The Nine Kami Warriors

Two grey-white wolves stood on their hind legs, their backs pressed against each other. In their mouths, they wielded unique spears with long handles, twirling them skillfully before charging into battle against Orochi. The whites on their fur emitted a brilliant, blinding shimmer.

Behind Hoshiyo, a comforting sight brought a smile to her furry, black cheeks: Susano, the great warrior of Japan. He gently nudged the Tanuki and assured, "I'll ensure he receives a proper cremation and burial."

"Thank you," Hoshiyo whimpered, her eyes fixed on the two charging wolves. Curiosity filled her voice as she asked, "Who are those two?"

Susano replied, "The twins are Izanagi and Izanami. They are our parents, the ones who gave you life in both our world and the human world."

Within the battlefield, another pair of wolves sliced their swords through the monsters. One appeared to be an arctic wolf with fur shaped like icicles, while the other sparkled like the Milky Way, adorned in warm colors of dark purple and deep blue. These wolves were swift, but facing Orochi, their speed might not be enough to halt the colossal threat.

"Who are they? Those two don't seem steady on their feet either," Hoshiyo inquired, noticing that Kami's legs were cut up shortly after joining the battlefield. As soon as the icicle Kami struck the beast swiftly, another head bit its leg and swung at the Kami hard enough to break her leg. Agony echoed as her body collided with the ground. The Kami's male partner attempted to rush to her aid, but Orochi's tail flung him further away.

Susano bolted toward the female Kami, shouting, "Amenominakanushi, hang on!"

The lack of response sent a chill through them. Hoshiyo joined Susano, rushing to Amenominakanushi's aid. Amenominakanushi had a bone sticking out of her back leg, and her chest was turning a worrisome shade of purple. She coughed up blood, wide-eyed, and gasped for air.

"Susano, what can we do to help her?" Hoshiyo asked.

"Don't bother, she's too far gone," Susano exclaimed. "We have to focus on the ones we can save. The other one, Kuninotokotachi, needs help." 

Hoshiyo's eyebrows raised, tears streaming down her face once more. She watched Amenominakanushi wheeze in unbearable pain, visibly shaking. Hoshiyo yelled, "We can't leave her like this."

Susano pointed his muzzle at the battlefield and said, "Neither of us has enough medical training to help any of them. This fight is already long over."

From above, concealed within the clouds, Fuijin unleashed his bag of white condensed water vapor, creating a misty down fog on the beast. This obscured Orochi's vision, making it challenging for him to see. His brother took advantage, striking him with lightning, hoping the thunder would deafen him. Meanwhile, Hachiman's arrows formed stairs on Orochi's neck, providing others a means to climb. Tsukuyomi had some luck in his strikes; he wielded weaponized metal rosaries with sharp blades. Whipping Orochi, his beads wrapped around the neck like a wire cutter, cleanly severing the fourth head from the body at the base.

In pain, Orochi deliberately kicked Tsukuyomi, preventing him from catching his breath. Tsukuyomi's body hit the mud at high velocity, skidding and skipping like a rock in the ocean, but, as always, eventually sinking.

The battle was unbearable, and Hoshiyo couldn't keep up with everyone's roles. Witnessing her friends die in such a slow, painful manner, all because Ōkuninushi wanted to prove himself, was unbearable. She could only hope he would be punished for his crimes after all this.

Hoshiyo whispered, "I wish I could do something. Why can't I do anything?"

Behind her, Hoshiyo heard a faint, gurgling whisper. Initially, she couldn't make out the words, but the voice became more apparent as she listened intently. Suddenly, the battlefield fell silent, and she distinctly heard the gurgling voice call out her name. Turning swiftly, Hoshiyo saw Tsukuyomi lying on the field of wild green grass. Without hesitation, she bounded to his rescue.

Tsukuyomi mumbled, "There's only one way we could win this, and we will need Susano's help. He's the only one who can configure him in his presence smoothly and quickly."

"What do I have to do?" Hoshiyo asked.

Tsukuyomi gurgled in pain, saying, "Each Kami has a secret hidden and forbidden technique. We pass it along through generations, and we hoped we wouldn't have to burden you with it, but there's no one else to teach you."

"Teach me what?" Hoshiyo inquired.

"The Star Shuriken. It's a deadly attack that can render any user unconscious for days. Accuracy is vital, or it could cost you your life."

"How can I use an attack made by the Kami before me to bring Orochi to his knees? I wouldn't even know how to begin using something like that."

Tsukuyomi dripped blood as he struggled to stand. He gazed at Susano and said, "I am too weak to show you. Susano, would you demonstrate for her?"

Susano abandoned the search for the other Kami and approached Hoshiyo. He smiled and nodded beside her, saying, "The Star Shuriken is no easy move. Follow every move I make, but do not attack until I'm finished. Understand?"

"Yes, okay, I'm ready," Hoshiyo affirmed.

