The Infinite Journey of a Certain Flame

However, the samurai's commotion was quickly quelled by Kujo Sara.

"You guys go help the others; I'll deal with these people."

Unlike the others, Kujo Sara did not show any fear or timidity.

On the contrary, she seemed to have long since taken life and death lightly, and the reason she was still holding on was simply to fulfill her lofty ideals.

And... promises.

Now, the eternal enemy is closing in.

She no longer needed to worry about anything else; she only needed to focus on facing the challenge and accept her fate.

"Lord Kujou...you?"

"What are you all standing there for? When the resistance forces attack, are you prepared to take responsibility?"

Kujo Sara's stern rebuke forced the Kujo clan samurai who had intended to help to obediently leave the area and head to the distant battlefield to provide reinforcements.

Before leaving, all the warriors bowed to her in unison.

Perhaps in the eyes of these ordinary samurai, Kujo Sara's actions were not warlike, nor did they seem to be a desire for death.

Instead, it's for the safety of your subordinates that you bravely challenge the stronger ones, isn't it?

"Kujo... I didn't expect to see you again so soon."

Kiana felt a pang of emotion as she watched Kujo Sara, determined to keep her promise.

Even though he knew he couldn't stop her, the girl would still stand in front of him without hesitation.

But can courage really bridge the gap in ability?

"Kiana, Luminous...Paimon. Heh, I didn't expect the Rebel Alliance's attack to come so quickly. And it was destined that you, as a major ally of the Rebel Alliance, would come."

Kujo Sara slowly raised her bow, her posture so perfect it was almost like a statue of a perfect archer.

To be able to execute the archery posture so perfectly requires countless days and nights of practice and breakthroughs.

This kind of temperament also fully reflects her fighting spirit.

"Kiana...you have to hold back later!" Paimon whispered, hiding behind Kiana.

"Yes, I don't want her to die in vain."

Kiana didn't show any resistance to Ying and Paimon's suggestion.

She reached out and ruffled the heads of the two little ones, then expressed her confidence in a very confident tone.

"Don't worry, everyone will be fine."

After saying this, Kiana slowly turned around and looked at Kujo Sara.

The sharp arrow was wreathed in a faint purple light characteristic of lightning.

As darkness approached, the faint lightning seemed to carry a hint of danger...

However, this poses no threat to Kiana.

"Kujo, step down. I am well aware of your predicament, but I must see your general one more time. You may continue to resist, but in the end, I will win."

Kiana spread her hands and used the simplest language to reveal the most despairing truth.

Knowing full well the difference in strength between herself and her, Kujo Sara exhaled a breath of turbid air after hearing these words, seemingly hesitating about something, and remained silent for a long time.

"call..."

Finally, she slowly lowered the bow and closed her eyes.

It seems they've agreed to let it pass...

However, before Kiana and Ying could be overjoyed, the shogunate general raised his bow again.

This action demonstrates the choice she ultimately made.

"Kiana, I am glad to meet someone as strong as you, both inside and out. But I'm sorry, achieving eternity for the General is my lifelong pursuit. Go ahead, just remember that on your way to the General, there will always be an obstacle like me. Come on, as long as you completely eliminate the obstacle and completely erase my existence, no one will be able to stop you!"

Kujo Sara expressed her resolute determination in firm and powerful words.

Throughout, this adopted son of the Kujo family never changed, even after struggling with right and wrong, grappling with understanding and stubbornness, and experiencing the transformation from a high position to utter ruin.

She still remembers what she said and what she pursued back then.

With such a loyal subordinate who would follow her to the death, Kiana wasn't sure whether this was a good thing or a bad thing for the Shadow.

but...

The repeated setbacks had worn down Kiana's patience.

"Erase it? Kujo Sara."

She slowly closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, her azure pupils shone with an unusual light...

With just a glare, Kujo Sara felt a chilling sense of being watched by a monstrous beast.

"I'll say it one last time: step back. Otherwise, I'll do as you wish."

"I'm sorry, Kiana, I can't do anything... I don't even have the courage to run away. Come on."

