Qin Yu, naturally, was unaware that three deities had appeared in the ordinarily quiet spectator stands.
At this moment, he was engaged in an even more fervent battle.
A martial arts spar where victory was the only way to claim the "hot spring reward" from his great leader.
...
"Let's begin, Yu."
Ei raised her naginata, the blade pointing directly at Qin Yu.
The last time they had faced each other with weapons was in the Tenshukaku.
Time had flown, and their mindsets and relationship had long since changed.
She wanted to see how much Yu had grown, to test his limits.
"No using such a hard shield."
"Then if I win, will the reward increase?"
Qin Yu looked at his cold, imposing great leader and smiled.
He began to negotiate terms.
After all, a salary was just a salary.
If he could unlock some other benefits...
He could also put in more effort in front of his great leader, roll up his sleeves, and work hard.
"Reward... increase?"
Ei frowned slightly, not understanding Qin Yu's meaning.
She only vaguely knew what reward Qin Yu was expecting.
It was none other than herself.
However, to demand an increase in the reward...
An increase of herself, did that mean inviting her sister along?
She and Makoto were twin archons, their hearts intertwined.
They were naturally inclined to share what they loved.
The great leader seemed to understand everything.
But she still needed to seek her sister's opinion.
Thinking this, Ei began to seek help from her outside friends.
Ei: Sister, let's do it together sometime.
Makoto: Together with what, a hot spring?
Ei: Yes.
She forgot to mention, bathing in the hot spring with Yu.
Makoto: That sounds great, then quickly win over Yu, you can do it.
The cross-server chat ended swiftly.
The unwitting sister was thus sold out by her good sister.
"Great leader?"
Qin Yu looked at Ei, whose eyes flickered and her expression was thoughtful, feeling strange in his heart.
He almost forgot that the innocent Ei wouldn't be able to understand this kind of thing.
What if he phrased it in terms of martial arts techniques?
Just as Qin Yu was about to speak again.
"Alright, I promise you."
Ei nodded.
"Ahem, you said that yourself."
Qin Yu's eyes lit up at her words, his divine power surging.
It seemed he had to win this spar!
At the same time, he began to seek help from his outside friends.
Qin Yu: Madam, how can I be sure of winning this spar?
Grand Narukami Shrine: Find an opportunity to have a divine power duel with her, Nacida and I will help you.
Qin Yu's eyes lit up at this, and he nodded secretly.
The great leader definitely had no one helping her from behind.
Two gods against one god, the advantage is ours!
"Great leader, please excuse me."
"Come on."
As soon as the words fell.
In the misty water vapor, Qin Yu and Ei vanished from their spots simultaneously.
The next moment, blades clashed, and thunder roared.
The martial arts spar had begun.
...
At the same time, on the other side.
The perspective shifted to the spectator stands, to the group of friends.
Beneath the Divine Sakura tree.
Grand Narukami Shrine and Raiden Makoto faced each other in silence.
They both sensed the other's act of seeking outside assistance.
So...
It was you who was advising Yu/Ei from behind the scenes?
This was a duel between two primordial gods.
As their eyes flickered, each held their own thoughts, and finally, they broke into smiles.
"It's so good to see you again, Grand Narukami Shrine."
"Me too, Makoto."
The two gentle and mature elder sisters embraced, offering their blessings.
As primordial gods, they had both experienced that upheaval and should have perished.
But they were fortunate to have met that important person, Qin Yu.
Their regrets had been mended.
Now that they were reunited, emotions naturally ran high.
... And they were also secretly on guard.
"This time, I won't leave again."
For a moment, the atmosphere on the surface was harmonious and friendly.
The two women were like close girlfriends with deep affection.
Triggering the keyword, good girlfriends.
If nothing unexpected happens, something unexpected should happen.
"..."
Beside them, Nacida blinked her large eyes.
She had come here with her mother to check on the Divine Sakura's condition.
But it was clear that her mother now had other opponents...
"Such a cute child."
Raiden Makoto noticed the white-haired loli.
She crouched down and happily stroked Nacida's small head.
It was evident that the white-haired loli was popular wherever she went.
"Her name is Nacida, she's my daughter."
Grand Narukami Shrine also crouched down, smiling at Raiden Makoto.
Since she had forged an unbreakable bond with Qin Yu, she was a potential rival.
The Archon War.
As gods, Madam chose to probe proactively.
Indeed, the harmonious atmosphere instantly solidified.
"?"
Raiden Makoto slowly retracted her hand and looked at the mother and daughter.
