Thud, thud, thud!
"He blocked another strike… he actually blocked another one…"
"He blocked it again! That's the second strike!"
Because they were facing the Raiden Shogun directly—and because of those dazzling effects—most of the onlookers believed they understood the power behind that strike. No one doubted the might of Musou no Hitotachi any longer. Instead, their astonishment turned toward Victor Wang's strength.
The ocean of elemental energy slowly dissipated. The Raiden Shogun sheathed her blade with an expressionless face, and Victor Wang pulled down his hood, revealing black hair untouched by battle.
Hanachirusato let out a breath of relief. She was glad their plan had succeeded, yet guilt welled up within her. She had agreed to a Duel Before the Throne before the Raiden Shogun, but surrendered without a fight. That must count as betrayal, right…?
"Shogun… my lady, I'm sorry…"
"This was the choice you staked your life on. With Musou no Hitotachi unleashed, all debts are settled. Since you still live, then live well."
The Raiden Shogun returned to the heights that belonged to her alone.
Thud, thud, thud!
"The defeated may now leave the stage."
When he said this, even the Okuzumeshuu officer sounded uncertain. Normally, those defeated in a Duel Before the Throne didn't leave by themselves—someone would carry them off.
But today, both of the defeated had left under their own power.
"Who's going to be the third opponent for the one with the fox mask?"
"This Hanachirusato didn't even fight, so it's impossible to judge her skill. The next opponent had better be someone clearly strong!"
"If I'm not mistaken, as the Shogun's final line of defense, the third choice must be the head priestess of the Grand Narukami Shrine."
"The head priestess of Narukami Shrine? That woman with the fox ears who's always smiling? Why her of all people?"
"People only live about a hundred years, right? Well, even back in my great-grandfather's great-grandfather's time, she was already the head priestess of the shrine. Go back even further, and her identity's no simple matter. Some of the great families that have survived to this day still call her the 'Raiden's favored one'. So, she's definitely the strongest person under the Shogun herself."
"Raiden's favored one?"
Many had long forgotten that fact. After all, five hundred years was far too long for ordinary mortals to remember.
Thud, thud, thud!
"The challenger shall now face the third opponent—Yae Miko!"
"Oh my, is it finally my turn?"
Unlike Kujou Sara or Hanachirusato, Yae Miko had already been seated in the viewing stands just below the Shogun herself. She made a flamboyant entrance, greeted by the camera flashes and cheers of the Yae Publishing House crowd. Those who actually understood her strength, however, couldn't help but tense up.
At this point, Victor Wang had almost no chance of winning against Yae Miko alone. Even if she chose to surrender, the gap between their power was simply too vast. How could he possibly block another Musou no Hitotachi?
This last strike—would be absolutely terrifying.
The audience, however, didn't care about any of that.
"Fox Mask! You got this!"
"If you block one more, I'll buy a year's supply of bubble tea!"
"If you win, no one will ever dare badmouth bubble tea again!"
Thud, thud, thud!
"The third Duel Before the Throne—begins now!" declared an Okuzumeshuu officer, representing the will of the Raiden Shogun.
The Okuzumeshuu were utterly loyal to the Shogun. Even if the combatant was the Grand Narukami Shrine's head priestess—the Raiden's favored one—his voice still quivered slightly. As his words fell, the restless crowd held its breath once more.
Yae Miko walked toward Victor Wang with unhurried steps. When she was close enough, she murmured softly, "Little one, if I defeat you now, doesn't that mean your whole plan will fall apart?"
"You wouldn't do that."
"Didn't I tell you? My first love is other people's stories, and my second is watching their troubled faces. Creating a story that makes you suffer—doesn't that sound fun?"
"I think making the Shogun troubled would be more fun."
"Heh~ smooth talker. This Duel Before the Throne isn't about strength—it's about trust. I have to believe you can protect me, and you have to believe I won't betray you. But what we each risk isn't equal… If you're not trustworthy, I'll die. If I'm not trustworthy, you'll merely lose your chance—use your prepared means to defend me from divine punishment, and you'll still survive."
"...Lady Yae, isn't that a bit much?" Victor Wang surrendered at once.
"Am I wrong?"
"You're right, everything you said is right!"
"Hm?"
"Ahem… Lady Yae, you're absolutely right!"
"Mhm~" Yae Miko nodded in satisfaction. "So, I was the one who didn't think it through earlier. I've changed my mind—what could possibly be more important than my own life?"
"If I put myself in Lady Yae's position… maybe the Sacred Sakura or Inazuma's safety?"
"...Who asked for such a serious answer?"
