Thunder roared over the Grand Narukami Shrine, its force dyeing the skies above Mt. Yougou in shades of violet. From time to time, lightning as thick as a water barrel split the clouds and crashed down—or shot up from the ground into the heavens.
"So, this is why I hate these no-way-out battles the most. Fighting with your life on the line to protect something… that's never been my style…"
A shell-like shield of Electro encased the Sacred Sakura along with the entire shrine.
Outside the shield stood a fox the size of a palace, its five tails swaying like flames, fur resembling that of pink cherry blossoms, regal and beautiful. Yet now it looked wretched, its fur matted with blood, and all four of its limbs shackled tightly by four metallic, glimmering stone rods sprouting from the ground.
Fighting one against many while still having to divide her attention for defense—even with three human-sized kitsune spirits at her side—the pressure was overwhelming.
To drive Yae Miko into such a state, it could only be…
"Who is that?"
Aside from the expected Isshin, The Cursed Blade and Yasen, there was a purple-haired girl. She held both hands raised, fingers slightly twitching, and with every movement crude or finely made dolls hurled themselves at Yae Miko. She alone seemed able to hold her ground against the shrine maiden—that was, after all, the familiar of the Raiden Shogun.
"Looks like you've forgotten too… having your memories rewritten is never pleasant. These dolls, and that girl, are all by-products of the Raiden Shogun—replicas of the Archon. Failures, yes, but terrifying ones nonetheless."
Victor Wang and Kazuha had just barely caught the name of some vital existence, still clawing their way back through fragmented memory, when Shigetsu roared before them: "By-products of the Raiden Shogun? Who are you calling that?!"
"Oh my, you don't even know your own identity? The current Electro Archon, in pursuit of eternity, ran countless experiments, discarded endless failures, and burned through unimaginable time and resources before finally crafting the present puppet of the Raiden Shogun. If you want to be technical—she is your—"
"Impossible! I am Tenkyuu Shigetsu, the current Puppetmaster of the South Wing, the once-in-five-centuries prodigy of the mental arts in Teyvat!"
"Heh… children these days really are all about rebellion, aren't they? I thought she only created that one troublesome puppet, but it seems… I really should have disposed of you all behind her back."
"Yasen! Yasen!!"
"Silence!"
The fire in Shigetsu's eyes went out in an instant.
"Like I said, ever since that incident, I checked thoroughly—there were no autonomous dolls left. Don't tell me you tampered with something?"
"…What's the point of asking so much? Let's see how long you can last."
Yae Miko smirked with pride. "I've got allies~ You're the ones running out of people, aren't you?"
Isshin glanced over disdainfully, then turned back to hammering at the barrier around the shrine.
An awkward truth hung in the air—the heavier the memories, the harder for Yasen to overwrite them. The longer the years, the weaker his illusions. Long-lived beings were a real problem.
That was why neither of their powers could subdue Yae Miko. Fortunately, they had those Raiden puppets.
And as for the North Wing, they had been tied up according to plan. Though two still made it through, they were the weakest of the lot. The Raiden Shogun herself had yet to appear. Everything was proceeding smoothly.
Just one last barrier shielded the Sacred Sakura tree—and beyond it, that sweet, intoxicating power of time itself, so close at hand!
With a playful grin, Yasen ordered, "Shigetsu, hold down that white-haired one!"
"Me?" Kazuha blinked, hesitating as he tried to introduce himself. "I am Kaedehara Kazu—"
But before he could finish, a puppet came whistling straight at him.
"As for Brother Victor, I truly am sorry for letting you live this long."
Yasen's apology didn't sound false. He even bowed to Victor Wang before continuing: "I've decided—I'll send you into the ley lines. That way, the Guuji-sama can see for herself just how pathetic her helpers are."
"You've forgotten how to control the elements."
"Even if I say it plainly, what difference does it make? You've already forgotten what I've said."
"I don't know if you'll remember, but I once had two chances to kill you easily. No—every moment I've had countless chances to kill you easily. Pitiful. How will you resist? Come, let me watch your death throes."
Victor Wang drew the Wentian Sword at his waist, muttering, "You really talk too much. I hadn't planned to bother with you, but let me give you a word of advice: popping champagne at halftime is a bad habit."
"Champagne?"
"A kind of drink, usually opened at celebrations."
"Heh. So, you'll face me with that sword? Then now—you've forgotten how to swing it."
Victor Wang raised his blade, only to look around in blank confusion.
"So cautious, are you?"
"I prefer using my head over brute force."
Yasen tapped his temple, sneering. "Well then? Will you run? Maybe I'll consider sparing you, since your potential is rare."
"…Plans can't keep up with changes. But the margin of error is still acceptable."
"What was that? Never mind. Now—you've forgotten how to stand. You've forgotten how to walk."
Thud! For the first time in his life, Victor Wang stumbled flat on the ground. From that lowered view, Yasen strolled toward him, hands in pockets.
