People in Xumi: I am really not the Dragon King

Chapter 539 Preparations complete, the Abyss General descends!
"."

"I hope there will be more people who care about Inazuma, and that they will all work hard for Inazuma's future like the employees in the store?"

"Tsk, if there really are so many Abyss Apostles among the people, then Inazuma is probably doomed."

In the center of the hall, the last remaining customers had already left.

Inside the closed shops, all that remained were the unavoidable meal bills on the tables.

I sensed the heartfelt relief that came from the young lady of the Kamisato family after she inquired about the whereabouts of her employees.

Lin Feng carefully recalled the jobs his shop assistants were doing now, and for a moment he felt powerless to even comment on such a wish:
—Although I was indeed telling the truth, after all, attacking that otaku girl was also an effort for Inazuma's future.

However, if there are too many people like this, it's somewhat unfriendly to Ying.
"However, the two of them were so busy before that they looked like they were about to leave their bodies. Now that they have time to come and have dessert, it seems that the work in the castle tower has decreased a lot recently."

"At least after the intensity of the invasion increased, we now hear almost nothing about clashes between the residents of both sides."

Inazuma was originally like a leaky ship, which had not sunk for the time being only because it was large enough, but there were countless internal conflicts.

After a series of efforts by a certain pink-haired fox, the fear brought about by this crisis became the best material for fixing the loopholes.

They forged a friendship that transcended life and death in the face of a common enemy, casting aside everything unrelated to survival.
Aside from the rapidly improving teamwork between the military units, even a certain homebody girl has recently gained a large following among the residents of Haiqi Island due to her diligent efforts in clearing out monsters.
"Hmm? Those brother and sister left?"

"The ancestors of the Kamisato family took on the most tedious work of the three magistrates five hundred years ago. I never expected that the two of them would be doing something similar now."

"Judging from the spirits of these two little ones, they've really had a tough time lately."

The curtain to the backyard was gently lifted by a pale white hand, and Hana Sanri, dressed in a unique shrine maiden outfit and with pure white fox ears on her head, quietly stepped out.

She has already adjusted her clothing to a style from 500 years ago, in preparation for her upcoming appearance.

Shifting her gaze, she looked through the wall at the descendants of the two deceased who had strived for Inazuma. Reflecting on the phenomena she had recently observed among the people, she began to report with considerable emotion:

"Everything in Inazuma is being reshaped, and as you foresaw before, the discord among the people is gradually disappearing."

"The emotions flowing through the earth's veins are no longer chaotic, clashing noises, but gradually converge into a unified melody pointing towards survival."

I never imagined that a problem that had been difficult to solve for hundreds of years could be progressing with such extraordinary efficiency.

Hana Sanri pondered this clearly unusual method and concluded that only the person in front of him could so easily create such a perfectly timed crisis situation.
"—Based on the observation mission you previously assigned, Chiyo and I both feel that the time is ripe and we can begin preparing for the final step."

"Those Evil Eye holders in the army who have undergone special training have made rapid progress and are now capable of serving as the cornerstone of combat."

"It's probably because the instructors you assigned are among the elite in the Seven Kingdoms. The squads they trained are far more disciplined and capable of fighting than the scattered soldiers of the past."

"The discordant noises have all dissipated, and now Inazuma even gives me the illusion of seeing hundreds of years ago, when monsters and humans joined hands to fight against the dark calamity."

After a slight pause, Hana Sanli turned her gaze from beneath her fox ears to Lin Feng, recalling her "boss's" ultimate goal all along, and drew her own conclusion:

"The surface cracks have been mostly healed, and the internal blockages have been largely cleared. The deepest and most stubborn ailment of Inazuma is now only the fear of 'moving forward' itself in Aying's heart."

"Whether it's residents or the military, all the current problems are being resolved gradually. Even if we don't add any more pressure, we should be able to complete the final integration within a certain timeframe."

"But the gods are the most important part of the country, and Aying's attitude undoubtedly has a strong influence. If she cannot realize what conditions are needed for true eternity, then she herself will become an obstacle to Inazuma's further progress."

"."

He nodded in agreement, fully acknowledging Hana Sanri's conclusion.

Lin Feng withdrew his gaze from the Sky Keep, took out the Divine Heart—the origin of everything—from his personal spatial realm, and said with some emotion:
"The enactment and implementation of the national closure edict and the eye-hunting edict will undoubtedly lead to the stagnation or even regression of Inazuma's development, and she may subsequently use her outstanding political acumen to issue more."

"The impact of simply closing the country off is far greater than your Ah Ying imagines. The eternity gained by ceasing development will one day be shattered from the outside, and even the interior will be filled with rebels."

It's like seeing a replica of Teyvat, where the laws of nature are closed off, but the Shadow even lacks the crucial ability to weave destiny.

There is no doubt that even if the Shadow were to achieve complete seclusion, Inazuma's interior would eventually be filled with traitors, just like the Seven Kingdoms are now.

