Ritual fusion: My life for my love

That night, Mitsuzawa Temple was packed, filled with gods and spirits from West African mythology. But as the spirit guardian with Second Sight ability, only Sakuya could see them. The rest of her family could not.

There was the woman with deep gray skin and flowing white hair. She wore only a wrapping around her chest and a short skirt made out of leaves. Her entire body was covered with glowing hieroglyphics and tattoos, and she possessed the physique of a seasoned warrior tested by battle—lean, tall, muscular, and powerful. Her glowing white eyes radiated an aura of absolute divinity.

The massive spider spirit standing next to the glowing-eyed woman was just straight-up disturbing. Blood-red head, black body, more legs, more eyes, hairy, bigger than a small car, and dripping something acidic from its open mouth. Sakuya switched her gaze away from it, as staring at the creature made something beneath her skin crawl.

The dragon-headed snakefish was a little easier to look at, but it certainly wasn't an improvement. Neither was the warrior with flaming eyes, holding a double-headed axe. There were so many others standing behind them, all glaring at her. But the one standing directly in front of her—the demigod with black metal skin, who still had one foot resting on her boyfriend's neck—was Ogun.

Heat alone enraged her in that moment, to the point where she was ready to commit a cultural felony by attacking the god.

But she needed to stay in control. For Jumo. If she messed up, then he died. And she absolutely could not let that happen.

...

"Ancient and powerful spirits, please hear my plea." As Sakuya addressed the deities in front of her, she made sure to keep her head low and her gaze facing the ground. "Please," she said. "I do not have the right to command you, but I am able to ask for your mercy. And that is why I have summoned you."

Her sisters instantly stopped drumming at the sight of her speaking. They were most likely too stunned to continue.

"Please have mercy on the boy in front of you," Sakuya continued. "Please. He is very important to me, and whatever unintentional crime he must have committed against you, I ask you to please forgive him."

There was a brief moment of silence as the spirits did not respond immediately. Sakuya wasn't sure how to continue. But even with her head hung low, she could see from the corner of her eye that Ogun was slowly beginning to press down on Jumo's neck. He was struggling to breathe.

That was when she lost it.

"Nooo! Please stop! You're killing him!"

Sakuya forced herself to remain seated on her knees, but she was no longer trying to hide her face in respect. She looked up at each and every spirit, god, and deity as she spoke.

"Please have mercy!" she cried out, her cheeks starting to flow with tears. "He is innocent! It wasn't his fault, he was sick! He needed your powers so he could stay alive! He wasn't trying to intentionally steal to—"

"So you are aware of his transgressions."

Sakuya was taken aback at the sound of Ogun suddenly cutting her off. She blinked in surprise. She wasn't expecting it.

"So you are aware of the sins this mortal has committed," the demigod said, his deep voice casual yet filled with commanding authority. "Why he is being punished and why he must die." As he spoke, Ogun continued to slowly push down on Jumo's windpipe. Her boyfriend was starting to spasm for air. He absolutely couldn't breathe.

How was a god this cruel?

"OGUN!"

Sakuya instantly shot up to her feet, fists clenched, eyes spooling with energy. She had accidentally lost her temper. Big mistake.

CRACK.

Before she could even comprehend what was happening, in barely a fraction of a second, the woman with glowing eyes had launched toward her and punched her across the face.

Sakuya's head spun from the impact.

Blood.

She fell to the ground a second later.

"Insolent mortal! You dare challenge Ogun?!" the woman shouted as Sakuya coughed up blood on the ground. "Do you have no respect?! Have you lost your senses?!"

Seeing what was happening to her, Kanna and the girls tried rushing over. But Sakuya shook her head and gestured for them to stay back.

"You should consider yourself lucky he respects the blood ritual and chooses not to step out of the circle to kill you where you stand," the woman said. "If it were me you disrespected just now, then your head would have been separated from your body even before you had finished standing."

Still lying on the ground, Sakuya gave herself a moment to think. She had begged, but they refused. She had shown the utmost respect, and the gods were only listening to her out of courtesy. They were 100% going to kill Jumo, and they were just waiting for her to finish talking before they did so.

Well, she was done talking.

Slowly, she got to her feet. She wiped away the blood from her mouth. She turned to face the gods, especially the glowing-eyed deity who was still standing in front of her. Then she spoke.

"Ancient and powerful spirits, thank you for showing me this kindness. Thank you for answering my call. Thank you for showing restraint and respect," she said, with the glowing-eyed woman continuing to glare at her with disdain and scorn. Ogun had removed his leg from Jumo's neck at some point, and her boyfriend was now able to breathe at least. She was thankful for that.

She continued.

"I beg of you. Before you kill him, grant me one last request. An ultimatum, to be exact," Sakuya said, choosing to bow her head this time.

"And what will that be?" she heard the voice of Ogun ask. "What are you ready to lose your life for, child?"

Sakuya did not miss a beat as she lifted her head up and replied.

"My life," she said, her eyes burning with renewed fury, her body steady with determination. "In exchange for the life of the man I love." She pointed at Jumo's unconscious form.

Listening in and getting a sense of the deal she was about to make, Shiun, Ayane, Ash, Kanna—her entire family—all shared a collective moment of shock at the realization. But Sakuya had made up her mind. She was going to save Jumo. She was going to save the boy she loved.

And she was going to do it even if it killed her.

"I demand a trial by combat."