The Attack II

The mountain wind howled softly, carrying the weight of the past with it.

Ayami moved with the silent grace of a predator, slipping through the trees as her feline form blended into the shifting shadows. The presence of Takemikazuchi-no-Okami was undeniable now—power thrummed in the air, a force so ancient and heavy it made the leaves tremble.

She perched on a thick branch, her golden eyes narrowing as she spotted him.

There, in the middle of a small waterfall cascading down the mountainside, sat the god. His form was as imposing as she remembered—muscles taut like coiled lightning, his dark hair tied back, revealing sharp, unyielding eyes. His presence crackled, faint arcs of electricity dancing along the water's surface, yet he remained still, his gaze lowered in quiet contemplation.

"Hmm... that's the god, yeah, I remember him," Ayami whispered to herself.

Suddenly, his head snapped up, his sharp gaze locking onto the trees above.

"Who's there!?" His voice thundered, echoing through the mountains as if the very earth responded to his presence.

Ayami didn't so much as twitch. Even as his voice thundered through the mountains, even as the air crackled with barely restrained power, she remained perched on her branch, tail flicking lazily in amusement.

For a moment, silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken history. Then, with effortless grace, she dropped from the tree, landing lightly on a moss-covered rock at the water's edge. As she moved, her form shifted—fur retracting, limbs elongating—until she stood before him in her human form, golden eyes gleaming with something between amusement and challenge.

"Still as dramatic as ever," she remarked, arms folding across her chest.

Takemikazuchi's gaze darkened. "Ayami Tsujimoto…" His voice had lost its boom, but none of its weight. "I should've known you'd be lurking."

"Lurking?" She scoffed, tilting her head. "Please. I was just taking a morning stroll. Imagine my surprise when I sensed an old executioner wandering into my territory."

His eyes narrowed, muscles shifting like a storm waiting to break. "Your territory?"

Ayami smirked. "Well, I've been here a lot longer than you, haven't I?" She took a measured step forward, the air between them thick with tension. "Now tell me, Takemikazuchi—what brings you here? Did the gods finally grow bored and send you to finish the job?"

"You killed one of my followers." His tone was flat, but charged. "Now I'm here to find a new one… and, of course, to kill you."

Ayami sighed, rubbing her temple. "You do remember you can't use your divine magic directly, right? So unless you plan to get creative, you're kind of out of luck."

Takemikazuchi's jaw tightened. "I know. That's why I need Enkidu to lift the restriction."

A short laugh escaped her lips. "So, what, you're just loitering around until you get permission?" She shook her head. "How tragic."

Takemikazuchi scoffed, arms crossing over his chest. "And you're just a human who can turn into a cat. What's the difference? You can't even kill me with that power."

Ayami's smirk didn't falter. "I may be 80 years old, but I'm far from weak."

Before the words had fully left her lips, her form twisted once more—her body expanding, fur bristling as she grew into something much larger. Massive fangs gleamed in the morning light as she took the shape of a saber-toothed tiger, her muscles rippling beneath thick, golden fur.

She let out a low, guttural growl, eyes locked onto Takemikazuchi with quiet, unwavering confidence.

"Still just a cat, huh?" The god murmured, though there was a flicker of something in his expression. The faint crackle of electricity sparked at his fingertips.

Ayami's tail lashed behind her, claws digging into the earth. "A cat that can rip your throat out."

Takemikazuchi's lips curled into a smirk, but his eyes held nothing but deadly intent. His stance shifted, feet planting firmly against the moss-covered stones as electricity crackled to life around him. The waterfall behind him hissed as stray arcs of lightning kissed the surface, sending up tendrils of steam.

"Then come," he said, his voice calm but edged with challenge. "Show me if time has made you more than just a relic clinging to old grudges."

Ayami didn't need to be told twice. With a powerful push from her hind legs, she lunged faster than any normal beast, her massive form a blur as she closed the distance in an instant. Her claws swiped toward him, aiming straight for his chest.

Takemikazuchi didn't flinch.

