(Adventurer's Guild)

The party was at the Adventure's guild.

It consisted of Patrick, Drago, Kiana, Bronya, Seele, Fu Hua, Jingwai's Wings, Book of Fuxi, Aether, Paimon, Neptune, Blanc, Asuka, and Yumi.

Katheryne: Ad Astra abyssosque, party. Recently, the Adventurers Guild has received an unusual commission, and after careful consideration, we believe that—

Paimon: "The traveler would be the most suitable candidate." Right?

Kiana: And the rest of us?

Katheryne: Hehe, indeed. As ever. I will spare the pleasantries, then. May J ask if you are available to help?

Aether: Of course, that's what we're here for.

Neptune: Yep! There's no way we'd ever turn down commissions.

Katheryne: Well, let me go over it briefly. Our client for this job is the Yashiro Commission. Apparently, rifthounds are attacking the roots of the Sacred Sakura nearby Mt. Yougou in great numbers.

Paimon: Rifthounds? ...On Narukami Island?

Sakura: How is that possible?

Katheryne: Yes. We are not sure where exactly these creatures come from. But this time, they are attacking in alarming numbers with great aggression and a clear target. The Sacred Sakura is of tremendous importance to Inazuma. I trust you are aware of this already.

Aether: I believe I understand.

Katheryne: Good. Then you can see that this case is very urgent indeed.

Paimon: Is the Tenryou Commission aware?

Katheryne: Yes, and they are already taking action of their own. However, given that the Sacred Sakura's root system is vast and complex, and faced with the unpredictability and scale of the rifthounds' attacks, they are finding it difficult to defend against them. Their main priority is to protect the civilian population. So they are actively looking to cooperate with all other available forces to eliminate the monsters. The Adventurers' Guild is one of the key parties assisting the Tenryou Commission with their work. But so far, the combined efforts to combat the rifthounds has failed to substantially ameliorate the situation.

Aether: Time to make some whelps yelp.

Kiana: We'll send these pooches packing.

Katheryne: You have our deepest gratitude. Your confident response puts me far more at ease. I will mark on your map the areas where rifthound appearances have been recently reported. I hope you won't encounter too much trouble overcoming them.

Paimon: Relax! We'll be back before you can say "ad astra abyssosque."

Paimon: The Sacred Sakura's in danger again, huh. Who'd have thought.

Seele: Sakura, Higokumaru, and Tamamo are probably already there fighting against them.

Patrick: And they need our help.

Neptune: And so do Iffy and Compa.

Paimon: Keeping the Sacred Sakura safe was 's greatest wish, and now these mangy mutts are trying to destroy it. Time to teach them a lesson!

Neptune: Transform!

Everyone who can transform transformed into their other forms and those who could fly carried the ones who can't fly.

(The area where the monsters have appeared)

At the area, Sakura, Higokumaru, Tamamo No Mae, Minamoto No Raikou, Kallen, Selune's Elgy, IF, and Compa were fighting off the Rifthounds. That's when the party arrives.

Sakura: Thank goodness you're here! We can use the back up!

Paimon: They're attacking the Sacred Sakura! Stop them!

Purple Heart: Ha!

Purple Heart cuts down a rift hound then Asuka does the same thing.

Tamamo and IF: Rifthounds be gone!

Tamamo and IF throw talismans at the Rifthounds and when the talismans touched them, they exploded. When ever they were bleeding, Compa, and Bronya, and Tamamo healed them and stopped the bleeding.

Seele: Ha!

Seele slashes them with water then Yumi froze the Rifthounds in ice. More Rifthounds show up.

Paimon: Wow, there are so many of them! No wonder the Tenryou Commission needed help...

Sakura: Us too!

Paimon: Come on, guys! You can take 'em!

Blanc and Bronya do a combination attack. First Bronya summons Project Bunny and shoots several ice blasts at the Rifthounds then White Heat whacks at them with her staff. Bronya materializes Keys of reason around the Rifthounds then fire at them finishing them off.

Purple Heart and Asuka do their own combination and go really fast slashing at a group of Rifthounds and when they stop slashing, the Rifthounds explode. The team use their most powerful moves and finish off the third wave.

After defeating the third wave of Rifthounds, more Thundercraven Rifthound Whelps appear. And just as they attack...

Raiden Shogun?: Torn to oblivion!

An Electro slash comes out of no where and kills two of the Rifthounds. It was the "Raiden Shogun?" much to Paimon's surprise.

Then Mei showed up and defeated the last of them.

Paimon: Sh—Shogun? Mei? Wait, no... could also be Ei...

Raiden Shogun?: ...It's you guys.

Mei: It's Ei, everyone. Not the puppet.

Ei: It has been a long time. We have not seen each other since the resolution of the Tenryou Commission crisis.

Paimon: Okay, sounds more like Ei... it is you, right? You sure made short work of them. That was amazing!

Mei: Oh it was nothing. Ei can't be beaten.

Sakura: There are some of us here you haven't met before. Introduce yourselves.

(After introductions)

Kiana: ...What are you doing here?

Aether: What brings you out this time?

Ei: I'm making early preparations for what is to come.

Sakura: Early preparations for what is to come?

Ei: Last time we took a walk around Inazuma together, I witnessed the way the world is today. I was finally able to comprehend some things that I had never understood in the past. Since then, every time I encounter an obstacle in my thinking, I find myself having the urge to spend some time in the outside world.

Mei: Mostly with me. I've had to explain most of the modern things to Ei.

Ei: And since Mei has been staying with me it's felt like having Makoto back with me.

Mei: We've eaten together, we've played together, we've fought together, we've mediated together, and we did activities together.

Paimon: Makes sense. You must get super bored being stuck in there all the time.

Ei: ...Might I remind you that I am not here to amuse myself. Recently, Mei and I have observed a number of changes in the external world from the Plane of Euthymia. The most serious of these being the attack on the Sacred Sakura by numerous rifthounds.

Mei: The attack was having an affect on Ei's external world so we had to come out here.

Ei: I considered this matter worthy of my attention. So Mei and I pursued them, and they led us here, where I happened to run into you.

Sakura: Miko and I felt the rifthounds too. So she sent us to go deal with them. Then I summoned Raikou for help.

Raikou: Yes that's right. She summoned me.

Kiana: But the Commissions and adventurers can deal with monsters.

Aether: It doesn't seem like a matter needing the archon's attention...

Ei: If the Shogun rather than I were to discover them... Yes, perhaps she would have left the situation alone.

Paimon: Hmm? Why? Because she's just a puppet?

Ei: Precisely. According to the rules I designed for her, matters of this nature are to be delegated to the Tri-Commission. But rifthounds attacking the Sacred Sakura... it brings back bad memories of that terrible disaster...

Paimon: A disaster?

Ei: Yes. Five hundred years ago, a great catastrophe befell Inazuma. Everything was engulfed in a pitch-black fog and monsters ravaged the land... Countless lives were lost, and this homeland that the people had worked so hard to build barely escaped being obliterated entirely. The monsters committed many atrocities on Inazuman soil. And the rifthounds were always their advance guard. Their duty was to tear open a passage through space with their claws and teeth, and then call in even more powerful beasts.

It made sense to them.

Mei: You all know what happened five hundred years ago around the time of the disaster.

Aether: Five hundred years ago... Khaenri'ah.

Ei: Hmm. So you've heard of it, too.

Sakura: We've all heard of it.

Kallen: The Destruction of Khaenriah.

Kiana: What you, Makoto, the other archons, and the other gods did to Khaenri'ah when it gained too much power over you that you all had to destroy it so it doesn't get anymore power and to punish all the humans of Khaenri'ah and turned them all into monsters.

Ei: That's an episode of history that I am loath to recall. Maybe to you, it seems like my response to these creatures was an excessive one. But an excess of caution is not unwarranted in this case.

Paimon: Guess you can't argue with that...

Ei: Since we are both here for the same reason, let us work together.

Mei: I was thinking the same thing. Let's all work together.

Ei: From the traces they've left in the surrounding area, there should be many more monsters nearby. All of them must be eliminated.

Aether: Let's go.

Paimon: Paimon feels so safe when we're in Ei's company! Having someone uber-powerful on your team kinda makes you feel invincible, doesn't it?

Purple Heart: Yes it does.

Mei: We're all invincible in our own ways.

Paimon: Oh, yeah — after we've dealt with the monsters, we should ask her to tell us more about Khaenri'ah.

Mei: Let's move.

Mei and Ei went first and lead the party. They followed and found blue marks on the broken bridge.

Paimon: This color... It's similar to the color when the Sacred Sakura takes damage! Let's follow it, it should be this way.

The ELFs and Higokumaru followed by Paimon went further and found another mark on rock, then on stone path, the marks lead to a tree root that had blue marks and some damage.

Ei: We are lucky... the damage is not too serious. The Yashiro Commission will be able to nurse the root system back to health.

Paimon: This stuff that's flowing out, is it sap or something? And how come it's glowing...

Sakura: That's

Before Sakura could explain. A cloud came out.

The cloud disperses in all directions before coalescing into human forms...

Paimon: ...Huh? Wh—What's this?

Aether: I s someone injured?

Paimon: Could they be... dead people? It wouldn't be the first time we'd seen ghosts on our journey. But... why would they appear here?

Ei: Let's search the area. Perhaps we will find out.

They went closer to the glowing people.

Kitamura: Ugh... ugh... I can't go on like this... not when the other troops are counting on me...

Paimon: What happened here? Could you tell us?

Kitamura: Who are you? What are you doing here? Run, quick, while you still can! The monsters will be back... And once you're in their sights, I'm telling you — there's no escaping them! We will defend Inazuma... until our dying breath!

Aether: What exactly happened?

Kiana: What's got you so terrified?

Kitamura: You... you don't know? Inazuma is engulfed in darkness.

That's when it hit the Valkyries and Patrick.

Patrick: (This must be memories of the past after Khaenri'ah was destroyed, monsters attacked Teyvat.)

Kitamura: Beasts and horrifying monsters are everywhere! They are merciless, ferocious... and they will devour everything in their path... Every last trace of humanity's existence, I tell you... they'll devour it all...

Paimon: But look... none of that seems to be going on around here.

Kitamura: Not right now, but they'll be back... Look — get out of here, now!!! There's no time left! The Almighty Shogun is gone, so is Kitsune Saiguu. There's no one left to rely on but ourselves. I don't know how long we can hold out for, but... if we abandon our hope, then we've got nothing left at all.

Ei: Don't worry. I am right here.

Kitamura: It's... the Shogun!? You're back!

Mei: I'm here too.

