Boom! Boom!!
A blinding flash of lightning like a dragon descended from the heavens, slamming into the ground below with meteoric force. The resulting impact sent waves of thunder and electricity rippling outward, the very earth beneath shuddering as though it were a storm-tossed sea.
Crackle…Sizzle…
From within that sea of violet light, a figure began to emerge—her form shimmering as the energy dissipated. Her violet kimono gleamed faintly under the residual light, strands of her hair glowed like fluorescent silk, and from within the haze, a pair of beautiful amethyst eyes slowly opened.
Tap, tap…
Her exquisite legs carried her forward with calm, measured steps, emerging from the dust cloud with a grace that silenced the air itself.
This must be the place Hanachirusato had spoken of—the deepest part of the barrier, the resting place of the Sacred Sakura's roots. Unlike the other seals she had broken before, this chamber was vast—like the hollow of a massive tree. She had thought the descent ended at the barrier's entrance, but the tunnel extended far deeper than expected.
Looking upward, countless thick roots twisted and coiled above her like a massive web. Before her pulsed a grotesque, tumor-like mass resembling a gigantic heart, wrapped tightly in the roots like a parasite.
Thump… Thump…
The thing pulsed heavily, the sound deep and rhythmic like the beating of a war drum. Its surface glistened with sickly shades of dark violet and black, spewing viscous sludge that oozed endlessly outward.
"So this… is the root?" she murmured to herself, gently brushing aside a loose strand of hair before stepping closer.
The air was thick with Electro energy, far denser than anything a mortal could endure. For any ordinary person, entering this place would mean instant death. But she was the Raiden Shogun—the God of Thunder. Why would she fear her own element?
With a single wave of her hand, the turbulent Electro particles around her subsided, clearing a small area of calm.
She surveyed her surroundings. Hanachirusato's words echoed in her mind: "Do you still remember the ritual steps?" That could only mean this final stage was the same—another purification.
If so, then the magatama pedestals should be scattered around as before.
Indeed, she soon spotted them—five pedestals arranged irregularly across the open ground, their configuration matching the previous sites perfectly.
"Then there's no need for hesitation… let's begin."
She placed the magatama according to their numbers and traced the pattern across the ground in sequence. The mechanism responded instantly.
Vmm—
A brilliant light burst forth from the formation, and in that instant, several towering phantom warriors appeared around her, each gripping massive katanas as they surrounded her in a tight circle.
Shiiing… Shiiing…
The sound of steel scraping echoed ominously, like the growls of beasts about to pounce.
"So, one of you couldn't handle me alone, so now you've brought ten? Fine… a ten-on-one sounds like a decent warm-up."
"Hah! Such arrogance from a mere girl! Let's go!"
"Let me test my blade!!"
Whoosh!
The spectral warriors charged as one, blades gleaming with killing intent. Yet she found herself wondering—did they not realize who she was? Could they not tell she was the Raiden Shogun? Or had they lost all memory of her?
No matter. If they sought death, she would oblige them. Ten opponents… ten seconds would suffice.
Crackle!!
In an instant, she summoned Engulfing Lightning, her form flashing like thunder as she vanished from sight. A split second later, she appeared before the nearest warrior—her blade already drawn.
Slash!
The man's head flew from his shoulders, dissolving into motes of violet light instead of blood.
One.
Without pause, she caught the still-spinning head midair and hurled it toward another warrior.
"Ugh!"
The warrior flinched instinctively, catching the head—only to find her already before him.
Thud!!
Her powerful leg drove into his chest, the same kick shattering both the phantom's torso and the flying head.
Crash!!
The body was sent hurtling across the ground, carving a deep trench in the stone.
Two.
Each kill, she counted silently—like tallying hits in a game.
"Die!"
A shout erupted from behind her, followed by the gleam of another blade slashing toward her back…
Without even turning her head, she shifted her body slightly to the side, effortlessly dodging the strike that should have been impossible to evade. Her hair brushed lightly through the air, carrying a faint fragrance that reached the warrior's nose. He froze for an instant before regaining focus and swinging again.
Typical man… she thought dryly. Even in a moment like this, distracted by desire.
Still facing away from him, she stomped down hard on his foot.
Crack!
The sound was sharp, the ground beneath him splintering from the force.
"Ugh—aaagh!"
Pain broke his stance, his blade faltering. Before he could recover, the Shogun drove her elbow straight into his abdomen.
Thud!
"Gah—!"
A cloud of violet motes burst from his mouth as he disintegrated.
Whoosh!
Without pause, she spun, thrusting Engulfing Lightning straight through another warrior's chest. The blade pierced clean through, lifting the massive phantom off the ground. Using the weapon's length like a lever, she hurled him across the chamber.
Crash!
The corpse slammed into several others, sending them sprawling to the floor.
Three.
"Eat this!"
The fourth warrior lunged in, sword raised high. Before he could even bring it down, the Shogun turned, her naginata flashing.
Clang!
"Eh—?"
He stared in disbelief as his heavy blade split cleanly in two. The glittering shards reflected the face of a violet-haired goddess smiling coldly at him.
"Ah—ahhhh!!"
Terror overtook him. He fell backward, scrambling away on the ground like a cornered insect.
Tap… tap…
Her slow, deliberate footsteps drew closer, each one a death knell. Sweat soaked his face as his pleas tumbled out incoherently.
"P-please—don't—!"
Slash!
"Uaaagh!!"
Her blade tore upward from the ground, cleaving his body neatly in two from the waist.
Four.
"Only one strike!" another warrior shouted, charging from behind.
Crackle…
His blade lunged straight for her chest, the force slicing the air itself.
Snap!Boom!
His attack stopped short—the blade pinned under her boot.
"Wh—what?! You—what kind of monster are you?!"
"…Guess," she replied coolly.
In the same instant, she shifted her weight and kicked him squarely in the face, sending him reeling. Lightning flashed—
Crackle!!
—and she was beside him. One swing of her blade severed the arm that held his sword.
Slash!
"Guaaaah!!"
He screamed in agony.
Catching the still-clutching severed arm midair, she drove it—blade and all—straight into his throat.
Thud!Fwoosh!
The phantom burst into glowing dust.
Five.
Each kill was swift, efficient, merciless—not for cruelty's sake, but precision. She wanted these fools to understand—if she truly wished to kill, not one of them would leave this place alive.
Perhaps realizing that the "one-by-one" approach was useless—like fools in a children's tale rushing in to save each other—the remaining warriors changed tactics. They attacked together!
Two of them charged in first, moving in tandem to flank her on both sides.
But what they didn't know was… numbers made no difference. The only thing teamwork achieved was making their execution more spectacular.
The pair closed in, slashing their blades toward her in a cross pattern. In one smooth motion, she raised her naginata with a single hand, blocking both strikes at once, then lifted her leg and kicked the warrior on the right square in the knee.
Crack!
"Ahh!!"
The man screamed, his leg collapsing beneath him.
"Take this!"
The warrior on the left lunged again, blade thrusting straight for her chest—but she grabbed the injured one by the collar and pulled him forward, twisting her body and kicking him toward the incoming sword.
Slash…
The left warrior's blade pierced clean through his comrade's chest—an accidental kill worthy of an achievement medal.
Without even glancing their way, she thrust her naginata straight into the fallen man's back.
Stab!
The blade skewered them both, their bodies impaled together like meat on a skewer. A clean double kill.
Seven.
Now, only three phantom warriors remained.
"—!" ×3
The three hesitated, fear creeping into their stances.
The Shogun stepped forward slowly, dragging Engulfing Lightning through the air with casual menace. The remaining warriors instinctively stepped back, their courage faltering. One nearly tripped over his own feet.
"I'll grant you mercy," she said coldly. "If you don't wish to be cut down by my blade, then end your lives yourselves. Otherwise… learn from their example."
Her calm, chilling tone rolled through the chamber like the whisper of death itself. The three warriors trembled.
"—!" ×3
Their bodies shook uncontrollably.
"I'll count to ten. Ten… nine… eight… seven—"
The descending numbers fell like hammer blows. Sweat poured down their bodies as dread consumed them.
"Six…"
"Five…"
"Gahhh!! Aaaaaaah!!"
Finally, one of them broke. Overcome with terror, he plunged his blade into his own abdomen.
Stab!
Purple dust burst from his body as he vanished on the spot.
"Four…"
"Three…"
She continued counting, utterly indifferent.
"Tch… pathetic fool!" another spat, trembling but defiant. "A warrior dies standing!"
"Better to fight than to kneel!" the last one added, roaring in shared resolve.
"Uraaah!!" ×2
The two charged together, screaming with all their might.
"Two…"
Their howls grated on her ears.
