It was not a white light. It was a gray light. A gray light like a void where nothing existed.
"Ngh!"
Koyoi narrowed his eyes. The light was too intense; he could see nothing.
He heard the voices of the Observers.
"Anomaly detected."
"Unmeasurable power confirmed."
"Alert. Retreat."
Something was happening. The God of the Waterway was doing something.
From within the light, a void expanded.
From the pouch. From that small pouch, an empty space was erupting. A place that did not exist was spreading out before his eyes.
It was the true power of the God of the Waterway. Long ago, when the waterways where people lived were filled in and became vacant lots, what remained was this "empty space." The memory of a lost place was now expanding as a shield.
The void swirled. It circled around Koyoi. A cold space. And yet, a gentle one.
"...Go."
He heard the voice of the God of the Waterway. A voice different from before. A strong voice.
"...Now."
"...Run!"
The void moved. It charged toward the Observers. The white lights were pushed back by the gray void, forced into retreat.
"Ugh!"
The Observers staggered. The circle of the siege began to crumble.
A gap opened.
"Run!"
The voice of the God of the Waterway shouted.
Koyoi moved his legs. His legs, which had refused to move moments ago, were moving now. He ran toward the open gap.
On either side were walls of the void. They were shielding him from the Observers. Walls of the void, glowing gray.
"...Don't stop!"
The voice of the God of the Waterway.
"...Look forward!"
He ran. He ran with everything he had. He dashed between the walls of the void.
Behind him, he heard the voices of the Observers.
"Don't let the target escape."
"Initiate pursuit."
But they couldn't catch him. The walls of the void were in their way. The God of the Waterway was making a path for him.
He kept running. He didn't know how long he ran.
When he realized it, the walls of the void had vanished. He looked back.
In the distance, the lights of the Observers were blinking. They weren't following him. He had escaped.
"Ha... ha..."
Koyoi rested his hands on his knees. His breath was coming in ragged gasps.
He had made it. He had truly escaped.
"...Waterway," Koyoi spoke to the pouch.
"...Thank you."
There was no answer.
"...Waterway?"
He took the pouch in his hand. It was cold. It had been hot just a moment ago, but now it was cold.
It was light. The presence of the God of the Waterway was faint.
"Waterway!"
Koyoi squeezed the pouch.
"Are you okay? Answer me!"
"..."
He heard a faint voice. A truly faint voice.
"...Tired."
The voice of the God of the Waterway. Trembling. Weak.
"Did you use too much power?" Koyoi asked.
"...Yeah."
"...After so long..."
"...I expanded."
Expanded. That was it. The God of the Waterway had wanted to expand. It had wanted to have its own place, just like in the old days.
That void from earlier. That was the power of the God of the Waterway. Its true form. The power to create a place of nothingness. A quiet space where no one else was.
"...A little..."
The voice grew even quieter.
"...I'll rest."
"Yeah."
Koyoi nodded.
"Rest. Take your time and rest."
"...Sorry."
"Don't be sorry."
Koyoi held the pouch to his chest.
"You saved me, Waterway. I'll protect you now."
Silence. The God of the Waterway didn't answer again. Had it fallen asleep? Did gods even sleep? Perhaps it had used up even the strength to speak just to save him.
He sat down in the forest. At the foot of a large tree. It was dark, but there were no Observers.
He clutched the pouch. It was cold, but the God of the Waterway was there. Weakened, but there.
"Thank you," Koyoi said once more.
"...You made a path for me."
There was no answer. But he knew. The God of the Waterway was listening.
Shiori had protected him. He felt the God of the Shrine had helped him, too. And now, the God of the Waterway had made a path.
Everyone was helping him. They were all protecting Koyoi.
"I'll deliver you," Koyoi murmured.
"I'll definitely deliver you."
For a while, he couldn't move. His body was exhausted. But more than that, he was worried about the God of the Waterway.
The pouch grew slightly warm. Just a tiny bit.
"Waterway?"
"...I'm okay."
A faint voice.
"...Don't... worry."
"Don't push yourself."
"...Okay."
Silence. But it was better than before. The God of the Waterway was alive.
"...Just a bit more."
The voice spoke again.
"...If we go a little further... we'll be there."
"The Third Boundary?"
"...Yeah."
"...My place."
It was close. The Third Boundary was close. The place where he was to deliver the God of the Waterway was close.
"Can we make it?" Koyoi asked.
"...We can."
The voice of the God of the Waterway. Weak, but certain.
"...Let's go together."
Koyoi stood up. His legs were shaking. But he could walk.
He held the pouch to his chest. It was light, because the god was weak. But it was growing warm. Just a little.
"Let's go."
Koyoi looked forward.
"To deliver the Waterway."
He took a step. Into the dark forest. But he wasn't afraid.
The God of the Waterway had made a path for him. It had broken through the siege. But the god had been weakened for it.
So, this time, it was his turn. He would deliver the God of the Waterway. He would definitely deliver it.
A path had opened. But at a cost.
He would not let that sacrifice be in vain.