Kitamura: What?! Two Shoguns?! Never mind! Please, we beg you... you have to help us... you have to save Inazuma! Only the glow of your supreme lightning can dispel this terrible darkness... please, or the whole of Inazuma will be reduced to a hunting ground for the beasts!

Ei: Calm down. The war you speak of is over.

Kitamura: Over? But... what do you mean, Shogun...

Ei: Look around you. The grass grows green and lush and a soft breeze blows. This is Inazuma at peace, as you will no doubt remember.

Mei: It was a long time ago.

Ei: There are no monsters, nor is there anything else here that could threaten your life.

Kitamura: Hmm... But... how? Just moments ago, they were everywhere... I saw them tear my comrade to shreds with my own eyes...

Paimon: Hey, calm down! Everything's fine now!

Kitamura: Huh... I think I understand... Almighty Shogun... you saved Inazuma! Yes... we were right to place our trust in the Almighty Shogun. As long as the Shogun is with us, Inazuma will last for an eternity... Thank you, Your Excellency, thank you, thank you...

The ghostly samurai dissipates.

Paimon: Wh—What's wrong with him?

Aether: Is he disappearing?

All the ghosts disappeared.

Ei: ...He's gone.

Paimon: ...Paimon can't even begin to understand what that was all about... but somehow, Paimon feels all sad and hopeless...

Ei: If I am not mistaken, what we just saw was a samurai's memory that was buried in the land. The Sacred Sakura can absorb and purify the filth in the Ley Lines. After the rifthounds attacked, some of this filth leaked out through the cracks in the trunk and formed a physical entity. An entity formed with strong filth would be highly aggressive. But when purified, it presents in the form of a memory. Purified filth quickly dissipates and will be absorbed by the Ley Lines shortly afterwards. In other words, it cannot exist for too long.

Aether: The same thing happened to Dusky Ming.

Paimon: So the memories of the ones that died are all appearing at this moment?

Ei: Yes. That soldier was one of the many thousands who made the ultimate sacrifice. What he was describing just now was precisely the disaster that happened in Inazuma 500 years ago.

Mei: He mentioned that the Shogun was absent...

Aether: He mentioned that Kitsune Saiguu was absent...

Ei: Yes. Inazuma was facing many great crises at that time. Some were local in origin, while others... others came from the now-fallen kingdom of Khaenri'ah. The disaster in Inazuma caused me great concern. I felt that I had to step in before it was too late, otherwise it would spread to all of Teyvat.

Sakura: (Hopefully she can tell us everything she knows. Unlike how Zhongli could not.)

Ei: But my friend, Kitsune Saiguu, reassured me that I had nothing to worry about. She would shoulder the responsibility of protecting Inazuma, and mobilize all forces at her disposal to combat the threat. ...I could tell that although neither of us acknowledged it, we both knew that the road ahead would likely end in tragedy.

Paimon: So... Inazuma was attacked at the same time as when the disaster happened in Khaenri'ah?

Ei: Indeed. Countless monsters suddenly appeared throughout all of Inazuma.

Mei: All those monsters who came from Khaenri'ah were originally human but were turned into monsters from a curse that the gods casted upon them. That's why there were tons of monsters that attacked.

Sakura: Kitsune Saiguu. Was worshipped as a goddess.

Tamamo: Miko told us about her.

Higokumaru: And her fate during the disaster... she...

Ei: In the end... Kitsune Saiguu sacrificed her life to protect the people. I never had the chance to see her one last time. But I would like to believe that she kept her promise to me until the very last. But even then, Inazuma was left more devastated than we could have ever imagined. Those terrible tragedies left great wounds that are still felt to this day, both on the land itself... and in my heart.

Paimon: Ei...

Aether: Is this the "loss" that Yae Miko mentioned?

Ei: Yes. For the longest time, I couldn't bring myself to face the pain of that loss. All my martial might was in vain... Though I could conquer Tatarigami and vanquish monsters, I was helpless against the ravages of time, powerless to keep the ones I cherished alive. ...

Mei: I thought losing Makoto was bad enough but losing Kitsune Saiguu was just as bad as losing her sister.

Ei: But after my clash with human ambition, I thought long and hard. Now I realize I cannot fixate on the past forever.

Aether: So you're no longer stuck in the past?

Ei: ...When I traveled around Inazuma with you, I caught a glimpse of how the nation has progressed over the centuries. A glimpse of human potential. Everything far exceeded my expectations. And when I met Mei, I saw Makoto inside her. Since she's been staying with me, I wasn't feeling lonely anymore thanks to her.

Mei: I pretty much went through the same thing you did with losing my mother then my father. People only liked me because of my family name and my father's company. But after he was framed, everyone avoided me. But thankfully, Kiana-Chan was there for me after what I went through.

Ei: Moving forward inevitably invites further loss, but also new encounters. Just think of that soldier. Despite all the losses he had experienced, he still chose to keep fighting, for the sake of moving forward. All those who sacrificed themselves back then gave their lives fighting for a future... but perhaps the future they were hoping for is not the eternity that I once strove for.

Mei: Absolutely.

Aether: That's what being human is about.

Ei: As Inazuma's god, it is high time I honored their wishes. Warriors of the past who spilled your blood on this land, your noble souls now rest in this earth. I will never forget you, and all that you did for Inazuma. Especially you Mei.

Paimon: Ei's taking all this pretty hard...

Aether: ...

Mei: She is. And I won't ever forget you, Ei.

Ei: Come on. Let's keep investigating the damage to the Sacred Sakura.

They continue the pursuit following the marks left behind which lead them to more Rifthounds.

Paimon: As expected, there are a load of rifthounds here, too.

Ei: Leave them to me.

Mei: I'm coming too.

Both Mei and Ei summoned their swords, then charge at the Rifthounds. The slashes from their swords tore through the rifthounds' skin.

Patrick: Look how powerful both sisters are.

Sakura: A lot of things happened. I trained how to fight with Miko and Mei trained how to fight with Ei.

Higokumaru: Yes! Aneki can fight with Miko and Mei can fight with Ei!

Mei and Ei slash a group of rifthounds and they all blew up. Then they do a combo slash and kill more rifthounds.

Kiana: Finish them senpais!

Mei and Ei do a finishing move and finish the last of the rifthounds. Then they make their swords disappear.

Paimon: Hmm, something seems wrong with Ei...

Aether: Are you feeling okay?

Mei: What are you talking about?

Ei: Why would you ask that?

Paimon: Well, usually, you'd pull out your sword and "swish," vaporize them all in one go, no?

Ei: You are unduly concerned. I'm simply conserving my energy.

Mei: It would be too early to use the Musou No Hitotachi. It's like following rules with being unacceptably overpowered. No nerfing all enemies in one shot. Because it would be too boring and makes you unlikable. And no ending fights quickly.

Purple Heart: That is true. Overpowered individuals are unacceptable with nerfing enemies in one shot, using unacceptable overpowered moves, and ending fights too quickly.

Patrick: I've said those things before. And that proves some points on why we don't end fights quickly with overpowered moves.

Kiana: And I must never aim my portals at point blank or finish an army all at once with my Void portals because it's wrong to be unacceptably overpowered when having portal powers and shooting weapons from portals.

Paimon: But fights need to end quickly or else people would be dead and time would be wasted!

Purple Heart: Then audiences would find us boring and unacceptable if we nerfed enemies all at once in seconds.

Paimon: What are you talking about?

Kiana's eyes turned yellow into Sirin's Herrscher eyes and fired a death stare at Paimon scaring her.

Kiana: Don't question that... ever...

Paimon: Yes... Ma'am...

Kiana's eyes change back to blue.

Kiana: Thank you.

Raikou: Now you understand why our finishing moves should only be used when enemies are weakened and when we want to choose to end fights so they last for a decent amount of time.

Kallen: Never nerf enemies unless if the time is right or if time is urgent and need to get somewhere fast.

Mei: Continue, Ei.

Ei: Although I have some understanding of the situation already, it could take an unexpected turn at any time. I must be prepared for anything. If there are more formidable monsters lying in wait in this area, I must make sure I have the strength to face them.

Mei: Which is why we must save our most powerful moves for emergency use only.

Patrick: We hold back first then when enemies get too powerful we go all out.

Mei: Yes, that is correct.

Paimon: Ah, makes sense! Spoken like a seasoned shogun. The roots seem pretty badly damaged this time... We definitely need to tell the Yashiro Commission about this.

Another light smoke was leaking out.

Paimon: Hey, the same light is leaking out again.

Aether: Is it the same situation as before?

Sakura: I think it is.

The light disperses in all directions before coalescing into human form once again... this time it was an old man wearing a blindfold.

Ei: ...Furuyama? Is that you?

Furuyama: Hmm? Almighty Shogun? What brings you back so soon? I thought you were off fighting a battle in a distant land?

Paimon: (Fighting a battle in a distant land? Sounds like this guy's talking about 500 years ago, too.)

Mei: (The distant land must be Khaenri'ah.)

Ei: Allow me to introduce Furuyama. He is a tea master and a member of my retinue. Though blind, Furuyama is unparalleled in his ability to appraise tea. He brews some of the very finest tea in all of Inazuma.

Furuyama: Your Excellency, you shower me with praise undeserved. I have simply had the good fortune to be in Your Excellency's presence long enough to become acquainted with all the skills that are required of me. It sounds like the Almighty Shogun has brought some guests?

Mei goes closer.

Mei: My name is Raiden Mei. I'm a distant relative of the Almighty Shogun.

Furuyama: Are you really? Well how wonderful. ...I'm afraid I am unable to serve you any respectable refreshments on account of the current situation... but please sit and rest. After all... it's quite a mess out there.

Paimon: Um... what should we do?

Aether: Let's go along with what he says.

Mei: I want to learn more about the past.

Purple Heart: This is important. We might get more questions answered.

Paimon: Oh, um... yeah, sheesh, there's monsters everywhere out there, it's pitch-black, and loads of people have been injured...

Furuyama: I see. So they have fought their way this far already. Most of the residents in this neighborhood have already escaped. They wanted to take me with them, but it seemed rather pointless to me. So I decided to stay. And now the Almighty Shogun is here, I have even less reason to run away, hehe. Imagine, if this was something that even the Almighty Shogun was powerless to resolve, where could I possibly run to then?

Aether: How come you're not panicking?

Furuyama: People flee out of a desire to live on. And the desire to live on stems from a feeling of having unfinished business in life.

Seele: That's human nature with wanting to live so they don't get killed in a disaster.

