The Last Bargain

Chapter XLVII: The Dillema

The air in the gods' domain hung heavy with an unspoken pressure, as if the very sky bore witness to the monumental decision that lay before them. Shin, Zento, and Raito stood in silence, the shimmering, ethereal light from the swirling heavens casting their shadows long and distorted across the smooth, glassy ground. They had just uncovered the gods' final plan: an option to reset the world by erasing all abilities.

But the cost was unimaginable. Every ability that had shaped their world would be gone. The clans, the structures of power, the very fabric of society—all of it would crumble, reduced to dust in the wake of a new world without powers.

Zento broke the silence, his voice low but filled with urgency. "If we go through with this... if we erase all abilities right now, the world won't survive it. The clans will collapse overnight. All the political balance between the families... gone."

He paused, clenching his fists as his mind raced with the implications. "There's no way the powerful families will just sit back and let it happen. They'll fight. Wars could break out. The weak will be consumed by the strong. It'll be chaos."

His words lingered in the air, a stark reality they all had to confront. Zento wasn't just thinking about his own clan—the Dassou, known for their remarkable speed and agility. They had built their legacy over generations on their unique abilities. Without those powers, they would be vulnerable, left at the mercy of other clans that had relied more on brute force, military strength, or cunning tactics to maintain control.

Raito crossed his arms, his expression cold and calculating. "You're right. The moment abilities disappear, the entire structure of power collapses. My clan, the Kasetsu, while not a large clan with an inherited technique, has many ability users, without the one thing that sets us apart..."

Raito trailed off, but the meaning was clear. The Kasetsu clan, like many others, would lose the foundation of their influence. And in a world where lies were currency and power, the sudden inability to read truth from deception would leave them defenseless.

For a moment, the two of them stood there, contemplating the fragile equilibrium of power they had taken for granted all their lives. Every clan had its strengths, its weaknesses, its role in the grand scheme of things. But strip away their abilities, and the entire game changed.

Zento ran a hand through his hair, pacing back and forth. "And what about the people who depend on their powers for everyday survival? Not just the clans but ordinary people? Farmers who use abilities to control the weather, healers who rely on their powers to cure disease... We're talking about a complete collapse of society as we know it."

Raito nodded, his gaze never leaving the shimmering sky. "The gods know this. They understand what an immediate reset would do. They've set it up as a last resort. They don't care about the chaos it would cause—they only care about regaining control."

Their conversation was punctuated by a long, contemplative silence. The gods had offered them a way out—a failsafe that could stop the reset. But it came at the cost of every ability. To them, it was a simple solution, an erasure of what they considered humanity's most dangerous trait: unpredictability.

Zento's frustration was palpable. He kicked a loose stone, sending it skittering across the glassy surface of the ground. "So what do we do? We can't let them reset the world. But if we go through with this, the world will tear itself apart."

He looked to Shin, hoping for some sign of what their next move should be. But Shin wasn't paying attention. He was standing a few steps away from them, his gaze fixed on the horizon, where the swirling skies met the distant edge of the gods' domain. His expression was unreadable, his thoughts seemingly elsewhere.

Raito frowned, noticing Shin's detachment. "Shin," he called out, his voice sharp. "What do you think? You've been quiet this whole time."

Shin blinked, snapping out of his reverie. He turned toward them, his face calm but distant. For a moment, it seemed as though he was about to answer, but then he hesitated, his eyes flicking back to the horizon.

"I... don't know," Shin said finally, his voice soft and almost distracted. "It's a big decision. I'm still... thinking."

Zento furrowed his brow, confused by Shin's aloofness. This wasn't like him. Usually, Shin was the one who jumped into discussions with sharp insights or a plan of action. Now, he seemed strangely detached, as if his mind was occupied with something else entirely.

Raito's expression darkened. "This isn't the time to be distracted, Shin. We're on the brink of something that could change everything. We need to be united in whatever decision we make."

But Shin said nothing more. His thoughts remained his own, and whatever plan he was contemplating, he wasn't ready to share it.

The tension between them began to build, the weight of the decision they faced pressing down on all of them. But before they could say anything further, the ground beneath their feet trembled, a low rumble that sent vibrations through the air. The swirling skies above them grew darker, more chaotic, as if reacting to their very presence.

A deafening roar echoed across the domain, and from the misty veil of the horizon, seven figures emerged. Their forms were massive, their presence overwhelming, each one radiating a divine energy that warped the air around them. As they stepped into view, their features became clearer—towering, armored figures draped in robes that shimmered with celestial light.

Raito's eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat as he recognized them. "The Seven Lucky Gods," he whispered. "They've come."

The leader of the group, Bishamonten, the god of warriors and protector of divine law, stood at the forefront. His hulking frame was covered in ornate armor, and in his hands, he wielded a massive naginata, the blade gleaming with an ethereal glow. His eyes were fierce, burning with the fire of divine wrath.

"You mortals," Bishamonten's voice boomed, shaking the very air around them, "have trespassed into the domain of the gods. For this insult, you will pay with your lives."

Zento instinctively shifted into a battle stance, his muscles tensing as adrenaline coursed through his veins. "We don't have time for this," he muttered, his eyes scanning the seven gods as they advanced toward them. "But it looks like we're going to have to fight our way out."

Raito clenched his fists, his gaze cold and calculating. "Seven gods... this is going to be rough. Zento, you take Bishamonten. We'll handle the others."

Zento nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. Bishamonten, the god of war, was a formidable opponent, but Zento's speed was unmatched. He'd have to use that to his advantage if he had any hope of surviving this encounter.

With a deep breath, Zento shot forward, his body becoming a blur as he moved with lightning speed toward Bishamonten. The massive god swung his naginata in a wide arc, but Zento ducked under the blow, darting to the side and delivering a quick, precise strike to Bishamonten's armored torso.

Bishamonten grunted, the force of the blow staggering him, but he quickly recovered, swinging his weapon again with even more ferocity. Zento dodged effortlessly, moving too fast for the god to land a hit. His speed was overwhelming, a blur of motion that Bishamonten struggled to keep up with.

Meanwhile, Shin and Raito turned their attention to the remaining six gods. Each one radiated an aura of divine power, their eyes glowing with fury.

"This isn't going to be easy," Raito muttered, his voice steady but tense. "But we don't have a choice."

Shin, still seemingly lost in his own thoughts, nodded slowly. "Let's do this."

And so, the battle began, the air crackling with energy as the gods descended upon them.