"Bankai!"
Facing the apocalyptic torrent of lightning crashing down on her, Beidou laughed heartily and unleashed the second stage of her Zanpakutō. The ultimate release.
BOOM!
Violent energy exploded outward. An endless wave of Electro sword-qi rose like a tsunami, overturning the heavens and the earth, washing away everything in its path with unstoppable force.
The sound of the world shattering rang out.
Blinding light erupted, forcing everyone—whether on the distant Yashiori Island or Kujou Masahito's cliff—to squeeze their eyes shut against the brilliance.
"What is happening?!"
In the direction of Watatsumi Island, soldiers saw the blinding white light erupting from Nazuchi Beach. They gasped in shock.
"What's going on over there?"
"Why is it so bright? Is that Nazuchi Beach?"
"It looks like it... but it's so far away. How can the light be that intense from here?"
...
The Sangonomiya soldiers were stunned.
"Such intense elemental fluctuations."
On a cliff overlooking Sangonomiya Shrine, Sangonomiya Kokomi watched the distant light with a grave expression.
"It should be coming from Nazuchi Beach. An elemental surge that strong... is it Kujou Sara? The Guuji Yae rarely leaves the Grand Narukami Shrine."
"As for the Shogun... highly unlikely to be at Nazuchi Beach."
In present-day Inazuma, only three people possessed Electro power of that magnitude: Kujou Sara, Yae Miko, and the Raiden Shogun.
The Shogun wouldn't descend for a skirmish.
And the energy signature felt different from the Shogun's absolute authority.
Yae Miko usually stayed at the shrine or Yae Publishing House.
Since Kujou Sara frequently patrolled Nazuchi Beach, Kokomi suspected it was her.
But why would Sara unleash such terrifying power suddenly?
And unless Kokomi was mistaken, she had seen a sword beam tear through the sky.
Among the three, only the Shogun used a sword (tachi/katana).
Kokomi frowned, then stepped forward.
"Lady Kokomi!"
Seeing her move, a soldier rushed over. "Where are you going?"
"To Nazuchi Beach. You all stay here and guard the shrine."
Kokomi ordered without looking back. She dove into the water, heading straight for the battlefield.
Regardless of the risk, she had to see what was happening.
She left her soldiers behind because they were ordinary people. In a clash of gods or near-gods, they would just be collateral damage.
"Lady Kokomi..."
The soldiers watched her leave with worried expressions. It was rare for their Divine Priestess to act so impulsively.
...
Grand Narukami Shrine.
Under the Sacred Sakura, the Guuji of the shrine gazed toward Nazuchi Beach.
She wore a red and white shrine maiden outfit, with detached sleeves. A large black obi was tied at her waist, leaving her legs bare, her feet in wooden clogs.
Her long pink hair was tied at the ends, and purple gem earrings dangled from her fox ears—symbols of her status as a divine envoy.
"Such a powerful elemental fluctuation. What is happening at Nazuchi Beach?"
"That stubborn block of wood... what did she encounter to force her to unleash such power? How interesting. Are there still opponents in Inazuma capable of pushing her to her limits? There shouldn't be many."
"Could it be that strange oni boy? I heard he's been causing trouble for the Kujou Clan, but I doubt he warrants such a fierce response. And unless my eyes deceive me... that looked like sword light."
"This is quite intriguing. Should I go take a look?"
Yae Miko stroked her chin with slender fingers, her fluffy tail swaying gently behind her as she pondered the disturbance.
...
Back at Nazuchi Beach.
The endless lightning faded.
Kujou Sara had fallen from the sky, landing on the sand.
In front of her stood Beidou, her Zanpakutō resting on Sara's shoulder.
The sharp blade was inches from her neck.
"You lost."
Beidou laughed heartily. "But you're strong. If not for this sword, the outcome might have been different."
Beidou knew it. She won because of Nozarashi.
Without the weapon from the jar shop, this fight would have been brutal, and victory uncertain.
She silently thanked the Shopkeeper.
Without the jars, she wouldn't have the sword or the battleship.
"Yes. I lost."
Sara's face was expressionless as she admitted defeat. Her voice remained cold. "Our agreement stands. You may capture ten pirates and destroy ten ships. I will order the Shogunate forces not to pursue you. Once your 'mission' is complete, leave Inazuma immediately."
As she spoke, Sara stared at the Zanpakutō.
It was terrifying.
In the final clash, that blade cut through all her lightning and amplified Beidou's aura to a level beyond imagination.
If Beidou hadn't held back at the last second, Sara knew she would be dead.
Where did that sword come from?
A weapon that evolves, changing form and multiplying the user's strength? She had never heard of such a thing.
Even powerful artifacts usually had static limits. But in Beidou's hands, this weapon seemed to grow with her.
"Don't worry. Beidou keeps her word."
Beidou grinned and removed the blade from Sara's shoulder.
Instantly, the giant cleaver shrank back into its sealed, slender form—plain and unremarkable—and she sheathed it at her waist.
Sara stared deeply at the sheathed weapon.
"The Boss won!"
"Hahahaha! I knew the Captain was the strongest!"
"Of course she won! A pity she didn't kill that woman though."
"Are you crazy? If she killed a General, we'd never leave Inazuma alive. That woman is clearly high-ranking."
...
On the Steam Battleship, the Crux crew cheered wildly.
Their Captain was invincible.
The battle had been so intense they hadn't dared to breathe. Even knowing Beidou was strong, seeing her face that apocalyptic storm had terrified them.
But she won.
The battleship rumbled toward the shore, docking near the beach.
"All ordinary people."
On the beach, Kujou Sara watched the ship approach. Her expression grew grave again.
Up close, she confirmed the ship was indeed steel.
But more shockingly, the crew standing on deck were all ordinary humans.
She sensed no Vision power from any of them.
Yet these ordinary people had piloted the ship and fired that terrifying projectile.
She had seen it clearly earlier—a white flash that obliterated a third of the beach.
It wasn't an elemental cannon.
Inazuma's cannons required Vision holders to channel energy. When they exploded, they released elemental turbulence.
But this ship's weapon? No elemental fluctuation. just pure kinetic and thermal destruction.
And it was fired by normal people.
A storm raged in Sara's heart.
If ordinary humans could wield power that surpassed most Vision holders...
If her elite samurai were hit by that, they would be vaporized.
Since when is Liyue's technology this terrifying?
It wasn't just the ship. It was the weapon.
A weapon that democratized mass destruction.
If Liyue had a fleet of these, Inazuma couldn't defend itself.
Unless the Shogun intervened personally.
But Liyue had Rex Lapis.
Sara's face was grim. This intelligence was critical.
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