Okami: A Thousand Suns

Deshima

Travelling on the highway devoid of human life and machines was no different than that of a post-apocalyptic genre series. The bittersweet sensation of the natural landscape that took over man's marvelous constructs and put them into disuse. Roland felt like he was in a stasis, or a dream state after all the horrors he had most recently experienced in the dark realms of corrupted society. It was, however, no different for Amaterasu, as in the past when it seemed all hope is lost; everything has changed for the better as fast as the light from the sun could reach the surface.

The scenery steadily changed as Roland and Amaterasu approached the now abandoned suburbs of Deshima. Deshima was another one of Nippon's largest cities which specialized in manufacturing and the oil industry. It was also known to be the most polluted due to the overwhelming number of factories and refineries it had built within city limits.

Distant small arms fire and explosions were heard located deeper within the city proper. Presumed to be skirmishes between resistance fighters and the Imperial Guard or the military. Regardless of what took place in Deshima, Roland needed to obtain further information and rally more rebels to push westwards towards Sei'an City. He reached into his book bag and retrieved a folded sheet of paper that was a list of all locations of resistance cell leaders in each city. The one in Deshima appeared to be in a now abandoned factory deep in the industrial district.

"Ok Ammy, we need to get to this location in the city, and we have to get there undetected or else we'll lead all of the enemies right towards the outpost." Roland pointed out the sheet to Amaterasu under the assumption that she had the ability to read, which she slightly did have to some extent.

Suddenly, Amaterasu heard faint rumbling noises from behind them. The sounds picked up in volume as the source drew closer. She turned around and pointed herself towards it, which caught Roland's attention as well. Out on the horizon, multiple vehicles of various types headed towards their position.

"Damn! It's a convoy! Quick lets hide inside that building!" Roland pointed towards an abandoned two-story business building where they wasted no time getting out of sight. The sounds of the moving vehicles reached the climax when the military convoy passed right beside them. Multiple tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, troop transports, and artillery pieces drove on the highway in a single filed line headed towards Deshima as Roland and Amaterasu observed them carefully from behind a few desks inside the building.

"Great, I guess we've got ourselves a boy scout welcoming committee...Wait a minute, they didn't appear to be attacked by the demons roaming outside the cities. How did they even manage to get over here? Let alone by foot?"

Amaterasu had the same exact question in mind as Roland did. This was another encounter she added to her ever-growing list of mental notes. Ever since she arrived on Nippon, all of the events she had witnessed was nothing like she had anticipated.

Humans are warring against one another, amidst the onslaught of darkness. But why? The Emperor had been mentioned before in this context. Is he the one pulling all the strings? Is he collaborating with those responsible for the evil cursed upon this land? If that is true, why aren't the humans uniting to put an end to it? This is a ploy I have never felt more terrified than ever before, it's too cold and calculated for a demon to formulate. What even made their return possible anyhow?

While Amaterasu kept on pondering with her thoughts, Roland signaled the all-clear and the two got back on the highway to resume their trek to Deshima.

The duo eventually reached the outer perimeter of the city's limits, which was once again surrounded by tall, metallic border walls and automated watch towers. The entrance that connected the highway was guarded by an automatic tesla gate and soldiers posted behind it. While still out of sight, Roland was debating on whether to attempt to either scale the walls, or to find an underground passage. Amaterasu however, thought up a more elaborate scheme. She saw a rag matching the color of Roland's hoodie hanging over a window, to which she grabbed it by her maw and dropped it in front of Roland.

"What is this thing? What do you want me to do with it?" Roland asked in confusion, to which Amaterasu used her eyebrows and body language to share her plan with him.