Within Tenshukaku, when Raiden Saku entered, he found the spacious main hall empty except for the Raiden Shogun seated upon the central throne.
The one seated upon the main throne was the Raiden Shogun, not Raiden Ei.
Years ago, to pursue eternity and evade erosion, Raiden Ei had abandoned her physical form, transferring her consciousness into the Musou Isshin.
The discarded body was then crafted by Raiden Ei into a puppet, bestowed with the name Raiden Shogun!
All these years, Raiden Ei had relied on this external puppet Shogun to govern the nation of Inazuma on her behalf.
If Raiden Ei herself was already rigid, stubborn, and inflexible, then the Raiden Shogun, who inherited her will and personality, was even more rigid and unyielding!
This was likely one reason she had been manipulated by the Tenryou Commission and Kanjou Commission into implementing the Sakoku Decree and Vision Hunt Decree.
Raiden Saku strode into the main hall of Tenshukaku, standing at its center as he gazed at the Raiden Shogun before him.
Seated above, the Raiden Shogun slowly opened her eyes, her gaze indifferent and expressionless.
Raiden Saku smiled at her: “Long time no see, my dear niece.” Hearing the address “dear niece,” even the stoic and impassive Shogun couldn’t help but furrow her brow.
The Raiden Shogun was created by Raiden Ei; from this perspective, she could be considered Raiden Ei’s daughter.
And since Raiden Saku was Raiden Ei’s sworn younger brother, making him of the same generation as Ei, he was indeed the Shogun’s elder.
Strictly speaking, Raiden Saku shouldn’t call her “dear niece” but rather “niece.” However, the term “niece” made Raiden Saku feel as if Ei had already been married off, which felt uncomfortable no matter how he thought about it, so he changed it to “dear niece.” The Raiden Shogun wanted to refute this address.
But over the years, this fellow before her had called her that countless times, and the Shogun had long grown tired of objecting.
The Shogun spoke, her tone aloof: “You have returned from your travels across the continent.” “Not entirely.
I did explore Mondstadt and Liyue thoroughly, but in Sumeru, I had to cut my journey short and rush back before completing half.” The Shogun had no interest in hearing about Raiden Saku’s travel anecdotes and replied even more coldly: “I see.
For what purpose have you returned in such haste?
I sense dissatisfaction in you, anger, and even…
rebellion.” Hearing this, Raiden Saku couldn’t help but laugh: “Rebellion?
If Ei said that to me, I might accept it, but coming from you…
Never mind.
Since you inherited Ei’s will, it’s natural to see you as another Ei.
It’s no surprise you’d think and feel this way.” The Raiden Shogun remained unmoved, still fixated on Raiden Saku’s purpose: “Answer my question directly.
Why have you come here?
Do you truly intend to defy this form?” Meeting the Shogun’s gaze squarely, Raiden Saku said calmly: “Since that’s the case, I’ll be straightforward.
Call it rebellion or defiance—this time, I have indeed come to oppose you.
I demand that you and Ei abolish the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree, purge the corruption within the Shogunate, and restore clarity and justice to Inazuma!” With these words, the very heavens and earth seemed to lose their color!
The atmosphere within Tenshukaku instantly froze to an extreme.
The Raiden Shogun slowly rose from her throne, terrifying violet lightning manifesting across her form.
An extremely dreadful and dangerous aura radiated from the Raiden Shogun, pressing down upon Raiden Saku before her.
Not only did the atmosphere within Tenshukaku grow perilous, but the energy outside was also affected!
The Okuzumeshuu guarding the entire Tenshukaku were the first to sense something amiss!
This terrifying presence…
was the divine might emanating from within Tenshukaku!
The dreadful divine pressure was also felt by Kujou Takayuki waiting outside the main gates.
He shuddered involuntarily, noticing the darkening light as he instinctively looked upward.
Unbeknownst to all, the skies above Narukami Island had become overcast with dark clouds, violet lightning occasionally flashing between the cloud layers!
The approaching storm felt suffocating.
