Kiana, whom Yoshi claimed could defeat monsters with two whoosh whoosh strikes, was left speechless.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Yoshi's mother gave the boy a light tap on the head, then turned to Kiana apologetically. "I don't know where he saw it, but ever since yesterday he's been going on about some kind of monster by the river. Must've been from a cartoon."
"Definitely too many cartoons," Kiana agreed, nodding seriously. "The cure for that is more homework. Give him something to think about besides imaginary monsters."
She crossed her arms and added, "I suggest doubling Yoshi's homework!"
"Kiana!"
Yoshi was stunned. He hadn't lied—why was Kiana saying that? He was telling the truth!
"Good idea!" Yoshi's mother said at once, already thinking about her son's usual antics. "I'll go pack his homework too."
She really did need to keep him occupied. With so many people crowding into the shelters, Yoshi's restless nature could easily get him lost.
"No, Mom! Please!" Yoshi wailed, trying to hold her back. "I didn't watch cartoons—I wasn't lying!"
"Make sure you bring plenty!" Kiana cheerfully piled on, stoking the fire.
Dragged away by his mother to fetch his homework, poor Yoshi left behind a trail of small, wide-eyed onlookers—other kids who'd wanted to say hello to Kiana but now backed away in fear.
Hero? No—she was clearly a villain!
Kiana placed her hands on her hips, grinning in satisfaction. "I feel much better now."
After pranking the unlucky kid, her mood had definitely improved.
"Let's go visit Granny Zaohua," she said.
"You should pack up too," Mei reminded her. "After this, you'll be staying at the shrine."
"Mm… alright!"
Living together.
That meant she'd get to see Mei every morning when she woke up—what an unexpected blessing!
She'd move in right away!
Crossing the street, Kiana returned to the apartment building where she lived. Outside the ground-floor room, Granny Zaohua stood with her cane, watching several neighbors help carry out her belongings.
"Granny Zaohua," Kiana greeted, walking over to speak with her one last time.
"Oh, it's Kiana—and the shrine maiden of Narukami." Granny Zaohua's worried face softened with relief when she saw them.
"Sigh… you young people really do think ahead. I didn't expect the city to issue an evacuation notice so soon. Now it's too late to buy supplies."
If she'd listened to Kiana's advice yesterday and stocked up, she wouldn't have to worry about the next month.
But now…
Many households had few supplies, and no one knew how long they'd have to stay in the shelters. If it turned into a month-long evacuation, their provisions might not last.
Raiden Mei spoke calmly. "There's no need to worry too much. Since the city issued the order, they'll likely distribute rations once everyone's settled."
"Mei's right," Kiana agreed. "Supplies won't be a problem. Granny, it's more important you head to the shelter early and get settled."
Even if the battle dragged on, it shouldn't last too long. From what Yae Sakura had said, Izumo's forces were well-prepared.
"I suppose that's true."
Granny Zaohua sighed again as she watched her neighbors carry boxes. At her age, another disaster like this was exhausting.
"Kiana, you're back to pack your things, right? Don't worry about us—just take care of your own. Once everyone's ready, we'll head to the shelter together."
"I don't think I'll be going."
Granny Zaohua froze, then remembered—Kiana had no identification, no official record anywhere.
"I see… Well, I have a granddaughter about your age. She's living with my daughter and son-in-law in the next county. If anyone asks, just say you're her. That should be fine."
"Thank you, Granny, but that's alright." Kiana turned to Mei. "I'm planning to go with Mei—to the shrine."
"Staying with the shrine maiden of Narukami, hm?" Granny Zaohua nodded. "That's a good choice too."
After a brief chat, Kiana asked a few questions to confirm that the neighborhood had its own evacuation plan and would be moving together. Once she was certain, she went upstairs and quickly packed her things.
Finally, she slipped a few photos into her bag, slung it over her shoulder, and waved toward Mei in the living room.
"All set, Mei!"
But just as she said that, a deafening boom thundered from the distance, shaking the windows and doors.
It felt like the end of the world had come.
In the far-off sky, a black storm erupted with terrifying speed, devouring the clouds in an instant. From the center of the storm's birthplace, a massive black void tore open.
A colossal dragon's head emerged from within, wreathed in lightning and storm, surging through the rift.
Its arrival was a signal.
"So that's… Almighty Thunder?"
Raiden Mei stood by the window, her gaze locked on the dark sky. She could clearly see the enormous hole—and the dragon bursting from it.
"Almighty Thunder?"
Kiana rushed to the window beside her.
The black dragon, called Almighty Thunder, revealed only its head; the rest of its vast form was hidden within the swirling storm clouds.
Thunder roared endlessly, echoing across the sky. Above Nagazora City, lightning danced wildly, and amidst it all, faint explosions could be heard.
Sparks flared above the dragon's head—but they weren't sparks. The distance made it seem that way.
They were explosions from missiles detonating.
"So the subjugation has begun."
Kiana pulled her gaze back. She couldn't fly there, nor did she have a way to contact Yae Sakura. Worrying now was pointless.
If Izumo had made it this far, they would see it through. Her priority was to focus on what she could do right now.
"We should—"
"Waaahhhh! What is that?! What is that thing?!"
A scream erupted from downstairs.
Then came chaos—shouts, panic, the sound of people fleeing. Kiana and Raiden Mei didn't hesitate—they bolted down the stairs.
Because the storm blocked out the light, visibility in Nagazora was near zero.
Even the streetlights seemed to have failed. In that dim, oppressive darkness, the lamps remained dead.
"Lightning Flash!"
Raiden Mei reached the bottom first. Moving faster than Kiana, she reacted instantly—without even fully seeing the creature in the dark, she read its movement and struck precisely.
Her blade swept through the air with a clean, graceful slash.
The creature was similar to the octopus-like Kami from yesterday, but this one had a lizard's head. It fell instantly under Mei's strike.
With the power of the Stigmata, she no longer needed to target a Kami's weak points to slay it. Against lesser Kami, she could cut them down with a single blow, empowered by the Stigmata's strength.
As the Kami died, its body dissolved into a black mist, trying to seep into the blade in Mei's hand—just like the creature from yesterday.
Mei frowned, her sword crackling with current. The power of Honkai coursed through it, preventing the Kami's essence from corrupting the weapon.
Unable to enter the blade, the black mist twisted violently before condensing into a dark crystal. It fell to the ground, rolling beside a still-warm corpse, its blood yet to cool.
She was still one step too late.
The Kami had already killed someone.