Without another word, Yae Miko gracefully drew forth the Kagura's Verity, its bells ringing softly with a melodious chime.
"Come, count with me: one, two, three."
"…One, two, three."
With each count Victor spoke, a fox spirit leapt from the bells of Kagura's Verity. When three appeared, they formed a glowing triangle, trapping him firmly within.
"Now count backward: three, two, one."
Victor swallowed hard. "I was completely wrong to let Lady Yae take such a risk for me, but please, my lady, you must trust me!"
No matter what he said, if he couldn't block this third Musou no Hitotachi, he would truly die.
Yae Miko had only provided some preliminary advice, but somehow it had escalated into a three-part Duel Before the Throne. Unlike Hanachirusato, making her surrender required not just favors—but trust.
Favors could be repaid, and the more they were exchanged, the closer the relationship grew.
But trust—trust could be shattered by even the smallest seed of doubt. Under pressure, that doubt would grow and destroy everything.
Yae Miko narrowed her eyes habitually, a benevolent smile on her face. Her voice dropped lower. "You know, calling me a 'little girl' everywhere you go—I'll be settling that score once this is all over~"
That—that was you who said that!
Victor Wang's face froze. He could tell Yae Miko meant it seriously, and of all times, this was the worst possible moment to argue.
Of course, someone like Yae Miko immediately read his thoughts, her fake smile growing wider. "You do know that was a joke, right?"
Even if it was a joke, you were the one who said it…
"Right?"
"Yes, Lady Yae, you're absolutely right…"
"Hehehe~ look at that reluctant face of yours. You really should see yourself right now."
"…"
"All right then," Yae Miko withdrew her fox spirits, her tone rising, "I forfeit."
Having already seen Hanachirusato's surrender, the spectators weren't as shocked this time. Some even placed bets on how long Yae Miko would last before conceding.
The Okuzumeshuu representative asked, "Yae Miko, are you certain you wish to forfeit?"
"Yes, I forfeit."
"Do you truly mean to surrender?" he confirmed once more.
"There's no rule against surrendering in a Duel Before the Throne, is there? Then hurry and declare me the loser."
Thud, thud, thud!
This signified that the Shogun's final line of defense had fallen. Whether Yae Miko survived or not, the Shogun would now have to bow her head to the fox mask—acknowledging bubble tea at last…
The Okuzumeshuu announced dejectedly, "The loser… Yae Miko."
This time, the Raiden Shogun was no longer calm. She sighed. Instead of descending the steps, she remained on the high platform and addressed Yae Miko directly.
"Let me see how much you've improved."
"I'm not planning to stake my life."
"He won't be able to block this strike." The Shogun didn't even glance at Victor Wang, but it was obvious who she meant.
"The Musou no Hitotachi that could kill me—of course he can't block it. I doubt anyone in all of Inazuma could," Yae Miko admitted frankly.
"...You're not one to throw your life away. I never wanted your death either. I thought you'd win… Do you have a backup plan?"
Yae Miko simply took one step closer to Victor Wang, standing shoulder to shoulder with him. Then she lifted her head. "Come, Ei. Don't break your own rules before all these witnesses."
Haa…
The restraints vanished completely. The Raiden Shogun stepped upward on invisible stairs toward the heavens. The sky darkened with her ascent. The immense divine pressure of a god poured down upon the earth, pinning the crowd in place. The faint rumble of thunder became the only sound within the Tenshukaku.
When she stood above Yae Miko, the Raiden Shogun stopped. The power of this strike was overwhelming; to avoid harming the bystanders, she could only swing straight down.
"I hope you survive…" she whispered.
Then she descended.
Under Yae Miko's protection, Victor Wang barely managed to lift his head—and saw a line. A violet line.
That line stretched from one end of the sky to the other, splitting the heavens in two. Yet as it descended, the sky began to heal, the line fading, until it was overtaken by the Musou Isshin, fusing into the blade's radiant edge. It was a strike that could cut through everything—inescapable, unstoppable.
Victor Wang hastily threw out the Array Stone.
The Array Stone shattered the instant it touched the violet line.
Yet the runes upon it activated, tracing strokes of golden-brown light that formed silk-like ribbons. Those ribbons wrapped around the violet line, sealing it like a bound zongzi.
Golden-brown ribbons, violet light, and the violet Raiden Shogun herself merged into one—forming a single golden-brown meteor with a trailing purple tail.
The divine pressure vanished. The people raised their heads in awe, watching the meteor frozen midair. After a few moments, the tail drifted away, and the soft golden ribbons fluttered gently back toward the earth.