Three days later, a strange atmosphere lingered over Inazuma City.
From Hanamizaka to the town streets, once-bustling areas had fallen silent. Shops and stalls were shuttered, even the Adventurers' Guild had hung a sign: Closed Today.
Soldiers patrolled in numbers several times higher than usual, rushing through alleys with tense, guarded expressions.
The few pedestrians still out hurried along, avoiding lingering in the open.
Rumors spread like wildfire across the city.
"Did you hear? The front-line Shogunate troops have all withdrawn!"
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"What's good about it? I just saw them—they're all gathered outside the city! A black mass of soldiers! They've surrounded us completely!"
"What? Don't tell me… they're planning a rebellion?!"
"Shhh! Don't talk nonsense! I heard the Shogun is outside the city…"
"Outside? Then who's in the Tenshukaku right now?"
"I heard—just a rumor, don't spread it—that the real Shogun's been away fighting this whole time. The one in the Tenshukaku is a fake! Swapped out by some Fatui group! The real Shogun is returning now to deal with the impostors!"
...
The rumors ran wild, told with such certainty you'd think the storytellers had seen it themselves.
At that moment, Kamisato Ayato and Kamisato Ayaka were walking down the street, overhearing the increasingly outrageous gossip from passersby.
The anxious patrols spotted movement and rushed over—only to relax immediately upon recognizing them.
"It's Lord Kamisato of the Yashiro Commission and Lady Kamisato..."
The soldiers exhaled in relief and bowed respectfully.
After they left, Kamisato Ayaka whispered,
"Looks like the rumors we've been spreading are working."
Kamisato Ayato nodded.
"Even with the army at the gates, Kujo Takayuki refuses to repent. Since conflict is inevitable, stirring up public sentiment can help reduce unnecessary casualties. Lady Yae's plan is quite clever."
Ayaka sighed.
"The other two clans... are they really that stubborn? If they saw the real Shogun outside, how would they even react?"
"They're going all-in. They know they've committed crimes worthy of death. From their perspective, it's better to gamble everything. If the one outside turns out to be a fake, they might still keep their power and wealth."
Ayato looked again toward the towering Tenshukaku.
"Besides... Lord Lu Chen mentioned in his letter that the one up there is no weakling. Whether the Shogun is real or fake... does it even matter?"
Hearing Lu Chen's name, Ayaka sighed in awe.
"So the legendary human hero... actually exists. It's hard to believe."
"Yes..." Ayato had long wished to meet the famed prince. But the message from their two allies—passed on earlier by Lady Yae—had given them an even more urgent task.
Once the patrols had vanished, Ayato scanned the empty street and said softly,
"Shuumatsuban, heed my command. When the time is right, assist the general in opening the side gates."
"Yes!"
A quiet voice responded from the empty street, and several long-hidden shadows swiftly scattered into the distance.
...
Outside the city, the Shogunate army's vanguard had completely surrounded the gates. Banners bearing the threefold tomoe, symbol of the Electro Archon, billowed in the wind.
Kujou Sara looked up at her adoptive father and sighed.
"You still refuse to open the gates?"
The aging Kujou Takayuki gave a sharp snort.
"Sara! Do you even know what you're doing? I raised you all these years—trusted you! And now you want to rebel? Have you lost your mind?!"
"You're the one who's lost his mind," Sara replied, exasperated. "What did the Fatui promise you? The general already appeared just now—do you really want to drag the soldiers around you to their deaths?"
"She's a fake! A fake!" Kujou Takayuki suddenly roared.
With the enemy at the gates and the general's appearance, his mental defenses were collapsing. His emotions spiraled out of control.
"Shoot! Fire your arrows! What are you waiting for?!"
"But, sir..." The defending soldiers hesitated. The rumors had shaken them, and they didn't dare attack—what if the general below really was the true one?
"That's just a visual trick! Illusions!" Takayuki's eyes bulged with fury. "Inazuma's seen its share of yokai—demons can imitate humans better than anyone! The one in the Tenshukaku is the real Shogun! Stop thinking—just shoot! Kill the rebels!"
"Still…" The soldiers remained hesitant.
Then, a few cloaked men stepped forward and roughly seized their bows.
"I'll do it."
The soldiers glanced over. These were Kujou Takayuki's personal guards—figures of mysterious origin and formidable strength.
Takayuki quickly regained his composure. Lowering his voice, he whispered to them with uncharacteristic urgency,
"Are your Harbingers confident? Can they stop the one in the castle…?"
"Relax," one of them said impatiently. "We've got two Harbingers in the Tenshukaku, plus your so-called 'true' Raiden Shogun. Three top-tier fighters against a fake Shogun—it's three on one. The odds are in our favor."
Takayuki exhaled in relief. Even with the army pressing in, he believed the battle would be decided by superior combat power.
As long as those inside the Tenshukaku won, the troops outside—no matter how many—wouldn't matter. After all, humans are no match for gods.
What he overlooked, however, was the gap in intelligence. He didn't know that this wasn't one against three... but three against three.
But that was a matter for later.
Just as the Fatui imposters disguised as guards were about to strike the so-called "rebels" below, chaos erupted inside the city.
A squad of soldiers scrambled up to the wall in panic.
"Bad news, sir! Terrible news!!"
"What now?" Takayuki's expression darkened. A bad feeling crept in.
"The side gates! Both east and west! They've been breached—our forces were defeated! They're already inside!"
"What?!"
...
Inside the Tenshukaku, however, the atmosphere was starkly different from the chaos outside.
Two identical Raiden Shoguns stood at opposite ends of the hall, locked in a silent standoff. The air was tense and unnaturally quiet.
"You've finally been worn down, haven't you?" The Raiden Shogun on the upper platform stared coldly at her counterpart below.
"Rather than worn down, I'd say... my understanding of eternity has changed." The other Raiden Shogun's tone was noticeably gentler.
Inazuma's once-clear sky now churned with signs of an approaching thunderstorm. The air grew heavier, thick with pressure.
Lumine quietly looked toward Lu Chen beside her.
"To witness the two Raiden Shoguns facing off... it's unbelievable."
"Yeah." Lu Chen gazed at the two identical, majestic figures and murmured,
"It's finally time to bring all this to an end."