Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56[Edo period – Tokyo, Japan]
A large, symmetrical house stood tall in the midst of a massive garden. Its thatched roof was quite impressive, covering more than half the size of the whole structure. Its slightly curved edges extended beyond the walls, forming an oversized cover for the veranda. These long eaves gave the house such a unique dimness and a perfect soothing atmosphere. The sliding doors were wide open, allowing fresh air and the smell of water from the nearby pond to replenish the senses.
A young woman sat on the floor in the middle of a vast room, looking at her own reflection in a small mirror she held in her hands. Her long straight and charcoal black hair reached the floor, covering her entire back like a silk blanket. Another younger girl approached the woman. She too sat on the floor and started combing the woman’s already well-kept hair.
The silence caressed their skin, like a gentle wind. Lovely birdsong came sweetly from the garden, slowly putting their mind at ease. Minutes drifted away like a ripple in a pond. Yet, each moment felt like gifted freedom; a kind of calm that is more worthy than a lengthy adventure. The young girl rolled the woman’s long hair into an elaborate bun and pinched inside a couple of golden hair ornaments. Then, she took a pure white face powder and smeared it with a broad flat brush all over the woman’s cheeks, nose, and neck. Afterward, the girl reached for a safflower rouge, took another, smaller brush, and applied it gently to the woman’s cheeks, lips, and fingernails. This expensive palette had a very rich pigment, creating that ultimate mark of refinement. After all, a fresh safflower makeup was so expensive, its worth was weight in gold. But, for the women living in this elaborate estate, it seemed to be an affordable luxury. Right after painting the artificial set of eyebrows high on the woman’s forehead, the younger girl finally spoke with a warm tone.
- “Sister, I still can’t believe you are getting married.”
- “Me neither, Ichika.” – Kana smiled.
- “When father told me that samurai asked for your hand in marriage, I really didn’t know whether to cry or laugh. What am I going to do without you, now that you have to live so far away?” – the young girl’s eyes filled with tears.
Kana reached for the girl, grabbed her by the waist, and pushed her towards her chest. That tight hug immediately warmed up Ichika’s heart. She couldn’t help but sob.
- “You know it’s our duty to marry for the sake of our family. To be honest, I haven’t met him myself and I do have my doubts. I hope he will be a caring husband and let us see each other often.” – Kana uttered.
- “But…I will be alone, now.”
- “Listen.” – Kana loosened her grip and looked straight into her eyes. “No matter how far we are, you will always have a special place in my heart.”
The young girl started crying even more. Kana smiled, desperately holding back her tears. She hugged Ichika, but this time tighter.
- “Besides, Ichika, in three years’ time, you too will marry. I hope your match will bring you happiness.”
- “I will tell father to find me a man who will be your neighbor.” – the girl puffed her cheeks.
- “Good plan.” – Kana placed her hand over her own gorgeous red lips and smiled shyly. Her giggle rolled about the room like vibrant and heartwarming energy. “Now, enough crying. You will make me ruin my makeup.”
At that moment, a servant rushed towards the chamber, bowed, and said:
- “Lady Nakamura, the palanquin and the guards are ready. Your father has asked that you accompany me to the gate.”
- “Understood.”
Kana confidently answered and stood up. Then, she turned towards Ichika with a warm glare. The young girl knew that the time had come. So, she brushed her tears and pointed towards a rich bridal trousseau and a couple of Kana’s personal belongings that stood at the end of the empty room.
- “The dowry is ready. Don’t forget to take it to father.” – Ichika mumbled, carefully masking the sadness in her voice.
- “Yes, my lady.”
- “Come, lady Nakamura.” – the man bowed at Kana once more and pointed towards the gate outside the estate.
- “Oh, one more thing!”
Ichika bolted towards a nearby room while Kana and the servant watched in awe. What could she've forgotten this time?
In less than a minute, the girl came rushing back with a stunning white material. She approached Kana and placed an elaborate, traditional white veil over her head meant to hide the horns of jealousy. This pure white head-dress completed the entire look, making Kana shine brighter than the morning sun. Even the servant was enchanted by her beauty.
