Legions of whispers slithered between the walls and columns of Heaven’s palace. The gods, citizens of a paradise at war, all had two names on their tongues; Osamu Ashikaga and Taeko Akiyama. It was like their names had become part of the alphabet itself. Amatsu stood at the row of windows in Heaven’s war room, his eyes darting across the massive view sprawled before him.

The far mountains, the fields of silver grass fluttering in the wind, and the golden sunlight took it all in its embrace had their beauty undermined by the sight of gods and servants gathered in their circles, all of them speaking of the two greatest criminals in divine history. Their merciless attack on Kyoto lit a fire of rage in Heaven. Amatsu had all the support he needed to fight a war of retaliation, and all the justification a leader would need to label Osamu and Taeko as evil.

“Lord Amatsu…”

Amatsu turned to face Takemikazuchi, who stood at the door wearing a white fur cloak and a leather vest. His long, brown hair was tied into a messy top-bun and his blue eyes shined like glistening oceans.

“Ah, yes. Take your seats.” Amatsu said.

Other gods poured into the room after Takemikazuchi. One was the god of wisdom and good counsel, Omoikane. He was a tall, elderly man with a long, white beard and black cloak. He stood taller than any other god in the room. Being a god of wisdom, he had never involved himself in any of the conflicts or great wars in Heaven’s history. His mere presence in the War Room visibly unnerved Takemikazuchi, who glared at him with his eyes wide open.

The next god to enter was Takeminakata, a sturdy man with a long scar stretched across his right eye down to the left corner of his jaw. His broad shoulders and muscular build exuded unshakeable strength even through his black haori. Two gold bands clung to his wrists as he took his seat at the war room’s long table, stealing a venomous glance at Takemikazuchi.

“Good to see you’ve been summoned here as well, Mi-chi.” Takeminakata said.

“Don’t start, you two.” Omoikane groaned, stroking his beard.

The final god, Omononushi, stepped through the doors of the war room. His bejeweled armbands dazzled with flashes of gold and green in the sunlight. He wore a kingly, black beard on his face and swept his shoulder-length hair back with his hand. His black, long-sleeve shirt clung to his lean, yet defined body, accentuated by a golden necklace bearing the symbol of a radiant sun and its waving rays.

“Ah, of course the god of nation-building is here.” Takemikazuchi said.

“This is the first time I’ve seen this room without Lady Amaterasu in it.” Omononushi said.

“The Good Lady has been excluded for good reason.” Amatsu said. “This matter involves her son-in-law, her daughter, and a trusted agent of hers. We cannot expect her to be impartial under such extraordinary circumstances. Though, her strategic brilliance is sorely missed.”

“And yet, Heaven functions fine without her at the helm.” Omoikane remarked.

“As soon as we rid the world of this threat, I hope to have Amaterasu return to her queenly duties.” Amatsu said. “Now then, I have summoned you all here to be part of Heaven’s new War Council. We will be the ones leading the war effort against Osamu Ashikaga and Taeko Akiyama.

“As you can see, we are a bit short staffed. Heaven has lost many of its great gods over the years, gods that used to be vital members of older iterations of the War Council. Bishamon, Ichiki, Oyamatsumi, Hachiman, Raijin, and Fujin, all murdered by Tsukiakari Senkumo. Tsukuyomi imprisoned indefinitely, Inari turned traitor and dead by suicide. Heaven has seen better days.”

“We’ll be fine with what we’ve got.” Omononushi said. “So, still no word on Osamu’s location?”

“The Exorcist Program, JSDF, and American military have conducted a joint manhunt for him. It turned up nothing.” Amatsu explained. “We strongly believe Osamu and Taeko fled the country soon after carrying out the attack. We’re checking flight logs at every airport in the country, but chances are they left using teleportation coins.”

Omoikani chuckled softly as he stroked his beard. “I expected nothing less of that devil, Taeko.”

“Do we have any clue as to where they are?” Takeminakata asked.

Amatsu shook his head. “As of now, none. They could be anywhere right now. Furthermore, the Exorcist Program believes that Osamu and Taeko had men on the inside to help them carry out the attack. They’re quietly conducting an investigation to flush them out of the force.”

“So, basically, we’re nowhere.” Takemikazuchi sighed.

“There’s a good chance Osamu will come back to finish what he started. It’s just a hunch of mine.” Omoikane suggested. “Why go through with the attack at all, garnering all of this international attention, just to run and hide? He and Taeko have some sort of plan. We should proceed with caution.”