Furuyama: But me? I have no such thoughts, and I have no regrets. The Almighty Shogun often speaks to me about her dreams over tea. Just listening to her stories, ahh... I've been blind for many years, but her vivid descriptions took me on a splendid journey to all the most beautiful places in Inazuma... Over time, I've come to understand her mindset. Quite the romantic at heart. A true dreamer. One thing she always says is... "Good things don't last forever. Everything changes, fades, disappears completely over the passage of time. And so, people must make the most of the life they have, seize the chance to enjoy it while it lasts, and have no regrets in the end..."

Paimon: Umm...

Aether: (That doesn't sound like Ei at all...)

Patrick: (This doesn't fit the definition of eternity at all.)

Mei: (Could that be what Makoto would say?)

Furuyama: So you see, as bleak as things may be now, I have experienced countless wonderful things in life, and have no reason not to be satisfied.

Ei: Perhaps... you are right.

Furuyama: It won't be long now before I have to say goodbye to the Almighty Shogun for the last time. Ah, what a pity... I'll never get to see what Inazuma looks like after the Almighty Shogun rebuilds it anew. But I suppose it doesn't matter. Everyone says that Inazuma has turned dark now... but to me, it went dark a long time ago. Once this catastrophe is over, life is sure to spring forth anew. But even if I survived until then, I'd probably be a hopelessly befuddled old so-and-so by then... Hahaha, so never mind, eh.

Ei: ...

Furuyama: Oh, goodness me. Speaking of befuddled, look at me rambling away to my heart's content and forgetting to serve the tea. The Almighty Shogun comes to visit and I don't have the tea ready. A truly egregious loss of decorum. One moment, I'll just... Hmm? Where in the world is the tea set? I hope the others didn't smash it to smithereens in their hasty departure.

Paimon: Can't see a tea set anywhere around here...

Furuyama: Really? But it's always been right by my side... Goodness gracious... What a fool I'm making of myself.

Aether: We know where to find a tea set.

Furuyama: I couldn't possibly have my guests fetch it themselves, that would be most discourteous indeed.

Ei: Don't worry about it. Take a rest, we'll be back right away.

Furuyama: Almighty Shogun, you're not going too, are you? No, no, no, your humble servant implores you... Not with the war raging outside...

Ei: This place is... complicated. It's quite unlike the tea house in your memories. Leave it to us.

Mei: We promise we'll be back.

Furuyama: But... well, okay. I never thought I'd see the day that I need the Almighty Shogun to personally collect my tea set for me... I can't decide whether it's a final regret or a final stroke of good fortune, haha.

The party walks away.

Paimon: Where should we go to find a tea set?

Mei: I don't have any ideas.

Paimon: Having a cup of tea isn't exactly the most urgent thing to do right now... but at the same time, this lovely old man from 500 years ago has been through so much, and it makes Paimon so sad...

Ei: I'm also feeling very nostalgic for his tea.

Paimon: Oh, why don't we go to the Kamisato Estate? There'll definitely be a tea set we can borrow there.

Sakura: Good idea. It would be nice to see Ayaka again if she is there with Thoma.

(Kamisato Estate)

Hirano: It's the Traveler, Sakura, and... the Almighty Shogun! And Raiden Mei! How might I be of assistance, Your Excellency?

Ei: I wish to borrow a tea set from the Yashiro Commission.

Mei: It's important.

Hirano: Oh, uh, sure! I'll fetch that for you right away. Uh, please step into the courtyard and have a rest, Almighty Shogun. Oh, and I'll inform my lord about your visit immediately. Ah, and the tea set, I'll bring that here as soon as it's ready...

Ei: Be at ease, I'm not here to see Commissioner Kamisato. Actually, I'd prefer to spend this time chatting with the Traveler and his friends. Please, fetch the tea set at your convenience.

Hirano: No, no, no. I am your humble servant, I daren't think of my own convenience when the Almighty Shogun graces me with her presence! I'll deal with it right away.

Hirano walks away.

Mei: And there he goes.

They go inside.

Ei: Well, it's not often we have the chance to chat. I'm sure you must have a lot of questions?

Aether: Was it really you that that tea master used to serve?

Paimon: Right, Paimon wanted to ask that, too! The Almighty Shogun that he described didn't sound anything like you at all.

Mei: Sounded more like Makoto.

Ei: I seldom had the time to drink tea. Any free time I had was spent practicing martial arts. So in the vast majority of cases, the one he made tea for was the former Electro Archon... who was also my sister. Raiden Makoto.

Mei: Just as I expected. It was Makoto he was talking about.

Ei: He may well have had an inkling about there being two "Raiden Shoguns." But he always acted as if he was completely unaware of it.

Mei: And now he's seen me.

Ei: The philosophy of life that he shared with us just now, that was Makoto's view on reality. She always saw things that way.

Paimon: You and Makoto had pretty different views, huh...

Ei: Indeed we did. It was the biggest difference between us. In her eyes, the most precious things in this world were dreams — the yearning for a better future held by living beings.

Aether: Dreams... or in other words, "ambitions"?

Ei: They are similar, but not identical.

Mei: How so?

Ei: When you came charging into the Plane of Euthymia, I saw human aspirations light up the sky far above in the form of countless stars. This... somewhat shook me.

Sakura: Lighting our darkest hour.

Ei: Now, it seems like she was right, while I took the wayward path.

Paimon: Wow. There sure was a lot going on beneath the surface...

Ei: Makoto saw a bigger picture than I did. In her view, a "dream" is more imaginary, more abstract than an "ambition." An "ambition" is a yearning for something material, or a concrete outcome. It is finite in nature, and will be replaced by a new ambition in due course. Makoto was more concerned with the force that drives humans to constantly generate new ambitions in the first place. It is something innate, rooted in instinct — in other words... it is something eternal.

Paimon: That's, uh, quite a lot to take in...

Purple Heart: So much information and putting it all together.

Ei: To put it simply, Makoto wasn't concerned about outcomes. I didn't understand at the time. How can we say that we are maintaining eternity when things are constantly moving forward and evolving? I suppose what it comes down to is the definition of "eternity" she set out with.

Aether: It seems more in line with how humans view the world.

Ei: Yes, it does. I always thought that she must have grasped some elusive, arcane wisdom to arrive at the conclusions she did. But in the last analysis, Makoto's philosophy was — on the surface, at least — an elegantly simple one. Notwithstanding that it was also the more prudent choice, based on a more mature, far-sighted outlook.

Paimon: Do you feel you're starting to understand her better now?

Ei: You have already witnessed my previous views on eternity. But now, I no longer cling to what was lost. I suppose that means our differences have been reconciled.

Hirano finally came back with a tea set.

Hirano: Almighty Shogun, I found a tea set! This one in particular should be fit for Your Excellency's use...

Sakura: About time.

The party takes the tea set.

Ei: It's quite beautiful. Thank you.

Hirano: You are too kind, a humble servant such as I does not deserve the gratitude of the Almighty Shogun...

Paimon: It's all good, Sir! She's actually pretty chill.

Mei: Yes. What she said.

Ei: Let us return. We ought not keep Furuyama waiting too long.

Hirano: Take care, Almighty Shogun. You too, Traveler... And you too, um, uh... y—you take care too, anyway. All of you.

They return back to where the tea master was.

Paimon: Hey, where'd he go? He wouldn't have gone looking for a tea set himself, would he?

Aether: Wouldn't put it past him...

Ei: Or perhaps the Ley Lines did not have the power to sustain him for very long. As was the case with the memory we saw earlier.

Mei: That must be it.

Paimon: So... so we won't get to drink his tea? We didn't even have a chance to say goodbye... *sobs*

Bronya: It was just a memory from the tree. No offense.

Seele: So we took the tea set for nothing.

Ei: I don't think so.

Seele: What do you mean?

Ei: The information held in the Ley Lines is complex and disorderly. The fact that we were able to meet him to begin with was a miracle of fate...

Paimon: Mmm...

Aether: Cheer up, Paimon.

Sakura: We're gonna have to make our own tea.

Ei: Well, this chance won't come often, and we do have a tea set. Perhaps I should try my hand at making us a pot of tea. I've watched Furuyama brew tea on many occasions... I doubt I should have any major problems doing it myself.

Mei: Uhh... Are you sure? (In the game, Ei can't cook. Seeing that fan made artwork on Pixiv with her and Gordon Ramsey was really disturbing. She might flop at making drinks too.)

Ei: Oh no worries, Mei. It's always worth a try.

Mei: If you say so...

Ei brews a piping-hot pot of tea with the tea set.

Ei: The tea is ready, please give it a try. So many thoughts were racing through my head as I was brewing it, I... I'm not sure how to explain it...

Aether: It's just the memories flooding back in...

Ei: You're right, but the things we've seen today have brought back many memories for me. I've been reminded of many people, too. Kitsune Saiguu, Makoto, and all the other friends who I watched pass even further back. Back at the Yashiro Commission, I kept the conversation reasonably light-hearted. But now... I'd like to broach a heavier topic, if I may. The events of 500 years ago not only robbed me of my friend, Kitsune Saiguu... they also took Makoto away from me for good.

Paimon: She died in that disaster too?

Mei: Did she die when she went to Khaenri'ah to get rid of it for being too powerful than the gods?

Ei: Yes. She went to Khaenri'ah alone, without telling me.

Mei: (That answers the question. Ei did not go to Khaenri'ah and did not help with the destruction.)

Ei: Unlike me, Makoto was no martial artist. Whenever similar crises had arisen in the past, I was always the one to face them in her stead. But this time, the circumstances were so grave that Makoto had no choice but to leave me behind. Or... perhaps it was more that she went ahead of me, put herself in front of me so that I would remain hidden. In any case, by the time I realized what was happening...

Aether: Makoto had already...

Ei: Yes. It was too late. I arrived only in time to hear her dying breath. She had already lapsed into unconsciousness by that point, so all I could do was enter into her mind... As far as you're concerned, it would be somewhere similar to the Plane of Euthymia.

Mei engulfs herself in lightning and changes into Ei's clothing and lets her long hair loose.

Mei: Ei...

Ei: It was there that we bid each other a final farewell. I cried bitterly. Even in those final moments, I couldn't understand her actions. Why did she go to Khaenri'ah first, and not I? Why did she keep me in the dark about it? Was it to shield me? It was there and then that I resolved to pursue eternity. As a testament to that decision, I saved her realm of consciousness just before it collapsed completely, and brought it back to Inazuma.

Mei hugged Ei. Mei had tears coming down her eyes.

Mei: Ei...

Ei hugged back.

Ei: Mei...

Paimon: That's quite a story...

Mei: So sad...

Sakura: So that's what happened. Makoto did not want your help with exterminating Khaenri'ah and it's people and then turn them into monsters of the Abyss. Mei, didn't Ei tell you any of this?

Mei let go and turned to Sakura.

