Bengtie, I'm really not a villain!

[And her crumbling heart, having finally reached its peak, was just what allowed the transforming sword to unleash a torrent of war drums, perfectly deceiving Raiden Mei.]

[Now that crisis has put Raiden Mei and Himeko in danger, thanks to your hard work day and night, you've finally bought enough time for them to leave.]

Now is the perfect time to let Raiden Mei test her skills on the battlefield.

[Perfect opportunity to try out the ending theme effects from Blade & Soul that you've never had a chance to try before]

[Raiden Mei, who escaped danger while under your imprisonment, should be able to bring Himeko back alive, which means Kiana can also survive.]

You should see for yourself who this "Kiana" from the "Yellow Springs" really is.

Meanwhile, under the power of that sword, Raiden Mei arrived at the battlefield between Izumo and Takamagahara with lightning speed.

[In that battlefield shrouded in black mist, Raiden Mei cleaved through the clouds like a thunderbolt!]

The evil demons from Takamagahara may have the magnificent and majestic appearance of gods, but their behavior is extremely bloody and brutal.

The blood and limbs scattered across the battlefield stimulated human instincts; the grinning demon was completely unrelated to the so-called "eight million gods."

These demons of Takamagahara, under the ridiculous title of "eight million gods," are now cruelly and ruthlessly slaughtering their enemies.

Even the many samurai of Izumo Province were forced to retreat in the face of this evil and ferocious demon.

Seeing the battlefield reach a stalemate, and the situation even becoming increasingly unfavorable for Izumo, Raiden Mei suddenly brandished her sword!

The black crescent moon swept across the battlefield like lightning, shattering the stalemate between the ferocious demons!

A black crescent moon startled all the warriors on the battlefield, causing them to halt in their actions and turn to face it with expressions of horror!

The instant the black crescent moon appeared, many samurai mistook it for a terrifying enemy, and despair filled their faces!

[It wasn't until the crescent moon freed most of the warriors who were struggling on the battlefield and shattered the demons in front of them that everyone realized it was Raiden Mei who had arrived.]

The samurai of Izumo were stunned when they saw Raiden Mei appear; their eyes were filled with disbelief.

Although most of the samurai's eyes showed contempt and resentment, they were clearly unhappy that Raiden Mei had been nowhere to be seen until now.

After all, for the "spirit of the samurai," a cowardly deserter who is afraid of battle is absolutely unworthy of respect, regardless of the reason.

But soon, they were awestruck by Raiden Mei's immense power.

[Raiden Mei was like a black lightning bolt, and wherever she passed, demons and monsters retreated in defeat.]

Even as the demons let out strange cries, Raiden Mei moved like a ghost, darting freely through the enemy ranks. Her attacks were swift and fierce, each strike deadly.

Those originally menacing demons seemed utterly powerless before her, all enveloped by her blade's light.

Those demons that posed a formidable challenge and even instilled fear in other samurai, those "eight million gods" who plunged Izumo into a bitter struggle, couldn't even linger for a moment under Raiden Mei's blade!

Whether it was a winged eagle's claw, a whip with tentacles, or a giant with many eyes, none could withstand the light of the rice paddies for even a moment.

In the blink of an eye, those ferocious demons turned into a pile of severed limbs, and then vanished into thin air by the terrifying blade light.

As Raiden Mei continued her attack, the demons gradually lost ground and began to retreat.

Ultimately, this fierce battle ended in victory for the warriors of Izumo!

Wherever Raiden Mei goes, cheers erupt!

[Raiden Mei, who hadn't appeared for the previous few days and was considered a "deserter" by everyone, became the linchpin in determining the outcome of the battle!]

[Although Raiden Mei's appearance is puzzling—why are her swords adorned with exquisite and alluring patterns, and why are there subtle lines on her skin?]

Why does Raiden Mei's aura and strength appear so terrifying, creating a heavy sense of oppression?

However, all things considered, Raiden Mei's appearance did indeed bring great liberation to many samurai in Izumo Province.

Thanks to Raiden Mei's efforts, the battle quickly transformed from a fierce stalemate into a one-sided victory for the Izumo Kingdom.

However, amidst the cheers, Raiden Mei remained somewhat calm.

Raiden Mei stared down at the sword in her hand, the strange patterns on its blade seeming to tell untold secrets.

