The Thunder Manifestation finally shattered into streaks of violet lightning amid the never-ending thunder that roared above Amakumo Peak.
At the same time, two items fell—a Vajrada Amethyst Gemstone formed from pure electro energy, and a Storm Bead, also crystallized from electro power but carrying the unique essence of the Thunder Manifestation itself.
Only now did Victor Wang realize: these things, though formed purely of elemental force and without a will of their own, did not dissipate into the world as they should have.
In Teyvat, elemental energy exists in two states—pure form and the combined form.
In the pure form, lifeless manifestations include things such as Vajrada Amethyst Gemstones and Cor Lapis, both solidified condensations of elemental power. The living forms are elemental creatures, naturally born able to wield their corresponding element, completely immune to attacks of the same type. Their bodies are made of elemental energy—their life is that energy.
The combined form is far broader—from Cryo Whopperflowers to Cryo Regisvines, no matter how immense the elemental force, so long as it lacks purity, it is of the combined type. This may even include the Seven Archons and the Vision-bearers.
Only ordinary humans have zero elemental content within their bodies.
Normally, elemental constructs cannot persist long. Otherwise, every Geo Vision holder summoning spikes, pillars, or even meteors at will would have flattened the seas of Teyvat by now.
To make a creation stand forever like the islands of Guyun Stone Forest, Zhongli had once given this advice: "It can be difficult, or simple. Just make the creation real."
The thunderous sea of Inazuma was so pure, so vast, yet once it lost control, it vanished at once. This Vajrada Amethyst Gemstone, however, remained—could there be a fundamental difference?
The Stormterror was not fully immune to Anemo; Azhdaha, not to Geo; even the Raiden Shogun, not to Electro. Could they not be immune—or do they choose not to be?
His own body, clearly composed of anomalous elemental power, belonged to the combined state, yet when his body became elementalized, it resembled the pure state instead.
Three questions flashed through his mind in an instant—yet all he could do was seek the answers himself.
As planned before departure, Victor Wang stored both the Vajrada Amethyst Gemstone and the Storm Bead into his pouch.
"Phew… I'm exhausted, but at least we did it!"
["You didn't even do anything! How can you be tired?"]
"Eh?" The sudden, unfamiliar voice startled Yoimiya. "Who said that?"
["Ahem! That was me—couldn't resist commenting on the Unidentified Flying Object."]
"You brainless lump of stone, you didn't do anything either!"
Paimon and Little Wen started bickering again, but this time, with Yoimiya's cheerful coaxing—like a mother pacifying two children—both quieted down.
"There's still an Electrograna here leading up higher… could there be treasure? Let's check it out!"
Paimon dashed upward first, only to end up sorely disappointed. She sighed deeply, utterly speechless.
In such a dangerous place, of course there was no luxurious chest—only a long purple feather, longer than an arm, faintly glowing, yet still… just a feather.
Lumine held it gently in her palm, puzzled. "How could a feather appear in a place like this? Is there some story behind it?"
Just like Hypostases or Cryo Regisvines, the collapse of a form did not signify the true death of the Thunder Manifestation. It would eventually reconstitute itself.
The difference, however, was that Hypostases and Regisvines relied on ley line power, whereas the Thunderbird achieved this entirely by its own strength.
Merely the feat of destroying two islands already set it far above such creatures. Its power even warped the ley lines themselves, trapping Tsurumi Island in a perpetual cycle—and even in death, it endured like a god.
If… if that had been the true Thunderbird instead of the Thunder Manifestation, perhaps I could have found a replacement material for the Thunder Dragon—assuming I could even defeat it.
Now, though, with only this single feather, there wasn't much he could do. Without hesitation, Victor Wang handed it over. "As we agreed before setting out, this feather belongs to you. Take it."
Thus, the storm over Seirai Island was finally quelled, and the key to breaking Tsurumi's cycle had found the right hands.
Paimon sighed in relief. "We took all the treasure chests and Electroculi along the way, and Victor got all those materials from the monsters—but Yoimiya… we couldn't find you that legendary bow. Such a pity."
["Hmph!"] Little Wen countered, ["From my expert perspective, Yoimiya's current bow is clearly extraordinary. That so-called 'legendary' bow might not even be stronger."]
"Ahaha, yeah! I picked this one up, but it's just so easy to use!"
"You picked it up? That powerful bow was found just lying around?"
Not only Paimon, but Lumine and Victor Wang also stared wide-eyed.
"It's unbelievable, right?" Yoimiya grinned, brandishing her Thundering Pulse. "Once, I was visiting the Kamisato Estate on some business, and I found this bow washed up near the shore. The Kamisato family said it had no owner, so it ended up with me."
