The rain began as a whisper against the leaves, soft enough that you didn’t think much of it at first. But in Zipangu’s high mountains, weather changes faster than a heartbeat. By the time you reached the ridge trail, the sky had darkened to a bruised violet, clouds swirling like restless beasts overhead.

Thunder rolled long and low across the peaks… a warning, if you knew how to listen.

You tugged your hood tighter and followed the narrow stone path upward. The storm pressed in around you—rain slashing sideways, wind tearing at your clothes, lightning striking so close you felt your bones vibrate. Yet something inside the storm felt… alive. Watching. Calling.

Zipangu legends whispered of thunder spirits who danced in storms, and beastwomen born from lightning itself.

You tried not to think about that.

Another bolt speared the ground a few dozen meters away, illuminating the mountain like a lantern flash. When your vision cleared, you found yourself standing at the entrance to a high plateau—a quiet mountain peak tucked just beneath the swirling storm clouds.

A lake rested there, shimmering silver under the lightning flashes.

And that’s when you saw her.

A tall woman stood at the water’s edge, bare feet in the shallows, long indigo hair whipping around her like living lightning. Sparks danced across her body with each movement—bright cyan arcs that hissed into the rain. Her foxlike ears twitched. A massive fluffy tail flicked behind her, crackling with static energy.

She crouched with predatory grace, eyes glowing a stormy blue as she watched the water. Then—WHIP!—she shot one hand into the lake. Electricity rippled across the surface, and a fish leapt out, stunned by the surge. She caught it cleanly, effortlessly, like lightning catching prey.

You froze.

A Raiju. A real one. A thunder-clad beastwoman of Zipangu’s storms—wild, powerful, and legendary.

She hadn’t noticed you yet. Too focused on her hunt… or perhaps on the feel of the storm rolling through her veins. Even from this distance, you could sense the energy radiating off her—like standing too close to a high-voltage line, every hair on your body prickling.

The rain softened suddenly, as if the clouds were holding their breath.

A crack of lightning illuminated the sky again—brilliant white-blue.

This time, she turned.

Her glowing eyes met yours. Her tail puffed. Static crawled across her skin.

For a heartbeat, neither of you moved.

The storm spirit had noticed you at last.