Embedded in the Statue of the Omnipresent God, the Raiden Shogun stared blankly ahead, murmuring, "Error... power... not of this world..."
Shao Yun bared his teeth, his facial muscles taut—his expression at that moment resembled that of a vicious wolf, feral and terrifying.
Suddenly, a system notification popped up.
[You have successfully completed Legend of the East Challenge VI. Rewards have been delivered.]
Nearby, Yae Miko had caught a glimpse of the bullet Shao Yun had fired. In that moment, her foxlike eyes seemed to see a strange being—one with the head of a goat and the body of a man.
Then her gaze shifted to the damaged Raiden Shogun, and she swallowed hard, wondering whether it was truly over.
Shao Yun whipped his head around, his glare sharp as fire as he stared at Yae Miko. His voice was firm.
"Call out Raiden Ei."
Yae Miko blinked in surprise. "What?"
Shao Yun's eyes burned with rage and bloodlust. He growled, "Call out Raiden Ei—Baal! I want her to pay! Lumine was wounded by her, and I'm going to take her damn head!"
Lumine had been attacked within the Plane of Euthymia. Destroying the puppet wasn't enough!
He didn't give a damn about rewards—today, he had to chop Baal's head off!
Yae Miko was clearly shaken. She quickly explained, "Calm down first! Even if I could bring her out, she's been sealed in her Plane of Euthymia for five hundred years. Besides, shouldn't you worry about Lumine first?"
Just then, Paimon screamed, "Shao Yun, bad news! Lumine fainted again! We need to leave—now!"
Looking at Lumine, now unconscious again in Thoma's arms, Shao Yun ground his teeth in fury—but he knew this came first. He couldn't break into the Inner Plane anyway.
"Baal! Today, I've seen you. That alone fulfills the wishes of the Geo and Anemo Archons!"
He roared at the Raiden Shogun's lifeless puppet form, still embedded in the statue. "Once Lumine's safe, I'll return to burn down Tenshukaku and take your damned head, Baal!"
But just as he turned to leave, the collapsing Shogun issued one final command.
"Apprehend... these four... enemies of eternity... add them to the Vision Hunt Decree..."
Her head drooped. The Raiden Shogun was no more.
At her words, the Tenryou Commission soldiers maintaining order above immediately leapt down, spears raised, forming a solid wall in Shao Yun's path.
"Damn it..." Shao Yun muttered under his breath. Paimon and Thoma fell in behind him, eyes locked on the blockade ahead.
Yae Miko turned back, her beautiful eyes now fierce and piercing. She stared coldly at the soldiers and declared, "Let's see who dares!"
The soldiers froze at her tone.
They looked to each other in confusion and doubt. No one moved, but no one dared defy the Shogun's last command either.
Shao Yun eyed them, then turned to Thoma. "Hold onto Lumine. Yae Miko, Paimon—get ready. We're fighting our way out."
He drew both cowboy revolvers from his belt, leveling the barrels at the guards, his face twisted into a cruel smile.
His voice was low and icy, steeped in murderous intent.
"Listen up, you bastards! I'm Shao Yun—the one The Gunslinger Butcher from Fontaine is based on. And let me tell you, that book doesn't even scratch the surface of who I am. The real me… is way worse. I'm a goddamn lunatic!"
The air froze.
The Tenryou Commission soldiers' faces went pale as they realized they were up against the infamous legend himself. No wonder he killed the Raiden Shogun!
Shao Yun swept his gaze over the crowd. A crazed smile played on his lips.
One revolver pointed at the masses. The other, at the soldiers.
The bystanders, realizing things were about to go south, turned and fled. So much for safe spectating—gossiping comes with a price!
[You intimidated innocent onlookers. Honor slightly reduced.]
"Hahahahahahahahaha…"
Shao Yun burst into maniacal laughter. The soldiers trembled, their knees buckling beneath the weight of that laugh, on the verge of collapsing.
Watching them panic filled Shao Yun with a strange, indescribable satisfaction.
He pulled the trigger. Gunfire echoed in front of the statue.
The Tenryou Commission troops dropped like wheat in a storm, the wooden planks beneath them soaked with blood, the stench of death carried by the wind.
Those still standing fled in terror. Fighting Shao Yun now was suicide.
The tale of Shao Yun storming the Vision Hunt Ceremony and turning it into a massacre spread like wildfire across Inazuma City.
Doors slammed shut in fear. The streets emptied. Only Miss Katheryne at the Adventurers' Guild remained steadfast at her post.
As Shao Yun, Thoma, and Yae Miko rushed down the road with the wounded Lumine, a large contingent of the Shogun's elite guard—the Okuzumeshuu —poured from Tenshukaku.
They marched with unified cries of "The eternal way shall prevail! Long live the Shogun!", weapons drawn, charging at Shao Yun.
Shao Yun didn't hesitate. He retrieved a pump-action shotgun from the system inventory and ordered the others to run ahead while he held the rear alone.
Raising the shotgun, he roared, "If you're not afraid of death, come on then!"
…
Thoma carried Lumine as he fled alongside Yae Miko. Behind them, Shao Yun held the line.
The streets became a brutal battlefield in an instant.
The Okuzumeshuu surged forward like a tide, wave after wave. Shao Yun stood his ground.
Each trigger pull was met with a thunderous blast, spewing deadly shells.
The guards fell like grain under a harvester. But they showed no fear, charging again and again through the bodies of their comrades.
Shao Yun, ferocious as a beast, fired relentlessly. His shotgun spat flame and death, bullets tearing through flesh, painting the streets red.
Eventually, the relentless assault thinned. He had annihilated the Shogun's guards by sheer force.
