A Tale of Forgotten Gods

Chapter 87: Mysterious Death

They rushed toward the mountain where the Kodoku ritual had been happening. Kiyori turned toward Tomoe. ”Go toward the prince’s mansion; we will handle it.”

Tomoe took her weapons and ran toward the empire while they reached the mountain, stopping near the entrance of the mountain. A deep cave that reached the peak.

The ground beneath them shook, as the demons inside fought to each other. The sound of their clash reaching the outside world.

Mo Fei’s gaze landed on the large crater. Inside were multiple demons that fought, shredding each other’s flesh, then got absorbed.

”We are late.” Kiyori watched it happen. It was the curse poison ritual used to gain immense power when a hundred demons killed each other, leaving behind the darkest demon looming over the pot.

Mo Fei jumped inside the crater, then pulled out the mask and wore it on his face. Keeping his stance steady, he landed on the surface of the large crater.

Kiyori ran toward him, but before she could stop him, he had already jumped in. ”Idiot, that ritual hasn’t ended. You’ll get absorbed!!”

Mo Fei snapped his head toward her. ”F**k you mean I’d get absorbed? You could have said that before!”

”You jumped in before I could!” Kiyori yelled.

The Kodoku demon stared down at him and then lunged at him with a deep roar. The wind pressure from the monster’s descent felt like an iron wall slamming down.

​Mo Fei swiftly planted his heels, twisted his torso, and burst sideways just as the arm made of spliced claws flattened the stone where he had stood a microsecond before.

​BOOM!

​Shockwaves erupted through the crater, bursting stones; debris flew into the air. ​Mo Fei skidded across the uneven ground, his mask gleaming under the dim light of the moon. ”Kiyori! Quick plan! How do I not get absorbed?!”

​”Don’t let its blood touch your skin; most importantly, keep moving until it burn out!” Kiyori shouted from the rim of the crater, already drawing her arrow. ”The ritual eats in anything with a spiritual pressure—your mask may worsen it.”

”That’s a great news!” He slid sideways as the other claw descended. His eyes glowed, but there were no threads to cut. ”Even nonliving things have partial spirit threads; why doesn’t it have any?”

​The Kodoku beast roared—a horrific, layered screech forged from dozens of dying voices. Its form was unstable, constantly shifting as flesh fused and tearing eyes opened along its shoulders and chest. A dozen shadowy tendrils sprouted from its back, whipping toward Mo Fei.

​Mo Fei drew his blade in a fluid arc.

​Clang! Clang! Clang!

​Sparks erupted in the dark crater as he stepped back without stopping. ”Damn it,”

Suddenly, his eyes show the multiple spirit threads woven into one. They connected the Kodoku’s threads with those threads.

Kiyori shot out an arrow toward the Kodoku demon; its limbs burst out, turning into Miasma, but it didn’t die. Just then, from above, a low chuckle echoed.

Sitting at the peak was a man, his half-body clear. The baboon robed now, half covering his body.

His true face was hidden behind the shadows; a grin crossed over his face. He slowly stood up, his combed long hair blowed with the wind. ”Well done. Now I can make my body perfect again. That sickness almost got me.”

As he spoke, the Kodoku demon’s body was pulled by a force that twisted its body, making it squishy, and then slowly it turned into liquid and launched toward the man on the top of the mountain.

Kiyori quickly moved her arrow toward the sky and launched it toward the man. Before the arrow could hit him, the Kodoku reached him first, merging inside his body. The arrow went through his body, creating a hole out of his chest, but instantly it was healed.

Mo Fei tilted his head toward the man standing above the peak. ”You were the one who was following us.”

The man didn’t answer, and with a cunning grin, he disappeared. Mo Fei cursed under his breath. ”Coward.”

Kiyori sensed another presence of a shard, but it wasn’t in the outside world. It was unusual, as if somewhere she couldn’t understand. Mo Fei climbed back quickly to follow the man, but Kiyori called out. ”We need to move; there is something important.”

