Like an agile serpent, Izanami attacked the gap in Izanagi's defense, overcoming his power and beginning to suppress him, slowly striping him of his power. Izanagi tried his best to resist, but once the sapping of his strength started, there was nothing he could do.
The aura of Yomi smothered what was left of the faith he stole to empower himself, bringing the proud god to his knees. When he started to lose, his Dharma also followed, finally being destroyed when its master couldn't provide the power to keep the stalemate going.
-"Finally, after all those years."-Izanami looked at the kneeling god who was still struggling.-"How does it feel when a blemish you tried to ensure shatters your whole perfection?"
-"Bitch, why do you always ruin everything?!"
-"Always? Funny. Back then, I truly wished the best for you, wanting to help you achieve the wish you had. But your hubris and fragile ego made you destroy everything."
-"Lies! You witch, you always plotted behind my back!"
-"Sigh."-Looking at her enemy, who still couldn't accept reality, Izanami waved her hand, throwing him next to me.-"Yue."
~"What do you want his Fate to be?"
-"Honestly, I don't care. Now that I had achieved my revenge, I found that he was nothing to me. This is his last day. I don't want any more of my memories or thoughts to be polluted by him."
I nodded my head and finally let the world correct the history that was covered, assisting in the process to make sure Izanagi didn't prepare any backhand for this eventuality, but nothing as such happened. He never imagined that someone would discover anything, not to even mention trying to oppose him.
As the past facts were being corrected, almost all people and even most gods didn't notice any difference, but some felt changes that were occurring. The primordial gods and those closely linked to Karma and Truth instantly tried to uncover what had happened.
The correction of the past has two major consequences. The first is returning what was rightfully hers to Izanami while punishing Izanagi with heavy Karma for what he had done. The importance of that Karmatic Punishment shouldn't be underestimated.
Yomi is an underworld that is closely connected to the origins of the dungeon. If Izanami hadn't taken control of it, Yomi would most likely have become a smaller dungeon, threatening the surface by the nature of its existence.
Izanagi not only put the world in jeopardy by sealing Yomi and letting it grow in hidden isolation but also by almost creating a champion for the monsters. Luckily for him, despite Izanami deciding to betray the world by destroying her original divinity and fully absorbing Yomi, she only wished for the destruction of those who wronged her.
This is also why I was monitoring the correction process, preventing Izanami from being marked as a monster to be eliminated, like the one-eyed black dragon. I was leveraging my power so that rather than an enemy, she was simply exiled.
The second consequence is Merit. Merit is another one of the powers that elude me, being something between Luck and Faith. It could only be gained from the world as a reward for helping it. Its usage is varied. The most basic is simply to act as Luck, raising one's status in the eyes of the world. But its true utility lies in its ability to be transferred and integrated into other things, strengthening if not outright creating artifacts possessing authority over parts of the world.
Because of my actions, I was bestowed with a fair amount of said Merit. At least it was enough to now be considered a major side character in this world. Aside from me, Amaterasu was also rewarded with a reasonable share of Merit as my coconspirator. Tsukuyomi and Magatsugami had also received some.
-"So... Care to explain your state? Or whatever I can call what you are right now?"-Izanami looked at me with curiosity.
~"My true power. But that's not important now. Amaterasu, how do you want to deal with Buddhism?"
-"Can you help us?"
~"It depends."
-"I know. As the leader of the Shinto Pantheon, I agree to become a vassal of Hold under the premise of retaining our full autonomy while conforming to the laws of Hold."
-"What?!"-The gods in the surroundings were brought out from their stupor.
-"Sister, are you sure?"-Susanoo looked at Amaterasu seriously.
-"Yes. Shinto is too weak to survive on its own. I believe that Hold is our best bet."
-"Sigh. If that's your decision, I will follow, but if anything happens, I will take arms once again."
~"I will resolve matters of invaders first. As for details of vassalage, my wife will talk with you later."
-"Wait."-Izanami aproched me.-"Take me with you."
~"You sure? If you leave with me, most likely you won't be able to return here."
-"Those children can deal with everything themselves, and I know that I can't remain here. I can feel the world rejecting me. Only your power is allowing me to stay here."
