Akuro and the others were pinned. They had no way to fight back, and no way to run. They couldn't even stand on their own feet, whilst everything they've done till now has been wasted effort. Moorza was without a scratch and didn't even seem to be exerted in any way. He was unfazed, as if nothing had happened to begin with, while Akuro and the others were brought to their knees.
Akuro watched, helpless, as Moorza raised his hands into the air and silver chakrams formed about his forearms.
'We are gonna die..' Akuro thought, the realization sinking in now. There was nothing he nor the others could do. They were trapped, with no way out. No help would come to save them. No stroke of luck would give them hope. They were finished. Akuro felt an ache in his chest, a strange throbbing he'd felt once long ago. This feeling... what was it exactly, he wondered. Was it fear..? No. That's a much different feeling. Anger? No, that is more of an anxious feeling. It was... regret. But why was he feeling this way? At that moment Akuro realized all the things he should've done, all the things he should've said. And now he would die, his second chance at life wasted, just as the first was.
He remembered then, so vividly, how his father's foot felt, crashing into his frame time and time again. He could hear, almost as though it were real, the gunshot, resounding through the air and bringing a soft ring to his ears as the bullet embedded itself in Hope's body, which then fell limp, empty and devoid of life.
At the moment of her death, he clearly remembered the distinct, cold feeling that came with it. An unbearable sense of loneliness, solitude, and abandonment. He felt left behind. He felt lost, and he felt broken.
And now, as he was forced to his knees, death unavoidable, he felt nothing but regret at the fact that he'd never been able to do the things he should have. He'd only ever pushed Inari and Darius away. He never let them be his friends, and he never tired to be theirs, yet they tried so hard to be his. Only now did he realize that, and only now did he regret not seeing them as anything other than allies. Maybe, he wondered, if he had allowed himself to forge bonds with them, would they be winning? Would those bonds make them stronger?
But he never did let them in, did he? He was so scared to make new bonds. He was scared that if he allowed himself to connect and care about someone, then he'd lose them, and he broken and lost all over again, so he'd closed them off. But it didn't matter, because he felt that same loneliness now, as well as regret.
Then he grinned at his own stupidity. He had tried to block them out, but he realized that he had bonded to them. He had created emotional connections without even realizing it. When he'd lost control when a Inari was hurt or when Darius was "killed". The reason he'd lost control all of those times was because he was hurt. Because in reality, without even realizing it, he'd grown attached to them. That's why he pushed Inari away. He thought she was weak. He didn't want her to get hurt, not because of him. But what he didn't realize was that she was a valuable ally, and a friend. But now he was not only about to lose them, but he'd also lose his second chance at life, he was also going to fail in his goals. He'd failed at everything he had aspired to be and achieve.
"Damn.." Darius cursed, releasing Akuro from the grip of his own mind. "You really scared of us?"
"What?" Moorza asked, his tone one of indifference.
"You can't beat us without taking away our powers? Are really so scared that you aren't willing to fight us honorably?"
"Honor? I have no need for such things. Not do I fear you, you've simply grown annoying and I've lost my patience." Moorza spoke.
"Sure, buddy." Darius mocked. "You're just scared that we might actually defeat you."
"Watch your tongue, boy!" Moorza snapped, the chakrams spinning about his arms wavering.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Inari hissed at Darius.
"No.." Akuro interjected, realizing what Darius was up to. The sun would come up soon. "Inari, let him be."
"What? But-"
"Moorza." Akuro said, the god's cold eyes turning to him. "You said I was the first to actually challenge you in a long time. What happened to that? What happened you wanting to defeat me?"
"I am defeating you."
"I mean defeating my power with your own. What happened to the thrill of the fight?"
"I have no time for 'thrill'. You've bored me. I do not fear you, nor am I weak. The fact that I can cancel out your power is proof enough of my strength."
"Really?" Darius spoke. "Cuz from our point of view it just looks like you are a pussy."
An expression of rage crossed Moorza's face, and as it did it seemed he lost hold on his aura. Suddenly the floor shook and a moment later the heavy force put on them was lifted, allowing them to move again.
Akuro rose to his feet and turned his eyes to the tops of the pillars. There had to be a way to get free of the Fate Strings. But how?
"The fact that you are able to stand is of no help. There is nothing you can do, there is no way for you to defeat me. Just give up already! You've lost!" Moorza roared, waving his hand, sending out two chakrams flying through the air.
One of them came soaring at Akuro, but not directly at him. Instead it went for the string attached to him. As it drew close, the blade a breath away from the string, Akuro felt an overwhelming sense of danger and jumped aside, rolling to the ground, as the chakram soared past and sank into the ground, narrowly missing the string.
"Don't let him cut your string! It will shatter your soul!" Akuro yelled out to the others, who began to dance about, avoiding the blades as they flew to and fro.