Genshin Impact: Villain Life Simulator

Chapter 140: Villain Simulator, Ch 139

["Qiqi died because of you," you said, your voice sharp and unyielding. "And now, you stand by and do nothing? Is this the path of immortality you claim to follow?"]

[Finally, Mountain Shaper broke the silence. "There is a method," he said. "A dangerous one, known as the Forbidden Art of Soul Revival. In this dire circumstance, I suggest we each contribute a wisp of immortal energy to the girl. It may grant her a second chance."]

[The adepti exchanged hesitant glances. Though reluctant, their compassion won over as they looked upon Qiqi\'s pitiful form. Each contributed a wisp of immortal energy, infusing it into the girl\'s body. Her pale cheeks grew rosy once more, and a flicker of hope lit up your face.]

[This was it—the resurrection technique you had dreamed of. Now, it was within reach.]

[Before long, Qiqi\'s eyes opened, but instead of gratitude or joy, she erupted in uncontrollable chaos. Overwhelmed by the immense power of the combined immortal energies, she fell into a state of violent frenzy.]

[Though each adeptus had only given a small fraction of their energy, the resulting force was far beyond what Qiqi\'s body could handle. As she rampaged, the adepti were forced to suppress her. Mountain Shaper ultimately sealed her within amber, rendering her frozen in time.]

[The crisis was resolved for now, but the Forbidden Art of Soul Revival consumed your thoughts. You begged Mountain Shaper to teach it to you, but he refused without hesitation.]

[One day, while Mountain Shaper was away on a journey, he forgot to lock his library. You decided...]

1. To investigate.

2. To refrain.

"There may never be another chance," Lucas thought grimly. Despite suspecting a trap, he steeled himself. "Investigate!"

[You snuck into your master\'s library. After a thorough search, you uncovered a hidden scroll sealed away—it was none other than the Forbidden Art of Soul Revival. Before you could finish reading, Mountain Shaper appeared behind you.]

["How dare you study forbidden arts behind my back!" Mountain Shaper\'s voice thundered as he issued your expulsion. "From this day forth, you are no longer my disciple. Leave and never return!"]

["I only wished to use this technique to save someone I loved! How is that wrong?" you protested. "I came under your tutelage solely to learn this art!"]

["You\'ve already seen the consequences of using the Forbidden Art," Mountain Shaper sighed heavily. "Even if you revive someone, it could turn them into a dangerous monster. This is why no adeptus will teach it. You\'ve fallen into the path of obsession, and I can no longer guide you. Leave."]

[Understanding there was no way to sway him, you bowed deeply three times to his retreating figure. Then, you went to the amber where Qiqi was sealed and sat in silence for a long time. You promised her you would one day lift the seal, then departed quietly.]

[Age 50: Returning to Inazuma]

[You returned to Inazuma to find that the calamity, temporarily quelled by Kitsune Saiguu\'s sacrifice, had resurfaced, wreaking havoc once more. However, with the Onmyoudo you mastered, you became a beacon of hope, driving back the tide repeatedly.]

[Naturally, no one was happier about your return than Yae Miko. Delighted by your progress, she accepted your explanation that you had learned a resurrection technique but needed significant time to prepare.]

["Time is the least of my concerns," she said with a serene smile. "I can wait."]

[Leaving the Grand Narukami Shrine, you made your way to Inazuma and requested an audience at Tenshukaku. By now, you were well aware that the purple-haired woman who had accompanied Kitsune Saiguu to the festival years ago was none other than Raiden Ei, whom Kitsune Saiguu named Shogun.]

[Inazuma was again in turmoil, its people suffering. With the loss of many loyal allies, Raiden Ei\'s rule was crippled. You assured her that the immortal arts you learned in Liyue could vanquish the calamity. In return, you asked her to fulfill her old promise.]

["What is your wish?" Raiden Ei asked, impressed by your strength and sincerity.]

["I wish for power—one rank below the Gods, and above all others," you declared. "Only with unrestrained authority can I eliminate the calamity."]

[Perhaps out of nostalgia for her childhood, or her trust in Kitsune Saiguu\'s judgment, Raiden Ei granted your request. She bestowed upon you the surname "Only-God," symbolizing a rank second only to the gods themselves.]

[Age 51: Founding the Onmyou Bureau]

[You solidified your position within the Shogunate, earning widespread fame as you repeatedly dispelled the calamity. Declaring yourself Inazuma\'s first "Onmyouji," you founded the Onmyou Bureau, an institution dedicated to training others in Onmyoudo to combat the calamity.]

[The Bureau quickly attracted countless aspirants, eager to study under your guidance.]

