Chapter 16

The Martian sky, usually a serene canvas of red and orange hues, was suddenly torn asunder by a blazing streak of golden light. The Gems on the surface looked up in awe and fear as what appeared to be a falling star plummeted towards their world. But this was no mere celestial body - it was a divine being, battered and broken, hurtling towards the red planet with terrifying speed.

Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess and Chief God of the Shinto pantheon, crashed into the Martian surface with an impact that shook the very foundations of the planet.

The crater she left was massive, its edges glowing with residual heat from her divine form that melted and burned the earth she landed on. As the dust settled, Gems of various types cautiously approached the impact site, their curiosity overcoming their fear.

What they found in the center of the crater shocked them to their very cores. A being of immense power, clearly not a Gem, lay broken and bleeding. Her form, usually radiant with the light of a thousand suns, was dim and flickering. Golden ichor, the blood of the gods, seeped from numerous wounds across her body.

Word of the strange visitor spread quickly through the Diamond Authority's complex. White Diamond, in her infinite wisdom, immediately issued orders for the injured being to be tended to. A team of the most skilled Peridots and the gentlest Pearls was dispatched to care for Amaterasu, under the watchful eyes of several Jasper guards.

For a full day and night, the Gems worked tirelessly to stabilize the sun goddess. They used the most advanced healing technology at their disposal, marveling at how different Amaterasu's form was from their own.

Her wounds, which would have shattered any Gem instantly, slowly began to close under their ministrations. The golden ichor that had flowed so freely began to slow, then stop altogether.

Allegedly, even Brown Diamond had come in person to heal her, with this being something that even he could not ignore.

As the first light of the second Martian dawn since her arrival began to creep across the horizon, Amaterasu stirred. Her eyes, like molten gold, slowly opened, taking in her surroundings with a mixture of confusion and wariness. The Gems attending her stepped back respectfully, awe evident in their expressions.

It was at this moment that Yellow Diamond entered the chamber. Her imposing form filled the doorway, her eyes sharp and assessing as she regarded the recuperating deity. The other Gems in the room immediately snapped to attention, saluting their Diamond with perfect synchronization.

Yellow Diamond waved them away with a casual gesture. "Leave us." she commanded, her voice brooking no argument. The Gems filed out quickly and silently, leaving Yellow alone with Amaterasu.

For a long moment, the two powerful beings simply regarded each other. Yellow Diamond, stood with an air of arrogance, as if even a Major God like the one before her could not intimidate someone who once stared down Dormammu.

Amaterasu, laid up in the bed, her expression changing multiple times before she looked at the Diamond with a blank look.

It was Amaterasu who broke the silence. "Greetings, Yellow Diamond." she said, her voice carrying the warmth of the sun itself, despite her obvious fatigue. "I thank you for the care your Gems have provided me. I ahd heard of the miracles your race was capable of from Odin, but I guess seeing is believing."

Yellow Diamond inclined her head slightly, a gesture of acknowledgment rather than subservience. "You are welcome. It's not often we receive visitors of your... caliber. I am Yellow Diamond, one of the leaders of Gemkind, as I am sure you are already aware."

Amaterasu nodded, wincing slightly as she attempted to sit up. "I am Amaterasu, Goddess of the Sun in the Shinto pantheon in Takamagahara. I come seeking an audience with White Diamond. There is a matter of utmost urgency I must discuss with her."

Yellow Diamond's eyes narrowed slightly. "I see. Well, I'm afraid White Diamond is not readily available for audiences, even for beings such as yourself. However, I have full authority to act on her behalf. Perhaps you could share this urgent matter with me?"

Amaterasu frowned, clearly not satisfied with this response. "With all due respect, Yellow Diamond, the matter I wish to discuss concerns threats that extend far beyond most. It is imperative that I speak with White Diamond directly. Only someone of her stature can take the proper response to this matter. It was why I did not even consult with my fellow God Kings."

Yellow Diamond's posture stiffened, a flash of annoyance crossing her face. "I assure you, there is no threat in this universe that concerns Gemkind which I am not equipped to handle. My Mother ensured that. We Diamonds do not involve ourselves in the petty affairs of other worlds, particularly not that primitive planet you mentioned?"

Amaterasu's eyes flashed, a spark of her divine power flaring despite her weakened state. "Petty affairs? You misunderstand, Diamond. The threat I speak of is not limited to Earth or any single world. It threatens the very fabric of reality itself."

