"Stigmata Elixir!"
Mt. Aocang.
Cloud Retainer was so shocked that she immediately reverted from her crane form into human shape.
"That witch named Bella… she actually managed to produce a Stigmata Elixir belonging to the Fifth Descender."
Shenhe and Ganyu exchanged puzzled looks, clearly confused by their master's extreme reaction.
Ganyu lowered her voice.
"Adeptus… didn't she say she and that Aerin came from the same sect?"
Shenhe frowned, unconvinced.
"But nothing she says feels believable. And she seems capable of copying objects simply by looking at them, using some kind of special ability."
"Shenhe is right," Cloud Retainer—Xianyun—forced herself to calm down.
Bella had only glanced once at the Gnosis in Yae Miko's hand before confidently declaring that the matter was settled.
Most likely, she had replicated the Stigmata Elixir through that mysterious power of hers.
"If that's truly the case," Xianyun muttered, "then wouldn't this witch be even more terrifying than Aerin?"
"But what if her copies are flawed?" Shenhe raised a question, then added quietly,
"I feel like Inazuma's Electro Archon is going to suffer because of this."
Raiden Ei's first cooperation with the witch Bella instantly drew the attention of everyone.
Everyone knew it clearly—
Raiden Ei had been deceived.
Yet more than that, people were eager to see just how much power Bella could grant her, and whether it would be enough to oppose the Fifth Descender.
For a moment, spirits everywhere surged.
Everyone—except one.
Yae Miko.
The lively, shameless fox felt her heart sink into utter despair.
"Ei really got fooled… Even with me by her side, I couldn't stop it."
She sighed deeply.
"…We're finished."
Inside Aerin's Imaginary Space
Sangonomiya Kokomi approached Eula and Benales with her head lowered, her expression dejected.
"Everyone in the Kanjou Commission and Tenryou Commission has already been completely brought under my control."
"…But…"
She hesitated, her voice timid.
This had been her first mission—and it had been intercepted midway.
Although Aerin hadn't said a word, Kokomi's heart remained unsettled.
"So the only one left untouched among the Tri-Commissions is the Kamisato Clan?" Eula asked.
"And it seems the Master personally went there," Kokomi added softly.
"I don't know what the Kamisato Clan will face."
Eula casually toyed with her Frostbrand Sigil, her shapely hips resting against the edge of the table.
She glanced at Benales curiously.
"Benales, what exactly is Bella's situation? She took the Electro Archon away—do we really not need to go after her?"
Benales opened her eyes and calmly looked at both of them.
"Bella doesn't have much raw combat strength," she said flatly.
"But her ability to escape is practically maxed out."
"Even if we went after her, we wouldn't find her. Acting rashly would only let her lead us by the nose—which is exactly what she wants."
"She's just someone chasing amusement. Let her cause chaos. We'll treat it as a way to filter out those with weak resolve."
Eula and Kokomi fell silent.
Are you really sure she's only good at running away?
Kokomi could clearly sense a terrifying power emanating from Bella.
But seeing Benales slowly close her eyes again, ready to nap, the two exchanged glances and quietly withdrew.
They still needed to keep watch over the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions—
Waiting for the day Aerin captured the Raiden Shogun and put them all on public trial.
"Aerin is going to put me on public trial…?"
Raiden Ei stumbled, nearly slipping down the steps of Tenshukaku as she prepared to go find Yae Miko.
A public trial of Inazuma's Electro Archon?
She shook her head, utterly unable to imagine such a scene.
"To let the people of Inazuma judge me… Have I truly done something wrong?"
Hu Tao: "My head hurts just thinking about it… putting a god on public trial?"
Keqing: "I—I can't even imagine it. My mind feels completely muddled."
Yoimiya: "Our Shogun… please, can't she be spared just once? She's always put protecting Inazuma first."
Yae Miko: "Exactly. Ei was fooled because she wanted to protect Inazuma. And… well, she's never been particularly sharp."
Sangonomiya Kokomi: "Sigh… Even though Watatsumi worships Orobashi, the Shogun has never acted against us over it."
Yashiro Commission — Kamisato Estate
Both Kamisato Ayaka and Kamisato Ayato felt a sharp pain in their hearts over Raiden Ei's fate.
No matter what mistakes she had made—
Inazuma's centuries of stability had undeniably been upheld by her overwhelming strength.
"Brother…" Ayaka lowered her head.
"Do you think the Fifth Descender will truly put our Raiden Shogun on public trial?"
Ayato stared at his untouched tea, sighing deeply.
"I can't see the future at all anymore."
Deceived by Bella, Raiden Ei had already fallen into her current.
As Benales had said, Bella treated the people of Teyvat like toys.
Life or death meant nothing to her.
Ayato couldn't tell what kind of grudge existed between her and Aerin, but one thing was certain—
Her goal was exactly what she had once told Venti.
She didn't care about winning.
As long as she could disgust Aerin, she'd be satisfied.
Is this woman a lunatic?
Ayato could only sigh internally.
"Ayaka, we should focus on why he came to our clan in the first place."
That was what truly frightened him.
For someone of Aerin's status to personally visit the Kamisato Estate—
Ayato's heart twisted tightly.
