-

The storm over Inazuma worsened as night fell, unnatural streaks of lightning splitting the sky with a violet glow. The group took refuge in a small inn in Ritou, their minds heavy with anticipation.

Furina paced the room, her sword leaning against the wall. “We can’t just sit here while that cloaked menace creeps around. What if they’re already targeting the Raiden Shogun?”

“Rushing blindly won’t help,” Neuvillette said from his seat by the window, his gaze fixed on the storm. “We need a plan, and we need allies.”

Arlecchino stood by the door, her scythe gleaming in the dim light. “If the figure’s patterns hold, they’ll strike where the nation’s power is concentrated. That means the Grand Narukami Shrine or the Sacred Sakura.”

Yoshika, who had been quietly sharpening her spear, spoke up. “We should split into two teams. Cover both locations.”

“That’s risky,” Lyney said, twirling his magician’s hat in his hands. “What if the cloaked figure catches us off guard?”

“We’ll handle it,” Furina said, her voice firm. “We’re not amateurs.”

---

By dawn, the storm’s ferocity had intensified, and the group split as planned. Neuvillette, Furina, and Yoshika headed to the Sacred Sakura, while Arlecchino, Lyney, Lynette, and Clorinde went to the Grand Narukami Shrine.

The Sacred Sakura stood tall and unwavering amidst the storm, its blossoms glowing faintly. The air was thick with tension, and every rustle of leaves felt like a threat.

“This place feels wrong,” Furina muttered, gripping her sword.

Neuvillette raised a hand, summoning a protective barrier of water as a precaution. “Stay alert.”

The stillness shattered as dark tendrils erupted from the ground, coiling toward them with unnatural speed. Yoshika lunged, her spear slicing through the tendrils with deadly precision.

“They’re here,” she said coldly.

From the shadows emerged the cloaked figure, their staff crackling with dark energy. “You’re persistent, I’ll give you that,” they sneered. “But persistence won’t save you.”

---

Meanwhile, at the Grand Narukami Shrine, Arlecchino’s team faced their own challenge. The shrine’s once-serene grounds were now overrun with shadowy creatures, their glowing red eyes fixed on the intruders.

Clorinde fired precise shots from her gun, each bullet infused with Electro energy. “These things just keep coming!”

“They’re stalling us,” Arlecchino growled, her scythe cutting through a wave of enemies. “We need to push through.”

Lyney unleashed a barrage of flaming arrows, creating an opening for Lynette, who darted forward with her sword. “The Shrine itself might be the target,” Lynette said, her voice calm despite the chaos.

“Then we protect it,” Arlecchino said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

---

Back at the Sacred Sakura, the battle with the cloaked figure raged on. Furina’s water-infused strikes clashed with the figure’s dark magic, creating bursts of steam and sparks.

“You’re nothing without your act, ‘celebrity,’” the figure taunted.

Furina gritted her teeth, her movements quick and precise. “I’m more than just an act. You’ll see.”

Yoshika flanked the figure, her spear glowing with a golden-pink light. She thrust forward, forcing the figure to retreat. “Your power isn’t absolute.”

Neuvillette joined in, his water-based attacks overwhelming the figure’s defenses. “This ends now,” he declared, his voice resolute.

The figure snarled, their form flickering as if unstable. “You may delay the inevitable, but you can’t stop it. The Archons’ reign will fall.”

With a final surge of power, the figure vanished, leaving behind an unsettling silence.

---

As both teams regrouped in Ritou, the weight of the encounter hung heavy in the air.

“They’re getting bolder,” Neuvillette said, his tone grave. “But we’re getting closer to understanding their plans.”

Furina clenched her fists, determination burning in her eyes. “Whatever their endgame is, we’ll stop them.”

Yoshika stood beside her, silent but resolute. Together, they would face the growing darkness head-on.

---
𝖠𝖭 𝗇𝗈𝗍𝖾: 𝖤𝗑𝗉𝗅𝖺𝗇𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇! 𝗌𝗈 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝖻𝖺𝖻𝗅𝗒 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗒𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝖿𝗎𝗌𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝖻𝗍 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝖽𝗂𝖽 𝖼𝗅𝗈𝗋𝗂𝗇𝖽𝖾, 𝗅𝗒𝗇𝖾𝗒 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗅𝗒𝗇𝖾𝗍𝗍𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝖻𝖼 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗆 𝗂𝗇 𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗇𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌, 𝗌𝗈𝗈𝗈 𝖻𝖺𝗌𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗃𝗈𝗂𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗆 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖨𝗇𝖺𝗓𝗎𝗆𝖺, 𝗒𝖾𝖺 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍𝗌 𝗐𝗁𝗒. 𝖨 𝖺𝗅𝗌𝗈 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝖥𝗎𝗋𝗂𝗇𝖺 𝗂𝗌 𝗄𝗂𝗇𝖽𝖺 𝗌𝖼𝖺𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝗈𝖿 𝖠𝗋𝗅𝖾𝖼𝖼𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗈 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖿𝗂𝖼 𝖠𝗋𝗅𝖾𝖼𝖼𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗈 𝖺𝗉𝗈𝗅𝗈𝗀𝗂𝗓𝖾𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝖺𝗋𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝖿𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗇𝖽𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝗀𝖾𝗍 𝖺𝗅𝗈𝗇𝗀 𝗅𝗈𝗅.