Raiden Ei's body became a streak of violet lightning, following Su Xuan through the skies.
They flew for who knew how long before Su Xuan finally stopped over an empty, uninhabited island far beyond Inazuma's borders.
"Here," Su Xuan said, hovering above the lonely shoreline. "We're outside Inazuma territory. Nothing but open sea. We can fight freely."
Ei followed his gaze downward, then nodded calmly.
"Yes. Here, our battle will not endanger anyone."
"The previous clash was initiated by the Shogun," she continued. "This time, it is your turn. I would like to witness this 'superpower' you spoke of."
Su Xuan blinked.
This woman… really is straightforward. Saying it like the moment she moves, I'll never get another chance.
He didn't bother arguing.
Instead, he smiled lightly.
"Then—are you ready?"
Ei lifted Engulfing Lightning, its violet arc humming in her grip.
"I am ready. Come."
Su Xuan raised his hand.
Ei's eyes sharpened—yet she sensed no energy directed toward her.
But the ocean below—
ROARED.
In an instant, the tranquil sea erupted into a towering tsunami, rising a hundred meters high, swallowing her where she stood.
The next moment—
Su Xuan slowly closed his hand.
The wave spun into a vast whirlpool, then coiled upward into a raging waterspout.
The watching women:
"!?!"
[Yeah… Ei is still Ei. Cute in her own terrifying way.]
[I literally told her my power controls the environment, and she still said: 'You attack first.']
[Has no one ever worried I could just twist her neck on the spot?]
[Not that it would matter—unless she kills me instantly, whoever attacks first is irrelevant.]
[Psychokinesis cannot be dodged. Only overpowered.]
[If one's mental strength and body can't match my power, I can crush them instantly.]
The women:
"…So that's why he dared to rob the Kanjou Commission."
"…And challenge the Shogun."
"…Because he can literally turn someone into a pretzel before they react."
If one could not surpass the force—
There was no escape.
Lightning cracked.
BOOM—!
Ei burst free, drenched and dizzy, like a regal cat forced into a bathtub.
She barely had time to steady herself—
When a shadow fell over her.
A massive boulder, tens of meters tall, plummeted toward her.
"Majesty… without mercy!"
She reacted instantly.
Her blade flashed—
A violet arc cleaved the stone cleanly in half.
She finally caught a breath.
"…That stone just now—"
Su Xuan pointed downward.
"From the island."
Ei followed his gesture—
and saw a fresh crater torn into the earth.
"You… moved a mountain?"
"It's not impressive," Su Xuan said casually. "During the Archon War, that kind of thing was common."
"I told you—moving objects is the simplest application of psychokinesis."
"Because psychokinesis is not manipulation—it is energy itself."
As he spoke, a stone fragment floated into his hand, covered in faint shimmering light.
"Even something as small as this—"
He flicked it.
CRACK— BOOM—!
The fragment streaked through the air like a star—
and obliterated the very boulder Ei had split moments ago.
The entire island trembled.
Ei broke into a cold sweat.
If even one of those pebbles fell into Inazuma City—
it would wipe out an entire street.
If many fell—
The island would cease to exist.
"But," Su Xuan continued calmly, "there's a far more direct way to deal with you."
"…A more direct method?" Ei looked up.
Su Xuan nodded.
"By applying psychokinesis to your body, I can twist you apart instantly.
But it's imprecise. If I slip, you lose a limb or two. Not ideal."
"So instead—"
He flicked his finger.
Before Ei could react—
A glowing ring of force snapped around her neck.
She froze.
"What—!"
She clawed at it, but it didn't budge.
"This," Su Xuan explained politely, "is a psychokinetic restraint ring. Its size can be freely tightened or loosened."
The ring began to tighten.
Ei's breath hitched.
Her feet kicked helplessly, suspended mid-air—
Her strength bleeding away
Her vision swimming
Her consciousness slipping
And then—
She went still.
Su Xuan stared.
"..."
[Isn't Ei a Lightning-born Archon??]
[Since when does she need to breathe??]
[How did she get choked out like a normal person??]
[Don't tell me 'Lightning-born god' means the real one was lightning, and Ei is just its shadow??]
[No seriously—do gods need oxygen???]
[Sister—please do NOT die on me.]
The women:
"!?!!!??!"