Detection

The Underworld, the far shore of the Sanzu River.

A crimson glow bled through the black sky, and a sea of vivid red spider lilies blanketed the banks of the Sanzu River. Standing amidst the flowers was the young Yama, clad in formal robes and a crown, her short green hair framing her face. Before her stood a girl who appeared to be roughly the same age.

Dressed in a simple, light-colored kimono, the girl had short purple hair and a soft, rounded face. She radiated an aura of peace and tranquility, though the translucent quality of her body marked her as a spirit.

"Lady Yama..."

Facing Yama, the purple-haired spirit bowed slightly. Yama nodded in return and spoke with blunt indifference.

"Your time in the Underworld has come to an end. Prepare for reincarnation, Are."

"What... it's over?" Hearing Yama's words, the girl known as Hieda no Are couldn't help but feel a surge of surprise. She responded in confusion, "Lady Yama... if I recall correctly, I should have twelve years remaining in my stay here. It shouldn't be time for my rebirth yet."

Yama looked at the bewildered Are, pausing for a brief moment before speaking with a stern expression.

"A message has come from Takamagahara..."

At those words, Are froze, her expression hardening. It took a moment for her features to soften again.

"I see. They are calling for me... It is time to fulfill my mission once more..." Are spoke softly, a complex swirl of emotions flickering in her eyes.

"Everything has been prepared. You may go directly to the Reincarnation Platform. You will not require judgment, nor will you drink the Mengpo Soup... The process is brief; you will be reborn into the mortal world very soon. I expect the messengers of Takamagahara are already awaiting you," Yama continued. Are offered a respectful bow.

"Thank you, Lady Yama. Are takes her leave now...

"When my soul eventually returns, I ask for your continued care."

Watching the girl, Yama's expression shifted as if she wanted to say something more, but in the end, she simply let out a long sigh and shook her head.

...

Countless spirits rose rapidly through a void of illusions. Shards of light in various colors streaked past them, twisting and vanishing into the silence of the space.

These spirits all had wide, vacant eyes, their expressions dull as if driven by the space itself toward the heights. In this process, they gradually lost their forms, regressing into clusters of soulfire. They clung to the streams of light, forming rivers that flowed upward toward the sky.

This was the Path of Reincarnation leading from the Underworld to the mortal world. The souls within were being reborn, traveling the road toward a new life. Once a soul stepped onto this path, they were destined to embrace a new existence.

The souls in the Path of Reincarnation were all dazed, staring blankly upward. Before this, they had all consumed the soul-forgetting soup, erasing their past lives to await their new beginning in a state of purity.

"The Human Path of Reincarnation... it hasn't changed at all..."

Among the souls, a peculiar entity murmured. It was Are, who had just entered the cycle. Her spirit form surveyed the surroundings amidst the flowing light, her expression filled with melancholy.

"Let it be over quickly..."

Are looked toward the top of the space and whispered. Based on her past experiences, she should be nearing the end.

However, something abnormal occurred. At the very top of the space, where Are's gaze was fixed, a massive and blurred shadow unfurled. Its form was ethereal and drifting.

Two phantom-like wings joined together, forming the elegant shape of a butterfly.

"That is..."

Staring at the illusory shadow, Are murmured in shock.

...

In Heian-kyo by day, the prosperity remained unchanged. Crowds flowed through the streets in an unending stream, the clamor of voices filling the air.

Miketsu, dressed in a white kariginu, walked through the streets. She held a small fan, gently fanning herself. Despite her seemingly relaxed demeanor, traces of worry flickered in her eyes. Beside her were Qin Xin and Menreiki, both dressed as ordinary human girls.

Since the Eternal Worm had successfully pupated, Miketsu had been busy preparing for the imminent all-out war against the Great Snake and the Eternal Worm. The constant labor had naturally bred a sense of anxiety within her. To relax, she had decided to take a stroll through the city, bringing Menreiki and Qin Xin along—a rare occurrence.

After all, the feeling of having company was quite pleasant...

As they walked, Miketsu suddenly felt a gentle tug on her sleeve. Turning, she saw the expressionless Qin Xin. One of the girl's hands was gripping her sleeve, while the other pointed ahead.

There stood a street vendor selling various trinkets. Qin Xin was pointing at the pinwheels attached to a wooden pole in the vendor's hand.

"You want one?" Miketsu asked. Qin Xin nodded earnestly.

"Hehe... you're so old, yet you still like human children's toys? As expected of little sister Qin Xin," Menreiki said from the side with a playful smile. Qin Xin immediately turned her expressionless poker face toward her.

"I was created before you. You are the little sister."

"So what if you were created first? You were just a lifeless object. For us Yokai, shouldn't our age be calculated from when we first took human form? Therefore, little sister Qin Xin, you aren't even ten years old yet," Menreiki teased. Immediately, the mask atop Qin Xin's head switched to the fox mask, representing seriousness.

"Nonsense. You were human and never transformed, so it should be based on who appeared first, little sister." Qin Xin's voice remained devoid of intonation. Thus, Qin Xin and Menreiki began to bicker back and forth over the trivial matter. Miketsu watched them, smiling and shaking her head. By the time they turned to her to settle the dispute, she was already handing them two freshly bought pinwheels.

Seeing the pinwheel, Qin Xin took it and immediately began blowing on it—"Whoosh, whoosh!" Menreiki froze for a moment, her cheeks flushing slightly as she accepted hers.

Miketsu continued to buy various toys and snacks for the two of them as they walked, eventually leading them to the second floor of an Izakaya. From their room, she watched the two mask Yokai play and squabble with a smile, while her mind drifted back to the coming war.

Currently, Miketsu felt she had made sufficient preparations to face the Great Snake. It was no longer a lopsided confrontation; she was confident she could secure victory and then deal with the God of the Tokoyo.

Her only remaining concern was Amaterasu. To this day, she still didn't know what the other's true objective was. This made it impossible for Miketsu to judge whether she would intervene in the war, or what side she would take if she did.

"Sigh... so mysterious..."

Exhaling a long breath, Miketsu scanned the streets below. Suddenly, she spotted a familiar, small figure.

"Kagura? And the one next to her is..."

Miketsu's brow furrowed. Beside Kagura, who was strolling through the street, was a handsome young man dressed as a noble. He had long, jet-black hair, with a single lock over his forehead dyed a striking crimson.

"That is Young Lord Minamoto no Hiromasa of the Minamoto Clan. He is Minamoto no Kagura's elder brother," Qin Xin noted, seeing Miketsu's confusion. Having played the role of Asakura Hao for so long, she was well-acquainted with the various figures in Heian-kyo.

"Minamoto no Hiromasa... Kagura's brother?" Miketsu nodded in understanding, but then her expression froze. She stared intently at Hiromasa and Kagura down in the street.

In that instant, a connection clicked in Miketsu's mind, as if a missing string had suddenly been tied. She murmured to herself.

"Miko Orochi... Minamoto no Kagura... the Minamoto Clan... the Imperial family... the kin... I see. So that's how it is..."

A bold hypothesis rose in Miketsu's heart. As the theory took shape, her expression became increasingly grave and solemn.

"No... if that's truly the case, then the Great Snake's revival is completely unavoidable..." Stunned, Miketsu continued to murmur as the full picture revealed itself. This new discovery meant her plans required a massive overhaul.

"It seems... I must prepare even more contingencies..."

As for the truth behind Amaterasu, Miketsu finally had a clue...