I nodded and teleported to where many Buddhas were trying to break into Takamagahara, bringing Izanami and Izanagi with me.
At the same time, the Elven forest was in chaos. When Rakia's soldiers entered deeper into the forest, Nightborne Sentinels created an enchantment that confused senses, making all soldiers lost in the dense woods.
As the somewhat united force slowly started to splinter into small groups, Night Elf Sentinels would ambush those who strayed far enough from their compatriots. If amidst them was someone stronger, Watchers would step in to prevent any accidents.
Despite only a minimal number of Sentinels being present here, as the majority of forces still were dealing with the protection of Martial Meeting, the operation went smoothly, and by the time Rakia's main force approached the defense line of Wood Elves, their numbers were reduced by one third.
The defense line has been fully abandoned by nobles and royals. Only some knights whose loyalty lay with people and not titles remained at their posts to fight to the end. Riveria and Azalea also came here to assist people during this fight.
-"Will they truly help us?"
-"Don't worry. You might doubt their sincerity, but Yue's words weigh more than you might think."
-"Why? Isn't he just some demigod?"
-"No, Yue is Spirit, but in the eyes of all Elves in the Spirit Kingdom, let alone god, he is their world."
-"I see."
-"They are coming."-Riveria stopped their dialogue as she noticed soldiers walking through bushes in the distance.
The enemies were also noticed by the others in the defense line. Under orders of the remaining knights, the Elves formed a simple formation to defend. As the nerves were racking up, suddenly, there was a hoot of an owl that sounded above everyone's head.
This was a signal, as, in the next moment, vines and roots came to life and attacked all Rakia's soldiers. The trees around also turned into Treants, creating chaos in the enemy's midst.
At the same time, Lunara took Dryiads and Huntresses riding their Nightsabres to attack the disorganized enemy from behind. As to not leave any chances, the Dracthyr attacked from the sky.
Rakia's forces couldn't deal with surprise attacks like that, and commanders couldn't reorganize their formations, resulting in only about half of all Rakia's soldiers being able to survive past five minutes from the owl's hoot.
The Wood Elves were also deeply shocked by the sudden reinforcement, especially when druids from Cenarion Circle appeared next to them.
-"Lord Malfurion."
-"Miss Riveria, we will make sure no harm comes to your people."
-"Thank you."
-"We all are Elves. There is no need for such pleasantries between us. We might not share the same belief, but in the end, we will all fight hand in hand for His Majesty."
-"Indeed."-Riveria smiled slightly, thinking how a little over a year ago, she was ready to sacrifice her life to allow even a small fraction of elves to escape from this crumbling kingdom, but now it has all been resolved itself, taking the heavy burden from her shoulders.
-"Riveria."
-"Yes?"
-"Can we truly stand next to them?"-Azalea asked after witnessing the strength of Sentinels.
-"Don't worry about this. I believe that given five or so years, our people can achieve similar strength."
-"I truly wish that was the case."
-"If we work hard enough, we can achieve it."
-"I'll do my best."
Seeing that everything was under control here, I jumped from my hiding spot onto a nearby tree. Taking a last look at the battle taking place, I rushed back toward the border of the forest, preparing for the next part of our plans.
In Orario, after the first few attacks, nothing more happened. All those responsible were captured, along with those still waiting for their chance to strike. Both Loki's and Freya's familias were overlords of the city for a reason.
When the two goddesses talked with Ouranos and the opposing gods, their children barged into the homes of the ringleaders of these attacks and gathered enough evidence to prosecute those responsible.
As Hold, we promised not to meddle in matters of familias and gods in the city, focusing only on people, so those matters had to be left to familias associated with us. This didn't mean we didn't do anything, as our Knights also acted against some gangs and merchants that tried to fish in muddy waters.
Of course, this was just background to what truly decided the outcome of the whole mess, the talks that will take place between Hold, Guild, Oracle, and Ragnarök. Right now, everyone is just testing others's depth. Poking and prodding, trying to find limits and weaknesses by using those miscellaneous gods and their familias as pawns and sacrificial pieces.
As our homecourt, the advantage was ours, but the initiative was fully in the hands of Oracle and Ragnarök, so we could only react to whatever was thrown our way until we regained the initiative.
