The Yamigami : Path Of God’s Tear

Kai narrowed his eyes but didn't press further.

That evening, they set up camp in a small clearing. The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows across the trees. Kai sat with his back against a log, staring into the flames.

Amaya, sitting cross-legged across from him, poked at the fire with a stick. "You're awfully quiet tonight. Thinking about Mochi?"

Kai stiffened, his hand once again drifting to the bell at his belt. "Always."

Amaya tilted her head, her expression unreadable. "You really loved her, didn't you?"

"She was my family," Kai said simply.

For once, Amaya didn't have a snarky comeback. Instead, she leaned back, gazing up at the stars. "You know, loss has a way of shaping people. Sometimes it breaks them. Sometimes it makes them stronger. The trick is figuring out which one you'll let it be."

Kai looked at her, surprised by the sudden seriousness in her tone. "And what about you? Have you lost anyone?"

Amaya's lips curved into a faint, bittersweet smile. "Haven't we all?"

The bell at Kai's belt chimed softly, almost imperceptibly. He glanced down at it, frowning, but said nothing.

Amaya broke the silence, her teasing tone returning. "Don't get all sentimental on me now, Champion. You'll make me think you actually like me."

Kai snorted. "Don't flatter yourself."

But as they sat there, the firelight dancing between them, Kai felt a small crack in the wall he'd built around himself. Amaya was infuriating, no doubt about it, but she was also… something else. Something he couldn't quite put into words.

And for the first time since this journey began, he didn't feel completely alone.

.

.

.

The jungle canopy loomed overhead, a chaotic weave of vines and branches that filtered the midday sun into fragmented patches of light. The air was thick with humidity, and the faint sound of distant birdsong was accompanied by the crunch of leaves underfoot.

Kai and Amaya stood before the entrance to an ancient stone temple. Its facade was crumbling, overtaken by moss and roots, yet its aura was undeniably foreboding. Massive stone doors barred the way, etched with runes that glowed faintly in the dim light.

"Well, this looks… welcoming," Amaya said, hands on her hips as she peered up at the massive structure.

Kai shifted uncomfortably, gripping Yamigami's hilt. "The Yamigami said the first key would be here. Doesn't exactly scream 'hidden treasure,' though."

Amaya smirked. "That's because it screams 'imminent death.'" She gestured toward the runes. "Bet you those doors don't open without some sort of—"

The ground trembled beneath their feet, cutting her off. A deep, grinding noise filled the air as the earth shifted, and from the shadows beside the temple, a massive figure emerged.

It was a golem—easily three times their height, its body composed of weathered stone that gleamed faintly with embedded crystals. Its eyes glowed an eerie blue as it took slow, deliberate steps toward them.

"…guardian," Amaya finished, her voice tight with sudden tension.

Kai drew Yamigami instinctively, the katana's dark blade humming faintly with power. "Guess we're not just walking in."

The golem's glowing eyes locked onto them, and with a deafening roar, it charged.

"MOVE!" Amaya yelled, shoving Kai out of the way as the golem's massive fist came crashing down, obliterating the ground where they'd just been standing.

Kai rolled to his feet, gripping Yamigami tightly. He swung the blade, aiming for the golem's arm, but the katana glanced off the stone with a harsh clang, leaving barely a scratch.

"Great," Kai muttered. "This thing's tougher than it looks."

"You don't say!" Amaya called from behind him, darting around the golem with feline grace. "Maybe don't just swing blindly next time?"

Kai scowled. "Not helping, Amaya."

The Yamigami's voice echoed in his mind, calm and detached. "Observe its movements, Kai. The golem is not invincible. Yamigami's power will guide you if you focus."

"Easy for you to say," Kai muttered under his breath, narrowly dodging another swing of the golem's massive arm. "You're not the one getting smashed."

Amaya leaped onto the golem's back, using her daggers to chip away at the stone. "Kai, a little help here? Or are you planning to let me do all the work?"

Kai gritted his teeth and swung again, aiming for the glowing crystals embedded in the golem's chest. The blade connected, and this time, a faint crack appeared.

The golem roared, swatting at Amaya, who flipped off its back with an agility that left Kai momentarily impressed.

"Nice shot," Amaya called, landing beside him. "Think you can actually finish the job?"

Kai ignored her, his frustration mounting. He could feel Yamigami's power thrumming in his hands, but it was like trying to grasp smoke—elusive and frustratingly out of reach.

The golem's attacks grew more calculated, its movements slow but precise. It seemed less interested in killing them outright and more focused on driving Kai into a corner.

"Is it just me, or does this thing seem… deliberate?" Amaya asked, dodging another swing.

Kai didn't answer, too busy trying to stay alive. His strikes with Yamigami grew more frantic, each one bouncing off the golem's hardened exterior with little effect.

The Yamigami's voice returned, this time sharper. "You are wasting energy, Kai. Yamigami is not a mere weapon. It is an extension of your will. Trust it, or you will fail."

Kai growled in frustration. "That's easy for you to say! How am I supposed to 'trust' a sword?"

Amaya glanced at him, her emerald eyes narrowing. "You're trying too hard," she said, her tone uncharacteristically serious.

"What?"

"Your swings—they're wild, desperate. You're fighting against the blade instead of with it." She dodged a falling fist and darted toward him. "Stop thinking so much. Feel it."

Kai hesitated, her words ringing in his ears. But before he could respond, the golem's massive foot came crashing down, forcing them both to scatter.

Kai's breaths came in ragged gasps as he stumbled backward, the weight of the battle pressing down on him. The golem loomed above, its glowing eyes unyielding.

"This isn't working," he muttered, gripping Yamigami with trembling hands. "I can't do this."

Amaya's voice cut through his spiraling thoughts. "Hey!" she shouted, her tone sharp. "What are you doing, giving up already?"

"I'm not giving up!" Kai snapped, his frustration boiling over. "But I'm outmatched! This thing's… it's too much."

Amaya's eyes blazed with determination. "It's not too much. You're just holding yourself back."

Kai glared at her. "And what do you expect me to do about it?"

Amaya stepped closer, her voice low but fierce. "Trust yourself. Trust the sword. Stop thinking about what you can't do and start focusing on what you can."