The square before Tenshukaku still stank of blood. Countless heads had rolled across the stone tiles, but the executions had only been the beginning. Now came the pronouncement of justice—the final cleansing stroke that would reshape all of Inazuma.
The Raiden Shogun stood at the center, her sword glinting faintly beneath the lantern light, and her voice rang out like a divine verdict.
"The surnames of those who conspired to torment the people will vanish from Inazuma forever. Any who dare take those names shall be guilty of treason. Their wealth, their land, their legacies—all are forfeit.
"Those who bore the greatest blame will be executed. Their bloodlines are severed.
"Those whose guilt outweighs their merit shall join them in death.
"Those who stand neutral, neither meritorious nor blameless, will toil upon Narukami's prison isle for generations, atoning through labor.
"Those with merit alone shall live, but their noble names are stripped, their families returned to common blood."
The words carried across the city like rolling thunder. For years, the common folk had lived under the yoke of corruption, their bellies empty, their cries unanswered. Now, at last, they raised their voices in unison:
"The path is magnificent, and the gods eternal!"
"The path is magnificent, and the gods eternal!"
"The path is magnificent, and the gods eternal!"
The chant swelled until it shook the very sky.
For the first time in decades, Inazuma's people believed again. No matter how poor they had been, no matter how desperate, they had never lost faith in the Raiden Shogun. Now that faith was rewarded. They saw her not as the distant god who enforced decrees of cold eternity, but as the blade that severed corruption itself.
Watching the sea of people rejoice, the puppet known as Ei's Shadow felt something stir deep within. The joy, the hope, the cheers—it all reminded her of a time when her sister still lived. For a fleeting moment she felt the warmth of her elder sister's hand guiding her, whispering of an eternity not frozen in silence, but flowing forward with the hopes of the people.
"Perhaps… my sister was right," she murmured softly. "Perhaps eternity does not mean stillness, but movement born of human will."
She closed her eyes for a brief moment. In that instant, the teachings of her sister seemed to echo in her ears, alive once more.
When she opened them again, her decision was clear. "Only eternity stands closest to the law of heaven. And now, eternity has returned to Inazuma."
Yet even as she spoke, her gaze turned sharply toward the castle steps, where Mathew lounged casually, chatting with Yae Miko and eating fruit as though the bloodshed around them were a trivial show. The Shogun knew well—this peace was only one step of Celestia's greater design. In the schemes of Phanes, she had her own task to fulfill.
Tenri's—Celestia's—next plan was to annex another world entirely. The realm of the Demon Slayers, where an arch-demon lord reigned and divine sparks lingered, was to be invaded. To achieve this, the Shogun herself would cross worlds, replacing that world's thunder deity, the so-called "Kenyu Raijin," and stealing the mantle of divinity there.
She turned sharply toward the young clan head standing nearby. "Kamisato Ayato. You have one day to settle the aftermath of these purges. Tomorrow, bring your sister, Ayaka, to the castle tower."
Ayato bowed deeply. "Yes, my lord."
He did not question why his sister was summoned. Whatever the reason, it could only mean honor and opportunity. With so many clans purged, Inazuma would need administrators and leaders. The Kamisato clan would rise again—not for glory's sake, but to stabilize their homeland. Ayato swore silently that he would wield this new influence for the good of the nation. If he failed, his descendants would suffer the same bloody fate as the Kujo.
The storm had passed, and the sky above Inazuma cleared. The city breathed again, its future reborn.
---
Back in the castle tower, the Shogun sat upon her dais, her sword laid before her. Two women knelt before her: Kujou Sara, guilt written in every line of her face, and Sangonomiya Kokomi, her expression dazed with dread, certain that death awaited her.
"Sara," the Shogun said, her voice cold but not cruel, "you disappoint me."
Sara lowered her head until it nearly touched the floor. The Shogun had trusted her, trained her as her right hand, chosen her because she embodied loyalty, strategy, and strength. She had believed Sara could be another like her old companion Sasayuri—a warrior whose loyalty had endured even the Archon War.
Yet Sara's adoptive father had twisted the Tenryou Commission into a pit of rot. The family name itself was stained beyond redemption.
"Your crime is negligence," the Shogun declared. "But even I was deceived. Will you cast off the name of Kujou and redeem yourself?"
Sara's answer was immediate. "Yes, General. I renounce the Kujou name. Grant me the chance to atone, and I will live and die for you."
The Shogun's gaze softened—just barely. "Then I give you a new name. Sasa. Bear it with the strength and cunning of your ancestors. Lead the Tenryou Commission anew. Destroy the youkai plaguing our lands, restore the villages, and hunt down the Fatui who poison Inazuma. Prove your worth."
Tears stung Sara's eyes as she pressed her forehead to the stone. "I will not fail you again. I swear it."
She rose, gathered her soldiers, and marched from the castle to fulfill her duty.
That left Kokomi, trembling, her mind drowning in despair. Yet the Shogun's words were unexpected.
"Kokomi," she said, her tone unreadable, "you are capable."
The priestess looked up, startled.
"Your troops were weaker than mine, yet under your command, they forced the Shogunate into retreat after retreat. Yae Miko advises me to keep you alive, for you would serve Inazuma better in life than in death."
Kokomi swallowed. "Then… will you grant mercy to the people of Watatsumi? They seek only survival. Do not make them suffer as the mainland has."
The Shogun's gaze narrowed. "Do you wish to live or die, Kokomi?"
She blinked, stunned. "I… don't understand."
"I will give you five years," the Shogun said plainly. "Five years to return Watatsumi to Inazuma's heart. To govern wisely, to win your people's loyalty to the Shogunate. If you succeed, you live. If you fail, you die—and Watatsumi dies with you."
The weight of those words nearly crushed her. Yet as the meaning sank in, Kokomi realized the opportunity she had been given.
The Shogun continued, "The Tenryou Commission lies in ruins. For now, you will serve as its head. Rule with justice. Govern for Inazuma, not against it. Fail me, and no trace of your island shall remain."
Kokomi trembled—not from fear this time, but from realization. She had been spared. Not out of mercy, but for the sake of Inazuma's future. The Shogun was no fool. Killing her would make a martyr. Keeping her would make a bridge.
She pressed her forehead to the ground. "Then I will dedicate myself wholly to your service, General. My faith is yours. In five years, you will see Watatsumi stand as one with Inazuma."
And in her heart, she abandoned the last remnants of her devotion to Orobas. The god of the deep was gone. Her people's survival lay in this thunder goddess before her.
---
With the internal strife ended, Inazuma entered a new dawn. Blood had washed away corruption. New names replaced old. And from Narukami Shrine, where Mathew walked alongside Yae Miko, the gateway to another world was already being prepared. Soon, a portal would open, and Inazuma's thunder god would step into the world of Demon Slayer, to replace its Raijin and claim yet another throne for Celestia.
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