Knowing Loki, there was no need for me to worry about that aspect, so I just needed to wait for the moment when I could strike. I simply watched the entire city for any anomaly.
Outside Takamagahara, in an adjacent nameless higher realm, a few hundred monks were gathered. Each of them chanted sutras while their Dharmas levitated in the air, using whatever means at their disposal to force open corridor to Takamagahara.
Our appearance didn't go unnoticed as three leading monks instantly approached us.
-"Amitābha, travelers. How can we help you?"
~"They say that you can only learn the true meaning of hypocrisy when you talk with a monk. What are your thoughts, Izanami?"
-"Indeed, I have been enlightened."
-"Benefactors, please don't say such vicious words."
~"Vicious? No, I'm about to get vicious."
As I was still in my Aeon form, I could easily unleash my full power, so as I waved my hand, this whole realm changed. Nine different powers suddenly enveloped it, dividing it between each other while only the ground on which monks stood remained the same, resisting my power with all powers of monks present.
~"Auriel."
Responding to my call, the space next to me shattered with colorful light. As the cracks continued to spread, a figure appeared in the middle.
~"Your Majesty."
~"Lead all Valkyries to battle."
~"Yes."
Aurel floated up, the cracks in space becoming her wings-like light tendrils. At the same time, similar lights appeared in the surroundings, shattering the space, and as the armored figures emerged, those cracks in space became their wings.
Moments later, thousands of Valkyries surrounded the monks. Their wings had the color of elements they were Spirit of, and only Auriel had a mix of all nine.
Every Valkyrie was comparable to a god, and their combined aura put a great amount of pressure on the monks. Especially when, along with the Valkyries' power, Nine Realms also tried to take over this realm while further empowering the powers of the Spirits.
Three leading monks started to give orders, mobilizing their Dharmas to fight against my Valkyries while they used their prayers and sutras to push back the Nine Realms. Sadly, this was just their empty dream. After all, Nine Realms are the core of my existence as Spirit, so their power is something even primordial gods would struggle to fight against.
-"It would seem that I underestimated you."
~"I have confidence that no one in this world can threaten me."
-"And I now see the basis for your confidence. All those guys alone can make you ascend to the top of this world hierarchy, but you also have that power of yours."
~"So what do you plan to do from now on?"
-"Changing the subject, huh? I plan to follow you. We are already linked by Yomi, and as I can't stay here, following you is an obvious choice."
~"Will you join Hold? Or stay in my world in another capacity?"
-"Will you mind if I were to just follow you? To be honest, I don't have the heart to take on my shoulders responsibilities for others again. I won't be a freeloader, of course. Any tasks that require some more power than those children that follow you have, you can leave those to me."
~"You mean Jingliu and Cellinia? Hmm... I do indeed miss someone with your strength, but are you sure? That would mean you will become one of my Guardians, and they are basically..."
-"Your Harem? Misstresses? I don't mind. I might have said some words before to anger Izanagi, but none of them was against my true thoughts."
~"Then you are more than welcome."
-"Be sure to cherish me, or you will be second Izanagi."
~"You don't have to worry about that."
We talked as the fight between Buddhas and Valkyries continued. Despite Valkyries being brought into existence not long ago, Spirits are initially attuned to fighting, having the ability to perfectly wield laws they are born from.
Even cooperation between different elemental powers was smooth, thanks to the joint origin of Valkyries. Nine Reals are whole, so beings representing them also need to represent that.
The figure that stood out on the battlefield was Auriel. She alone could fight against three leading monks' Dharmas without losing any ground. Switching between elements and utilizing all elemental cycles to empower herself and suppress her enemies. Her style of combat has many similarities to how I fight. If not for my Aeonic powers, most of my battles would look like that.
Slowly but surely, the monks started to be defeated, and with more and more ground lost, their situation was doomed. Some Buddhas started to become desperate, as despite no deaths occurring, the Fate of the god who was suppressed and got his power sealed was a seldom good one.
At best, they would end up like Izanami before, jailed in some little realm. At worst, being turned into artifacts or slowly converted to some other pantheon, similarly to how they do with their captives.
So they continued to struggle with all they had left, showing the demons hidden behind the visage of the monks.