- “Now, this is my greatest masterpiece!” – Ichika boasted proudly.
Kana laughed. Then, she took her sister by the hand and left the house with her for the richly decorated palanquin that waited just outside the gate. Together with her family and over a dozen guards, the bride-to-be was escorted outside her hometown to the groom’s home.
Normally, it would take a week for them to arrive at the far-away town. But, this time, the weather was perfect, reducing their journey by half. The sun radiated perfect warmth, while the breeze swept everyone’s sweat away. The palanquin was hard to carry, so people walked slowly to match the guards’ pace.
As they were about to enter the town, the palanquin that had been jolting joyfully down the rugged road, suddenly came to a halt. The sound of guards walking stopped completely. The only thing Kana could hear from the inside were the soldiers unsheathing their weapons and their blades clashing. Ichika screamed.
Kana immediately stuck her head out of the window to see what was going on and promptly opened the small door. There were countless bandits surrounding the palanquin and her gorgeous attire immediately captured their attention. Now their eyes were fixed on Kana. Some stood on top of the nearby branches with arrows pointed and ready to shoot. Others grabbed the servants by their hair and dragged them across the road. While the rest of the thieves directly faced the guards with their dull and heavy blades.
All the outlaws wielded hachiwari – swords made to penetrate even the toughest of armor. Known for their short hook at the base, and tough surface, the weapons could easily gain leverage over any armor and pry it right open. The guards were outnumbered and outmatched.
When all the guards had fallen, a man emerged from the middle of the human barricade. He hadn’t shaved in a while. His dirty skin had suffered numerous cuts and bruises. Most likely, from the countless battles he fought not long ago. He had the muscles of a warrior, yet his face was broad and flat as if he hadn’t eaten anything in a while. The old sullied shirt he wore fit tightly around his muscular physique. Kana, Ichika, and their father stood defenseless. Terrified of what comes next.
- “The intel was right.” – he smiled while looking at the young girls of noble heritage. “These two are precious beauties.”
- “Hear that ladies? We are selling you for a fortune.” – some unknown bandit yelled in the distance, supporting his captain as he approached the girls.
- “Who do you think you are? Do you have any idea whose wife you are trying to steal!? Do you want to start a war?” – the father tried to knock some sense into the man.
- “It’s strictly business. They pay me to poke the lion and I reap the benefits.” – the leader uttered with a smirk.
- “You are sick!!!”
- “Well, I hear people are tired of these peaceful times, old man. It is hard to make a living like this. So, we decided to spice things up a bit. Isn’t that right, boys?”
The bandits cheered proudly.
- “You will all die!”
In a last attempt to get them to back off, the father tried to intimidate the group. But, to no avail. They simply laughed at his futile efforts to save his children.
Then, the leader took out a small knife from under his sleeve and threw it towards the palanquin, barely missing Kana’s eye. For a moment there, Kana felt a slight relief. She was terrified that the blade would have taken her sight. But, the moment she turned around to see where the blade ended, her heart sank. Her father was on the ground and the weapon went right through his chest. There was an exit wound in his back. Ichika just stared in horror.
- “There. Dead. Now, you two are coming with me.”
From behind Kana, came the loudest and most hysterical crying she had ever heard. The screams only stopped when Ichika needed to draw breath. But, the young girl couldn’t stop crying. Tears streamed down her cheeks like a violent hurricane and pain oozed out of her every pore.
At that moment, something clicked inside Kana’s mind. Her eyes filled with hatred and pure anger. The woman suddenly gained unfathomable strength and unyielding courage she never thought she had. She charged at the bandit leader and clawed his eyes out.
He screamed in pain.
In that single moment, she couldn’t care less if she were to die right there and then. All she wanted was to protect her sister and give her a fighting chance.
The man fumed.
- “Get her!”
Bandits swarmed Kana grabbing her by her hands and legs. They pushed her on the ground and secured her in place, stretching her body to expose her soft, untouched skin.
- “You slut! You will pay for that!!!” – the leader screamed.
