The Bell's Ring

Jizi contentedly finished the peach in her hand, licking her lips clean with her tongue. After a moment of thought, she stretched out her hand towards Miketsu, who was perched on the torii, and sternly declared:

"You took more than just these from the offering table, didn't you? Give me the rest, or I'll call someone!"

Miketsu couldn't help but chuckle at the little girl's brazenness. She reached into her sleeve, pulled out another peach, and tossed it to Jizi. Jizi caught it with both hands and immediately began to gnaw on it. Miketsu watched, smiling.

"As the daughter of a shinkan, you are so gluttonous, consuming offerings meant for the gods without any reverence. Aren't you afraid of divine retribution?"

"Mmm... divine retribution? How could that be? Mmm... These are offerings for Inari Okami. She handed over the task of guarding the lake yokai to our family and then completely abandoned us. The lake yokai have been causing more and more trouble lately, and she doesn't even see it. How could she possibly see me eating her offerings?" Jizi mumbled between bites of peach.

"Perhaps Inari Okami has fallen into a deep slumber and can no longer watch over you?" Miketsu's eyes flickered as she continued.

"If she's in a deep slumber, she won't receive these offerings anyway. It's better if I eat them; otherwise, it would be a waste." As Jizi spoke, she had already finished her second peach. Miketsu thought, This one is truly pragmatic.

"Heh heh... I only said Inari Okami might be in a deep slumber as an example. What if she's still active? Aren't you afraid she'll send down punishment?" Miketsu continued to smile, addressing the young girl who could cross the boundary to see her.

"Impossible~ That Inari Okami hasn't manifested any divine miracles here for over a hundred years. Even the divine bell she left behind has become completely useless. How could she still be around?" Jizi said matter-of-factly, spreading her hands. Miketsu's expression hardened at her words.

"Divine bell? What divine bell?"

"It's the divine bell used to summon that yokai fish! Father says we used that bell to call the yokai fish out of the lake and feed it offerings. But now, the divine bell's power seems to be exhausted; no matter how much you ring it, it does nothing." Jizi continued. Miketsu's interest was piqued by her words.

"So... where is that bell now? I'd like to see it."

"It's in... hmm, why am I telling you, a strange person, all this? I... huh?" Just as Jizi was about to say more, another peach was tossed down from above. Jizi caught it and looked up to see a smiling Miketsu still holding one.

"Hmm... alright. Anyway, that bell is completely useless now, so there's no harm in letting you see it. Follow me." With that, Jizi began to walk away, and Miketsu gracefully flipped down from the torii, following behind her.

"Oh, right. Why couldn't the other Miko see you just now? Father scolded me because of it. Are you using some kind of blinding spell?" After only a few steps, Jizi turned back, looking at Miketsu with confusion. Miketsu replied rather mysteriously.

"For someone as young as you, to be able to see me directly means you possess truly rare innate talent, you know."

"Innate talent...?" Jizi, not quite understanding Miketsu's words, scratched her head, then continued walking without further thought.

Jizi took a secluded path from the shrine directly down to the lakeshore, with Miketsu close behind. Before long, they arrived at a rather expansive stretch of lakefront mudflats.

In the shallow water near the shore, a large torii stood, and directly opposite it on the bank was a simple stone pavilion. In front of the pavilion were several stone tables, now completely bare.

"We're here~ This is where our clan used to make offerings to the divine fish in the lake. Of course, it hasn't been used for a long time; I've only heard Father talk about it." Jizi explained, pointing towards the stone pavilion.

"The bell is inside that pavilion. Even though it's useless, I still advise you not to think about taking it. Our ancestors set up a barrier inside, and if anyone other than the clan head approaches it carelessly, they'll... wait..."

Just as Jizi was speaking with a hint of pride, Miketsu had already walked straight into the stone pavilion. She gazed thoughtfully at the golden bell resting on a stone table inside, while Jizi froze in place.

"Hey... didn't you say there was a barrier? Didn't you say no one but the clan head could enter...? This... is this another lie?" Jizi stood there, face dark, filled with a sense of dread. She had dared to bring a stranger here precisely because she thought the barrier would prevent anyone with ill intentions from doing anything to the bell. Even though it had lost its power, it was still a treasure of their clan. Now, it was casually placed before a stranger.

Just as Jizi felt she had caused a great disaster and was filled with panic, Miketsu in the stone pavilion had already picked up the bell, examining it carefully. Then she murmured to herself:

"Tsuruha, is this the divine bell I left behind?"

"Yes, Lady Uka. However, it has lost its power. You only need to re-inject divine power and ring it, and you should be able to summon the Earthquake Catfish." Beside Miketsu, Tsuruha, in her fox form, manifested with a flash of fire. Jizi, who had been watching from behind, shrieked in fright at the sight and collapsed onto the ground.

Ignoring Jizi behind her, Miketsu injected a touch of divine power into the bell. A faint glow immediately emanated from it. Then, Miketsu gently moved her hand and rang it.

"Ding—"

A clear chime resonated from the divine bell in Miketsu's hand. This small sound spread rapidly outwards from Miketsu as its center, reaching an immense distance. It echoed across the vast and tranquil Lake Biwa, and all living creatures within several hundred miles heard the bell's sound. Their minds became calm and peaceful for a moment. Even Jizi, who had been agitated, momentarily forgot her panic, sitting frozen on the ground, staring ahead.

After the bell's chime, the world seemed to fall into silence. The expansive surface of Lake Biwa appeared to stand still for a moment, with only the sounds of wind and water.

A few moments later, the sound of water currents in the lake gradually grew louder. White waves began to surge on the distant lake surface, growing larger and larger. A colossal object was now moving underwater, stirring up greenish-white waves that rushed rapidly towards the shore, finally stopping behind the massive torii in the water.

With a rumbling sound, the waves receded, and the giant aquatic creature revealed itself before Miketsu's eyes. It was, astonishingly, a colossal catfish nearly twenty meters long, the size of a whale.

Its gigantic body was covered in moss and aquatic plants, its gaping maw filled with sharp teeth, and slick whiskers swayed on either side. Six round eyes adorned the sides of its head, and its scales were like stones. On its back, it carried a massive rock bound with shimenawa. This was the Yokai capable of causing great earthquakes, the Earthquake Catfish.