The wrath of Ogun: Part 2

As the two colossal spirits clashed, Kanna and Ash rushed over to meet up with Sakuya. The girl was losing it. She was quietly bawling her eyes out while Jumo slowly lost his life in her arms. This was the first time Kanna had seen her in such a state.

She had always taught Sakuya that a spirit guardian needed to be in control at all times—never to let her emotions overwhelm her, never to let situations cloud her judgment. But there she was, completely distraught over the boy she loved, forgetting herself, forgetting her teachings, and forgetting that there was something she could actually do to help him.

BOOM.

Kanna turned in time with Ash to see the samurai crash against the far temple wall. Ogun must have punched him—or thrown him—or something.

She couldn’t see the demigod the way Sakuya could; she lacked the second sight ability. But from the samurai’s injuries, it was clear he was doing all he could to slow the god down. Kanna turned her attention back to Sakuya.

“Child? Listen to me,” Kanna said, kneeling beside the girl to reason with her. Sakuya slowly lifted her head to look at her.

“I know you’re scared, but you need to remember yourself...”

BOOM.

Kanna turned.

Another assault from the demigod had now left the samurai with a broken shoulder. He wasn’t going to last long.

“Look at me, child,” Kanna said, turning back. “This is just like any other case of possession. Jumo is the host, and Ogun is the demon killing him from inside. You need to separate them.”

Kanna wasn’t entirely confident whether her suggestion would work. The boy was African, dealing with an African spirit inside him. What were the chances that Sakuya, with her Japanese practices, could physically or spiritually do anything? But any suggestion was better than none. The girl needed to act quickly.

Kanna spun her head to observe the samurai spirit in hopeful desperation. Her eyes suddenly grew wide in shock. One of his arms had been completely severed from his body. He was bleeding profusely and could now only hold one of his swords. However, he wasn’t backing down.

“But what if...?”

Kanna quickly turned back when she heard Sakuya speaking. The girl’s eyes were still flowing with tears, and she was still sniffling.

“But what if he doesn’t wake up when I knock him out cold?” Sakuya said. “I will need time to prepare for the exorcism, and what if knocking him out now kills him? His body is already too weak, can’t you see?”

Kanna moved her head down to stare at the boy. Other than his face, Jumo was almost unrecognizable.

Twisted limbs. Blackened skin. Barely breathing.

The boy who had been so full of energy the first time she saw him—he was about to die. And Kanna wasn’t even sure she had shared a single conversation with him or properly acknowledged his presence in their home.

She needed to correct that.

“Sakuya,” Kanna said, lifting her head to meet the girl’s gaze. “If you don’t do this now, the spirit will kill him. So you must do it now.”

***

Sakuya finally made a decision. She was going to knock him out cold. She placed her hand on Jumo’s neck and felt around for the familiar nerve along his collarbone.

She found it.

BOOM.

She turned and saw a horrifying image—Ogun had ripped off the samurai’s other hand. They were out of time.

She turned back to Jumo and whispered a small prayer.

“Ten ni iru seirei-tachi yo, douka kare wo watashi no tame ni mamotte kudasai. Onegai desu.”

“Spirits above, please keep him for me. Please.”

Ogun caught wind of what she was planning, and began charging toward them.

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

But just as the demigod was about to crash into them, she pressed on the nerve in Jumo’s neck.

Jumo suddenly went limp in her arms.

Ogun instantly disappeared.