"One."
Your choice.
Crackle…
In an instant, her body became pure lightning, vanishing from sight.
Snap! ×N
Violet arcs of light filled the air, forming a dense lattice of slashes that froze the entire world in a moment of suspended time. The threads of lightning sliced through the two warriors' bodies with surgical precision.
A second later—
Shff…
Time resumed. The blades of light vanished.
The two warriors continued their charge as if nothing had happened… then, in perfect sync, their bodies split apart into countless fragments, scattering across the ground like shredded offerings.
Silence returned.
Vmm—
The Shogun's form reappeared amidst the carnage. She glanced briefly at the remains and shook her head.
The fallen warriors' bodies began to dissolve, their violet energy streaming toward the central tumor-like heart. As the light filled it, waves of corruption surged outward.
Boom!
The unstable "heart" pulsed violently, dropping to the ground and writhing uncontrollably. Its outer shell began to melt away, revealing the raw, defenseless flesh beneath.
The Shogun raised her hand. Engulfing Lightning floated before her, spinning slowly as violet light gathered along its blade. The energy grew brighter—denser—until it reached its limit.
Whirr—!
With a flick of her wrist, she sent it flying.
The weapon shot forward like a railgun, piercing straight into the center of the heart.
ROOOAAAR!!
The heart let out a monstrous roar, thrashing violently as waves of corruption surged across its surface.
Crackle…
Lightning from Engulfing Lightning wrapped around it like a nest of silver serpents, biting deep into the pulsating flesh. Then—
BOOM!!
A blinding flash erupted from its core, followed by a thunderous shockwave that split the surrounding rock.
When the dust settled, the Shogun lowered her arm and looked ahead.
The foul tumor had vanished—leaving only the purified roots of the Sacred Sakura.
"…Haa."
She exhaled softly. The Great Cleansing was finally complete.
Warm sunlight streamed through cracks in the cavern ceiling, scattering into radiant beams that illuminated drifting motes of dust like glittering diamonds. The oppressive miasma faded, replaced by the pure serenity of untainted air. The roots of the Sacred Sakura pulsed gently with life, their pale golden hue radiating vitality and peace.
Step… step…
Behind her came the faint, almost ethereal sound of footsteps. She didn't need to turn to know who it was. With mild helpessness, she glanced back anyway.
As expected—it was the stubborn little shrine maiden.
"Shogun-sama… you've worked hard…"
The girl approached slowly, her steps unsteady, her voice weak.
"With this… the pain the Sacred Sakura endured… can finally fade away."
"…Haa."
The Shogun sighed softly, stepping forward to support her as the girl nearly stumbled.
"I told you not to wander around. You're far too disobedient," she said—not in anger, but in gentle reproach. Finding a flat rock nearby, she sat down, letting the girl lean against her.
"How could I not come to greet the one who worked so hard… for Inazuma?" Hanachirusato murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. The lively tone from before was gone; even speaking seemed to drain her strength.
"Greet me for what? I was planning to come find you afterward," the Shogun said with a helpless sigh. Doesn't she realize her own condition? Still so stubborn…
"…Shogun-sama… now that everything's over… I must fulfill my promise. What I vowed before—I will tell you everything."
"Don't force yourself. It can wait," the Shogun said softly. Her concern outweighed her curiosity now.
"No… my time is short. Please… let me finish."
Her trembling voice was so faint it barely carried. "I truly did inherit Lady Saiguu's memories. She once walked beside you… protecting the people of Inazuma."
"…That's true."
The Shogun nodded slowly. Though she herself had never met Lady Saiguu—the one who had accompanied Raiden Makoto and Raiden Ei long before her time—she knew of her deeds. Lady Saiguu had fallen during the cataclysm that consumed Inazuma centuries ago, alongside Raiden Makoto.
"Until the very end," Hanachirusato continued, "during that ancient disaster… Lady Saiguu fought the darkness to protect Narukami Island… and was finally devoured by it."
The Shogun stayed silent, simply listening as the girl spoke between ragged breaths.
"But… the barriers she placed protected countless lives. Even though I only inherited her memories… I can't help it. I've always felt… proud of them. Proud… of her… of what she left behind."
Her weak hands clenched tightly onto the Shogun's sleeve, as though grasping something precious that she refused to let go.
Seeing this, the Shogun gently took her trembling hand in her own, holding it firmly—to give her comfort, and to let her know she wasn't alone.