All around, the wounded groaned, and the ground was scorched black, littered with discarded weapons and fallen banners. The storm had passed, but its memory lingered in every broken stone and blood-stained patch of grass.
Gorou stood amidst the aftermath, his armor dented, fur matted with dust. He raised his head as Allen approached.
"So—what's the situation?" Allen asked calmly, sheathing his blade.
"We lost seven," Gorou answered grimly. "Twenty-three in critical condition. But... it could've been far worse. Your timing changed everything. Truly—thank you."
"Exactly. But why were you holding this position when the situation was so against you? This shouldn't be such a critical spot to fight to the end."
"Those were Her Excellency's orders. In case something went wrong with the mission, we were to move to this point and hold until reinforcements arrived," Gorou explained.
"I see..." Allen nodded thoughtfully. "So, what are your plans now?"
"Once the initial treatments are done and we're ready to move, we're ordered to return. Her Excellency also requested the reinforcement team to come back. I won't force you, but I'd like you to come with us."
"I understand. I'll follow you."
...
Some time later, with preparations complete, Allen's group boarded the ship and set sail for Watatsumi Island. The island was already visible on the horizon, bathed in a soft glow beneath the evening sun.
"Wooooaaaaaah!" As the ship approached land, loud cheers and festivities erupted. A crowd had gathered at the port, their energy electric.
"Guah!""He's here!""It's the hero!"
Cheers intensified the moment the ship reached the dock—and exploded as Allen stepped off with his group.
He tried to hide his confusion at the celebration clearly centered around him, but the answer to his doubts came swiftly.
Bam!
A drum sounded, deep and resonant, and instantly the crowd fell silent. The sea of people parted neatly, forming a path directly toward Allen.
From the end of that path, a beautiful girl with long, flowing salmon-pink hair stepped forward, graceful as if floating. She looked more like a porcelain doll than a person, yet her presence commanded absolute attention.
She was, of course, the divine priestess of Watatsumi Island—Kokomi
Her approach was marked by quiet elegance and undeniable authority. No one dared speak. Her youth didn't matter. In that moment, she was the weight of the entire island's faith and power.
As she reached Allen, Kokomi smiled brightly, her eyes soft, warm, and radiant with affection.
"I've been waiting for you, darling." She leaned in without hesitation and kissed Allen gently on the lips.
"WOAAAH!" The crowd exploded into a new, thunderous cheer.
...
Allen didn't flinch under the kiss, but his brow twitched slightly. It wasn't the affection that surprised him—Kokomi was always unpredictable—but the boldness, especially in front of so many people.
As she pulled away, her expression remained bright and composed, as if nothing unusual had happened. The roar of the crowd still echoed, and Allen could feel hundreds of eyes locked on him, projecting admiration, envy, confusion, and awe.
"I suppose you're making things complicated again," he murmured quietly, just for her to hear.
Kokomi giggled softly, her voice like ripples on still water. "Only because you make it so easy."
With a graceful turn, she gestured toward the ceremonial steps leading up from the port. "Come. We've prepared rooms for you and your companions, and there are some things we need to discuss—privately."
Allen nodded, gesturing for the others to follow. Endora hovered close to his shoulder, whispering, "Big brother, did she just... kiss you?"
Collei groaned. "This island's full of weirdos."
They ascended the steps, flanked by guards in ceremonial armor, and entered the heart of the island. The celebrations faded behind them as they reached the central chambers of the Sangonomiya Shrine, the lush halls glowing softly with bioluminescent moss and shimmering waterfalls. Everything smelled like clean water and moonlight.
Once inside the private audience room, the attendants bowed and exited. Only Allen and Kokomi remained.
She turned to him, her smile growing bigger and more playful. "You followed my act... So? Do you have any idea what just happened, or did you simply go along with my flow? Because I can understand you enjoying kissing a girl like me." Kokomi giggled.
"Good joke, Kokomi. Judging by how everyone reacted to my arrival—especially the kiss—I suppose you've made some impressive publicity using my name. I just don't know exactly what."
"Let's analyze our situation calmly. It's clear that Raiden's troops are far stronger than ours, so we need to increase our power and influence by any means available. That's why I used your image."
"My image? I don't remember being someone so great that I could shift public opinion."
"You're really underestimating yourself, Allen," Kokomi said, pointing at him from bottom to top. "You're a Niwa—one of the most respected families in Inazuma. with ties to the Yashiro and Tenryou Commissions. And that's only what you were before everything happened! After Tomoki's fight against the Shogun—his act of rebellion during the Vision Hunt Decree—you took his remains, fought through the Shogun's forces, and managed to escape. How could you not be important?!"
"So, you used me as a symbol of rebellion. Someone who defied the Shogun and lived."
"Exactly!" Kokomi nodded. "People love stories. And what better story could there be? One filled with battles, sacrifice, escape… all centered on a young, talented boy who returns to take vengeance against a god!"
"I see. So you expanded it. Made it even bigger. Turned me into the symbol of a revolution." Allen narrowed his eyes slightly. "But why all the romance act from earlier?"
"Love stories always stir people's hearts. So I thought I'd add a little spice to yours—make us childhood friends, bonded by fate, and now engaged to be married. It makes the tale even stronger. And it gives Watatsumi another emotional reason to oppose the Shogunate."
"Okay, that explains the parade. Now could you explain why you closed the way through Enkanomiya? Don't try to hide it—you were the one who sealed it, trapping us there."
"What if I say it was to protect Watatsumi Island from an Abyss attack?"
"I wouldn't trust you," Allen replied bluntly. "If you were aware the Abyss Order was there, then you must've also discovered that invading the island was never their intention. Besides, closing Enkanomiya wouldn't stop them—they can travel through the Abyss itself. So the only people you caged down there were me and my group. And I think that was precisely your true intention."
Kokomi smiled radiantly. "Good to see you haven't lost your touch, Allen! Yes, that was a test—for you. I needed to evaluate you to decide the direction we would take."
"You see, my revolutionary army has grown by leaps and bounds over these years. And not to be full of myself, but I'm a far greater strategist than anyone on the Shogun's side. With everything I've built, our army is strong enough to face them. Even our commanders are more or less on equal footing."
She paused and grinned, a twinkle in her eyes. "However, there's still something we lack. Something that makes this war impossible to win. Do you know what that is?"
"Too easy," Allen replied. "You lack a champion. A hero. A slayer capable of standing against the Shogun. No matter how many battles you win, you won't defeat her without someone to face her directly. Don't forget—I'm the one who conceived this war. I know how to analyze it. But let me ask—was your test really about defeating the Abyss Order… or was it about retrieving the book Before Sun and Moon? Because I have a feeling it was the latter."
"I suppose it was both. I wanted you to show me your capabilities. If you had failed either task, I wouldn't have continued placing my hopes in you. To tell you the truth, my current strategy isn't focused on winning against the Shogun, but on forcing a draw. If our power continues to grow, we'll gain leverage to negotiate more favorable terms," Kokomi explained.
"So? What are your thoughts after seeing what I did down there?" Allen asked.
"Not too bad," Kokomi admitted. "You haven't lost your essence. While you didn't fight directly, you let a subordinate handle it—and having someone like that under your command also speaks to your strength and influence."
She looked directly at him, more serious now. "But I want to ask you, Allen—do you really think you'll be able to fight the Shogun? I don't need you to win. Just to confront her. Like Tomoki did."
"Of course that's impossible," Allen replied. "Or… that's what I would've said before entering Enkanomiya. But it's shown me a new possibility."
"Enough to challenge the Shogun?" Kokomi asked, her curiosity fully piqued.
"Maybe. It's just a possibility. To tell you the truth, my original plan was to help you over a few years—shift the balance, plunge the region into deeper chaos, and leave the Shogun with no choice but to negotiate with me," Allen explained. "But now I've realized that might be impossible."
He paused, his tone lowering.
"However, a far wilder possibility has appeared. One that would take far less time—but would be much more dangerous and uncertain."
"Does it have enough odds to be worth the risk?" Kokomi asked.
"If we're talking about probability, no," Allen said. "But the potential gain is worth the risk. And honestly, if I don't take this path, I won't be able to fulfill what I came here to do. So the real question is: will I have your support?"
Kokomi leaned back, eyes half-lidded in thought. "It sounds interesting. Tell me everything, and then I'll give you my opinion. I can promise this—if it aligns with Watatsumi Island's interests, I'll support you with all my strength."
"Alright, so…" Allen began explaining his plan and future maneuvers.
"Too many suppositions," Kokomi said after some time, tapping her lips with her finger. "But it has potential. If you reach that first milestone, it will already greatly benefit my own plans. That's good. As for the final part…" She looked him in the eye. "I'll prepare for the worst—and be ready to discard you if needed. I won't place all my faith in you... but I'll truly hope you succeed."
"That's more than enough."
They continued refining the plan together, Kokomi offering insights, adapting it to the actual political and military conditions in Inazuma, and improving it significantly in the process.
"I like it," Kokomi said brightly, pulling out a hidden notebook and scribbling something down.
"Discussing tactics with Allen: +50," she whispered with a smile, before sliding the notebook away again.
"So," she continued, "I suppose you'll start with one of our biggest problems—the Yashiro Commission. They've gained a lot of influence in recent years. The Kamisato Clan has solidified its position and earned strong support from the people. How do you plan to deal with them?"
"Don't worry about them." Allen grinned. "I have my ways."