Unmei Force Shattered Heroes: Faded Divinity
Chapter 5: The Hunt's Conclusion
As the group made their way towards the fairy village, they had another encounter with another familiar face, as Ichiro was waiting by the tree, looking fairly dejected. Kaguya and Tao decided to come to him alone, to see for themselves how he was feeling, to help him.
"Hey, Dazai." Kaguya remarked, as he turned around to face both of them.
"Oh, it's you, Houraisen, and Tao as well." Dazai remarked, as his voice sounded tired.
"Dazai, what's wrong?' Tao asked.
"...You know, I don't think that we ever met. Neither of you. Ever since that attack on the school." Dazai remarked. "...And I'm sorry for all of that."
"Yuzuru said that you were fighting in the school to protect it as well." Kaguya answered back. "Why apologize?"
"Because I'm a failure." Ichiro answered back, as Tao gasped. "You know, I can't even begin to tell you how scared I was. No way I was gonna try putting up a fight. So I ran… "
"Dazai…" Tao remarked, as Ichiro fought back his self-loathing, evident from his pained expression.
"Kaguya and Atsuta were fighting so well, cleaning swathes of demons here and there… and I'm the only one who was running away." Ichiro stated with a bitter chuckle. "Wasn't long before I got spotted by those demons… They were coming right for me. I thought I was gonna die. But then I got saved by Atsuta's sister. Put myself right between me and them."
"Miyazu…" Tao remarked with concern, as Kaguya remained silent.
"She didn't even try putting up a fight. Then, just like that, she was gone." Ichiro answered back. "She said her brother would've done the same thing. I can't face Atsuta after all his sister did. Not without trying to find her first. And I couldn't bear to face you too, Kaguya… You deserve better than someone like me as your companion…"
"...It's fine." Kaguya responded back, as she kept her tone even. "You tried your best, and perhaps you were unfortunate to come under attack by Lahmu's stronger demons. If you're looking for, there is a fairy village that we are heading to, where the captured students will likely be. Miyazu is very likely to be there."
"You're serious? Oh man, what a relief." Ichiro stated, with a sigh of relief. "But I'm sure people are still out there."
Ichiro then raised a hand, before he then activated his phone that glowed, before summoning a Aitvaras in green light.
"I've decided I'm going to use what I've learned to save everyone who was taken." Ichiro declared with determination. "So let me handle this, I'll keep up the search on this end. I'm gonna keep looking around over here. I'll let you handle the fairy village."
"Good luck, Dazai…" Tao stated. "Please, don't push yourself."
"We'll count on you… but for your own sake, don't pursue Sahori." Kaguya answered back. "That demon who took her… it'll make mince-meat out of you or whatever demon you summon. Just focus on saving the other students. Leave Sahori to us, after we finish investigating the fairy village."
"...Okay." Ichiro answered back, before he then walked off, with his Aitvaras behind him.
"I've detected multiple life readings from the southwest. I speculate it is the village we're searching for." Omoikane answered back.
"I figure it would be so." Kaguya answered back. "...Hey, Omoikane. Do you think that Ichiro's demons are able to handle the demons around here…? An Aitvaras isn't so threatening compared to the various other demons around here."
"He has more demons, all tailored to handle the demons in the area he was located within." Omoikane responded back. "Bearing any dire circumstances… He will have sufficient power to search the area safely."
The group began to head towards the south-west, as they noticed that the environment around them, slowly changed from a oppressive ruined cityscape in harsh deserts, to a more lush and green forest, which tipped the group off.
"So this is where the fairy village is… Cumhaill indeed spoke true when he said that the fairies guarded this place well." Tao remarked.
Eventually, the group encountered Miyazu and Yuzuru, who were talking to each other. Miyazu gasped when she saw Tao, as Tao did the same.
"Tao!" Miyazu exclaimed, before she walked forth and hugged Tao, who did the same back.
"Miyazu, you're all right." Tao stated.
"I was saved by a demon who was dressed like a pharaoh from Egypt, who guided me here." Miyazu answered back. "But a lot of people here are hurt. They're in no condition to move right now. The Fairy King can tell you more. He's the one who saved all of the students and cared for them here."
"That's good. Yuzuru, how are things?" Kaguya asked.
"I was able to rescue a few students on my way here. I've already contacted Bethel. Now we just have to wait for their response." Yuzuru answered back.
"Hopefully, they won't cause problems in this fairy village. Sure would be spiteful if we repaid their kindness with threats to their peace." Kaguya remarked.
"That won't happen… it cannot." Yuzuru answered back, as his hands clenched tightly into fists.
"Right. Miyazu… you said that some sort of Egyptian demon saved you and brought you here." Kaguya answered back. "...Do you remember anything about him?"
"...That was what I was telling Yuzuru. Somehow… there was something familiar about him." Miyazu answered back. "...He almost seem like that he's a dream come true for me. I don't know why… but I feel a connection with him that I can't explain."
"...We'll have to investigate that later. We'll head off and see the Fairy King… and perhaps his betrothed." Kaguya answered back. "...Tao, if you would remain here while I do so."
"I understand." Tao nodded back.
Kaguya continued to walk through the fairy village, seeing the various fae-like demons, and the injured students scattered about, before she found the Fairy King, who was a tall man dressed in red regal clothing, a large crown of gold and red on his head, and a pair of large gray butterfly wings, with a pair of black boots. They also saw that he was accompanied by a woman of similar figure, with a natural green regal dress, with long flowing blonde hair, and dragonfly wings on her back.
"Are you friends of the humans sheltered here?' The fairy king asked Kaguya.
"No, but I'm their protector." Kaguya truthfully answered back. "...It's nice to meet you, Oberon and Titania, king and queen of the fairies, or at least those here."
"So, you know about us." Titania, the queen, answered back. "Yes, we are indeed the rulers of fairy-kind in this realm. And I can sense that you have a fellow kin among you."
"Over here!" High Pixie exclaimed, as she rushed out, looking giddy. "I can't believe that I would be right before the king and queen themselves!"
"Such passion. You must have had such a long and arduous journey to reach here, haven't you, young pixie?" Oberon chuckled good-naturedly.
"Like you wouldn't believe. Believe me when I say this. This princess may be a bit rough around the edges, but she's a good-hearted one, and she's pretty strong too. Even gave Fionn a hard fight." High Pixie rattled off.
