Day by day, the moment drew closer—tomorrow would mark the Divine Coronation Ceremony of the Great Divine Sovereign of Heaven. Everyone who had arrived in Inazuma was brimming with anticipation for the grand event.
To witness the birth of a new god was a mortal's greatest honor. In a world where gods were beings to be revered above all, such a moment carried unfathomable weight.
For centuries, the ranks of the divine had remained unchanged. The appearance of a new god would surely shake the balance of all Teyvat.
At this very moment, within the Tenshukaku, Raiden Makoto and the others were bustling with preparations. Yae Miko personally helped Akio into his divine ceremonial attire—painstakingly crafted by none other than Kitsune Saiguu herself.
The garments were made from the finest materials in all of Teyvat. Primarily black, with elegant gold patterns running across the fabric in masterful arcs, the outfit hugged Akio's frame perfectly. It enhanced not only his authority but also his striking handsomeness.
Yae Miko fastened a cloak diagonally across his chest and gave him an appreciative once-over.
"This suit is made for you, Akio," she breathed.
"Truly," Raiden Makoto added. Even in the age of ancient Archons, most gods took the forms of handsome men and beautiful women—but Akio still stood above the rest, the most flawless man she had ever seen.
"It's incredibly comfortable," Akio said as he adjusted his sleeves. "Despite all the layers, it doesn't restrict my movement at all. Saiguu, your craftsmanship really is divine."
"Hmph, naturally," Saiguu said proudly. "I also made Ei and Makoto's divine wear, by the way."
Time passed quickly, and soon, morning dawned on the day of the ceremony.
From the break of day, the city of Inazuma was alive with noise and movement. Everyone who could make the journey had arrived. Nobles from every nation followed their delegations, eager for a glimpse of the exalted new god.
"Hey, brother, where you from?"
"Me? Liyue. You?"
"Sumeru. Honestly, I just came to see what the new god looks like."
"Watch it! Don't push!"
Crowds pressed shoulder to shoulder in front of the Tenshukaku. Fortunately, the soldiers of the Tenryou Commission were on hand to maintain order, keeping things from descending into chaos.
And then, suddenly—the sky darkened.
A tremendous divine pressure swept across the land, silencing the once-roaring crowd in an instant.
BOOM—! Thunder cracked across the heavens. Bolts of lightning danced wildly in the sky, and golden streams of light gathered high above. Two figures emerged amidst the storm and light, descending slowly through the glowing air.
Thunder seemed to sing in celebration of their arrival. The clouds parted, golden light forming staircase-like beams beneath their feet as they walked down toward the people.
All eyes turned toward the two figures. One of them, instantly recognizable, was the Raiden Shogun. She wore her thunder-gilded ceremonial armor, her expression gentle yet regal, awe-inspiring in her divine majesty.
And beside her—stood the new god.
Wings of luminous energy hovered behind Akio, his pitch-black divine robes emphasizing his tall, commanding presence. Even the space around him shimmered with divine force.
The two descended: Raiden Makoto and Akio. Their divine presence radiated so strongly that even a single glance filled mortals with the instinct to kneel in worship.
"I am Baal, ruler of Inazuma," Raiden Makoto's calm voice echoed across the city. "Today, I bestow upon Akio the divine title of Great Divine Sovereign of Heaven, and name him the ruler of Inazuma."
Everyone held their breath as they looked up at Akio—Inazuma's new ruler.
"I am Akio, the Great Divine Sovereign of Heaven of Inazuma," he declared. "From this moment forward, I ascend as a god to safeguard the peace of this land for all eternity."
The moment he finished speaking, the stormclouds above Inazuma dispersed completely. Warm, golden sunlight bathed every corner of the city.
"Divine Sovereign of Heaven!" the crowd erupted in thunderous cheers, shaking the skies. The new god had risen. Inazuma now had not two—but four deities. The nation's future was ablaze with light.
Among the cheering crowd, at the Liyue delegation's viewing platform, Keqing stared dazedly at the figure shining in the heavens. She gently touched the bracelet on her wrist—a gift from Akio.
"Inazuma now has four gods," Keqing murmured.
"We need to be the first to propose formal diplomatic ties," Ningguang whispered beside her. Though she and Akio hadn't seen each other recently, when Akio met Keqing, he had still given Ningguang a bracelet.
And Ningguang understood the message behind it perfectly. She was genuinely pleased, but when it came to statecraft—she wouldn't slack in the slightest.
Both women had realized the truth: Inazuma was no longer a land of two gods—it had four.
The significance of that could not be overstated. The weight of power concentrated in four gods… everyone in the know understood just how monumental this was. And news of this would soon spread across all of Teyvat.
"I understand," Keqing nodded. "Inazuma only just lifted the Sakoku Decree. They're severely lacking in both resources and minerals. Liyue can help with that."
"Exactly." Ningguang nodded. Whether personally or politically, supporting Inazuma and forming a deep alliance would benefit Liyue immensely.
"The Coronation Festival is officially underway! For those interested, programs can be collected from the Yashiro Commission. We hope you all enjoy the festivities!"
As Akio and Raiden Makoto withdrew, Kamisato Ayato stepped forward to address the guests.
The celebration would last for quite some time. Every day would bring new performances, events, and surprises. All public areas of Inazuma were now fully open.
No sooner had Ayato finished speaking than representatives from all seven nations began approaching.
"Commissioner Kamisato," said a voice from the Sumeru delegation. "When may we be granted audience with the Shogun and the Divine Sovereign of Heaven? We have prepared gifts and are ready for the meeting."
It was Alhaitham, Grand Scribe of the Akademiya.
"Please be patient," Ayato replied with a nod. "I'll go inform them."
He turned and began walking back toward the Tenshukaku.
Ningguang, meanwhile, glanced toward the Mondstadt delegation. At its head stood a tall woman in the Knights of Favonius uniform, long blond hair cascading down her back. She was chatting amicably with a beautiful, formally dressed woman.
Ningguang approached with a smile. "Captain Jean? I didn't expect you to personally lead the Mondstadt delegation."
Jean turned from her conversation with Lisa and looked at the newcomer.
"And you are…?"
"I'm Ningguang, Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing. We've corresponded frequently over letters."
"Ah, so you're Ningguang!" Jean said, pleasantly surprised. Though the two had long shared written communication, they'd never met face-to-face—until now, in Inazuma.
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