- “Boss, who says we can’t have some fun right now? She deserved it, didn’t she?”
One of the men that held onto Kana stared into her eyes with sheer lust. She stared back with disgust. But, that didn’t stop him from drooling all over her.
- “No. We need her the way she is. She will fetch a better price. But, if no one comes to pay the ransom… Well, that’s a story for another time.” – the leader spat on Kana’s wedding attire. “Feel free to rough her up a bit. And get the other one too.”
The other bandits went for Ichika and pulled her by the hair. The young girl found herself staring at Kana. For a moment, their eyes met and Kana could see that mix of emotions pilling up inside the young girl’s heart. Ichika was terrified. She was sad for Kana’s sake and horrified for her sake. Although she was immature, she knew exactly what they would do to her if no one came to save them. Her mind went blank.
- “Let. Her. Go!”
Kana exploded. Furry took ahold of her body, giving her strength one more time. As the men were ripping her silk yukata apart, she managed to kick one of the bandits that were holding her back. She somehow released herself from their tight grip and pushed the three thieves away. Then, she focused everything she had in her legs and started running towards her sister. As she reached for the girl’s hand, the ground beneath her opened. The rugged road that was once paved with rough stone had turned into quicksand. The liquefied soil made its way towards Kana’s legs and wrapped around her skin. Suddenly, the woman found herself on the floor, struggling to escape once more. But, the sand was too powerful, it was sucking her entire body too quickly.
Everyone was mortified.
- “Kana!!!!” – the young girl finally found the courage to yell.
- “No! No! No! Ichika!!!”
The woman desperately tried to hold onto the ground, leaving deep nail marks in the soil as she was being dragged. The bandits that captured Kana before, quickly rushed to her side to pull her out of the sand. But, it didn’t work. In a matter of seconds, her body disappeared and the ground returned to normal. As if what happened before their very eyes was just some weird lucid dream.
Everything turned black.
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
We Are Taking Down the Goddess Bitter Memory
The world was a blur. Constant images flooded Kana’s mind. She remembered Ichika’s eyes as she stared at her when the sand took her by the feet. She remembered the lust in the bandit’s eyes as he held onto her younger sibling. His hands were dirty. His sword was bloody. The woman couldn’t handle the thought of what might happen to Ichika if she doesn’t hurry back.A couple of moments later, after Kana finally regained her composure, she opened her eyes and found herself sitting in the middle of a massive field. There were long golden seed heads that moved like steady waves with every breeze. Her clothes were ruined; exposing bits and pieces of her bare skin. Her face, arms, and legs were covered in dirt, and her hair was thrown into a messy bun that hung loose. From all the fighting and dragging, her nails were filled with leftover human skin and plenty of soil. Even her gorgeous makeup was smudged and her white veil was nowhere to be found.
We Are Taking Down the Goddess Shackles That Bind
The cool draft and almost freezing temperatures woke Aiko from her deep slumber. It was the type of cold that reached into her bones as if her body was a door left wide open to an icy breeze. Although it was midday, the prison cells looked darker than a moonless night. Probably because the clouds partly covered the sun outside. The girl immediately felt a piercing pain radiating from the back of her head. The soles of her feet were completely healed from the glass shards she stepped onto, but her head wasn’t doing so well. Her vision was blurry too. Yet, she could see a figure of a woman sitting close to her, resting her chin on her right hand. -“Ouch…Kana, is that you?” -“Yes.” -“Ren! Where is he?” – Aiko panicked. -“He is here. He is fine too.” The youn
We Are Taking Down the Goddess Predator Versus Prey
Short sharp clap echoed inside the prison. The noise reverberated across the empty halls. Kana was annoyed and slapped his hand away, striking Hagmar with an open palm. Though her hand was empty, it felt like being hit by a huge chunk of meat. -“You disgust me.” -“Playing hard to get?” – the apparition smiled before his smooth gorgeous-looking face was once again replaced by a terrifying skull. “I like that about you.” The elf snapped his fingers and the prison bars toppled in an instant. The shadows that moved from his body were so quick, they didn’t even trigger the barrier’s defense mechanism. -“Now, we can have a decent match.” – he smiled. -“Let them go.” In a desperate attempt to keep Ren and Aiko safe, the woman stood firmly in front of the
We Are Taking Down the Goddess Skirmish
A bitter wind swept the prison hall. The flames that rose were now devouring the palace. Loose light illuminated the scorched ground outside, signaling the blaze was too close for comfort. To Aiko and Ren, the unpleasant temperatures felt like being stuck inside an oven set on high heat. Their mouths ran dry. Their eyes felt heavy. Soon, the air will be too difficult to breathe.-“Kana!”- Aiko’s heart wavered. She was terrified.In that moment, she needed the sorceress by her side. They both did. Ren was just as scared as she was. His tiny body took a heavy hit earlier. Letting that heat come any closer would only make things worse. The pup quickly cuddled Aiko and brushed his fur against her cheeks.-“Stand back!”Kana quickly pushed the two to the farthest corner of the room. She shielded them with her body once again.
