Everyone else had left, leaving only the black-robed figure and Yae Miko behind.
Yae Miko had somehow managed to severely impede the black-robed figure's movements, rendering It remarkably sluggish.
The black-robed figure began to gather power, dark purple Abyss Energy coalescing on its long blade. Its gaze turned icy, as if it had abandoned any pretense of further stalemate.
Seeing this, Yae Miko immediately went on full alert, retreating swiftly while conjuring layers of Electro Shields around herself.
To her surprise, the black-robed figure's charged strike didn't target her but the Sacred Sakura Tree.
"What?!"
Yae Miko gasped in shock, instantly turning her attention to the tree.
The black-robed figure's full-power strike left a deep gash in the Sacred Sakura Tree, causing its energy to erupt violently.
Yae Miko, who was still drawing power from the Sacred Sakura, suffered a backlash, coughing up a mouthful of blood.
Realizing she could no longer fight, Yae Miko knew the Traveler, with her ability to teleport, had likely already reached Yashiori Island.
Yae Miko swiftly retreated, transforming into a small pink fox. She leaped from the Grand Narukami Shrine and fled down the mountain cliffs at breakneck speed.
But the black-robed figure had no intention of letting her escape so easily.
Free from the Sacred Sakura Tree's restraints, the black-robed figure regained its full speed. It slashed through space, tearing a rift, and plunged into the void.
When it reappeared, it was already at the foot of Mt. Yougou.
It stood with its back to the mountain, its left hand gripping a gleaming longsword.
The pink fox skidded to a halt, preparing to turn and flee again, but the black-robed figure had already materialized beside her. Its right hand clamped around the fox's neck, violently shoving her forward until she crashed against the mountain's rocky face.
The impact forced the fox to revert to Yae Miko's human form, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of her lips.
The black-robed figure raised its longsword high, preparing to strike.
Yae Miko watched calmly, a bitter taste rising in her heart.
Ei, everything depends on you now...
With that thought, she closed her eyes, resigned to the black-robed figure's attack.
-
Outside the game, players were in a frenzy.
[Yae Miko... how could this happen? She'll be okay, right?]
[No, Yae Miko must be okay! Otherwise, I'm quitting this game!]
[I never thought the first time we'd see Yae Miko's fox form would be under these circumstances.]
[She didn't run away! Someone, please save her!]
[Waaah, Yae Miko, so pitiful...]
-
Just as the black-robed figure was about to strike, darkness suddenly enveloped his vision, and his mind went blank for a brief moment.
The lapse was fleeting, and the black-robed figure quickly recovered.
But by then, Yae Miko had vanished from his sight.
He remained silent for a moment before slicing through space and stepping into the void.
A long while after the black-robed figure had left, a pair of figures emerged from behind a massive boulder less than a hundred meters away.
"Miko Sister, are you alright? Are you badly injured?"
Yae Miko shook her head weakly. "I'm fine. Thank you, Mizuki."
-
The battlefield outside Inazuma City raged fiercely, with the Shogunate Army holding a decisive advantage.
Vision-wielders led the charge, crippling monsters before handing them over to the regular soldiers to finish off.
The team tasked with clearing Abyss Gates had already infiltrated deep behind enemy lines, successfully destroying two so far.
"Kamisato Art: Soumetsu!"
Ayaka unleashed a powerful ultimate ability, sweeping away a large group of monsters ahead. Yoimiya and Ayato coordinated their attacks, relentlessly assaulting the Abyss Gate.
Apart from the initial wave of formidable creatures, the subsequent monsters proved less challenging. While clearing them remained difficult, with proper coordination, the most the team suffered were minor injuries.
Thoma and Sayu formed a defensive line, buying Ayato and Yoimiya precious time to destroy the Abyss Gate.
The black-robed figure happened to pass by, briefly surveying the battlefield:
The Shogunate Army held an overwhelming advantage, and three Abyss Gates had already been destroyed.
Originally intending to leave immediately to pursue Yuna, the black-robed figure suddenly decided to stir up more trouble.
The colossal serpent on Yashiori Island could endure for some time yet. The battlefield of the Gods was notoriously difficult to approach, and with the fighting confined to the sea, there was ample time to spare.
With this thought, the black-robed figure materialized on the front lines.
"Hmm?"
Kazuha and the Crux Fleet were also present?
The black-robed figure, whose initial target had been Ayaka and her group, immediately shifted its focus, charging toward the Crux Fleet.
Making a show of force before the people of Liyue might reach Zhongli's ears.
The black-robed figure, who Zhongli had spared, was now attacking the Crux Fleet. What would Zhongli's reaction be?
Of course, it would only strike briefly.
-
"Damn it, there are too many monsters!" Beidou roared, swinging her Claymore as she fought. "Kazuha, watch the cannon! Everyone, retreat!"
Kazuha nodded sharply at Beidou. He drew upon the Anemo Energy within his Vision, leaped high into the air, and unleashed a powerful gust of wind that tore through the surrounding monsters, pulling them into a swirling mass.
Landing swiftly, he bolted away from the area.
Just then, the Alcor, anchored offshore, unleashed a barrage of cannon fire at the spot where Kazuha had just been.
The black-robed figure, who had been preparing to ambush Kazuha, happened to be caught in the monster swarm.
Sensing the projectiles hurtling toward him, the black-robed figure reached out and grabbed something. He examined it—a cannonball!
BOOM!
At such close range and without any protection, the black-robed figure was blasted away by the explosion.
More than one cannonball struck, and the explosions echoed across the beach.
Amidst the smoke and debris, the black-robed figure staggered to his feet, miraculously unharmed. Only his tattered black robes...
Already in tatters, the impact had reduced them to a mere third of their original size.
Business comes first.
-
The Serenitea Pot.
Itto, Kuki Shinobu, and Chu Xi were all seriously injured. Yuna helped them up and they managed to sit down on the steps.
Now that they had reached Lumine's Serenitea Pot, they should be safe for the time being.
Forcing herself to ignore her body's pain, Kuki Shinobu pulled her sister into her arms and carefully checked her over.
She had been terrified just moments ago. If Lady Guuji hadn't arrived in time...
She didn't even want to think about the consequences!
"Sis, are you okay? Does it hurt?"
Kuki Shinobu shook her head. "It doesn't hurt. Are you injured anywhere?"
Yuna hadn't been attacked, so she was unharmed.
Kuki Shinobu turned to Itto. "Boss, are you alright?"
Itto had shielded her from the worst of the attack, taking the brunt of the damage.
"I'm fine! Tough as nails, see?"
Itto forced a grin, but when he shifted his position, his grimace betrayed the pain.
"Chu Xi..."
Chu Xi appeared relatively unscathed, but she was staring at her severed club with a downcast expression.
Seeing Yuna's gaze, Chu Xi forced a strained smile. "Yuna, I'm okay. Lumine shielded me from most of the attack."
Chu Xi's heart ached. This club had been left to her by Silaya...
She didn't notice the Vision at her waist glowing faintly.
In fact, the Vision had been glowing faintly throughout their confrontation with the black-robed figure, but Chu Xi hadn't noticed it then either.
None of them noticed the spatial rift silently cracking open in the blind spot beside the building where they sat.