"Qin Yu's?"
She remembered the red string of fate.
Grand Narukami Shrine had already delved deep into Qin Yu's existence.
"Yes, the process of conceiving life with him was indeed arduous."
Grand Narukami Shrine gently stroked Nacida's small face, full of maternal radiance.
With her other hand, she inadvertently caressed her flat abdomen.
That feeling of warmth... was satisfying.
"...So that's how it is."
Raiden Makoto stood up, her smile still as warm as a spring breeze.
Was this a provocation, coming to show off?
"Come, my dear daughter, call her Auntie Baal."
Grand Narukami Shrine's lips curled into a joyful arc.
"Auntie Baal."
Nacida was obedient and well-behaved.
Everyone who called her 'sister' was surrounding her sun.
This time, calling her 'auntie' in advance, perhaps the danger could be averted.
"?"
Makoto instinctively looked at Grand Narukami Shrine, her pupils flashing with purple light.
Since you were the one who initiated this "war"...
Then don't blame her for retaliating to protect her sister and Yu.
Thinking this, Makoto stroked Nacida's head and looked at Grand Narukami Shrine.
"This child only grew with Qin Yu's power; there's no blood relation, right?"
No blood relation, then no threat.
Moreover, Grand Narukami Shrine's body...
"You've seen through it, have you?"
Grand Narukami Shrine smiled slightly, elegantly lifting her skirt.
"This is just my avatar."
That's right, mother and daughter were switching accounts, and currently, Nacida was the main body.
And Madam's temporary Dendro avatar would dissipate at any moment.
"With this body, you can't get close to Qin Yu."
Makoto's words had a double meaning.
She and Ei, the sisters, had an advantage over you alone.
Numerical advantage.
"Is that so? That might not be true."
Grand Narukami Shrine smiled and stroked Nacida's head.
She still had her obedient daughter.
"..."
As they probed each other around Qin Yu.
Suddenly, both women froze.
Because Qin Yu/Ei had simultaneously sent them requests for outside help.
Had the spar on the other side finally reached its climax?
...
On the other side, at the hot spring venue.
The two clashed blades, initiating a tug-of-war of divine power.
"Huff... huff... Great leader, shouldn't we stop now?"
Qin Yu panted, looking at Ei in front of him.
He had asked for outside help, and Madam and Nacida had given him so much Dendro power, yet he still couldn't defeat Ei.
How could the great leader be endlessly filled?
"Yu... I didn't expect you to last this long..."
Ei's purple eyes flashed with lightning.
For some reason, extremely powerful Dendro energy appeared on Yu's body.
He had asked for outside help, and her sister was constantly recharging her with the power of the Divine Sakura.
That's right, it seemed like only two people were present.
But in reality...
"...!"
Qin Yu gritted his teeth, feeling himself being slowly pressed down by the great leader.
The balance was gradually tipping.
"Surrender."
Ei continued to output Electro energy.
"I... I won't... always be at the bottom!"
Qin Yu ignited an inexplicable fighting spirit, his words resounding.
As soon as the words left his mouth, a flash of inspiration struck his mind.
Right, Anemo divine power!
"!"
Ei suddenly sensed something was amiss.
"Boom—"
The moment Qin Yu's eyes lit up with cyan light, a hurricane swept through the surroundings.
Along with it, splashes of water wet both their clothes, feeling particularly cool.
"Anemo?"
Ei narrowed her purple eyes instinctively.
Qin Yu had disappeared.
Was it the invisibility ability of Anemo divine power?
No... it was more than that.
Yu's aura had also completely vanished.
[Innate Talent: Ufufu Style - Breath-Holding Secret Technique]
Just as Ei was about to find Qin Yu's whereabouts...
"I'm behind you!"
Qin Yu shouted, seemingly seeing a glimmer of hope.
Ei turned around instinctively, only to find no one there.
Qin Yu hadn't fought honorably; she had been tricked!
But by the time Ei reacted, it was already too late.
Taking advantage of her momentary daze, a surge of immense force struck.
Qin Yu reappeared and tightly embraced the great leader's slender waist.
The next moment, water splashed everywhere.
The two of them lost their balance simultaneously.
"Splash—"
In Ei's slightly widened purple eyes, the reflection of water splashing everywhere.
Yu, while she wasn't paying attention...
Had pushed her into the hot spring?
"Great leader...!"
Qin Yu looked at the cold, completely drenched goddess beneath him, revealing a villainous triumphant smile.
"Hot springs... and your reward..."
"I want it all!"