Chapter 32 Part 3: Friend or Foe?

The chase tore through the darkened forest, the woman's fearful gasps mingling with the pounding of the bandits' footsteps. Her terror was palpable, each frantic breath echoing in the night air like a symphony of desperation. As she stumbled over roots and branches, her eyes darted between the shadows, searching for any possible escape from her merciless pursuers.

"Keep running, you old hag!" Yamazaki Kudo barked, his voice cruel and gleeful. "And when we catch you, we will rape you!"

His laughter rang out like a death knell, spurring the other bandits on as they closed the distance between themselves and their quarry. The thrill of the hunt had overtaken them, their bloodlust and base driving them forward without pause or pity.

Kazuki, still standing amidst the chaos, could only watch helplessly as the woman he sought to protect fled deeper into the unknown. His body trembled with rage, his once-strong limbs weak and unsteady. A deep sense of frustration bubbled up within him, threatening to tear him apart at the seams. He knew that he could not save her on his own.

"Damn it," he muttered, his voice barely audible above the pounding of his own heart. "I have to do something. I can't let them take her."

"Focus," he told himself, taking a deep, steadying breath. "their must be another way to save her."

In the midst of his contemplation, an idea abruptly flashed across his mind. Kazuki found himself thinking of Tsukiyomi, the enigmatic Shadow Deity. Although the thought of interacting with this entity made him uncomfortable, he found himself compelled to consider even this unsettling option.

"Tsukiyomi," Kazuki murmured, his voice barely audible as he sprinted through the dark forest. "I need your help."

The enigmatic shadow deity appeared before him, a sly grin on his face. "Ah, Kazuki Gin, so you finally call upon me in your darkest hour. What is it you wish of me?"

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"Reveal your true form and scare these bandits away," Kazuki pleaded, his eyes locked on the scene unfolding ahead. "Just like Raijin did for Kagiri-sama."

Tsukiyomi's smile widened, but his eyes held a calculating glint. "Very well, I shall grant your request. But there is a price to pay – I want control over your body on demand."

Kazuki hesitated, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew he couldn't trust Tsukiyomi completely, but was there any other choice? As the woman's plight grew more desperate and the bandits closed in on her, Kazuki gritted his teeth and made his decision.

"No," he said firmly, his gaze never leaving the scene before him. "I cannot agree to such terms."

"Then you are on your own," Tsukiyomi replied coldly and vanished, leaving Kazuki to face the danger alone.

As the situation escalated, the bandits cornered the woman, their intentions clear as they prepared to strip her in search of hidden gold. One bandit lost patience, brandishing his katana menacingly as the others searched her garments.

"Enough!" Kazuki roared, his voice cracking from the strain, but the bandits paid him no heed. "Leave her be!"

"Shut up," one of them sneered, enjoying the power he held over the helpless woman. Her screams echoed through the forest, only to be abruptly silenced as another bandit choked her, gripping her throat with a ruthless force.

"Please," Kazuki whispered, his chest heaving as tears filled his eyes. "I beg of you... spare her."

Suddenly, the tranquil forest seemed to come alive with a surge of energy. Birds took flight in an eruption of flapping wings and frightened calls, their high-pitched cries piercing the tense atmosphere.

The vegetation seemed to shiver, slashed by unseen blades as a shade of rustling leaves filled the air. And then there were the footsteps - heavy thuds of boots pounding against the earth, growing louder as they approached.

The bandits froze in place, their eyes widening with terror as they scanned the surroundings, searching for the source of the disturbance. Even Yamazaki Kudo, the hardened leader of the group, felt a cold sweat trickle down his spine as he gripped his katana tightly. Kazuki's heart raced in his chest, his breaths coming in short gasps as he too tried to make sense of the sudden change.

"Wh-what's going on?" stammered one of the bandits, his voice shaking with fear.

"Quiet!" snapped Yamazaki, his eyes darting back and forth. "We're not alone."

Kazuki's mind raced, grasping for any explanation that could help him understand the chaos unfolding around them. Had Tsukiyomi decided to intervene after all? Or was this the work of some other powerful force?