"Is that so?" Titania answered back.
"It was more of a misunderstanding, and I doubt he was fighting all-out…" Kaguya answered back. "But yeah, I did emerge victorious over him, but only because I fought him with skill and wit."
"Nonetheless, that is no feat to be brushed aside." Oberon answered back. "You are indeed a formidable warrior… princess of the moon. But I must digress, we have strayed from the urgent matter we must discuss."
"Tell me, and I'll do what I can." Kaguya offered.
"We don't have enough medicine to treat everyone." Titania answered back. "And our medicine is the only way to properly heal all those in our care effectively."
"So we ask for you to head to the goddess Idun. Her golden apples will provide the healing properties we need. Three will be enough to get us through this issue." Oberon responded back.
"And to ensure that there are no conflicts between you and her… I will have someone with you to act as a mediary between you and her." Titania answered back, before she snapped her fingers, as a Jack-O'-lantern floated over.
"Hee-ho! I'm Jack-o'-lantern, ho! Leave the dealmaking to me-ho!" The flying pumpkin creature remarked.
"Idun often visits the forest downstream. Please make haste." Titania told Kaguya.
Kaguya nodded, before she then headed back to Tao.
"Hey, can we have a moment to talk? Just between us both." Kaguya told the Jack-O'-Lantern.
"Sure, no problems, ho!" The Jack-O'-Lantern cheerfully answered back.
Kaguya then walked with Tao after a while, before she then turned back to face her.
"Alright, Tao. I managed to get the long and short of the situation at hand." Kaguya answered back. "It seems that the fairy king and queen need some help in getting some stuff for the medicine."
"That's great. I'm sure that we can get it done." Tao answered back.
"The thing is… do you want me to do that?" Kaguya asked back, which made Tao confused.
"What… Do you mean?" Tao asked back.
"...That's why I wanted this to be between us. Because no-one else needs to know the truth of what's happening with Sahori… And because I want you and only you to decide where to go forth with this." Kaguya answered back firmly. "I'm asking whether you believe that we should head for the hill where Sahori is… or help the fairies out."
"That's… you can't seriously be telling me that you'll ignore the plight of the students here!" Tao exclaimed, as some anger worked its way into her voice, upon hearing Kaguya's words.
"I'm not saying that we ignore it." Kaguya responded back. "I'm saying that they should be placed on the back-burner. We take Lahmu first, and then help the fairies second. After all, every moment we waste is a moment more that Lahmu gets closer to becoming a god."
"And what if the students die because we followed our selfish wishes, Kaguya? What then?" Tao asked, glaring at Kaguya. "I cannot stomach this. You're saying that vengeance is more important than altruism here."
"I understand your anger. But think about it from my perspective, Tao. If Lahmu becomes Nahobino… Do you think that it'll matter who lives and who dies here?" Kaguya asked back, as Tao froze. "As we both know, becoming Nahobino is something that very few beings can beat. Who's to say that Lahmu's intention of becoming Nahobino is to gain the power to clean the slate of his enemies in one fell swoop? Do you think that Cumhaill can stand up against the power of a Nahobino, if he struggles against me and my demons?"
"That's…" Tao started.
"And if Sahori learns… or worse, Lahmu learns that we have abandoned her for everyone else, especially when she is in a vulnerable state, we'll have shifted the clock forward on the doom counter for her merging with Lahmu." Kaguya continued. "...That's why I'm handing the choice to you. I would go to Lahmu straight away… but I don't want to piss away what goodwill I have left with all of you. I do care, but Lahmu needs to go, as soon as possible. For the sake of everyone here."
Tao remained silent, understanding the point that Kaguya raised, before she then reached a decision.
"...Surely we can be able to do that and confront Lahmu soon after." Tao reasoned with Kaguya. "...If all we must do is gather ingredients, with the help of your demons… we could be able to find what we need quickly and save everyone here. And it won't take longer, nor we would have to do something terrible as you would have done for Lilim."
"...Fair point." Kaguya nodded. "Alright, the village first then. We'll find our goddess, and then we'll get those golden apples for the medicine. Come along with me, Tao. We might get into a few hard fights, if the apples are that precious for medicine-making."
The group then headed towards the southern forest, as they did not take long to find Idun, who was a blonde-haired woman that seemed to be dressed much like a certain fairy-tale figure, with red dress and hood, and a pair of black shoes, and a frilly skirt, and a basket of apples hung over an arm.
"There she is, ho! That's the goddess Idun, ho!" Jack-O'-Lantern exclaimed.
"Great. Let's go and see her." Kaguya remarked, as the group approached her.
"Hi-ho, Idun! I'm here at the re-hee-quest of King Oberon, ho." Jack-O'-Lantern stated.
"Oh, what a cute little fairy. I hope the king and queen are doing well. So, what do you need?" Idun smiled back, with a jolly tone to her voice.
"The king said he'd like 3 golden apples. Needs'em for medicine, ho." Jack-O'-Lantern answered back.
"Oh, medicine? It's true my apples can be used to heal all kinds of ailments, but…" Idun stated, before she then frowned.
"Please, Idun. I have to help my friends." Tao pleaded.
"Please share your apples with us, ho! Queen Titania wishes for it too, ho!" Jack-O'-Lantern insisted.
"Well, Titania was originally a harvest goddess… Being a fellow goddess, I know how she feels with wanting to help the humans and everything." Idun responded. "Problem is, Loki just recently stole nearly all of my golden apples. And the only ones I have left haven't fully ripened yet. Unripened apples can't be used for medicine, sadly…"
"So if we beat him and force him to return them, that solves our problem, right?" Kaguya asked.
"Problem is, I don't know where he even is." Idun remarked, before she then looked at Kaguya for a moment, pausing as if she found something about Kaguya that interested her. "But it couldn't have been easy for Loki to carry so many by himself. There's a good chance he might've dropped a few on his way out, so maybe try looking around. At least I know which way he ran, with the fresh faint scent of those golden apples…"
"Alright, point us, and we'll be off. Thanks for letting us have them, even if we have to pick them up." Kaguya answered back, as Idun pointed the direction where the golden apples might be scattered.
"No problems, I wish you well on your quest, princess." Idun smiled back.
"You as well. If I find Loki, I'll credit my beating as retribution." Kaguya nodded.
