“Why do we not simply fight our way forth?” Susanoo asked in frustration.
“Because we were surrounded by exceedingly powerful deities. Our chances of victory were minimal,” Anpiel replied.
“Even so, we might at least have attained a death befitting our honor,” Susanoo murmured.
“Well… I think I agree with Susanoo,” Tania added.
“Why do you say that?” Rodrigo asked.
“We are now confined within a cell where the anti-divinity power is even stronger than outside. They have extracted our ichor. We can barely move, and they took our totemas,” Tania explained, frustrated.
She and Rodrigo were bound together by a rope around their necks, and Rodrigo was tied to the ground. Anpiel and Susanoo were restrained in the same manner.
The four deities were imprisoned in the open, atop a very high hill. Its limits were marked by a circle of stones radiating a powerful anti-divinity barrier. It not only prevented them from using their powers but also left them weak and dizzy.
“We shall be conveyed to that city of which they spoke, stripped of our ofuda.... I mean, totemas… and there we shall meet our end, deprived of all honour and bereft of dignity,” Susanoo said pessimistically.
“Cahokia, the capital of the Mississippi Empire,” Anpiel clarified.
“But Susanoo, was it not your dream to slay a tannin? You should at least be pleased that your wish was fulfilled,” Rodrigo said, trying to be optimistic.
“I required the aid of Hé-no-sama, Rodrigo-san. It cannot yet be deemed a proper victory,” Susanoo replied solemnly.
At that moment, a great commotion began. The earth trembled violently, and thunder roared across the sky.
“What is happening in the village?” Tania asked, puzzled.
“We ought to use this turmoil to escape,” Susanoo urged.
“The closer you approach the barrier, the weaker you will become,” Anpiel warned.
“Both Rodrigo and I are tied to the ground. Even if you managed to escape, you would lose consciousness, and we would all be hanged by these ropes around our necks—especially from the height of this hill,” the angel added.
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“But if we do nothing, we will die in that city anyway,” Tania replied.
“Cahokia, Tania,” Anpiel corrected.
“How do you even remember such strange names?” she asked.
“I am older than you, and I was accustomed to memorizing countless names for my missions,” Anpiel answered calmly.
Suddenly, the sky darkened further, and lightning split the heavens. Cries of agony and terror echoed from afar. Then, the gods saw a large crowd of humans gathering outside the hill, armed with knives and spears.
“They are the culprits!” one of them shouted, hurling a stone that struck Rodrigo in the face. Due to the anti-divinity barrier, the blow caused severe damage, covering his forehead and right eye in blood.
“Yes! They are the ones who brought those stone demons!” others shouted, throwing more stones. Tania, Anpiel, and Susanoo began to bleed as they were pelted mercilessly.
“They are demons! Take your weapons and kill them!” someone cried.
The crowd raised their weapons and advanced toward the helpless gods.
“I never imagined I would die at the hands of humans,” Tania said bitterly.
“And in such a dishonorable manner…” Susanoo added grimly.
At that very instant, a blinding bolt of lightning struck, dazzling the crowd. Outside the circle of the anti-divinity barrier stood Hé-no, bow in hand.
“Forgive my delay—I have come to free you,” the thunder god declared, firing arrows that shattered the stones forming the barrier.
Immediately, the gods felt their strength returning and broke the ropes that bound them.
Hé-no then tossed their totemas toward Tania.
“It was no simple matter retrieving them. Hence the delay,” he said.
“Thank you. I suppose that settles our debt,” Tania replied with a grateful smile.
“By no means. It was my fault for bringing you into Sawiskera’s trap. This is but my attempt to atone,” Hé-no answered.
Rodrigo then noticed that the humans stood completely still, frozen in place.
“Is this… another dimension?” he asked.
Hé-no hesitated.
“The humans appear frozen in time, while we move freely,” Rodrigo continued.
“Ah! I can halt time within the realm of humans using my lightning. Fear not—once it resumes, you will simply have vanished from their sight,” Hé-no explained.
“Wait!” Anpiel called, conjuring a horn of mead. “We cannot fight without restoring our strength.”
“Good thing you are always prepared, Anpiel,” Tania said.
They all drank ambrosia and regained their energy as Hé-no explained further.
“Sawiskera blames you for the current attack on the village—giants of stone are assaulting it. These people believe killing you will appease them,” Hé-no said.
“Why would he do that?” Tania asked.
“I cannot discern any reason,” Anpiel replied. “Perhaps… to create as much chaos as possible?”
“Now that I think of it… I do not even remember why Sawiskera became king. It feels as though he has always been so,” Hé-no said. “When I saw his face filled with malice, that doubt arose within me.”
Having regained their strength, the gods leapt down from the hill.
“Whatever the truth may be, let us go and defeat this Sawiskera,” Susanoo declared with renewed vigor.
“I came only to free you. This matter should be resolved by us alone,” Hé-no said.
Tania shook her head.
“What kind of gods would we be if we did not help those in need?” she asked firmly.
Hé-no nodded in gratitude.
The gods donned their totemas and fled the hill.
Moments later, time resumed for the humans, who stood bewildered at the gods’ disappearance—there had been no possible way for them to escape.