A loud explosion reverberated across Inazuma.
Countless people looked at the enormous mushroom cloud rising in the distance, their minds shaken.
Once the shockwave had settled, Yae Miko and Kujou Sara led their troops to the Tatarasuna region.
"Yae Miko, is this your trump card?" Kujou Sara glanced toward Yae Miko.
Even Yae Miko couldn't hide the slight twitch in her eyelids.
Although the towering mushroom cloud had already demonstrated the missile's devastating power, stepping onto the land of Tatarasuna made them realize the full magnitude of its destructive capability.
When she first received the missile, the Oceanids had repeatedly emphasized its terrifying power. Initially, she had her doubts, but now, she believed them completely.
What had the landscape of Tatarasuna been like before? Towering mountains that reached over a hundred meters high. Yet, after the missile struck, the entire area had turned into a field of rubble.
One missile had transformed a region's geography, flattening its majestic mountains into a smooth coastal plain and obliterating all life within it.
What kind of power was this?
Recalling her earlier exchanges with Felina, Yae Miko couldn't help but feel both fear and relief.
If she hadn't agreed to collaborate with Felina back then, and Felina had personally taken over Inazuma's affairs, she couldn't even imagine the state Inazuma would have been in.
One missile was enough to destroy an entire region—how many of these missiles did Fontaine possess? And how many could Inazuma withstand?
"Let's go and see if the Doctor is still alive."
Suppressing her inner turmoil, Yae Miko and Kujou Sara led their forces across the desolate plain to search the area.
Before long, they found a charred figure on the beach.
This individual had suffered catastrophic injuries. Nearly all their flesh had been burned to a crisp, and the explosion's shockwave had shattered all their internal organs. They were barely clinging to life.
"All the other Fatui have been reduced to ash. Only this one survived."
"To endure such an explosion, the only possibility is that this must be a Fatui Harbinger."
"It seems this might be the Fatui Harbinger, the Doctor."
Kujou Sara turned to Yae Miko. "Yae Miko, what should we do with him?"
Before she could finish her question, Yae Miko frowned.
"General Kujou Sara, I believe you may be mistaken."
"This individual's body is charred black, resembling little more than a piece of charcoal. Aside from its vaguely humanoid shape, there's no evidence to identify who this person might be. If you ask me, this is just a lucky survivor, an ordinary Fatui grunt, wouldn't you agree?"
Kujou Sara blinked in surprise at first but quickly grasped Yae Miko's meaning.
The identity of a Fatui Harbinger was highly sensitive. As a Snezhnayan envoy to Inazuma, killing such a figure would undoubtedly bring trouble to Inazuma—and to themselves.
In the game's story, the Raiden Shogun killed the Harbinger Signora, but that was the Raiden Shogun's prerogative as ruler. She set the law in Inazuma.
If Snezhnaya sought to exploit that incident, it was Raiden Ei herself who would bear the consequences.
However, if subordinates like them killed a foreign envoy, the repercussions could be far-reaching and unpredictable.
At this moment, admitting that the charred figure before them was the Doctor would mean they couldn't execute him outright. Instead, they'd have to save him and provide medical treatment.
But if they refused to acknowledge him as the Doctor, treating him as an ordinary soldier and killing him, it would become an entirely different matter.
The Doctor? This charred figure didn't even have a single hair left—who could prove he was the Doctor?
His facial features were gone. They didn't even know what he looked like. How could they confirm his identity?
Kujou Sara was sharp enough to realize this was the perfect opportunity to eliminate a Fatui Harbinger once and for all.
The message was clear to Kujou Sara, and she immediately nodded in agreement. "Yae Miko, you're absolutely right. I was overthinking."
Hearing this, Yae Miko smiled serenely. "This must be the sole survivor. Eliminate him, and we can wrap things up."
Some might think that since the Doctor had created multiple clones of himself across different eras, this charred figure was merely one of them, and he wouldn't fear death.
However, even the Doctor himself had admitted that the materials needed to create these clones were rare. Moreover, as seen in the game's storyline, when the Doctor erased other clones, their reactions—curses, fury, and pleas—revealed that each clone considered itself a unique and independent being, each cherishing its own life.
So now, lying on the ground, the Doctor could only feel extreme indignation as he watched Yae Miko and Kujou Sara play their coordinated act.
