The Guardian was fast.
With an agility that defied its metallic frame, it lunged at Asahi. Sharp claws shredded the rock wall; every strike sent red sparks flying through the pale blue luminescence. Stone dust rained from the ceiling, choking the air. Koyoi covered her mouth with her sleeve, clutching the drawstring pouch to her chest. The Wind God trembled within, but she pleaded silently: Stay with me.
"Ugh!"
Asahi parried with his sword, but the impact sent him flying. The force was overwhelming; a direct hit would shatter bone. He slammed into the rock wall with a dull thud. Koyoi took a step forward, but stopped as Asahi yelled, "Stay back!" If she got too close, she'd only be in the way. She had to hold her ground.
"Commencing elimination."
The Guardian spoke with a voice like grinding metal. Cylindrical tubes unfolded from its back—crude, deadly cannons. Round projectiles spun through the air, trailing fire. A gale kicked up, searing heat pricking Koyoi’s cheeks. She dove for cover as the blast wave swept overhead.
BOOM!
An explosion rocked the cavern, sending up a wall of dust.
"Asahi!" Koyoi cried.
Asahi charged out of the smoke, his kimono scorched and blood trickling from his forehead into the grime. He clicked his tongue and wiped it away with the back of his hand. His breath was ragged, but his eyes were sharp. Koyoi touched the inner light in her chest, whispering for her own heart to be still.
"…He's tough. A normal sword won't cut him."
"What do we do?"
"I'll find a weakness. The joints... or those sensors."
Asahi slid across the ground, diving beneath the Guardian's feet. Its metallic tail whipped around with a roar, gouging the rock. Koyoi gasped, warning the Wind God: Wait, not yet. Turbulent wind would only ruin Asahi's footing.
Asahi lunged again. He dodged by a hair's breadth, slipping into the machine's guard. His blade flashed toward a leg joint. The Guardian predicted the move, dropping its knee and counterattacking with its tail. Rock shredded. Fragments flew. Asahi ducked, delivering three rapid strikes as he rose. Each one deflected with a dull clang.
Koyoi narrowed her eyes. Every time the shoulder armor shifted, a red light blinked within. The joint. She took a deep breath and screamed over the din: "The shoulder! The seam!"
Asahi nodded.
Clang!
He was repelled. The armor was too thick. The blade bounced off, the ring piercing his ears. Asahi scrambled to recover, but the Guardian's shadow loomed over him. Koyoi gritted her teeth, spotting the gravel at her feet. If I can turn it to sand, maybe it could reach the gaps...
"It is futile," the Observers' captain said. "That unit is forged from Divine-Aura Shielding Alloy. Neither godly power nor physical attacks will penetrate it."
The man's voice was cold, his gaze full of creator's vanity. Koyoi felt a surge of anger. There should be no pride in something made by stealing the lives of gods. Behind him, the Observers worked their instruments. The Guardian's eyes burned redger, its movements accelerating. Koyoi caught her breath. They were overclocking it. Every second made their odds worse.
"What!?"
The Guardian swung its arms wildly. Asahi dodged, but he was being cornered. His back hit a pipe; white vapor hissed out. Hot smoke obscured his vision and made the floor slick. Koyoi sent out a needle of wind, slicing through the fog. Asahi’s silhouette appeared just as he barely parried the claws.
Koyoi gripped her pouch. The Wind God was shivering. ...Scared. ...Hate that thing.
"It's okay. Just lend me your strength," she whispered, pressing her forehead to the fabric. The Wind God trembled, then stirred up a breeze. Koyoi focused. The red light in the Guardian’s eyes was the only opening. With the wind, she could reach the gaps.
"Wind!" Koyoi shouted. "The eyes! Blind it with sand!"
...Okay!
A gust roared, whipping up gravel. The sandstorm lashed the Guardian’s face. Grains jammed into metallic crevices with a grinding sound. The machine hitched. Its timing broke. Asahi didn't miss the opening.
The Guardian shook its frame to clear the sand, but its eyes still flickered. Koyoi sent another gust, gathering sand beneath its feet. The machine slid, losing its balance.
"Visual error. Recalibrating sensors."
It froze. Red eyes blinked as the mechanical hum cut out for a heartbeat. The window was a fraction of a second. Asahi dove under the Guardian’s belly, where the armor was thin. His blade tore through wiring. Sparks showered down. The machine convulsed. Koyoi sent a gust to blow the heat away, keeping Asahi's vision clear.
Asahi kicked off the ground, wedging his sword into the shoulder gap. Metal screeched. The Guardian lurched, claws slashing air.
"Now, Asahi!"
"Got it!"
Asahi leapt above its head. He reversed his grip and plunged the blade into the neck.
Skrrk.
Metal ground against metal as sparks erupted. The Guardian spasmed. Red light surged, then its joints locked. It fell to its knees, head slamming into the floor. The impact shattered the stone, a shockwave rippling through the air.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the floor. The Observers stepped back, buzzing with agitation. The Guardian’s fall proved their plan could be broken.
The captain barked a command, and the Observers reformed their ranks. Humans stepped forward. A cold gaze fell upon them; the temperature seemed to drop. Koyoi touched the light in her chest. Everything would be decided here. They wouldn't run—they had something to protect. She felt the weight of that responsibility and found no hesitation. Looking at Asahi's back, she steadied her breathing. The wind howled within her. Her mind was clear.
Koyoi stepped forward, supporting Asahi’s shoulder. "I'm fine," he panted. Blood still seeped from his brow. Koyoi wiped it away and whispered to the Wind God: Heal him. A thin breeze stroked his shoulder, dulling the pain.
The Guardian collapsed into a heap. "Function terminated."
"We did it," Asahi breathed. "Good call, Koyoi."
Koyoi nodded, but the joy was brief. The machinery pulsed blue; the warning bells in her mind grew louder. The Observers leveled their firearms. Muzzles flashed. White sparks tore the ground. Koyoi dove, raising a small wall of wind. It was thin, but enough to divert their aim.
Asahi leveled his sword. "Just a bit more. All they care about is that machine. If we break it, they'll run."
Koyoi nodded, hand over her pouch. The Wind God was still trembling, but it had grown stronger. It could move through fear.
"Right."
But it wasn't over. The Observers were closing in.