Kokomi sat there chewing on her thoughts before she sighed as she began speaking. "The battles the Resistance Army has faced in open combat always lead to massive causalities on our sides due to the Shogunate's forces having at minimum two Vision wielders on the field primarily a man named Shikanoin Heizou who was ordered to join the army and of course the loyal vicious attack dog of the Electro Archon Kujou Sara," Kokomi explained as she stared ahead past us.
"Humans... Just can't match a Vision wielder. Especially Kujou Sara due to her Tengu heritage allowing her to use Tengu arts which include short-range teleportation and some flight with her wings. Which allows her to slaughter both the common foot soldiers and more importantly the officers with her Electro enhanced archery.
We all remained silent as Kokomi went on to explain how Shikanoin Heizou himself was a monster on the battlefield as each swift jab of a punch would send a literal cannonball of air that would shoot through people to say nothing of him using his signature vacuum kick that would have him kick a compressed ball that was a vacuum that would expand on contact ripping the air out of peoples bodies ripping apart their lungs and boiling their very blood in them like they were divers changing pressure far too fast.
"Oh, of course, there were more Vision wielders on the Shogunate's side but... The Shogun's vision hunt decree is a double edge to them as the least performing wielders got theirs taken by Kujou Sara and mounted on that statue of the Electro Archon which would drive the vision wielder mad or at the very least remove them entirely from the army which has given us the room to breathe in this conflict."
"We literally just got kicked out of a country for helping save them from Fatui nonsense not even a couple of weeks ago. Why should we get involved with your people's affairs?" I asked genuinely curious as to how she would persuade us.
Paimon even further agreed with my question as she saw a bigger side of things than I pointed out. "Yeah, why should we make the Electro Archon super mad at us for fighting her troops?!"
Kokomi sighed threading her gloved hands together as she put them together in front of her chest as though in prayer. "Because I request your help. I request that you strong warriors who fought tyranny before to save the people of Inazuma from the Electro Archons' madness and the Tenryou Commission's oppression!" She all but begged and Paimon slumped with me and Lumine sharing a look I saw her eyes firming and I slumped as well.
"I am not saying I am against helping... But before I commit to anything I need to try to speak to the Electro Archon without the bad blood of us slaughtering her troops to taint her view." Lumine responded before she looked at me. "Jake, I know this is foolhardy and dangerous. But as a Traveler, oppression by gods and higher beings is something that is anathema to our very essence." She told me simply making Kokomi's head tilt to the side in confusion while I understood what she meant.
This was a test to see if I could follow the essence of the Traveler blessing, she carried and was willing to give to me in time once I proved I could withstand the rigors of time. And that I was actually a decent enough dude plain and simple.
Kokomi snapped her fingers and then a side door opened a servant kneeling by the door right behind Kokomi slid a beautiful lacquered engraved case towards her master who picked up the case and placed it in front of her.
"Of course, I understand working for nothing even for a great cause is not much for motivation. And in that case, the Watatsumi has raided the very armory and vault of the Electro Shogun and collected a couple of prizes I would give you as proof of your allegiance to the resistance army." Kokomi said cunningly and I couldn't help but snort as she unlocked the large case and within were purple glowing weapons.
" A copy of the Mistsplitter and Engulfing Lightning... You guys have courage, I will give you that." At my words, Lumine and Paimon looked at me in confusion. "It's complicated but the Raiden Shogun uses that spear, a better version of that copy Engulfing Lightning but when she is serious she will use her Mistsplitter and cut islands and gods in half with a single blow with the sword," I said pointing at the weapons before looking up to Kokomi.
"And thus, should we be seen fighting the Raiden Shogun's people with those weapons on our person we will be the largest target, and Kujou Sara if she is as much of an attack dog and so loyal to the Shogun as you say. Then she will be totally focused on killing us and retrieving these weapons, correct? Which would also leave your forces free to fight without enemy Vision wielder support." I finished and Kokomi's eyes gleamed.
"My Jake... I knew you were a great warrior, but I didn't know that you cultivated your mind with strategies as well Hehe." She giggled but made no denial of my claim which made it all but a confirmation of my thoughts making me hum in thought.
"Ugh, Paimon doesn't like thinking in circles and squares so why don't we just get back to Liyue? The Rite of Descension is going to be starting in a couple of days, then we can do whatever we want after Lumine tries to get into contact with Rex Lapis." Paimon brought up making both me and Lumine nod with Kokomi grimacing at our very valid points.
Because at the end of it we were merely travelers and deliverymen despite us being capable of slaughtering armies with our elemental abilities or me just summoning a couple of Ruin Graders that would crush a theoretically unlimited army as spear, bow, and arrow, and sword-wielding common soldiers could do nothing to such a creature.
It's like a modern tank with infinite ammo and fuel being sent into a pre-medieval army with everyone fighting in melee... There's not a damned thing those people with shitty swords and stuff could do to a tank which was the same situation with Ruin Graders and even Ruin Guards to a lesser extent.
"Look Kokomi joining you is trouble at the end of the day you know that. Let us go back to Liyue and talk with our friend who didn't make it here with us, and we will see what we can do after the Rite of Descension as we still need to try to get an audience with Raiden Shogun." I then shrugged as Kokomi's thin eyebrow raised up in interest as I spoke. "I have a strong suspicion, that by the end of the day after we meet the Shogun that she will probably take our 'vision' or even attempt to bury us under her statue for being irregulars... And in which case we will likely flee here or back to Liyue I guess." I finished as I had zero delusions of me and Lumine taking Ei the Raiden Shogun in straight combat.
Kokomi bowed to us three with her hands back together as she spoke softly. "Then I wish you all good tidings and that even if you do not come to help us, you will at least accomplish your goals in meeting the Shogun safely."
Gods Kokomi was a sweetheart. Kinda like a more intelligent and shrewder Jean with the soft heart of Barbara.
Next 15 chapters on supporting sites.
Hey if you like this and want to read the daily 3 uploads and to read early chapters please drop a tip in my Ko-Fi https://ko-fi.com/azazyel22926 or https://www.pat-reon.com/Azazyel and your precious energy stones, it keeps me working on it.
My commission rate is 15$ per thousand words.