[Resistance Frontline · Command Tent]
Gorou sprang to his feet in shock.
"What did you say? Kujou Sara—the Shogunate's general—was captured by a mysterious individual?!"
Cold sweat broke out across his back.
The Resistance Army and the Shogunate were enemies, yes—but Gorou knew all too well how terrifying Kujou Sara was.
Decisive. Ruthless. Unstoppable.
If the Raiden Shogun was the thunder that ruled the skies, then Kujou Sara was the lightning no one could guard against.
That single phrase perfectly summarized her standing in Inazuma.
And yet now… she had been taken.
By one person.
By an unknown figure.
Sudden, unknown variables were far more terrifying than familiar enemies.
"Is this information reliable?" Gorou asked hoarsely.
Before anyone could answer, a calm voice came from outside the tent.
"It is."
Gorou turned sharply.
"Lady Kokomi!"
Sangonomiya Kokomi stepped inside, having rushed from Watatsumi Island. The moment Gorou saw her, his heart steadied.
"Many of our soldiers witnessed it personally," Kokomi said.
"A massive bolt of lightning stopped the Shogunate army's advance. Then a man appeared out of nowhere."
"Kujou Sara confronted him."
"She was captured… and taken away."
After a brief pause, she added,
"But according to witnesses, that man said he intended to meet the leader of the Resistance."
All eyes turned toward Kokomi.
She frowned slightly.
"I never arranged a meeting with anyone."
"And more importantly… who could possibly seize Kujou Sara so easily?"
Confusion mingled with unease.
Just as the atmosphere grew heavy—
Chaos erupted outside.
"That's our headquarters! You're not allowed inside!"
"Wait—hey, you—!"
"Ah—!"
The noise cut off abruptly.
Dead silence followed.
Kokomi and Gorou both stiffened as a wave of biting cold slowly seeped into the camp.
Gorou rushed outside.
The moment he saw what awaited him, his legs gave out.
"G-Gorou?" Kokomi followed—and inhaled sharply.
The entire courtyard was frozen solid.
Resistance soldiers stood frozen in place like ice sculptures, expressions locked in time.
"My people…" Kokomi whispered, her heart bleeding.
Then—
"You're Sangonomiya Kokomi?"
The sudden voice made her flinch.
She looked up.
At the center of the frozen courtyard stood a breathtaking woman with pale blue hair, clad in armor like a knight-goddess of war.
"Aerin said you're clever," Eula remarked coldly.
"But I don't see it."
"You raised a rebellion with nothing but this rabble?"
"I expected someone capable of defeating the Raiden Shogun to be hiding here."
Her gaze shifted to Gorou, collapsed on the ground.
"This one?" she muttered.
"No… if it were him, he wouldn't be trembling like this."
She raised her hand.
Instantly, terrifying frost surged toward Gorou.
"Ko—!"
Before he could finish Kokomi's name, Gorou was sealed into ice.
Present · Watatsumi Island
Kokomi stared at the light screen, stunned.
She had been secretly delighted earlier—thinking Aerin intended to meet her personally.
She never imagined this kind of meeting.
Her resistance headquarters… wiped out in a single visit.
By Eula alone.
[Sangonomiya Kokomi]: "Isn't this development… strange? Didn't Aerin say he wanted to meet me?"
[Kujou Sara]: "Are you serious? You think the Fifth Descender would visit you personally? That's hilarious."
[Sangonomiya Kokomi]: "Says the rare-blood Tengu who got captured."
[Kujou Sara]: "You—stupid fish! Serves you right your rebellion got crushed."
[Gorou]: "Does this mean… the Resistance shouldn't have existed at all? But the Sakoku Decree is suffocating us!"
[Raiden Ei]: "What… has Inazuma become?"
[Yae Miko]: "Ei, you're finally responsive. Get out of the Plane of Euthymia—if it's not already too late."
[Kamisato Ayaka]: "Lady Guuji… who is she?"
[Yae Miko]: "The real Electro Archon of Inazuma."
Inside the Imaginary Space
Under Eula's escort, Kokomi—wearing an energy suppression collar—was dragged inside.
Along the way, she saw Kujou Sara shackled to the wall in a nearby cell, bearing the same collar.
The collars resonated with the Imaginary Space, preventing erosion.
"Aerin," Eula reported calmly. "I've brought Sangonomiya Kokomi."
She shoved Kokomi forward.
Kokomi fell to her knees before Aerin.
Her eyes burned with fury.
"You ordered her to kill all my people?!"
"Who are you really?!"
Aerin raised a hand.
Kokomi was lightly flicked away—then violently dragged back.
Her head spun.
Her anger faded into fear.
"Interesting," Aerin said calmly.
"You exploited public resentment toward the Vision Hunt Decree to solve Watatsumi's food crisis."
Kokomi's body trembled.
"You're wrong," she said weakly.
Aerin continued.
"The Kanjou Commission raised taxes."
"The Sakoku Decree strangled trade."
"Watatsumi cannot produce food."
"So you fanned the flames."
"I'm not wrong, am I?"
Silence.
Eula folded her arms.
"She's clever, Master."
"People who don't understand politics were dragged into war."
"And they would've all died to the Raiden Shogun anyway."
Tears streamed down Kokomi's face.
"My people needed to live…"
Eula shrugged.
"I didn't kill them. They're frozen."
"They'll recover."
Kokomi collapsed.
Then—
Her eyes lit up.
She crawled forward and prostrated herself fully before Aerin, forehead pressed to her hands.
"Inazuma's highest form of respect."
"If you can end the Sakoku Decree and Vision Hunt Decree…"
"Take my life instead."
Aerin stepped closer.
"So generous."
"Then I won't waste you."
He continued calmly.
"The Vision Hunt Decree is a lie."
"The real reason…"
"The Fatui."
"They bribed the Kanjou and Tenryou Commissions."
"To turn Inazuma into a Delusion testing ground."
Kokomi's mind shattered.
"Delusions…" she whispered.
"Those who lost Visions turned to Delusions."
"The Sakoku Decree kept the truth from leaking."
Aerin leaned back.
"Drink it."
He handed her a Stigmata Serum.
"Drink it," Eula added softly. "I was once a Knight of Mondstadt."
"Now I am his Valkyrie."
Kokomi trembled.
"A Valkyrie…"
Aerin smiled.
"I order you, Sangonomiya Kokomi."
"Go to Tenshukaku."
"Face the thunder."
"Shatter it."
"Drag the Raiden Shogun down from her throne."
Kokomi's heart thundered.
She knelt again.
"Yes… Master."
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