"So, what exactly are you here for?"
Inside the Mori Paranormal Detective Agency, Aomori looked at the blonde beauty before him and asked with bewilderment.
Her sharp gaze bore into Aomori as Bishamon said with a solemn face, "You are too powerful. I am here to assess your threat level. As an associate of Yato, are you a Calamity God after all?"
"You're doing me an injustice," Aomori said with a shrug. "Yato and I aren't close at all; he's just a shameless pest who won't stop pestering me. I'm sure the God of Learning feels the same way."
"Is that true?"
"Mhm." Aomori added, "Besides, look at my shop. It's a perfectly legitimate business. Does it look like a place for hiring assassins?"
Bishamon scanned the surroundings and nodded. "Since you aren't a Calamity God, stay away from that man. Calamity Gods bring nothing but disaster."
"No problem. As a God of Justice, I am utterly incompatible with Calamity Gods."
In truth, Yato, the God who spent his days cleaning toilets and finding lost cats, had likely changed vocations and ceased being a Calamity God long ago. It was only the long-lived deities who clung to memories from centuries ago while ignoring the present reality.
"Very well. Remember what you've said." With that, Bishamon stood up and walked toward the window, preparing to depart. As a God, she naturally preferred the unconventional exit.
However, as she looked out the window, Bishamon's expression suddenly froze.
The sky was thick with dark clouds, and grey ribbons of light floated through the air, emitting an ominous aura.
"Storm? Why is storm appearing so suddenly in broad daylight? Has a Vent opened?" Bishamon asked in surprise.
Aomori walked to her side, gazing at the unnatural sky. "No, it looks more like it's being triggered by a resonance of energies."
In his eyes, two masses of aura were intertwined, churning the winds like a massive tornado.
"Resonance? Is there a Calamity God fighting?" Bishamon guessed.
"Whatever the cause, this storm will surely draw out many Ayakashis to wreak havoc. I'm going to exterminate them. What about you?"
"I'll handle the source," Aomori replied. "I'll leave the Ayakashis to you."
"That is my duty to begin with." Bishamon yanked the window open and leaped out.
Aomori shook his head and also flew out of the window.
"It looks like Yato is fighting... what was his name again?"
…
"Rabō, why are you attacking me?"
Holding Fūki, Yato looked grimly at the white-haired man standing before him. Numerous scorpion Phantoms swarmed around the man.
"Yato... as a Calamity God, whether it be humans, Ayakashis, or Gods, as long as someone makes a wish, I shall slay them," Rabō said.
"Meaning someone wants me dead?" Yato asked.
Rabō didn't answer directly. Instead, he said, "Yato, you have fallen. The you of the past would never have spared these opponents a second glance."
"The me of now doesn't care for these Ayakashis either!"
"Is that so? Then show me your power." At Rabō's command, the scorpion Ayakashis lunged at Yato, tails lashing.
"So many bugs... Yato, I'm scared," Fūki said fearfully.
"Don't be afraid, Fūki. Close your eyes and leave everything to me."
"Okay!"
Clutching Fūki, Yato moved with light steps, dodging the scorpions' attacks and occasionally cleaving through an unlucky one. But the Ayakashis were too numerous. Soon, Yato found himself in a precarious position, his room for maneuver shrinking as he was surrounded.
"Is this all you're capable of? Yato," Rabō said with disappointment.
Just as Yato seemed about to be overwhelmed, the tide turned.
"Now!" Having used his movement to draw the Ayakashis into a circle, Yato had been waiting for this moment.
He pressed two fingers together, sliding them along the blade to the tip, and chanted softly: "Thou who wouldst profane the Land of the Rising Sun, I, the God Yato, lay thee waste with the Fūki, and expelling thy defilement, I settle thee... Rend!"
He swung Fūki in a wide horizontal arc, the sharp wind blades obliterating every Ayakashi in the vicinity.
Flicking the sword behind him, Yato panted slightly and looked at Rabō. "How's that?"
Rabō shook his head, his disappointment palpable. "Too slow. Your sword is too slow. And your Regalia is too weak."