Yellow Diamond rolled her eyes, clearly unconvinced. "And what else is new? We've heard tales of universe-ending threats before, with most coming from your world. Is that not what the assortment of powered friends is their for?"

Frustration etched itself across Amaterasu's features. She pushed herself up further, ignoring the pain that flashed through her body at the movement. "You don't understand. My entire pantheon has been wiped out. Gods who have existed since the dawn of time, since the exception of the great Concepts, erased as if they never were. Does that sound like a 'petty affair' to you?"

At this, Yellow Diamond's expression changed. The dismissive look vanished, replaced by one of grave concern. "Your entire pantheon? Wiped out? That's... That's impossible. Shouldn't you God's have things in place to prevent things like this? You could only flee?"

Amaterasu nodded grimly. "Now do you see why I must speak with White Diamond? This threat is beyond anything your kind has faced before. We need to act, and quickly, before it's too late."

Yellow Diamond was silent for a long moment, her mind clearly racing as she processed this information. Finally, she spoke, her voice low and serious. "I see. In light of this... I will inform White Diamond immediately. Wait here. Someone will come to escort you to her chamber when she's ready to receive you."

With that, Yellow Diamond turned and strode out of the room, her usual confident gait now tinged with urgency. Amaterasu watched her go, then sank back onto the recovery slab, her energy momentarily spent. As she waited, she closed her eyes, offering a silent prayer to her fallen kin and steeling herself for the conversation to come.

Time passed, though how much was difficult to say in the unchanging light of the recovery chamber. Amaterasu drifted in and out of consciousness, her divine form still struggling to recover from the ordeal that had brought her to this strange world.

Finally, the door slid open once more. A Pearl, her gem a soft blue, entered and bowed low. "Lady Amaterasu." she said, her voice melodious and respectful, "White Diamond will see you now. If you'll follow me, please."

Amaterasu rose, her movements still pained but steadier than before. She followed the Pearl through a series of winding corridors, each more grand than the last. The architecture was unlike anything she had seen before - all sharp angles and crystalline surfaces, beautiful in its alien perfection.

At last, they reached a set of massive doors, their surface etched with intricate designs that seemed to shift and change as Amaterasu looked at them. The Pearl touched a panel beside the doors, which slid open silently.

"White Diamond awaits you." the Pearl said, bowing once more before retreating.

Amaterasu took a deep breath, then stepped into the chamber beyond. The sight that greeted her was awe-inspiring, even to a being of her divine status.

The chamber was vast, its ceiling so high it seemed to disappear into mist. At its center stood a colossal throne, upon which sat White Diamond herself. Her form radiated pure light, so bright it was almost painful to look at directly. Around her, on smaller but still impressive thrones, sat the other Diamonds - Yellow, whom Amaterasu had already met, along with Blue, whose form seemed to shimmer with an aura of sorrow, Grey, whose very presence seemed to blur the edges of reality, Brown, who seemed disinterested, and Black, whose form seemed to absorb the light around him.

White Diamond's voice, when she spoke, filled the entire chamber, resonating with power and authority. "Amaterasu, Goddess of the Sun. We welcome you to our domain. You've traveled far and suffered much to reach us. Tell us, how can we be of assistance?"

Amaterasu approached the base of White Diamond's throne, bowing her head in respect. When she looked up, her eyes blazed with the intensity of her purpose. "Thank you for seeing me, White Diamond. I come to you in a time of dire need. A threat has emerged, one that endangers not just my world or yours, but the very fabric of reality itself."

White Diamond leaned forward slightly, her expression unreadable. "Explain." she said simply.

~

Deep within the shadowy depths of Yomi, the Shinto underworld, an ancient evil stirred. Amatsu-Mikaboshi, the Primordial Void, The Chaos King, had long been imprisoned in this realm of death and darkness. For eons, he remained bound thanks to the actions of the Shinto Pantheon and him not being interested in his consciousness awakening.

But, a fundamental change in their Universe made this ancient evil suddenly awaken, it's eyes (if you could call them that) opened, and it felt everything.

Amatsu-Mikaboshi's form was a writhing mass of shadows and negative space that seemed to take human shape, a hole in reality that threatened to consume all it touched. As he pushed against the weakening seals of his prison, the very fabric of Yomi began to warp and twist around him. The souls of the dead screamed in terror as they felt his presence growing stronger, more tangible with each passing moment.

Izanami, the Goddess of Death and Creation, was the first to sense the impending danger. Her decayed form trembled as she felt Amatsu-Mikaboshi's power surging through her domain. With a thought, she sent out a psychic cry to her fellow gods, both in Yomi and in the celestial realm of Takamagahara above.

"He awakens! The Chaos King stirs! Let my brethren try their hardest, lest the Universe burns!!"

In Takamagahara, the heavenly plain of the Shinto gods, Izanagi, Izanami's estranged husband and fellow creator deity, received her warning. His noble face creased with concern as he turned to address the assembled Kami who also heard his message and had raced over.

"My fellow Kami." Izanagi's voice boomed across the celestial realm, causing the lesser spirits to tremble, "The disaster awakens once more. It will be up to us to contain that monster once again, just as I and Izanami did eons ago!!"

Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess and leader of the pantheon, stepped forward. Her radiant beauty was tempered by the grim determination in her golden eyes. "Father, allow me to lead our forces into Yomi. We shall reinforce the seals and push Amatsu-Mikaboshi back into the depths from whence he came."

Susanoo, the storm god, brandished his Totsuka-no-Tsurugi, the Sword of the Gathering Clouds of Heaven. The blade crackled with lightning as he declared, "I shall stand with my sister. Let the Chaos King feel the fury of our storm!"

One by one, the great Kami of the Shinto pantheon pledged their strength to the coming battle. Tsukuyomi, god of the moon, whose silver light could pierce the deepest darkness. Raijin, the thundergod, whose drums could shake the foundations of reality. Fujin, god of wind, whose breath could scatter armies. Hachiman, god of war and agriculture, whose strategic mind had led them to victory countless times before.

As the gods prepared for battle, Izanagi raised his hand for silence. "My children, my fellow Kami, I caution you all. Do not underestimate the power of Amatsu-Mikaboshi. He is more than just another deity or yokai. He is the embodiment of the primordial void that existed before creation itself. Even united, Izanami and I struggled to contain him. Never underestimate him."

A hush fell over the assembled gods as they contemplated Izanagi's words. Amaterasu stepped forward once more, her voice ringing with conviction. "Then we shall not allow him to fully awaken. We strike now, with all our might, and end this threat before it can truly begin."

With a chorus of battle cries, the gods of Takamagahara prepared to descend into Yomi. Amaterasu led the charge, her radiant form blazing a path through the darkness as they pierced the veil between realms.

As they entered Yomi, the full magnitude of the situation became clear. The usually orderly realm of the dead was in chaos. The ground beneath their feet shifted and warped, landscapes melting and reforming in grotesque parodies of the mortal world. The souls of the dead wailed in terror, fleeing from the expanding zone of nothingness that marked Amatsu-Mikaboshi's presence.

Izanami appeared before them, her once beautiful form now a rotting husk. "You come too late." she hissed, her voice a rasping whisper. "The seals are breaking. He comes. Now we can only wait."

As if summoned by her words, a great tear appeared in the fabric of reality itself. From within that tear emerged Amatsu-Mikaboshi, the Chaos King. His form defied description, a roiling mass of darkness that seemed to absorb all light and hope. Where he passed, existence itself seemed to fray and come undone.

Amaterasu's voice rang out, clear and strong despite the oppressive atmosphere. "Kami of Takamagahara, stand fast! We are the pillars upon which creation stands. We shall not falter!"

The sun goddess unleashed a beam of pure solar energy, as bright as a thousand suns. It struck Amatsu-Mikaboshi dead center, causing the void entity to stop momentarily. But as quickly as it had been stopped, the darkness surged forward once more, seeming to grow stronger as it absorbed Amaterasu's light.

Susanoo and Raijin combined their powers, unleashing a storm of such magnitude that it threatened to tear Yomi apart. Lightning arced across the chaotic landscape, each bolt powerful enough to vaporize mountain ranges. The thunder that followed shook the very foundations of the realm.

For a moment, it seemed as though their combined might might be enough. Maybe it could force the Old God back. Amatsu-Mikaboshi's advance slowed, the maelstrom of elemental fury pushing him back inch by inch. But then, with a sound like reality itself screaming in agony, the Chaos King pushed through their assault.

Tendrils of void energy lashed out, wrapping around Raijin before he could react. The thunder god's eyes widened in horror as he felt his very essence being drained away. "No!" he cried out, his voice already fading. "I am a fundamental force! I cannot be—"

His words were cut short as Amatsu-Mikaboshi absorbed him completely. Where once had stood a mighty Kami, there was now only a hole in creation, a gap in the cosmic order that threatened to unravel everything around it.

The assembled gods watched in horror as one of their mightiest fell in mere moments. They could feel his death. It was as if he no longer existed.

Susanoo roared in defiance, charging forward with his Totsuka-no-Tsurugi raised high. The sacred blade said to be able to slay even gods, sliced through Amatsu-Mikaboshi's form.

For a heartbeat, hope surged through the ranks of the Kami. But that hope was short-lived. The void where Susanoo had struck simply collapsed in on itself, pulling the storm god off balance. Before he could recover, tendrils of nothingness wrapped around his arms and legs.

"Brother!" Amaterasu cried out, launching another salvo of solar flares to free him. But her attacks seemed to pass harmlessly through Amatsu-Mikaboshi's form, as insubstantial as striking a shadow.

Susanoo struggled against his bonds, his godly might straining against the impossible strength of the void. "Fight on!" he shouted to his fellow gods, even as he felt his power being drained away. "Do not let my fall be in vain!"

With a final, defiant cry, Susanoo too was absorbed into Amatsu-Mikaboshi's ever-expanding form. The Chaos King seemed to grow larger, more substantial with each god he consumed. What had begun as a vaguely humanoid shape of shadows was quickly becoming a colossus of writhing darkness that towered over the battlefield.

Tsukuyomi, his silver light dimming in the face of such overwhelming darkness that consumed God after God, turned to Amaterasu. "Sister." he said, his voice heavy with the weight of realization, "We cannot win this battle. Not here, not now. We must retreat, warn the other pantheons. This threat is beyond even us."

Amaterasu's face was a mask of anguish as she watched more of her fellow gods fall to Amatsu-Mikaboshi's relentless advance. Omoikane, God of wisdom and intelligence, was plucked from the air as he tried to analyze if the Chaos King had any weaknesses. Inari, Kami of foxes, agriculture, and industry, fell defending a group of lesser spirits, her many tails withering away as the void consumed her.

"You're right." Amaterasu finally admitted, tears of liquid sunlight streaming down her face. "Father." she called out to Izanagi, who was holding a line of defense with Hachiman, "We must sound the retreat. We cannot hold him here."

Izanagi nodded grimly, his wise eyes filled with sorrow. "Go, my daughter. Warn the others. We shall hold him here as long as we can, buy you time to escape."

Amaterasu shed a few tears but did not argue, but Izanagi's decision was made.

The creator god stood tall, his form blazing with the power of creation itself. Beside him, Hachiman readied his bow, arrows of pure strategic thought nocked and ready to fire. "We are the old guard, Amaterasu." Izanagi said softly. "It falls to you to lead what remains of our pantheon. Go now, and do not look back."

With a heavy heart, Amaterasu began to gather the surviving Kami. Tsukuyomi, Fujin, and a handful of lesser gods huddled close as she prepared to transport them from the crumbling realm of Yomi. As the golden light of her power enveloped them, Amaterasu took one last look at the battlefield.

The sight would haunt her for eternity.

Izanagi stood before the advancing wall of void, his hands outstretched as he poured every ounce of his creative power into holding Amatsu-Mikaboshi at bay. Hachiman loosed arrow after arrow, each one a perfect strategic strike that would have felled any lesser foe. But against the Chaos King, they were as insignificant as raindrops against a tsunami.

Amatsu-Mikaboshi's laughter echoed through Yomi as he advanced, a sound that promised the end of all things. "Is this all?" the void entity's voice reverberated through reality itself, "You seek to create in the face of uncreation? Let me show you the futility of your efforts."

A massive tendril of darkness shot forth, piercing Izanagi's chest. The creator god's eyes widened in shock and pain as he felt his very essence begin to unravel. "Amaterasu." he gasped out, locking eyes with his daughter one last time, "Remember... the... prophecy..."

Before he could say more, Izanagi, the great creator god of the Shinto pantheon, was gone. Consumed by the very antithesis of creation he had spent his existence opposing. Hachiman fell moments later, his strategic mind unable to formulate a defense against the inevitable.

As Amaterasu's transportation spell reached its crescendo, the last thing she saw was Amatsu-Mikaboshi turning his attention to Takamagahara, the heavenly realm now defenseless without its greatest champions.

