As the defilement was purified, Hanachirusato's form began to change.
Her body gradually transformed—and suddenly, the shrine maiden robes she wore burst apart.
Seeing this, Akira Shindo, who was maintaining the authority of life and death, frowned slightly. With a wave of his hand, a golden spatial barrier enveloped the three of them. From the outside, nothing within the barrier could be seen.
Time passed slowly.
The power of life and death continuously reconstructed Kitsune Saiguu's body.
Before their eyes, snow-white hair and flawless pale skin gradually appeared.
Bit by bit, her form was reborn.
Not long after, a woman of peerless beauty stood before them.
"Phew…"
Akira Shindo withdrew his power.
Kitsune Saiguu's perfect figure was now fully revealed.
"Wow… as expected of a fox spirit," Akira Shindo muttered while looking at her. "Her body is unbelievably perfect."
Was this the body of a legendary divine beast?
"Lady Saiguu!"
Seeing the figure she had missed for five hundred years, Yae Miko rushed forward.
She quickly retrieved a shrine maiden robe from her Vision and wrapped it around Kitsune Saiguu.
"Mmm…"
Saiguu's fox ears twitched gently as she slowly opened her golden eyes.
"Miko?"
Looking at Yae Miko, who had thrown herself into her arms, a complex emotion flickered in her gaze.
"You troublesome woman!" Yae Miko sobbed. "Why did you lie to me and say you were just going on a trip?"
"Do you know how long I waited for you?"
"I'm sorry, Miko," Kitsune Saiguu said softly while patting her head. "I had no other choice."
"Hmph!"
Yae Miko rubbed her eyes and stepped back.
"This is all your fault. My image is completely ruined now."
Kitsune Saiguu smiled faintly.
Then she turned toward Akira Shindo.
Remembering that she had just been completely naked before him, a faint blush appeared on her face. Still, she bowed respectfully.
"Thank you for bringing me back to life and allowing me to see my old friend again."
"I will never forget such a great kindness."
"What's the point of just thanking him?" Yae Miko snorted beside them.
"For a life-saving grace like this, shouldn't you repay it by devoting yourself to him?"
She knew Akira Shindo perfectly well.
He had said it plainly himself—he liked beautiful women.
"Nice," Akira Shindo thought, secretly giving Yae Miko a thumbs-up.
What a considerate fox.
"Don't talk nonsense, Miko!" Kitsune Saiguu shot her a glare.
How had her once well-behaved little fox become so scheming after a few hundred years?
Who had she learned that from?
"I'm not joking," Yae Miko muttered. "A-Shindo here is a complete womanizer."
Even her way of addressing Akira Shindo had changed.
According to their agreement, he had resurrected Kitsune Saiguu—so from now on she would stay by his side, behaving like a "well-behaved little woman."
"…."
Akira Shindo coughed awkwardly.
"Lady Miko is only joking," he said, extending a hand. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Akira Shindo, the current Chief Divine Priest of the Grand Narukami Shrine."
"Lord Akira Shindo."
Kitsune Saiguu took his hand gently.
Her jade-like fingers were cool and soft.
She was slightly surprised that someone with such overwhelming power would hold the position of Chief Divine Priest.
"This isn't a good place to stay," Yae Miko said. "It's dangerous. We should return to the Grand Narukami Shrine first."
Judging by the time that had passed—
The Raiden Shogun would likely arrive soon.
And no one knew what that rigid puppet might do.
"Alright," Akira Shindo nodded, dismissing the golden barrier.
But in the very next moment—
His expression changed.
Raising his hand, he blocked a blade of lightning that suddenly slashed toward him.
"Ei?" Kitsune Saiguu looked up at the descending figure in the sky.
"No," Yae Miko said sharply, her expression tense.
"That's the Shogun."
"Both of you return to the Grand Narukami Shrine first," Akira Shindo said seriously.
"Lady Saiguu has only just been revived. Her body is still weak. Take her back."
"But you—" Yae Miko hesitated anxiously.
She knew exactly how cold and merciless this puppet could be.
"I have a way to deal with her," Akira Shindo said, shaking his head.
"Go."
"…Alright."
Hearing that, Yae Miko stopped hesitating.
She lifted Kitsune Saiguu and swiftly fled into the distance.
Although she was worried about Akira Shindo, she knew that a battle at this level was not something she could participate in.
Staying would only force Akira Shindo to divide his attention to protect her.
The Raiden Shogun didn't spare Yae Miko a glance as she left.
Her gaze remained fixed on Akira Shindo.
"A god not belonging to this world?" she said coldly, lightning swirling around her.
"You are a variable to Eternity. Such a variable cannot be tolerated."
"God from another world—leave Inazuma."
"I'm here for something I desire in this land," Akira Shindo replied calmly.
"I won't be leaving."
Leave?
He had just revived Kitsune Saiguu.
And he was about to enjoy life with the pink-haired fox priestess.
No chance.
"Then you are an enemy of Eternity."
The Raiden Shogun's eyes grew cold.
Lightning blazed along the Engulfing Lightning in her hand.
"Eternity?" Akira Shindo entered his Herrscher form.
Spears of the Void appeared behind him, causing space itself to tremble.
"Shogun, do you truly understand what real Eternity is?"
"The Eternity you pursue is nothing more than a distorted belief born from fear of loss."
"Silence!"
"You dare question Eternity?"
The Raiden Shogun instantly vanished.
In the next moment, she appeared behind Akira Shindo, her blade slashing down.
BOOM—
The violent lightning strike was blocked by the Spears of the Void.
Akira Shindo teleported to another position and raised the Key of the Void.
Immediately, countless void spears surrounded the Raiden Shogun.
The power of space sealed her movements completely.
"Baleful Omen: Open Your Eyes!"
A surge of lightning tore open the surrounding space.
The Raiden Shogun forcibly broke free and swung her blade—
All the void spears exploded.
"As expected of you, Raiden Shogun," Akira Shindo muttered.
Even when facing spatial restraints, she could break them through sheer force.
He had hoped to draw Ei out from within.
But the Shogun puppet alone was already terrifyingly powerful.
"Ha!"
Akira Shindo gathered all his spatial power again.
This time, the chains imprisoning the Raiden Shogun were far stronger, locking her in place.
Still, judging by the force of her struggle—
They wouldn't hold her for long.
"I'll have to go all out."
With a sigh, Akira Shindo seized the restrained Raiden Shogun and shot toward the open sea.
If he unleashed his full strength near Inazuma, the entire nation might be destroyed.
A few minutes later—
They arrived at a remote stretch of ocean.
At that moment, the spatial chains binding the Raiden Shogun reached their limit.
Violent lightning burst outward.
Golden light shone in Akira Shindo's eyes.
Space itself began to tremble.
Behind him—
Countless black holes appeared, almost covering the entire sky.
"Musou no Hitotachi — Sever All Thought!"
Sensing a deadly threat, the Raiden Shogun drew Musou Isshin from her chest.
Then she unleashed her strongest slash.
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