The Infinite Journey of a Certain Flame

"My apologies, what can I do for you?"

"Didn't you need to talk to us? Didn't you have some mission to assign?" Ying asked, hands on her hips, somewhat puzzled. "You're not trying to tell me that you're close to winning this war, are you?"

"Hmm... Although the situation is still unclear, I think we may indeed be close to winning this war."

"...Huh?" Ying was stunned.

After traveling all the way from Narukami Island to Umijima Island, she always thought that the resistance was at a severe disadvantage.

After all, judging from the scale of the military forces deployed by both sides that day, Haiqi Island did not have many manpower to commit to the battle.

On the other hand, the shogunate not only had Inazuma Castle as a bulwark, but more importantly, it also had the strong support of the three magistrates and major clans.

In any case, they shouldn't be the weaker party, right?

However...

"Heh, traveler, you may underestimate our strength. In fact, after many battles, I've made a preliminary judgment that those shogunate soldiers are far inferior to our rebel warriors, although I don't know exactly why. But now..."

Shinkai stroked his fair, jade-like chin, staring at Kujo Sara, who was trapped in prison, with a look of absolute certainty.

"We have captured a famous general of the Shogunate army. Can't we say that we are about to win with such a favorable situation?"

Xin Hai's well-thought-out judgment left Ying and Paimon completely stunned.

"That's really well-reasoned and convincing... It feels like the resistance could have won even without our help."

Paimon scratched his head, somewhat speechless as he muttered a complaint.

"Hmm, this is really a good thing. Perhaps the Eye Hunting Order will be abolished soon..." Ying pondered.

However, whether it's a good thing or not is hard to say.

With the system's help, Kiana clearly understood why the resistance was so powerful.

The reason why they were able to shine despite having far less training time and discipline than the Shogunate army cannot be largely attributed to courage or dreams.

Rather, it is the resources secretly funded by the Fools and... the evil eyes produced by the Evil Eye Factory.

Without this help, even if the rebels risked their lives, they would only be able to take a small piece of flesh from the shogunate army, and it would be absolutely impossible for them to cause any serious harm.

However, thanks to the system's reminder, Kiana was able to understand that even with this costly assistance...

Xin Hai and her resistance forces also lacked sufficient confidence to guarantee victory.

"If Lord Orochi were still alive..." Xin Hai looked around the beautiful scenery of Coral Palace and uttered a very ancient name in an extremely complicated tone.

Orochi-no-Tsurugi...

Upon hearing this name, everyone present turned solemn, except for Kiana, Luminous, and Paimon, who remained unmoved.

Ying and Paimon looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Ying, who exactly is this Orochi-no-Mikoto that Xinhai mentioned?"

"I don't know, I've never heard of this name in Inazuma..." Luminous and Paimon huddled together and discussed for a while, then looked at Kiana, who seemed to know everything.

"Why are you looking at me? Oh, you don't know the origin of the Coral Palace, do you?"

Kiana glanced at Xin Hai, and after confirming that the other party had no intention of doing so, she composed herself and prepared her words.

He then slowly revealed the origin of the Orochi clan, or the demon god Orobas, as mentioned in his mind's eye.

During the War of Demons, Zhongli, who was revered as the God of War, fought in the north and south. The demons he encountered either fled or were suppressed, and the demon Aurobas was one of the fleeing demons.

His original intention was to escape to the Dark Sea, hoping to find a glimmer of hope in an area beyond the jurisdiction of the Seven Gods and Sky Island.

However, in the abyss during his escape, he encountered abandoned people who had nothing.

In response to their expectations, the great serpent broke off coral branches from its body to illuminate the surroundings, built a ladder to help them return to the ground, see the sunlight again, and take on the responsibility of guiding them.

They taught the islanders of Haizhi how to farm and how to smelt metals, which is also the origin of Haizhi Island.

The great serpent then became their Orochi-no-Mikoto, the Sea God.

Because she was in front of the leader of Haiqi Island, Kiana did not recount the first part of Zhongli's impoverished past, but only told the story of Haiqi Island's origins.

This allowed Ying and Paimon to learn who the god worshipped on Haiqi Island truly was.

"But... wasn't it Baal, the demon god, who obtained the position of Thor? Then what about Orochi?"

"Do you remember that island where it was always raining and thundering? That's where the giant serpent met its end, and the one who killed it... was Thor."

As Kiana slowly revealed this frustrating truth, Xin Hai sighed.

Even a powerful god whose body was large enough to cover the entire island was slain by General Thunder with a single strike.

Now, if this group of rebels, without divine protection, dares to further challenge the divine might of General Thunder, they will be in serious trouble.

At that time...

What would happen if she made another strike?

Song of Flames and Lightning (Genshin Impact Inazuma Main Story): Chapter 72 The true enemy is the Fools.

With the power of General Thunder's unimaginable cleavage of an island in two, he could probably wipe out the entire Coral Palace with a single strike.

