In Liyue, at Wangshu Inn, Li Mo was speaking until his throat was dry, while the audience listened intently below.
When they heard that the swordsman had challenged the Raiden Shogun to a duel before the throne, they were stunned.
"A mere human challenging a god? What was he thinking?"
"Fortunately, the Raiden Shogun hasn't acted yet. She sent Kujou Sara to fight in her place. Otherwise, one strike from the Shogun would have ended the duel."
"Better to lose to Kujou Sara. That way, he might survive."
"Wait, isn't he the reincarnation of the Raiden Shogun's brother? Surely she wouldn't strike him down?"
"Even the mighty god Orobashi couldn't withstand that blade. What chance does a human have?"
"If the Raiden Shogun saw this, what would she think?"
"Have you forgotten? The Raiden Shogun is sitting right over there."
The audience murmured among themselves. Though the duel had just begun and the Shogun had yet to act, they could already guess what would happen. That damned storyteller would surely have the Raiden Shogun kill her brother again, completing a double kill.
In another corner of the inn, the Raiden Shogun, Makoto, and Ei all looked uneasy. They could not bear to watch the projections above and could not bear to see that blade fall. But what was done could not be undone.
Ei whispered comfortingly, "Shogun, be strong. This life will pass quickly. Soon, all the reincarnations will be complete."
The Shogun, as a puppet, was not good with words. She only nodded quietly.
Then, they all turned back to the storyteller on stage, waiting for this life to end.
...
On stage, Li Mo finally finished his tea and set the cup down gently. He continued.
As he spoke, the Electro energy above the inn coalesced into images again, showing the battle between Kujou Sara and the swordsman.
The Tenshukaku in the images was magnificent. Thousands of Shogunate soldiers stood by, maintaining order.
In the courtyard before the great hall, Kujou Sara represented the honor of the Shogunate and the honor of the Raiden Shogun. She had to give her all. Victory was the only option. Defeat would bring shame not only to her but also to the entire Shogunate and the Shogun herself.
The swordsman, on the other hand, represented not only his own wish but also the wish of every martial artist in Inazuma.
At the start of the duel, the citizens at the gates knew Kujou Sara's strength. No one believed the swordsman could win. But as the duel progressed, the combat exceeded their expectations.
They saw Kujou Sara's arrows were fast. But the swordsman's blade was faster. Every time an arrow was about to strike him, he dodged, parried, or neutralized it by some means. Most incredibly, he once raised his sword and split an incoming arrow in two.
"Everyone says Kujou Sara is strong, but it looks like the swordsman has the upper hand?"
"No way—could Lady Kujou Sara actually lose?"
"Since the Vision Hunt Decree was issued, Kujou Sara has defeated countless martial artists and swordsmen without a single loss."
"Lady Kujou Sara hasn't used her full strength yet. Just wait."
"I still think the swordsman can't beat her."
...
The citizens could not enter Tenshukaku, but through the gate, they could see everything inside—the entire arena.
It was said that masters fought with restraint. In a life-or-death battle, there were many ways to kill. But neither Kujou Sara nor the swordsman intended to kill the other.
Kujou Sara's goal was to carry out the Vision Hunt Decree to take the swordsman's Vision and embed it into the statue.
The swordsman's goal was to challenge the Shogun's blade. He believed that this rigid Shogunate general, as the enforcer of the decree, was also wrong. But she did not deserve death. He had no intention of killing her.
Thus, the duel became especially difficult. What began as a fierce clash turned into a prolonged stalemate.
As an archer, Kujou Sara's strength lay in long-range attacks and burst damage. Her weakness was clear: once the swordsman got close and put his blade to her throat, she would be defeated.
So after each shot, she retreated, maintaining a safe distance.
But as the battle wore on, her arrows could not hit him. Step by step, he closed the distance. If this continued, it would be a slow death. Eventually, she would be defeated.
Finally, Kujou Sara reached her limit. "I'll ask you one last time. Will you surrender?"
No one expected her to ask such a question while at a disadvantage. Had the fight addled her mind?
Even the Raiden Shogun, watching from the hall, frowned slightly. She did not understand why, in this disadvantaged position, Kujou Sara still refused to use her signature technique.
The swordsman did not slow his attacks. He pressed forward, seeking an opportunity to close the distance. "At this point, how could I surrender? If you have any hidden trump cards, use them now. Let's end this."
He frowned. He had underestimated this Shogunate general. A fragile archer was proving surprisingly difficult to defeat. But he did not want to waste any more time. He wanted to defeat Kujou Sara quickly and face the Shogun's blade.
Kujou Sara's expression grew serious. Very well. To defeat him, to defend the honor of the Shogunate and the Shogun, she would use that technique.
"Then let this end—By the thousand-armed, hundred-eyed divine edict: Tengu Stormcall: Adamantine Crush!"
The moment she spoke, a terrifying bolt of lightning descended from the sky.