Eternity's Shadow | Raiden Shogun x Male Reader [Genshin Impact]

The air was thick with tension as Kujou Sara and I faced each other. Her piercing gaze fixed on me, and I could feel the weight of her scrutiny. The Shogunate and resistance forces stood in a wide circle around us, murmurs of anticipation rippling through the crowd. The faint sound of waves crashing against the distant shores of Watatsumi Island blended with the heavy breathing of the soldiers, both sides watching intently, as if their very lives hung in the balance of this duel.

My grip tightened around my sword, and I could feel the hum of energy thrumming through me, the familiar spark of my Electro Vision burning in the back of my mind. It had been a long time since I'd called upon its power, and I could sense it waiting, eager to be unleashed. I cast a quick glance at the Mistsplitter in my hand—Ayaka's sword, now my weapon. It felt right, like an extension of my own body, ready to meet the challenge ahead.

Kujou Sara stood tall, her bow drawn and an arrow nocked, its tip gleaming ominously in the dim light of the shrine behind us. Her black wings, which had only hinted at their presence earlier, now fully unfurled behind her, casting a shadow over the battlefield. She was every bit the formidable general I had heard about—cold, calculating, and relentless.

As we locked eyes, I felt the weight of this moment settle in my chest. This wasn't just a fight for survival—it was a fight for the future of Watatsumi, a fight to end the suffering that had been inflicted upon the island. But beneath it all, there was something personal, too. I couldn't explain it, but I knew this duel meant more than just tactics or strategy.

Kujou Sara raised her chin slightly, her expression unreadable as she studied me. "You've proven yourself skilled, but skill alone won't win this battle," she said, her voice carrying easily over the still air. "Do you truly believe you can defeat me?"

I didn't answer with words. Instead, I took a deep breath, feeling the electro energy of my Vision begin to crackle just beneath the surface of my skin. Sara's eyes flickered with something—recognition, perhaps—but she didn't falter. She simply drew her bowstring tighter, her sharp gaze never leaving me.

Then, in a single fluid motion, she released the arrow.

I barely had time to react, my sword coming up instinctively to block the strike. The force of the arrow sent a jolt up my arm, but I managed to deflect it just enough to avoid taking a direct hit. Sara wasted no time, immediately drawing another arrow and firing it in quick succession.

This time, I was ready. I sidestepped the shot, the arrow whistling past my ear, and closed the distance between us in a heartbeat. My sword flashed as I swung for her, but Sara was fast—faster than I had anticipated. She leapt back, her wings giving her just enough lift to evade my strike, and shoot another arrow midair.

I twisted out of the way, my feet skidding slightly on the damp grass, and countered with a swift upward slash. The edge of my blade barely grazed her armor, but it was enough to force her to retreat a step.

The crowd around us began to cheer, voices from both sides rising in a cacophony of support and taunts. Shogunate soldiers called out to Sara, their confidence in their general unshaken, while the resistance forces urged me on, their voices filled with hope.

The two of us circled each other warily, neither willing to make the first move just yet. I could see the calculating look in Sara's eyes, her mind working through every possible angle, every possible strategy. She was trying to size me up, to figure out my next move.

Without warning, she charged forward, her bow now infused with the power of Electro. Sparks of purple energy crackled along the string as she fired another barrage of arrows, each one streaking toward me like bolts of lightning.