The Last Bargain

Chapter L: Cornered

The battlefield was a storm of divine energy and raw power, the very air vibrating with the force of the gods' relentless attacks. Shin and Raito, though skilled and determined, were struggling to hold their own against the overwhelming strength of the remaining six gods. Zento's battle with Bishamonten had left him weakened, and Shin knew they were running out of time.

Shin ducked as Daikokuten, the god of wealth, swung his massive war hammer in a wide arc, the sheer force of the blow sending cracks through the ground beneath them. The hammer missed Shin by inches, but the shockwave knocked him off balance, forcing him to roll out of the way before Daikokuten could follow up with another strike.

Raito was faring no better. Benzaiten, the goddess of eloquence and music, moved with fluid grace, her attacks coming in the form of ethereal blasts of energy that curved and twisted through the air with unnerving precision. Raito had to rely on his sharp reflexes and his ability to see through deception, dodging each wave of energy as it homed in on him, but even he was beginning to feel the strain.

"We can't keep this up," Raito shouted, deflecting another blast of energy. His breath was coming in heavy gasps, sweat pouring down his face. "There's no end to them!"

Shin, breathing hard from his own exertions, glanced at Zento. The speedster was still struggling to recover from Bishamonten's brutal counterattack, and the god of war was already preparing to strike again. They had to act fast.

"I know," Shin called back, blocking a punch from Fukurokuju, the god of wisdom. The impact sent a shockwave through Shin's body, and he staggered backward, barely managing to stay on his feet. "But we need time! Zento can't keep fighting at this pace. If we don't pull him out of there, he's done for!"

The gods moved with cold precision, their movements coordinated as they pressed Shin and Raito from all sides. Hotei, the god of contentment and happiness, wielded his massive staff with surprising agility, his jovial face a stark contrast to the deadly force he unleashed with every swing. Shin ducked under one of Hotei's blows, but the staff smashed into the ground, sending chunks of debris flying in all directions.

Shin was forced to leap back, but as he did, Jurōjin, the god of longevity, lunged at him from the side, his long staff aimed directly at Shin's chest. Shin barely managed to twist out of the way, but the tip of Jurōjin's staff grazed his arm, drawing a thin line of blood.

"They're too coordinated," Shin muttered, gritting his teeth as he sidestepped another attack. His mind raced as he tried to think of a way out. The gods weren't just powerful individually—they were working together seamlessly, each one covering the weaknesses of the others. Shin and Raito, though skilled, were being systematically outmaneuvered.

Raito, who had been trying to find a weakness in the gods' formation, called out again. "We need to split them up!" His eyes flicked between the gods, analyzing their movements. "If we keep fighting them as a group, they'll wear us down!"

Shin nodded, dodging another strike from Daikokuten's hammer. "You're right," he replied. "We need to break their formation. If we can isolate them, we'll have a better chance."

Raito's mind raced as he considered their options. "I'll draw a few of them away," he said. "That'll give you and Zento time to regroup."

Before Shin could respond, Raito dashed to the side, launching himself toward Benzaiten and Fukurokuju. The gods turned their attention to him, following his movements as he weaved through the battlefield, their divine attacks arcing after him like guided missiles.

"Come and get me!" Raito taunted, narrowly avoiding a blast of energy from Benzaiten. His movements were swift and calculated, designed to pull the gods away from Shin and Zento. But Raito knew this was only a temporary solution. If they didn't find a way to defeat the gods soon, they would all be overwhelmed.

With Raito distracting part of the group, Shin turned his attention back to Zento, who was still struggling to get back on his feet. Bishamonten loomed over him, his naginata raised high, ready to deliver the finishing blow.

Shin's heart pounded in his chest. "Zento, get up!" he shouted, sprinting toward his friend. "You can't stay down now!"

Zento, his body trembling from exhaustion, gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand. His legs felt like they were on fire, the result of pushing his speed to its absolute limit in the earlier fight. But even as his muscles screamed in protest, Zento knew he couldn't give up. Not now.

Bishamonten brought his naginata down with a roar, the blade slicing through the air with terrifying speed. But just as it was about to connect with Zento, Shin threw himself forward, sliding between them and copying Zento's father's signature counter. Using the move he had seen during his countless observations, Shin grabbed Bishamonten's wrist at the precise moment of the strike and redirected the god's momentum, causing the naginata to veer off course and crash into the ground beside Zento.

Bishamonten's eyes widened in surprise as he staggered back, momentarily off balance. Shin took advantage of the opening, leaping to his feet and landing a quick strike to the god's chest, but even his precise attack barely dented Bishamonten's armor.

Zento, now standing but still breathing hard, shot Shin a grateful look. "Thanks. Thought I was done for there."

Shin gave a small smile, though the exhaustion in his eyes betrayed how close they all were to their limits. "No problem. But we've got to move. We can't win this head-on."

Bishamonten recovered quickly, his expression darkening as he raised his naginata again. "You will not escape," the god growled, his voice like thunder. "You have trespassed into the realm of the gods, and for that, you will face divine judgment."

Zento wiped the sweat from his brow, glancing toward the gate they had come through. His heart sank as he realized how far away it was, with the gods standing between them and their only way out. But they had no other choice. If they stayed, they would be slaughtered.

"Shin," Zento said, his voice low but determined, "we need to retreat. I'll get us out of here."

Shin's eyes narrowed. "Are you sure you can push your speed that far? You've already hit your limit."

Zento clenched his fists, the pain in his legs a constant reminder of how much he had pushed himself. But he couldn't let that stop him. "I can still hit Mach 1. I'll carry both of you. We'll run for the gate."

Shin hesitated for a moment, his gaze flicking between Bishamonten and the other gods, who were now regrouping after Raito's distraction. The odds were stacked against them. But Zento's plan was their only chance.

"Alright," Shin said, his voice firm. "Let's do it."

They quickly regrouped with Raito, who had just narrowly avoided another energy blast from Benzaiten. "We're running," Shin said quickly, his tone urgent. "Zento's going to get us out of here. We need to head for the gate."

Raito glanced at Zento, seeing the exhaustion in his friend's eyes, but he nodded. "It's risky," he muttered, "but staying here is a death sentence."

Without wasting another moment, Zento grabbed Shin and Raito, positioning them so that he could carry both of them. His legs trembled under the weight, but he steeled himself, forcing his body to comply.

"We've got one shot at this," Zento said, his voice tight with strain. "When I run, hold on tight."

Bishamonten, seeing them regrouping, charged forward, his naginata raised high. "You will not escape!" the god roared, his massive frame moving with terrifying speed.

Zento gritted his teeth and took off, his body becoming a blur as he pushed himself to Mach 1. The world around them warped as Zento accelerated, the gods' domain blurring into a streak of colors. The ground beneath them trembled as Zento shot toward the gate, his speed leaving cracks in the glassy surface of the battlefield.

But just as they neared the gate, Shin suddenly shifted. With a quick, deliberate motion, he used the momentum of Zento's father's signature counter to throw both Zento and Raito off balance, hurling them through the gate.

Raito's eyes widened in shock. "Shin—!"

Before either of them could react, the gate began to close behind them, and Shin turned to face the gods. His heart pounded in his chest, but his expression was calm, resolute.

"Close the gate!" Shin shouted to the gods. "I'll deal with the rest."