It took the group a fair while to find the golden apples, after Kaguya and her group fought through the nearby hostile demons that were impeding their search, managing to find them quickly.
Not only that, but amidst their search, they managed to find another of Omoikane's essences on the return trip, which Omoikane examined carefully.
"Are you sure we have the time to integrate this essence?" Omoikane asked Kaguya.
"Well, we're good on time, if the royalty expected it to take quite a while." Kaguya answered back. "Go ahead."
Omoikane nodded, before he then integrated the essence himself, as he was absorbed into the essence's memory.
"So, we meet at last, Richard. And this time, on terms that neither of us wished for."
"I must admit it so, Houraisen. If I could simply talk you out of this, I would. But you and Eirin are far too set on the idea."
"Have you come to fight me then? With that ice fairy as your second?"
"Hey, this ice fairy beat your stupid hare! So I'd watch your words, you high-and-mighty princess!"
"Cirno, that was uncalled for."
"How amusing, it's refreshing to hear such indignance from others after being treated humbly for so long."
"You can't hide this forever. This false moon will cause problems in Gensokyo in the long run, if you don't take it down quickly. We've already gotten cases of people going mad from the artificial lunar rays."
"Even so, I will not capitulate easily to your demands. You know this well, Richard. It is my duty to ensure that Eirin's plan goes through, since she has done this for my sake. If only you would understand why stopping this will cause problems of another kind down the line."
"I know. I know, but it's at least a problem that we can face together, and one that we can overcome without making the entire realm suffer for it. So, prepare yourself, Kaguya Houraisen, I will defeat you here, and end the Imperishable Night incident with my own two hands, if I must. Eirin will not come. She is fighting against the likes of Marisa, Alice, Remilia and Sakuya. She will be pre-occupied, and we have done in your servants as well."
"Hmhmhm, since when do I need my servants to fight for my sake. I am no damsel-in-distress, Richard. My five requests that so many humans in the past have failed to complete… How many of them can you fulfill?"
"As many as it takes until this battle ends! Cirno, get ready!"
"I gotcha, Richard!"
"Declare Spell Card: Divine Treasure 'Brilliant Dragon Bullet'!"
Omoikane then finally recovered, as he placed a hand over his heart, as the warmth within him began to move there, feeling a surge of adrenaline and determination flow through his veins.
"Kaguya… I…" Omoikane remarked, as for the first time, he actually glimpsed into the memory itself, even only briefly, as the vision of Richard clashing against Kaguya, with Cirno by her side, as the false full moon loomed over the three of them, bathing them in the serene moonlight of the false celestial body. "...You… You know someone like me, don't you?"
'Could it be…!?' Kaguya thought, as her heart soared at the notion that Omoikane was letting the fragment of Richard within him surface at last. "I have. In fact, it's the reason that I care more about you than anyone else in Bethel. I feel that connection is more than simple coincidence in just appearance."
"That boy… you know him." Omoikane answered back. "All I can hear is his name… Richard… And hearing it made that feeling more stronger, as if I am living through his memory as my own."
"You might know the truth eventually." Kaguya answered back. "When we find all of your essences… scattered around Da'at… the truth will reveal itself."
"Perhaps it will… And now I understand why you didn't come forward about it with Koshimizu… You feel the same as I do about him." Omoikane answered back.
"What?" Tao asked, as she was trying to grasp the meaning of the conversation.
"Worry not, it simply means that some things are meant to be kept secret between us." Omoikane answered back. "...It doesn't concern the current state of affairs, and I believe we have wasted enough time discussing this."
The group quickly returned to the fairy village, as Kaguya presented the golden apples to Oberon and Titania.
"It's all here." Kaguya said. "I hope that this will be enough, since we couldn't find any more. Blame Idun's uncle for that."
"That will suffice." Oberon answered back, before turning to Titania. "Gather the fairies. We shall make the medicine."
It did not take long for the medicine to be made, as the golden apples were mashed with magic-enhanced herbs, creating a golden medicinal solution that was stored within bowls of stone.
"This will allow us to treat the humans' injuries." Oberon remarked, holding one bowl of medicine himself.
"Please, and thank you." Tao nodded with a grateful bow.
"We'll handle everything from here." Titania assured the group, before turning towards the Jack-O'-Lantern. "And let us not forget to thank you as well, little fairy."
"Hee-ho!" The Jack-O'-Lantern chanted, before floating away.
Kaguya and Tao then went to meet Miyazu, as they watched the medicine work its effects on the students.
"Ah, it's you! I heard the other students can be treated now! Thank you so much!" Miyazu told Kaguya.
"It's no problem… And thank Tao for reminding me of the importance of duty." Kaguya stated, before turning towards Tao.
"She… was conflicted on a matter, and I helped her understand." Tao explained. "Thanks to all of that, we can help the students here, and finally save Sahori-"
Before they could speak, they heard the sound of staggering footsteps, as they saw a bloodied Ichiro limping towards them.
"Houraisen, Isonokami… I'm sorry… I should have… listened…" Ichiro wheezed, before collapsing onto the ground.
"Dazai!?" Tao exclaimed, as the three of them moved over to him.
"Back on the hill, I found Lahmu… I was going to just leave it be… but that… bastard… he was trying to… violate Itsukishima…" Ichiro growled. "I was… so angry that I…"
"Damn it… I knew this would happen. Hang on, alright? We'll go and take care of him now." Kaguya stated.
"Please, Kaguya… just save her…" Ichiro pleaded.
"We'll treat Dazai along with the other wounded. You go and save Itsukishima." Miyazu told Tao and Kaguya.
"Lahmu… you better start praying, because you're about to be nothing, much less some tyrant…" Kaguya growled, as she went on the war-path.
As Kaguya rampaged through the area, as she spared no expense in eradicating any demons in her path, with a fury unmatched as before, unsettling Tao, and only taking rests at ley-line founts to recover her strength, especially right before she reached the hill where Lahmu was seen, as Kaguya brought out Yoshitsune, High Pixie and Anahita for the battle.
They soon approached the area, before finding both Lahmu and Sahori inside a ruined building, as the latter was clutching her face out of despair, while the mask demon loomed over her.
"What say you? Have you prepared yourself to become one with me?" Lahmu declared.
"Prepared how? Wait… what do you mean 'become one with you'?" Sahori asked back weakly.
