Watatsumi Island, once filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, now lay in ruins, strewn with blood and flesh. A bloody path stretched from the edge of the outer islands all the way to Sangonomiya, carved by the dark Snake God along his way.
Although the dark Snake God had caused all of this, Orobashi bore undeniable responsibility.
"Ah, this is all my fault!"
As Orobashi felt the life on Watatsumi Island steadily fade, guilt filled his heart.
Kokomi wanted to comfort Orobashi, but whenever she remembered that the Snake God had done all this, she could not simply overlook it.
As the Snake God who protected Watatsumi Island, Orobashi had allowed himself to be tempted, leaving his people dead and wounded in staggering numbers. Although Kokomi was his priestess, she no longer truly approved of this Snake God.
Orobashi did not look at Kokomi's expression, but he could more or less guess what she was thinking.
Just then, Kokomi suddenly remembered that she had sent Gorou to Narukami Island for help earlier, and immediately reminded Orobashi.
"Lord Snake God, I sent someone to Narukami Island for help earlier. The Raiden Shogun might already be on her way. You should hurry and escape!"
Orobashi merely smiled at her words.
"The Raiden Shogun cannot spare the time right now. Even her familiar, Yae Miko, cannot leave Narukami Island."
Kokomi wanted to ask why Orobashi was so certain that the Raiden Shogun could not come to help, but his figure had already vanished from before her eyes.
Orobashi revealed his original form: a giant serpent with eight heads. This was his perfect form, though he looked a size smaller than the dark Snake God.
Apart from the central head, which brimmed with vitality, all the others had shriveled, without a trace of life.