then forget escaping; they could probably outrun the Raiden Shogun herself.
After all, when it came to speed, Venti reigned supreme across all of Teyvat.
Seeing the worried look on Lumine's face, Miko smiled softly and asked,
"Are you that anxious?"
Lumine nodded slightly, and Miko teased,
"If you're so scared, why'd you even dare to bring me along?"
"Originally, if you'd only gone to the Realm of Consciousness for a quick look, Ei would've been furious, sure — but at most, she'd just scold you and maybe rough you up a little."
"Considering who you are, she wouldn't actually kill you."
"But…" — Miko's tails flicked as her smile turned sly —
"Since you decided to take me with you, she'll be absolutely livid."
"That woman must already be sulking somewhere, thinking that even her last friend has abandoned her."
"She won't be holding back this time."
Lumine pursed her lips and stayed silent.
Miko sighed softly when she saw how tense Lumine was.
"If we get caught by Ei, just drop me," she said lightly. "I'll hold her off. No matter what happens, she wouldn't dare actually hurt me."
"Of course," she added with a smirk, "as payment for stalling her, the staff will be mine."
Lumine rolled her eyes again.
"Even now, you're still thinking about my staff? You really never quit, do you?"
Miko shrugged, half helpless, half amused.
"That staff is an unrivaled treasure for anyone who commands the power of Electro."
"If you're willing, little one, I can trade you a divine artifact for it."
"An artifact?" Lumine blinked, briefly tempted.
The staff's effects were indeed stronger than most artifacts… but still, divine artifacts were incredibly rare across all of Teyvat.
Meanwhile, staffs like this — at least in the Twilight Forest of the Minecraft realm — could be found from the hands of archdruids.
A high-tier staff wasn't exactly irreplaceable right now.
Trading it for a true divine artifact might not be a bad deal at all.
Just as Lumine was about to bargain with her, the skies around them darkened.
The storm clouds surged violently, spreading across the horizon — and the next instant, the lightning itself began to obey Ei's will.
Thousands of bolts of thunder lanced downward, sealing every escape route.
They were so close — just one more minute of flight, and they would've escaped the storm's boundary.
But now… it was too late.
Lumine stared ahead, troubled.
In the distance, through the thinning clouds, she could already see the golden sunlight of freedom.
But before they could reach it — they had to face the Raiden Shogun herself.
She appeared before them in her resplendent purple robes, long ponytail swaying in the electric wind.
Though her attire was simple and traditional, it carried an unshakable regal presence.
Raiden Ei hovered silently in midair.
Around her, countless arcs of lightning danced and roared, illuminating her like a goddess of judgment.
For a long moment, she said nothing.
Then, slowly, she turned her gaze toward Miko — eyes filled with grief and disappointment.
"Miko… why?"