"We shall ascend to become a being known as a Nahobino, regaining our missing halves and existing once more as our true self." Lahmu stated.
"What true self?" Sahori asked back, raising her head to look at the demon before her.
"When we are reunited, every last trouble in your mind will be gone." Lahmu declared.
"Unfortunately, too late for that." Kaguya answered back. "It's time that this game of cat-and-mouse comes to an end. You've got nowhere to run."
"There you are! Give us Sahori!" Tao exclaimed.
"An absurd idea. It's only natural for me to reunite with my other half." Lahmu remarked. "And you believe that I need to flee, when my victory is in reach, godling?"
"Natural…?" Sahori remarked.
"Sahori, don't listen to him! Let's go home…" Tao pleaded to Sahori.
"But I… I've…" Sahori remarked, as she recalled how coldly she murdered her bullies.
"Lahmu is fixated on his target. We may be able to catch him off guard." Omoikane stated.
"I will… after I cut that bastard's tentacles off!" Kaguya remarked, as she rushed forward, just as Lahmu sprouted a tentacle to grab Sahori, and raise her to his level.
"Sahori!" Tao exclaimed, before Yoshitsune grabbed her shoulder and stopped her.
"Saint, you cannot approach, it's far too dangerous!" Yoshitsune exclaimed to her.
"I've got you!" Kaguya remarked, as she managed to cut through several tentacles that Lahmu put to protect the one holding Sahori. However, Lahmu then regenerated one, as it was about to pierce Kaguya, only for her to barely block it, at the consequence of sending her flying back.
"Princess!" High Pixie exclaimed, as Kaguya stopped herself upon hitting the ground with the pole of her naginata.
"T-Tao… I'm… I'm sorry-" Sahori pleaded, as Lahmu began to squeeze her tightly, as she was being crushed under the pressure of the tentacle.
"Sahori! SAHORI!" Tao cried, as she tried to get free.
Eventually, the pressure became too much, as Sahori's bones snapped, ending her life with the sound of cracking, as Lahmu consumed her, much to Tao's unresponsive horror and despair at Sahori's demise.
"Miss Saint, please, you have to go!" Alice tried to snap Alice out, as she partially did so.
"Yes… I…" Tao remarked, before she then slowly backed away, as Kaguya rushed to the front.
"Sahori… Damn you! DAMN YOU!" Kaguya roared with fury in her eyes.
"Enough of this drivelling! I shall take your life first for your insolence, godling!" Lahmu roared, as his tentacles were poised for combat.
Cue BGM: Battle -Strength- (Shin Megami Tensei V)
Formidable Target Detected
Lahmu
Vile God of the Silt
"I will make you regret killing her!" Kaguya roared, before she then cast Mahama, as the light blasts hit Lahmu's entire repertoire of tentacles, dealing considerable damage to them.
"I got this, Kaguya!" High Pixie remarked, before she then used Mazanma, the wind blasts cutting deep into the tentacles, dealing considerable damage to them.
"Vile god, you will not leave this place alive!" Yoshitsune declared, before he then unleashed a flurry of slashes that cut across the tentacles, hitting most of them in rapid flashes of power.
"It seems that we have a problematic god here. Hmph, now I see why Kaguya needs me. And I'll repay her faith with my power." Anahita scoffed, before she then used her signature move, as the tidal wave hurt most of Lahmu's tentacles, causing them to stiffen up.
"I'll send you right to where you belong! Eat this!" Kaguya roared, as she fired light arrows right into Lahmu's tentacles, as they focus-fired on one of them, causing it to be dislocated from the main body, writhing about, before fading into Magatsuhi.
"Let me just have a moment to gather my power…" High Pixie remarked, as she began to concentrate her magical power for a powerful blow.
"Hah!" Yoshitsune declared, before he then cleaved another tentacle off with a powerful leaping thrust.
"My, it seems you're not doing so well." Anahita mocked Lahmu, before she then cast Hamaon, as the pillar of light dislodged another tentacle, leaving only less than half of them still on.
"Wretched insects… you will not defeat me!" Lahmu roared, before he then began to move towards High Pixie, and then devouring her right into his mouth, before then beginning to hack up a mud-like substance, before expelling High Pixie, who was injured by the attack, and bathed with the same corruptive mud-like substance, as the tentacles that were covered by the mud immediately recovered.
"Son of a bitch… so he can recover those tentacles… but he can't regenerate them." Kaguya noted, before turning to High Pixie. "Pixie, you alright? That mud…"
"Urgh… It's everywhere on me!" High Pixie remarked with disgust. "I can't get rid of it, and it's making me sloppy and slow! But I can still fight, and nothing else is happening to me."
"It better stay that way." Kaguya remarked, before she then charged up a Ochitsuki, and hit one of the tentacles, dealing severe damage to it.
"And I've got payback! That's for mucking my style, you depraved beast of tentacles!" High Pixie declared, as her Mazanma dealt powerful damage that took out the one tentacle that Kaguya damaged, and severely damaged the rest.
Anahita then used her signature move to take care of the rest of the tentacles, leaving only Lahmu's main body, as Yoshitsune readied his blade.
"Aku! Soku! ZAN!" Yoshitsune chanted, as he then began to slash through Lahmu with fierce intensity, not even stopping for a second, as Lahmu roared in anger, as mud began to spew from his wounds.
"Ha… HRAAAHHH!" Lahmu growled, before a white lizard-like creature snaked out of Lahmu's eye, with clawed legs, and a large round ovoid head, and a mass of barnacles across its body, with its tail connected to the mask's eye, as it flailed about.
"What… is this creature… It registers as Lahmu… and yet, it is not truly the same creature…" Omoikane remarked. "...So this is what the power of Nahobino, even in its incomplete form, can do to a demon."
"Wait, hold up… incomplete!?" Kaguya exclaimed.
"It seems that the fusion of Knowledge and Life is not complete, due to Lahmu's desperation." Omoikane answered back. "Still, I advise caution. A fraction of increased power is still nothing to be trifled with."
"Hahahaha!" Lahmu cackled evilly. "Now, witness my power unbound!"
Formidable Target Detected
Lahmu (Incomplete Nahobino)
Defective Nahobino of Malice
"Sorry Anahita, but I think that Alice might be useful for the battle that is about to come." Kaguya remarked, as she prepared to swap Anahita out.