With such a stark example right before their eyes, they still insist on going down a dead-end path.
It's no wonder that the pink-haired fox would think of finding someone to beat up her own god. Lin Feng was sometimes really curious about what kind of amazing wisdom was inside Ying's little brain.

"."

"Aying"

"Phew, in short, Aying really wasn't very bright, and Zhen often struggled with that back then too."

Sensing Lin Feng's utter bewilderment, Hana Sanri, equally unable to fathom Aying's thought process, had no idea how to respond.

After a moment of silence, realizing that trying to guess A-Ying's thoughts might only lead to her being infected by this strange way of thinking, she shook her head and decided to discuss her own task first:
"—As per your instructions, the reverse 'Divine Cherry Blossom Purification' ritual is ready. The filth of the earth veins accumulated over hundreds of years and the negative emotions of the people are enough to give birth to the 'actor' you need."

"However, this is, after all, a dramatic change concerning the survival of a nation, and it always needs some sense of ceremony. Only by making all the people clearly aware of what has happened can we ensure the strength of the will."

"Just as planned, when the 'Abyss General' truly descends, I will guide the gathering of filth beside the Divine Cherry Tree atop Shadow Peak."

"At that time, I hope you can create some sufficiently shocking 'celestial phenomena' so that all the people of Inazuma, whether they are civilians huddled in the city or soldiers fighting on the front lines, will clearly realize that this is a disaster concerning the survival of Inazuma."

Only the most sincere desires and hopes can give rise to the most fervent willpower, and it is obviously unacceptable for the people at the rear to be completely unaware while the frontline troops are fighting desperately.

She tried her best to increase Aying's chances of passing, but thinking of Aying's unpredictable little mind, Hana Sanli sighed slightly. Even so, she still felt uncertain.

"What's wrong? Are you a little worried?"

"These conditions are practically the answer written right next to the question, not to mention that the divine child will be responsible for the subsequent hints."

Finding that he wasn't the only one with a bad feeling, Lin Feng shook his head helplessly, also noticing that this certain homebody was exceptionally reassuring in that she was the kind of person who was always a bit uneasy.

"Yes, I am a little worried."

"Although I didn't actually experience the abyss calamity five hundred years ago, this memory undoubtedly gives me a good understanding of Aying's personality."

“I’m afraid she’ll miss the opportunity to seize those opportunities because she doesn’t understand people’s hearts. She has such a good start, but in the end, it’s no different from fighting alone.”

"Or perhaps she will choose another extreme, burning everything in the name of 'eternal protection,' attempting to suppress the disaster with pure power, ultimately resulting in severe self-injury, only to watch helplessly as everything heads towards destruction."

Just thinking about that scene fills me with despair. Hana Sanri doesn't know how she'll recover Inazuma after he's been cleansed, let alone the psychological trauma that Ayane will suffer as a result.
"Heh, you're not the only one who's worried."

"On this point, including myself and even the Divine Child, we all feel that this is a highly probable event, since it is indeed quite unlikely that the Shadow will pass in one go."

"Her way of thinking is different from that of ordinary people. Her powerful strength has made her used to taking on responsibilities alone, and she easily subconsciously ignores the forces outside herself. But since the plan has come this far, there is no reason to stop."

Shaking his head, Lin Feng stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the orderly street scene of Hanamizaka, which, though somewhat oppressive, remained serene.
“We will proceed step by step. We will intensify the attacks of the outer monsters, allowing the Shogunate army and the newly promoted officers to further adapt to higher-intensity battles, and push the atmosphere in Inazuma to its limit, thereby summoning the ‘Abyss General’.”

"But after that, before she truly faces the final test, I will pave a few 'shortcuts' for her."
In the dream, she simulated several possible solutions to the predicament, hoping to glean some insights from them.

Lin Feng didn't know how many times Ying would repeat the cycle of failure, but since the answer was practically written on his face, he figured maybe he, Hana Sanri, and the Divine Child were just overthinking things. With such incredible cheat-like abilities, even including several free "rebirths," Lin Feng felt this guy would definitely have to thank him properly afterward.
Several days later, around Konta Village.

The monsters have become even stronger, and the once peaceful fields and houses are now unrecognizable.

The earth was scorched black, with traces of intense elemental clashes and the remains of monsters scattered everywhere. The villagers had long since fled, and now only an army with fluttering battle banners and blood-stained armor remained.

Kujo Sara stood at the front of the formation. With each strike of his longbow, which was wreathed in lightning, a blazing bolt of lightning tore through the air and pierced through the attacking demon.

He had long been the only reliable general in the entire shogunate.

Now, as the commander of the army, after a series of bloody battles, her progress in military command and combat has far exceeded the expectations of a certain leader of the Ara-Taki faction.

The soldiers below were arrayed in a strict formation, obeying orders without question.

Compared to the undisciplined and even infighting army of a few months ago, it has undergone a complete transformation.

The baptism of blood and fire, the struggle on the edge of life and death, and the grassroots commanders who were integrated into it completely changed this team.

He endured the "authentic" hellish training of Harden and the Abyss Cult, and narrowly escaped death in a series of high-intensity purge operations afterward.

