[Raiden Shogun: "Step back, Traveler."]
Before the final battle began, Ei first had the Traveler retreat to a safe position.
["I will become the next 'beginning'."]
["I will exist forever!"]
The final decisive battle unfolded, and this battle that had lasted over five hundred years was finally about to decide 'victory or defeat'.
Even though the time consumed by this prolonged battle was enough to witness the rise and fall of a kingdom, it would eventually come to an end.
The energy consumed by this great battle was enough to overturn the seas and extinguish the heavenly light.
The will required was enough to pierce through a single heart and invert dreams.
Despite this, neither of them showed the slightest discouragement, nor the slightest sign of defeat.
The swords in their hands, wrapped in thunderous light, clashed time and again, brushing past each other time and again.
In the end, the Raiden Shogun sheathed the sword in her hand.
[Raiden Shogun: "It ends here. You have won."]
The Raiden Shogun conceded, because she had already witnessed Ei's growth.
She had surpassed her past self, whether in strength, will, thoughts, or that memory which had made her hesitate.
Having witnessed all of Ei's changes, the Raiden Shogun felt a touch of envy instead.
Because as a product of 'eternity', her will was eternally un-eroded, and seemingly eternally unchanging.
[Raiden Shogun: "A will that is never eroded is ultimately unable to embrace the future."]
Perhaps in the 'future' that Ei needed, there was no longer a place for her?
After all, she was the 'eternity' of the past, an 'eternity' incapable of embracing the future.
The future... it was indeed something that stirred longing in the heart, yet was filled with worry.
[Ei: "You need not worry about the future, nor walk it alone."]
Ei would not abandon the general to walk forward alone; in her future, she would bring the general along as well.
Ei was ultimately not an emotionless guardian; she was Ei, the 'older sister' of the Raiden Shogun.
Moreover, the Raiden Shogun's martial arts and will were not to be underestimated; if Ei were not bearing the 'dreams' of countless subjects, the outcome of victory or defeat would have been uncertain.
The reason for drawing the sword determined the pattern and limits of one's martial arts!
In this duel, the Raiden Shogun's sword was also actively responding to Ei; this was the first time Ei had felt its 'existence'.
In the past, Ei had only regarded it as her sister's relic, merely a sword.
But when Ei truly understood and acknowledged her sister, this sword began to respond to Ei with full force, as if her sister's power was being delivered to her through the sword.
[Raiden Shogun: "Your brand-new will does not stem from erosion. I will no longer obstruct your attempt to modify the laws."]
["From now on, this body remains your assistant."]
The Raiden Shogun agreed to let Ei modify the underlying logic.
Now, Ei-bao's goal had been achieved; she had successfully made the Raiden Shogun recognize who the master was.
I mean, made the Raiden Shogun recognize who the true controller of her body was... forget it, I won't say it.
[Ei: "I will no longer set any laws that are absolutely unchangeable."]
["You once represented my past. But from today onward, you—you are me."]
["Makoto never treated me as a weapon without fear or hesitation, and I should not have treated you as a tool."]
Ei's meaning was that from now on, you are no longer a tool, but a 'person' true to your name!
I will no longer impose upon you any unchangeable, irrefutable 'ideological imprint'.
You will walk your own path, explore and understand eternity, you will become yourself, and ultimately become 'me'.
Scaramouche cried out that it was a sci-fi movie!
What is this? Real or fake?
You're telling me this is Beelzebul? I don't buy it!
What does this mean? Is this Beelzebul? This is Beelzebul on steroids! She anti-cancered the tumor in her own head?
With a 'crackle', thunder light flashed, directly burning this mind-disturbing 'sci-fi movie' into powder.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Scaramouche slapped the powder onto the table.
Not just Scaramouche; even the emotionless Raiden Shogun in the story showed some astonishment.
[Raiden Shogun: "...Heh, you have truly changed. This must be what humans call 'growth'."]
Who would've thought—having her 'daughter' say 'Heh, you've grown up.'
["I understand. I will become your shadow, just as you were once the true shadow."]
["The duties I fulfill will not change."]
["But as a warrior, I look forward to opportunities for battles like this in the future."]
The Raiden Shogun's meaning was, I admit I lost this 'mother-daughter match'; from now on, you call me mom, I call you little sister, we'll each call what we want.
However, though I lost this time, next time I'll dare again—keep the music playing, keep fighting!
Also, as a martial artist, being able to fight worry-free against a powerful opponent for five hundred years—who wouldn't get an itch in their hands?
Tartaglia watched with drool practically flowing; a duel arena where no one dies or gets hurt—too perfect, right?
It's just a shame this was the Raiden Shogun's Plane of Euthymia; he definitely couldn't enter.
May the Oracle bless me, granting my future self a chance to compete against a strong one in a private space!
As he thought while reading, in the story, the 'Dreams Converged' in Ei's hand suddenly began to glow.
The sudden change drew everyone's attention, and from within 'Dreams Converged', the Raiden Shogun's gentle voice emanated:
[Raiden Shogun: "Hello, Ei, and all you witnesses here."]
["I am the Raiden Shogun, the previous Electro Archon who failed in her duties, leaving you all with countless troubles."]
This left everyone, both in the story and in reality, stunned.
No one had expected the previous Electro Archon, the Raiden Shogun, to appear in such a situation.
Ei, even though she had long known about 'Dreams Converged' from Lucian's mouth, couldn't help but be surprised at this moment, her eyes widening.
The Raiden Shogun probably hadn't expected it either; originally, there were just a few witnesses, but now it had become people from several nations.
[Raiden Shogun: "I left a faint trace of my will within 'Dreams Converged'; the moment you draw forth all its power, I too will be released."]
["As for why I used such a roundabout method—because back then, you were so convinced of your own ideas, you wouldn't listen to anything."]
See, Ei's stubbornness received 'official certification'; even her own big sister couldn't 'pull' her along.
Ei was like that; as long as she pursued 'eternity', that was enough, but the Raiden Shogun had many more considerations.
After considering for a long time, the Raiden Shogun had no choice but to use this method to go roundabout, slowly waiting for Ei to change her mind.
She had no other way, because the cataclysm of Khaenri'ah had been too sudden; she no longer had time to slowly guide her little sister.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice · The Raiden Shogun: Regarding the Raiden Shogun
"Um... does this mean I have another little sister now?
Sigh, I never thought that after convincing one little sister, I'd end up with another one to convince."