After slashing out the arcs of light with a momentum fueled by fury and killing intent, Tamamo-no-Mae suddenly saw the squad of Izumo human soldiers who had taken the risk to cluster behind Takeminakata. They were called soldiers, but in truth, they were merely farmers drafted into the army. At such a close distance, the scorching arcs that would have killed Takeminakata would also have inevitably sliced these humans into pieces.
Should I ignore them? Or should I strike elsewhere? This question flashed through her mind like a bolt of lightning, only to be replaced in the next instant by the image of the man who called himself human... and the string of magatama she had already given away.
'Forget it... A life destined to fall here anyway. Why add more slaughter?' Her heart was peaceful. Tamamo-no-Mae gently adjusted the two arcs of light, watching them pass over the head of that foolish god.
On this battlefield, gods deserved to die, and youkai deserved to die. Perhaps the only ones who didn't were these humans who had gained nothing from start to finish, burning their lives for a hollow future.
What seemed like a long deliberation occurred in a mere instant, allowing Takeminakata to survive with his mangled body. He stared blankly at the squad that had appeared behind him, overcome with joy.
"...Ah, you... you've done well," Takeminakata gurgled. He was deeply moved by this selfless act of valor. He was crying, but it was a smile through tears—whether from fear, joy, or being moved, he didn't know. "Excellent, truly excellent!"
"Lord Takeminakata!" Being thanked personally by the god they revered greatly encouraged the humans. They were also crying—tears of fulfillment. "In... in any case, let's run! We'll cover your escape!"
Being right in front of him, they naturally saw the severity of his injuries and urged him repeatedly. However, Takeminakata tilted his head in confusion.
"Run? Me? Run?" He pointed at himself with his remaining right hand as if he'd been struck stupid.
"Eh... ah?" The humans were also puzzled.
"There's no need to run! Not for us!" Breaking into a joyful grin, Takeminakata messily wiped away his tears and snot, laughing loudly.
"Eh? — AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!"
As the leader of the humans turned from confusion to a high-pitched, terrified scream, Takeminakata scooped him up and held him in his palm.
"It's all thanks to you! You're really great! Truly great! Gwahahahaha!!!" Laughing with such madness, Takeminakata wobbled and limped toward Tamamo-no-Mae, his remaining right hand still clutching the human—firmly enough to hold him, but not enough to kill him. All the human could do was wail as the world turned upside down.
As if holding a life-saving straw, Takeminakata held his right hand high, using the human as a shield before him. He was approaching the fox. Closer, closer.
Such a disgraceful display made even Hoderi, who was clutching his own right arm, furrow his brow. However, Takeminakata could no longer care about his ally's reaction. He only wanted victory! Victory and survival! He would be the hero of Izumo!
His contempt for this god's disgusting behavior grew, but regardless, the hostage he held and brandished was real. Tamamo-no-Mae was forced to dodge with her increasingly weakened body. The blood flowing from the wound on her belly had turned into actual droplets shimmering with golden light, purifying the soil corrupted by youkai energy wherever they fell.
No matter how much he loathed the scene, Hoderi followed the agreement with Izumo and attacked from the side. With his assistance, Takeminakata pressed Tamamo-no-Mae to the point where she could barely hold on.
The giant fox-ears could hear her subordinates calling her name, trying to charge over, but they were without exception blocked by the newly arrived Oni. No matter how anxious they were, it was useless; many youkai even left openings in their desperation and paid with their lives in an instant.
Her life had entered its final countdown. With every leap, every dodge, Tamamo-no-Mae could feel the weakening of her heartbeat. What flowed from her wound was no longer just her blood, but her life's essence.
Tamamo-no-Mae wanted to look up at that sun, but the following attacks forced her to lower her head. Again and again, her consciousness gradually blurred. Even the surroundings were no longer clear, turning into mottled shadows and light, even beginning to flicker.
She felt as if she had returned to centuries ago, when she had just been born into this world... everything was new. She loved the clear rivers, the cold meltwater, the thick grass, and the fragrant flowers. And the starry river overhead, and that unchanging sun—her forever beloved sun.
The light was so warm, so bright. Piercing the sky, piercing the sea of clouds, like a meteor, like a rainbow... Light?
Light?!
Her dilating pupils focused once more. Tamamo-no-Mae's body trembled, bracing herself with even sharper pain. She stared at the rainbow light in the sky.
In truth, it wasn't just her. Every god, youkai, and human on this battlefield raised their heads at this moment, staring at the light piercing through the sea of clouds from the western sky. Takeminakata couldn't help but swallow; he was terrified to the extreme.
Light... coming from the West, from the heavens?!
Was it an illusion? The sun seemed to have grown larger?
There was no whistling sound of air being broken. In fact, had everyone not been staring at it, the light falling from the sky would have made no further sound. It needed no further proof; its mere presence here was overflowing with a sense of existence that no one could ignore.
The falling meteor floated before Tamamo-no-Mae. After a few breaths, the surrounding light dissipated, revealing a treasure sword. It had no crossguard, and the hilt was merely wrapped in strips of cloth. In terms of appearance, it could not compare to swords inlaid with gems, yet this seemingly simple weapon radiated an incomparably sharp aura of slaughter and a transcendent nobility.
God, youkai, and human alike knew it. Even if they had never seen it in their lives, one look was enough to know its name—the name that declared its existence to the world: Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi.