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[Genshin Impact] Chapter 383: Raiden Shogun (2-in-1 Chapter)
🕑 Added 2024-12-25 10:30:01 +0000 UTCStatue of the Omnipresent God’s Plaza.
The plaza was packed with people. Clearly, the human tendency to gather and watch an event remained unchanged no matter the place.
Though, the onlookers did seem to feel a tinge of sympathy for the unfortunate individual kneeling in the center of the plaza with his hands bound behind his back.
Nolan and his companions slowly moved forward. When they reached the front, they saw that the person kneeling on the wooden platform in the plaza was indeed Thoma, guarded closely by two Shogunate soldiers.
He looked like a criminal awaiting execution, and that was precisely the case.
Aside from the two soldiers standing watch over Thoma, the platform was lined with even more soldiers. This "Vision Hunt Ceremony" was being conducted with quite a show of force.
It was slightly different from the original storyline, but that was only natural. After all, the game medium couldn't fully display the real world of Teyvat in its entirety.
As of now, the ceremony hadn't started, and Raiden Shogun herself had not yet appeared.
“Ah! It really is Thoma!”
Paimon gasped, covering her mouth in shock.
Looking at Thoma’s disheveled state, she spread her hands and remarked in exasperation:
“How could he be so careless? How did he get caught by the Shogunate soldiers? Back on Ritou, he acted like a ‘local boss,’ and everyone seemed to give him some respect. But now that we’re in Inazuma City, it’s not working anymore?”
“Even the most cunning ‘local boss’ has moments of failure,” Lumine said, crossing her arms over her chest and furrowing her elegant brows.
She thought for a moment before shifting her posture, resting her chin on her hand. She then turned to Nolan and asked:
“Raiden Shogun still seems to be in Tenshukaku. Do you think we could sneak in and quietly rescue Thoma?”
Lumine’s compassionate nature made it hard for her to bear seeing Thoma in such a pitiful state.
“Ahem.” Nolan cleared his throat and subtly gestured for Lumine to stop discussing such matters here.
“Although the Shogun isn’t here in person, her will is everywhere. Even though Thoma is our friend, the fact that he hid a Vision and got caught means he’s just unlucky this time.”
The Tenshukaku wasn’t far behind the plaza, and Nolan had reason to believe that Raiden Shogun could easily become aware of what was happening here. It was best to avoid saying anything that might lead to misunderstandings.
“Alright, fine.”
Lumine suddenly remembered that after her sixth Ascension (Level 80), she had gained the ability to extend her spiritual sense over five to six kilometers, perceiving everything within that range.
This was partially due to her naturally strong spiritual power.
Normally, after reaching the sixth Ascension, a person could only extend their spiritual sense about one kilometer unless they had activated constellations related to spiritual power or possessed extraordinary talent.
In this aspect, even Nolan wasn’t on her level.
When he had first achieved his sixth Ascension, his spiritual sense could only cover two to three kilometers.
However, now that he had reached the seventh Ascension, he claimed to be able to extend his spiritual sense over ten kilometers.
As for his tangible spiritual threads, those could reach over a hundred kilometers.
By this logic, it wasn’t hard to imagine that Raiden Shogun, as an Archon, would be even more formidable. Rumor had it that her will extended to the stormy seas surrounding Inazuma.
Thus, it truly wasn’t wise to discuss topics that might annoy the Shogun near the Tenshukaku.
Of course, she might not be monitoring this area at all times or just happen to overhear their conversation.
But it was better to be cautious.
“Don’t worry. After this, I’ll find a way to help Thoma retrieve his Vision,” Nolan assured Lumine silently through the “Waymark.”
Lumine gave him a small nod of acknowledgment.
“Poor Thoma,” Paimon said with a worried expression. Then she turned to the blonde girl beside her and asked, “By the way, Yoimiya, do you know what happens to someone who loses their Vision?”
“I’ve heard that people who lose their Vision also lose their desires,” Yoimiya replied solemnly. “It’s terrifying.
“They forget even the most important people and things. They lose interest in everything and have no passion for life!”
The mere thought of losing her love for fireworks made Yoimiya pale in fear.
“Haha, don’t scare yourself,” Nolan said with a chuckle, looking to the side. “Look, it seems the legendary Raiden Shogun is here.”
“Oh?”
Lumine and Paimon followed his gaze.
Raiden Shogun’s appearance not only captured Nolan and his companions’ attention but also drew the focus of everyone present. Out of respect for her authority, the crowd greeted her in hushed tones:
“It’s the Shogun!”
“Shogun-sama...”
“Wow, she’s so imposing. Everyone seems to be really afraid of her,” Paimon whispered, shrinking behind Lumine in an attempt to hide as she observed how fearful the Inazuman citizens were.
