Command Center at the Disaster Site.
"What's the situation now?"
"Sirin's signal has disappeared. It's presumed she entered the Imaginary Space to stop Almighty Thunder."
"And Welt? Where is Welt?"
"Welt has already arrived with his team. He's currently in discussion with command about whether to move the battle into the Imaginary Space."
"Move it into the Imaginary Space? That would just waste manpower! Without proper firepower, how are they supposed to face Almighty Thunder head-on?!"
"Report! All Divine Weapons are now ready."
However, many residents in the nearby areas who had refused to evacuate were still within the danger zone.
Estimated number of people remaining—at least ten thousand.
But if they left Sirin alone to face Almighty Thunder, she might very well die within the Imaginary Space.
There was no real choice to make.
"…Tell Welt to get into the Imaginary Space immediately. Notify Sirin—no need to keep stalling. Let Almighty Thunder manifest."
If the Edict Edge Sky could no longer be used, their chances of defeating Almighty Thunder would plummet.
Failure was not an option.
"Don't lose heart! If we could defeat Eternal Zenith, we can defeat Almighty Thunder too!"
...
Nagazora City.
"Attention all citizens. Attention all citizens. We interrupt with an emergency announcement. Due to extreme weather conditions, to ensure everyone's safety, all underground shelters are now being activated. Please gather essential items, remain calm, and proceed to the nearest shelter in an orderly manner…"
The piercing sound of sirens echoed across the city.
Kiana, who had been handing out flyers on the street, froze mid-motion. She quickly pulled back the flyer she'd been offering to a passerby.
Yesterday, after discussing it with Mei, they had decided to use flyers—an easy, low-profile way to warn people—resulting in her standing here today.
"That's strange… Didn't they reject Mei's proposal?"
Earlier that morning, Mei had contacted the city authorities of Nagazora, but her warnings hadn't been taken seriously. They brushed her off—telling her not to cause panic.
And yet, now the citywide broadcast was declaring an emergency evacuation. The source of the 'extreme weather' was almost certainly Almighty Thunder.
The flyers were useless now.
She set the remaining stack on a nearby bench and sprinted toward the spot where she and Mei had agreed to meet.
Thunder had begun to rumble in the skies a few minutes ago. But since the same thing had happened yesterday, most people ignored it—or simply took out their phones to record the scene.
Kiana tried not to worry too much about the thunder. After all, Yae Sakura had only taken Narukami yesterday.
Surely, the subjugation would take some time to prepare.
But the sudden emergency alert filled her with unease.
On the streets, people's reactions varied—but they all shared one thing in common: hurried footsteps.
She wondered how things were back on Zaohua Street.
Kiana decided she'd check later—and help however she could if needed.
"Kiana!"
Not long after she arrived at their meeting point, Raiden Mei came running over, still holding a handful of leftover flyers.
"Don't rush, Mei."
Kiana took the flyers from her hands and tossed them aside. "Looks like the disaster's come earlier than we expected."
Raiden Mei shook her head, her gaze fixed on the thunderclouds—different from yesterday's. Blood-red lightning flashed within the storm.
She wanted to tell Kiana that she could feel it—that the power resembling Narukami was no longer pure.
Within that familiar energy, she sensed the taint of Honkai Energy. Which meant…
"You're going to check on Zaohua Street, aren't you?"
Mei chose not to mention it. Maybe it was just her imagination.
She had only begun using Honkai Energy yesterday.
And she knew almost nothing about Almighty Thunder.
Sensing its corruption from this distance? That was absurd.
She told herself she was just overthinking it.
There was no need to voice baseless speculation. Without knowing the situation on the battlefield, there was nothing they could do from this far away.
Saying anything would only make Kiana anxious—and possibly draw unwanted attention to Mei's connection with Honkai Energy.
Kiana nodded. "I want to go back and see how things are. We've been living there the whole time."
"I'll go with you."
Mei's sword was always by her side now. After what happened yesterday, when she and Kiana had encountered traces of a Kami, she had decided never to go unarmed again.
That way, if something happened, she would be ready.
Still, she reminded herself—she needed to keep up her martial arts training, too.
"What about the shrine? Don't you need to prepare there?"
Kiana asked as they walked toward Zaohua Street.
"I'm not going to the shelter," Mei replied, glancing at her. "You're not planning to go either, right?"
Once inside the shelter, they'd surely start checking identities. Besides, both she and Kiana were capable of defending themselves.
Staying outside would be safer—they could keep an eye on the thunderstorm's movements and react accordingly.
"Yeah. I'll feel better if I can see what's happening."
Shops along the streets were closing one by one. The once-bustling roads had fallen eerily silent after the emergency broadcast.
Kiana and Mei made their way back to Zaohua Street. It was the same there—stores shuttered, people hurrying to pack and leave.
Clearly, everyone had heard the announcement and was preparing to evacuate.
"Kiana!"
As they slowed their pace, seeing residents carrying luggage down the stairs toward the shelters, Kiana heard a familiar, headache-inducing voice.
Yoshi stood nearby, holding his mother's hand. The woman was plainly dressed, maybe in her thirties, but her skin was pale and weary from hard living.
"So it's you, Kiana," Yoshi's mother greeted her with a tired but kind smile. Then her gaze landed on the shrine maiden beside her, and she hesitated briefly in surprise.
"Did you come back to pack? You'd better hurry—everyone's heading to the shelters together. Don't get left behind."
"Mom! Mom!" Yoshi tugged at her hand excitedly, looking at Kiana. "See? I told you it's true! Yesterday by the river, there really was a giant octopus monster! You can ask Kiana! Kiana's amazing—like a superhero! She jumped up, whoosh whoosh, and beat that octopus monster in just two hits!"