In her Story Quest II, Genshin Impact's Electro Archon Raiden Ei faces memories of the past while fighting for the betterment of Inazuma's future.
Genshin Impact’s Inazuma region was first released in version 2.0. Following this update, 5-star Electro Polearm-user Raiden Shogun premiered on the featured banner of version 2.1 after previously appearing as an NPC. The Raiden Shogun’s identity was revealed throughout Inazuma’s Archon Quests along with unresolved issues that would later be expanded upon in Raiden Ei’s Story Quests.
[Warning: Spoilers for Raiden Shogun’s Story Quests below.]
Raiden Ei is the current Electro Archon of Inazuma. Previously a tense environment forced to uphold a bygone idea of eternity, the state of Inazuma changed alongside its Archon. After the Fatui’s Delusion distribution scheme and the traveler’s successful duel against Raiden Ei, the Archon chooses to abolish the Vision Hunt Decree and works towards undoing the many years of her misguided reign.
In Raiden Ei’s first Story Quest - "Imperatrix Umbrosa Chapter, Act I: Reflections of Mortality" - the Traveler meets with Ei, who now resides in the real world rather than the Plane of Euthymia, following the end of the Vision Hunt Decree. In addition to conversing with Genshin Impact’s Yae Miko, the Traveler accompanies Ei as they take her on a tour of Inazuma’s streets with food, novels, and photos to commemorate their time together. The quest ends with Ei settling a duel between feuding clans.
Raiden Ei’s second Story Quest - "Imperatrix Umbrosa Chapter, Act II: Transient Dreams" - begins with the Adventurers’ Guild tasking the traveler with disposing of the hordes of Rifthounds that have emerged to attack the Sacred Sakura. There, the Traveler and Paimon cross paths with Ei, who appears to be doing her share in eliminating the monsters. They work together in vanquishing the threat while Ei recalls that the Rifthounds’ attack is reminiscent of the era of the Cataclysm 500 years prior.
Upon investigating the damaged roots of the Sacred Sakura, a samurai named Kitamura emerges from the fog. As the samurai is incorporeal, the form is similar to the after-images that had manifested in Tsurumi Island in Genshin Impact. Kitamura behaves similarly to those after-images, acting as if he is still in the midst of the past battle. When the nation of Khaenri’ah fell all those centuries ago, Inazuma was attacked and plagued by monsters. Kitamura advises the group to flee as the Shogun and Kitsune Saiguu - a close ally of Ei who was consumed by a “dark will” during these events - were gone. After Ei’s assurance that she has returned and Inazuma is safe, Kitamura fades away.
After tracking down more monsters, the Traveler and Ei stumble across another after-image of Furuyama - an old acquaintance of Ei and her twin sister, Makoto - who specialized in tea. Instead of the panic that Kitamura had displayed, Furuyama admits that he knows his end is near, and that he has no regrets. Though Furuyama is gone when the group returns with the requested tea set, Ei and the Traveler discuss the events of the past Inazuma.
During their third encounter with monsters, Ei battles the Rifthounds in Genshin Impact solo, though she noticeably freezes during some of her maneuvers. The manifestations of three samurai fight alongside her, and once they proclaim their loyalty and hope in her guidance as an Archon, they fade away. Ei freezes once more, and it is then that she asks the traveler to bring her to the torii gate underneath the Grand Narukami Shrine where an entrance to Makoto’s preserved consciousness awaits. In the consciousness, Ei begins her centuries-long duel against the Raiden Shogun while the Traveler is forcibly expelled.
As two of Genshin Impact’s Raiden Shoguns battle in the realm of Makoto’s preserved consciousness, the Traveler goes to warn the shrine maiden Yae Miko about Ei’s plight. Ei has chosen to stay in the realm to duel the Shogun in order to prove that her change of perspective regarding eternity was for the betterment of Inazuma rather than from erosion - something that had distorted the minds of others such as Zhongli’s old companion, Azhdaha.
With the help of Yae Miko, the Traveler and Paimon return to Makoto’s realm. As they enter, they are faced with splintered images containing events from both past, present, and future, though it is unclear which is which. Inside the realm, Ei is shocked to see them in the same regalia that they were wearing prior to their last meeting, implying that it has been centuries since she’s seen them last. With the Traveler bearing witness, Ei and the Shogun prepare for their final duel to settle matters once and for all. This battle is able to be challenged by players again in the new weekly Raiden Shogun Boss Domain in Genshin Impact.
After a grueling battle, Ei defeats the Shogun and earns the puppet’s recognition that Ei is in control and her views have not been affected by erosion. The Shogun gives her word that she will no longer attempt to stop Ei’s new vision for Inazuma. The Shogun also assigns herself as Ei’s assistant, though Ei refuses to see her as only a mere weapon. Instead, Ei sees her as an equal. As Ei was once Makoto’s shadow, the Shogun will now become Ei’s shadow.
When things have settled between Ei and the Shogun, the Musou Isshin - the weapon that had executed Genshin Impact’s Eighth Harbinger, La Signora - begins to glow. From it, a fragment of Makoto’s preserved consciousness appears. Makoto had made sure this would only happen in the event that Ei had successfully drawn its full power, as Makoto knew she would. As Makoto’s form is unable to last for very long, she gifts Ei a single seed. Ei realizes that this is the seed from which the Sacred Sakura grows.
500 years prior, the previous Electro Archon Makoto had gone to Khaenri’ah without first informing Ei. When Ei had managed to catch up with her twin, she was already unconscious and on the brink of death. They had shared an abrupt farewell inside of her consciousness, and when Ei returned to Inazuma, she was shocked to discover a great tree had grown in her absence - the Sacred Sakura. It is then discovered that present Ei is the one who planted the seed for the tree to grow in past Inazuma, all those years ago.
As one of The Seven in Genshin Impact, Makoto’s final wish of Ei seeing the world through her eyes has come true. She and Ei share a proper, albeit bittersweet farewell before she fades into sakura blossoms, swept away by the wind. When they leave the realm of consciousness, the Traveler and Ei return to the Grand Narukami Shrine where they relay the events to Yae Miko. Now ready to step forward in the new Inazuma, Ei sincerely thanks everyone for their support. Genshin Impact players will be able to see Inazuma’s progress towards a better eternity with each new update.