"Is he telling the truth? Is Fūki really weak?" Fūki said, her voice dejected.
"Fūki, you aren't weak at all. Without you, I'd be dead. Besides, you're still growing. I'll grow right alongside you," Yato comforted her, stroking the blade.
"Mhm!" Fūki cheered up slightly. "That old guy is so annoying."
"Yeah." Yato raised Fūki, pointing it at Rabō. "Did you hear that? My little Fūki says you're annoying. Come over here and take your medicine."
"Hmph, coddling a Regalia... how disgusting," Rabō said coldly. "It seems she was right, you've been bewitched by a half-Ayakashi. Don't worry, I'll deal with that girl and restore you to the decisive Yato of old."
Rabō expected Yato to panic or curse, but instead, Yato's expression turned peculiar. With a touch of pity in his voice, Yato said, "I'd advise you not to mess with her."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Exactly what it sounds like," Yato said with heartfelt bitterness. "If you provoke her, no one can save you."
"What?" Rabō was still confused and about to ask more when a figure dropped from the sky, tossing two masked dogs toward him.
"So it was you who controlled them to attack me, right?" Hiyori clapped her hands together, looking angry. "Don't you know how dangerous that is? Come here and copy the phrase 'Harmony is precious' a hundred times!"
"Copy?" Rabō's mind went blank. Had he slept so long that he was out of touch with the times? Even a mere half-Ayakashi had the gall to command a God?
"Heh." He laughed out of sheer irritation. "And if I say no?"
"Then prepare for a beating," Hiyori said, cracking her knuckles.
"Hiyori, don't be mad. A small fry like this is beneath you; there's no need to do it yourself." Yato ran over, looking completely subservient.
Seeing this pathetic display, Rabō's anger boiled over. When did Gods become so lowly? This was absolutely not the majestic Yato of his memories! It was her, this woman was the cause of it all!
"Enough, Yato!" Rabō roared in frustration. "Today, I will kill this woman!"
"I have a name, it's Hiyori!" Hiyori's brows shot up. "Always talking about killing... don't you know we live in a society governed by law? You Gods really need to move with the times!"
"Hiyori—"
"Quiet! Stand aside. I'm going to teach him a lesson today!"
"Yes, ma'am!" Yato responded immediately, giving Rabō a "good luck" look.
Rabō ignored it. Empty-handed, he charged straight at Hiyori. Against a mere half-Ayakashi, he didn't even need a Regalia.
He paid for his arrogance almost instantly.
After a couple of probing exchanges, Hiyori's delicate fists easily parried Rabō's hands and slammed into his broad chest. Her petite frame hid a monstrous strength. Every punch felt like it was hammering his internal organs, leaving him in agonizing pain.
Finally, a pair of fair, long legs flashed before his eyes. With a sharp pain in his chin, his entire body was launched into the air, drawing a perfect arc before crashing into the ground.
Gazing up at the gloomy sky, Rabō began to ponder the deep philosophical questions of "Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?"
"Are you alright?" A girl with a bob cut appeared by his side.
"Nora, what happened?"
"Well, there was a tiny glitch in the plan, but it's no big deal," Yato's former Regalia said. "With me by your side, you'll be invincible!"
"I'll trust you one more time." Rabō reached out with a trembling hand to adjust his mask before standing up.
Hiyori frowned at Rabō and Nora. "You still want to fight?"
"Yato! What kind of man hides behind a woman? If you've got guts, step out and duel me!" Rabō ignored Hiyori and spoke to Yato.
"If you put it that way, I have no choice." Seeing Rabō so thoroughly manhandled by Hiyori, Yato felt a sense of shared sorrow. Unable to bear seeing his old comrade exit in such a pathetic fashion, he decided to accept the challenge.
"Hiyori, this is a matter between us Gods. Let us settle it ourselves," Yato told her. "This involves the dignity of a God."
"The dignity of a God? If you had any of that, you'd find a real job," Hiyori retorted. But, being kind-hearted, she agreed. "Be careful. Don't let Fūki get hurt."
"Aren't you going to worry about me?"
"What's there to worry about with you?"