[Age 54: In just three years, you trained a legion of skilled Onmyouji, who became instrumental in battling the calamity. Your name became synonymous with hope in Inazuma, while Raiden Ei receded from public view.]

[Yet, your hidden ambitions began to surface. You claimed the calamity hadn\'t been fully eradicated but was instead parasitizing yokai across the land. To rid Inazuma of its blight, you argued, all yokai must be subdued.]

[In truth, this was your excuse to harvest yokai energy. Without access to immortal energy, you planned to substitute it with yokai energy, compensating with sheer volume. Where one adeptus required a mere fraction of their power, you would drain entire legions of yokai dry.]

[Your actions shattered the delicate balance between humans and yokai in Inazuma, inciting chaos. Despite some dissent, you declared fox yokai exempt, citing their immunity to the calamity due to the Kitsune bloodline.]

[Privately, you knew resurrecting Kitsune Saiguu, with her immense spiritual power, required an unfathomable amount of energy. Even the hundreds of yokai you harvested were but a drop in the ocean.]

[To keep Raiden Ei from interfering, you advised her to pursue eternity by creating a puppet to house her consciousness. Trusting you implicitly, she followed your suggestion.]

[Age 55: Raiden Ei completed her first puppet but deemed it flawed. Before she could destroy it, you volunteered to repurpose it as a weapon against the calamity. Though hesitant, she agreed.]

[In secret, you modified the puppet to resemble Kitsune Saiguu. To resurrect her, you needed three things: sufficient yokai energy, a suitable vessel, and her scattered memories.]

[With the puppet serving as the vessel, you poured all the yokai energy you had gathered into it, activating the Forbidden Art of Soul Revival.]

[Miraculously, the puppet awakened. Unlike Qiqi, it didn\'t succumb to madness, but it was an empty shell—alive but soulless. You now faced your next challenge: collecting Kitsune Saiguu\'s scattered memories.]

[Her memories, transformed into fragments of light, were scattered across Inazuma upon her death. The more fragments you gathered, the more complete she would become.]

[Age 56: The Yokai Hunt Begins]

[You submitted a formal request to Raiden Ei, urging her to intensify efforts to subdue yokai across Inazuma. By this point, she had come to trust you completely, and her preoccupation with creating her puppet left her little time for governance. Thus, she approved your proposal without hesitation.]

[Under Raiden Ei\'s authority, you proclaimed the "Yokai Hunt Decree," a mandate to exterminate all yokai except for fox yokai. Your justification was simple: to root out the calamity hiding within yokai.]

[This decree shattered the already fragile relationship between humans and yokai. While smaller-scale hunts had been grudgingly tolerated, the Yokai Hunt Decree amounted to outright war. Battles erupted across Inazuma as yokai rose up in rebellion, branding you a corrupt minister and vowing to "purge the court of treachery."]

[But this conflict served your purpose. War allowed you to harvest massive quantities of yokai energy in a short time, a goal unattainable through normal means.]

[However, you underestimated the yokai\'s strength. While your Onmyouji were formidable, the scale of warfare revealed their limitations. In battle, conventional soldiers still bore the brunt of the fighting.]

[Age 57: The Cracks in Power]

[The prolonged conflict began to expose the weaknesses in your strategy. Though the yokai suffered heavy losses, the toll on the Shogunate\'s forces was immense. The Tenryou Commission\'s troops, despite their superior numbers, struggled to keep pace with the yokai\'s individual strength. Prolonged attrition threatened to tip the balance.]

[Meanwhile, Raiden Ei\'s growing isolation worked to your advantage. She spent her days refining her puppet and retreating further into her "Eternity" philosophy, leaving Inazuma\'s governance entirely in your hands.]

[Yet, whispers of dissent began to spread. Some questioned your motives, while others viewed the Yokai Hunt as a veiled vendetta. Yae Miko herself approached you, asking why you insisted on continuing this campaign.]

[You reassured her, claiming it was all to revive Kitsune Saiguu. Miko\'s lingering hope for that future swayed her to remain silent, though she urged you to minimize unnecessary bloodshed.]

[Age 58: The "Raiden Shogun" Is Born]

[Raiden Ei succeeded in creating a perfected puppet, naming it the "Raiden Shogun." To preserve it, she withdrew entirely into her "Plane of Euthymia," a world inside Raiden Ei\'s mind, where her consciousness currently resided after she discarded her physical form. Her absence left Inazuma firmly under your control.]

[Inspired by Raiden Ei\'s creation, you devised your own mystical training grounds using Onmyoudo. Dubbed the "Shadow Bureau," this realm slowed the passage of time, allowing soldiers and Onmyouji to undergo rigorous training in mere days. Within a year, these enhanced forces turned the tide of war against the yokai.]