All the things you did to her, the humiliating words, the trampling actions—all of it is etched onto those beautiful and alluring knife patterns.

The sword pattern also appeared on Raiden Mei's fair skin, creating a beautiful and alluring effect.

The patterns on her body outlined your name. The four large characters "Jingye Exclusive" were displayed on Raiden Mei's body before everyone's eyes.

[And she hadn't paid attention to that, yet she stood on this battlefield...]

[Or perhaps she felt extremely ashamed, but had no choice but to stand on this battlefield.]

[Perhaps... it's because after those days and nights of practicing Iaijutsu with you, Raiden Mei has become accustomed to the patterns on her body?]

[Perhaps it's because compared to the humiliation and trampling you've inflicted, simply displaying the pattern of your name is no longer enough to provoke Raiden Mei?]

[Only after the battle entered its final stages did the many samurai have a chance to rest, and only then did they realize the bewilderment of Raiden Mei's current posture.]

The people on the battlefield didn't know why Raiden Mei appeared so slowly, nor did they know if her strange appearance was related to her exaggerated strength.

[Especially the patterns on Raiden Mei's fair skin, which possess a bewitching beauty while also subtly revealing...]

[Raiden Mei has become someone's anomaly]

[The Raiden Mei presented to everyone was only wearing the special outfit you prepared because of the time constraint.]

The exquisite patterns on Raiden Mei's fair skin, combined with her cool and aloof temperament, create an extremely beautiful contrast, further highlighting the uniqueness of this beautiful girl.

The simple patterns do not detract from Raiden Mei's beauty; on the contrary, they enhance it.

However, Raiden Mei's temperament seemed to have undergone a transformation, from an innocent and naive teenage girl to a resilient heart that had been through trials and tribulations.

The patterns on Raiden Mei's body seemed to be the best proof, as if confirming what had happened to her.

However, no one could believe that such a powerful lightning queen could possibly belong to someone.

How could the markings on Raiden Mei's body possibly bear someone else's name, with the words "Jing Ye's Exclusive" engraved in large characters?

How could Raiden Mei allow someone to have their name and mark imprinted on their body, and then display it to others like that?

[It's impossible that Raiden Mei was actually being forced by her master to do iaido (traditional Japanese slang) during the time she was absent, right?]

[How could that be? How could Raiden Mei become someone's toy?]

Chapter Ninety-Six: Jing Ye's Exclusive

[No one could believe that Raiden Mei, the one who slaughtered everyone on the battlefield and who truly deserved the title of "Queen of Lightning," would be captured and forced into iaido.]

Therefore, everyone simply regarded the incomprehensible markings on Raiden Mei's body as some kind of mysterious ritual within her family.

Amidst the cheers, Raiden Mei remained silent.

[Perhaps feeling slightly embarrassed by the stares from others about her tattoos]

After all, having the words "Kageyo's Exclusive" tattooed on her body and displayed so openly, Raiden Mei felt a surge of shame after her initial anxiety about rushing to the battlefield.

[Mei Raiden silently wiped the blood from the blade, a complex emotion flickering in her eyes.]

Only Raiden Mei herself knows that her ability to turn the tide and save the samurai from their desperate battle today is largely due to the weapon she forged.

Although this weapon bears the weight of her pain and betrayal, it undeniably possesses immense power.

[So powerful that Raiden Mei can dominate the battlefield]

[Raiden Mei didn't even need to use the swordsmanship she had painstakingly honed over the past decade; relying solely on the power of this sword, she effortlessly swept away the demons on the battlefield.]

This dealt another huge blow to Raiden Mei's heart.

Even though you're not by Raiden Mei's side, you still resonate deeply within her.

[Could it be that just a few days and nights of humiliation and trampling have allowed this sword to transform and possess power surpassing her own decades of arduous training?]

[In Raiden Mei's heart, her resolve regarding the way of the sword seemed to be slightly wavering.]

It was as if you had struck it, leaving it teetering on the brink of collapse.

At this moment, in Raiden Mei's eyes, you have truly become more mysterious.

It's as if the you that Raiden Mei has always seen hasn't been the real you; the real you has always been hidden in mysterious shadows and mist.

[While Raiden Mei was pondering things about you, the battlefield where she had eliminated most of the demons was completely taken over by the Izumo Kingdom.]

[The battlefield was now reduced to simple cleanup work; there were no more powerful demons requiring Raiden Mei's intervention.]

