God of Thunder

At dusk, during the Oma-ga-toki, a sudden, earth-shattering thunderclap echoed across the sky. Countless people and Yokai in Heian-kyo were startled by this thunder, looking up at the sky in astonishment at the vast dark clouds that had appeared out of nowhere in the twilight.

These dark clouds gathered directly above Inari and rapidly spread outwards from that center, covering the entire sky within seconds. Heian-kyo, which had just been bathed in the glow of the setting sun, was instantly plunged into gloomy shadows. Electric arcs frequently flashed through the heavy, sky-obscuring clouds, and the rumbling of muffled thunder was incessant, as if someone were pushing a gigantic millstone across the heavens. An immense pressure descended from the sky, making it difficult for the living beings below to breathe.

Witnessing this scene, both humans and Yokai beneath the dark clouds were filled with dread and panic. Some timid or morally corrupt individuals even knelt directly, bowing to the seemingly boundless might in the sky.

In the Onmyoryo's Astronomical Pavilion, Abe no Seimei stood on a high platform, his expression grave as he gazed at the cloud-shrouded, thunder-rumbling sky. He could clearly feel the terrifying pressure from above the clouds. As a Great Onmyoji, he understood precisely what this pressure represented: a deity, and not just an ordinary wild god, but a powerful Celestial God residing in the Celestial Realm! An existence beyond the reach of mortals!

"The Clouds of Divine Punishment have reappeared... just like a few days ago... Is it truly because of Inari Okami? Inari Okami, what exactly have you done?" Abe no Seimei spoke with a worried tone, looking towards the center where the thunderclouds gathered over Mount Inari, his mind filled with hesitation.

At the Minamoto Residence, Minamoto no Yorimitsu stood on the long veranda, looking up at the sky, a strange murmur escaping his lips.

"Thunderclouds and lightning... and this pressure that instills fear deep within one's heart... Heh, is this the God of Divine Punishment from legends, Takemikazuchi-no-Kami?"

As he spoke, Minamoto no Yorimitsu shifted his gaze to the southeast, towards the direction of Mount Inari, where the thunderclouds were thickest and the electric arcs most vibrant.

"The gathering point is the same as seven days ago, centered on Mount Inari, and this time the scale is much larger. Inari Okami... have you truly come into conflict with Takamagahara?"

Minamoto no Yorimitsu continued, a peculiar light flickering in his eyes.

Seven days prior, the burning of the Haiden at Inari Shrine due to a lightning strike was no secret among the Onmyo Clans. Many Onmyoji of a certain caliber had sensed the extraordinary power contained within that lightning strike, largely guessing it was divine lightning. But why would divine lightning strike Inari Shrine? This question sparked countless rumors within the Onmyo Clans.

Among them, the rumor that Inari Okami had somehow angered Takamagahara, leading Amaterasu Omikami to dispatch Takemikazuchi-no-Kami to punish Inari Okami, quickly spread.

Now, with the Clouds of Divine Punishment reappearing and once again gathering over Mount Inari, everyone who had heard the rumor couldn't help but feel worried. Many began to pray for Inari Okami's safety, as Inari Okami's divine miracles had saved Heian-kyo more than once.

At the Fujiwara Residence, the elderly and frail Fujiwara no Kanehira, an elder of the Fujiwara Clan, was currently in his workshop, praying towards the sky outside his window. His prayers were directed at Amaterasu Omikami and Takemikazuchi-no-Kami.

"Amaterasu Omikami, Takemikazuchi-no-Kami... whatever Inari Okami's transgressions, please forgive her for the merit of having saved countless lives..."

Also within the Fujiwara Residence, in a small house in a secluded courtyard, Kaguya looked through the window at the dark clouds in the sky, speaking with a hint of urgency.

"Hey, hey, hey! Fujiwara, look at the sky outside! Just like a few days ago, a lot of dark clouds have suddenly gathered again, and there's thunder, too, and the scale is several times larger!"

"Ah, ah... I know, I know. It's just dark clouds, what's so strange about it?"

On the other side, Mokou lay on her floor mat, propping her head with her hand, listlessly playing with a rhinoceros beetle in a box beside her. She spoke as she played, completely unconcerned with what was happening outside.

"Aren't you worried? Everyone's saying Inari Okami angered Takamagahara and brought down divine punishment, aren't they? Inari Okami is your friend, aren't you even a little flustered?" Kaguya turned to the calm Mokou, hands on her hips, and said irritably.

"Worried... worried... worried..." Mokou repeated Kaguya's words, stroked her chin in thought, then let out a sigh and continued.

"Phew... you're right, I really should be worried about this situation, but... honestly, after spending so much time with that person, I can't seem to worry about anything anymore, no matter what happens."

"Can't... worry?" Kaguya's eyes were full of confusion as she looked at Mokou.

"Yeah... I don't know why, but that person is just too strong. It's the kind of... well, unreasonably strong... Instead of worrying about her safety, I think we should worry about that God of Thunder who's here to deliver divine punishment. I hope he'll be alright in the end."

As she spoke, Mokou clasped her hands together in a mock prayer, bowing slightly.

...

Above Mount Inari, heavy dark clouds gathered, with electric arcs rolling through the layers and muffled thunder rumbling. The Miko of Inari Shrine were all terrified by this scene, hiding in their houses. Almost all the foxes on the mountain had burrowed into their dens. This wasn't the first time they had witnessed such a sight; they knew what was coming next.

At this moment, the thunderclouds in the sky began to deform under an unseen force. Amidst the roaring thunder, the clouds combined and converged into an enormous human face, nearly half the size of Heian-kyo. This colossal face had a majestic expression, its eyes wide with fury, and electric arcs flickered and danced within its mouth and eyes. An immense pressure, overwhelming and all-encompassing, poured down from it onto the entire Mount Inari, making it impossible for the living beings upon it to breathe.

Staring at Mount Inari, the gigantic face formed by the thunderclouds opened its mouth, uttering words that exploded like thunder.

"Uka-no-Mitama-no-Mikoto... The seven-day limit is up. Do you wish to ascend to the Celestial Realm now, or shall this Venerable One drag you up!"

The words rolled like thunder in all directions, transcending boundaries and piercing the eardrums of all living beings in Heian-kyo. After the thunder subsided, Mount Inari fell into a deathly silence; there was no response.

"Hmph! Still trying to hide? Stubborn and deluded! You won't understand the Mandate of Heaven until you pay a price!"

Suddenly, a deafening thunderclap reverberated everywhere, and countless bolts of lightning simultaneously struck from the sky, covering the entire Inari Shrine. With this single strike, the entire shrine, and even the parts of Mount Inari above the halfway point, would be obliterated by the lightning. All who witnessed this scene felt their legs buckle, dropping to their knees.

Mount Inari... was gone... This was the shared thought in their minds, but the scene that followed left them stunned.

As the lightning dissipated and the thunder faded, after the destructive force of the lightning, Inari Shrine remained completely unharmed. Above it, a faint golden light membrane enveloped the entire Mount Inari; not a single blade of grass or tree within it had suffered any damage.

"Heh... You've expanded the Secret Realm's Barrier to protect the entire mountain? What a wasteful and futile expenditure of divine power. This Venerable One will see how many more strikes your meager divine power can withstand!"

Amidst the giant face's thunderous words, the thunderclouds once again began to brew lightning. At this moment, the giant face's expression froze as it noticed a small building behind the shrine.

There, a white-haired girl in a white robe and scarlet hakama was slowly sliding open a paper door, unhurriedly stepping out, still adjusting her clothes as she walked.

"Coming... coming... Can't you see a girl is changing clothes? Being so impatient is quite rude, you know..."

Miketsu, who had just returned to the shrine from Choyo-machi, said as she adjusted her freshly changed clothes. She looked up at the giant face in the sky, which responded with renewed fury, "Uka-no-Mitama-no-Mikoto... you've finally stopped hiding."

"Hiding? Excuse me, I just wasn't around when you came looking for me last time. I had no intention of hiding from you at all."

"Hmph, just stubborn. Now that you've appeared, make your choice: either you ascend to the Celestial Realm yourself, or this Venerable One will drag you up. Do not think of defying the Mandate of Heaven, or you will pay a terrible price..."

The giant face in the sky continued to speak slowly with thunderous words. The giant face formed by the thunderclouds and the incessant rumbling conveyed endless pressure.

To this, Miketsu merely shrugged.

"Impressive aura, but I don't particularly like the way you talk. If we're going to discuss, let's sit down and talk properly. Being so high and mighty makes it difficult to communicate, you know."

"This Venerable One has no time for your nonsense. Answer the question now, Uka-no-Mitama-no-Mikoto! Otherwise, accept your punishment!" The colossal roar exploded again, making even the ground tremble. Miketsu's mouth twitched at this.

"So noisy..."

As she spoke, Miketsu picked up a stone from beside her foot. A golden light flashed in her hand, and Miketsu imbued it with a trace of divine power.

"Since you're unwilling to come down and talk, I'll make you come down... Lord God of Divine Punishment..."

With that, Miketsu gripped the stone tightly, then tossed it upwards. The stone, imbued with divine power, instantly streaked across the sky as a golden light, moving at an imperceptible speed, and plunged into the giant face before it could even react.

"Bang!!"

"Ugh!"

With a tremendous crash, the giant face formed by the thunderclouds was shattered by the powerful impact. The dark clouds were dispersed, and light once again shone upon Mount Inari. At the center of where the thunderclouds had been, at the giant face's brow, a figure appeared.

Long white hair, wild like flames, sturdy and muscular physique, large tattoos adorning his bare back and arms, and a string of small drums depicting spiral magatama floating behind him.

It was a robust male deity, Takemikazuchi-no-Kami. He was currently tilting his face to the side, his entire face sunken in from the powerful impact. A stone, having struck his face, ricocheted away.

Blood spurted from his mouth, floating in mid-air, and within the blood, two teeth were clearly visible.