He wanted desperately to speak, to reveal his identity as the Doctor, but his injuries rendered him incapable of even making a sound.
All he could do in his dying state was weakly twitch his body, expressing his discontent and rage.
But Yae Miko wasn't interested in his struggles.
Before everyone's eyes, she extended her hand, and a samurai immediately stepped forward to hand her a long blade.
Without hesitation, she raised the sword and brought it down, beheading the Doctor in one swift motion!
The once-proud second Harbinger of the Fatui met his end in Inazuma, dying like an ordinary grunt, his indignation buried with him. His remains were tossed into the sea to feed the fish, leaving no trace.
With the Doctor's death, the Fatui were leaderless.
Yae Miko and Kujou Sara sounded the horns of counterattack together.
The war to eradicate the Fatui had officially begun.
The Oceanids demonstrated exceptional intelligence-gathering abilities, moving through Inazuma's waters to pinpoint Fatui strongholds.
Once a Fatui base was discovered, it was immediately bombarded with artillery fire.
Finally, most Fatui scattered across Inazuma were wiped out, leaving only one last significant force.
This remaining Fatui contingent, aware of the missile threat, moved their frontlines within ten kilometers of Inazuma's troops.
At such close range, deploying missiles would undoubtedly result in friendly fire.
The Fatui's intent was clear: they were forcing Inazuma into direct combat.
However…
The Watatsumi Island advisor, Beisht, acting under Felina's orders, smirked disdainfully and advised Yae Miko and Kujou Sara to proceed with the assault.
On that day, the sound of artillery fire roared incessantly!
Countless rocket launchers unleashed volleys like torrential rain, exploding amidst the Fatui forces.
Inazuma's side decisively employed rocket fire to devastate the Fatui's position.
After two waves of bombardment, the Fatui's camp was a wasteland, littered with craters, corpses, and dismembered bodies.
Inazuma's forces then advanced toward the enemy position.
Leading the charge were thousands of mechanical security units, systematically eliminating the surviving Fatui troops.
Behind them, Inazuma's resistance fighters and Shogunate forces moved in with rifles and swords, finishing off any remaining Fatui.
First came the artillery bombardment, followed by the mechanical units' charge, then coordinated attacks from infantry and machines. This modern warfare strategy was a complete annihilation for the Fatui, a clear demonstration of overwhelming superiority.
In just an hour, the Fatui forces on the battlefield were entirely wiped out.
With the external enemy vanquished, only one issue remained: the Raiden Shogun herself.
The Fatui within Inazuma had been thoroughly eradicated.
Now, only Inazuma's internal affairs remained.
Under the banner of "purging traitors to protect the Shogun," Yae Miko and Kujou Sara's actions were legitimized.
After concluding the campaign against the Fatui, the two split their forces.
Kujou Sara, also flying the flag of loyalist purging, led her Shogunate forces to Ritou, surrounding the Kanjou Commission and initiating arrests.
Yae Miko, meanwhile, led the resistance forces to Inazuma City, suppressing various factions and stabilizing the situation while laying siege to the Kujou Estate.
Some might wonder: since their crimes had been exposed, why hadn't Kujou Takayuki and Hiiragi Shinsuke fled? Why did they remain at home, waiting for capture?
This points to the complexities of political machinations.
Such a large-scale conspiracy couldn't have been executed by Kujou Takayuki and Hiiragi Shinsuke alone—it must have involved a vast web of interests.
No matter how much power they wielded, they still needed subordinates to carry out their plans. And to secure such cooperation, they would have had to share the spoils.
Thus, even if Kujou Takayuki and Hiiragi Shinsuke wanted to run, their underlings wouldn't allow it.
If the main culprits fled, the lower ranks would inevitably bear the blame.
Moreover, these individuals were already at the pinnacle of power. If their actions were purely self-serving, they had no need for more—wealth and authority were already theirs. Why, then, collude with the Fatui?
Because their goals extended beyond personal gain: they sought to secure greater benefits for their families.
With their crimes now laid bare, they understood well that staying put might offer their families a sliver of hope, but fleeing would guarantee their complete downfall.
Besides, where could they escape to?
Could they somehow breach the stormy blockade and flee abroad?
In short, escape wasn't an option. All they could do was wait at home for their inevitable arrest.
Eventually, Kujou Takayuki and Hiiragi Shinsuke were apprehended and thrown into prison.
Afterward, Yae Miko entered Tenshukaku alone, standing before the Raiden Shogun.
"You've come?"
The violet-haired goddess, sitting in seiza within the palace, looked up at Yae Miko, her expression complex.
From that one look, Yae Miko could tell it was her true god who was speaking.
"Yes, I've come," Yae Miko replied.
"It's been a while."
Yae Miko gazed at Raiden Ei. "It's been many years, but now is not the time for reminiscing."
"I know you must have questions and doubts, but for now, I cannot answer them. I also know convincing you won't be easy."
"Tomorrow morning at eight, come to Yashiori Island. I will defeat you in my own way, and then address your uncertainties."
With that, Yae Miko turned and left Tenshukaku.
After exiting, she announced to the public that the Shogun had awakened, but required time to adjust after awakening prematurely. She assured the populace that by the next day, the Shogun would once again govern Inazuma. All citizens were instructed to return to their posts, with further announcements to follow once the Shogun was ready.
At the same time, Kujou Sara led the Shogunate forces back from the frontlines to Inazuma City to maintain order, swiftly stabilizing the situation.
This rapid restoration of order felt almost surreal to many.
After all, just a week ago, many had been stirred into a frenzy, joining the resistance with fiery determination, only to find themselves running back and forth with the troops. Despite the thunder of artillery, they hadn't encountered a single Fatui.
Just a few days have passed, and now you're telling me it's all over, that I should go back home to farming. It's hard for anyone to accept such a sudden shift.
The next morning, Raiden Ei arrived at Yashiori Island as promised.
Her gaze swept across her surroundings, but she sensed no trace of Yae Miko—no one at all, in fact. It was as though the entire island had been evacuated beforehand.
"Where is everyone?"
Thinking Yae Miko had stood her up, her brow furrowed. She immediately used the secret communication spell Yae Miko had left her the day before to get in touch.
"Have you arrived at Yashiori Island?" Yae Miko's voice came through as soon as the connection was established.
"I have."
"Where exactly are you?" Yae Miko asked.
"Beside the Serpent's Head. And you?" Raiden Ei replied.
"I'm currently on Watatsumi Island," Yae Miko said.
Hearing this, Raiden Ei's anger rose slightly. "Miko, I do not appreciate such jokes."
"No, no, no!" Yae Miko's tone was playful, tinged with amusement. "Though I'm on Watatsumi Island, my attack is about to begin. Prepare yourself!"
At her words, Raiden Ei immediately tensed. Judging from Yae Miko's tone, she assumed the shrine maiden must have prepared some formation or spell to ambush her.
Yet over a minute passed, and the expected attack did not come.
Just as Raiden Ei began to grow annoyed, she suddenly froze—she thought she heard something in the distant sky.
A sharp, cone-shaped object streaked through the sky like a falling meteor, like a great dragon cleaving through the blue expanse.
Its speed was unfathomable, crossing kilometers in mere moments.
Raiden Ei was no fool like the Doctor. She immediately realized that anything Yae Miko would use against her would not be ordinary.
Without hesitation, she drew her blade. Power erupted as she unleashed a strike toward the sky.
In an instant, purple Electro energy surged upward like a torrential wave, aiming to intercept the descending projectile.
As the victor of Inazuma's Archon War, Raiden Ei was seasoned in battle. She quickly recognized the projectile's overwhelming speed, making a targeted attack unlikely to land. Thus, she chose a wide-area attack instead.
The projectile, dragging a long trail like a diving dragon, hurtled toward the ground, while the purple sea of Electro surged skyward. The two forces clashed directly.
If it had been a typical meteorite, Raiden Ei's attack would have either disintegrated it within the lightning sea or severely weakened its force.
But unfortunately, this was no ordinary meteorite. It was a missile designed to kill through explosive force.
The missile originally required impact to activate its mechanism, which would release its sealed destructive energy. However, when it collided with the sea of lightning, the missile's casing was shattered by the attack, triggering an immediate midair detonation.
In an instant, the world turned upside down.
A massive fireball engulfed Raiden Ei, and a shockwave rippled outward in all directions.
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