Inazuma, Grand Narukami Shrine.
A sudden crack of thunder roared across the sky.
Raiden Shogun, who had rushed back from Liyue, followed the trail of Yae Miko's aura.
"Miko!"
Her cold voice echoed.
The shout jolted the Guuji awake from her nap, making her fur stand on end.
"Ei?"
"She's here? How strange…"
Sensing Ei's presence, the Guuji quickly smoothed her hair and adjusted her clothes. But before she could move—
BOOM!
The door burst into ash with a thunderous crash.
Raiden Shogun strode straight in, no hesitation.
"..."
Yae Miko's heart thumped wildly.
Tch—this is bad.
She looks furious. Did someone set her off? Don't tell me I'll end up as a fried fox today...
"Ei, you are—?"
Suppressing her unease, Yae furrowed her brows.
"The Gnosis."
Raiden Shogun went straight to the point.
"Hm?"
Miko froze.
This brat used to think the Gnosis was useless… why now—
Seeing no reaction, Raiden Shogun frowned, raised her hand, and instantly pulled the Gnosis out from its hiding place despite Yae's wards, making it fly into her grasp.
"Hey, stop!"
Miko's lips twitched, her chest tightening.
"Ei, will you at least explain what's going on?"
For all her cold temper and volatile moods, Shogun had never been this urgent in five hundred years. The last time was—yes, five centuries ago.
"It's about my sister."
Ei's tone was flat. Then she continued:
"I need resources. A great deal of resources. Demon god powers, relics, anything—"
"Wait, wait!" Yae raised her hand, rubbing her temple. Her mind spun.
"Slow down and explain! What are you even planning to do with all this?"
"I'm busy resurrecting my sister. No time to explain. Do you have them or not?"
"Resurrect…?"
Yae Miko's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Ei, you can't mean—"
"Forget it. I'll find them myself."
Seeing Yae still doubtful, Raiden Shogun simply tore open space and left.
Miko stood dumbfounded. Revive her sister?
First it was her sister Makoto, lost in the Archon War.
Then five centuries ago, during the Khaenri'ah disaster, Kitsune Saiguu perished purifying the corrupted leylines.
Since then Ei had locked herself away in the Plane of Euthymia, claiming it was to resist erosion, to pursue eternity. But deep down, Miko knew—it was grief that bound her there.
Eternity? What use is eternity if her sister could return?
"Ei, wait!"
"I believe you! But at least tell me how to help—"
Raiden Shogun was already gone, racing toward Tenshukaku. Miko had no choice but to follow, anxious beyond measure.
This idiot only has one track in her mind. What if someone deceives her?
Back at the shrine, she'd once thought Ei's absences were just the puppet acting on its own. But now, clearly, it was Shogun herself.
And she had taken the Gnosis. For resurrection.
"This is—she must be under someone's influence!"
Miko panicked. Inazuma could not afford such recklessness.
By the time Shogun reached Tenshukaku, Yae arrived almost at the same moment.
"Ei, you must explain yourself. Inazuma can't take this kind of turmoil."
"This isn't just your nation—it's everyone's home. Kitsune Saiguu entrusted the Gnosis to me for safekeeping. I can't let you endanger it."
But Raiden Shogun only extended her lightning-wreathed hand.
"See for yourself."
A fragment of her divine will emerged, displaying a vision before Miko's eyes.
The Guuji's gaze widened.
Moments later, the vision faded. Shogun strode deeper into Tenshukaku, ignoring Miko's stunned face.
There should be a treasury below here… after five hundred years, who knows what's left inside.
"..."
Miko's expression hardened. Then she turned and shot back to the shrine in a flash of foxfire.
"Fine. If that's the case—I'll empty my own vault."
At the shrine, her hand rose to her lips, unleashing a sharp, clear whistle. Empowered by her divine power, the sound echoed across Inazuma.
It was a command.
In the name of the former Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine, Kitsune Saiguu—
To every youkai of Inazuma: the white fox clan, the tengu, and beyond—heed the call!
The whistle carried far and wide.
Humans paused, puzzled, but soon ignored it.
But youkai did not.
Eyes opened in the deep mountains and hidden realms.
Sacred fox statues cracked and burst, releasing white foxes that ran toward the shrine.
Wings spread as tengu launched into the sky.
Deep underground, the oni stirred.
"Chief, what's happening?" a young oni asked.
The elder chief stood tall.
"It is the Myriad Youkai Command. The Guuji has invoked it. All clans will answer. The old and weak stay behind. The rest—follow me to the shrine!"
"But the humans—"
"Silence! If they dare obstruct us, we'll fight our way through. The Guuji will shield us."
"Yes, Chief!"
"Move out!"
The call spread like wildfire across Inazuma.
(End of Chapter)
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