[Age 59: Your Shadow Bureau-trained soldiers decimated the yokai forces, solidifying the Shogunate\'s dominance. Among the captured and slain yokai, you occasionally recognized faces from your childhood—companions from the summer festival long ago.]

[But when you met them again, they were no longer friends. You were their executioner. Their pleas, curses, and tears fell on deaf ears. Though guilt clawed at your heart, you pressed on. You had sacrificed too much to falter now. This path was a one-way road.]

[Age 60: The First Yokai Clan Falls]

[The war culminated in the extermination of the tanuki clan, the weakest of Inazuma\'s four great yokai clans. Their leader was captured and brought before you.]

[Among the captured yokai was your old acquaintance, the tanuki elder Ioroi. He had been one of Kitsune Saiguu\'s closest friends. Decades earlier, he had wagered with her that he could sneak into Tenshukaku and steal Naru Weed, a rare plant that only grew near Raiden Ei\'s residence. He scattered its seeds across Inazuma, making the once-exclusive plant a common sight.]

[When Raiden Ei captured him in a fit of fury, Kitsune Saiguu interceded and saved his life, later appointing him as a guardian of Chinju Forest.]

[After you issued the Yokai Hunt Decree, many yokai who had once coexisted with humans turned against them. Ioroi was no exception.]

[Upon seeing you, Ioroi immediately recognized you. His voice was filled with fury as he berated you for your betrayal. Your disciples moved to silence him, but you waved them away, instructing them to stand down.]

[Ioroi angrily declared that Kitsune Saiguu would never forgive your actions if she were still alive. With a calm but somber expression, you told him the truth: Kitsune Saiguu had perished fighting the Calamity.]

[You recounted the events of that day to Ioroi. Kitsune Saiguu had sought him out in Chinju Forest, suggesting a game of hide-and-seek to keep him out of danger. Ioroi, ever competitive, eagerly agreed. But no matter how long he waited, Kitsune Saiguu never returned.]

[Upon learning the truth, Ioroi was devastated. Still, he questioned your methods, asking why you would slaughter so many yokai.]

["Everything I\'ve done is to bring Kitsune Saiguu back," you replied with a rare smile. "You must miss her too, don\'t you?"]

[Ioroi nodded silently. You patted his head gently and whispered, "Then forgive me, my friend, for sacrificing you as well."]

[A Soul-Binding Talisman appeared in your hand and stuck to Ioroi. Despite his resistance, his immense tanuki power was no match for the talisman\'s sealing force.]

[As his life faded, Ioroi released his clenched paw, scattering crystalline fragments on the ground—the remnants of Kitsune Saiguu\'s memories, left behind in Chinju Forest.]

[Perhaps Ioroi had known the truth all along but chose to deceive himself, clinging to the hope that one day, Kitsune Saiguu might return to him with her playful smile and declare, "I found you. You lose!"]

[A Step Closer to Resurrection]

[You infused Ioroi\'s yokai energy and the memory fragments into the Kitsune Saiguu puppet. The immense power granted the puppet the ability to stand. It even spoke for the first time, muttering fragments like "Ioroi" and "hide-and-seek."]

[This breakthrough confirmed your belief: with enough energy and memory fragments, Kitsune Saiguu could be fully restored.]

[With Raiden Ei secluded in her Plane of Euthymia, you effectively became Inazuma\'s de facto ruler. Your authority surpassed even the Three Commissions, solidifying your position as Raiden\'s regent.]

[The tanuki clan, weakened after Ioroi\'s death, was swiftly eradicated. The tengu and oni clans, fearing a similar fate, began consolidating their forces in preparation for war.]

[Among the oni clan\'s champions was Torachiyo, known as "Chiyo the Tiger." She had once been a loyal ally of Raiden Ei but was corrupted by the Abyss and swallowed whole by a "beast of sin" and while inside its stomach, was tainted by the darkness. Even though she managed to rip the beast apart and slay it, she was forever changed.]

[Later she turned her blade on Ei, after which she was defeated and badly injured. After losing an arm in her rebellion, she fled, leaving her son, Mikoshi Michihiro, to abandon his lineage in shame. Her adopted son, Mikoshi Nagamasa, remained loyal to the Shogunate, vowing to redeem the clan\'s honor.]

[Unexpectedly, Mikoshi Michihiro had been hiding in Konda Village all along. As Torachiyo\'s biological son, he held significant influence among the oni clan. Moreover, he shared a close relationship, both as a mentor and a friend, with the tengu clan\'s current chief, Teruyo.]

[In response to the Yokai Hunting Decree, the oni and tengu clans formed an alliance, while the kitsune clan, under Yae Miko\'s guidance, remained neutral.]

