Kazuha had never wanted to leave Narukami Island—the place where he was born, grew up, and trained in martial arts. But under the pressure of the Vision Hunt Decree, he had no choice but to flee like the other samurai, to Watatsumi Island or elsewhere in Inazuma. Anywhere far from the Raiden Shogun was safe. That was what every samurai believed.
They all knew the Vision Hunt Decree was wrong—a mistake by the Raiden Shogun. But no one dared to face her directly, to point out her error. Until now. Finally, someone had the courage to stand before her. A brave swordsman had challenged the mightiest being in Inazuma to a duel before the throne.
It should have been an exciting moment. But most people only laughed. They treated it as a joke.
A mere swordsman challenging a god? He must be ill or a fool. No sane person would make such an impulsive decision.
When news of the duel spread through Inazuma City, people first stared in disbelief, then rushed to Tenshukaku to witness the unprecedented event.
Kazuha reacted the same way—first stunned, then unwilling to believe.
"No—it can't be you. I know you wouldn't do something so foolish. You can't withstand that blade."
Though he didn't know the full story yet, his instincts told him that the one who had challenged the Raiden Shogun was his friend.
He muttered to himself as he ran, not daring to stop. He had to stop his friend. He had to save him from the Shogun's blade.
"Move—get out of my way, please, let me through."
The streets of Inazuma City were already crowded, and the sudden duel had thrown everyone into chaos. Kazuha had to push past people to get through.
As he ran, he remembered his friend's words from their first meeting. His reason for staying in Inazuma: to challenge that blade.
Was this your wish? But how can a mere human challenge a god?
Kazuha didn't believe. No one believed. Only the swordsman himself, carrying that wish, had stepped into Tenshukaku.
...
As the news spread and crowds rushed to Tenshukaku, at the great gate, the guards drew their swords, glaring furiously. They would have loved to cut down this insolent swordsman. But they couldn't. He had challenged the Raiden Shogun to a duel before the throne. Until she gave her orders, no one could touch him.
So the guards could only threaten him with their blades, not strike.
Not only the guards, but the onlookers also tried to dissuade him.
"Brother, don't do something so foolish—"
"This is the first time since the duel was established that anyone has dared to challenge the Raiden Shogun."
"You'll die."
"It's not too late to turn back."
"Just hand over your Vision, and they'll leave you alone."
"Hey, who is this guy? I was going to do that! Let me go first—I want to fight that turtle Kujou—"
"Street rat, stop causing trouble. He's challenging the Raiden Shogun herself. You only dare challenge Lady Kujou."
Most of the onlookers were ordinary citizens. But everyone knew that once he stepped through those gates, the swordsman was doomed. The only question was when. That depended entirely on the Shogun's mood.
Despite the guards' curses and the crowd's pleas, the swordsman never stopped. Dressed in white, his sword polished and ready, he walked slowly. One step. Two steps. He entered Tenshukaku, stepping into the great courtyard.
Thousands of elite Shogunate soldiers stood guard around the grounds. At the slightest disturbance, they would strike down anyone who disrupted the duel.
Before the main hall stood a woman with long purple hair, her expression cold, her face beautiful. She watched impassively as the swordsman approached.
When she saw him, her expression flickered with a hint of surprise.
An ordinary swordsman? No demonic power. No adeptal power. And he dared to enter Tenshukaku alone, to challenge her, the Raiden Shogun?
Though she was not one to show emotion, she raised an eyebrow slightly. The swordsman intrigued her. Since the Vision Hunt Decree was issued, other Vision holders had fled as far as possible, not daring to come near her. Yet this swordsman had walked straight into Tenshukaku to challenge her to a duel.
Beside her, Kujou Sara saw the swordsman's face and thought she was mistaken. She rubbed her eyes. No mistake. It was that despicable swordsman—the one who had ambushed and subdued her.
Shameless.
Her expression was complicated as she looked at him. As the Raiden Shogun's most loyal subordinate, she knew her master's power well. If this duel took place, the Shogun would need only one strike to kill him.
She quickly bowed to the Shogun. "Your Excellency, this swordsman is unworthy of your blade. Allow me to defeat him."
It was an additional rule of the duel: if the Raiden Shogun did not wish to fight, she could send a general to fight in her stead. Only by defeating the general could the challenger proceed to face the Shogun. After all, her Excellency held a noble position. Not just anyone had the right to challenge her.
Of course, if the Shogun deemed the challenger worthy, she could accept directly. But in all of Inazuma—in all of Teyvat—aside from the ancient gods, demons, and reclusive adepti, how many were worthy of her direct response?