Chapter 4: Shibuya incident (3)
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In the heart of Tokyo, beneath the bustling streets of the city, the platform of the Ginza Line at Shibuya Station lay eerily still. The usual crowds were absent, replaced by an unnatural silence. The fluorescent lights flickered, casting a harsh, sterile glow on the tiled floor and the silent tracks.
I charged at Yamata no Orochi with my sword drawn. My sun breathing worked at full throttle, and Hikari no Ken, along with my left eye, flared as brightly and hotly as never before.
I leaped as high as I could and shouted, "Itachi no Amaterasu." A thin plasma beam of concentrated solar fire shot from my eye, hitting the monster before me squarely in the chest, burning a fist-sized hole through the serpent's body. The snake recoiled and briefly halted its charge toward me, the heads retreating in a cacophony of hissing. With a shout, I surged forward, the flames of my sword casting dancing shadows on the tiled walls. The serpent struck, lightning-fast. I dodged and parried, the heat of the blade scorching the air as I fought to keep the monster at bay.
One of Orochi's heads lunged at me, jaws wide open, but I twisted and brought my blade down in a fiery arc. The head fell, cleanly severed, and the beast shrieked in pain, its thrashing tail slamming against the edge of the platform, sending tiles flying through the air. Yet even with one head lost, the snake's fury seemed only to grow. It attacked with renewed rage, forcing me back, my movements a blur as I struggled to withstand the relentless assault.
The battle raged on, each stroke of my sword bringing me closer to victory but also nearer to exhaustion. The platform echoed with the sounds of our struggle, the flames on my blade flickering dangerously as my strength waned. I knew I could not give in; the lives of countless innocents depended on me ending this threat.
Meanwhile, Susanoo sat on his throne, grinning wildly and roaring with laughter, thoroughly entertained.
In a moment of clarity, I recalled Amaterasu's words: "Only through unwavering faith and courage can you harness the true power of the sun." I focused my breathing, invoking the goddess's blessing. My heart blazed anew, and I began my sun sword dance.
With a beautiful stroke, I severed another head, then another, and continued until only one remained. The snake's body convulsed, the remaining head hissing in a final, futile show of resistance.
I raised my sword, channeling the full power of Amaterasu, and brought it down with all my might. The last head fell, and the monstrous form of Yamata no Orochi collapsed on the tracks, its lifeforce extinguished.
The silence that followed was overwhelming, almost surreal after the battle. I stood panting, the flames on my sword slowly dying down to a gentle glow. Around me, the platform lay in ruins, the tiles cracked and burned, debris scattered across the ground.
Then, a clapping sound jolted me from my thoughts. Susanoo approached with large strides, saying, "Subarashii! Subarashii!!!" and laughed maniacally.
"But in the end, it doesn't matter at all," he said with a malicious grin.
"You said you were freeing the people!" I yelled at him angrily, which only made Susanoo laugh harder.
"Oh my, oh my! Let me lift my circle of spells so my sister can hear everything..." he said, snapping his fingers.
It was only then that I noticed how unusually quiet Amaterasu had been since I entered the subway station. Then, the familiar warm and pleasant presence of Amaterasu flowed into my heart, and I heard her say in an incredibly sad voice, "I'm sorry, Ama-chan."
Susanoo laughed again: "And now that we're all gathered here... surprise, Mitsukawa Amateran! Let me lift the mist that enchanted your thoughts!"
Immediately, altered memories flooded my mind. "This can't be true! No! Why?!" I screamed at Susanoo. My head spun, and I collapsed, overwhelmed by self-hatred. I pounded the ground with my fists until my knuckles were raw. I kept screaming out my rage and confusion, but nothing could relieve me.
Susanoo laughed again and then turned to Amaterasu: "You've chosen a beautiful blade, sister... just a little change with the mist, and he's already trapped in illusions! But enough fun, your blade has broken the pact, which means you'll be banished from the earthly realm for now! I'm going to have so much more fun with your blade from now on! Oh, by the way, you might want to check the three sacred treasures; they might have gone missing while we've been talking... and now, until next time."
Then he transformed into a cold wind and whistled out of Shibuya Station.
"Please calm down, Ama-chan... Hina will be with you shortly and will take you home. I'm so infinitely sorry; I wanted to warn you about the circle of spells, but I was too slow... please calm down!" she pleaded with me.
But her words didn't register at all in my mind. Again and again, I pounded the ground with my fists and cried out loudly, "Why? Why?"
I should probably tell you how my memories and actions were altered by Susanoo's mist manipulation. Even today, it's hard for me to talk about it, and I've been struggling with nightmares from that day for years.
Simply put, everything since I passed through the black circle of spells was a lie, except for my fight with Yamato no Orochi. But let me start from the beginning.
When I jumped through the circle of spells, I didn't see cursed spirits as I originally thought. What I saw in my blinded by Ilusions were ordinary mortals going about their daily lives. I killed them all. Amaterasu had never helped me; it was also just an illusion. Through my blade and my eye, thousands of people died that day.
Then there was the Kuchisake-onna... In reality she was just a young woman who begged me to help her because she couldn't find her way out of the darkness. I beheaded her with a cold look.
Now the worst part...The Kappas... they were 100 schoolchildren. Moments ago still in school, they were thrown at my feet by Susanoo, and I split the skulls of every single one of them.
And for the end. There were never people tied to the tracks. From the very beginning, I was just playing Susanoo's sick game. The memories torment my soul to this day. If Amaterasu hadn't confirmed them all as true, I still wouldn't believe them.
I hate myself every day for my naivety, but I hate Susanoo even more for choosing me for this cruel 'prank.' For years, I couldn't look in the mirror without seeing the blood of my victims running down my face. I couldn't close my eyes without hearing the screams and pleas for help from my victims.
My katana was soaked in the blood of innocents, and my soul is now probably as black as the night. I will never be able to atone for this guilt, no matter how much good I have done since then.
Something inside me died that day—my childhood, my happiness, and even my soul. The only thing that saved me from suicide was the love of my parents and the thought of taking revenge on Susanoo.
But back to the Ginza Line platform. Shortly after, I felt two hands grab my arm and hold me tightly. It was Hina, the high priestess, who had come to pick me up. I was still crying loudly.
She pulled me to my feet, but I kept collapsing. I had no strength left, and my will to live was gone. Gently, Hina lifted me again and carried me out of Shibuya Station. I cried until I had no strength left, until my eyes simply closed from physical and emotional exhaustion.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone