The Pull

Under the will of the Sea God, the roaring ocean transformed into a thunderous whirlpool. The rapid currents, which even sea yokai could not resist, became the most ferocious of starving beasts, swallowing the Sea Nation's army within. This super-giant whirlpool erupted directly in the middle of the Sea Nation's formation, sweeping through their entire ranks in an instant. The hundred thousand sea yokai had no room to escape.

Thousands of sea yokai were swept away helplessly by the torrents, the intensity of the water making it difficult for even these aquatic creatures to breathe. One by one, the massive ghost ships were torn apart by the currents. Countless fragments of the vessels fell into the vortex, becoming lethal weapons as they were accelerated by the flow. Any sea yokai unfortunate enough to be struck had their limbs shattered and died instantly, unable to let out even a single scream. Those carried by the torrents and slammed directly into the reefs and rocky mountains were reduced to pulp, as wave after wave of blood was injected into this death spiral.

Rather than a whirlpool, it was more like an undersea tornado. Even without the medium of impact, the ever-accelerating torrents made it impossible for the sea yokai's gills to function properly, eventually drowning them. If this whirlpool of divine punishment continued, it was only a matter of time before the entire army of a hundred thousand sea yokai was annihilated.

"Such a powerful whirlpool... it is simply unheard of. Can the power of a deity truly reach such heights?" Above the sea's surface, looking at the roaring and thundering ocean before him, even the Lord of Arakawa could not help but mutter to himself, his mouth agape in shock. He had never imagined that the gap between mortals and gods could reach such a level.

Because the ocean had been parted beforehand, the currents on the Sea Nation's side could not affect the side of the Arakawa group. The water yokai of Arakawa stayed within their side of the sea, staring in shock at the spectacular scene they had never witnessed before. At this moment, there was little gloating in their hearts over the enemy's plight; instead, there was only supreme awe for the divine might.

"Is this what a god is?" Kingyohime stood frozen in place. Facing the terrifying power of heaven and earth and the helpless yokai beneath it, she gained a new understanding of the existence of gods. Unlike those wild gods found everywhere in the countryside who struggled to gather faith, this was the true might of a heavenly god.

With a mere wave of the hand, the rivers and seas were overturned, and the winds and clouds shifted. The survival of over a hundred thousand mortals rested solely on a single thought. If such terrifying power truly existed in this world, what was the meaning of a mortal's existence?

Amidst this world-shaking sight, Kingyohime even began to drift into philosophical contemplation.

The Sea Nation's forces were completely consumed by the whirlpool, dying continuously in various ways, yet they were utterly powerless to strike back against the force judging them. However, they would not resign themselves to this fate. From within that death spiral, a figure leaped out at extreme speed.

Otakemaru gripped his long swords with both hands, giant rocks and earth hovering around him. Using the formidable strength of a Yokai Lord, he broke free from the powerful torrents and charged toward the sky.

His target was Kikyo, who stood suspended in the air. He could not touch the deity, so he had no choice but to strike at the deity's messenger.

"Stop... right now!!"

With bloodshot eyes, Otakemaru rushed before Kikyo, his twin swords about to cleave downward. Facing the attacking Yokai Lord, the indifferent miko remained as calm as ever.

Boom!

Accompanied by a flash of gold, a bolt of golden lightning plummeted from the zenith of the heavens, accurately striking Otakemaru. The giant rocks and earth surrounding him immediately wrapped around him for protection, but under this golden lightning, these insignificant guardians were instantly pierced. Otakemaru was struck directly by the thunderbolt.

"Aaaargh!"

Amidst a wail of agony, Otakemaru was swallowed by the lightning. After the thunder dissipated, the charred Otakemaru emitted white smoke from his mouth. With his eyes rolled back, he fell from the sky, crashing heavily onto the reefs of the path through the parted sea. Seeing this, the Lord of Arakawa murmured.

"Even a Yokai Lord only warrants a single strike..."

The Sea Nation's only counterattack ended just like that. The fate of the Sea Nation's army seemed destined for total destruction. However, Miketsu, high in the heavens, noticed a slight abnormality.

...

At the peak of the clouds, Miketsu continued to control the torrents and whirlpool to slaughter the Sea Nation's army. As time passed, more and more sea yokai perished within the vortex. At this moment, Miketsu discovered something strange through her causality vision.

'The souls and demonic power of the sea yokai... are actually being pulled...'

Within her causality vision, Miketsu keenly observed that after the sea yokai died, an invisible substance detached from their bodies. Upon closer inspection, it was the sea yokai's vitality, souls, and demonic power...

Instead of dissipating into the world as would normally happen after a creature's death, with the souls sinking toward the Underworld, these energies were being pulled by a singular, strange force, drifting toward the south. Eventually, they drifted beyond the range of Miketsu's causality vision.

Is something summoning them?

Miketsu couldn't help but wonder. She then recalled the words Otakemaru had spoken earlier. Combining those words with this strange phenomenon, she sensed something suspicious.

The invasion of the sea yokai didn't seem as simple as it appeared on the surface...

Thinking of this, Miketsu immediately began to confirm the overall status of the Sea Nation's army. Currently, about thirty percent of the hundred thousand sea yokai in the great whirlpool had died, and their overall combat effectiveness had been completely lost. Because the intensity made it difficult for the Sea Nation's forces to breathe, many sea yokai had already lost consciousness. If this continued, the death toll would soon skyrocket due to mass suffocation, easily surpassing seventy or eighty percent in a short time.

"That's enough..."

Miketsu murmured softly, then immediately withdrew the divine power maintaining the great whirlpool and began to calm the currents, allowing the sea's surface to return to normal more quickly.

...

Under Miketsu's manipulation, the intensity of the great whirlpool began to gradually slow down. The ocean slowly returned to normal, and the countless sea yokai who had nearly suffocated in the torrents finally regained their breath.

As the roaring sounds subsided, the vast ocean gradually regained its tranquility. The giant whirlpool disappeared, and the calm surface of the sea was filled with floating wreckage. All the ghost ships had been shattered; the scene looked as though a massive battle had just taken place.

"It's over..." Looking at the tragic sight before her, Kikyo let out a sigh. She then turned to look at the Lord of Arakawa behind her.

"Next, it is time to clean up the battlefield. Please have the Arakawa group help deal with the remaining sea yokai. Please restrain their leader; I have things to ask them in a moment."

Kikyo spoke while looking at the Lord of Arakawa, who replied straightforwardly.

"By the divine will..."

...

South of the Japanese Archipelago, in the deep waters of the West Pacific.

On the utterly desolate seabed, a massive, pitch-black abyss still lay cracked open upon the ocean floor. Countless fluorescent filaments descended from the sea's surface to the north, falling into the abyss.

Then, the ocean floor began to tremble once more. Amidst these tremors, fine cracks began to appear in the encrustations upon several tall sea rock martial statues on the edge of the abyss.