"As you wish." Anahita answered back, before she disappeared in a flash of light, replaced by Alice.
"...Such an ugly creature. It makes me want to smash it apart." Alice remarked, her nose wrinkled in disgust.
"Wretched child, I will make a fine meal of you!" Lahmu snarled back, as Alice didn't seem to be fazed at all.
"Not after I finish smashing you to pieces first!" Kaguya remarked, as she immediately launched a Bufula spell, only to notice that Lahmu didn't seem to take much damage from it. "...So I was right, he really played a different move there…"
"Regardless, we can still make him hurt with some other stuff!" High Pixie exclaimed, as she then launched a Zionga spell, as the spell shocked Lahmu's new form for a bit more damage.
"At least there is only a single target… now let me open his wounds a little." Yoshitsune answered back, before he then landed a powerful gashing strike that caused Lahmu to flail about with agony, as his hide was torn from the wide-spread attack.
"Burn for me." Alice coldly declared, before she then launched a Agilao spell, as Lahmu screamed in pain, after being hit by the attack.
"So his weaknesses have changed to being weak to fire…" Kaguya remarked, before she then began to wield her naginata, as she then twirled it around her, before slamming it on the ground, as she felt the maneuver caused her spirits to be raised for the battle. "I'll have to make sure that I can capitalize on that!"
"Shame that I don't have any of this fire stuff… but I'll do what I can!" Pixie remarked, as she then used Sukunda to weaken Lahmu's speed to make it easier for the group to avoid his attacks, as Yoshitsune damaged his hide further.
"Insolent whelps, you will all burn!" Lahmu screeched, before then convulsing violently, and then firing a massive beam that scarred the earth, as Kaguya managed to dodge the attack, while the other members of the party were hit by it for considerable damage, as they were crippled by the attack.
Lahmu then attempted to fire a Mudoon spell at Alice, only for her to be encased in the attack, as the spell was literally absorbed into her, with the girl smirking at Lahmu's expense.
"Go die!" Kaguya roared, before she then fired a Agilao spell of her own, as the fire hit Lahmu, stunning her momentarily, as High Pixie quickly used the chance to heal the team back up with an application of Media.
"For some creature that is supposed to be the bane of us all… it still fails to make me bend a knee as the Celtic warrior did. And I shall make it clear that it never will!" Yoshitsune remarked, before he then hacked and slashed through Lahmu several times, before Alice followed up with another fire spell.
Kaguya then immediately began to assault Lahmu with another Agilao, as High Pixie debuffed Lahmu further, and Yoshitsune raided Lahmu again, as his wounds multiplied from the cumulative damage that the party was doing to him.
"How… How is these worthless demons defeating me! I am a king! I am destined for greatness!" Lahmu roared as he fired a Bufula spell that hit High Pixie, surprising her, before he then began to gather Magatsuhi. "I will not accept this! I WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS!"
"Face it, you're done!" Kaguya roared, before she then unleashed the party's Magatsuhi in response. "Everyone, let's make this bastard burn!"
The party then began to attack as one, as Kaguya leaded with a Ochitsuki that managed to stun Lahmu slightly, while Alice and High Pixie unleashed fire and thunder on the defiled creature, and Yoshitsune leapt up to land a powerful downwards falling slash that managed to stun it.
Kaguya then began to gather power into her naginata, as she stepped back, before throttling forward, as she then caught the next salvo of spells with her naginata, as they blended with the metal, in a hue of red and yellow, sparks and embers flying from the blade, just as Yoshitsune exposed Lahmu's back with a barrage of slashes.
"HaaaahhhHHHH!" Kaguya roared, before she then leapt into the air, and landed the attack with surgical precision, as her blade cleaved right through Lahmu, leaving behind a glowing slash mark on the entire body of the demon.
"Impossible… I cannot… YEEEARRRGGHHH!" Lahmu spat out, before he then exploded into Magatsuhi, as Sahori's body fell towards the ground.
"...That's for you, Sahori." Kaguya remarked, as she lowered her naginata. "...I hope that you'll find peace wherever you'll go-"
Before Kaguya could say her condolences upon Sahori's death, Sahori then sputtered awake, gasping for air, heaving breaths, as she slowly tried to recover.
"Sahori!" Tao exclaimed, as she rushed over to examine Sahori. "Sahori, you're okay. Thank goodness."
"Tao… I…" Sahori weakly stated.
"It's all right. You don't have to say anything. Let's just head back, okay?" Tao said gently with a smile of relief, as Kaguya walked over.
"There's something I need to say… to the both of you…" Sahori panted, as her head was lowered.
"Sahori… really, it's fine…" Kaguya answered back, as she was about to reach for Sahori. "You've been through enough."
"Listen closely…" Sahori remarked, before she then raised her head, as there was a twisted smile on her face, as her eyes were glowing yellow. "You're mine!"
Sahori and Tao rose to their feet, as Tao was horrified and stunned at what was happening, as Sahori turned her hands into tentacles, as they shot towards the two of them.
"Tao!" Kaguya exclaimed, as she pushed Tao away, as the tentacles came towards her.
Omoikane suddenly began to rush forward, before he then took the attack himself, as the tentacles pierced through him in a spray of yellow sparks and red Magatsuhi, as the artificial god convulsed from the internal damage he was suffering.
However, Omoikane's body wasn't enough to stop the attack, as Kaguya felt a stabbing pain, as the tentacle pierced through her very heart, and stopping within, only to explode into multiple tentacles that speared several of her organs at the same time, as blood spewed from the exit wounds.
"No!" Tao exclaimed, as Kaguya hacked up blood violently.
'Omoikane… Why did you…' Kaguya thought, as her consciousness was barely holding together, before both artificial god and lunar princess collapsed onto the ground, the latter in a pool of her own blood.
"N-ngh… " Omoikane remarked, as his voice was distorted from the damage. "I-I-Itsukishima… She has-has been consumed by L-L-Lahmu alre-ready…"
"Princess!" High Pixie exclaimed, before she then felt herself began to fade away, as did the rest of the demons under Kaguya's control. "No, wait, we have to-"
"Kaguya!" Yoshitsune cried, as he disappeared.
"Princess!" Alice wailed, as her expression was one of genuine horror, as she faded away too, followed shortly by High Pixie.