She turned and ran. Mo Fei jumped, landing on the top before following her. ”Don’t say half-things.”

They exited the cave, and Kiyori stopped outside near the exit of the demon slayer’s village. Between the treeline, she felt the presence somewhere. She pointed toward the place and walked near the forest treeline.

As they stopped near a large tree that wasn’t there before. Her hand traced the wood, but as she pulled her hand back, her body disappeared inside the tree. Mo Fei watched her disappearing instantly inside the tree.

The voice of the divine Serpent echoed. ”The spirit had called you to move, Great Master.”

Taking the very next step, he appeared inside a vast place. Kiyori was looking around, a river flowing nearby. The place brightened with a strange green light as they walked in further.

On the ground, a page rested across the wooden plate.

”The page of the severed record book!” Mo Fei quickly ran toward it, but just as he got closer, the page disappeared.

He closed his eyes for a few seconds. ”What’s the cost?”

”Nothing.” A voice echoed in the deep interior of the chamber.

Kiyori stopped near Mo Fei. ”Tree of Ages?”

A deep, ancient voice whispered again. ”Welcome, the great priestess of the Tamayori shrine.” It paused for a few seconds before the voice gradually hardened and spoke again in an old, jagged tone. ”Lightless, you wanted to confront me for the page, but I give it for free. I have been already waiting, but due to your corruption, I couldn’t let you enter.”

Mo Fei observed the surroundings. The bright-green light ran for the walls, while the soft sound of the flowing river churned his stomach in an awkward feeling. ”Give it now then.”

A root hangs on the page. Mo Fei grabbed it and then turned toward Kiyori. ”Why did you come here?”

Clink.

A shard fell as Kiyori lifted it up. ”For this.” She pushed and then spoke to the voice. ”The Timeless spirit, why did you let us enter?”

”There will be an event in the future, and without you. It cannot be stopped; that is a warning, Priestess. The four rulers of the directions will soon awaken by the end of this year. Their battle can’t be prevented, so you must seal them again.”

”The Daiyōkais? I shall try.” Kiyori glanced at Mo Fei, who was looking at the page.

They were outside again. When they looked in front the tree had disappeared from the sight. ”Do you think I can do that?”

Mo Fei moved his hand, putting the page in his pocket, then turned toward her. ”I doubt you can do anything, but this thing... I’m sure you can.”

***

Tomoe reached the empire; the guards outside the Yumikoto’s mansion walked around. She quickly moved inside and saw the maids sitting outside Yumikoto’s room.

All of their faces were etched with a hint of sorrow. They held their kimonos tightly, sitting around the door. They waited for someone to come, their eyes showing the hope being shattered. Tomoe stopped near them.

Just then a man came out, wiping his forehead, and then he slowly put back the handkerchief. His expression faltered as he slowly shook his head. ”He is gone.”

Tomoe’s expression faltered; she turned toward the maids and servants, and all of them remained silent and slowly stood up.

One of the maids looked at Tomoe. ”Oh dear, you returned?”

Tomoe nodded. ”Yes, what happened here?”

The maid walked near her and bowed gently. ”Lord Yumikoto disappeared for an hour, then he returned. His expression was tired; he was clenching his chest.” She paused and looked at the other servants who were holding their breaths. Then she continued. ”His face was covered in sweat, then we called out our royal folk healer.”

The maid pointed at the man who came out. He stepped forward and then followed. ”Prince Yumikoto had been poisoned. I tried to use everything I had, but the poison was too strong...”

He averted his gaze and took a long breath. ”In the end, he couldn’t survive. He is gone now. That poison was not of a snake or any poisonous creature. I have noted that it was the poison of a demon.”

Demonic poison. That baboon-robed man killed Prince Yumikoto...? Her hand moved toward her mouth in horror; she saw it now why that monster wasn’t worth trusting.

One of the servants, a man, spoke next. ”This empire has no ruler now.” With those final words, all the servants moved away. The healer walked behind them.

Inside, Yumikoto’s pale body rested unmoving. Though, where and why was he gone for an hour?