" About the Sacred Sakura tree... "
Lin Mo smiled faintly. " As a 'Crimson' alchemist who is well-versed in the power of the ley lines, of course I know what the Sacred Sakura tree does.
"
" Really? "
Ei could sense that Lin Mo was lying.
Indeed, Lin Mo was lying.
Because this Sacred Sakura tree that saved Inazuma had a deep, intricate connection to Lin Mo.
But due to certain reasons, Lin Mo couldn't elaborate.
So Lin Mo had to change the subject, smiling as he said, " Ei, why don't you trust me? "
Hearing this, Ei could only bury her doubts in her heart.
Lin Mo quickly shifted the topic and asked, " How about you tell us about that disaster now? I think Lumine and Paimon are quite curious, and so am I.
"
" Mm. "
Ei nodded.
She glanced sideways at the giant pink Sacred Sakura tree in the direction of Araumi, and her thoughts seemed to drift back to those days.
" Back then, Inazuma faced multiple crises. "
" Some came from within, others... from the fallen nation, Khaenri'ah. "
" The disaster in Inazuma weighed heavily on my mind. If I hadn't intervened in time, that calamity might have spread beyond repair.
"
" And Saiguu told me she would use all the power at her disposal to take on the responsibility of defending Inazuma, clearing the way for me without worry. "
Thinking back to the expression Saiguu had worn when she said those words.
Ei lowered her head with a desolate look and said softly, " I could feel it, even though neither of us said it out loud. We both knew the path ahead was fraught with danger.
"
" Huh... so you mean, when Khaenri'ah started the war, Inazuma was also attacked? "
Paimon asked curiously from the side.
" Exactly. "
" Countless monsters appeared across the land of Inazuma. Saiguu... she gave her life to protect Inazuma.
"
As she spoke, a trace of bitterness flickered in Ei's eyes. " I didn't get to see her one last time, but I believe that until her very last moment, she kept the promise she made to me.
"
" But even so, Inazuma's devastation far exceeded expectations. "
" Those tragedies became deep wounds, lingering long after, shared by the land and by me. "
" Ei... "
Lin Mo gently patted Ei on the shoulder.
At that moment, Ei lifted her gaze to meet Lin Mo's. " I could never forget the pain of 'loss.' I was blessed with immense martial power, able to cut down gods and exterminate demons, but in the end, I could never defeat time, nor could I keep the ones I cherished.
"
As she spoke.
Some unpleasant memories surged back into Ei's heart.
She remembered Lin Mo's passing back then.
She remembered her sister's sacrifice in that war.
She remembered Saiguu, whose soul had returned to the earth.
She remembered Chiyo, who had lost control and fled to the Dark Sea beyond.
Lin Mo gently pulled Ei into his arms and said softly, " Ei, don't look back at the past anymore. The ones we lost have all returned.
Everyone is still here now. Cherish the present. We have to look forward, right?
"
" Everyone is still here... but... "
Ei turned her head and looked in the direction where the soldier's lingering soul had vanished.
" You're right. "
" That soldier faced so much 'loss,' yet he fought for the sake of 'moving forward.'"
" The sacrifices of that era—they fought with all their might for the future they sought. "
" The vision that existed in their hearts... perhaps it wasn't the eternity I had hoped for. "
" That's what it means to be human. "
Paimon chimed in from the side.
" Mm. "
Ei nodded. " As the God of Inazuma, it's time for me to answer their expectations.
" With that said.
She turned her gaze into the distance.
There lay Araumi.
It was also one of the main battlefields where Inazuma's soldiers had once shed their blood and fought against the monsters.
Ei looked toward the Sacred Sakura tree in Araumi, her gaze firm. " Warriors who once shed your blood here, your glorious souls have merged into this land.
"
" I will not forget your efforts. "
" Ei's expression... it's so heavy... "
Paimon looked worried.
Ei turned back at just the right moment, looking at everyone, and urged, " Come on, we still need to go to the next location to continue investigating the damage to the Sacred Sakura tree. "
Soon.
Following the clues, the group arrived at the giant cherry blossom tree in Araumi.
This was one of the main battlefields from back then, and also the main root system of the Sacred Sakura tree.
" As expected! There are so many Rifthounds here too!
"
Paimon spotted the horde of Rifthounds roaming beneath the pink cherry blossom tree.
Ei took the lead.
Without waiting for the others to act, she charged first toward the dozens of Rifthounds.
Lin Mo didn't think much of it at first.
After all, even if Ei was in a mortal body, she still possessed the essence of an Archon. Taking down a few dozen Rifthounds should be a piece of cake, right?
Indeed, as Lin Mo expected, Ei handled the monsters with ease.
But in Lin Mo's eyes, her movements seemed somewhat sluggish.
Although she defeated the Rifthound horde, it took her some time, often requiring two or three strikes to kill just one.
After the last Rifthound fell to her blade.
Ei was panting lightly, holding her forehead as if in great pain.
" Ei's condition... seems a bit off... "
Paimon also noticed Ei's abnormality.
Lin Mo stepped forward, concerned. " Ei, what's wrong?
"
" Why do you ask? "
Ei's gaze was clearly evasive.
" Your power... has regressed a lot. "
Lin Mo frowned.
Paimon quickly chimed in, " Yeah, yeah~"
" Usually, you'd draw your sword cleanly~"
" And then 'shwoosh'—you'd shatter them all in one go~"
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T/N:
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