In the space station in outer space, Miketsu stood by the window, gazing at the azure planet below, lost in thought. She pondered how to deal with the Tokoyo-no-Kami hidden deep underground and rescue Kanako and Suwako.
The key issue was the Tokoyo-no-Kami’s lair being hidden too deep. Even Miketsu couldn’t blast through over 6,000 meters of strata in one go. Finding an entrance, breaking through a series of traps, and delving deep underground would take an unknown amount of time. During this period, Kanako and the others might be found by the Tokoyo-no-Kami, and rashly entering an ancient god’s lair was simply too dangerous.
Looking at the Earth before her, Miketsu stroked her chin, considering countermeasures. Suddenly, her gaze shifted to the increasingly busy control room, and a flash of inspiration struck her.
“What’s wrong? Have you encountered a problem?” At this moment, Eirin slowly walked over and directly asked Miketsu.
“Hmm… it’s a troublesome problem, but I do have some ideas now…” Miketsu said, turning to Eirin and continuing, “Say, Eirin, have you studied the orbital cannon installed on this space station?”
“Orbital cannon? You mean the Star-Punishment Heavenly Fire Bow, as the moon rabbits call it. It’s a cutting-edge technology from the Lunar Capital, so of course I’ve studied it. I’m generally familiar with its basic functions,” Eirin replied. Miketsu nodded slightly upon hearing this, then continued to ask,
“Then I ask you, can this Star-Punishment Heavenly Fire Bow be modified to change its output mode, concentrating the energy for continuous output in the form of a beam?” Miketsu asked Eirin seriously. Eirin paused slightly, then understood.
“Constraining the energy for continuous beam output… Are you planning to…”
Quickly deciphering Miketsu’s thoughts, Eirin smiled, but then quickly composed herself and spoke to Miketsu with a solemn tone.
“I generally understand your idea… You’re right, this Heavenly Fire Bow does have the function you desire, but your plan still has some issues.” Eirin said, raising her fingers to list them.
“Firstly, the energy reserves on this Heavenly Fire Bow might not be enough. Secondly, your plan will take some time and create a significant disturbance, during which that worm will surely sense something amiss and prepare defenses. Finally, how will you pinpoint the exact coordinates? That’s 6,000 meters underground; even this Monitoring Pavilion cannot truly know the situation down there.”
Eirin meticulously outlined the problems in Miketsu’s plan. However, even after hearing all this, Miketsu’s expression remained unchanged. She continued to smile and said,
“Don’t worry, I’ve considered all of that. We are not fighting alone; we have allies within that fellow’s lair at this very moment.”
“Allies?”
“You’ll know later. Eirin, please notify Toyohime to bring more moon rabbits up. We are activating the Star-Punishment Heavenly Fire Bow!” Miketsu said to Eirin with a solemn tone. Eirin nodded, then chuckled softly.
“I understand, heh… It seems their celebration will have to be postponed…” Eirin said as she walked away. After watching Eirin leave, Miketsu immediately returned to her seat and began writing furiously to Kanako and the others. Miketsu’s upcoming actions would require their full cooperation.
...
In the deep underground space beneath a decaying forest in Shimosa Province, Kanto, Kanako and Suwako remained trapped. Suddenly, they received a prayer from above, from their Miko, Kochiya Kaki. In the prayer, Kaki conveyed Miketsu’s plan to Kanako and Suwako.
“You want us to take the initiative? To hold back that worm? Is that really true? Did Uka-no-Mitama-no-Mikoto truly say that?” Kanako asked in surprise from their hiding spot in the stone cave after hearing Kaki’s words.
“Yes… I’ve reconfirmed the letter’s contents repeatedly. Lady Uka truly said that. She said this is the only feasible method right now. Please trust her, Lady Kanako.” Kaki explained from above ground, a long letter placed beside her. To avoid misreading any characters, she had checked it many times.
‘Lady Uka’s handwriting style is truly unique… just a bit hard to decipher. I wouldn’t dare mention it in my reply…’
Looking at Miketsu’s letter, Kaki couldn’t help but inwardly grumble. As a Miko, even in her thoughts, she wouldn’t dare say that a Deity’s handwriting was ugly…
In the underground hiding place, after hearing Kaki’s words, Kanako fell into thought. Then she turned to Suwako and said,
“You must have heard Kaki’s prayer, right? What do you think?”
“Heh, my opinion is to trust Uka-no-Mitama-no-Mikoto. My current situation cannot afford any more delays. I can already sense that the worm’s larval clones are getting closer and closer. Rather than sitting here and awaiting death, it’s better to go out and fight.” Suwako said to Kanako with a helpless smile. Kanako nodded seriously, clapped her hands, and stood up.
“Alright then! Let’s go out and fight that worm again, Suwako. We’ll act as Uka-no-Mitama-no-Mikoto instructed!”
“Understood! I’ll open the stone wall now, and we’ll go to its lair to find it!”
As she spoke, Suwako extended her hand and made a gesture in the air. The massive stone before her slid aside, opening an entrance to the tunnel maze. Then, Kanako and Suwako flew out together, soaring into the winding and long tunnels.
Numerous larval clones searching the tunnels all turned their heads towards Kanako at that moment, only to be immediately shredded by the swirling storm within the tunnel. Wielding the whirlwind, Kanako advanced along the winding tunnels. Soon, she entered the massive cavern where the Tokoyo-no-Kami resided.
“Ah… Is this the death throes of fragile insects?” The Tokoyo-no-Kami wriggled its vibrant and corpulent giant body, gazing at the self-overestimating figures before it, its high-pitched, childlike voice echoing through the space.
“Hmph, you’re the insect, you disgusting creature…” Facing the Tokoyo-no-Kami, whose body glowed ever brighter, a storm suddenly erupted around Kanako.
...
Above the Japanese archipelago, in the colossal space station, Miketsu, who had been standing by the window overlooking Earth, suddenly seemed to sense something. She turned and ordered the moon rabbits and Toyohime in the control room.
“It has begun. Deploy the Star-Punishment Heavenly Fire Bow now!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Amidst a flurry of busy operations, the giant space station once again underwent complex structural deformation. The long mechanical bow body extended anew, and the Bow of Heavenly Punishment once more hung above all living beings.
Rate on N.U.