Having received practical training from a group of elites who are considered the most individually skilled soldiers in Teyvat, these Evil Eye wielders have now become the backbone of their respective squads.

They were scattered throughout the battle lines, and their familiarity with the monsters' weaknesses and attack patterns was almost instinctive.

Umijima Island was indistinguishable from the shogunate's army; Goro and Kujo Sara, formerly enemies, cooperated seamlessly.

The invasion, which should have brought destruction, has now, in some ways, become a bond connecting people.

On the other side, inside Inazuma Castle.

Amid the tense atmosphere brought about by the monster invasion, people huddled under the eaves and by the windows, anxiously gazing at the elemental lights that occasionally flashed across the northern horizon and the faint rumbling sounds that could be heard.

No one discusses who is from Haiji Island and who is from Narukami Island anymore, nor does anyone care which team wins more.

At this moment, everyone's thoughts were more unified than ever before—they hoped that the army outside could hold them off, and that this damned tide of monsters would recede soon so that they could survive and return to their ordinary daily lives.

On a mountain peak a little distance from the main battlefield, there is a commanding vantage point for observing the battle situation.

A masked blond figure stood silently, and neither side noticed him.

Daines Reeb stared at the carnage below, his brow furrowed.

Looking down at the invading beast tide that had reached the strength of true abyssal monsters, unable to suppress his instinctive aversion to the abyssal aura, he drew his sword, intending to go down and clean it up.

But as if he was worried about something, he wanted to take action several times, but forcibly restrained himself each time.

"."

The dark door opened beside him, and another blond figure emerged from the abyss's passage.

He casually parried the attack from his old friend, and having already known that Daines Reeb was here, Kong sighed slightly, deciding to come over himself anyway:
"—There's no need to try to attack. You should know that I now possess more than just my own power; a casual swing of the sword won't hurt me."

"I understand your doubts and I know you don't understand why the Order is doing this."

"But the reasons behind it are complicated, and I can't say them outright right now. I can assure you that, unlike the previous activities of the cult, in the end, no one will be hurt."

"."

I'm very worried that my old friend might encounter some danger. After all, although Dain's power is far greater than people imagine, it's nothing to that person.

"Ha, that's a common excuse from the Abyss."

Dain finally spoke, her tone tinged with distrust:
"Promises of rebirth after destruction? You don't think that someone who has experienced everything in Kanria would still believe such a hollow lie?"

"Are you really going to believe a casual promise and even come to destroy a country? Aren't you worried that you'll end up with nothing?"

"The believers will be reborn after all is destroyed," is a common saying among those who worship the Abyss, a phrase Dain has heard countless times over the centuries.

Having witnessed countless lives lost, Dain believed that what was happening in Inazuma was even more cruel than the invasion of Kanria five hundred years ago.

"."

"I'm not surprised you're suspicious, but what value do you think we have in being deceived?"

"Your actions are so restrained. I think you must have realized the level of that person's power a long time ago, or at least been able to guess the tip of the iceberg."

"He had no need to deceive anyone. If anyone wanted to overthrow or even destroy Inazuma, this kind of play would have ended long ago."

Shaking his head, recalling some of the suspicions he had formed during their interactions, Kong sincerely offered his advice:
"Don't assume that what you see is the whole story. The power that has been shown is indeed formidable, but it may not even be the tip of the iceberg."

"At least try to trust me this time and don't do anything unnecessary. Otherwise, the Undying Curse can't guarantee your safety. After all, even the shadows that cast the curse won't choose to appear in front of the other party."

"."

A long silence,
The blond figure with a cold expression stood still, gave a cold snort with somewhat complicated emotions, but ultimately did not refute.

Countless doubts still lingered in her mind, but she didn't believe that Kong would use such methods to harm her.

Just as Dain was about to ask some more questions, the few rays of sunlight that had been falling from the sky suddenly disappeared.

？ ！！

Looking up, I felt the terrifying power of the abyss.

With more and more unresolved questions lingering, he opened his mouth, as if he wanted to ask something more.

But Kong shook his head, gestured for silence, and pointed into the distance, signaling him to prepare to witness the final scene of the invasion:
—The sun, which was originally shining brightly, gradually disappeared, and wisps of abyssal power, like long snakes, gathered from all around Inazuma and other islands toward the summit of Kagemaya.

At the same time, a prayer that did not appear distorted, but rather inexplicably carried a sense of gentleness and peace, seemed to transcend time and space, echoing in the ears of every living being:

"...From Whale Abyss in the east to the Ember Sea in the west. From Blazing Light in the south to the Weak Water in the north..."

"...Thousands of branches and veins, please beware of calamity."

Accompanied by this prayer that sounded like a final declaration, the Divine Cherry Tree, which had gathered hundreds of years of filth and negative energy from the entire Inazuma ley line, suddenly erupted with a deep, all-consuming darkness.

The sky was shrouded in darkness, and a strong premonition of an impending turning point in my destiny struck me.

This caused everyone on the battlefield and within Inazuma Castle to unconsciously turn their gaze towards the northern sky.

(End of this chapter)