We Are Taking Down the Goddess Stable But Shaking
An army was deployed at once. Countless adventurers and royal guards were headed straight for Yakeru and Kana. They were armed to the teeth, relentless and cunning.Kana was in no position to fight. Yet, Yakeru didn’t waver. Although he was up against an entire guild and a noble platoon, he still had the confidence of a fire dragon. The young man was ready to sever anyone who would dare come in close range.All of a sudden, a dagger flew by Yakeru’s skin, and landed deep inside the wall behind him, missing his neck by an inch. The young man focused his glare at Nora. In her mind, she threw that whirling weapon in greeting. As soon as the dagger pierced the stone wall, three elves from the platoon became an unstoppable storm of destructive power. They focused all their mana to conjure a bladestorm out of thin air and trap the young man in a single place. The blades fell quickly, creating a veil so thick it obscured the view completely.Then came a sla
We Are Taking Down the Goddess Two Sides of the Same Coin
[Outskirts of Azidora] Loud chatter swirled in a crowded space, accompanied by the stagnant smell of freshly baked bread, soup, and meat. A hint of fragrances built solid notes of moss, bark, and woody oils. The tavern was centuries-old but well-kept. It was a fancy place, sort of like a time capsule made to worship a single female statue - a hand-carved figure with realistic features. The full-length sculpture of a stunning young woman stood tall in the middle of the tavern. Countless scrolls and hand-painted images decorated the walls. Each paper glued to the wood created the perfect image of Elidy’s accomplishments. How she stopped the 5,000-year war. How she brought forth a new era of peace and prosperity. How she revamped the elven kingdom in her image. There was also a dedicated space at the end of the tavern for storing historical specimens. These relics proved her glory. Most stood in glass display cases specifically made for them. Ther
We Are Taking Down the Goddess Ringborg Cay
A powerful water column surged around their skin, dropping from the top of their head down towards their feet. When the water splashed and covered the floor, it revealed Kana, Ren, Aiko, and Yakeru standing on solid ground. -“I told you to stop doing that.” – Kana retorted. -“Stop doing what?” -“Stop kissing me.” -“But, you like it.” - Yakeru smiled. -“I don’t.” -“You do.” -“Shut it.” Aiko let her feet rest on unfamiliar territory. She stood on rough, desert-like soil in the middle of a wide path. There was nothing cozy about these surroundings. The sun was shining bright and the heat quick
We Are Taking Down the Goddess The Old World
[Floating Island, above Ennore] With every contraction came intense pain. Loud screams dominated the royal chambers, stretching to every corner of the nearby rooms. The silk sheets soaked in blood. When the contractions subsided, only for a brief moment, the woman took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and tried to cope with the pain. But, as soon as that moment passed, another wave of agony followed, taking over every section of her body. The woman screamed again. Nothing could be more brutal than that sharp piercing pain. Over a dozen maids attended to her every need. Some brushed her sweat. Others held her hands. While the rest made sure she was warm and as comfortable as she could get. -“Wait. Wait. All right. Push.” The woman nodded and let out one final grunt. Her lower body tightened, her flesh stretched, and the baby slowly fell into the hands of the midwife. After a short while, the
Latest Chapter
- We Are Taking Down the Goddess
On the Rocks
The rain came with a confident wind, rousing the trees and fires into a vortex. Each raindrop – a kaleidoscope, covering the library in a comforting blanket. The phoenix couldn’t help but wonder, as it was lying on the floor exhausted, what it would feel like if it could stop time and just look at it. Observe each watery bubble before it touched the ground. The fires on its wings dimmed, and the phoenix morphed into a small human. Welcoming every drop with his outstretched fingers. Like he always wanted to. Soon, the rain formed puddles, followed by a cool freshness in the breeze.Most of the Library of Pergamon was in ruins. Thankfully, the rain came when it did, or the rest of this grand building would have succumbed to the flames.Paige woke up suddenly, not because her clothes were soaked, but because she remembered what she was up against. An entire demon army. Her eyes tried to adapt to the light and rain. She had no idea how long she slept. The only thing that sent her on edge
