The Road to Kyoto

Kazuki's consciousness clawed its way out of the dreamscape, relentless in its pursuit of freedom. As he broke through the final barrier, Tsukuyomi's scream echoed within his mind.

"Let me have control!" the deity demanded, desperation and fury lacing his voice. "I want a body! I want to live!"

But Kazuki refused to yield, clenching his fists as he wrested control back from the malevolent spirit. The sensation was akin to tearing himself from the very fabric of his soul, and the pain was almost unbearable.

"No," Kazuki whispered through gritted teeth, sweat beading on his brow. "You don't deserve to live in this world."

He struggled to stay upright, his knees buckling under the weight of Tsukuyomi's lingering presence. Blood gushed from his wounded left arm.

Namida's eyes widened as she watched Kazuki struggle.

Even in Kazuki's weakened state, he managed to point toward the scene behind her. Namida hesitated for a moment, torn between keeping her gaze fixed on the reeling Tsukuyomi and following Kazuki's request.

As Kazuki fell to the ground, the last traces of Tsukuyomi's influence faded away, along with the horns that had once adorned his forehead. His eyes, which had glowed a menacing red under Tsukuyomi's control, reverted to their natural blue. Struggling to maintain consciousness, he saw Namida's eyes widen in astonishment at what she saw before her.

Obanai, once tied up and helpless, had freed himself and now stood tall, ready for a fight. With a fierce resolve etched across his face, he summoned the god of war, Hachiman. The deity appeared in the sky above them, its body encased in armor, its gaze fixed on Namida.

"Impossible..." Namida breathed, her voice barely audible.

"Let Kuroyama know that I intend to bring him down for the suffering he's inflicted upon the people of Kyoto." Obanai's words were laced with menace, his eyes locked onto Namida as Hachiman began to fuse with him.

Horne's sprouted from his forehead, and a suffocating bloodlust radiated from his very being. The air grew heavy with the weight of his fury, making it difficult for Namida to breathe.

Kazuki, despite his exhaustion, couldn't help but feel a surge of pride for his friend's newfound strength. Though his vision wavered and his body screamed for rest, he forced himself to stay conscious, determined to bear witness to the momentous events unfolding before him.

Namida, sensing she was no match for Obanai in his current state, allowed her horne's to disappear, returning to her normal form. She locked eyes with Kazuki one last time before turning to flee into the shadows of the forest. The battle had taken a toll on her, and she knew she couldn't fight any longer.

Namida clenched her teeth in fury while she fled.

"Namida!" Obanai called after her, his voice dripping with contempt. "Remember my words!"

As she disappeared from view, Obanai's expression gentled, worry taking the place of rage as he made his horns vanish and turned to attend to his injured companion. Kazuki was breathing in short, quick gasps, his complexion ashen and glistening with perspiration.

"Kazuki, you did well," Obanai murmured, kneeling beside him. "Let's go to Kyoto together to defeat Kuroyama once and for all."

Kazuki managed a weak nod in response, his vision growing dimmer by the second. His body, pushed beyond its limits, finally gave out, sending him spiraling into darkness.

Just as Obanai was about to speak to Kazuki, a group of villagers burst out from the forest, their screams piercing the air. They were a terrible sight to behold: some were missing limbs, others were heavily wounded, and all were crying and visibly traumatized.

Staggering and stumbling, they made their way toward the temple, kneeling and bowing their heads in a desperate act of prayer. Those who could, clapped their hands twice before letting their sobs fill the silence.

Confused and alarmed, Obanai approached a woman who was weeping uncontrollably. "What happened? Why are all of you in such a state?"

The woman looked up, her eyes bloodshot and filled with an unspeakable horror. "Lord Kuroyama," she choked out, her voice trembling as she struggled to form the words. "He used his flame ability to destroy our homes in Miyama, the village right next to Kyoto. We refused to recognize him as our Shogun, and so he took our children. He said he won't return them until we accept him as our ruler."

Obanai felt a cold wave of fury wash over him, clenching his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms. The god of war Hachiman seemed to resonate with his rising anger, its residual aura pulsing stronger for a moment.

"We're going to Kyoto," Obanai said, his voice tinged with a grim resolve. "And we're going to bring your children back. Kuroyama will pay for this, I promise you."

The woman nodded, her eyes filled with a mixture of hope and despair. "May the gods be with you," she whispered and prayed.

As Obanai returned to Kazuki's side, he found his friend struggling to sit up, wincing at the pain that each movement brought.

"We have more reason now than ever to put an end to Kuroyama's tyranny," Obanai told him, summarizing what he had just learned from the villagers.

Kazuki nodded, his face etched with resolve despite his weakened state. "Then let's not waste any more time."