Mei: No... she did not. I never dared bring up Khaenri'ah because I was afraid that she would reject me and silence me and not tell me about Khaenri'ah.

Sakura: I asked Miko about more on the events and she told me everything.

Tamamo: If there was a way to bring Makoto back like wishes... would you want to wish Makoto back?

Ei: If there was a way... I probably would... When I returned to Inazuma, I was shocked to find that a great sakura tree had appeared on Mt. Yougou. The tree that you know as the Sacred Sakura.

Kiana: ..."Appeared"?

Aether: The Sacred Sakura has always been there, hasn't it?

Ei: That's exactly what everyone back then told me as well. That it had existed since time immemorial. They were so matter-of-fact about it, and couldn't at all understand what I was so surprised about. No one questioned it, and yet its presence contrasted so starkly with the area as I remembered it... it seemed as if I was the only one to have noticed it appear suddenly out of thin air. In the end, I simply had to accept that it was a miraculous effect of Makoto's consciousness.

Mei: (Makoto must have planted the Sacred Sakura and created it.)

Ei: With the help of the Sacred Sakura's power, I was finally able to overcome the monsters and quell the disaster in Inazuma.

Paimon: This is all really hard to understand... Kinda beyond Paimon's level.

Purple Heart: That answers some questions.

Sakura: And explains more details on what happened 500 years ago.

Aether: Simply put, Makoto's power somehow made that tree appear.

Ei: Yes... She had such a great love for this land, and for its people. In this respect, I still do not compare to her. I once told myself that I would never speak of these events again. Facing the fact that she is gone is unbearably painful.

Mei: But now you're telling us about the events. Which is what we needed to know in order to fill in the gaps.

Ei: But even the tea that is most bitter to the tongue, once swallowed, leaves some sweetness in the throat. ...And it's time I came to terms with it all.

Mei: It seems like you've done a lot of thinking about this already.

Aether: I know the pain of separation too.

Mei: Some of us do. I was separated from Kiana-Chan when an evil man took her away from me.

Seele: And when I sacrificed myself for Bronya to save her and then we found each other again.

Bronya: Yes.

Fu Hua: I feel your pain.

Purple Heart: I was separated from Nepgear a few times but we managed to find each other again and again.

White Heart: Same here with Rom and Ram.

Paimon: Oh, um, while we're on the topic, since you experienced that battle in person...

Aether: you seen my sister before?

Mei: That's what we need to know.

Ei: Sister? Hmm... I had heard that you were looking for your family. You mean to say that she was somehow involved in the Khaenri'ah disaster?

Mei: Yes.

Paimon: Based on what we've learned so far, it seems so, yeah.

Ei: I'm sorry. I wasn't there for the whole thing. By the time I arrived, the worst of the fighting was already over. And also... my mind was consumed entirely with the plight of Inazuma and the fate of those closest to me. So I am afraid I can't help you.

Paimon: Oh... well that's a shame. But it can't be helped I guess...

Mei: (Perhaps Makoto has seen her but we won't be able to ask her because she's already dead.)

Paimon: Boy, both of you have experienced great tragedy...

Ei: With this last cup of tea, let us honor the tea master's memory. Thank you, destiny, for giving us the chance to meet again.

Paimon: We should go. Let's keep following the traces.

Ei: Very well. Based on my investigations so far with Mei, I believe this next pack of monsters should be the last.

The party leaves. A cup of tea has been left for Furuyama. There were two questions. How much did he actually perceive, and how much did he let on?

As they continued their pursuit, Mei spoke to Sakura.

Mei: More questions have been answered.

Sakura: After this, we'll be holding our meeting in my Serenetea Pot.

Mei: Ok. We better transform.

The Herrschers transform into their Herrscher forms. Kiana transformed into Flamescion. They found more rifthounds.

Ei: Once again, please leave them to me. And to Mei.

Paimon: Hey, hey! A—Are you sure you're alright? You're scaring us!

Ei: Fear not. Fighting is what I do best.

Mei: Better with me. Thankfully she allows me to fight with her.

Mei and Ei summoned their spears. Then they charged in to fight. They did lightning slashes with their spears and shot lightning. Partway through the first wave, Ei is suddenly immobilized for a moment. The Rifthounds tried to attack her but Mei defended Ei before she managed to move again then finished off the first wave.

Ei: Ugh...

Paimon: Are you alright?

Ei: I'm fine, I...

The second wave appeared. Mei and Ei engage the rifthounds again. She gets immobilized a second time during the third wave. Mei killed the rifthounds that tried to attack Ei before she can move again.

After defeating the Rifthounds, more appeared in larger numbers.

Paimon: Ei, maybe you should leave this one to us.

Aether: You don't look too good.

Mei: Don't force it. Take a break.

Ei: I... My apologies.

Paimon: Don't worry about it! Just take a breather and get your strength back. We'll deal with the monsters!

Light cloud appeared from more damaged roots.

Paimon: Look... that's the same light again.

Aether: Time for another trip down memory lane.

Mei: Who have we got this time...

Three samurai emerge from the light at the critical moment.

Fujiki: Wh—Where am I? Who are you... *gasp* Almighty Shogun, you're here too!

They notice Mei too.

Fujiki: Wait? Two Almighty Shoguns?!  Are you injured, Your Excellency?

Ei: Ahem... I'm quite alright. Just feeling a little stiff.

Mei: Don't worry about it. She's ok. What she said.

Fujiki: We, the Shogunate samurai, will defend the Shogun until the very end! Come on, men! They're coming back for more, let's get them!

Ei: Don't. It's too dangerous.

Mei: They're too powerful for you.

Fujiki: Danger is our duty, Ma'am! If we were the kind to shy away from danger, we never would've taken up arms to begin with.

Fukami: No need to worry, Almighty Shogun. When the situation looks bleak, we will draw on the power granted to us by the gods.

Paimon: Is that a Vision?

Fujiki: It certainly is. I know the gods are omnipotent, and their willingness to grant their power to humans means that they have high expectations for us. If the Almighty Shogun is in trouble, now of all times is the moment for us to honor that.

Paimon: So that's how samurai of that era understood Visions, huh...

Aether: So full of hope.

Mei: An unwavering commitment to resistance.

Asuka: Feels like watching something from ancient Japan.

Yumi: Exactly.

Fukami: Nobody knew where Your Excellency had gone, and we were starting to despair. But now we've found you. You are right here with us. Just the sight of you appearing before us once more has reignited the hope in our hearts. This hope is the light that will guide us out from the darkness.

Fujiki: Everyone, on me!

Paimon: We'll help too!

The party draws their weapons.

Fujiki: Huh...?

Mei: I'll watch the Almighty Shogun! Go!

Fujiki: Affirmative. But watch your backs!

Fukami: Protect the Almighty Shogun!

The team and samurai engage the rifthounds. Being transfomed, the Herrscher and Seele hold back. Sakura cuts down a rifthound with her sword. Purple Heart and Asuka did the same thing and cut down rifthounds. Yumi does an ice spinning attack with her fans. Compa stabs a Rifthound with her giant needle then IF burns it to ashes.

Kallen shoots her guns at the rifthounds. Raikou cuts down the rifthounds with her sword then electrocutes them with her lightning.

Sakura: Crimson Naraka.

Sakura uses her ultimate and slashes through all the rifthounds back to back then when she sheathed her sword they all took damage and blew up.

Fujiki: It seems like their attacks are finally over.

Fukami: Huh, I've never fought so fiercely before!

Ei: Thank you all...

Paimon: Umm... Are you okay? Maybe you should keep resting...

Ei: I'm fine. I feel much better already.

Mei: Really?

Ei: Yes, Mei.

Fujiki: You fought phenomenally. It was truly awe-inspiring. The monsters will definitely come back. And when they do, it'll be more than a few rifthounds this time. Quickly, escort Her Excellency back to Inazuma City, and regroup with the general's forces as soon as possible.

Fukami: When everyone sees the Almighty Shogun safely returning, their spirits will be lifted.

Paimon: Well... what're you guys gonna do?

Fujiki: We will stay here and guard against the monsters' advance. We cannot afford to let them get any further. We are brothers in arms. As long as we stick together, we can face any number of monsters that come our way.

Paimon: *gulp*...

Mei: (We have no business disrupting the reality they are experiencing.)

Aether: Great, thanks. We appreciate it.

Fukami: Just leave it to us! Fighting is what we do best! But the Almighty Shogun is the only one of us with the power to change the present state of affairs. Only Her Excellency can turn back the tide of despair and lead us onward into the future. No matter what kind of threat faces Inazuma, we will always place our faith in the Almighty Shogun!

Ei: ... Thank you all very much. I promise you that I will create a bright future for Inazuma. I should not have left it this late to make this promise. But from this moment forth, know that I shall be true to my word.

Fukami: Don't worry, Your Excellency. We will never doubt your word as long as we live! With you leading us, we will claim back everything that Inazuma has lost!

Fujiki: Glory to the Shogun!

Samurai: Glory to the Shogun!

And then they disappear.

Paimon: ...They're gone.

Aether: Was that a promise to them...?

Mei: Or a promise to yourself?

Ei: It was both. The people's sacrifice has always caused me immense pain, but in dwelling on the tragedy, I overlooked their splendor... The grief blinded me to how brightly they shone in their final moments. The result being that in the centuries since their sacrifice, I have dishonored their will. You could take the view that whatever I say to them is meaningless, because they are but disembodied memories held in the Ley Lines. But even so, they are due a resolution... I owe it to them and to all the people who have placed their faith in me to date.

Paimon: Well... Paimon thinks that even if it's a few hundred years later, you're doing right by them now. And that's what counts.

Mei: Yes that's what counts.

Ei: Thank you for your comforting words. But this is my basic duty as Inazuma's archon, and I have neglected it for far too long. I used to think just like that samurai... that I was first and foremost a warrior, and my only duty was to face whatever challenge came my way. But what Inazuma needs more than a warrior is someone like Makoto. Even though I am utterly unlike Makoto, and can never become the person she was, I still need to do the things that she would have done.

Aether: Humans are worthy of your trust.

Ei: Yes, they are. They are strong and resilient, and have much to be proud of. As the Raiden Shogun they revere, I should not be the one to hold them back.

Paimon: Well said! Sounds to Paimon like you've figured things out.

Ei: Change will come to Inazuma, and with it, new possibilities. This will take time, but eventually, the future will bring healing to the scars of the past. No matter how long it takes, I am committed to bringing this to fruition. This is my promise. Now that we've dealt with the rifthounds, this matter is halfway resolved. It does not appear that the threat will escalate for the time being. I will leave the Tenryou and Yashiro Commissions to handle the follow-up work, such as investigating the origins of this incident and tending to the root system.

Paimon: Alrighty then! Let's move on.

Party: Yeah!

Paimon: Ei looks calm on the outside, but Paimon bets her emotions must be all over the place right now, huh?

Mei: Maybe.

Paimon: She seems to have changed a lot since we last met her.

Mei: Thanks to us and to me.

Paimon: ...Hmm?

All of a sudden, Ei can't move

Paimon: What's wrong, Ei? C'mon, keep up.

Ei was holding her head.

Ei: Ugh...

Party: Ei!

The party rushes to Ei.

Paimon: What's going on? Are you feeling unwell again?

Ei: My body... I can't move it.

Mei: You can't?!

Ei: It looks like the situation is more serious than I thought.

Aether: We should get you back to the city.

Ei: No need. "She" is calling me. The time has come.

Kiana and Purple Heart: Who's calling you?!

Ei: Can you help me walk?

Mei: Yes, Ei we will.

Ei: I need to go to the cave below the Grand Narukami Shrine.

Paimon: Why? What's in there?

Ei: A battleground... One where I shall sever ties with the past and take the first steps into the future.

Mei: Ok, Ei we'll take you there!

The Party flies Ei over to the cave. Mei and Kiana had to carry Ei all the way. They enter inside the cave beneath the Grand Narukami Shrine.

Ei: We're finally here. The entrance should be nearby...

Then a torii gate appears out of nowhere.

Paimon: Whoa, where'd that torii gate come from?

Aether: Are you alright?

Ei: It's getting worse again... But it's fine, I'm about to put an end to it all. This is a place I once sealed off with my own hands... The entrance to Raiden Makoto's realm of consciousness.

Ei: It looks like "she" will no longer allow me to do with this body as I please.

Paimon: Huh? What are you talking about? And who is "she" — Makoto?

Mei: The puppet?

Mei opens a portal at the torii gate.

Ei: Follow me.

Mei: It looks like we should. We're in our transformed states so we better be prepared.

Paimon: Where are we g— aah, aaah aaaah!!!

Everyone is dragged into a mysterious space by some unknown energy.

(Realm of consciousness)

Paimon: Ugh... Paimon's dizzy, where did we get sucked into this time... Whoa! This place...

Aether: It does look a lot like the Plane of Euthymia.

Mei: Only in a blue color and not a purple color.

Paimon: Look! Look, over there! It's another Ei!

Raiden Shogun: We meet again, Travelers.

Raiden Shogun: This body is an assistant to the one within. But it is also the guardian of the rules. Should the one within wish to stray from the rules, this body shall stand in her way.

The Raiden Shogun draws the spear.

Paimon: Wait, Paimon knows that voice... is that... the puppet!?

Mei: It is the puppet!

Raiden Shogun: You have wandered the realm in my body, and you appear to have grasped the true essence of eternity. You believe your present self has greater certainty than your former self. Thus, you believe your present self is correct. Don't you? But have you really been enlightened with new ideas? Or have you been degraded by irreversible erosion?

Ei: I'm here to show you my answer. We are both warriors, and the dialogue we must now have shall be conducted by the blade alone.

Paimon: Uhhh, wait, wait, wait, the atmosphere in here just took a turn for the worse! A—Are you, uh, are you alright now?

Mei: You don't feel pain anymore.

Ei: The discomfort I was experiencing earlier was caused by the Shogun rejecting my continued use of her body. As she indicates, once I started entertaining the idea of change, I became hostile in her eyes. But inside a realm of consciousness, I exist independently of her. She cannot affect me in this way. Though she is a puppet, the Shogun has her own consciousness, too. When necessary, she appears here to confront me.

Mei: (You should have killed your prototype Scaramouche if you had known the Fatui would recruit him. But you did not. Now Sakura is guarding your Gnosis while he has a fake Gnosis.)

Aether:I think you've mentioned this before...

Mei: This is her system to safeguard against modifications to eternity?

Paimon: Uh... Paimon gets that everyone has their internal battles and stuff, but... not like this! It's a bit extreme!

Paimon: Ei's showdown with the Shogun... Never thought we'd see that day.

Mei: I want to help but I don't think this would be allowed.

Ei: The rules I set for the Shogun are... no, the Shogun herself is the manifestation of my past ideals, the very foundation stone of eternity. It shall not be easily swayed. I would not try to change her if it wasn't necessary.

Paimon: Isn't there any other way? Can't you... talk it through? ...Or something?

Aether: Ei isn't someone who leaves herself an escape route.

Paimon: But they both just want the best for Inazuma...

The Raiden Shogun's voice now has an echo.

Raiden Shogun: My form is a symbol of supreme majesty, in which has been vested power over all the realm. It is the cohesive embodiment of all that constitutes the "Raiden Shogun." It inherits Ei's pain — the pain of inevitable loss that comes as she moves forward. So too does it inherit her determination to reach eternity. Every action undertaken is for the sake of resisting erosion. Determination, courage, love, hatred... All of these will be degraded and distorted by the incessant flow of time. Only rules shall remain constant for eternity.

Ei: Those were my thoughts when I created you. Now they are towering obstacles that I have no choice but to overcome.

Raiden Shogun: You wish to make yourself my enemy? I am your past, the everlasting law, the guardian of eternity.

Ei draws her sword the Musou Isshin.

Ei: And I am she who promised a dream to her subjects... Raiden Ei.

Then she holds it up.

The party stands back then Bronya creates a blue energy shield to protect everyone from the fight.

Raiden Shogun: In the end, even the proud and mighty oni maiden was cut down and disgraced... Though your blade has been cleansed of her blood and filth, never shall it shine as brightly as it once did.

Both Shoguns charge in at each other and their duel begins.

Mei: This is too shocking!

Kiana: I know! Feels like watching yourself fighting against yourself!

Mei: Watching myself fighting against myself!

Fu Hua: Feels like what I went through when I fought against my Herrscher self with Kiana and Patrick.

Mei: Ei should have killed her prototype Scaramouche and the Fatui would have a less advantage over the other nations of Teyvat but she did not.

Ei: I shall not fall here.

Ei's Blade met the Raiden Shogun's causing a shockwave.

Sakura: She wanted the prototype to experience life and she did not see that he joined the Fatui.

Mei: It's been months and Hoyoverse still hasn't given Scaramouche another appearance or have an appearance to any of the other Fatui Harbingers who did not appear yet.

Purple Heart: Everyone thought that update was bad and the fandom became intoxicated.

Paimon: What are you talking about?

Mei and Purple Heart: Nothing!

The Raiden Shogun was at low health but she recovered.

Raiden Shogun: The Kitsune's Sakura blossoms that once filled the skies fell to the ground as pitch-black rain... As long as the Ley Lines flow, the relentless erosion of time will never stop.

Paimon: Sh—She's completely recovered!?

The Raiden Shogun draws out the Musou Isshin from her chest. Then when their swords met it caused an even more powerful shockwave.

Bronya: So strong...

White Heart: So powerful.

Mei: Ei...

Mei summoned her sword prepared to help Ei.

Ei: Don't, Mei. This is my battle.

Mei: I can't take this anymore.

Ei: Just sit tight, Mei.

When the Raiden Shogun's HP was low again she recovered again.

Raiden Shogun: The divine lightning that envelops all of Inazuma will fade silently into the clouds... There shall never be another. Never, for the rest of time...

After some time passes, Ei had the Raiden Shogun defeated. Bronya removed the shield then they all came to Ei's side.

Paimon: Have you finally defeated her?

Mei: Hard to say.

Raiden Shogun: It appears your martial prowess has not dulled. But how long can your will remain strong?

Paimon: How the heck...

Aether: Surely the Shogun puppet isn't invincible...?

Ei: In this realm of consciousness, her existence is tenacious indeed. She was built to resist erosion. Her will is stronger than any other living being's, including you and me.

Paimon: Then... does that mean this is gonna be a never-ending battle?

Ei: Maybe. But I have to prove to her that my present will is no product of erosion. The future I shall forge will be a grand undertaking, one that will be resistant to erosion. If I don't do this, the Shogun's rules can never change, and Inazuma can never move forward. This is my duty. No matter how long this battle may last, months, years, centuries... And no matter how many times we must fight, I will defeat her.

Mei: Ei...

Aether: What will happen to Inazuma in the meantime?

Ei: Five hundred years ago, humanity proved their strength in battle. Here in the present, they rely on their ambition to challenge wayward practices, tear them out like the diseased wood of an old sakura tree, so that new, healthy branches might spring to life in their place. It is about time that I learned to trust them.

Aether: But can you bear to leave humanity to go alone?

Mei: Everyone looks to the Shogun for hope.

Ei: I understand that. But if the dreams of which Makoto spoke are true eternity, a short moment for which the Shogun does not exist is nothing to fear. I fight for the everlasting future of Inazuma. However long the battle may last, it is but a drop in the ocean of eternity. I vow to the subjects of Inazuma that I shall one day return. This is my oath. Please be my witness. During my absence, I place everything in Miko's hands.

Paimon: But, but this means that—

Ei: Pass on my words.

Mei: But Ei—

Aether and Mei: Ei!

Paimon: Whoa!

The party was chased out of the dimension by Ei. They ended up back in the cave.

Paimon: Looks like we got kicked out...

Mei: Ei refused our help. My help too.

Paimon: What do we do? Are we really just gonna leave Ei and the Shogun to keep on duking it out in there forever!?

Mei: We can't! We have to get back in there!

Paimon: She was making sense, and maybe this is the only way to change the Shogun's rules, but still...

Aether: Ei has no physical body anymore, and has to rely on the Shogun.

Kiana: But this cannot be the only way...

Paimon: Right? Also, Ei can be pretty stubborn at times, and has a history of rushing into difficult situations... What if she gets too obsessed with winning, and she forgets why she's there in the first place? It could happen... And then she might never leave again!

Kallen: She and the Shogun will end up like me and Sakura. In a curse of infinite time loops.

Sakura: In endless battles.

Aether: We're not about to leave her just yet.

Mei: He's right. Our work here isn't done.

Paimon: Yeah! We should help her out, like we did last time. The quicker she gets through this, the better.

Everyone: Yeah!

Paimon: Is there any way we can cut down how long she needs to spend in there? Or, y'know, help her win the fight?

Aether: Umm...

Paimon: Well, whatever, we can't let anything bad happen to Ei while she's in there! ...Oh, but we also can't get in there anymore.

Party: Yeah!

Paimon: Okay, well first things first, we gotta find a way back in! C'mon brain juice, don't fail Paimon now! Um, okay, maybe if we both ram into it at the same time, really really hard—

Kiana: Mei-senpai has Ei's powers. She can get us back in!

Paimon: Yes you're right! Mei can do things Ei can! She can get us back in there!

