[Feudal Era – Forward Base]
Fueled by a cold, incandescent rage, Sesshomaru pushed past his advising retainers and soared toward the center of the Teyvat-occupied village. He hadn't even reached the perimeter when a single black feather whistled through the air, crackling with Electro.
Sizz-THOOM!
The bolt of lightning tore through the sky. Sesshomaru's instincts screamed. He tried to parry, but he currently lacked Tokijin or any offensive blade—his only weapon was Tenseiga, a sword that could not kill. He lashed out with his whip of demonic energy, attempting to swat the projectile away.
But against Kujou Sara, the Tengu General of Inazuma, his movements were telegraphed and naive.
Shing—Squeltch.
The feather, infused with Haki and lightning, bypassed his guard and tore through his shoulder and arm. Blood splattered against the sky. Sesshomaru stared at the wound in disbelief. He had blocked it—he was sure of it. Why had it pierced him?
A figure stepped out from the main building. She held a black bow, her golden eyes shining like polished gemstones.
"Was it you who attacked me?" Sesshomaru hissed, his blood running cold.
"Noisy little dog," Sara replied, her voice cold. "If it weren't for the respect your mother commands, you would be a corpse right now."
Insulted beyond endurance, Sesshomaru lunged. He was a blur of silver, closing the distance in a heartbeat, his claws aimed for her eyes. Sara didn't even draw her sword. She shifted half a step, the claws passing harmlessly through the air where she had been a microsecond before.
He pursued her with a frantic, blood-red fury, but he couldn't touch a single strand of her hair. Sara's mockery was relentless.
"Truly, an unpolished pup. No wonder my Lord looks down on you. With this level of speed and power, you'll spend eternity mourning your father in the dark."
The Shogunate soldiers nearby let out a chorus of laughter, treating the Great Youkai of the West like a street performer's comedy act. Sesshomaru's pride, the foundation of his existence, was being stepped on and ground into the dirt.
"You dare... mock me!" he roared.
Sara grew bored. Playing with this "pup" was a waste of time compared to her duties. She stepped into his guard and delivered a single, concentrated punch to his solar plexus. Sesshomaru's pupils dilated; he coughed up a spray of blood and collapsed, his demonic energy guttering out like a candle in a storm.
"Take him away," Sara said, flicking her hair. "He is the son of the Sovereign's Consort, after all. We shouldn't humiliate him too much."
[The Sovereign's Arrival]
Sesshomaru tried to force his consciousness to stay, but a sudden, terrifying pressure descended from the heavens. The clouds above the village were shredded into ribbons. Totosai's eyes nearly popped out of his head. Every youkai in the vicinity fell to the ground, paralyzed by an aura of absolute dominance.
Su Han stepped out of the office.
"Greetings, Lord Su Han!" the soldiers shouted, kneeling in unison.
Su Han walked toward the fallen Sesshomaru. With every step he took, the gravity around the dog demon seemed to increase tenfold. By the third step, Sesshomaru was pinned to the earth, coughing more blood as the "Emperor's Haki" crushed his spirit.
He looked up at the silver-haired man. He had never imagined a human—or any being—could possess such terrifying presence. It wasn't just power; it was the weight of a world.
"You are too weak," Su Han said, looking down at him. "You can't beat Sara, and you wouldn't even last a minute against my elite guards. But you have potential. If you want to surpass your father, follow me. Otherwise, you're not even worth the dirt beneath the feet of your brother, Inuyasha."
The mention of his brother was the final blow. Sesshomaru blacked out.
[Three Hours Later]
Sesshomaru awoke with several broken ribs and a shattered ego. Totosai sat nearby, already tinkering with some Inazuman steel.
"Young Lord, don't take it so hard," Totosai sighed. "The man is the husband of a God. He can erase a forest with a flick of his wrist. Fighting him was... well, it wasn't smart."
"You want me to be a dog for a mortal?" Sesshomaru's voice was a dry rasp.
Totosai didn't care. He was already a convert. "I'm staying. He's a Sovereign. There's no shame in following a peak-level existence. I'll be forging for three nations now. It's a smith's dream."
[Multiverse Mission Chat Group]
While Sesshomaru brooded, Su Han was reviewing reports from Ganyu. The success of the Teyvat Broadcasting Network had attracted the attention of Sumeru.
Ningguang: "The Akademiya is getting restless. Their merchants and scholars are begging for ad space. They want to use our platform to recruit researchers."
Ganyu: "It's a double-edged sword. Sumeru's knowledge-sharing is efficient, but their recent policies have been... strange. Scholars are fleeing, and the Akademiya seems hollow."
Su Han: "I'll allow merchant ads, but no academic recruitment. Scholars are often geniuses, but geniuses without restraint become madmen. We don't need another Khaenri'ah."
Lisa: "Wise choice. The Akademiya lost its way long ago."
Su Han: "By the way, what's the Dendro Archon like? Anyone have a description?"
Yae Miko: "Hehe, her name is Lesser Lord Kusanali. I think you'll find her quite endearing, Su Han. Though, like Ei used to be, she's a bit of a 'bird in a cage' right now."
Zhongli: "She is a god of wisdom, yet she remains silent while her nation changes. I am curious to see her reaction to our little 'media revolution'."
Su Han: "A god in a cage... interesting. We'll deal with the Sages eventually. But for now, look! The Special Discount Shop has refreshed! Let's see what treasures we have this time."
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