Takamagahara, the Divine Council Hall.
It was a vast palace suspended above a sea of clouds. Seventy-two divine pillars supported its dome, each carved with the deeds of the most important deities in Fusang mythology.
From Izanagi creating the world to the great goddess Amaterasu retreating into the Heavenly Rock Cave, to Susanoo-no-Mikoto slaying the eight-headed serpent, every carved stroke shimmered faintly in the glow of divinity.
Now, the foremost deities of the Takamagahara Divine Kingdom filled the seats around the round table between the seventy-two divine pillars.
The great goddess Amaterasu sat upright on the highest divine throne, due north of the round table. Her twelve-layered robes spread out in overlapping folds, her black hair fell from her shoulders to her ankles, and a curtain of beads concealed most of her face, leaving only her pale golden eyes visible.
Those eyes were usually as still as two deep pools frozen for a thousand years. Now, profoundly complicated emotions churned within them.
To her right, Tsukuyomi no Mikoto sat upright on a dark silver throne. His black hair was tied into a neat ponytail, and a brooding light churned in his deep purple eyes.
To his left, Susanoo-no-Mikoto's throne stood empty.
Most of the divine markings on that throne had already dimmed, like a lamp drained of its oil.
Amaterasu spoke slowly, her voice clear and low, like the water in an ancient well stirred by the wind.
"Susanoo has fallen."
As those words fell, the air throughout the Divine Council Hall seemed to freeze.
No one answered.
The other deities seated on either side of the round table—Izanagi, Izanami, Tsukuyomi no Mikoto, Omoikane, and Takemikazuchi—all absorbed the news in silence.
Amaterasu's gaze swept over the gathering as she continued, "Susanoo's divine body was completely annihilated. Not even his divine