Mei: I don't know how to do that.

Paimon: WHAT?!

Mei: She taught me how a few things but she did not teach me this one. We better think of something else.

Aether: We need to talk to Yae Miko.

Paimon: Oh, you're right! Paimon nearly forgot about her!

Sakura: Yes of course. We can ask Miko on how to get back in.

Paimon: Who knows if she really understands these consciousness realm-plane thingies more than we do... But there's no one else we can turn to. Alright, up the mountain we go!

(Grand Narukami Shrine)

They go to the Grand Narukami Shrine and meet Yae Miko.

Sakura: Miko, we need your help.

Yae Miko: Someone's not in the best of moods... Let me guess, you're all tangled up in another situation and need me to unravel it for you?

Sakura: Yes Miko. We are tangled up in another situation and need you to unravel it for us.

Yae Miko: I hope you realize how lucky you are. If it was anyone else, I don't think I'd have the patience to keep greeting them with a smile after the first few times.

Paimon: ...But you're always smiling!

Yae Miko: That was a figure of speech, do you understand? Nitpicking my turns of phrase, the sheer audacity.

Aether: Paimon, get to the point...

Paimon: Oh, yeah, yeah! Something really big's happened! It's Ei, she... she...

Mei: She's fighting against the Raiden Shogun in her sister's mind in the cave underneath the shrine!

They tell Yae Miko about everything that has happened...

Yae Miko: Oh, okay, I see. So Ei's decided to palm Inazuma off onto the humans, while she goes off on her own to fight a fierce battle that doesn't even have an end date...

Mei: Yes. And we want to help her end the fight but she refuses to let us help her.

Yae Miko: Impossibly stubborn, jumps straight to the most extreme course of action imaginable, presumes her sheer will can see her through, despite a near-impossible goal that requires nothing short of the very peak of her abilities... Yes, that sounds like Ei, alright. You know as well as I do that she's always been like this. Why start fretting about it now?

Aether: This duel is more serious than anything up till now.

Mei: She rushed into it without thinking.

Yae Miko: Rushed into it without thinking... Hehe, well put. Ah, she acts like such a child sometimes.

Mei: Considering with how we have seen her act like a child.

Sakura: That is true.

Yae Miko: So, you seem to be under the impression that I am able to offer some sort of help?

Mei: Yes.

Yae Miko: Who gave you that idea?

Paimon: Is she playing dumb? She's doing this on purpose for sure!

Yae Miko: Aha, you're learning, little one. But really, the truth of the matter is that I don't know much more about 's realm of consciousness than you do. All I know is that it's the foundation of the Sacred Sakura, and from what I have heard it's a little different from Ei's "."

Paimon: Because Raiden Makoto is no longer alive?

Yae Miko: Not just because of that. The nature of the space itself is different in some way... But I can only speculate. You're the ones who have actually been there, so you tell me — what was it like?

Aether: I didn't notice any differences.

Sakura: The only differences were that it was blue not purple, and did not have any solid ground or torii gates inside.

Yae Miko: Anyway, we needn't worry about the details too much — it'll just be a little difficult to explain things later on, that's all. First things first. Follow me to the entrance.

(The party returns to the entrance to the secret realm)

Yae Miko: Now then, I always have my ways. It's just a question of how crafty I need to be... To the outsider, the realm of consciousness is a very abstract concept. Luckily, I'm Ei's familiar, so I can sense her rough whereabouts.

Yae Miko: In other words, even though I can't pinpoint the exact spatial location of this realm, I can still send you to where Ei is.

Paimon: So it's abstract, but has a location, but you don't know where it is, but you can still send us there... what?

Yae Miko: Yes, no need to try and understand it. Let me put this simply: Right now, she is surrounded by chaos.

Mei: Surrounded by chaos?

Yae Miko: Everything is turbulent and disordered... If you try to force your way in, you could be swept away by a giant wave that sets you down in an unknown corner of space-time. This is precisely why when entering the Plane of Euthymia, it's much safer if you place your consciousness in a physical object first.

Paimon: What? Alright, well Paimon's staying here, then. You two can go in!

Aether: Paimon, you're not gonna abandon me, are you?

Patrick: Don't forget that Paimon can't fight.

Yae Miko: Suit yourself. Worst-case scenario, all we stand to lose is Ei, so what's the big deal?

Paimon: You... Ugh! Paimon's had it up to here with both of you! Fine, Paimon's coming too...

Drago: You better stay close to us.

Jingwai's Wings: We maybe small but that doesn't mean we can't defend ourselves.

Selune's Elgy: Just stick with us at a distance and we'll defend you.

Yae Miko: Oh? Well if you're quite sure, then of course. Now, I shall send you on your way. ...

Miko uses her power and opens the portal.

Yae Miko: Hmm? I say...

Aether: What is it?

Yae Miko: Oh, nothing. It just seems extraordinarily chaotic, that's all. My suspicions have been confirmed. By the way... Remember to focus constantly on your heartfelt wishes when you enter inside. Only a strong enough will can prevent you from being swallowed by the giant waves of abstract space. Only if you are strong enough can I deliver you to the right destination.

Aether: Okay.

Yae Miko: Well then. The door is open. Hop on in.

Yae Miko: I'll stay outside and provide what stability I can. I'll be ready to respond if anything happens.

Sakura: I'm staying out here too with Higokumaru and my servants. Miko taught me how to do this so she's gonna need my help.

Mei: But Sakura...

Sakura grabs Mei then whispers into her ear.

Sakura: Don't forget that this is Ei's story quest. You should be having more involvement. Not me. I'm having more involvement in Miko's story quest.

Mei: Ok. Ok.

Kallen: I'm staying out here too with Selune's Elgy. It wouldn't be right to have high numbers against the Raiden Shogun.

Seele: I'm going. I'm brave enough.

Seele transforms into her Stygian Nymph battlesuit.

IF: Compa and I will stay too.

Compa: We know you can do this without us.

Mei: I guess we're ready to go.

Yae Miko: ...I'm placing my god in your capable hands. For my sake, and for Inazuma's, please... bring her back.

Mei: We will. We'll bring Ei back. As Ei's new sister, I promise.

Paimon: Miko, you'd better know what you're doing...

Sakura: She does.

Aether: We will not fail.

Yae Miko: That's enough chatter. Get to work!

Mei: We're coming Ei!

They walk through the portal.

They are going through a purple portal tunnel holding hands. However they are lost within Raiden Makoto's realm of consciousness.

Here, they ebb and flow with time and space itself.

Patrick: And here we are again in another portal tunnel.

Kiana: We shouldn't be talking! We've got to focus.

Then all of a sudden the portal tunnel cracked ahead where it showed different visions. Charms on a wall, a tree's growth in reverse, and Inazuma being built. All of them are captured in the span of a breath. Yet the battle between Ei and the Shogun rages on.

Paimon: What do we do!?

Yae Miko: Remember to focus constantly. On your heartfelt wishes.

Shards showing the past and Ei's battle with the Raiden Shogun passed by them.

Yae Miko: Only if your are strong enough. Can I deliver you. To the right destination

Remembering what Miko said to them, they focus their thoughts and they were back in the portal tunnel then blacked out... When they opened their eyes again, Ei appears before their eyes once more. They were back where they were with Ei and the Raiden Shogun. They were back inside.

Mei: Ei!

Ei: ... How can this be? You have returned... But how were you able to get back in? And... how come you have not changed at all in all these years...

Aether: All these years? ...What?

Mei: Did time move faster in here?

Raiden Shogun: This is a duel to remember. It is as if we have returned to the moment when the laws of eternity were first established. Your will today is as strong as it was back then. Over countless battles, not once have you lost, and never have you shown the slightest hesitation. Had I made all enemies of eternity stand against you, you still would not have wavered.

Ei: For your firm commitment to enforcing the rules, you have my admiration, too. You bring honor to the title of "Guardian of Eternity."

Raiden Shogun: Now these two return once more to this space. An inevitability of fate, perhaps. Then let this be our final duel, the conclusion to that which began 500 years ago.

Ei: Final duel? So you're finally willing to...

Mei: Ei don't do this alone.

Ei: Stand back, Everyone.

Aether: Are you going to put an end to all this?

Ei: I'm going to be the start of something new.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

Purple Electricity came off the Raiden Shogun and then she transformed. She now had a different outfit with her long hair flowing, had two hair ornaments, and had purple energy arms. On the right was a giant arm holding her giant sword, on her left were 3 smaller arms, and underneath her were 2 giant hands. The middle smaller hand held a weapon. Mei was frightened and terrified seeing the Raiden Shogun with another form. The duel started again. Bronya puts up the barrier again.

Raiden Shogun: The time our duels took to fight was long enough to witness the rise and fall of nations. The energy they consumed, great enough to vaporize the oceans and turn day into night. And the will they demanded, sufficient to penetrate minds and crush dreams. Yet, you have endured.

Ei: I will endure forever.

Ei was able to dodge the attacks from the arms. When the giant arm was about to horizontally slash the arena, Ei avoided it with destroying an orb and erecting a shield barrier.

Ei: The will I carry within me will never be eroded nor destroyed.

Ei is still able to deal damage to the shogun by getting through the arms. The party just stood there watching. However, Mei was still worried about Ei.

Mei: (What was the point of us showing up anyway? I want to help Ei fight but she won't let us or me go in to help her.)

???: Raiden Mei.

Mei: Huh?

A purple astral projection of someone looking like Ei appeared behind Mei.

???: Take up your sword and help Ei as her new sister.

Mei: Wha?

Mei turned around to see the astral projection gone.

Mei looked at her sword then at Ei.

Mei: Take up my sword... and help Ei as her new sister...

The giant sword was about to hit Ei but another giant sword came in and blocked it.

Ei: Huh?!

Raiden Shogun: Huh?!

Then behind the Shogun came Mei and slashes with her sword blowing the Shogun away from Ei.

Mei: Ei!

Ei: What are you doing, Mei? I told you to stay back.

Mei: I can't bring myself to do it anymore! I want to help you. A voice told me to come help you as your new sister.

Ei: Mei.

Raiden Shogun: So another interloper dares to challenges me.

Mei: Please Ei... Let me help you.

Mei holds her hand out.

Ei looks at the Raiden Shogun then at Mei.

???: Accept Mei's help, Ei.

The voice spoke to Ei. She closed her eyes then took Mei's hand and opened her eyes with a smile.

Ei: Very well, Mei. You may help me.

Mei smiled.

Mei: Thank you, Ei.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

Raiden Shogun: If you're done now, we have a duel to finish.

Mei: You're right. We have a duel to finish.

Kiana: Go get em, Mei-senpai! And you too Ei-senpai!

Bronya: Mei Nee-sama!

Seele: Mei-san! Ei-san!

Mei and Ei hold their swords, then Mei's giant floating arms float to her.

(0:23)

Then they charge at the Raiden Shogun together. The Raiden Shogun sends a shadow underneath them then they get out of the way before a giant arm punched out then disappeared. Mei and Ei separate and run around in a circle around the Shogun.

Purple Heart: Now you decide to play "You Say Run".

Patrick: Couldn't find any moments where this song would go with until now.

Kiana: Now let's watch both Raidens fight against the puppet! Woo!

Mei's giant arm holding the giant sword clanged with the Shogun's giant sword and caused another shockwave with lightning coming off. Ei went behind and slashes the Shogun sending her back.

The Shogun created an orb then from the orb came 3 lightning circles on the floor which then came three totems at the center of the arena that released Electro waves. Mei and Ei had to dodge or deflect the waves. After a few seconds, all 3 bolts release a wave simultaneously. Mei flies in with her giant arms and fires several lightning bolts but get deflected by the Shogun then both giant swords met again and caused another shockwave of electricity. Mei's other giant arm with the scabbard blocks the 2 bottom arms from hitting her then Mei jumps back and lets Ei deal the next attack.

Ei returns to Mei's side then they both nod to each other then go in really fast and slash through the Raiden Shogun dealing a lot of Electro damage.

Having enough of this, the Raiden Shogun covers herself within her giant bottom palms and blinks away, completely draining all party members' Energy and leaving Flowers of Remembrance in the form of an orb. Mei was going to destroy but Ei stops her. The eye portal opens up.

Ei: This time let's block it with our special move.

Mei: Yes Ei. Let's do it.

The much larger giant arm with the sword comes out and prepares to slash at them.

Ei: I used to be lonely with out Makoto. But now I have Mei.

Mei: I've never had a sister before but now I do in this world.

Both of their swords glowed brighter.

Mei and Ei: Together we are sisters!

The horizontal slash comes in.

(2:22)

Mei and Ei: DOUBLE MUSOU NO HITOTACHI!

They charge and swing their swords and counter the giant sword which causes a mute more massive shockwave so powerful that Bronya was having trouble stabilizing the barrier. White Heart holds Bronya and helps her.

Mei and Ei: HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mei and Ei kept pushing back till cracks started to appear on the giant sword till it finally shattered.

(2:52)

This caused more winds to blow then the Raiden Shogun reappears on the arena. Then she sends Electro energy slashes at Mei and Ei but they charge in and dodge then finish off the Shogun with one final double Electro slash which causes the Raiden Shogun to get engulfed in a column of lightning. When it stopped, the Shogun drops down to the floor, changes back to normal, and collapses down. 

Finally the battle was over. Bronya removed the barrier for Kiana to fly very fast to Mei.

Kiana: Mei-senpai!

She glomps Mei down.

Kiana: You and Ei-senpai were amazing! You fought together against a boss and won!

Mei: Kiana-chan! Please get off of me! You're supposed to be more wiser than that!

Kiana: I may be wise but I'm always gonna have this personality! Hehehehe!

Bronya: Enough.

Project Bunny removes Kiana from Mei with its arms.

Kiana: Fine...

Purple Heart: Does this mean that the fight is over?

Asuka: Hard to say.

Mei: It better be over.

The Raiden Shogun gets back up and looks at everyone.

Raiden Shogun: This is the end. You have won.

Mei: Yes... We have won.

Raiden Shogun: I believed you were incapable of transcending the past. But it seems my belief was baseless and I underestimated your spirit. But a will that cannot be eroded has no way to embrace the future.

Ei: You need not worry about the future, and you aren't alone. I know your power more than anyone else. Had I relied upon my strength alone, I would have lost this duel for sure. But thanks to everyone here, I relied on everyone's strength. Including Mei's strength. Yet my reason for fighting redefined my martial prowess and redrew my limits. I now carry the gaze of the myriad of expectant eyes that look to the light in the heavens. And whenever I think of this, I feel something stirring within . The blade that I inherited from Makoto seems to be trying to guide me... to encourage me.

Raiden Shogun: I noticed it also. Just now, in the heat of battle, it seemed to unleash a new and unfamiliar power. This power is beyond the limits of my understanding.

Ei: This blade belonged to Makoto.

The previous Shogun

Ei: Perhaps it can only respond to me with its full power when I truly understand and believe in her. When I clasped Musou Isshin in my hands, I had the feeling that she was by my side once again just like when I saw Mei I felt that she was by my side once again. It was at once a familiar feeling and a strange one... Makoto barely wielded a blade in her life, and yet her blade and Mei brings me closer to her. Then when Mei came into the picture, she found herself also being able to use Makoto's blade too. And my spear also.

Raiden Shogun: You have my approval. Your present will is not the product of erosion. I shall no longer stop you from attempting to modify the rules. From this day forth, this body will remain your assistant.

Ei: I won't design any more rules that can never be changed. You used to represent my past, but from today onward, you are me. Makoto never saw me as a fearless weapon. Likewise, I should not regard you as a mere tool.

Raiden Shogun: ...Heh, you truly have changed. I suppose this is what humans call "growth." I understand. I shall become your shadow, just as you were once Makoto's shadow. The duties I perform will not change. But as a warrior, I look forward to the chance to fight like this again in the future.

Ei: Do you say this because you have not yet reconciled yourself with your defeat?

Raiden Shogun: It was simply a new experience for me. One that is worth reliving.

And then the Raiden Shogun walks away and disappears.

Paimon: Have you finished fighting, then? Like, for real this time?

Mei: I think they have.

All of a sudden, the Musou Isshin was glowing, then light came out of it which formed into a sphere.

Ei: Hmm?

Aether: Musou Isshin is glowing?

A voice comes from the light created from Musou Isshin...

Makoto: Hello Ei, and greetings, those who have come to bear witness. I am Raiden Makoto, the previous Electro Archon, who failed in my duties and left you all to pick up the pieces.

Ei: Makoto...?

Mei: Makoto?!

Makoto: I'm so happy. You've come so far. I always knew you would make it here in the end. I left a faint fragment of my will in Musou Isshin, so that in the moment that you unleashed its full power, I too would be released. A convoluted way to reach you, but... Well, you held such deeply entrenched views at the time that you wouldn't have listened to a word I said. There was no time to wait for you to have a change of heart. Please forgive me... All I could do was find some way to wait until you came to me.

Ei: But you never mentioned this to me...

Makoto: Everything happened so suddenly... I'm sorry. I've always felt terrible for having to entrust Inazuma to you all of a sudden. I should have been the one to impart these ideas to you a little at a time, to dissuade you from your pursuit of stillness.

Ei: Did you know what was about to happen in Khaenri'ah?

Makoto: I had some sense of it. That place... was not somewhere that any archon could afford to ignore. In my present form, I can no longer perceive time. I don't know how long we have been separated before this reunion, and I don't know what Inazuma has experienced in the meantime. But I know that this must have been an extremely arduous journey for you... and I'm sure you must have wanted to shed tears many times along the way.

Ei: ...Don't look down on me.

Makoto: See, you admit it. It was with this possibility in mind that I left a parting gift for you... something to soothe Inazuma's pain. Here, take it. Before my last shred of consciousness fades away. But it is you who must take the most important step... And Raiden Mei... Please continue to take care of my sister for me.

Mei: I will Makoto. I will.

Another cutscene happens.

The orb turns into a seed which then goes into Ei's hand.

Paimon: The light turned into... A seed?

Makoto: The miracle tree that blesses the people, in this moment new to the world and yet to be known. When to plant it, where it shall bloom... She who brings it into being must let her heart and dreams decide. Grant it life, Ei.

Ei: Is this... is it really...

Ei plants the seed of light then the ground came a Sakura tree, and their senses of time starts to blur as Inazuma's centuries of history blaze by in point form.

Makoto: Eternity extends time into infinity, dreams illuminate each moment within.

All of a sudden, foxes appeared out of nowhere. Then more things happened.

Makoto: When both shine in unison, the Sacred Sakura blooms from the darkness, finally free from the clutches of the . Now, the nightmare has dissipated, and reality is made whole. The vision we both yearn for is still further ahead. My only regret is that I cannot witness Inazuma's future, nor can I walk this journey with you.

The orb appeared again.

Makoto: Do you know, Ei. I am so happy right now. Because my final wish has now come true. Your polearm once protected me from countless calamities. For this, I've always felt indebted to you. Though I could never repay you in full, this Sacred Sakura will buy you some time until you are ready to awaken and embrace the new. What do you think? Did it do the trick?

Makoto: This time, it really is goodbye, Ei.

The orb turned back into sakura pedals and went up.

Ei: Goodbye, Makoto.

(Later)

The whole party was back at the Grand Narukami Shrine with Ei and Miko. After leaving the realm of consciousness and returning to the shrine, they relay everything to Yae Miko and the party members who did not go with them. The party members who were transformed were not transformed anymore.

Yae Miko: So the Ei of the present planted the Sacred Sakura in the realm of consciousness, and it took root in the Inazuma of the past...

Mei: That's exactly what happened. Yes.

Yae Miko: No matter what you make of it, it's quite incredible.

Ei: All of this is thanks to Makoto's power. Her understanding of eternity is much more profound than mine. Eternity is a concept intimately connected with time. When you begin to touch on eternity, the concept of time becomes murky.

Aether: We saw wonderful things inside that place. Time was moving forward and backward at the same time.

Yae Miko: A place where time is meaningless and cannot be understood with ordinary logic... So, that was the "turbulence" I was sensing. Perhaps that is the reason why you were able to return precisely to this point in time without any problems.

Neptune: Yeah. Thanks to our plot...

Kiana and Patrick cover Neptune's mouth.

Yae Miko: Plot what?

Kiana: What she means is that it was like having plot armor on us like in a story that we were able to make it back here.

Patrick: Yes that's it. Like having plot armor in a story.

Neptune forces them off.

Neptune: Yeah... Like having plot armor in a story where nothing bad happens to us or we meet a terrible fate.

Yae Miko: And yet, that sense of disorderliness has now completely disappeared.

Ei: I don't fully understand yet. But my intuition tells me that the reason for everything... it's that seed. Hmm, well I'm not convinced that it was Makoto's power alone...

Ei: I know what you mean. Perhaps Makoto got a higher power

Ei: involved in all of this. But whatever the explanation, her solution is what saved us all. Without the Sacred Sakura, Inazuma would likely have been completely swallowed up centuries ago by that disaster and the filth.