Susano spread out his limbs, assuming a fighting stance. Hoshiyo mirrored his movements meticulously, determined not to miss a beat. With lightning speed, Susano lunged forward before she could even blink. Physically and emotionally stunned, Hoshiyo could barely keep up with his movements. Susano blurred in the air, his body spinning like a shuriken. Moving at such velocity, he resembled a shooting star, slicing through Orochi's head effortlessly. His body soared through the air, striking the tree on Orochi's backside.

Feeling overwhelmed by the seemingly impossible task, Hoshiyo glanced back at Tsukuyomi and asked, "How did he cut through those heads like they were nothing?"

Tsukuyomi smiled and replied, "Years of practice, my friend. When you attack, remember to use your claws and teeth rather than your entire body. Speed is crucial for this technique to work. All you need is an adrenaline boost."

Hoshiyo shivered, her legs trembling like clacking bones. "Adrenaline boost, from what? I can't even move, let alone run at the speed of sound. I can't do this," she lamented.

Tsukuyomi replied, "What do you mean you can't do this? We chose you after watching you stand up to that samurai." He circled her, eyes ablaze, waiting for her response.

Hoshiyo whimpered, "I don't know." She tucked her tail between her legs, following his gaze as he circled her.

"If you can't do this, why are you here?" Tsukuyomi questioned.

"I don't know!" Hoshiyo yelled defensively.

"Are you telling me that your Tanuki friend died for nothing? You brought him out here to die; is that what you are saying?"

"No, we had no idea Susano's son had released Orochi. It's not my fault," Hoshiyo whimpered.

"No, but you provoked the battle today, didn't you?" Tsukuyomi pressed.

"No, I didn't. None of this is my fault!" Hoshiyo screamed. Her mighty cry pushed Tsukuyomi away with barely a sound. "I'm tired of the blame always being on me." She charged toward Orochi, her heart pounding faster with each passing second, drawing the attention of the desperate beast.

Orochi yelled, "Where do you think you're going?"

Instead of responding, Hoshiyo used those spare seconds to assess the situation. Her eyes scanned from left to right, up and down, searching for any possible advantage against the massive beast. Widening her eyes, she noticed a weak spot at the center of the skull on the middle head, a remnant from a previous battle with Susano.

Choosing not to use the star shuriken immediately, she aimed directly for Orochi's center head and declared, "Got you!"

Orochi chuckled, lowering his central head to confront her head-on. They locked eyes, each confident in their impending victory. His serpent-like mouth opened, the tongue slithering in anticipation to trap her, but she agilely leaped over his head. In a swift motion, Hachiman tossed her an arrow, and she drove it into the vulnerable spot on Orochi's head, spinning to slice his neck in half.

Orochi screamed, demanding, "Who are you?"

"I am Hoshiyo Yasaki Sakamoto, the Kami of the stars, and I won't rest until you're brought to your knees."

With his last head, Orochi swung his neck forcefully to snatch her, but once again, Hoshiyo deftly infiltrated his defenses, holding his head down by the horns.

Struggling to maintain her grip, Hoshiyo muffledly declared, "I don't plan on letting go."

Susano, gasping for air but slowly regaining his composure, managed to stand back up. With a casual stride, he walked in front of them, smiling. He remarked, "Looks like you've caught yourself a snake, Sakamoto. Now, hold on tight and don't let go."

Struggling to maintain her grip, Hoshiyo replied, her voice slightly muffled, "I don't plan on it."

A glowing circle enveloped Susano as he chanted a purification exorcism to banish the evil. A paper talisman materialized out of thin air and struck Orochi at the center of his head. As Susano purified the beast, Hoshiyo's strength waned, and she released her hold on Orochi. The world around her began to spin, and she collapsed on the beast's back, succumbing to a deep slumber. Unconscious, Hoshiyo was gently placed on Hachiman's back as he carried her away from Orochi. The monstrous serpent, defeated and weakened, dissolved into the sea, sinking into the ocean trenches surrounding Japan. There, it lay dormant, nestled in a profound slumber, with the hope that no force would ever reawaken it again.

She gradually opened her eyes, catching a fleeting sight of Susano conversing with his son. At the same time, the group pressed on toward the village, each step an arduous feat, marked by bleeding wounds and excruciating pain. One by one, they succumbed to the ground, drained of energy from the relentless battle. Fuijin, the Kami, compelled to shield them, draped a fog over the weary warriors, guarding them against the inquisitive humans and Yokai who might approach. The toll of the ordeal became evident – it seemed unlikely any of them would emerge unscathed. They struggled to maintain even the simplest movements, leaving them utterly defenseless.

After several hours, Hoshiyo's eyes fluttered open, revealing figures emerging through the mist. A woman with flowing black hair and piercing red eyes approached, gracefully kneeling beside Hoshiyo. Tenderly, she stroked her and whispered, "Is that you, Hoshiyo?"