As soon as she finished speaking, Kiana sprinted forward, and by the time Kujo Sara came to her senses and released the bowstring, Kiana was already dead.

The Blazing King's Sword was already raised high, seemingly poised to tear her into humanoid fragments with a single strike...

The blazing, sharp edge gradually grew larger in the field of vision, eventually almost completely obscuring the view.

Along with the sword blade, there was a heavy, crushing feeling, like Mount Tai pressing down on you.

At this moment, Kujo Sara finally made Kiana draw her sword.

This also made her realize once again just how enormous the gap in strength between herself and the other woman truly was.

Goodbye... Inazuma.

After these words flashed through her mind, Kujo Sara lost the strength to support her body and was completely overwhelmed by the immense pressure, kneeling on the ground unable to move.

With a 'thud!', the greatsword that should have been tearing the enemy apart suddenly stopped, and was held in mid-air by its owner, motionless.

"I didn't come here to kill. Look around..."

As Kiana gently reminded him, Kujo Sara looked at the rebel army and the shogunate army that were already locked in a fierce battle.

Both were born on the same land, yet they wielded sharp blades, each striving to take the other's life, driven by their own convictions.

Many people died on the battlefield, and many families lost husbands and sons.

"You've spent your whole life pursuing the eternity that General Thunder sought, but have you ever considered that the eternity she longed for might be realized in this way?"

Faced with Kiana's questioning, Kujo Sara suddenly seemed to realize something and slowly raised her head.

"The General...was she wrong?"

Song of Flames and Lightning (Genshin Impact Inazuma Main Story): Chapter 94 The long-awaited god finally welcomes a challenger.

At that moment, Kujo Sara suddenly understood Kujo Takayuki's feelings.

She used to admire the general so much, thinking that as long as there was such a strong, wise, and powerful deity, that would be enough.

Inatsume can always become better.

Those who err will be severely punished, those who disrespect the gods will be purged, and innocent people will be resettled...

Everything should have been this way.

However, after visiting the Coral Palace, Kujo Sara suddenly realized that perhaps, possibly, maybe, perhaps...

General, was she wrong?

"No, impossible... How could the General be wrong! She is the Thunder Goddess, the Supreme Lord Mitakenami who rules over us. This is absolutely..."

Kujo Sara's voice was tinged with sobs.

For her to admit that the person she admires is not so perfect is far more painful than death.

Kiana was well aware of this, but she had no choice but to do it.

“Kujo, I don’t know what you’re pursuing, but I understand that if this continues, there will be no benefit whatsoever except for mutual destruction. You are General Raiden’s right-hand man and a loyal retainer who has served her wholeheartedly. Are you just going to stand by and watch her… destroy her own country?”

"..." Kujo Sara remained silent, staring intently at Kiana, her eyes filled with confusion.

But they still adhered to their principles...

"Kiana, are you saying I should disregard my responsibilities and let you in?"

"I'll be frank, that's it."

"...Hmph, then tell me. What do you want to say to the general? What do you want to do?"

Communication means that two parties may interact.

When Kujo Sara asked that question, it meant that she had already tacitly agreed that Kiana was right.

However, neither side tacitly agreed to the other's statement.

This was the last bit of face we could save for each other.

Seeing that the atmosphere between the two sides had eased, Paimon and Ying slowly followed.

"What are we going to say? We're going to talk to her... well, anyway, about abolishing the Eyehunting Order," Paimon said seriously.

“That’s right, this is the best way to solve the problem, because as long as the Eye Hunting Order is abolished... then there is no need for this battle to continue.”

However, faced with Ying's naivety, Kujo Sara simply shook her head in confusion.

"Eye-hunting order? Wasn't that abolished a long time ago?"

"Huh? What?"

This time, not only Ying and Paimon, but even Kiana was dumbfounded.

Has the Eye Hunting Order been abolished?

When did this happen?!

"According to the samurai left behind by the Kujo clan, not long after the incident with the Tenryō magistrate, the shogun returned to the castle tower alone. Later, due to the lady's revelation, she revoked the eye-hunting order..."

After Kujo Sara finished speaking, Kiana was stunned.