With a sharp crack of thunder, he vanished—only to reappear just a few feet away, the ground where he had been standing now scorched black.

Ayami landed with a heavy thud, immediately pivoting on her paws. She didn't respond—she had no intention of playing into his taunts. Instead, she shifted her weight, her body shimmering for just a second before vanishing into the shadows of the trees.

Takemikazuchi narrowed his eyes. He could still feel her presence, but she was moving differently now—calculating, waiting.

Without warning, his fist shot out, fast and unforgiving, connecting with Ayami's side. The force of the punch drove the air from her lungs, and she staggered back, momentarily disoriented.

The ground beneath her trembled as she regained her balance, her golden eyes flashing with a mix of surprise and anger. She wasn't about to back down now.

The lone mountain hiker adjusted the straps of his backpack, steadying himself as he climbed over a rocky ledge. He had been hiking for hours, enjoying the solitude of the mountain trail. The crisp morning air, the scent of pine, and the occasional rustle of wildlife made for a peaceful experience, until he heard it.

A low, guttural growl. Then a sharp cry, followed by the unmistakable sound of something heavy crashing through the underbrush.

The hiker froze, his senses immediately sharpening. That wasn't normal.

His military instincts kicked in. He had spent years in the service, trained to assess threats quickly and act accordingly. If someone was getting mauled by a bear or a tiger, he couldn't just stand by.

Adjusting his footing, he moved swiftly toward the source of the noise. As he neared, he crouched behind a thick tree trunk, carefully peeking out from behind the bark. What he saw made him question his own sanity.

In the clearing ahead, two figures were locked in combat.

One was a massive, prehistoric-looking feline saber-toothed tiger, of all things. Its fur bristled with tension, golden eyes gleaming with a dangerous intelligence as it circled its opponent.

And the opponent? A man, but not just any man. He stood tall, radiating power, his dark hair tied back as arcs of electricity flickered along his arms. His stance was calm, measured, like someone who had fought a thousand battles before.

The hiker blinked, gripping the tree for support. What the hell am I looking at?

This wasn't some ordinary animal attack. This was a full-blown fight between something straight out of ancient history and a guy who looked like he walked out of a legend.

For now, the hiker remained still, watching. He needed to understand what was happening before deciding whether to intervene or to run for his damn life.

Takemikazuchi exhaled sharply, his muscles coiled like a drawn bowstring as he watched the massive saber-toothed tiger prowl in a wide arc around him. The moment she started moving, she didn't stop—Ayami was a blur of motion, circling him so fast she was nearly invisible, her massive paws making barely a sound against the forest floor.

His eyes darted left—no, right—no, behind—

Damn it.

Without his divine magic, he was limited. No lightning-fast reflexes granted by divine power, no sudden bursts of speed to counter her unpredictable movements. He was fighting like a mortal, relying on sheer instinct and experience—and Ayami knew it.

She was toying with him.

His eyes flickered across the battlefield, trying to pinpoint her next move. Every rustle, every flicker of movement in the corner of his vision kept him guessing.

Then, from his left—

He barely managed to twist his body in time as Ayami lunged, her massive claws slicing through the air where his chest had been a second earlier. He retaliated instantly, twisting his hips and driving his fist forward, aiming for her ribs.

But she wasn't there.

Ayami had already shifted mid-air, twisting her body unnaturally before landing gracefully on all fours. The moment her paws touched the ground, she was gone again, melting into the trees.

Takemikazuchi let out a slow breath, rolling his shoulders. Alright, then. If she wanted to make him dance, he'd make sure she paid for every step.

He crouched lower, grounding himself, his fists tightening. He needed to stop reacting—he had to take control of the fight.

Think, dammit. She's fast, but she can't attack without committing to a strike. The second she moves in, I—

A sudden gust of wind.

Takemikazuchi's eyes widened. He turned just in time to see Ayami mid-lunge—fangs bared, claws extended, aimed right for his throat.

This time, he didn't dodge.

Instead, he met her attack head-on.

To Be Continue.