"Fine." Dejectedly, Yato carried Fūki to Rabō. "Let's do this!"
"Very well! Grant me a duel!" Rabō reached out. "Reiki!"
Nora transformed into a sharp blade in his hand. After a two-second standoff, they charged. In an instant, the two Regalia clashed dozens of times.
The battle hit a fever pitch immediately. Their auras intertwined and clashed; the duel between two Calamity Gods caused the very heavens to shift.
In terms of raw power, the duo of Rabō and Nora was indeed a step above Yato's team, and they quickly gained the upper hand. Every swing of Rabō's sword brought forth streams of water that coiled around Yato, severely hindering his movements. Although Yato knew Nora's abilities well from their past, he lacked an effective counter. As a Regalia, the recently transformed Fūki was still a bit green.
Sensing Yato's struggle, Hiyori shouted from the sidelines, "Do your best, Yato, Fūki! If you win, I'll cook a huge feast for you tonight!"
Yato's eyes lit up. "Fūki, did you hear that? For the feast, we have to try harder!"
"Mhm! Fūki will do her best!" Fūki said, clenching her "fist."
Yato's speed surged, and his wind blades became faster and sharper, gradually turning the tide. Seeing this work, Hiyori began calling out the menu: "Grilled chicken wings, fish head soup, thick steaks... and Fūki's favorite cream cake. Yato, you can drink as much cola as you want!"
"I... am overflowing with power!!!" Motivated by the food, Yato erupted with 200% strength. He completely reversed the situation; with a simple wave of his hand, a deluge of wind blades sliced the water streams into mere droplets.
"Impossible! How can I lose for such a ridiculous reason?" Feeling insulted, Rabō decided to stake everything. He began absorbing the thickening miasma in the air to boost his power. His eyes turned blood-red.
"Yato, DIE!" He slammed his Shinki into the ground, summoning a towering waterfall that crashed toward Yato.
"Rabō, nothing is impossible. That's what I've learned in all the years you were asleep. It's useless even if you turn into a Ayakashi. Rabō, let me send you on your way!"
Yato wiped the sweat from his hands onto the blade one last time, recited his finishing mantra, and struck downward. A massive blade of wind energy instantly took shape, cleaving through the tsunami-like wave with ease and piercing through Rabō's body.
"Yato... I lost this battle."
The mask on his head was sliced in two. Rabō collapsed, his body battered beyond recognition.
Yato walked over and looked at his sorry state, nodding. "So your body really was pieced together with sorcery. No wonder you didn't change at all after all those years of sleep."
"Yato..." Rabō used his final moments to reveal his purpose. "No matter how many wishes we grant, a Calamity God will always be feared, shunned, and forgotten. Rather than vanishing into oblivion, I'd rather be ended by you, my former partner. Dying by your hand... that was my goal."
"Honestly, you could have just said so."
"Yato, to die by being forgotten... that is the fate of a Calamity God. You won't escape it either. I'll go on ahead, Yato." With those words, Rabō dissolved into liquid and died completely.
Looking at the remains, Yato spoke softly, "Sorry, but I'm not like you."
A Calamity God? He had stopped being one a long time ago.
"Yato, Fūki! You guys were amazing!" Hiyori hugged Fūki and praised them.
"Hehehe, Fūki feels like she's gotten stronger."
"Of course. Under my patient guidance, how could you not?"
"Hmm?"
"But the biggest credit goes to you, Hiyori. That kick was so cool, you heavily injured him, otherwise it would have taken much more effort," Yato quickly corrected himself.
"Mhm." Hiyori rolled her eyes. "Let's go."
"Where?"
"To buy groceries. Don't you want the feast?"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
"Nora-san is still there, what should we do with her?"
"Forget her. Leave her be."
Once the trio had walked off, Nora reverted to her human form. Emerging from the ground, she sighed softly. "Sigh, failure. I must return and report to Father."
"Little girl." A voice suddenly rang out behind her. She turned to see a young man wearing a fox mask.
"I'm quite interested in this 'Father' of yours. Could you introduce me to him?" Aomori said with a smile, meeting Nora's suspicious and guarded gaze.