No wonder the Valkyries were so terrifyingly powerful.
They could draw upon Aerin's strength directly through the Stigmata engraved upon their bodies.
The "additional power" Sangonomiya Kokomi had displayed was none other than Aerin's own abilities—
Almighty Push and Universal Pull.
No one could have imagined that Inazuma's Electro Archon would be so utterly crushed by Kokomi after her ascension to Valkyriehood.
Yet what truly sent chills down everyone's spine—
Was Bella's appearance.
Narukami Shrine
Yae Miko's breathing hitched.
A biting cold seemed to coil around her foxfire.
"It's over… this is really over."
"Bella took Ei away. There's no way this ends well."
Did that witch ever act out of kindness?
Yae Miko didn't even need to think—
Bella was clearly trying to use Raiden Ei as a weapon against Aerin.
What unsettled Yae Miko most was Bella's attitude toward Kokomi.
She openly claimed to despise the Valkyries—
Yet she never truly confronted them head-on.
"She's afraid," Yae Miko muttered with certainty, rolling her eyes.
"She's treating everything like a game."
"But for us… this kind of game gets people killed."
She clasped her hands together, tail trembling.
"Ei… please don't fall for her lies."
"If you do… you're really finished."
Within the Plane of Euthymia
The clash between Raiden Ei and the Raiden Shogun came to a halt.
Both were still reeling from the same truth—
They had lost. Completely.
"To think… we were defeated so easily by Sangonomiya Kokomi,"
the Raiden Shogun said in disbelief.
"Yes," Ei replied quietly.
"So I must deal with the aftermath first. We can resolve our conflict later."
"After all… the end of life itself is the greatest denial of eternity, isn't it?"
The logic was irrefutable.
If everything vanished, what meaning did eternity hold?
The Raiden Shogun nodded.
"Then go. Use this body to do what must be done."
Narukami Shrine — Inner Chambers
Even after returning to her room, Yae Miko couldn't calm down.
She knew better than anyone—
In all of Inazuma, only the Raiden Shogun could command such catastrophic thunder.
"Was she fighting someone just now…?"
"And how did it end?"
The more Yae Miko thought, the more restless she became.
Then—
Space beside her twisted.
With a sound like shattering glass, a black figure emerged.
"Who—?!"
Yae Miko jumped in fright.
But the moment she saw the blood-soaked figure slung over Bella's waist—
Her pupils shrank violently.
"Ei?!"
She rushed forward without caring about Bella's terrifying presence.
But the instant she reached Raiden Ei—
Her vision blurred.
Her head spun.
The world tilted.
Bella's lips curved upward.
"So this is the fox's memory."
People were already familiar with Bella's ability.
A sudden dizziness.
A flash of vertigo.
That was usually enough to confirm one thing—
Bella was nearby.
And now, countless people lived in constant fear, terrified that the moment they blinked, they'd find a pair of crimson eyes staring back at them.
Yae Miko, of course, had no idea her memories had just been stolen.
She assumed she was merely faint from anxiety.
Once she steadied herself, she hurried back to Raiden Ei's side.
"Ei… what happened? Who hurt you like this?"
"She was injured by an invader from outside Inazuma," Bella said calmly.
"But don't worry. I've already treated her."
"She's weak, but her life is not in danger."
Bella sounded composed—
Yet inside, she was delighted.
She had already stolen Raiden Ei's memories during the battle with Kokomi.
To Bella, Ei was like a child who never truly grew up.
Loss of her sister.
Loss of her friends.
Those wounds had twisted her resolve.
That wasn't how a ruler should be.
Nor how a true powerhouse should think.
What baffled Bella even more—
Was Ei's indifference toward the Vision Hunt Decree.
Humans lived barely a hundred years.
What did that have to do with Visions?
Ei believed that only Heavenly Principles approached eternity—
Yet human lifespans themselves were defined by those very principles.
A contradiction.
To Bella, Raiden Ei was a naïve fool.
Easy to manipulate.
As for the fox beside her?
Bella ignored her entirely.
Before absolute power, clever schemes meant nothing.
"A goddess who loves her people but doesn't know how to love them,"
"and a fox who only wants to stay by her side."
"In that fox's heart, Raiden Ei matters more than Inazuma."
Bella's scarlet eyes gleamed.
"Interesting."
"With neighbors like Liyue and Sumeru… Inazuma will survive another five hundred years."
