"Kujou Sara is flying!"
"My god, General Sara can fly?"
"This is my first time seeing it. So the legends are true!"
"What legends?"
"Legend has it that Lord Sara possesses Tengu blood. But unlike the wild Tengu who live in the mountains, she was adopted by the Kujou Clan and serves the Tenryou Commission."
"Really? I only knew her as the adopted daughter of the Kujou Clan and a General of the Shogunate."
...
On the cliffs overlooking the destroyed road between Tatarasuna and Yashiori Island, the Shogunate soldiers gasped in awe as they watched Sara take flight.
Most of them had never seen her fly before.
Vision holders were powerful, but flight was rare.
General Sara was truly something else.
"Shameless!"
On the Steam Battleship, the crew of the Crux Armada were furious.
"She can fly? How is that fair?"
"The Captain can't fly! She's at a huge disadvantage."
"That woman is so shameless. Attacking from the air while the Captain is stuck on the ground? How is she supposed to block that?"
"Isn't that cheating?"
"Can't call it cheating. She's using her natural advantage. But you're right—this makes things tough for the Captain."
...
The crew grumbled anxiously.
"Where's Qianyan? Why aren't Furong and Huixing back yet?"
Suddenly, someone noticed the delay. "Should we send more people?"
"Look over there! They're on their way back. Just wait."
Someone pointed toward the beach.
Qianyan was leading Furong and Huixing back to the ship at a sprint.
Seeing them safe, the crew breathed a collective sigh of relief.
...
Meanwhile, on Nazuchi Beach.
Hovering in the air, Kujou Sara's black hair danced in the wind, sparks of purple electricity crackling through it.
Her eyes were entirely purple, glowing with ominous power.
Surrounded by lightning, she looked like a manifestation of the Raiden Shogun herself—a judge of all living things.
"She can fly too, huh."
Beidou, wielding her Shikai-released Zanpakutō, looked up with a headache.
Flying Vision users were annoying to fight. Especially Electro ones.
Normally, this would be a problem.
But with Nozarashi in hand, she felt confident she could suppress even a Tengu.
BOOM!
Beidou swung her massive blade. A brilliant beam of sword-light tore through the sky like a rainbow.
The tangible energy slash, ten meters long, sent shockwaves through every inch of Nazuchi Beach. The nearby seawater exploded, and trees in the distance collapsed under the sheer pressure.
The power of a single swing was terrifying!
"Hmph!"
Seeing the slash coming from below, Sara sneered. She pressed her hands downward.
Rumble!
Countless lightning bolts descended from the clouds, frantically striking the incoming sword-light.
Crack! Crack!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Deafening explosions rang out as endless lightning clashed with Beidou's attack, forming a dense web of Electro energy in mid-air.
Waves of energy rippled outward, obliterating trees and sending debris flying like snow.
Even outside the beach, the ground shook.
Whoosh!
In the next second, Sara dove. Wrapped in lightning, she descended like a hawk.
Zap!
Electricity condensed in her hands, forming a longbow. She fired a terrifying lightning arrow straight at Beidou.
Then, without pausing, the lightning shifted into a spear, and she charged at supersonic speed.
She intended to strike Beidou with the spear the moment she blocked the arrow.
Watching the incoming arrow and the diving General, Beidou didn't panic. She stepped forward, swinging her massive Zanpakutō. The giant blade seemed to tear the void itself, its range encompassing both the arrow and the diving Sara.
One giant sword against two attacks.
CLANG!
When the arrow hit the blade, a massive boom echoed.
Thunder roared, and wild Electro energy flooded the beach.
Beidou shouted, stepping forward again. The entire beach seemed to shake. Her terrifying slash shattered the arrow and continued upward, cleaving toward Sara.
The lightning spear clashed with Nozarashi. Sparks flew like fireworks.
They were deadlocked. Lightning surged from all directions to reinforce Sara's spear.
ROAR!
Beidou exploded with power again. Her own Electro energy coated the blade, adding layer upon layer of force.
Her black hair flew wild. Holding Nozarashi, she looked unstoppable, her aura peaking as if she intended to pierce the heavens.
With another heavy step, the earth trembled. Distant mountains shook.
A final, earth-shattering slash broke the deadlock, shattering Sara's lightning spear.
BAM!
Sara was blasted backward.
But in the instant she was sent flying, she vanished, reappearing far away.
Sara looked at the Zanpakutō in Beidou's hand with a grave expression.
That sword is too strong.
She could beat Beidou... if Beidou didn't have that weapon.
She lost the exchange purely because her conjured weapons couldn't match the raw power of that blade.
It wasn't just a weapon; it amplified Beidou's strength significantly.
But I still have one move left.
Sara's eyes turned cold.
Wild lightning began to gather above Nazuchi Beach again. The atmosphere grew heavier, suffocating.
"Looks like she's getting serious," Beidou squinted.
Sara was clearly preparing a finishing blow.
Well, Nozarashi has more than just Shikai.
Bankai.
Beidou had communicated with the sword's spirit. She knew how to use it, though she hadn't tested it in combat yet.
Maybe now was the time.
While Sara charged her ultimate attack...
...
Liyue Harbor. Outside the Jar Shop.
Chongyun dragging Xingqiu along attracted quite a bit of attention.
"Hm? Chongyun is back. And he brought Young Master Xingqiu!"
"It really is Xingqiu."
"Is he here to open jars too? But the Feiyun Commerce Guild has everything. Why would he need jars?"
"Why not? The shop has things money can't buy anywhere else. Is it so strange that he'd want to try?"
"True. I heard they're close friends. Makes sense they'd come together."
...
The crowd gossiped as the duo arrived.
Inside the shop, Xingqiu looked at Felix immediately.
One glance told him this shopkeeper had a unique aura. Something indescribable.
He could feel it clearly.
"Oh?"
Felix raised an eyebrow, seeing Chongyun return so quickly.
And he brought Xingqiu.
Another ten jars sold.
His smile became radiant.
"Uh."
Seeing the shopkeeper's sudden bright smile, Chongyun blinked.
But he proceeded with introductions. "Shopkeeper, this is my good friend, Xingqiu of the Feiyun Commerce Guild. He's here to open jars too. I already opened one, so I'll take nine more. Here is 900,000 Mora."
He handed over the heavy bag.
"Hello, Shopkeeper," Xingqiu greeted with a polite smile. "I've heard of your shop's wonders. I came to see."
"Welcome," Felix nodded. "Do you want to pick jars now? 100,000 Mora each."
"I'll watch Chongyun open his first," Xingqiu said, glancing at the shelves. He wasn't in a rush. He wanted to see what his friend would get.
"Very well."
Felix took Chongyun's money. "Alright, Chongyun. Choose your jars."
"I want those."
Chongyun pointed decisively to a cluster near the exquisite jar.
Felix waved his hand. The nine jars floated over and landed in front of Chongyun.
Crash!
Chongyun didn't hesitate. He smashed the first jar immediately.
Crack.
A book fell out.
Felix raised an eyebrow.
[Six Arts of the Cold Arrogance] — A mysterious saber technique from another world. When executed with Cryo elemental energy, it possesses exceptionally powerful effects.
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