Everyone's gaze was drawn to the scene. The one holding the Musou Isshin was a stunningly beautiful woman. Her flawless figure was completely enveloped in thick purple lightning, revealing not a hint of skin.
Her face was identical to that of the Raiden Shogun, but she lacked the teardrop mole at the corner of her eye. Compared to the Shogun's cold and stern demeanor, she exuded a gentler aura, making people feel an instinctive desire to get closer to her.
"Is this... the Musou Isshin?" The beauty stared at the unsharpened lightning katana in her hand, murmuring softly.
Then, Raiden Makoto looked up and saw Raiden Ei standing there in a daze. She quickly walked over.
"Makoto!" Raiden Ei, seeing the figure she had longed for day and night, hurried forward and threw herself into Raiden Makoto's arms. She had missed her so much!
"Ei, it's been a long time," Raiden Makoto smiled gently as she saw her sister again, softly patting Raiden Ei's back.
"Lady Makoto!" Kitsune Saiguu and Yae Miko quickly stepped forward, their eyes red as they looked at the figure from their memories.
"Saiguu, little Miko?" Raiden Makoto turned to the two women and smiled warmly.
"Ding~ Congratulations, Master, for reviving Raiden Makoto. The Raiden twins have reunited, unlocking the ability to perfectly replicate anything once, including but not limited to biological bodies. "
"Wow! Perfect replication? That's impressive!" Akio thought to himself, though he wasn't sure how useful this ability would be for now.
After a long while, Raiden Ei finally let go of Raiden Makoto. Not one for words, she could only look at her sister with a pained expression.
She had left for Khaenri'ah without a word, and after her death, she had left the burden of an entire nation on Raiden Ei's shoulders. One by one, Kitsune Saiguu and the others had left her. Did she know how much pain she had caused?
"I won't leave you again, Ei," Raiden Makoto promised.
Then, Raiden Makoto turned to Akio and gave a slight bow. "Thank you for reviving me, allowing me to reunite with them."
"I'm now one of Inazuma's deities. This was just a small effort on my part," Akio said.
"He will now be the Great Divine Sovereign of Heaven for Inazuma, and I will serve by his side," Raiden Ei said seriously. "As for the position of Shogun, I'll return it to you. I'm truly not suited for governing a nation."
"That's right, Lady Makoto. Please don't leave the task of governing to Ei, this fool," Kitsune Saiguu nodded. Just look at what Inazuma has become!
"So Akio is our new deity," Raiden Makoto nodded. Having such a powerful god protecting Inazuma was indeed a blessing for the nation.
"Ei, Akio told me that you turned your body into a puppet?" Raiden Makoto pulled Raiden Ei closer and examined her, confirming that it was no longer a purely fleshly body.
"You! What have you done?" Raiden Makoto said with heartache. This was such a terrible way to treat your own body!
"For eternity! To avoid erosion," Raiden Ei shook her head.
Suddenly, Raiden Ei staggered, clutching her forehead as if in pain.
"Ei, what's wrong?" Raiden Makoto was shocked. As an Archon, this shouldn't be happening.
"It's the Shogun. She's resisting me," Raiden Ei said with a pained expression.
Just moments ago, when Raiden Ei mentioned returning the position of Shogun to Raiden Makoto, the Shogun's will had surged, trying to force Raiden Ei out.
"Ei, let go of the Shogun's will for now. I have a solution," Akio said quickly, seeing Raiden Ei struggling against the Shogun's will.
"Understood," Raiden Ei nodded. She had already decided to serve Akio, so she would follow his lead.
Soon, under everyone's gaze, Raiden Ei's expression turned cold and stern. Clearly, the Shogun had taken over.
"Are you the Raiden Shogun?" Raiden Makoto asked curiously.
"That is correct," the Raiden Shogun said indifferently. "The inner self wishes to return the authority of governing the nation to you. This vessel does not agree!"
"Raiden Makoto, if the inner self's memories are correct, as an Archon, your will should be to pursue the fleeting moment," the Raiden Shogun said. "And the fleeting moment is the enemy of eternity!"
With that, the Raiden Shogun summoned the Engulfing Lightning and pointed it at Raiden Makoto, her eyes cold and sharp.
"This vessel symbolizes supreme authority, granted the power to rule a nation, embodying everything that is the Raiden Shogun," the Raiden Shogun said calmly. "Naturally, it also inherits her determination to achieve eternity!"
"This vessel will cut down all enemies of eternity!" the Raiden Shogun glared at Raiden Makoto. "I am Ei's past, the unchanging law of all ages, the guardian of eternity. Raiden Makoto, will you stand against me?"
"Eh?" The shrine maidens, who had been watching the scene, were stunned. What was going on? The two Shoguns had been so happy just moments ago. Why were they now drawing their blades against each other?
"You all, step back," Akio instructed. The shrine maidens nodded and left.
"Shogun, there's no need to be so confrontational," Akio walked over to the Raiden Shogun and said softly.
"Akio, this matter concerns our will. Do not interfere," the Raiden Shogun said seriously. "Do not take advantage of my feelings for you to meddle in our conflict."
"???" Akio and the others were utterly confused.
"I've read those light novels. I believe I've fallen for you, but the matter of eternity cannot tolerate any deviations," the Raiden Shogun said earnestly.
"So that's why Yae Publishing House has been sending romance novels to Tenshukaku. It was the Shogun..." Yae Miko whispered to Kitsune Saiguu.
"Oh~~" Kitsune Saiguu nodded in understanding. "I didn't expect Akio to have such charm that even the Shogun, a puppet, would fall for him."
"Shogun, I understand your will. You inherited Ei's will when she created you, but this will also be a high wall that Inazuma and Ei must overcome," Akio said. "True eternity is not stagnation. Remaining unchanged will only accelerate the decline of a nation."
"Moreover, I understand that as a warrior, one should prove their will through battle," Akio continued. "Makoto is not skilled in combat. Fighting her would be meaningless. How about I bring Ei out, and the two of you can fight? That way, you can see if Ei has been eroded by time."
"After all, it was Ei who proposed returning the position of Shogun to Makoto," Akio said.
"Bring out Ei?" the Raiden Shogun was puzzled.
"I have a way. What do you think of my proposal?" Akio nodded and asked.
"If you can prove that the inner self has not been eroded, I will let this matter rest!" the Raiden Shogun nodded, agreeing to Akio's suggestion.
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