A fierce storm swept across the land, thunder roaring in the heavens.
From the very moment Makoto appeared, the entire world fell silent.
The power of the ley lines surged toward her in torrents the instant she released her divine strength.
Clearly, although Makoto's raw power was weaker than Ei's, her control over Inazuma's ley lines was far superior!
On the other side, the Raiden Shogun stood frozen like a machine that had shut down, staring blankly at Makoto.
Within the Plane of Euthymia, Ei had been struggling against the will of the puppet, unable to overpower her. She had no choice but to retreat temporarily into her inner realm.
Yet in that endless stillness, she suddenly heard a voice she had longed for, day and night,
"Makoto…"
Ei's eyes flew open, dazed, as she looked around.
Calming her thoughts, she extended her consciousness outward. Through the Raiden Shogun's eyes, she immediately recognized who stood before her.
That was…
The one she had missed for centuries, Makoto.
There was no mistake!
Her expressions, her aura,
Such things could be imitated. But that deep, instinctive familiarity, the call that resonated from the depths of her soul, born from their twin divine essence,
That could never be faked!
It was truly Makoto!
She had returned!
She had been revived!
The elder sister who perished five hundred years ago… had come back to her side!
"Makoto!"
Within the Plane of Euthymia, Ei erupted with a surge of power greater than ever before.
The Raiden Shogun's protective barriers, meant to prevent Ei's consciousness from being eroded, flared into view.
But Ei's eyes burned with fury.
"Get out of my way!!"
An even more violent storm of lightning burst forth.
The barrier didn't last a single second before shattering into pieces.
The Plane of Euthymia trembled,
Ei had regained control of her body.
She inhaled the faintly salty air of the offshore winds, felt the cool rain upon her skin.
And most of all,
she felt the warmth and tenderness radiating from Makoto before her.
For someone who had never shed tears, Ei found her eyes burning red.
Slowly, she raised her hand and stepped toward Makoto.
Standing face to face, she carefully, inch by inch, examined her sister.
For five hundred years, she had remained within her Plane of Euthymia, dreaming endlessly.
In those dreams, Makoto was unharmed, as were Yae Miko and the others.
In those dreams, Ei followed behind her sister, content to live as her shadow, basking in the comfort of Makoto's care.
It was the only way she could fight the erosion.
And now,
It all seemed to have come true.
Was it because of Liyue? Because of Lumine?
None of that mattered anymore.
Right now,
Makoto had truly returned.
And if this was real, Ei was willing to pay any price…
as long as her sister could live again.
"Makoto…"
Ei's lips trembled slightly as she tried to reach out and embrace her sister.
But Makoto stepped back, expressionless, her calm gaze fixed on Ei.
In an instant, the look of eager anticipation on Ei's face faltered, replaced by a lost, helpless expression, like a small kitten abandoned in the rain.
"...Sister…"
That single word softened Makoto's heart.
She had never seen Ei make such an expression before.
Makoto understood well that after five hundred years of separation, refusing her sister's embrace must have felt like a blade through the heart.
But,
Ei had made too many mistakes.
Makoto had to give her the punishment she deserved.
Otherwise, what would Ayaka and the others think?
Makoto bit her lip, forcing herself to stay firm.
For someone as gentle as her, making Ei sad was even more painful than being sad herself.
Taking a deep breath, Makoto's voice turned solemn and stern:
"Look at what you've done!"
"When I entrusted Inazuma to you, did I want to see our people living in suffering and despair?"
"Ei! You've truly disappointed me!"
Ei took a frightened step back, lowering her head. After a moment of silence, she whispered softly:
"I'm sorry… Makoto…"
Makoto inhaled deeply again, but this time said nothing more to her sister.
Instead, she turned toward Kujou Sara, who still stood there in utter confusion. Makoto's gaze softened.
"Kujou Sara, is that right?"
"Y–Yes…!"
Sara was completely bewildered, unable to comprehend what was happening.
Yet, for some reason, the person before her radiated an aura of warmth and closeness, one that made her instinctively trust her.
And since Makoto looked identical to the Raiden Shogun, Sara naturally felt compelled to listen to her.
Hesitating for a moment, Sara asked curiously,
"May I ask… who are you?"
Before Makoto could answer, Yae Miko appeared, smiling mischievously as she flew in atop a dragon, circling once around Kujou Sara.
Her voice was sweet and teasing as ever:
"The person before you is the elder twin sister of the current Raiden Shogun, five hundred years ago, she was Inazuma's first ruler, the original Electro Archon, Baal."
"Strictly speaking, my dear Sara, if you think about it carefully, she's actually your true Shogun."
At those words, Kujou Sara's eyes widened in shock.
She turned to Ei for confirmation.
Though Ei's face still carried sadness, she nodded lightly, acknowledging Miko's words.
Sara immediately dropped to one knee, bowing deeply.
"I pay my respects, my Shogun!"
Makoto descended gracefully, her expression filled with kindness as she looked at Sara.
She gently placed a hand on the soldier's shoulder.
"You've worked hard during this time… I know life has been difficult for the people of Inazuma. I'm sorry, my sister's actions have caused you all great trouble."
Such warmth, such compassion, Sara had never experienced from a Raiden Shogun before.
But she couldn't deny it: Makoto's presence, her charisma, was overwhelming.
In just a few words, Sara's heart was completely won over.
~~----------------------
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