The moment Hades laid eyes on the eight sisters, he recognized the sinister nature of their existence—this was akin to raising Gu, a method of manipulation and control. How could the gods of Takamagahara fail to notice the brewing situation with Yamata no Orochi?
Yamata no Orochi was indeed powerful, but compared to the gods of Takamagahara, it was merely an inferior force. Dealing with it should pose little challenge. Even though Yamata no Orochi had mastered the power of nothingness, its sanity would eventually erode; it was just an Evil God. Even one with god-king powers could manage such a being without difficulty.
However, the gods of Takamagahara were not merely observers. Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, and Susanoo, the three royal gods, were actively manipulating the eight sisters, each a natural blessing. Their abilities were intricately linked—when one sister fell, her power would be distributed among the others. Should all seven older sisters perish, the youngest, Kushi Inada Hime, would emerge as the most formidable blessing.
This was the three gods' plan. In an era where countless deities ruled their territories independently, they sought to consolidate power, intending for Kushi Inada Hime to become the wife of Susanoo. From this union would be born the nation of Ashihara, leading to their ultimate dominion over the realm of Japanese mythology. The elder sisters would oversee the gods while the younger sister would govern humanity, all under the control of the three siblings.
Thus, the eight sisters were being raised like Gu insects, set to fulfill their purpose when only Kushi Inada Hime remained. In a mere eight years, everything would unfold according to plan.
Hades pondered this as he observed the situation. The gods' intentions were clear, but their oversight was glaring. They believed they could manipulate the sisters without consequence, underestimating the potential of an outsider like him. Hades had no intention of allowing their scheme to come to fruition without intervention.
As he contemplated his next move, Hades felt a flicker of excitement. The game was afoot, and he would ensure that Kushi Inada Hime's true potential was realized—not as a pawn, but as a true divine force in her own right.
"In that case…"
Hades's divine thoughts flickered as he enveloped the family with Hades's helmet, radiating strands of divine power to construct an illusion. This deceptive veil ensured that the monitoring gods were completely misled.
The preparations of the three gods were thorough, yet they remained dangerously complacent.
Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, and Susanoo had never considered that a god like Hades could intervene. With their vast responsibilities, it was impossible for them to watch the eight sisters day in and day out; they relied on other deities for oversight.
This is where Hades saw his opportunity.
No one expected his arrival.
"Um?!"
Though Kushi Inada Hime was the youngest, she seemed to sense something amiss. She tilted her head cutely, embodying the essence of divine blessing. Hades observed her closely, noting that she was indeed the most perfect of the sisters. Among the eight, only Kushi Inada Hime was a true natural blessing. The others had merely absorbed fragments of her power, a byproduct of sharing the same mother.
Yet, the three gods sought to control Kushi Inada Hime completely, oblivious to the fact that Hades was ready to disrupt their plans.
"What's wrong?"
As the family's caretakers, the parents—Foot Massage and Hand Massage—immediately noticed their daughter's unease.
Although Kushi Inada Hime was young, she possessed a remarkable sense. "Father, Mother," she said obediently, "I feel something different. I think a god is watching us."
"What?"
"Quick! Kneel down!"
Without hesitation, the old couple, Foot Massage and Hand Massage, dropped to their knees, urging their eight daughters to do the same. The father knelt in a posture of utmost reverence, as if receiving a divine visitor.
"Dear unknown god! I have overstepped my bounds. Please forgive me! Whatever punishment you deem fit, I am ready to bear it, but I plead—do not punish my family!"
"Please! We beg you!"
Trembling, the parents knelt low. In this era, the power of gods was overwhelming. Humans had no means to resist, reduced to submissive creatures, kneeling in fear. As the atmosphere thickened with dread, the essence of darkness, death, and eternity pervaded the air around them.
Then, as strands of divine power radiated outward, Hades materialized, surveying the ten members of the family from above. His presence was imposing, a stark reminder of the fear that gods inspired.
Sure enough, just as Hades suspected, returning the power of the seven sisters to Kushi Inada Hime was a task that even ordinary gods could accomplish with ease. The reason he hadn't done so was clear: he wanted to better understand Kushi Inada Hime.
"See, the supreme god!"
"See, the supreme god!"
Hades listened silently to the family's kneeling worship. With a flick of his finger, a beam of divine power flowed into each of their bodies, imprinting their fates upon their souls.
In that moment, the family slumped to the ground, overwhelmed by fear. They had not anticipated their grim future: as puppets, each child destined to be sacrificed, with the youngest taken by Susanoo. As for the old couple? Their fate was unspoken but all too clear—death awaited them.
"Huh..."
Kushi Inada Hime spoke cautiously, "Supreme god, can you grant our family a new life?"
"I can," Hades replied indifferently. "You are my blessing, and I shall ensure your family enjoys a stable existence—never destroyed, never dead. You will have eternal life, free from the fears of mortality."
To Hades, raising nine idlers was a trivial task. As long as he secured Kushi Inada Hime, even the burden of countless souls would be trivial for him.
"Thank you, supreme god!"
"I am willing!"
Kushi Inada Hime bowed respectfully, her perfect posture reflecting her choice. For the family, being valued by a god was a tremendous honor, especially with the promise of eternal life.
Honestly, for the members of the family, living on their modest plot of land and enjoying a simple life had always been enough. They cared little for the outside world, and Hades was content to raise them.
The family had given birth to such a perfect blessing as Kushi Inada Hime, signifying that their lineage possessed innate abilities. While these abilities might not be particularly strong, as believers, they would prove useful with a bit of nurturing.