Shuttling across the vast ocean,
the sky and sea merged into one.
It sounded like a relaxing journey.
But this was also a key test in selecting Dragon Knights.
On the open sea, especially in clear weather,
the sunlight reflected off the water, making the sea nearly the same color as the sky.
From a distance, the horizon disappeared entirely.
Before their eyes was a flawless expanse of blue, as if traveling across a massive sapphire.
This was one of the challenges of becoming a Dragon Knight.
Without proper control or a sense of direction, one misstep could send both rider and dragon crashing into the sea.
The dragon might be fine, but the rider would almost certainly be pulverized.
Falling from hundreds of meters above the ocean was practically equivalent to hitting cement.
Directional control was a basic skill every mature Dragon Knight had to master.
Fortunately, this batch of Dragon Knights had long honed their skills in the MC world.
They had battle experience,
and after extensive training, there was little to worry about.
The roaring dragon formations, flying in coordinated groups, radiated such overwhelming presence that even the ocean seemed to fall silent.
Sea beasts below fled in panic, afraid of becoming targets of the Dragon Cavalry.
Facing over two hundred Dragon Knights, even low-ranking Archons wouldn't dare test them.
As the dragons pierced the sound barrier, the Qianyan Army soldiers on their backs didn't find it as comfortable as the citizens of Liyue imagined.
High-altitude winds were already fierce, and with dragons flying at incredible speeds,
without carrying ample alchemy potions and wearing enchanted diamond armor, they'd likely have been swept away instantly.
Even so, the biting cold cut at them like knives.
This was the cost of looking cool.
But the Dragon Cavalry's soldiers loved it.
They had trained so hard with the dragons for this moment—
and they weren't deaf to the cheers of the Liyue citizens earlier.
They might not have elemental power or a Vision,
but…
which Traveler would dare to one-on-one them while they were riding dragons?
A single dragon breath would annihilate anything that wasn't a demon's minion.
However, Lumine and the others had no such concerns.
After all, they were at least Travelers.
Compared to Liyue, Makoto remained mostly silent on the return journey.
Perhaps the closer they got to home, the more hesitant she felt?
The Guuji understood Makoto's feelings. Flying alongside her on her dragon, she transmitted her voice:
"Makoto, what do you plan to do when you return to Inazuma?"
Makoto paused for a moment, then shook her head.
"Restore order in Inazuma. Although the situation is poor, in my view, there are only three main reasons."
"First, the Tenryou Commission and the Kanjou Commission are corrupt. I intend to deal with this decisively, remove the incompetent, and promote those capable."
"Second, the Resistance and the Shogunate forces have been fighting nonstop, with all able-bodied citizens conscripted. Once the wars are halted, combined with resources from that other world, recovery will be swift."
"Third, public morale… there's no quick fix for this. It will take time to adjust, but it's not particularly difficult."
The Guuji raised an eyebrow, smiling teasingly:
"Only these three points? Makoto, it seems you've forgotten the most important one…"
Makoto fell silent, and after a moment, spoke softly:
"The Vision Hunt Decree and the Sakoku Decree… with just a single word, I can undo them."
"And what about Ei? Do you have any plans?"
The Guuji asked straightforwardly. Makoto slightly tilted her head, avoiding her gaze.
But thinking of the reckless things Ei had done, a spark of anger still lingered in her heart.
"I will make Ei face the punishment she deserves. A deity's duty is to bring happiness to the people, not blood and tears."
"Because of her Vision Hunt Decree and Sakoku Decree, because of her seclusion to avoid wear, because of the people of Inazuma who died in civil war…
Because of the unrest caused by the exploitation of the high-ranking officials, I will settle all of this with her, one by one."
"Even if she is my sister, I will not show mercy."
"I did not hand Inazuma over to her so that it would spiral into unfounded, obsessive eternity!"
Hearing this, the Guuji sighed.
She understood that this was a heavy burden for Makoto, but…
thinking of all the lives lost in Inazuma, thinking of the suffering endured by its people,
Ei's light "I'm sorry" would never suffice.
Those who do wrong must pay the price.
Even the Guuji could not make Ei make amends; only Makoto had the authority to do so.
"Don't be upset, Makoto. This is Ei's own problem. Even now, as the Raiden Shogun, she must take responsibility for her actions."
"She's not just your sister. She now carries the burden of all Inazuma."
Makoto nodded silently, saying nothing further.
If she didn't punish Ei properly, what would Ayaka and the others think?
Moreover, Makoto was furious about Ei's puppet-governance problem.
In the distance, a thunderstorm was already forming.
Compared to before Lumine and the others left, it seemed even more turbulent.
Seeing this, Makoto's expression remained calm, but her anger grew inside.
This Inazuma was no longer the peaceful and serene land it once was.
Thunder was meant to punish evil, not oppress the people.
Accelerating, Makoto and the others instantly plunged into the heart of the storm.
The Departure Island was no longer far away.
This time, they would land on Departure Island first.
After all, the Dragon Cavalry's original mission was to bring justice for the Liyue citizens who had suffered in Inazuma.
On Departure Island, more Shogunate troops had been stationed.
After the incident with the Alcor, and without orders to lift the Sakoku Decree, defenses had naturally been strengthened.
The war with the Resistance had already been halted by Ei.
Kujou Sara had not returned to Narukami Island, and Ei was secluded, unseen.
This time, even Kujou Sara was nowhere in sight.
Not knowing what to do, she could only wander aimlessly with her troops, dealing with the monsters on Inazuma.
This was, in a way, a good thing.
At least by eliminating more monsters, the people's lives would be a little easier.
Along the way, Kujou Sara had witnessed too much sorrow and bloodshed.
Her conversations with Kamisato Ayato had also weighed heavily on her.
On one side, she saw firsthand the people of Inazuma living in hardship; on the other, there was the Shogun, sworn to absolute loyalty.
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