Pantheon Protectors

Chapter 7

Several minor gods murmured and groaned as they were on the ground defeated. The land around them was scorched and burned; filled with craters and blast marks that made the scene look like ruin.

In the midst of these deities was a tall Oni.
A muscular white demon with a huge metal club and large red horns.

"We found the key, Lord Hatchi." a smaller oni appeared and pointed to a group of demons holding a massive bronze key.

The Oni grunted and crossed his massive arms.
"Excellent. We just need the seven other keys..." he laughed and looked at the sky.

A minor goddess panicked and started to run towards the direction of the palace.

"Lord Hatchi, should we kill her?"

The Oni Lord sighed and pointed his finger at the fleeing goddess.
"BEGONE!"

A sinister beam of fire shot out and struck the deity with a massive explosion.

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Izanagi held his chest in pain when he sensed all the divine energy leave his world.
"Ah... I sense... something..."

Suddenly, Tsukuyomi's projection appeared.
"Father!" he yelled, "An entire party of minor gods has been wiped! I saw it with my own eyes! They took one of the keys!"

Izanagi growled, deeply troubled by the news.
"How could this happen? Did you not try to stop it?!"

"I tried, but there was one among them that had the power to deflect my arrows." Tsukuyomi responded.

At this point, Izanagi was truly concerned.
"What? That's impossible."

"I do not lie when I say this:" Tsukuyomi spoke, "I saw it was an Oni Lord."

Izanagi stood up with the help of his spear.
"I must call your brother and sister, they must retrieve the Key that was taken." he stood up.
"Be on standby in case anything goes wrong."

Tsukuyomi bowed and his projection disappeared.

At this point, Izanami appeared.
"I come bearing ill-tidings, my lord." she murmured with pity.

"I know."

"15 gods in Yomi for 75 years." Izanami reported, "What will you do, Izanagi?"

"I am going to send Amaterasu and Susano to destroy the monster once and for all." Izanagi responded.

"Is it that serious?"

"It's one of the 10 Oni Lords." Izanagi answered her question, "The Fiend made sure to make himself known to us... and to escape one day."

"But it is about to be the end of day." Izanami told her husband, "Are you sure Amate-"

"It matters not, Tsukuyomi will aid if necessary."
He raised his staff.
"Susano and Amaterasu, come to my presence immediately!"

It only took 2 minutes for the two gods to arrive.
Susano in a whirling gale and Amaterasu in a faint glow of sunlight.

The sun goddess's body seemed weaker, but she still had a strong stance.

"What do you need, old man?" Susano rubbed his tired eyes as he stepped forth and gave a quick bow.
"Pray it is important-"

Izanagi pounded the ground with his spear, causing the storm god to gasp and bow entirely.

"When you put it that way..." Susano murmured.
"What is it you need, my lord?"

"Father!" Amaterasu also fell to the ground, "What is it? What has troubled you?" she asked worriedly.

Izanagi cleared his throat.
"Susano, Amaterasu... do you all recall the Oni Lords?"

Susano looked up.
"The Oni Lords? Pssh. Yeah, killed about 3 of them myself." He stood up, "What is it? Do I need to clean house again?"

"Your pride is foolish, boy."Izanagi growled, "For this Lord is not like the others." he looked at Izanagi.
"This one had the power to repel your brother's arrows."

Susano's eyes widened.

"What?" Amaterasu gasped.
"Tsukuyomi's arrows?"

"Well, we must take into account that Tsuku's power is halved when it is day." Izanami told her husband.

"Even considering that... The mere thought of an Oni repulsing a major god's- no – an attack from one of the Three Scions. We may be entering something new." Izanagi murmured.
"Susano."

"You want me to wipe him out, gotcha." Susano nodded, "Come on, princess. Let's get this over with." he started to walk away and gave his sister a light tap on the head.

"Susano!" Amaterasu scolded him.
"Don't take father's wisdom for nothing!"

"You don't seem to learn, boy." Izanagi called out, "Why do you act like this? It will only lead to your destruction."

"Look, all I'm doing is destroying a demon guy who I have beaten the likes of before." Susano turned to face them.
"Come on, get the red dumpling."

"Susano-" Amaterasu pouted.

Susano let out a sigh and interrupted his sister.
"Listen... Ama." He grabbed her shoulders, "We already defeated 6 of these guys before."

Amaterasu looked back at their parents, who had faces of disapproval.

"Look at me." Susano turned her head to him.
"This is going to be nothing. This is going to be like those others. You have absolutely nothing to worry about."

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"UNGH!" Susano yelled in pain as he was punched into a large black boulder that exploded on impact.

"Susano!" Amaterasu, who already had a bloody lip, gasped and turned to face the aggressor.

Lord Hatchi chuckled as he dusted off his left fist.
"These are the children of the Father god?" he taunted.

"Well uh... They are." Raijin chuckled uneasily as he tried to sidestep away, "So if you don't mind-"

Lord Hatchi gave a terrible kick to the kami, who hit Amaterasu when he was launched.

The two deities groaned as they slid down a massive tree.

Susano stumbled out of the boulder and took in a deep breath.
"Well, I must say you have a mean hook." He pointed to the bruise on his cheek.
"Unfortunately, that makes me a little pissed. I hate looking ugly- like you."

Lord Hatchi laughed.
"Only weaklings put their strength in their words." He smirked, showing off his demonic fangs.

"Well good thing I not only stick with mouthing." Susano cracked his neck and flexed his arms.
"And it's a bad thing for you."

"Come on." Hatchi taunted the god with a hand gesture.

"Oh you're going to get it now!" Susano yelled and charged the oni, only to receive a crippling knee to his stomach.
"HA..." he gasped.

"You die now!" Hatchi roared and blasted the god with a ball of fire.

Susano yelled as he was sent crashing into the ground in front of Amaterasu and Raijin, who were barely recovering.

"Susano- AH!" Amaterasu shrieked when she saw the oni charge at them.

Hatchi delivered a devastating punch to the weakened sun goddess and drove her into the ground.

"You devil!" Raijin yelled and ran back, then ran forward to punch the demon.

However, the kami's punch was in vain and was stopped by the oni's chestplate.

"Oh snap..."

Hatchi backhanded Raijin into Susano, who in turn barreled into Amaterasu.
"Shame... I thought Izanagi's Scions were going to be a challenge." he shrugged his shoulders and charged a beam in his finger.

"BEGONE!"