The crimson glow of distant flames painted the night sky above Inazuma, casting flickering shadows across the palace grounds. Ei stood at the great gate, her gaze fixed on the inferno consuming the outer districts. The clang of steel and cries of battle drifted on the smoke-laden wind, each sound a needle piercing her heart.
Her figure was a study in contradictions—a goddess clad in garments that spoke more of allure than authority. The purple fabric of her skirt barely reached mid-thigh, leaving an expanse of flawless skin exposed above the tops of her thigh-high stockings. Her corset lifted her full breasts high, the swell of them pressing against the embroidered collar of her kimono. Long purple hair cascaded down her back, catching the firelight like strands of amethyst silk.
A single tear traced a path down her cheek before she brushed it away.
“This is all my fault,” she whispered, her voice carrying the weight of a nation’s ruin. “I have been obsessed with the study of martial arts, neglecting the governance of the nation, leading to its decline!”
She turned, and behind her stood the Traveler—a figure whose golden hair seemed dull against the flames. He had arrived in Inazuma only days ago, seeking passage to the next nation in his search for his lost sister. Instead, he had found a nation at its deathbed.
The Traveler said nothing. He had heard the stories in every tavern and teahouse along the way. Inazuma’s army was composed mostly of women—female samurai who valued loyalty and honor above life itself. From childhood, every girl learned the way of the samurai, and the first lesson was always the same: the resolve to die for loyalty and honor. Seppuku was not merely a form of execution; it was an art, a tradition, a sacred act.
The source of a female samurai’s Vision energy lay in the abdomen, especially the womb—the place where new life is nurtured and the primary source of all energy. The navel was where that energy converged, making it exquisitely sensitive. When a woman performed seppuku, the blade cutting through that convergence brought not only excruciating pain but also waves of overwhelming pleasure. It was a paradoxical ecstasy that many craved.
And so they craved it too much. Over the generations, the reverence for seppuku had grown into obsession. Female samurai would choose to perform it at the prime of their lives to display their most magnificent side. They would argue over a slight insult, a perceived dishonor, and then cut open their bellies to prove their resolve. The nation had bled itself dry from the inside.
“My people are suffering, and I am powerless,” Ei said, her voice steady despite the tears glistening in her eyes. “The divine cannot intervene in mortal wars. That is the law of heaven. But as the ruler of Inazuma, I should cut open my own belly to atone.”
The Traveler stepped forward, concern etched on his face. “Lady Ei, as a deity, your vitality and sensitivity are hundreds of times that of mortals. Cutting open your belly—you will endure a hundred times the pain of ordinary people. You might not even die immediately after severing all your intestines.”
Ei smiled, a sad, beautiful expression that held no fear. “Mm, my mind is made up.” She raised her voice, carrying it across the courtyard. “Yae Miko, lead the remaining defenders to hold off the Mondstadt army and buy time for the evacuation of the people!”
“Yes!” A girl with long pink hair stepped forward from outside the hall. Yae Miko was the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine, Ei’s trusted confidante and closest friend. Beneath her delicate appearance lay formidable combat power. Her legs, long and shapely, were displayed beneath a short shrine maiden’s skirt, the muscles defined but graceful. Her ample breasts strained the fabric of her outfit to its limit, as if threatening to burst free with every breath.
Yae Miko turned and left the hall without another word, her footsteps echoing against the stone. The heavy doors groaned as guards pulled them open, and she strode through, a lone figure silhouetted against the firelight. Beyond her, the sounds of battle grew louder—the Mondstadt army was pressing toward the inner city gate.
Ei watched her go, then turned back to the Traveler. Her hand moved to the sash at her waist, loosening it slowly.
“I will perform seppuku here shortly. I invite you to witness it.” Her voice was calm, almost serene. “Also, I have no experience, so if there are any issues during the process, I hope you can offer guidance and help.”
The Traveler bowed his head. “No problem. It is my honor.”
Ei stepped back into the hall, the shadows of the pillars swallowing her silhouette. The door slid shut behind her, leaving the Traveler standing alone in the courtyard, the distant screams of battle and the crackling of flames filling the night. He took a breath and followed her inside to attend what would be both a death and a rebirth.