Then she frowned slightly.
"No… Ei's strength itself is still formidable."
Her gaze lingered on Ei—
Just as Raiden Ei's fingers twitched.
Slowly, her eyes opened.
"Ei!" Yae Miko lunged forward—
Only to be stopped by Bella.
"Don't touch her. She's still injured."
"…Miko?" Ei murmured faintly.
"Where… am I?"
"This is Narukami Shrine. Ei—what happened? Who hurt you?"
Yae Miko's voice shook.
As long as the Raiden Shogun sat in Tenshukaku, Inazuma would not collapse.
But seeing Ei like this—
It felt as though the sky itself had fallen.
If even Ei could be defeated—
Who was left to protect Inazuma?
"Let me explain," Bella interjected solemnly.
"The mastermind behind all of this… is someone named Aerin."
"Aerin?" Yae Miko froze.
She had never heard that name before.
Bella nodded.
"He, like me, comes from beyond this world."
"I came here seeking revenge."
Raiden Ei and Yae Miko both stiffened.
Yae Miko's eyes sharpened with caution.
Bella noticed it—and smiled inwardly.
"Tch. Troublesome fox."
Unbothered, Bella continued.
As time passed—
Shock replaced confusion.
Confusion turned to disbelief.
Then to anger.
"You're saying… you were disciples of the same master?"
Yae Miko asked.
"Yes. You could call me his junior."
"He deceived us all."
"He murdered our master. Took our master's wife."
"He transformed me into this… monster."
"Every world he descends upon, he enslaves its people, turning them into Valkyries."
"A pretty name for what they really are—mind-controlled slaves."
"They conquer worlds for him."
"Then he sells those worlds to others across the cosmos."
Even through the light screen, Bella's performance was chilling.
If her inner thoughts weren't exposed—
Many would have believed her.
Fountain of Lucine, Fontaine
Furina's eyes went wide.
"Murdered his master… stole his master's wife… sold entire worlds?!"
Clorinde exhaled sharply.
"Lady Furina, this is clearly manipulation."
Furina swayed, then sighed.
"…Shame. That kind of villain would've made a great antagonist."
Clorinde fell silent.
If Bella were telling the truth—
Teyvat would already be merchandise.
Narukami Shrine
Yae Miko's heart sank.
From Ei's expression on the light screen—
She was clearly believing it.
"That witch should've been an actress."
"This is bad… Ei, we're in trouble."
"Your words sound convincing," Yae Miko said carefully.
"But why should we trust you?"
"Perhaps you merely want to use us."
Bella scoffed internally.
Sharp fox.
Outwardly, she became solemn.
"Have you heard what happened in Mondstadt?"
Both shook their heads.
"Of course. The Sakoku Decree sealed you off."
"Then prepare yourselves."
Bella's tone grew heavy.
"He slaughtered over seventy percent of Mondstadt's people."
"He annihilated Grand Master Varka's expedition."
"And even Barbatos, the Anemo Archon… died by his hand."
Silence fell.
Ei trembled.
"Barbatos… impossible…"
"Nothing is impossible," Bella replied.
"Didn't you fall to Kokomi as well?"
That was the final blow.
Ei had been utterly defeated—at her strongest.
Then Bella sighed dramatically.
"If only I'd arrived sooner… Barbatos was already dying."
"He wrapped himself in wind to prevent his death from harming the land."
She opened her palm.
Raiden Ei gasped.
"The Anemo Gnosis…"
"He entrusted it to me," Bella said softly.
"Hoping the Tsaritsa could use it to defeat Aerin."
Ei turned toward Yae Miko.
Miko immediately produced the Electro Gnosis she had been safeguarding.
Bella smiled inwardly.
Perfect.
But she waved her hand.
"No. That won't work."
"You don't have time to gather all the Gnoses."
Instead—
She produced a dazzling, multicolored vial.
"This is the Stigmata elixir Aerin uses to create Valkyries."
"I improved it."
"No marks. No side effects."
"The stronger the drinker, the greater the power."
"Kokomi will rule Inazuma for him."
"And Inazuma's people will be slaughtered—just like Mondstadt."
"Join me."
"Ei… whether for revenge or for Inazuma."
Yae Miko looked at Ei in terror.
Ei remained silent.
Long moments passed.
Then—
"I was helpless before a Valkyrie."
Ei's words shattered Yae Miko's last hope.
"For Inazuma… I will bear everything."
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