"Damn… Damn it all…" Kaguya wheezed, as blood spilled from her lips, unable to even move.
"Hahahahaha! Fools! Complete and utter fools!" Sahori declared in Lahmu's voice, head raised in malicious triumph. "You two have caused me a lot of trouble, but now I'll show you just how magnificent I am! Tremble at my awesome might as I send you to your doom! Hahahahaha!"
Sahori then turned her head towards Tao, who collapsed on the ground, frozen on the spot.
"Ah, you too will make an excellent sacrifice!" Sahori remarked, before she then walked over, morphing one of her hands into a tentacle. "Die and become a part of my-"
However, as soon as Tao closed her eyes, prepared to accept her demise, she then suddenly heard Sahori yelp.
Sahori then began to scream in agony, clutching her head, writhing about.
"How… How are you resisting!?" Sahori growled with Lahmu's voice, as her eyes were flashing from glowing yellow to her normal brown. "You… You are supposed to be mine!"
"No… more…" Sahori remarked, as she shook violently, as her voice returned, and she was herself for a moment. "You… will not… take her…! I… will not… let you… hurt her!"
"You are nothing but a human! A mere vessel of a half I have lost!" Lahmu roared, taking control of Sahori's body once again. "Disappear, along with your problems! I have given you what you wanted, have I not!?"
"You… tried to… kill Tao… kill Miyazu… and killed Kaguya…" Sahori strained to speak, although her voice was filled with willpower stoked by hope. "...This… is hard on me… but I'm tired… of not fighting back… I refuse… to let you win… like all those… people… you taught me… that yourself… you stupid… demon!"
"YOU WRETCHED HUMAN! I will torment you until you relinquish your hold on this body!" Lahmu spat with frothing rage. "I will not be impeded by the likes of you! I am a god! Above everything! You will not stop me!"
"...Watch… me…" Sahori remarked, as she slowly stepped away from Tao. "...Tao… I'm sorry… I'm still weak… but… at the very least… I can save you… Please… don't let… Kaguya's death… be in vain…"
"Sahori!" Tao cried in emotional pain.
"...I… I barely knew her… and she only knew me… as a stranger…" Sahori coughed, as she continued to stagger back. "...But… she was kinder… than anyone in this school… just like you… were to me… She tried… her best to save me… not just for you… but for herself… as you… I was… so happy… that she was willing.. To help me… but I was too… stupid… to thank her… And she… died… because of me… So… I'm going to make sure… this demon… hurts no one else…"
Sahori then began to rise into the air, as there was a red glow emanating from her.
"Tao… if you find me… again… Please… kill me… Kill me… and make sure that… this demon never gets… to hurt anyone else again…!" Sahori pleaded, before she then flew away into the distance.
"Sahori…" Tao remarked, before she then noticed Kaguya's condition. "Kaguya!"
Tao then examined Kaguya, who was completely unresponsive, as her eyes were without the light of life in them, her body limp in the hands of Tao.
"Kaguya, you're going to be alright… please, just let me…" Tao remarked, as she tried to use her powers to heal Kaguya's fatal wound, although it only worked to a certain degree, before her powers refused to work. "...No… No, please… Not like this…!"
Tao then tried to heal Kaguya with her powers again, although it came to no effect, as Tao began to despair, as tears welled out of her eyes.
"This can't be happening again… Am I truly incapable of saving anyone… even with these powers?" Tao despaired, as she clutched her face, and sobbed.
"T-Tao… I-Isonokami…" Omoikane stuttered, as Tao turned to him.
"Omoikane! You're critically damaged!" Tao exclaimed, as she tried to heal him, to much better effect, as the Magatsuhi leak stopped immediately after Tao used most of her power to stem the glow, although the artificial being was still immobile on the ground. "...I… I managed to save you… but Kaguya…"
"...Use my essence…" Omoikane remarked softly, as Tao immediately fell silent. "Isonokami… you must use my essence… to bring back Kaguya."
"What!? But how will that help!?" Tao exclaimed, confused at the situation. "Those essences are for you! If Kaguya tried to use them, it wouldn't have much effect on her current state!"
"...Not if you take my core." Omoikane remarked, before he grunted, as the center of his chest opened to reveal a golden sphere of energy stored within the core of his body. "...Take the core, infused with what essences have been merged with it… With it, its power and your healing… should be enough to save her from death."
"But… if I do that… you'll cease to exist! It's one life for another!" Tao exclaimed in horror.
"A price I'm willing to pay." Omoikane answered back. "...She must live on… She is the one who will be able to fix the world and put an end to the crisis between Tokyo and Da'at… only she can gather the forces needed to claim the Empyrean Throne… and save humanity."
"Empyrean Throne…? So you and she… were going to become a Nahobino!?" Tao remarked.
"If becoming one and defying Bethel is the only path to life… I will shoulder the curse and sin on my shoulders in my final moments." Omoikane declared. "...Nahobino or not… her nature proves that she is the savior that Tokyo have been looking for, the one that Tsukuyomi has been silently wishing for, despite his intentions otherwise."
Tao looked at Omoikane. "...She will truly be distraught… if you go." Tao tried to convince Omoikane. "...She wants your company because of those memories in your essences… or so I can tell… It will crush her knowing that you gave your own identity to save her."
"...Sacrifices have to be made for the greater good… That is the creed of Bethel." Omoikane declared.
Tao looked at Omoikane, who had a stalwart expression on his face, as Tao was about to extract Omoikane's core, before something stopped them.
"Hold. It is not truly the time for tearful farewells to be made." A male voice declared, echoing to Tao, who looked for the voice. "You have your own role to play. This is the time to awaken that role, and save the one before you."
"Awaken…?" Tao asked, as Omoikane wondered what Tao was doing.
"Now, release the other within you." The voice declared. "Close your eyes, and focus on your prayer for your friend's life."
Tao did so, as she began to float into the air, as a golden glow emanated from her, which surprised Omoikane, as the aura radiating from Tao was no less than divine.
"Yes, that's right. I do have a role. And I had the power within to realize that." Tao remarked, as her eyes opened, as they glowed jade-green with power. "Even if it costs me everything, I won't let her perish… I offer you my power, Kaguya. Now, accept it!"