“He would need a lot more than just a few exorcists to fight against the world.” Omononushi said, crossing his arms. “But the question is, just what does he have up his sleeve?”

“Every step he’s taken so far has come as a complete surprise to us.” Amatsu said, pacing around the table. “We expected retaliation and got the worst act of terrorism in modern history. We expected him to hide, but not to flee the country. We expected he’d have help, but not from agents within the Exorcist Program. I think Omoikane is right, as usual.”

Omoikane smugly nodded his head. “God of wisdom, after all.”

“I will take command of the Kyoto Exorcist Program.” Amatsu said. “Takemikazuchi, you take the Tokyo branch. Takeminakata, take Sapporo. Omoikane will take Okinawa. Omononushi will take Osaka. I want our nation ready for anything. Report everything to me.”

Just as everyone nodded in agreement, a young, female servant barged through the war room’s doors. The gods sensed the urgency in her intrusion as she stopped to catch her breath.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“I’m so sorry, my lords!” the servant said. “There’s been a development!”

“Breathe, young lady. What is it?” Omoikane asked.

The servant took a moment to calm herself, then stood up straight. “We’ve found Manami Akiyama.”

The gods stood from their seats in shock. The young servant had their full attention.

“What do you mean? How?” Amatsu asked. “The Kyoto branch received a tip from someone who worked closely with Manami. They’re already sending a squad to capture her right now. She’s been hiding in a villa in Italy.”

“What? They sent a squad to Italy? Do we even have permission to deploy forces there?” Takeminakata asked.

The servant shook her head. “They’re acting in secret and the agents are wearing plain clothes. Obviously, this a violation of international law.”

“It’s too late to stop them now.” Omoikane. “This better pay off for us.”

The doors to Manami’s villa were blown open, killing four of her guards that lied in wait behind it. More than a dozen men in black masks and civilian clothes stormed inside and were immediately met with fireballs hurled at them from the top of the stairs.

As the fighting began, one of Manami’s men rushed into the living room, throwing her arm around his shoulders.

“Manami, we’re under attack! We’re leaving!” he said.

“How did they find us? Where’s Anne?” Manami asked.

“I haven’t seen her since last night!”

“…What did you say?” Manami gasped.

Manami’s guard kicked open the door to the left of the living room and carried her through the hallway as the sounds of pained screams and explosions grew louder. They spotted another one of Manami’s men down the hall. Before they could call out to him, he was hit in the stomach with a lightning javelin. The javelin ripped open his stomach like a bubble that was waiting to pop, spraying his blood and entrails all over the villa walls.

Manami and her guard turned the other way, but came face-to-face with the Kyoto exorcists. They sent a lightning javelin flying towards her guard’s head, popping it open like a watermelon. Manami fell to floor as her subordinate’s skull fragments and brain matter rained down upon her. The exorcists moved in and surrounded her, one of them stepping forward as he lit a cigar between his lips.

“Manami Akiyama…you’re under arrest.”

Amatsu made haste to Kyoto, barging through the doors of the small shrine Amaterasu and Uzume took refuge in. He found those two sitting across from a lone girl, her hands in cuffs and her head hung in shame. He also spotted Yuuto and Kiyoko lying in their beds, still unconscious from the attack.

“What is the meaning of this?” Amatsu asked. “Did you order the Kyoto branch to capture Manami in secret?”

“No, she didn’t. I did.” Uzume said, standing from her chair.

“Uzume, what you did was illegal.”

“I know. Welcome to being a leader, Amatsu. Effective monarchs rule through light and shadow.” Uzume replied.

“…This girl. She’s the informant?” Amatsu asked.

“Indeed, she is.” Amaterasu said, crossing her legs. “I never would’ve expected you of all people to betray her…Anne.”

Anne raised her head to face the gods before her. Her eyes were puffy and dark, as though she hadn’t slept in days.

“Anne has already explained to us how she helped Manami escape exorcist custody, then fled with her to Italy.” Amaterasu said. “She also told us that Manami was Osamu’s co-conspirator in the attack. She used her men and resources to bomb their targets at the command of Osamu and Taeko. Now do you understand why we rushed at the opportunity to capture her?”

Amatsu’s mouth was left agape. Just like that, Japan had captured one of the people responsible for the attack on Kyoto. This victory would undoubtedly drum up public support for the war against Osamu. It would show the Japanese public and the world at large that the country wasn’t playing around. It was exactly the kind of victory the world needed.