Raiden Shogun’s long, lustrous dark-purple hair was tied into a braid that cascaded down her back. Beneath the bangs framing her forehead, her violet eyes radiated an aura of boundless authority, like the thunder itself.
Her complexion was fair, and there was a tear-shaped beauty mark beneath the corner of her right eye.
She wore a light purple kimono in the style of Inazuma, adorned with subtle floral patterns. The collar of the kimono, or honeri, was left slightly loose, revealing a deep purple form-fitting garment underneath that clung to her skin, with a glimpse of her snow-white chest partially exposed.
The hem of her kimono was short, exposing her equally snow-white thighs. She wore over-the-knee deep purple thigh-high stockings, and her feet were clad in geta-style heeled sandals resembling traditional footwear.
Her attire was simple and casual, yet every movement exuded the commanding presence of a supreme general whose might dominated the world.
Standing slightly behind her was another woman, a general with a resolute aura. This individual had short, shoulder-length hair of a pale blue hue and wore a tengu mask on the left side of her head.
She was dressed in a black, form-fitting vest. Over her shoulders was a pure white cape that lightly covered her round, soft chest. If one’s gaze shifted slightly downward or if a gentle breeze passed by, one might catch a glimpse of the curves pressed tightly against the black fabric of her lower chest.
This person was also someone Nolan recognized—a powerful general with the bloodline of the tengu, affiliated with the Tenryou Commission: Kujou Sara!
Curious, Nolan activated his ability, the "Eye of Judgment," to assess them.
[Level: 120]
[Level: 72]
Damm!
Hissing in shock, Nolan sucked in a cold breath when he saw the level of Raiden Shogun’s strength.
A F*king Level 120!
So, this was the might of the highest-tier gods!
If translated into Ascension levels, this must have been at least the tenth Ascension.
Wait, no. He couldn’t confirm she had reached the tenth Ascension unless she had surpassed level 120. It could very well be the extreme limit of the ninth Ascension. Either way, this was not someone they could afford to provoke.
This realization further reinforced Nolan's decision to remain calm and composed.
After all, no matter how he thought about it, there was no way they could win against her!
Descending from the Statue of the Omnipresent God, Raiden Shogun walked down the steps toward the wooden platform. However, her attention was suddenly drawn to a young man in the crowd on the lawn opposite the platform.
His attire did not resemble that of an Inazuman, and his golden eyes, clear and penetrating, seemed capable of seeing through even a god like her.
Someone who could give her such a feeling was clearly no ordinary individual.
However, as she scanned the crowd earlier, she distinctly remembered his eyes being black.
Raiden Shogun furrowed her brows ever so slightly.
"Citizens, thank you for gathering here today to witness the 100th Vision being claimed in the Vision Hunt Ceremony. This is a pivotal moment since the implementation of the Vision Hunt Decree, marking yet another step forward toward eternity!"
The head of the Tenryou Commission, Kujou Takayuki, who had been waiting for this moment, addressed the citizens with a perfunctory statement before turning to Raiden Shogun with a respectful bow.
"Now, I ask the Shogun herself to personally seize the sinful Vision of this individual who dares to threaten eternity!"
Kneeling on the platform, Thoma glared furiously at the man who had just spoken.
He had kept his Vision hidden well, ensuring no one knew he possessed one. But Kujou Takayuki was an exception. Before the Vision Hunt Decree was enacted, Takayuki had visited the Yashiro Commission to discuss matters with its leader.
As a servant of the Yashiro Commission, Thoma had been present at the time and had not hidden his Vision. Naturally, Kujou Takayuki was aware that Thoma was a Vision bearer.
Typically, the Vision Hunt Decree targeted only Vision holders outside the Shogunate. Those within the Shogunate, such as members of the Tri-Commission or the Shogunate forces, were exempt. After all, Kujou Sara herself stood beside the Shogun, openly displaying her Vision at her waist.
However, the Yashiro Commission had opposed the Vision Hunt Decree, arguing that seizing Visions would not bring about eternity but instead incite resistance, pushing Inazuma further away from eternal peace.
Perhaps because of this, Kujou Takayuki had held a grudge against the Yashiro Commission. Unable to take action against the Commission directly, he had set his sights on Thoma. Choosing to make Thoma the target of the 100th Vision Hunt Ceremony was an exceptionally petty act!
Thoma glared at Kujou Takayuki with indignation, but the man ignored him completely.
Likewise, Raiden Shogun paid no heed to Kujou Takayuki’s words. Her geta-style heels clicked against the wooden platform as she walked past Thoma, heading to the platform's edge. Her gaze locked onto the young man in the crowd who had caught her attention earlier.