- We Are Taking Down the Goddess
Memoir
With a crack as loud as thunder, the third statue split from its pedestal. The entire thing accelerated down and crushed into this unfamiliar woman. Amplified by the figure’s powerful magics, this statue sent forth an immense shockwave, toppling the walls and limiting their visibility. The woman coughed.- “Really?”- “It was worth a try.” – the figure shrugged.- “There…is…no need to fight.”Aiko retaliated as she tried to release her neck from the woman’s suffocating magic. But, as soon as she said that, the mysterious woman waved a hand, and Aiko found herself glued to the wall and with a fractured skull. Although Aiko was out cold, her godlike powers focused on stopping the bleeding and getting her body back in shape.- “You know you can’t kill us, right?” – the figure added.- “Who said I want to kill you?”- “You are damn sure acting like it.”- “I just want you to know your place. That’s it.”- “I can relate to that.” – the figure chuckled. “Actually, I’ve been meaning to ask.”
- We Are Taking Down the Goddess
Third Trial
[ During the rule of the God of Time - 5,000 BE* ]*BE – Before Elidy*AE – After ElidyA woman strode forward. Her long legs and slender arms exposed beneath her silky, almost transparent dress. Her massive wings carried her across the sky, leaving behind a powerful gust of wind. Her green, transparent hair, decorated with a dozen golden accessories danced with the breeze. When she landed, the elf guards greeted her with respect. This woman was a stunning beauty, with a slim face, full lips, and a distinctive jawline. She resembled an elf, as she was almost as tall as them. But, her eyes were a lot bigger, and her ears pointer. Her leaf-like wings tucked themselves neatly on her back.- “Lady Ayesha Elmcup, welcome. The royal family is expecting you.”- “Can you call your queen? We don’t have much time.”- “Right away.”The elf queen soon came and the two conversed.- “Ayesha, if you are here, it means…”- “War is coming. He took them. Erased them from existence. The creatures are to
- We Are Taking Down the Goddess
Sacred Lands
The cavern expanded like some natural ballroom. A tiny hole on the roof paved the way for white-gold rays to shine through. Blessed spirits did their nightly dance, channeling their essence into the magical staff ahead. This place would be a sanctuary in any storm. But, when unwelcomed visitors were to enter, the spirits would release an ear-splitting screech. Just as they did right now. Blood ran down their necks from their raptured eardrums as Aiko and Kana battled their way inside.Aiko had finally mastered her skills, supporting Kana with impenetrable shields and quick healing spells. No matter what the spirits would throw at the sorceress, she kept fighting back. Without Aiko’s endless rejuvenation, Kana wouldn’t be able to come this far. But, with Aiko by her side, she couldn’t care less about the injuries she suffered. Like those sharp stones that sliced her skin, tore apart her dress, and broke her bones. After all, everything would regenerate as soon as it got damaged. These
- We Are Taking Down the Goddess
Floating Candles
Barefoot, naked soles on grass… once that was a unique kind of bliss. It felt natural for the grassland to tickle her soles. But now, it was different. Every inch of her skin was covered in deep cuts and bruises. Even walking on the gentle grass felt like running over a billion shards of glass. Her stunning braids, adorned with the most beautiful flowers, came undone. Her short dress was all torn apart. Yet, that pain felt like a passing memory. There was something else that consumed her mind.This young child, a forest spirit, who was supposed to emit this bright and joyful energy, had succumbed to darkness. The kind of darkness that would render anyone insane.She looked at her hands.She looked at her chest.She looked at her own reflection in the pond.Blood. So much blood.The girl tried to wash it clean. Wipe it off. But, it didn’t work. Every time the water went over it, the blood would come back. As a reminder of what she did. She knew it didn’t come from her own wounds. She w
