"Koji, why is this sakura tree shaped like a fox? Was it naturally formed?"
Kitsune Saiguu tilted her head curiously at the strangely shaped sacred tree.
"Probably one of a kind."
Koji smiled. "You should ask Miko about that."
Yae Miko frowned slightly. She had no memory of ever planting such a tree.
It carried no trace of deliberate creation—yet its existence felt ancient, older than even the shrine itself.
"This tree is indeed peculiar."
"I wonder if any of your divine kind have heard of something like this before?" Koji asked.
"Could this tree be related to her?" Kitsune Saiguu's eyes flickered.
"Baal and Ishtaroth once knew each other. You understand now, don't you?" Koji said with a faint smile.
"I see."
Kitsune Saiguu slurped the last of her soup. "So, our dear Lady Ei and Ishtaroth were acquainted. Neither of them likely remembers."
"Then, what do you plan to do?" Yae Miko asked.
"You'll see soon enough."
Front of Tenshukaku.
"Raiden Shogun! I challenge you to a duel!"
When Yae Miko and the others heard Koji shouting, they nearly stumbled to the ground in shock.
Their expressions all said the same thing—you can't be serious.
That's your strategy?
To just… challenge the Electro Archon to her face?
Naturally, Koji's declaration attracted enormous attention. Kujou Sara, leading her Tenryou Commission troops, stepped forward in disbelief.
"Come with me," she said curtly. She escorted Koji and Lumine into Tenshukaku.
Since it was a formal duel before the Shogun, Raiden would not refuse.
Inside, the Raiden Shogun stood upon the raised platform, gaze calm and impassive.
Her long indigo hair was tied into a thick braid; her light-purple eyes gleamed with mechanical stillness. A small beauty mark rested below her right eye.
Within her chest, one could almost sense the blade she carried.
"Challenger. Do you truly wish to initiate a duel before me?"
Her voice was steady—the final confirmation.
Only one could leave this place standing.
"It's not me."
Koji shook his head and summoned a small, radiant slime.
The luminous creature pulsed with the primordial aura of creation itself, filling the hall with a strange, ancient presence.
"...?"
Raiden Shogun stared at the light slime, briefly lost in thought. Even her "CPU" seemed to overheat.
In truth, even among the Seven, few knew of the power of the Light Realm. Its age far predated any of their domains.
A slime? To challenge me?
Koji crossed his arms. Lumine looked on with sympathy for the Archon.
Poor woman doesn't realize—her strongest move is still Electro, and light slimes are immune to it.
"The moment of extinction!"
Violet lightning burst from Raiden's chest.
The hilt of her blade—the Musou Isshin—manifested, and she grasped it firmly, drawing the full sword from within herself.
"The sweet, milky slash!"
Koji's eyes lit up. "Now that's the good stuff! This is what made her famous!"
Lumine was speechless. Pulling the sword out of her chest? That was… intense.
She glanced down at her own chest and sighed. Yeah, that's not happening.
Raiden's wasn't quite as grand as Rosalyne's, but still—impressive.
The lightning-infused sword sliced forward, cutting through the air itself, striking the light slime dead center.
"What?!"
Raiden's eyes widened. The slime stood unharmed, unscathed even after her ultimate strike.
Impossible. That slash could cleave space—yet this simple creature endured it.
If damage text existed, the slime's head would've popped up with a glowing "IMMUNE".
"Perfectly intact, Your Excellency. I'm afraid you've lost," Koji said calmly.
Most monsters had resistances. But only elemental creatures like slimes could completely nullify certain elements.
"This slime is my creation. It's immune to its corresponding element.
The Light Slime, in particular, is immune to all seven elements of Teyvat," Koji explained.
"In other words, unless you use physical force, elemental attacks are useless."
Raiden fell silent.
Immunity to elements? Such a concept was absurd, even for her.
Though Musou Isshin was her supreme technique, it was, at its core, still Electro.
No wonder it failed.
"...Light Realm power. Does such a thing still exist in this era?"
Her tone had softened. The mechanical coldness was gone—now, it carried genuine curiosity.
"A certain lazy fox told me. You know her well," Koji said lightly.
Raiden narrowed her eyes, intrigued. "So you even know that this isn't my true body. Who told you?"
Knowing the name "Baalzebul" was one thing.
But knowing that Raiden Shogun and her true self shared one body—only one pink-haired fox would ever say that aloud.
"How could I not know? Isn't that right, Miko?" Raiden turned toward the door, where a fluffy tail had just appeared.
"It's been a while since you've shown yourself, Ei," Yae Miko said, stepping into the chamber.
Before Kitsune Saiguu's return, Ei had been one of Yae Miko's few true friends.
She had always hated seeing Ei isolate herself within the Plane of Euthymia. But no matter how she tried, she couldn't bring her out.
"So, these are the people you brought?" Raiden asked, glancing at Koji and Lumine.
"More or less. They're travelers who came to Inazuma. We… made a little trade."
Miko's ears flicked guiltily as she recalled that "trade." Just thinking about turning into a fox for it made her die inside. So humiliating.
"Ei, the Vision Hunt Decree and the isolation policy are wrong. You've been away from your people too long."
Yae Miko's tone was firm.
Raiden's eyes dimmed slightly. She didn't respond.
(End of Chapter)
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