Seeing this abnormal celestial phenomenon, Kujou Takayuki felt not fear but delight: “The Shogun-sama is angered!
That fellow must have provoked the Shogun-sama!
His fate will surely be dire!” The Okuzumeshuu blocking the entrance remained unmoved.
They paid no mind to what transpired within Tenshukaku.
Unless they received orders from the Shogun-sama, they would continue guarding their posts.
Inside Tenshukaku, the atmosphere had reached its most dangerous point!
Terrifying violet lightning bolts erupted from the Shogun’s body one after another as she gripped the long naginata Engulfing Lightning in her hand.
She stared at Raiden Saku, her gaze utterly frosty: “You dare speak such words!
You oppose this vessel, the inner self, and the will of eternity!
Were you anyone else, I would have cut you down already!
But your status is extraordinary – you are the inner self’s younger brother, and a friend to this vessel.
Therefore, I shall grant you one more chance.
Retract your words, depart now, and interfere no more!
Should you persist in your stubbornness, I will show no further mercy!” Unexpectedly, Raiden Saku laughed heartily: “Hahahaha…
To think you’d give me another chance!
How amusing!
I expected you to disregard my status and cut me down immediately, treating me as an enemy of eternity!
Yet you still show me consideration.
It seems even puppets aren’t heartless – all these years have ultimately fostered some affection between us.
My Shogun-sama.” The previous words were manageable, but Raiden Saku’s final “My Shogun-sama” caused the puppet Shogun’s heart to ripple with emotion.
This ripple came quickly and faded just as fast.
The Shogun’s heart immediately returned to indifference and determination.
She tightened her grip on Engulfing Lightning, preparing to descend from her throne and pass judgment upon this extraordinary Sinner before her!
Before she could take her first step, Raiden Saku raised his hand in a stopping gesture.
The Raiden Shogun paused, her tone slightly softened: “Well?
Have you changed your mind?” Raiden Saku shook his head: “Not at all.
You know me well – I’m as strong-willed as Ei.
While Ei’s will remains eternally unchanging, my will is to change Inazuma.
From this moment onward, our wills stand completely opposed, fundamentally incompatible from this point forward.
Only when one side is completely defeated, or thoroughly convinced by the other, can this opposition and contradiction cease.
Shogun, fighting here serves no purpose – we’d destroy the entire Tenshukaku in mere moments.
That won’t do.
After I succeed as the Electro Archon, I’ll still need to reside in Tenshukaku.” Hearing Raiden Saku’s words, the Shogun seemed to grow even more enraged, the violet lightning around her shining with increasing brilliance: “What blasphemous words!?
You dare speak of succeeding the position of Electro Archon!?
So your talk of changing Inazuma was false, and rebellion to seize the throne is your true intention!?” “Not at all.
My fundamental goal has always been to change Inazuma!
Obtaining the position of Electro Archon and becoming the ruler of Inazuma is the best method to achieve this, the optimal path to reach this objective.
To prevent Inazuma from suffering internal strife and external threats, to free Inazuma’s people from their miserable existence, I shall become the new Electro Archon and change all these terrible circumstances!” With this declaration complete, an immense sharp aura surged from Raiden Saku!
His presence clashed fiercely against the Shogun’s, the two forces standing in direct opposition!
Staring directly into the Shogun’s eyes, Raiden Saku revealed his true intentions: “Fighting here is meaningless.
I must confront Ei within the Plane of Euthymia.
Only by thoroughly defeating her there can this matter be settled.
Until this battle concludes, Shogun, you shall remain here and await my victorious return to change Inazuma!” As his words faded, the space within Tenshukaku shattered!
Amidst dazzling purple Electro light, a strange dimension swallowed Raiden Saku’s vision, his consciousness entering the Plane of Euthymia.
The technique of embedding one’s consciousness into an object to create a mental space like the Plane of Euthymia was originally taught to Raiden Ei by Yae Miko.
Similarly, Raiden Saku also mastered this technique.
Thus, entering the Plane of Euthymia was effortless for Raiden Saku.