After most of the demons were defeated, the group, who had finally had a chance to rest on the battlefield, finally had time to examine Raiden Mei in detail.

In this war that is about to end in a resounding victory, some people have offered opinions to Raiden Mei that differ from the cheers, for example—

Why should a mere deserter receive cheers?

Despite Raiden Mei's impressive display of strength on the battlefield, some samurai, their eyes red with anger, still clamored with discontent towards her.

Of course, their dissatisfaction with Raiden Mei wasn't entirely due to envy of her achievements and cheers, but also because of their fallen comrades.

Because Raiden Mei didn't appear immediately, the samurai of Izumo Province fought fiercely against the demons of Takamagahara over the past few days, and many of them have sacrificed their lives.

The wreckage and severed limbs scattered on the battlefield were not all demons; they were also mixed in with samurai from Izumo.

They are not merely insignificant decorations on the battlefield, nor simply abandoned remains to be weathered and buried here.

Just a few days ago, they were still alive, laughing, and talking.

However, because Raiden Mei arrived too late, those people were gone forever.

Among the crowd, those most dissatisfied with Raiden Mei's voice were the relatives and friends of the deceased.

"Given such formidable strength, why didn't you make your move from the beginning?"

"Why did they only appear after impersonating so many people? What conspiracy are they plotting?"

Such questions and anger assaulted Raiden Mei, but she could only bite her lip and remain silent.

Raiden Mei knew perfectly well that she couldn't answer that question.

[Because she was late, the reason for it is etched into the beautiful patterns on her body, within the four large characters that read "Jing Ye's Exclusive".]

In short, whatever the reason, she truly caused the deaths of so many civilians because she failed to be on the battlefield immediately.

The remains of many samurai buried beneath her feet are her most painful wounds and sources of guilt.

Even though she has now led the victory in this battle, Raiden Mei's heart is still filled with guilt.

[It is precisely because of her immense strength that the more fiercely Raiden Mei displays her power, the greater the harm she inflicts on the families and friends of the deceased.]

If Raiden Mei had appeared earlier, would the others have been spared?

If Raiden Mei had intervened from the beginning, would this war have lasted so long, with innocent lives lost in the process?

Although some people tried to defend Raiden Mei, they couldn't overcome the grief and anger of losing her loved ones.

[Raiden Mei endured countless rages and questions, and the unbearable guilt made the patterns on the sword in her hand become even more exquisite and alluring.]

The negative guilt in Raiden Mei's heart made the beautiful markings on her body even more vivid and prominent, making the four characters "Jingye Exclusive" even more dazzling.

It was as if a knife was being repeatedly pierced through Raiden Mei's heart, as if her gaze was being repeatedly assaulted, as if it were stabbing at her heart.

Just as the crowd was getting heated, a series of shouts suddenly rang out from the side, even drowning out the many angry denunciations against Raiden Mei!

"Rejoice! For the birth of the Thunder Queen!"

"Raiden Mei! As Izumo's secret weapon, she has always been kept hidden as a backup plan to prevent enemy attacks!"

"Now that it's confirmed the opponent has no more tricks up their sleeve, she can finally make her move!"

"It was Raiden Mei's intervention that allowed us to stand here alive, to return to our loved ones!"

"A salute to the Thunder Queen who has endured the grief of losing her comrades until now, finally gaining permission to fight!"

[Himeko, appearing out of nowhere, called out Raiden Mei's name while explaining to the people of Izumo why Raiden Mei had only just appeared—]

Although this reason came so suddenly and was so puzzling, it does explain why Raiden Mei was so late.

Himeko said that Raiden Mei also suppressed her grief and anger at watching her comrades die, and only just now did she receive permission to "go into battle," allowing her to rush out and kill all the troublesome demons.

Although this meant that Raiden Mei was abandoning them to their fate, the grief and anger in everyone's hearts had to be suppressed due to the strategic considerations of the higher-ups.

Despite the grief and anger over losing loved ones, wasn't Raiden Mei even more heartbroken to watch her comrades perish, powerless to save them despite her strength?

[After this point was raised, the anger of the samurai who had been vehemently denouncing Raiden Mei subsided as they looked at her face, which had remained silent and sorrowful since the cheers began.]

The real target of resentment is not the higher-ups who devised this strategy, nor is it Raiden Mei, who suppressed her grief and anger until just now before taking action.