Deep Contemplation

As Miketsu finished speaking, the scene fell into a heavy silence. Everyone could hear how dire the situation had become.

On one hand, Tokoyo-no-Kami had already pupated. It would only take four or five months to break the pupa and turn into a butterfly, reviving into its complete form. Because its pupa was indestructible, its full revival had officially entered a countdown; it was an established fact set in stone.

On the other hand, the Great Snake was deliberately stalling its own progress in breaking the seal, seeking to emerge at the exact moment Tokoyo-no-Kami revived. Then, with the help of its ally, it would complete its own revival. Even if Tokoyo-no-Kami were to be besieged immediately upon revival, it would surely tie up a massive amount of their combat power and energy, making it quite easy for the Great Snake to complete its revival ritual using its own strength.

"As expected of that snake, still calculating as ever. It's actually treating the seal as a hideout..." Suwako said with a frown, her expression grave. She could see that the current situation was not favorable for their side.

"Yes, the more cautious an enemy is, the harder they are to deal with. However, we cannot simply let it do as it pleases. We must take measures." Listening to Suwako's words, Eirin spoke seriously, while Miketsu couldn't help but glance at her.

"So, Eirin, do you have a counter-strategy?"

"Something like that... Since that Great Snake wants to hide peacefully, we won't let it. Since it can stop the erosion of the seal, we can conversely take the initiative to undo the seal and let it out." Eirin spoke with a faint smile. After hearing her words, Miketsu's eyes lit up.

"Right. If it won't come out on its own, we'll let it out. We can defeat it first and then concentrate our forces to face the revived Eternal Worm alongside the Chief Gods. We just need to defeat them one by one," Miketsu said with realization. They now had a general strategy for facing the enemy.

"However, such a plan carries great risk. We must make absolutely sufficient preparations," Suwako added as a reminder, and Miketsu naturally responded.

"Of course. There are still a few months before the Eternal Worm turns into a butterfly. We only need to release and deal with the Great Snake before then. Risks are unavoidable; we must be fully prepared."

After that, Miketsu and the other two began to meticulously formulate a plan against the Great Snake and the Eternal Worm. When their mouths were parched from talking, Yorihime knocked and entered carrying a pot of tea.

"Lady Uka, Master, please take a short rest," Yorihime said softly, then began pouring tea for Miketsu and the others.

"Ah... thank you..." Miketsu said, nodding to Yorihime after taking a sip.

On the other side, Suwako also took a sip of tea and let out a long sigh.

"Whew... what a troublesome situation... Dammit... if only I had a suitable ritual priest, things would be much simpler..." Suwako said with a sigh after drinking. Her words caused Miketsu to look at her.

"True. In fact, if you want to revive, you're mainly just missing a ritual priest..." Miketsu said while looking at Suwako. Among the current four ancient gods, Suwako was the least likely to revive; what she lacked was something that could not be found in this era.

"Yes... but the one I'm missing is something that can be sought but not found. If this era doesn't have one, then it's out of the question. I wonder how far into the distant future it will be before that one-in-ten-thousand aptitude-holder can be born in the Kochiya Clan," Suwako lamented, leaning back in her chair and holding her tea with both hands.

Miketsu, hearing her words, couldn't help but look out the window, gazing through the clouds of the lunar secret realm toward the distant Earth.

"The future... is it?"

Looking leisurely at the sky of the lunar capital, Miketsu fell into deep contemplation.

...

Earth, deep beneath thick layers of soil, within a giant natural cave of unknown location.

In the pitch-black and vast cavern, countless light threads emitting a faint white glow were scattered and wound around various parts of the cave. Wisps of leisurely light shimmered slowly in the darkness.

In this massive dark cavern, all the light threads converged in one direction, eventually weaving into a wall of light threads over a hundred meters high that spanned from the ceiling to the floor. Upon closer inspection, it was clearly a colossal fluorescent pupa made of light threads. Inside this fluorescent giant pupa, a blurry, massive shadow could be seen slowly writhing.

"Heh, progress is good..." a purple snake coiled around a stalactite said with a slow laugh, its voice cold and low.

"Instead of focusing on me here, you should worry about yourself. Is your ritual ready?" From inside the giant pupa came a high-pitched, child-like voice, responding to the Great Snake.

"You need not worry about my ritual. When the seal is completely undone, my ritual will surely be held smoothly, no matter how hard Uka-no-Mitama-no-Mikoto tries to stop it. On this point... I am very confident," the Great Snake continued, its somber tone revealing an unquestionable certainty.

"Is that so? However, our enemies are more than just Uka-no-Mitama-no-Mikoto, are they not?"

"No matter who the enemy is, the result is the same. Whether it is Uka-no-Mitama-no-Mikoto or those other mortal false gods, they cannot stop us.

"The outcome of this war has long been destined..."

In the pitch-black space, the purple-scaled snake spoke slowly, flicking its tongue.

"Next, I need to borrow some of your power..."

...

Underworld, the other side of the Sanzu River.

Within the towering architecture of the Tribunal of Right and Wrong, countless souls stood in line waiting for judgment. On the high judgment seat, a small girl with green short hair, dressed in a solemn crown and robes, was majestically passing one sentence after another.

She was one of many Yamas who maintained the order of the Underworld and judged the sins of both realms, an impartial and selfless judge.

"Now... next is... hmm?"

Reviewing the scrolls before her, the green-haired Yama girl was preparing for the next judgment. However, an unexpected scene caught her attention.

A pitch-black crow flew into the Yama Hall, drawing a chorus of surprised shouts from the hellish underlings below. They could feel a massive life force emanating from the crow, completely out of place with the deathly aura of the Underworld.

The black crow flew onto the Yama girl's desk. It was only then that everyone could see clearly: the crow held a small roll of white paper in its beak, a magatama hung from its neck, and it actually had three legs.

"Yatagarasu... messenger of the sun..."

Murmuring, the Yama girl reached out and took the white paper roll from the crow's mouth. After opening it and reading seriously, her expression froze, and she then gave orders to the hellish underlings on either side.

"Go and call Are..."