In the skies above a forest somewhere in the Japanese Archipelago, a flash of intense light erupted across the daytime firmament. A dark steel mecha materialized, its frame wreathed in wisps of pale purple mist.
The dark mecha descended slowly. As its altitude dropped, it finally touched down within the woodland, startling a flock of birds into flight. Once the machine settled firmly on the ground, the hatch hissed open, and Miketsu and Kanako flew out.
"Phew... We’re finally back. I thought for a moment we’d be trapped up there forever," Miketsu said as she stepped onto solid ground. She bore no injuries, and her complexion seemed perfectly normal, but Kanako, standing beside her, was a different story.
"Yeah... though I’m already numb to how much you surprise me, I still didn’t expect you to actually be able to wound Amaterasu," Kanako said. Her face was deathly pale, and she looked to be in quite a poor state.
When a modern god descends from the Celestial Realm to the mortal world, they usually use their divine territory on earth as a medium. To descend without one is a forced entry, which not only consumes a massive amount of divine power but also carries a high risk of error.
Due to her nature as an ancient god, Miketsu didn't give a second thought to the cost of divine power. Even after forcing a descent while bringing a mecha along, she wasn't even winded. Kanako, however, was different. The forced descent had drained her divine power to its limits, and she wouldn't recover without a significant period of rest.
"I managed to wound her... but I had to use something very precious. It’s nothing worth praising," Miketsu replied. Since the destruction of the old Lunar Capital, the means to extract Chang'e Power Concentrate had been lost. Miketsu’s supply was finite, and she was loath to use it unless facing a Chief God.
After all, she needed to save it for the critical moment when she might have to shatter her own godhead.
To be frugal, Miketsu had only coated her previous alloy arrows with a trace amount of the concentrate. While that dosage wasn't enough to shatter Amaterasu's godhead, it was certainly enough to give her a run for her money. Just before leaving the Celestial Realm, Miketsu could clearly feel Amaterasu frantically summoning the divine power scattered throughout Takamagahara to combat the poison of Chang'e. After such a blow, the sun goddess would likely need a considerable amount of time to recover her breath.
Thus, Miketsu didn't have to worry about Amaterasu descending to cause trouble—at least for the time being. And as long as Amaterasu herself didn't appear, Miketsu didn't fear the other gods of Takamagahara. Aside from Takemikazuchi-no-Kami, who had already been beaten into submission, the rest were merely fodder she could crush in a few moves.
"Alright... now isn't the time for chatter. Let's confirm our location quickly. We need to get to Mino immediately. Suwako might not be able to hold out against the messengers from Takamagahara. We have to hurry."
As Miketsu spoke, she looked up toward the horizon.
...
Mino Province, by the shores of Lake Suwa, Moriya Shrine.
Winding back the clock: while Miketsu was heading to Takamagahara, the messengers from the heavens had also descended to Mino Province. Their mission was to eliminate the wild god, Suwako.
"Ha! So that’s Lake Suwa up ahead? Our target is there?" high above the clouds, a handsome man spoke with a flamboyant smile. He wore a small crown and a long robe made of white and blue feathers. His neck and face were slender, and his exceptionally thin hands were adorned with several rings.
This was Ame-no-Hinatidori-no-Kami, the specialized messenger and god of heralds for Takamagahara.
"Mm... there's no mistake. This is the divine territory of Takeminakata. The wild god she is sheltering is right here." Beside Ame-no-Hinatidori-no-Kami stood a tall man. He wore a white haori over a bare chest, exposing his robust pectoral and abdominal muscles. Beneath his short, wavy white hair was a square, fierce face. He spoke with a quiet, steady tone.
This was Futsunushi-no-Kami. Like Takemikazuchi-no-Kami, he was a god of swords and a god of war. In mythology, he was a deity born alongside Takemikazuchi-no-Kami.
These were the gods Amaterasu had sent to deal with Suwako. Accompanying them was the God of Heavenly Punishment, Takemikazuchi-no-Kami, who currently stood silently behind the other two, speaking with an air of haughty pride.
"A mere wild god... she is not worth my personal intervention. You two go ahead; I shall watch from the rear."
"Ah... is this the famous pride of the God of Heavenly Punishment? Your arrogance has only grown over the years. However, this is a mission from Amaterasu Omikami herself. Is it truly appropriate for you to just sit back and watch?" Ame-no-Hinatidori-no-Kami asked, looking at Takemikazuchi-no-Kami. In response, Takemikazuchi-no-Kami merely gave him a sharp, piercing glare.
"What? Do you have an issue with me?"
Being stared down like that, Ame-no-Hinatidori-no-Kami flinched, fear flickering in his eyes. Among the gods of Takamagahara, Takemikazuchi-no-Kami was one of the most difficult to provoke. Ame-no-Hinatidori-no-Kami was not a martial god; he lacked the divine virtue of fearlessness.
"Heh... don't overthink it. Ame-no-Hinatidori-no-Mikoto is merely considering the efficiency of the mission. Since we are only facing a wild god, there is indeed no need for the God of Heavenly Punishment to strike. The two of us are enough..." Futsunushi-no-Kami interjected. Hearing this, Takemikazuchi-no-Kami secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
'Thank goodness I dodged that... otherwise, I wouldn't know how to explain myself to that woman, Uka-no-Mitama-no-Mikoto...'
Before they had arrived in Mino, Miketsu had already contacted Takemikazuchi-no-Kami through a divine messenger. After obtaining information about Kanako from him, she had specifically instructed him to slack off as much as possible during the upcoming subjugation of Suwako. He was to watch from the sidelines while sabotaging his teammates whenever possible. In short, he was to ensure the expedition was anything but smooth.
Deeply terrified of Miketsu and knowing she held leverage over him, Takemikazuchi-no-Kami had no intention of defying her. He had agreed to her demands immediately, which was why he had just successfully used his arrogant persona to excuse himself from the fight.
'That wild god has a connection with Uka-no-Mitama-no-Mikoto. You two can deal with her however you like. I’m not getting involved. If she comes seeking revenge later, at least she won't be aiming for me.'
Takemikazuchi-no-Kami thought as he looked at his two teammates. Though he had acted with great majesty just now, he was actually scared to death on the inside.
...
Outside Moriya Shrine, atop a small hill, Suwako stood gazing at the distant horizon. She could already sense the aura of divine power belonging to the orthodox gods.
"They're here... Kaki, how is the evacuation of the mortals?" Suwako asked softly. Beside her, the Miko, Kaki, answered with respectful diligence.
"In accordance with your divine decree, Lord Suwako, the mortals from the shrine and the nearby villages have all been evacuated. They will not return for at least a day."
"I see. Then, Kaki, you should leave as well. Against the gods of Takamagahara, there is nothing you can do to help..." Suwako told her. Kaki’s face immediately filled with anxiety.
"But, Lord Suwako..."
"Do you want me to be distracted by having to protect one more person, Kaki?"
"I... I understand. Then, I wish you safety, Lord Suwako..."
After a respectful bow, the Miko withdrew, leaving Suwako alone to face the sky.
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