Their corpses blocked the streets. Bloodied limbs scattered. A few lucky ones still breathed, missing arms or legs.
Only after confirming no more enemies were in pursuit did Shao Yun finally turn and leave.
…
Inside the Komore Teahouse, Kamisato Ayaka sat silently at the counter, hands clasped in prayer.
Her expression was one of worry and devotion. Please… let them return safely…
Just then, the teahouse doors creaked open. The wind chimes rang softly.
Thoma carried the wounded Lumine inside, with Paimon and Yae Miko following closely behind.
Ayaka immediately stood up at the sound. Upon seeing the unconscious Lumine, her face went pale with alarm.
"Quick, take her to the room!"
Thoma, Paimon, and Yae Miko rushed to the back and gently placed Lumine on the bed. Thanks to half a bottle of Special Miracle Tonic, her wound had stopped bleeding—but the gash was still horrifying, faintly revealing white bone.
Paimon couldn't hold back her tears. She sobbed, "Lumine, please don't scare us like this…"
Ayaka looked at her with teary eyes, her voice trembling. "It's all my fault… If I had stopped you, like Shao Yun said, this wouldn't have happened…"
Yae Miko stepped forward, noting the Electro residue around the wound. "Thoma, fetch some Naku Weed and Onikabuto. Grind them into powder and bring them to me!"
Thoma turned to obey, but just then, the door slammed shut.
Shao Yun entered, eyes cold, voice sharp. "Nobody's leaving."
Thoma quickly explained, "Mr. Shao Yun, I was just going to get medicine for her."
Shao Yun sneered. "I've got the best meds." He marched to the bedside, pulled out another bottle of Special Miracle Tonic, and poured it into Lumine's mouth.
She managed to swallow it this time.
One and a half bottles in, the medicine took effect swiftly. Her wounds began visibly healing.
Shao Yun gently caressed her cheek, murmuring, "Now… time to settle some accounts."
Ayaka's eyes widened in fear. "Mr. Shao Yun, you—"
Shao Yun spun around, both revolvers drawn, barrels aimed directly at Ayaka and Thoma.
His eyes burned with fury. He shouted, "Why the hell were you at Miss Yayoi's this morning? And how did you just happen to run into Lumine? Give me a real answer!"
Ayaka turned pale, raising her hands in a panic. "It was just a coincidence… I swear…"
But Shao Yun wasn't buying it. He pulled the trigger.
The bullet screamed past Ayaka's ear and slammed into the wall behind her.
He growled through clenched teeth, "Lie again, and you die."
Thoma jumped between them. "Mr. Shao Yun, please calm down! There has to be a misunderstanding!"
Another shot. This one landed at Thoma's feet, making him leap back in fright.
Only because he carried Lumine back did Shao Yun spare him.
With a twisted expression, he growled, "I'm starting to think you've all been using us. Things don't line up this neatly by chance!"
Yae Miko stepped forward to mediate. "Shao Yun, calm down. I agree—something isn't right about today."
Shao Yun kept his guns trained on them, eyes wild.
"You're damn right. This all feels like a setup. You're using Lumine to tie us into your schemes. You think I'm that stupid? What, playing the victim card now? Pathetic! Got any last words?"
But Kamisato Ayaka popped up from behind Thoma, looking innocent as ever.
"If I really wanted to stage a scene, wouldn't I be the one kneeling at the Vision Hunt Ceremony, not Thoma?"
Her voice was filled with grievance. Sure, I used to pull stuff like that… but not this time!
Just then, Lumine stirred.
Seeing Shao Yun aiming guns at her friends, she weakly called out, "Shao Yun…"
He instantly holstered his weapons and rushed to her side, kneeling down, gripping her hand with deep concern.
He comforted her softly, "Lumine, rest now. Don't worry. I'll take care of everything. Once—"
Lumine lifted her hand and gently covered his mouth, stopping him.
Her bright eyes stared into his as she said, "Shao Yun, this really has nothing to do with Ayaka or the others. I brought Paimon to the Vision Hunt Ceremony to save Thoma. I asked her to find you. I'm sorry I worried you. But they… they had nothing to do with it."
She was asking him to spare Ayaka. Shao Yun didn't understand it all, but he nodded in agreement.
Gripping her hand, he said firmly, "Alright. I won't hurt them. But Raiden Ei—Baal—I will kill her."
Lumine, concerned, tried to reason with him. "Please… calm down. We came here to see the Shogun… not to kill her."
But Shao Yun was unmoved. "She cut you. She has to pay. If I don't do this… I won't be able to face your brother."
Lumine's body trembled from emotion, triggering a coughing fit. "Cough… Shao Yun… just calm down… we…"
She couldn't finish.
Shao Yun quickly soothed her. "Alright, alright. Rest now. We'll talk later."
She nodded weakly, eyes closing.
"Okay… let me rest a bit… then we'll talk…"
With that, she fell back asleep, conserving her strength.
Shao Yun stood, gently biting his lip. Then he addressed the others. "Paimon, stay and watch over her. The rest of you, outside. Now."
He herded Thoma, Ayaka, and Yae Miko out of the room and shut the door behind him.
Letting out a long sigh, he spoke grimly.
"Once Lumine's better, we're settling this."
Ayaka lowered her head, speaking softly but firmly. "We really didn't scheme against you."
Shao Yun was still furious, but forced himself to hold back. "Enough! I'll let it go—for Lumine's sake!"
Then he issued his orders.
"Miko, Ayaka—go scout the situation outside. Thoma, make something to eat—light."
That said, Shao Yun walked to the counter, sat on a high stool, lowered his head, and rubbed his temple.
Deep in thought.