In a flash of golden light, Amaterasu and the survivors appeared in Takamagahara. But the respite would be brief. Already, they could feel the foundations of their heavenly realm shaking as Amatsu-Mikaboshi began his assault.

"We cannot stay here." Tsukuyomi said, his usually calm voice tinged with fear. "If he takes Takamagahara, the very concept of divine order in our cosmos will crumble."

Amaterasu nodded grimly. "Spread out." she commanded the surviving Kami. "Warn everyone you can. Gods, spirits, mortals – all must know of the danger that comes. Go to the other pantheons, call in every favor and alliance. We will need all of creation to stand against this threat."

As the lesser gods scattered to carry out her orders, Amaterasu turned to her brother. "Tsukuyomi, I have a special task for you. Seek out Izanami in the depths of Yomi. She may have escaped Amatsu-Mikaboshi's initial assault. If anyone knows of a way to stop him, it would be her."

Tsukuyomi bowed deeply. "It shall be done, sister. But what of you? Surely you don't intend to face him alone?"

Amaterasu's golden eyes blazed with determination. "I am the sun, brother. So long as I shine, there is hope. I will buy us what time I can. Now go, before it's too late."

As Tsukuyomi reluctantly departed, Amaterasu turned to face the approaching darkness. Amatsu-Mikaboshi's form was visible now, a colossal giant of void that dwarfed mountains. With each step, parts of Takamagahara crumbled and were absorbed into his ever-expanding mass.

She could only shed a few tears as she saw tendrils holding each of the Minor Gods who just left, each being consumed by the Chaos King.

Calling upon every ounce of her power, Amaterasu rose into the sky. Her form blazed brighter than ever before, a second sun hanging above Takamagahara. The warmth of her light breathed strength into the fleeing spirits and lesser Kami, giving them the courage to continue their desperate escape.

"Amatsu-Mikaboshi!" she called out, her voice carrying the authority of the chief goddess of the Shinto pantheon. "Your quarrel is with me now. Face me, if you dare!"

The Chaos King's laughter shook the foundations of the heavenly realm. "Insolent."

Tendrils of darkness shot towards Amaterasu, but she was ready. A barrier of pure solar energy sprang up around her, incinerating the void-stuff before it could touch her. "I am not my father." she declared. "I am the light that burns away the darkness, the hope that defies despair. In me burns the strength of every prayer ever uttered, every soul that has turned its face to the sun in supplication."

Her words carried power, each one a spark of defiance against the encroaching void. Amatsu-Mikaboshi hesitated for a moment, his massive form rippling as if in discomfort.

Seizing the opportunity, Amaterasu went on the offensive. She gathered her power into a massive spear of solar energy, a weapon of such intensity that it rivaled the birth of stars. With a cry that echoed across dimensions, she hurled it directly at Amatsu-Mikaboshi's core.

The impact was cataclysmic. A shockwave of power rippled out from the point of contact, vaporizing huge swathes of Takamagahara and causing rifts in the very fabric of reality. For a moment that stretched into eternity, it seemed as though Amaterasu's gambit might have worked.

But then, to her horror, she saw her spear of sunfire being drawn into Amatsu-Mikaboshi's mass. The Chaos King's laughter once again filled the air, but now it was tinged with genuine amusement.

"Decent." his voice boomed. "Truly, you are the strongest of Izanagi's children. Your light... it burns so beautifully as I extinguish it. I shall enjoy making you part of my being, Amaterasu. Perhaps I'll keep a spark of your consciousness alive, so you can witness as I unmake all of creation."

Before Amaterasu could react, a massive hand of void reached out and grabbed her. She screamed in agony as she felt her divine essence begin to unravel, the fundamental forces that made up her being succumbing to Amatsu-Mikaboshi's entropic touch.

With the last of her strength, Amaterasu reached deep within herself. Past the pain, past the fear, to the very core of her being. There, she found a reserve of power she had never known existed. The hopes and prayers of countless generations, the very concept of the sun itself, all coalesced into a single point of infinite potential.

"No," she whispered, her voice gaining strength with each word. "I will not fall here. I will not let this be the end!"

With a cry that shattered what remained of Takamagahara, Amaterasu released every ounce of her power in a single, universe-shaking burst. The explosion of pure solar energy was beyond anything creation had ever witnessed. It was the birth and death of a million stars compressed into a single moment.

~

"That was the last thing I remember before appearing here." Amaterasu said, while the Diamonds above her were silent.