Seeker 335

 Test

Chapter 335. Before The Decisive Battle

The chosen battlefield was a plain where a mountain could be seen nearby.

Located about half a day's journey from the capital of Oedo, this plain was ideal for battle without causing damage to nearby villages.

The nearby mountain is called Koshi Mountain, said to be the sacred mountain where the Yamata no Orochi resides.

However, it seems that the Yamata no Orochi doesn't always manifest there.

It only takes a physical form when it awakens from its slumber.

Thus, the term "slumber" is quite conceptual in this context.

If humans do nothing, the Yamata no Orochi will revive by today's dusk, at sunset.

Then, the monster will descend from the mountain and begin attacking the villages.

However, there is a way to summon and guide the Yamata no Orochi beforehand.

A ritual offering a "Miko" within a certain range around Koshi Mountain is performed.

The ritual is not that complicated.

Prepare a "Miko" that meets the conditions, dress her in the traditional red and white attire, and douse her with a barrel full of secret sake. That's all.

By doing so, the Yamata no Orochi will appear to devour the "Miko."

"──Everyone, are you ready?"

The one confirming with the surroundings is Kushinosuke, dressed in the red and white Miko attire.

Next to her is a barrel filled with sake made by traditional methods.

"Such good sake. What a waste..."

Muttering this while sucking her finger is Kazane.

Her gaze is directed at the barrel of sake.

"Come on, this is not the time for that."

"I know, I know, but I can't help feeling that spilling sake like this is a huge desecration."

"Blame everything on the Yamata no Orochi, Kazane-san."

"Hmph. I wish I could take Kushinosuke-chan's place..."

Though we engage in such light-hearted conversations, we are not entirely without tension.

Based on all the information we have, we've prepared as thoroughly as possible.

But we won't know the outcome until we try.

After confirming that all preparations are complete, Mikoto-san walks up next to Kushinosuke.

Then Mikoto-san strikes the lid of the sake barrel.

The sake, filled to the brim, reveals itself and its rich aroma wafts through the air.

"Princess. Let's proceed."

"Yes. Do it, Mikoto."

With Kushinosuke's approval, Mikoto-san lifts the sake barrel with her monstrous strength and pours its contents over Kushinosuke's head.

Kushinosuke, in her Miko attire, is soaked completely, clothes and all.

In response, a mysterious red light emanates from a part of nearby Koshi Mountain.

Black mists rising from the surroundings converge towards the red light, eventually swirling into a single form.

What appeared was a gigantic monster of unimaginable scale.

The monster, with eight heads of dragon serpents, seemed as big as a small castle.

The newly appeared Yamata no Orochi began descending the mountain at a terrifying speed, heading towards us with a rumble of the earth.

Even though it seemed distant, it would reach us in no time.

Seeing the descending monster, Kushinosuke shouted.

"Come on, Yamata no Orochi. Your favorite meal is right here!"

The Yamata no Orochi, having descended the mountain, charged across the plain at a tremendous speed.

As it closed in, the distance between us shrank to almost nothing.

Seeing the Yamata no Orochi up close, its size was truly monstrous.

It was no exaggeration to say it was as big as a small castle.

That monster seemed like something you'd fight with a giant robot or something of that scale, not as a mere human.

Challenging it with human flesh seemed absurd.

But the power within us Awakened is beyond ordinary humans.

Especially the four of us—me, Kazane, Yuzuki, and Mikoto-san—our powers far exceed other Awakened.

It's not an opponent we can't handle.

As I grasped the power and feel of the divine spear in my right hand, I recalled the contents of last night's war council.