"Duel Before Battle" seems to be a custom in Inazuma—just as the name implies, both sides send their elite soldiers to engage in a pre-battle showdown.
This is primarily for morale. The resistance forces are already at a disadvantage, and refusing the "Duel Before Battle" would clearly leave them demoralized.
Fortunately, fighting is the Traveler's greatest strength. "If I can't beat the Raiden Shogun, I can still beat you all, can't I?"
The Traveler won three consecutive duels with ease—they could take on ten opponents of this level without breaking a sweat.
Kujou Sara, recognizing the Traveler's endurance, chose not to send any more challengers and instead gave the order to attack.
[Kujou Sara:] "The might of the Shogunate is absolute—the Narukami's reign is eternal—!"
War erupted in an instant. The clamor of battle cries and clashing steel drowned out all other sounds.
Unsurprisingly, the resistance forces were at a disadvantage. Gorou grew visibly anxious, desperate to turn the tide.
But the situation on the battlefield was not something one person alone could reverse.
With the turn of a page, the text transitioned into an illustration—a figure descending from the sky like a falling fish. No, rather, a person descending with movements as fluid as a swimming fish. Sangonomiya Kokomi made her dazzling entrance!
The resistance fighters and Watatsumi Island's people were thrilled by this illustration. "Lady Kokomi is as radiant as ever—every time she appears, she resolves the resistance's crises!"
As Kokomi's longtime rival, Kujou Sara remained unfazed. "Compared to the Shogun's illustrations… this is far inferior."
Yae Miko stood behind Lucian, smiling as she observed Kokomi's illustration. "How adorable~ If she performed the Divine Priestess's dance, she'd be even more enchanting."
"What a shame she's so clever. If only Sangonomiya Kokomi were as simple-minded as Ei, I could trick her into calling me 'big sister' and dancing for me."
"But this general, Gorou… doesn't seem as sharp as Kokomi. Hehe, how amusing~."
In the story, Kokomi's arrival was like rain after a drought. Her presence instantly boosted the resistance's morale.
Not only did she uplift their spirits, but she also brought with her a long-prepared ambush force.
[Sangonomiya Kokomi:] "You've waited long enough—my hidden troops!"
"Now is the perfect moment!"
And the "hidden troops" Kokomi spoke of turned out to be Beidou's Crux Fleet.
Beidou, still in Inazuma at this time, found this development quite amusing—since plans had changed, they were no longer lying in wait at Seirai Island.
According to intelligence from the Yashiro Commission, Kujou Sara had already been swayed to their side, so the strategic layout had naturally shifted.
Speaking of Beidou, after parting with the Traveler at Ritou, she had just finished handling her cargo when she received a new commission—not from the resistance, but from the Yashiro Commission.
Beidou's position was delicate. While Liyue's higher-ups knew she was semi-official, to foreigners, she was merely a private entity. Thus, even if she interfered in Inazuma's affairs, it couldn't be blamed on Liyue.
In the story, Beidou's sudden appearance caught Kujou Sara completely off guard.
The Crux Fleet's combat prowess was nothing to scoff at. Aside from Beidou and Kazuha, even her ordinary sailors were first-rate fighters among common folk.
With their aid, the tide of battle turned. Kujou Sara clearly hadn't expected such a "wild card" to appear.
After firing two arrows to slow the resistance's advance, she finally ordered a retreat.
Only after the Shogunate forces withdrew did Kokomi have the chance to speak with the Traveler.
[Sangonomiya Kokomi:] "Hello, Traveler. Since this is our first formal meeting, allow me to briefly introduce myself."
"I am Sangonomiya Kokomi, leader of the resistance and the Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island."
After her introduction, Kokomi invited the Traveler to Watatsumi Island to discuss their next steps.
Watatsumi Island was the true stronghold of the resistance, and by entering it, the Traveler officially became a core member of their forces.
As a side note, Kokomi's commission for Beidou's crew was only for this single battle.
Thus, in future operations, Beidou would no longer intervene. Kazuha, however, participated as an Inazuman in this revolution—not as a member of the Crux Fleet.
At the end of the chapter, Kokomi declared:
[Sangonomiya Kokomi:] "For… the future of Inazuma."
"Chapter II: Act II - Stillness, the Sublimation of Shadow · End"
Kokomi's final words were "for the future of Inazuma," and she wasn't wrong.
Ei's actions were essentially an attempt to prevent Inazuma from moving toward "the future." Thus, as the resistance, Kokomi's role was to steer Inazuma toward that "future."
Of course, the resistance lacked the power to truly oppose a god. In the end, Inazuma's future would still be decided by its deity.
But as long as Ei chose to embrace "the future," no matter what form it took, it would count as a victory for the resistance.
This spirit of defiance was quite popular in Mondstadt, where people grew even more eager for the next installment.
Barbara, however, frowned in confusion. "Isn't an Inazuman shrine maiden similar to a deaconess like me?"
"How can someone who serves the divine organize a force that rebels against their god?"
Barbara couldn't understand—because she didn't know that Watatsumi's people did not worship the Narukami Ogosho, God of Thunder, but rather the Watatsumi Omikami, the Great Serpent Orobashi.
This brings us back to Zhongli's words: "There is little benefit in worshipping a god who has already perished."
Due to their faith in Orobashi, Watatsumi's people had always been unwilling to coexist peacefully with the Shogunate.
The Vision Hunt Decree and Sakoku Decree were merely sparks that ignited rebellion—but the fuse had long been laid.
Still, there was good news: thanks to Lucian's book, the people of Watatsumi and the Shogunate finally had a space to understand one another.
After Zhongli's story was released, Kokomi had begun guiding Watatsumi's people to lessen their fixation on the Watatsumi Omikami.
Now, with Lucian's depiction of the resistance, the Shogunate's citizens also saw Watatsumi's rebels in a new light.
"We thought they were nothing but wicked traitors daring to defy the Almighty Shogun—but it turns out they're quite noble."
With both sides' perspectives shifting, true peace finally seemed possible.
However, their hatred and differences couldn't be erased so easily. True harmony would still take a long time—at least until the Vision Hunt Decree was abolished.
After all, many in the resistance had joined purely out of opposition to the decree.
===✧✦✧===
Yae Miko: "Little author, the second act is out. Isn't it time to give me the third part now?"
Lucian: "The third act? Who said I'm releasing the third act next?"
He pulled out a new book—but it wasn't Act III. Instead, it was… "The Unreturned Star."
===✧✦✧===
Character Voiceline · Sangonomiya Kokomi (About Inazuma Act II):
"Sigh… The resistance and Watatsumi Island both have so many issues to resolve. It seems I'll have to cut back on my rest time even further…"