Kamisato Estate — Quiet Courtyard Corridor
Aerin sat across from Kamisato Ayaka, a chessboard placed between them.
"Your move, White Heron Princess," he said casually.
Ayaka's body trembled slightly, her fingers shaking as she held a chess piece.
She knew who the man before her was.
The one who had aided the Watatsumi Resistance.
The one who had annihilated both the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions.
The Kujou Clan.
The Hiiragi Clan.
All swept away by a sudden, overwhelming force.
The Vision Hunt Decree.
The Sakoku Decree.
Both abolished.
And yet—
Tenshukaku remained eerily silent.
Ayaka couldn't help but link the battle she had witnessed that night to the strange stillness above the city.
Something had happened to the Raiden Shogun.
"I said it's your move."
Her hand jerked, and she placed the piece at random.
"No need to be nervous," Aerin said as he placed his own piece.
"I haven't captured your Raiden Shogun yet. Her execution will have to wait."
Ayaka's heart jolted.
"What did you do to Her Excellency?" she demanded.
Aerin paused, then chuckled.
"Hasn't the Kamisato Clan always secretly supported the Resistance?"
"Your Guuji, Yae Miko, has been investigating the Tenryou Commission's dealings with the Fatui."
"She even knows their communication channels."
"All your actions point toward a single goal."
"Overthrowing the Raiden Shogun."
"I'd say… we're allies."
Ayaka's face went pale.
Yes, the Kamisato Clan had cooperated with the Resistance.
But never to overthrow the Shogun.
The Tenryou Commission abused lives.
The Kanjou Commission bled the people dry.
As the last remaining balance—the Yashiro Commission—doing nothing would have meant eventual annihilation.
Supporting the Resistance was meant to awaken the Shogun's attention.
"We are not your allies," Ayaka said through clenched teeth.
"The Raiden Shogun was merely deceived."
"All we wanted was for her to hear the people's voices."
"Without Her Excellency's protection, Inazuma would never have known peace."
Aerin placed his final piece.
He stood, dusted off his clothes, and turned away.
"I understand your feelings," he said calmly.
"In my homeland, rulers who can be deceived are often called tyrants."
"The White Heron Princess makes a fine argument. A ruler blinded by deception is no different from a tyrant."
"Very well. Once I capture the Raiden Shogun, I'll send someone to escort you and your brother to witness her execution."
"You'll have front-row seats."
Ayaka froze.
She had never called the Raiden Shogun a tyrant.
Yet somehow, every word twisted into condemnation.
After all—
Only a tyrant would require rebellion to be 'awakened.'
"You—!"
Her vision darkened, and she collapsed mid-step.
"Oh, right," Aerin added lightly.
"I'd heard the White Heron Princess's chess skills were peerless."
"After today… you're about on par with an amateur."
"Utterly disappointing."
A Remote Island Far Out at Sea
To evade Aerin's surveillance, Bella brought Raiden Ei and Yae Miko to a distant, silent island far from Inazuma.
"How do you feel now?" Bella asked warmly.
"I feel wonderful, Bella."
Raiden Ei remained in the form of Magatsu Mitake Narukami, casually lifting Musou Isshin.
"This power… I've never encountered anything so terrifying."
When she consumed the Stigmata Elixir, the Gnosis connected to her shattered instantly.
The sight left Yae Miko trembling.
Raiden Ei opened her eyes, violet light bursting forth.
Lightning gathered—forming bones, meridians, flesh.
A layer of purple armor followed.
A colossal armored giant, nearly thirty meters tall, completely enveloped her.
Yae Miko gasped and collapsed to the ground.
"So this is the power of the Stigmata Elixir…"
"What kind of world did Aerin and Bella come from?"
"They're more terrifying than any god of Teyvat…"
Raiden Ei gazed at the sky, where massive thunderclouds churned violently due to the manifestation of Susanoo.
"Just transforming can already change the weather…"
"I can't imagine how terrifying a single Musou no Hitotachi would be like this."
"If you want," Bella said, stepping forward, "one slash would be enough to erase everything on an entire continental landmass."
"E-Erase everything?" Yae Miko's ears twitched violently.
"Then seven slashes would wipe out all of Teyvat!"
Bella nodded—then shook her head.
"At the very least, you can't stand in one place while swinging."
She was oddly humorous.
Raiden Ei looked at Bella deeply.
Poor Bella…
That bastard Aerin tortured her into this state.
If not for him, she might have been a girl in her prime.
"To prevent innocent people from being harmed," Bella said earnestly,
"you'll need to fight inside Imaginary Space."
"It's vast enough for you to go all out, Ei."
After retracting the Susanoo, Raiden Ei nodded seriously.
"I understand, Bella."
After a brief silence, she spoke again.
"Thank you. I will stop Aerin from persecuting Inazuma's people."
"And I'll help you reclaim your justice."
Bella's breath caught.
She looked away, lips trembling.
"…Yeah. Let's do our best. Together."
But in her heart—
She's absurdly naive.
She even thanked me.
I can't meet her eyes.
She's truly… far too innocent.
Still…
I'm looking forward to seeing how far you can go.
Raiden Ei.
Beelzebul.
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