Tao then let her arms flow outwards, as a green light bathed the entire area, as it washed over Kaguya, as her wounds began to shimmer away in golden light, as life returned to Kaguya's eyes, and her body began to twitch,
With a heavy gasp for air, Kaguya rose to her feet, as she panted heavily, clutching her own body to feel where her wounds were, while Omoikane rose up, as the green glow healed the rest of his damage. However, at the same time, Omoikane began to feel himself being dragged into Kaguya.
"What… is this feeling? Is… Is Kaguya absorbing me? Does this finally mean-" Omoikane remarked, before he collided with Kaguya, but instead of physically connecting with each other, he slipped into Kaguya's body, as they were engulfed in a golden light.
When the golden light faded, Kaguya came out of it, except that her entire attire had changed greatly, as her former pink robe was changed for a more regal night black dress, with images of stars and moon phases scattered across the lower half of her dress, and she was left barefoot as a result of the transformation, and she had a hair-pin that was styled like the full moon, with various colored gems embedded around the center, and her own hair was turned into a pure white hue, and her eyes were red. Her own weapon has changed as well, as the pole now had a large circular panel that showed the moon-phases, and the entire blade of the naginata itself was made from a metal that shone black as outer-space itself, with a silver gleam along the edge.
"What… is this…? I feel like… a true goddess?" Kaguya remarked, as she examined herself. "...I must admit, these clothes are great, and that weapon… hoo boy, Mokou's gonna be jealous when she sees me like this."
"Kaguya, can you hear me?" Omoikane's voice sounded in her head.
"Omoikane? Wait, you're inside me!?" Kaguya remarked, as she was shocked when she realized what was going on.
"It seems… whatever Tao did, has managed to cause us to temporarily fuse together… into this state." Omoikane answered back. "I have reasonable belief that this is the Nahobino form that I would have initially been able to reach with you, had it not been for the lack of synchrony between the two of us."
"Well, I feel like a god, so you must be mostly-right at the very least." Kaguya answered back. "Anyways, I don't think that this form would look good to be worn all the time, even though I theoretically could. It's sure nice enough that we were able to fix the problem early… but I think that archangel will take great offense when she notices this."
"Understood." Omoikane answered back, before they de-fused in a flash of golden light. "...No side-effects. This is indeed a more optimal fusion compared to that of Lahmu."
"Ah yes, Lahmu… What happened to him?" Kaguya asked Omoikane.
"Sahori seemed to suppress his will enough to prevent him from killing Tao." Omoikane answered back. "After that, she immediately flew off and fled the scene. She will likely return again, far stronger than before. Whether she will be an ally or foe… that will be determined the next time we encounter her. Either way, I advise taking the threat of her becoming Lahmu's puppet once again to mind."
"Well, geez, not like you almost went to the after-life or something, like I did." Kaguya growled.
"Kaguya… I'm so glad… you were able to make it." Tao remarked, as she looked fairly weak and flickering out of consciousness, her legs shaky from her exhaustion.
"Tao? You really saved me back there. I'm sorry for doubting you." Kaguya stated, as she walked over. "Now that we're done, we can-"
Tao then fainted immediately, as she fell forward, as Kaguya caught her.
"...Jeez, you really tucked yourself out saving my life. I owe you one." Kaguya answered back, before she then carried Tao in her arms in a bridal carry, as she summoned her demons. "...Sorry, guys and girls, things got hairy there. But thank Mrs Saint here."
"Thank you, Ms Saint." Alice said with genuine gratefulness, to the one who saved her mistress's life.
"It was a cowardly tactic, but that vile fiend struck us where we were hurt the most." Yoshitsune remarked, cursing his own weakness. "...I should have rushed to your aid, had I known that your life is tied to our presence here."
"Don't you dare go dying on us again, princess!" High Pixie remarked with an expression torn between anger and concern. "I don't want to be stuck without someone like you to make the world a brighter place for me and all of us!"
"I won't. This will be the last time I let myself get killed by that kind of stuff." Kaguya declared with determination.
"Houraisen, you're alright." Yuzuru's voice said, as he and Ichiro arrived at the scene.
"So I guess this means you beat Lahmu, huh?" Ichiro said, before looking at Tao, who was tucked comfortably in Kaguya's arms. "Is Itsukishima okay? What about Isonokami?"
"Tao's tucked out. She managed to save my life from Lahmu." Kaguya answered back. "If Abdiel tries to force her to work while she is burnt out like this, I'll make her wish that she didn't think of it. As for Itsukishima… promise me that you can keep a secret?"
"Depends on what you tell us." Yuzuru calmly responded back.
"Works for me." Kaguya nodded back. "...Alright, turns out Lahmu is far from done with Sahori. After my team beat him to an inch of his life, he took control of her body, and tried to shank me, which is what Tao saved me from. Before she could do the same to Tao, Sahori managed to snap out of it, and she jetted off to prevent Lahmu from hurting anyone. Either way, Lahmu's too weak to cause more problems for now. He's limited to possession, from the looks of it."
"And you want us to hide this…" Yuzuru stated.
"...Because you don't want Sahori to pay the price for being used by a demon." Ichiro finished. "...Atsuta… Perhaps she deserves to be left alone… If someone is going to save her… let Kaguya do it, not Bethel."
"You would trust Kaguya?" Yuzuru asked Ichiro with a raised eyebrow.
"I… I believe that she knows what's best for Sahori… duty to Bethel aside." Ichiro admitted.
"I see. I will report the defeat of Lahmu to Koshimizu, and state that Itsukishima is considered missing until further notice." Yuzuru answered back. "We're going to head back. You should report to HQ yourself once you're ready."
"You go first, I need to escort Tao back to the human world myself." Kaguya told Ichiro and Yuzuru, who both left.
As soon as they were gone, Kaguya decided to move Tao to a leyline fount nearby, as she and Omoikane sat down for a moment.
"Kaguya… Do you think that if we had not taken Tao… Would we have avoided your near-death?" Omoikane asked Kaguya. "Had you not been interested in protecting Tao, you could have easily deflected the blow to be severe, but non-lethal."
"Maybe… but that's in the past. And we managed to get a piece of the puzzle, because of Tao's help." Kaguya answered back. "In fact, I hate to say it bluntly, but her presence actually helped. She reminded me of what's important at the get-go, and she helped to keep things civil. The only problem she had was with Lilim, and that's reasonable considering her background."