Moreover, the residual lightning element from her unexpected slash has not dissipated even now.

If this strike had landed on Haiqi Island, those who refused to submit to the Thunder God would likely have been displaced and lost even their last sanctuary...

Knowing that the shogunate possessed divine-level power, Shinkai was well aware that no matter how much success he and the many rebels achieved, they could not win.

After all, how much power and how many setbacks would it take to defeat a demon who survived the Demon God War?

Xin Hai and the others were unaware of this, as were Ying and Paimeng.

It was precisely because she understood this that Xin Hai looked at Kiana with such fervor.

This girl... possesses terrifying strength that rivals, or even surpasses, that of a god.

Even the demon god Orochi, who was revered as the Lord of the Orochi and the Great God of the Sea, was powerless to rival the Thunder God.

Even though he had received a gift from an unknown power in the Dark Sea, he was still powerless to reverse the situation.

Ultimately, it was slain by Wuxiang's single strike. After its death, its body coiled on the island, forming mountain peaks. Its resentment lingered, eventually transforming into the ceaseless torrential rain and thunder...

Even such a powerful demon god was no match for General Thunder, so...

Just how powerful is this white-haired girl who supposedly defeated General Thunder?

Could she lend her strength to the rebels and wield the sword of resistance against the general who resides high in the castle tower?

"Lady Kiana...please lend us a hand. If you can defeat Thor...whatever you ask for, Coral Palace will do its utmost to fulfill it. I, Xin Hai, swear on behalf of the Rebels to you."

Xin Hai clutched his chest, pleading earnestly.

Since Kiana has the strength to face the Unthinkable Blade head-on, she only needs to demonstrate it again.

With her help, overthrowing the shogunate is just around the corner!

However...

“I will lend a hand, but... I have already sparred with her, and the chances of a conflict breaking out if we meet again are slim, so you don’t need to place your hopes on me.”

Kiana, with her right hand on her hip and her left arm around Ying's neck, spoke these words in a very casual tone.

She has pulled Ying out of the Pure Land of One Heart, and she may now be back in the Castle Tower, beginning to consider the situation.

Going forward, it would be unnecessary for me to continue clashing with her.

Even if a battle were to occur, the opponents would likely be the Fatui...

Kiana's ideas are simple and direct.

But the way she answered was quite unexpected to Xin Hai, who had high hopes for her.

"Huh? This...why is this?"

"Because I am just an unknown traveler, and I have no intention of interfering in your grievances."

Ultimately, these are all just historical issues left over from the existence of Umijima and Narukamijima.

If I join either side, the other side will be doomed. If that's the case... then is my journey just a journey to spread death and destruction?

Kiana didn't agree rashly because she always understood this.

Her candidness made Xin Hai somewhat flustered.

"Aren't you really going to reconsider? Lady Kiana, she's the ruthless Goddess of Thor! How many dreams has she stolen by relentlessly pursuing her Eye Hunt? How much suffering has she caused? If we continue to let her run rampant, we..."

Xin Hai pleaded desperately, hoping that Kiana would change her mind and dedicate herself to the great cause of resisting Thor.

This is understandable, after all, as the leader of the Coral Palace and the strategist of the resistance, she naturally hopes to win at the lowest possible cost.

However, the repeated blasphemous remarks about Thor have pushed the anger of some to the brink of explosion...

"Watch your words and actions, Coral Palace. If it weren't for the General's mercy, you and your people would have perished along with that snake long ago. How could you still enjoy the General's protection on Haiqi Island?"

Dressed in a plain robe, Kujo Sara slowly crossed her arms. Despite the cold wind blowing against her curvaceous body from above, a chill seemed to emanate from her very core.

But as a general of the shogunate, she was not so delicate as to be defeated by the cold.

"Hmph, if the general is safe and sound, I really hope she can make you understand who the gods Inatsume should worship."

"Kujo Sara, you may not realize your predicament yet, heh... Is all a defeated general has left to do is boast? I truly feel sorry for you."

"Ridiculous! It wasn't you who defeated me, but Lady Kiana. Without her intervention, what merit or ability did you possess to thwart my army?"

"That's utter nonsense!"

Xin Hai turned his face away, not even deigning to glance at the shogun.

Although one lived on Umijima Island and the other on Narujindo Island, they had barely met and their information about each other was mostly hearsay.

However, they are on opposing sides and can be ruthless enemies to each other...

Such a scene is somewhat puzzling and perplexing.

"Luminous, and Kiana...why are they so angry?"

"Is it because of their different beliefs? Or... is it because of a conflict they had a long time ago, leaving behind a grudge?"

Ying stared wide-eyed at the two who remained locked in a fierce standoff, neither willing to back down an inch, her eyes filled with doubt and confusion.

Seeing that she couldn't empathize at all, yet was trying her best to understand, Kiana smiled and then reached out to rub Ying's little head.