- We Are Taking Down the Goddess
On the Edge
Once hollow, the shadows solidified into a person capable of outrunning even the tracker demons. From her fingertips, fog condensed into an apparition quite like the demons that roamed this place. Creating the perfect distraction for her to pass through. There was no joy in Nora’s eyes, nor a suggestion of a smile, just pure seriousness as she ran across the narrow corridors. If luck would have it, she would leave unscathed.Grey shadows formed into platforms which she used to climb to the top of the tower, and reach that single hole she opened when she infiltrated this place – her only exit strategy. The shadows were like patient clocks, waiting for her feet to land and then disappear. But, the further she ran, the more demons came out. Many emerged from the walls, trying to block her at every turn.Nora would let her eyes see how close they would get. And when they were at the right distance, the tip of her blade would exterminate them. Even the shadows that were steps for her to wa
- We Are Taking Down the Goddess
Momentum
Stars filled the sky, splitting over the black marble. In this vastness of eternal space, a couple of shadows blended into the dark as their flames died down. Frost grew over their limbs. Soon, ice crystals covered their entire bodies, allowing their brain to empty and become one with the flow. Karma felt the wind blow her hair over her eyes like a choreographed cyclone. In this place, days, seconds, months, and hours didn’t matter. Even the seasons moved like a fast clock, turning and changing in an infinite loop. Walking here rendered their souls to the greatest clarity. How the stars moved where he walked felt as though the galaxy could follow his shadow. Merge with his essence. This young man. He was somewhat too thin for his height. His body seemed malnourished. Stretched even. A very large wooden bead necklace hung on his skinny neck. His extremely pale skin peaked through his loosely fitted robe. His long blond hair was now a dusty grey. It changed with his sudden growth. As
- We Are Taking Down the Goddess
Coldness
The smell of smoke was one thing, the shaking another. But, it wasn’t the million primitive arthropods that left Yakeru panting, but, the thin air that was difficult to breathe. Ever since they set foot on this plane, getting a breath of fresh air felt like a lucid dream. As soon as the army of giant and heavily deformed metameric creatures fell, the adventurer focused his gaze onward, not letting a single moment pass him by.The gate though solid, it was slowly split open. Massive claws dug deep in the bricks, and on the other side, an ominous presence lingered. The stink. It was polluting his lungs. Like some kind of sewage that had filled with centuries and never got cleaned. A place where corpses would get dumped and stay there for all eternity. Stacked one on top of the other. When the gate swung open, demons and mutated insects swarmed by the dozens. As if they couldn’t wait to feed on this man’s essence.Fire came as a golden ball, igniting the
- We Are Taking Down the Goddess
Soul Searching
Merging with the shadows came naturally to Nora. Long time ago, she learned to live rootless, able to transform into the strangest of situations and still appear like everyone else. She has been in the game longer than she can remember, and the ties to her dark self only grew deeper. Her magic allowed her to take any shape she pleased. To command any voice, she deemed necessary. She would walk alone, then select a few others and walk by their side, as if she’d known them for ages. She pinned the tip of her blade in specific points, masking their magical essence with a shadowy cloak. These markings, they saw and heard everything about everyone, like a goldmine of information. The only difference was that her power would only register the voices, images, and thoughts of targets weaker than her. Not a single demon grew wary. But, the fact that most of them were a bunch of mindless brutes, thirsty for blood, made her work a little more taxing than she predicted. She need