The Kamisato Estate… Was it drawn there by the power of the Mistsplitter? Or pure coincidence?
With the Seirai affair settled, Lumine stayed behind to search for more Electroculi, while Victor Wang and Yoimiya returned to Inazuma City.
When Victor went to report back to Katherine, he unexpectedly encountered a shrine maiden. The moment she saw him, her eyes lit up. Testing his hunch, he asked, "Hanachirusato? You're not here to see me, are you?"
"Actually, I am. I have a request… it's about a friend of Kitsune Saiguu."
"A friend of Kitsune Saiguu?"
That sounded almost cruel—how many of Kitsune Saiguu's friends were even alive now?
It couldn't possibly be the Raiden Shogun or Yae Miko who needed his help—which meant it had to be him, right?
By process of elimination, Victor Wang arrived at the answer easily enough.
And Hanachirusato's next words confirmed it.
"That friend's name is Ioroi—a tanuki yokai."
"The tanuki are mischievous but kind-hearted and pure, like children. Ioroi was the same—foolish, playful, yet loyal and good-natured."
"As her sparring partner in the art of illusions, Kitsune Saiguu wanted to guide him onto a better path, so she designed a wager to trick him into accepting the title of Guardian, granted by the Raiden Shogun herself. But later…"
"Tanuki excel at transformation techniques, and back then Ioroi wasn't strong or famous. When the Black Calamity descended, Kitsune Saiguu feared he'd fight an unbeatable foe to protect the Chinju Forest, so she tricked him again—a game of hide-and-seek."
"'Ioroi, no matter what happens, if you sense a spell luring you—it's my magic. Don't fall for it. Don't show yourself,' Kitsune Saiguu said."
"'Of course, stupid fox. This time I'll definitely outsmart you and make you admit defeat,' Ioroi said."
"But after waiting a while, he sensed something wrong. He rampaged around trying to draw her out—even stealing the wards from the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual. In the end, he was sealed into stone."
"Even during the recent Cleansing Ritual, he was still talking about settling the score with Kitsune Saiguu, still hoping she'd undo his seal…"
"I thought she merely owed him an apology—I never expected he'd been sealed for centuries."
"I should release him, return his freedom. This body now holds enough power to break the seal… but once he's free, he'll learn that Kitsune Saiguu is dead."
"So, during the Sakura Cleansing Ritual, I hesitated—should I give him false hope, or let him face the truth?"
"If it were you, what would you do?"
Meeting her worried gaze, Victor Wang replied cautiously, "Isn't it possible—I mean, just possible—that after almost five hundred years, even someone not particularly bright would've realized what happened? When Ioroi came out of hiding during that hide-and-seek, he must've sensed something was wrong. He probably knew about Kitsune Saiguu back then."
Hanachirusato nodded slightly. "I've thought about that too. It's very likely."
"So, no matter what others think, my view in such cases is always—better to release than to restrain. If you don't undo Ioroi's seal, will you let him sit as a statue for another five hundred years—or a thousand?"
She nodded again. "It seems we think alike."
"Then you…?"
Taking a deep breath, Hanachirusato reached into her wide sleeve and drew out a vial of shimmering bluish-violet liquid, speaking like a nervous new salesperson, "Just pour this over Ioroi, and it'll lift his seal!"
"That's… surprisingly convenient!"
"So, could I ask you to do it for me?"
"..."
"Please, please! I really don't know how to face him—or how he'd look at me. It's better if I don't appear before him at all…"
Kitsune Saiguu—the woman whose name was intertwined with the very history of Inazuma.
She had been Raiden Ei's dearest friend; her confections had led the Shogun herself down the path of sweets. She danced before the Archon with Chiyo, raced the great tengu of Mt. Yougou, dueled with Ioroi, befriended Sasayuri, Yorozu, and was a mentor to Asase Hibiki…
In that age, nearly every major figure of Inazuma had some bond with her—lively, bright, gentle, perhaps with that touch of mischievous fox charm.
Born from her memories, Hanachirusato shared much of that spirit—though far more restrained, understandably so.
"But you can't keep running away every time you see him, can you?"
Hanachirusato tilted her head. "Why not?"
"…Didn't you already face Yae Miko and the Raiden Shogun?"
"That's different. My hesitation toward them comes from my own self-doubt. But my guilt toward Ioroi… that's real. It's like—imagine you lied to someone, told them if they defeated enough Hydro Mimics, they'd get a cute Hydro Mimic pet. And they actually did it, for five hundred years straight! I… I carry that guilt in my memory, yet I am not Kitsune Saiguu herself. I can't apologize in her place…"
"…Fine. I won't argue. I'll just help you unseal Ioroi, alright?"
"Mm-hm!" she nodded eagerly.