[The war finally broke out. Teruyo of the tengu clan and Mikoshi Michihiro united other yokai tribes to form the "Anti-Yokai Hunting Alliance," officially declaring war on the Shogunate army.]

[Age 64: The war dragged on for three years, with both sides experiencing victories and losses. The Shogunate army and the yokai coalition finally clashed in the decisive battle at Byakko Plains. The yokai forces were led by Teruyo, while the Shogunate army was commanded by you—Kamuna Harunosuke.]

[Once a savior to some of your adversaries, you were now their sworn enemy. The irony of fate was not lost on you, but there was no turning back.]

[This battle was monumental, with over fifty thousand yokai soldiers in the coalition. While the Shogunate army had the numerical advantage, they still lagged behind in individual combat capabilities.]

[The yokai coalition\'s first move was sending their vanguard, Mikoshi Michihiro, into battle. Through rigorous training with Teruyo, Mikoshi Michihiro\'s swordsmanship had reached new heights, earning him the surname "Iwakura." His signature move, "Tengu Sweeper," was said to strike down even airborne tengu.]

[Inazuman warfare traditionally began with duels between generals. While the outcome of these duels rarely determined the overall battle, they often had a profound impact on morale. The sheer presence of an extraordinary warrior could sometimes cause the enemy to crumble without a fight.]

[Iwakura Michihiro, with unmatched strength, defeated several of your elite commanders. These warriors, trained in the "Shadow Bureau," were no match for the oni swordsman, causing a severe blow to your army\'s morale.]

[Yet, you remained calm in the command tent and sent out a prearranged challenger.]

[Upon seeing his next opponent, the once confident Iwakura Michihiro showed a rare moment of shock—it was none other than Mikoshi Nagamasa!]

[Nagamasa, the adoptive son of Torachiyo and Iwakura Michihiro\'s younger brother by bond, had served the Shogunate to restore their family\'s honor. Before the battle, you promised Nagamasa that if he could defeat his rebellious elder brother, you would restore the Mikoshi clan\'s status in Inazuma.]

[Once inseparable brothers, they were now forced into mortal combat by your machinations.]

[As a human, Mikoshi Nagamasa was no match for the swordsmanship of the oni Iwakura Michihiro. Within a dozen exchanges, Nagamasa began to falter, just as he always had against his elder brother.]

[You had anticipated this outcome from the beginning.]

[However, Iwakura Michihiro, as the elder brother, could not bring himself to deliver a killing blow. Nagamasa, though outmatched, shouted furiously, accusing Iwakura Michihiro of dishonoring their family and following their mother\'s path of darkness.]

["Kill me!" Nagamasa roared. "After all, you already killed your own mother. What\'s an adopted brother like me to you?"]

[Iwakura Michihiro was visibly shaken by the accusation, leaving him open. Nagamasa seized the opportunity, plunging his self-forged blade, "Daitatara Nagamasa," deep into Iwakura Michihiro\'s chest. While Nagamasa\'s skills couldn\'t match his brother\'s, his mastery in forging made his blades unparalleled—even among yokai.]

[As Iwakura Michihiro instinctively raised his weapon to use his famed "Tengu Sweeper" for a final, mutual strike, he hesitated upon seeing the tear-filled eyes of his younger brother. With a bitter smile, the once-renowned oni swordsman known as "Iwakura" fell.]

[Iwakura Michihiro\'s slaying of his mother, Torachiyo, had been a closely guarded secret. But you had learned of it through the myriad paper familiars scattered across Inazuma, acting as your spies. You shared this secret with Nagamasa, ensuring this outcome.]

[The tragic fratricide unfolded just as you planned. With Iwakura Michihiro\'s death, the yokai coalition fell into chaos. Teruyo, a close friend of Iwakura Michihiro, suppressed her sorrow and rallied the yokai forces for a desperate assault on the Shogunate army.]

[Though the yokai coalition\'s fifty thousand troops were formidable, they quickly realized the Shogunate soldiers were unnaturally fearless and imbued with enhanced strength and speed.]

[Furthermore, even without Visions, their weapons carried elemental energy, devastating against yokai.]

[These enhancements were your creation. Using Onmyōdō techniques, you crafted two types of talismans: the "Strength Talisman," which greatly boosted physical capabilities, and the "Divine Weapon Talisman," which imbued weapons with elemental power.]

[Of course, this power came at a price. The soldiers using these talismans consumed their own life force in exchange.]

[But for you, who had long abandoned scruples, any sacrifice—even your own—was worth reviving Kitsune Saiguu.]

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Author\'s Note: We did not reach 400... Tch no extra Chapters for you!