Chapter 418: Musou no Hitotachi(Part 1)

The Raiden Shogun had never truly fought before.

Since being created by Ei, she had sat at the pinnacle of Tenshukaku, overlooking the world's joys and sorrows, loves and separations.

She had wielded her blade before, but those were mere executions—one-sided takings of life. They were not battles between warriors.

In all of Inazuma, was there truly anyone who could stand against her? Since the Archon War, aside from the Seven Archons, the surviving gods had fled to the dark outer seas, licking their wounds there.

In Inazuma, she was invincible.

This was not mere praise but an undeniable fact.

The Raiden Shogun had never personally experienced a warrior's battle. The memories of exhilarating combat belonged to Ei, not her.

Her battle with Li Mo was her first true fight.

—It was even a battle against another version of herself.

After activating "Transcendence: Baleful Omen," the Raiden Shogun focused entirely on her martial prowess, wielding her naginata with effortless grace. She used techniques suited for heavy weapons with her naginata.

Each swing seemed slow, but she controlled the rhythm completely. The Electro-infused attacks gradually sealed off any possibility of counterattack.

The only surprise was...

Her opponent was unlike any ordinary person.

When Li Mo took a direct hit to his body to create distance and adjust his stance, the Raiden Shogun realized his regenerative abilities were far beyond ordinary.

Then, he charged at her.

The Shogun was not surprised. She swung her naginata to meet his blade.

Clang————!!!

"Hmm?!"

Their weapons clashed again, but this time, the Raiden Shogun's expression changed.

Space and time overlapped. In an instant, Li Mo did not strike once but three times. Electro energy roared from his blade, spreading and rivaling the Electro energy generated by the Raiden Shogun.

The scattered elements in the air aside, in the Shogun's eyes, Li Mo had struck three times.

The first strike came from above—a vertical slash. It was blocked by her naginata.

The second strike came from the upper right—a diagonal slash.

The third strike came from the upper left—a reverse diagonal slash.

The first strike arrived first, followed by the other two.

Each strike was wreathed in purple lightning, accompanied by the roar of thunder.

A sword technique that folded space and time—even the Raiden Shogun had never seen such a technique in her memories.

Thunder roared, and the "hand-eye" opened again.

"Transcendence: Baleful Omen" transformed into an offensive technique, condensing Electro energy into its purest form to neutralize the reverse and diagonal slashes. Seizing the opportunity, she retreated to create distance.

Then, with overwhelming force, she unleashed a barrage of blade waves infused with Electro energy, relentlessly bombarding Li Mo.

The interior of Tenshukaku was scarred by the blade waves, and Electro energy dominated the space, pushing out all other elements.

The Raiden Shogun's fighting spirit burned brightly. Her eyes flashed with purple light, and her previously emotionless demeanor shifted to one of fierce determination. She displayed martial prowess never before seen, a technique that manipulated space and time through sheer swordsmanship.

Her opponent had surprised her twice.

The Raiden Shogun, the ruler, temporarily faded away.

In her place stood the Raiden Shogun, the warrior.

A blazing fighting spirit rose within her. Feeling the heat of battle, the Raiden Shogun unleashed the speed of lightning. Purple Electro energy enveloped her, and her weapon moved with effortless grace. The two techniques she had displayed earlier merged into one.

The battle became a clash of ultra-high-speed combat.

Li Mo, in his "Saint Form: Raiden Shogun" state, possessed similar abilities. He could match her speed, but the gap in martial skill remained evident. Even with the combined martial arts of countless Vision holders, he was no match for the Raiden Shogun.

"You will lose," the Raiden Shogun declared.

In the ultra-high-speed battle, Li Mo was overwhelmed by her relentless attacks. He had no chance to use "Secret Sword: Swallow Reversal" again.

—The Raiden Shogun would not give him the opportunity.

His body was already marked with wounds. If this continued, his defenses would eventually break. The last time he felt so stifled in battle was against that monster, Aureolus.

Facing overwhelming pressure, he had to think of a new strategy.

If this continued, would he even have a chance to unleash the "Musou no Hitotachi"?

"「The End of the Fourth Night」."

Li Mo murmured.

He decisively activated the ability from his second tail. If he delayed any longer, even with "Pseudo-Immortality," he might not die, but his fighting spirit would wane.

So...

Indecision would only bring disaster!

「The End of the Fourth Night」 was an ability gained from devouring Angra Mainyu. It allowed him to burn his life force in exchange for an all-around boost. Its mystery surpassed even "Pseudo-Immortality." Once activated, Li Mo was on a countdown to losing his combat ability!

But Li Mo was never short of escape routes.

The purple Electro energy around him rivaled the Raiden Shogun's. 「The End of the Fourth Night」 enhanced him in every aspect.

The "Thororm Spell" could not be activated in this world, but that didn't mean Li Mo had no other means. The soldiers created by "Dragon's Shadow" were cloaked in Electro energy. The numerous minions bought him a brief moment.

He took a step back, immersing himself in a state of emptiness.

Li Mo had once witnessed the "Transparent World" in the Demon Slayer world—one of the highest techniques, a state where all distractions were swept away, leading to a calm born of suffering.

He had seen it in Tanjiro but had never reached that state himself.

But in this moment, as he let go of all calculations and focused entirely on the blade in his hand, he entered a state of emptiness and selflessness.

It was as if he had become a plant, standing there without joy or sorrow, like a Bodhisattva in a temple.

Devoid of life.

"Musou."

He raised the Amenoma Kageuchi Blade to his chest, his eyes filled with purple light representing thunder.

Raiden Shogun—"Saint Form: Raiden Shogun."

Martial Arts—The connection between the Statue of the Omnipresent God and the Visions of Inazuma.

Musou no Hitotachi—The data from the Musoujin Gorge.

All the conditions were now met.

Li Mo entered a state of selflessness. He abandoned all thoughts and focused entirely on this single strike.

"Is that... the Musou no Hitotachi?"

The Raiden Shogun's expression grew serious. Almost instinctively, her naginata destroyed all the shadow soldiers around her. Her right hand rested on her chest.

From every angle, her opponent was imitating her, even replicating the Musou no Hitotachi.

"In that case, I must respond in kind."

Though she didn't understand why his "Musou no Hitotachi" was so slow, as if stuck halfway, she knew she had to strike.

"Fantasy, like the fleeting world, clings to reality by chance."

"Silence, the essence, lies hidden beneath fragile bubbles."

"Thus, it is named—「Eternity」!"

From her chest, she drew the Musou Isshin from the purple curtain.

Thunder surged endlessly, each bolt tearing through the air, piercing matter. The thunder roared as if a thousand great bells tolled in unison.

That was the Raiden Shogun's "Musou no Hitotachi."

It was also her eternity.