"But what if you died? What if her power failed to manifest and rescue you from death? What then?" Omoikane pressed.
"...You seem to be extremely concerned for me, considering that I'm a foreign creature to you, Omoikane." Kaguya remarked.
"...Not to me, you're not. After I understand the connection between us." Omoikane answered back. "...I was going to sacrifice myself to save your life, no matter the cost."
"Sacrifice yourself…" Kaguya remarked, as she thought back to Richard's self-sacrificial moments. "...Heh, you remind me more and more of Richard with every moment we get to ourselves."
"...Perhaps so." Omoikane admitted.
Kaguya then back-tracked to the Tokyo Diet Building, using the transport system to bring her back to Tokyo, and meet with Yuzuru and Ichiro with Koshimizu, after dropping Tao to the dorms and in her own bunk-bed to give the Saint a place to rest.
"It seems that you have managed to defeat Lahmu… but Itsukishima remains missing." Koshimizu remarked. "Regardless, your efforts are not in vain."
"Good, because I worked blood and sweat to do everything to save her… and I just come short." Kaguya remarked bitterly. "And speaking of which, you know something about Nahobinos and the sort? Lahmu's been jabbering about it, saying that he'll recreate the world by being it, and becoming king of all."
"Yes, well… Perhaps the time is right to inform you." Koshimizu answered back. "Eons ago, the gods were gifted with both Eternal Life and the Knowledge of Good and Evil. In those days, they were known as Nahobino. However, the Creator ordered the forfeiture of Nahobino's Knowledge. Thenceforth, they regressed into demons. Lahmu is one such demon. It is likely he intended to reclaim his Knowledge and assert power as a Nahobino once more."
"So Sahori was Lahmu's lost Knowledge." Kaguya inferred. "From what I can tell, humans are the most likely source of a demon's lost Knowledge."
"Indeed. The Creator sealed the demons' Knowledge within the Garden of Paradise, inside a forbidden tree. But then came a serpent, who tempted the gardens' inhabitants to eat of the tree's fruit and thus consume its Knowledge." Koshimizu exclaimed. "From then on, that Knowledge was bound to the human soul, and is still passed down throughout the generations. Or so the tale is told. Thus, we can conclude Itsukishima has inherited such Knowledge."
"Does this mean the Knowledge of those lost gods is flowing through us, too?" Yuzuru asked.
"It is very well possible. In any case, the demons of then and now yearn to reclaim what was lost, and so seek human souls. Yet the union of man and demon remains prohibited. Because those who bear Knowledge, namely a Nahobino, pose a threat to God's established order. Specifically, they have the potential to recreate the world, as Kaguya recalls."
"Hmph, and we're expected to fight more of these creatures." Kaguya scoffed. "Bethel really needs to step up their game, after how close one Nahobino was being made."
"Hm. I would like to explore that line of thought further with you." Koshimizu nodded. "Alas, the day has grown late, we'll save it for another time. For now, return to your quarters and get some well-earned rest."
"Understood, we'll do just that." Yuzuru answered back.
"Hey, uh, Atsuta, Houraisen… Uh, both of you, you down to meet me on the roof later?" Ichiro asked.
"Why wait, we get this done." Kaguya remarked, as she dragged Ichiro, who was surprised at how easily he was being dragged along, while Yuzuru merely sighed.
They soon reached the dorm roofs, as Tao was still sound asleep after the events in Da'at.
"Yeah, so I don't really get all that Knowledge or recreating the world stuff." Ichiro started. "All I care about is what we coulda done different… to save Itsukishima. You're the smart guy here, Atsuta, what do you think?"
"We might've been able to step in, had we known about her situation earlier… Kaguya tried, and it stopped the situation from worsening… Maybe been more involved." Yuzuru admitted. "Ultimately, Lahmu preyed on her fears and took advantage of her pain. At that point, she was too vulnerable to resist. Had it not been for Kaguya and Tao talking her down, she would have been lost forever. The whole reason I had the demon summoning program was to prevent something like this… Yet in the end, I was powerless as Kaguya fought my battle."
"That's not true. You're amazing, Atsuta. Tough as nails, you and your sis." Ichiro stated. "Compared against Kaguya, who is a woman from another place, you are more than enough."
"I'm sorry?' Yuzuru asked.
"Look, even I know how much work it takes to walk the right path, not to mention strength. That's why I wanna be strong, like you!" Ichiro declared. "And if I can fight on your level, or even Kaguya's, no one else'll have to suffer like this again. So let's move forward. That way, our friends rest a little easier, knowing they've been avenged."
"...You're right, Dazai. And you know what? You might be stronger than you think." Yuzuru admitted with respect in his voice.
"That's great to hear that the both of you didn't let this break you down." Kaguya answered back. "I'm sure that the both of you will find the strength and conviction needed to fight on;. Hell, Tao slapped some into me."
"She did?" Ichio exclaimed.
"I prefer not to expose the details, but if you get along with Tao, she might tell you." Kaguya chuckled back.
"Alright. We'll head off, and leave Tao to rest." Ichiro answered back, before he and Yuzuru left the room, as Omoikane manifested himself beside Kaguya.
"So, what do you make of this conversation?" Omoikane asked her.
"They're growing. At first, I thought they were just students playing demon summoners… especially after Dazai got himself mashed by Lahmu for being impulsive… But I can tell they're good people." Kaguya answered back. "And where I'm from, that's the source of great inner strength."
"I see…" Omoikane remarked. "You seem to favor humanity, despite not being one."
"Oh, I was one. I just never lost hope in them, even after I became who I am." Kaguya smirked back. "Let's enjoy the sunset together. Who knows what tomorrow can bring."
"Wise words, indeed." Omoikane nodded, as the two of them gazed into the horizon, at the setting sun.
As they did, Omoikane began to think back about their entire time together, from the first encounter to this very moment, as it made him ponder on his connection with Kaguya.
'Am I really just an artificial being… or am I something more… that has forgotten what I am? These essences… they point to me being the latter…' Omoikane thought to himself.
Proto Omoikane (Waxing Gibbous)
Elemental Resistances: Ice, Light, Lightning, Force
Elemental Weaknesses: Fire, Dark
Notable Skills: Concentrate, Mabufula, Mazanma, Kagura Dance
Kagura Dance: Boost self attack, defence, accuracy and evasion by one stage