Yae Miko: I know you've always perceived there was something special about the Sacred Sakura. But to me, it has always been there. You've tried in the past to prove to me that there is a connection between the Sacred Sakura and Makoto's consciousness. But unfortunately, you never did persuade me, did you?

Ei: No, but I understand why now. It was because the Sacred Sakura hadn't even been planted then.

Paimon: Umm, but don't you think that tree looked a lot different than how it does now?

Yae Miko: The Sacred Sakura is within my purview at the shrine, so obviously I get to prune it exactly how I like it.

Paimon: Ugh... Now we see who's pulling the strings...

Yae Miko: I'm joking. That tree has been through a lot since it first sprouted. We have the loving care of kitsune over the ages to thank for how it appears today. And obviously I played my part, too. It's fair to say that very little time passed between the moment you came out of that realm and the moment you re-entered it. But in that same time, centuries of battling took place on the inside, did it not?

Mei: Ei said that it had been 500 years in there.

Yae Miko: Travelers, if I'm guessing correctly... You were repeating your wishes to yourself in your mind, weren't you?

Aether: Yes, we were.

Kiana: Is that significant?

Yae Miko: At that time, I could sense Ei's whereabouts, but I also sensed anomalies in the flow of time within that space. Suffice to say, time added a whole new dimension to our search. Simply establishing a location was not sufficient. Fortunately, your wills were strong enough that the turbulence carried you to the moment in time most likely to be the intersection of all that you were wishing for. The flow of turbulence may well have been influenced by Makoto. But it took everyone's efforts combined to ultimately help Ei. So this time, it looks like thanks are due to you.

Paimon: Does that mean... it wasn't by chance that we ended up at the final duel? We were always meant to be there to witness what was going to happen?

Aether: Perhaps this is what the Shogun meant by...

Mei: ..."an inevitability of fate."

Ei: I thought that the flow of time was the same on the inside and the outside. So it was a great shock to me when the Travelers re-appeared. My first thought was, "Has a great disaster befallen Inazuma?" But it turned out you had come to rescue me... You came for my sake, to help me reach the best possible outcome. You all have my thanks. You have done much for me, and I will never forget it.

Mei: Yes Ei. It's what we do.

Yae Miko: Ei, how are you feeling now?

Ei: My body has fully recovered, and the Shogun's will no longer fights against me.

Yae Miko: Always thrilled to hear you're in good health. But I was really asking about your emotions. Have you managed to calm down? After all, you saw Makoto in there, didn't you?

Ei: I only heard her voice. I wouldn't say I saw her... I'll be fine. It brought a few things back, of course. But I've made my decision to move forward. I have to say, this has reminded me once again just how brilliant Makoto was. She predicted all the ways in which Inazuma's future could unfold all the way back then. She even factored my immaturity into her plan. It's all thanks to her that Inazuma lived to see this day.

Aether: Makoto was brilliant.

Mei: But Ei, you made a crucial contribution, too.

Ei: I just planted a seed.

Aether: Your will and hers were both indispensable.

Paimon: Yeah! It was thanks to everything you did that you got to see her again. That's amazing!

Aether: The final act might be a simple one.

Mei: Just because the cause and effect ended up a bit back-to-front...

Aether: ...doesn't mean you should undervalue the part you played.

Mei: But getting there was the result of countless efforts coming together.

Aether: Just because the cause and effect ended up a bit back-to-front...

Mei: ...doesn't mean you should undervalue the part you played.

Ei: ...Thank you, all.

Yae Miko: Today, at long last, you and Inazuma finally emerge from the shadows cast by the events of centuries past. Makoto and you are Inazuma's past and future, and both are indispensable.

Ei: It's rare to hear such comforting words from you. I graciously accept them.

Yae Miko: Oh, come on, you only think it's rare because you never used to listen to a word I say.

Paimon: Makoto said the exact same thing.

Yae Miko: Great minds think alike, hmm? I wonder, does that qualify me to, maybe, take the position of Shogun for a couple of days? Actually, no — forget that. Far more trouble than it's worth.

Kiana: What about, Mei-senpai? Does she qualify?

Mei: Huh?! I can't possibly take the position of Shogun for a couple of days!

Yae Miko: You kind of qualify.

Sakura: You have the same blood as Ei and Makoto.

Ei: You pretty much qualify. We will have to end the frivolities there. There is much work to be done. The Shogun and I will closely review the Inazuma of today to find out where things currently stand. Then, we will give careful consideration to the future. After that... I will abolish the .

Paimon: Really? That's huge news!

Ei: I am no longer pursuing an eternity defined by stasis. In which case, there is no further need to keep the nation under lock and key. I don't doubt that many challenges lie ahead for Inazuma...

Aether: But out of those challenges will be born new opportunities.

Ei: I'm looking forward to it.

Mei and Sakura stood next to each other.

Mei: Has our relationship gotten closer to their relationship?

Sakura: Not much.

Mei: In that artwork it showed Ei and Miko close together which made Kiana and Kallen angry that their own "Genshin Impact" versions do not get shipped with them and they attack MiHoYo out of anger.

Sakura: That artwork showed how angry Kiana and Kallen were with MiHoYo shipping their loved ones which is us with each other.

Mei: We still have more to talk about.

Sakura: Right. We're not done yet. We still have a few questions to ask you.

Ei: Many challenges still lie ahead for Inazuma, but I am prepared for them.

Aether: About the "challenges"...

Ei: Abolishing the Sakoku Decree has a myriad of implications. It would be folly to say that it will be all positive, and there will be no negative repercussions. For example, I can foresee the outside world posing a threat to Inazuma's businesses. These are the issues that I must work to solve.

Yae Miko: Ei, you're thinking about this all so conscientiously. I've only got as far as wondering whether I'll be able to sell entrance tickets to the Grand Narukami Shrine in the future.

Ei: Honestly, Miko...

Aether: About the gaze of the gods...

Ei: Makoto's gaze was always fixed on the people of Inazuma. I always assumed it was because... that was her duty. But now I see that hers was a gaze full of delight and hope. It was not just a duty, but a joy, too. She loved humanity very dearly.

Yae Miko: If people of the past deserved the gods' attention, then so do the people of the future.

Ei: Indeed. No longer will I ignore their passions and dreams.

Aether: About the centuries of dueling...

Ei: To put it bluntly, it was constant torture with no end in sight. Faced with an endless battle, I had to remain focused at all times. Had my concentration lapsed for but a moment, the Shogun's blade would have taken my life. Safe to say, were it not for my previous experiences in combat, my skills would not have been up to the challenge. I would most certainly have been defeated. And through it all, you also had your part to play.

Aether: About the damage to the Sacred Sakura...

Ei: Don't worry, I haven't forgotten. I will be sure to remind the Tenryou and Yashiro Commissions of their duties in this regard. It's not only the monsters that I am worried about. I'm concerned about what else might escape from the Sacred Sakura.

Yae Miko: That's a tough one, alright... There's plenty more besides memories held in the Ley Lines.

Ei: Since you clearly understand, perhaps you could think about making an effort, too.

Aether: Yae Miko said she was placing her god—

Yae Miko: Ahem! Yae Miko said nothing of the sort, and the Traveler has some nerve making up spurious claims about her while she is still present.

Neptune: Oh no. You said you were placing a certain someone in our hands...

Yae Miko fired a seductive stare at Neptune which scared her and caused her to rush away and hide behind a wall.

Yae Miko: Some words are not to be passed on.

Kiana: Why is that? Too embarrassed to say what you said to us?

Yae Miko: Trust me, you don't want to know the cost of betraying me. Just think of the things I said to you as our little secret. Understood?

Kiana: Ok. Ok. We won't tell her.

Ei: What are you talking about?

Yae Miko: Nothing. I suddenly want some fried tofu.

Patrick: It's obvious what the price is betraying her. She kills us.

Yae Miko: Oh no. It's not that. It's something else.

Neptune comes back.

Mei: What did the gods use to turn the humans of Khaenri'ah into monsters?

Ei: I don't know. I was never there when the destruction happened to begin with. I don't know how the humans of Khaenri'ah were turned into monsters.

Kiana: It was kind of the gods' fault that the Abyss Order was created and want revenge on them for turning them into monsters and for destroying Khaenri'ah.

Mei: Alright then. About Scaramouche. Your prototype puppet.

Ei: What about him?

Mei: You should have disposed of him when you had the chance. But no. You let him live then the Fatui recruited him and undid what you did to him and now he's gone rouge.

Ei: I could not bring myself to kill him. He was too young and I wanted him to experience life. I wish I could've seen the future if he was going to join the Fatui.

Mei: And then he was helping the Tsaritsa achieve something by helping her and the other Harbingers steal all the Archons' Gnoses before going rouge. Don't you even wonder what the Tsaritsa is up to?

Ei: Whatever the Tsaritsa is doing is none of my concern.

Mei: What the Tsaritsa is doing should be your concern. She's trying to take over Teyvat and gain more power over the other Archons and start a war with Celestia. You should never have cut ties with Celestia. I'm gonna find Scaramouche. And when I find him... I'm going to kill him with the Musou No Hitotachi.

Yae Miko: Are you gonna stop her from killing your prototype?

Ei: That is none of my concern.

Aether: We have no other questions.

The party comes together then Sakura held out the Dream Sakura.

Sakura: We've gotten some more questions answered. Tonight let's get everyone together and hold our meeting.

(Night, Sakura's Serenetea Pot)

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

Everyone was outside in the Shrine courtyard.

Mei: And that was it. Ei was never at Khaenri'ah and endured 2 loses during the fall of Khaenri'ah. Raiden Makoto and Kitsune Saiguu.

Sakura: And we fought against the Raiden Shogun. Well Mei and Ei fought against the Raiden Shogun.

Mei: Yes. Ei and I fought against the Raiden Shogun. A boss battle.

Patrick: And we had dialogue options to ask questions like we did at the end of act 3 of the Inazuma Archon quest. After not having the Archon Ei answer the questions she was there to answer questions.

Mei: And we met Makoto in the arena where we fought against the Raiden Shogun.

Neptune: More lore questions are answered.

Tamamo: Next up is Yae Miko's story quest. Mikon~

Mei: I feel that I've gotten even closer to Ei.

Sakura: And soon I'll feel that I've gotten closer to Miko.

Kiana: As long as you both don't forget about me and Kallen.

Kallen: We know that we overrated I the artwork but we can't help ourselves. Especially when you and other alternate versions of you get shipped together instead of with us.

Himeko: There's bound to be more fan art of Genshin Impact ships of our alternate selves.

Higokumaru: If we're done here, we should go to sleep.

Sakura: Ok Higokumaru. We'll get our rest.

The camera zooms out then looks up at the full moon before fading away.

(Stop at 0:35)