"Void Realm Descends!"
Akira Shindo spread his arms as if embracing the heavens. Endless energy poured out from the black holes behind him.
At that moment, the entire world of Teyvat trembled.
Under the bombardment of the void's energy, the sea roared violently, as though the ocean itself were about to surge upward and swallow the sky.
In Liyue, Zhongli—who was leisurely listening to opera at a teahouse—suddenly felt the tremor. His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked toward the distant horizon.
"What a violent power…"
"What kind of being possesses such strength?"
Zhongli murmured softly. Power of this magnitude was already enough to threaten even him.
In Mondstadt, inside the Angel's Share, a green-clad bard was happily drinking.
Suddenly he paused.
"What a frightening power…"
"The wind tells me this energy is extremely dangerous. I hope it won't affect Mondstadt."
"Hey! Bard!" the bartender shouted. "There's an earthquake and you're still drinking? Let's get out of here!"
He grabbed the bard and dragged him toward the door.
"Hey—my apple cider!"
Meanwhile, in the Inazuman seas—
The Raiden Shogun's Musou no Hitotachi had already been shattered by the overwhelming energy of the void.
The devastating force slammed directly into her, sending her crashing into the ocean.
"Holy—"
Akira Shindo quickly closed the void realm.
He hadn't expected his full-powered attack to be this destructive.
He only wanted to force Ei out.
He didn't actually want to destroy the Shogun puppet.
After all—
Ei was his wife.
And the Shogun?
She was also his wife.
Akira Shindo's tastes weren't limited to humans.
A moment later, the Raiden Shogun rose from the sea.
She didn't appear seriously injured.
However, her clothes had been torn by the explosion of energy. Large portions were damaged, revealing glimpses of her fair skin. For the first time, she looked slightly disheveled.
More importantly—
She was clearly exhausted.
There was no longer any strength left for another battle.
Yet she still stared at Akira Shindo coldly.
In the next instant, Akira Shindo appeared beside her.
"Shogun," he said calmly.
"Let Ei come out."
"Hmph."
"The one within has already awakened," the Raiden Shogun replied coldly.
"…."
Akira Shindo was speechless.
What a cold woman.
The next moment, he took out a large robe from his imaginary space and draped it over her shoulders.
"As the Shogun of Inazuma, appearing like this would be rather improper," he said.
Just as he finished speaking—
Darkness began to swallow his surroundings.
He knew what that meant.
He was about to enter the Plane of Euthymia.
"Shogun!" Akira Shindo quickly added, "I truly mean no harm to Inazuma!"
He simply wanted to explain.
The puppet was extremely rigid—and after being beaten like that, it might hold a grudge.
"…."
The Raiden Shogun paused for a moment after hearing him.
Then her expression returned to its usual coldness.
Still—
Her hand tightened slightly around the robe wrapped around her.
Within the Plane of Euthymia, Akira Shindo saw a figure sitting cross-legged in midair.
It was Raiden Ei.
"You are the god from another world who defeated the Shogun?" Ei frowned slightly.
"Why have you come to see me?"
"Raiden Ei, correct?" Akira Shindo said.
"My name is Akira Shindo, the current Chief Divine Priest of the Grand Narukami Shrine."
"Chief Divine Priest?" Ei frowned.
"Why has Miko not informed me?"
"Ei," Akira Shindo said helplessly, "Miko can't even meet you. How would she tell you anything?"
"You and I are not familiar," Ei said calmly. "Why address me so intimately?"
"What's the problem? If we meet more, we'll become familiar," Akira Shindo replied casually.
"I came to tell you one thing."
"I have no intention of harming Inazuma."
"I've also made an agreement with Miko. Since I've descended into this world, Inazuma can be considered my home."
"But you questioned Eternity," Ei replied.
"I questioned Eternity because your Eternity is wrong," Akira Shindo said bluntly.
"Take a look at Inazuma today."
"Because of the Sakoku Decree, the people are suffering."
"The Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree are the best methods to achieve Eternity," Ei said calmly.
"You may be a god, but you do not understand my Eternity."
"There is no point in arguing."
"…."
Akira Shindo nearly choked.
This woman was stubborn to the core.
"The Eternity you seek now," he continued, "is nothing more than the result of losing too many friends."
"What if I told you…"
"I could bring them back?"
"What?"
Ei instantly appeared before him, staring directly into his eyes.
"Say that again."
"I said," Akira Shindo repeated with a faint smile,
"If I can resurrect Raiden Makoto and the others—what would you do?"
"That's impossible," Ei said, shaking her head.
"No one can revive the dead."
"Not even the Heavenly Principles."
"Do not attempt to deceive me."
"I can," Akira Shindo replied calmly.
"I've already revived Kitsune Saiguu."
"…What?"
Ei was stunned again.
How could that be possible?
"If you don't believe me, come with me to the Grand Narukami Shrine later and see for yourself," Akira Shindo said.
"While I was fighting the Shogun, I had Miko bring Kitsune Saiguu back to the shrine to avoid the battle's aftermath."
"…."
At this point, Ei believed him seven or eight parts out of ten.
When she checked the Shogun's memories, she vaguely recalled seeing a white-haired fox-eared woman in Yae Miko's arms.
However, during that moment the Shogun had been entirely focused on Akira Shindo, so she hadn't paid much attention.
"Ei," Akira Shindo said quietly.
"I told you before—my authority allows me to revive the dead. I'm not joking."
"If you truly have that power," Ei said seriously,
"Then revive Makoto for me."
"That's certainly possible," Akira Shindo nodded.
"But I also have a request."
"What is it?" Ei asked.
"You."
Akira Shindo smiled.
"I want you to be my woman."
"No. Impossible." Ei's eyes widened slightly as she shook her head.
"I am the most exalted being in Inazuma—the Raiden Shogun who governs this nation. How could I—"
"Ei," Akira Shindo interrupted gently.
"Miko has already devoted herself to me."
"That is why I revived Kitsune Saiguu."
"But we have never even met before," Ei said with a frown.
"Why do you want me?"
"I have observed this world for a long time," Akira Shindo said softly.
"And I have grown to like you."
"I like everything about you."
"It doesn't matter if we've never met before. We have all the time in the world."
"I may want you now, but I also have enough time to prove myself."
"One year. Ten years. A hundred years."
"A thousand years… or even eternity."
"I will let you witness how much I cherish you."
"True love will endure forever."
As he spoke, the "Teyvat's Most Devoted Man" title seemed to activate.
At that moment, Akira Shindo looked genuinely sincere.
For someone like Ei—quiet, straightforward, and somewhat dense—
The best approach was a direct confession.
Anything subtle would go completely over her head.
Ei fell silent.
For some reason…
What he said actually seemed to make a little sense.
"…Then let us go to the Grand Narukami Shrine together," she finally said after a long pause.
"If I see Kitsune Saiguu with my own eyes…"
"And if you truly can revive Makoto…"
"…then I will become your woman."
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