"Stop pretending. Instincts that ingrained only last for an instant under my power. You think I haven't tested this?"
"Thank you. That's all I needed to hear."
"…What?"
A prickle of unease shot up his spine. Before he could stomp Victor Wang's head into the dirt, Yasen thrust out a hand: "Die for me!"
Stone rods sprouted from the earth like vines, wrapping around Victor Wang and constricting tightly—only to be severed in an instant by his sword, wreathed in bloodlust.
"You've forgotten why you came here! You've forgotten how to wield the elements! You've forgotten how to use your sword!"
That gnawing unease became reality—the situation was slipping beyond his control.
"You've forgotten how to breathe! You've forgotten how to open your eyes! You've forgotten how to stand!"
"The air is poison! The earth is an ocean!"
Yasen howled within his mind at Victor Wang.
But Victor only grinned, eyes gleaming blood-red, his fists, feet, and sword lashing out of their own accord in an unstoppable assault.
"Why? Why isn't it working?!"
The personality forged from months of repressed killing intent, fused with his sword-aura and malice—once unleashed, battle and slaughter were nothing but instinct.
It was a trump card Victor Wang had set aside back at the Kokomi household. Back then, with Shigetsu—wearing the face of a youthful Raiden Shogun—still an unknown factor, and since they hadn't truly fought, he had kept it hidden.
"Fight me! Enough with the useless chatter! You think I'm scared of you?!"
"…Mountains rise together!"
The ground surged like waves, stone walls rippling inward toward Victor Wang, but before they could close in, sword-aura sharp enough to cut rock tore them apart.
Geo thrived in what was solid, tangible. But when the sharpest spear met the toughest shield, it all came down to which was harder.
"Seems your control of the elements is far from peak!"
Panic seized Yasen. He leapt back, scanning the battlefield. Kazuha, to his surprise, was holding his own against a puppet. Yae Miko, still bound, was faring worse, though with one puppet destroyed the pressure eased slightly. Isshin remained fixed on breaking the shrine barrier. It was down to who would falter first.
How… how could some lowborn trash ruin everything?!
Gritting his teeth, Yasen suddenly released two of the stone rods binding Yae Miko. Grasping his right elbow with his left, he raised his palm toward Victor Wang and roared, "Can you cut this? Quadruple Earth-Dragon Shackles!"
The same technique used on Yae Miko, only now the stone rods gleamed like refined metal, their strength doubled.
Victor Wang's feet were locked firmly to the ground—no escape possible.
"Falling Mountain!"
Above, a massive inverted mountain formed in the sky. Sweat dripped from Yasen's brow. Binding Yae Miko had already drained him heavily.
This strike had to finish Victor Wang. Swords may cut stone, but could he withstand half a mountain?
Time to end this!
Yae Miko strained, kicking desperately at the remaining rods, but nine puppets blasted her with lightning, searing fur and drawing new blood.
["You can use the elements, you can use the elements, you can use the elements…"]
At that crucial moment, a faint, ethereal voice rang out.
Never reveal yourself to Yasen unless absolutely necessary. Now was absolutely necessary.
As the mountain's shape solidified, Little Wen was under crushing pressure, her weak, pitiful voice repeating endlessly.
"Perish!"
The mountain plummeted.
Kazuha and the puppet both scrambled out of the vast shadow.
"The backup plan was… to leave Isshin and Yasen both to me."
Those had been Victor's words before they came here. It should be fine… right? Kazuha wavered at the sight of Victor Wang, who was shackled beneath the descending mass.
"I can use the elements."
"You cannot!"
"I can use the elements, I can use the elements, I can use the elements…"
Who's saying that?! I already deleted every memory in range—why isn't it working?!
"I can use the elements!"
"You cannot!"
BOOM!!!
The mountain crashed empty, knocking a massive chunk from Mt. Yougou's side. Victor Wang had not used some once-in-a-lifetime teleportation… not quite.
"Do you know how fast the stars turn?"
Squelch—
Still locked by the Quadruple Earth-Dragon Shackles, the Wentian Sword pierced through Yasen's hastily conjured stone shield, cutting as if it were paper, carrying unparalleled killing intent.
Victor Wang had not moved—the ground itself had carried him forward. Its speed was as swift as Leonard's Constellation shielding the world from a falling meteor. Inspired by that moment, Victor had devised a Geo technique of his own—[Starshift].
And opposite to it, another skill: [Starfall].
Only one who had once forged a star from stone could know the weight of it. And so, Victor Wang understood Zhongli's might all the more—and Yasen's exhaustion now.
His strike avoided a fatal point, but already the rods binding him and Yae Miko had crumbled away.
"Yasen!"
Shigetsu screamed, ten puppets diving toward Victor Wang. But Yae Miko, freed at last, intercepted them all.
"Well done, little one~"