“The question is…why? Why betray Manami?” Amaterasu asked.

“I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t live with what we did in Kyoto.” Anne cried. “So many civilians…and for what? To protect Osamu? To protect Taeko? Why should I tear my soul apart just for them?”

“Seems the barbarity of the attack made even her most zealous followers grow a conscience.” Uzume remarked.

“I gave you Manami. I don’t want to face a trial. They’ll give me the death sentence.” Anne murmured.

“I can’t make any promises.” Amaterasu said. “The attack was so terrible that I’m not certain I can protect you. However, if we do successfully capture Manami, I’m sure the nation would rather see her stand trial that just one of her subordinates. The Exorcist Program will expect you to divulge everything you know about the attack and Manami’s forces.”

“I understand.” Anne said, hanging her head again. “There’s one more thing.”

“What is it?” Amatsu asked.

“I don’t know where he is right now…but I do know that he’s planning another attack on Fukuoka in the coming weeks.”

“What?” Amaterasu recoiled. “You don’t mean…”

“I’m talking about Osamu. I don’t know the details. All I know is that he’ll attack Fukuoka next.” Anne warned. “Please, you have to be ready! Don’t let there be a repeat of Kyoto!”

Uzume suddenly winced in pain. She checked the palm of her hand, seeing the word ‘Orion’ temporarily burned onto her skin. It was the secret phase she was waiting for.

“Orion! They’ve got her. They captured Manami.” Uzume announced.

Amaterasu stood from her chair and turned her gaze towards Amatsu. “I know I’m not leading the War Council right now, but if I were you, I’d bolster my forces around Fukuoka. Make sure the city is ready for anything. This girl’s intel just swung the war back into our favor.”

“…I’ll do so right away.” Amatsu said, heading for the door.

Amaterasu turned her head and glanced at Anne, who sat in her chair fighting back tears. Anne looked utterly broken by the weight of the sins she committed in Kyoto, haunted by the thousands of lives she helped steal. If she weren’t a mass murderer, Amaterasu considered that she might’ve pitied her.

“Do what you must, Osamu.” Amaterasu said. “This nation will be ready.”

Osamu was doing exactly that. The next morning in Wales, the girls awoke to the sound of footsteps traveling down the hall outside their door. Yoko jumped out of bed and opened the door, followed by Izanami, Tsukiakari, Shinju, and Amatsuki. What they saw puzzled them.

Osamu, Taeko, and Carmilla stopped to face the girls, but there were two grown women with them, one black-haired and one blonde.

“Who the hell are they?” Yoko asked.

Hima turned around with a smug smile on her face, the sunlight pouring onto her red dress pants and long, hooded cloak. An onyx brooch on a golden chain connected the upper left and right halved of the cloak. She was clearly dressed for a special occasion.

Looking at everyone, Yoko and the girls noticed they were all dressed for something as grand as a ball. Emerald earrings glittered on the lobes of Carmilla’s ears, contrasting with her long, black dress. Osamu wore a velvet, burgundy suit and pants and a black, silk dress shirt underneath. A black pocket square to match the shirt stuck out of the suit’s breast pocket, while two golden rings with large, onyx jewels decorated his ring and pinky fingers.

Even Taeko was dressed up in an alluring, form-fitting one-piece that left none of her curves to the imagination. The color matched Osamu’s, and a golden necklace formed a crescent around her neck.

“Good morning, everyone!” Hima sang. “I hope you slept well.”

It took the girls a few seconds before they finally started to realize what had happened. Just as Shinju told Izanami, Osamu gave some of his blood to Hima. Remembering that, they soon recognized the grown women as Hima and Annabel.

Annabel’s growth was very much like Hima’s. She stood at about the same height and possessed the same, narrow, seductive eyes that Hima did. The black belt tied around the stomach of her red dress gave her waist a narrow appearance, while also tightening the fabric around her large breasts.

“You may help yourselves to breakfast in the dining room.” Hima offered. “We probably won’t be back until tomorrow.”

“Wait a second! Where are you all going?” Amatsuki questioned.

Hima smiled as she glanced the faces of Osamu, Taeko, Carmilla, and Annabel. She then aimed her gaze at the Amatsuki and the rest of the girls. “We’re going to go build a new nation.”

And with that, Hima and the others turned away and kept walking. Yoko and the others stood in the hallway, frozen in their places. It was finally time. The vampires would soon create their new country.