Calm but imposing, she spoke, "Before we proceed, who are you?"
To her, seizing one person’s Vision was less important than uncovering the identity of this enigmatic individual who unsettled her.
If he were merely a foreigner lingering in Inazuma due to the Sakoku Decree, she could overlook it. But if he were an enemy of eternity, her blade would strike without hesitation!
Hearing the Shogun’s words, everyone—from the Tenryou Commission soldiers to Thoma and the citizens of Inazuma—turned their attention to the man the Shogun had singled out.
“He looks so young. He might be a foreigner,” a middle-aged citizen murmured, observing the short-haired man with black hair.
“Wait, he’s with two blonde girls and a white floating creature. One of them seems to be the owner of the fireworks shop. The other… that must be the Traveler! Does that make him the Traveler’s servant?”
A well-read merchant exclaimed in astonishment.
Servant, my foot!
Nolan shot the merchant an exasperated look before glancing at the Shogun in resignation.
Why, of all people, did he have to catch her attention?
It would have been better not to use the Eye of Judgement to look at her. Her senses are incredibly sharp.
“Huh, what should we do? Did we just get noticed by the Shogun?” Paimon hid behind Lumine, trembling.
“Ah, Shogun-sama, we’re just here to watch the event. We’re definitely not suspicious individuals!” Yoimiya waved her hands frantically, trying to explain.
Lumine frowned slightly, seemingly ready to fight at any moment.
Seeing this, Nolan quickly stepped in front of them to block their path. In the original storyline, Lumine’s attempt to rescue Thoma, coupled with her use of elemental power, had been what caused the Shogun to perceive her as a variable that threatened “Eternity.”
That led to her being pursued and nearly sealed within the Statue of the Omnipresent God.
However, since the Shogun hadn’t acted immediately, it was clear that she only found him suspicious for now and hadn’t yet deemed him a true threat to “Eternity.”
As long as he clarified their intentions according to her questions and convinced her that they posed no threat, they should be fine.
Quickly, through the "Waymark," Nolan explained the situation to Lumine and Paimon, emphasizing that they absolutely couldn’t slip up.
“The Shogun is asking you a question!”
Kujou Takayuki, the host of the “Vision Hunt Ceremony,” glanced at Nolan and barked.
The Shogun isn’t even in a rush, so why are you? Nolan inwardly grumbled but chose not to voice it, not wanting Takayuki to make things worse. After all, this guy was doomed to imprisonment sooner or later.
Facing the Shogun, Nolan nodded slightly and spoke respectfully:
“Shogun-sama, we are simply adventurers from Liyue who came to explore Inazuma. When we arrived, we didn’t know about the Sakoku Decree, so we stayed on Ritou for a few days.
“The Kanjou Commission kindly granted us a travel permit, allowing us the opportunity to visit Inazuma City.”
To prove his words, Nolan pulled out the travel permit issued to them, demonstrating that they had entered through proper channels.
I haven’t done anything wrong; surely they won’t just arrest me without cause, right?
Raiden Shogun glanced at the travel permit. It was authentic, with no issues. After a moment of thought, she asked,
“What is the function of your eyes?”
This was the root of her suspicion about him.
Sigh, so this is the trouble caused by randomly using the Eye of Judgement. Nolan didn’t hide the truth; after all, as a Archon, she could probably tell if he lied.
“My Eye of Judgement has many functions. Its most notable ability is to see through the strength and weaknesses of the person I’m looking at.”
“See through? Hmph.” The Shogun crossed her arms and said calmly, “Even this body can be seen through?”
“Yes.”
Nolan looked at the Shogun and discovered that her brain and heart—normal weaknesses for others—did not count as weaknesses for her. However, there was a faint, concealed point of light in the middle of her half-exposed chest that marked a “weakness.”
The subtlety of this light suggested that this “weakness” wasn’t physical but something deeper, more internal.
If he guessed correctly, this weakness likely represented Raiden Ei in the “Plane of Euthymia.”
Normally, Raiden Shogun, as the embodiment of “Eternity” and an immortal puppet, shouldn’t have any weaknesses. Even if part of her was damaged, she could self-repair.
However, this wasn’t the case. Raiden Ei was the true essence, the soul of Raiden Shogun. The two were likely in a dual-soul relationship, but with Raiden Ei being the primary consciousness and the Shogun secondary.
Thus, defeating Raiden Ei would erase the Shogun’s consciousness. Without her core, the puppet representing “Eternity” would be useless.
So, Raiden Ei was indeed Raiden Shogun’s weakness.
Although this so-called “weakness” was even stronger than the Shogun herself, the Eye of Judgement wasn’t wrong.
(End of Chapter)
