Raiden Ei had always been… lacking, when it came to ruling a nation.
She was brilliant—yes. Sharp. Powerful beyond comparison.
But the experience of living among her people, the slow process of understanding them, of speaking with them—those things had never belonged to her.
She was born the Shadow of another.
A sword.
A guardian.
When Makoto fell, Ei sealed herself in the Plane of Euthymia, choosing eternity over change.
There had been no gradual transition between roles.
Only a sudden, hollowed-out silence.
So of course she was awkward.
Of course she moved like someone who had been absent from reality for centuries.
But—Ei was not slow.
Her mind was keen.
Her ability to learn—terrifying.
At the beginning, she was clumsy, needing Su Xuan's guidance at every step.
But within just three days, she learned.
Adapted.
Refined.
What had once required his hands became something she could handle on her own.
So now—
Su Xuan stepped back, brushing her hair lightly with his fingers.
"I'll be leaving Inazuma today," he said softly. "It's time I head to Mondstadt."
Ei didn't answer verbally—she was occupied at the moment—but her pace shifted, just slightly.
As if saying I hear you.
Su Xuan smiled and opened his status panel.
[Host]: Su Xuan
[Item]: Qiankun Mirror
[Ability]: Telekinesis
[Trait]: Limit Break
[Authority]: None
[Draws Available]: 2
These three days, he hadn't updated the diary beyond the daily, "Nothing happened today."
So his draw count hadn't climbed much.
But the night he began "teaching" Ei—
that day's entry alone earned him thirteen draws.
And, of course, Su Xuan had chosen [All In].
Most of the prizes were ordinary.
But among them were new growth boosts—physical capacity, stamina, resistance—
and one reward that eclipsed all the rest:
[Limit Break]
Limit Break — Every month, all of your attributes double. No upper limit.
If his strength was 1 today,
next month it would be 2.
The month after—4.
Then 8.
And so on.
Su Xuan had stared at the description for a long while.
Two words came to mind:
Absolutely unbeatable.
Even if the Heavenly Principles awoke in a year or two—
by then, Su Xuan could crush them with one hand.
The trait could also be bestowed to others.
Though for them, each cycle required three months instead of one.
"Very considerate of you," Su Xuan murmured—inwardly praising the diary system.
Ei, hearing him talk to himself, misunderstood completely.
Her face heated.
She worked harder.
Su Xuan laughed under his breath.
"I erased your erosion before. But with time, it will return eventually," he said.
"So before I leave, I'll freeze your body's time—just like mine.
No aging. No decay. No erosion. A stable eternity."
Ei stiffened, eyes widening—
but not with fear.
With relief.
Three days and nights had passed with Su Xuan as her… instructor.
She had followed his pace without hesitation—
and he had been satisfied.
He raised the Qiankun Mirror.
Soft radiance enveloped her.
Ei felt the erosion dissolve—
and her body settle into perfect stillness.
A form untouched by time.
Then, Su Xuan continued:
"As for Makoto and Saiguu—your part is simply to restore Inazuma to what it should be.
You wouldn't want them to return only to see the nation broken, would you?"
Ei inhaled, deeply.
She understood.
And then—
Su Xuan placed his hand lightly on her head.
"For the final gift—
I'm granting you Limit Break."
"You'll receive one immediate advancement.
Then, every three months, your strength, endurance, and essence will grow again."
"But—"
His voice lowered.
"If you stop behaving… I will take it back."
Ei blinked.
Then—
Her pupils widened.
A surge of power roared through her veins—pure, overwhelming, intoxicating.
"—ah."
She exhaled sharply, breath unsteady, mind briefly blank.
It felt as if her current self had swallowed her past self whole.
Su Xuan only shrugged.
"New trait. Useful, right?"
Ei didn't bother responding.
She was still processing the sensation.
Su Xuan tapped her head again.
"Well? I told you I'm leaving today. Yet you stopped halfway through your task this morning. What's with the attitude? Planning rebellion?"
Ei froze.
Then—without a word—
She turned.
Knelt.
Hands braced to either side.
"I have no intent to rebel," she said calmly.
"It's just that she"—meaning the puppet—"still refuses to cooperate."
Her voice was resolute.
"So I believe," she concluded, expression resolute and a touch proud—
"She is the one who needs to be disciplined."
Su Xuan: "…."
Su Xuan (internally): She—she really did break open the Ren and Du meridians.
The enlightenment speed is terrifying.
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