Kapitel 16: Chapter 16: The Seed
Li Xiang's face tensed as he remained alert, but the girl stood still, making no move. He asked, "What are the crack and the ether you mentioned?"
[Ether,] Irigar began to explain, [is essentially highly concentrated mana. In the Age of Gods, the atmosphere was filled with ether, but in the modern era, it has become extremely rare, except in a few exceptional places. I'm not sure what exactly the crack is, but it's definitely a source of a large amount of ether.]
[Creating a fairy requires a significant amount of mana, which is why new natural fairies in the modern age are almost nonexistent. The only fairies you see nowadays are artificially bred by magi in workshops, but such fairies are more like familiars. The original fairy of this place would have taken a very long time to form, if ever. From what I can tell, the surrounding space near that crack is highly unstable, meaning it likely appeared recently. There are traces of a barrier around it, and since no ether is leaking out now, it's clear that the Mage's Association has already discovered it.]
"So, a newly formed crack released ether, which caused a fairy to form here," Li Xiang summarized, still puzzled. "But what's with all this trash?"
[This is the result of industrial pollution,] Irigar replied somberly.
"And what impact will this have on the fairy?" Li Xiang inquired.
[It's already affected her mind. Normally, fairies are benevolent and kind by nature, but she's been soaked in toxic substances for years. Her mind is completely gone, leaving only the instinct to survive and evolve. Those two ghosts you encountered were likely river spirits, awakened by the ether but unable to absorb high-purity mana. They had to seek out weaker magi to cultivate resentment, which would help them gain strength. Unfortunately for them, a fairy formed here afterward, and they became her prey.]
"So, in other words, I'm in danger and should probably start running," Li Xiang concluded with a hint of sarcasm.
[Actually, you should purify her,] Irigar corrected him.
"Purify? I'm not some Tokyo exorcist, shrine maiden, or high schooler. I don't know how to do that."
[Don't you want your reward?] Irigar's voice took on a sweet, almost coaxing tone.
"I knew that reward wouldn't be easy to obtain," Li Xiang sighed, resigning himself to the situation. "Looks like I'll have to go with the physical approach."
"Enhance!" Li Xiang uttered, activating a newly mastered Level 1 spell. A faint glow enveloped his hands and feet.
"Speed!" he called out next, as a pale yellow whirlwind appeared at his heels, making his body feel light.
"Projection!" he commanded, and a slender Chinese longsword materialized before him.
Li Xiang took a deep breath, feeling a slight fatigue from casting three spells at once. Over the past few days, he had diligently honed his skills, mastering five carefully chosen Level 1 spells: Detection, Water-Breathing, Enhancement, Speed, and Projection.
Detection and Water-Breathing were necessary for his current situation. Enhancement, Speed, and Projection, on the other hand, were part of Li Xiang's plan for his future as a combat-oriented magus. Based on what he had seen in the Fourth and Fifth Holy Grail Wars, pure magi had limited usefulness. Leaving aside raw power, if a magus were caught in close combat, it usually spelled their demise. The Holy Grail War didn't offer many opportunities for setting up elaborate defensive positions; most encounters were sudden ambushes. Even if you had the chance to fortify your position, someone like Kiritsugu Emiya could just bomb you into oblivion.
The river suddenly surged, sending bubbles swirling outward from Li Xiang's position. Like a cannonball, he shot forward, both hands gripping the sword hilt. Lacking any real technique, he leaped high, slashing down with a force that parted the water on either side.
There was no sensation of cutting through flesh; the sword was stopped, emitting a hissing sound. Glancing at the sword as it began to dissolve, Li Xiang quickly let go, allowing his body to sink. As he did, a new sword materialized in his right hand, which he thrust toward the river fairy's neck.
The blade met with incredible resistance, as if striking a diamond, leaving no mark. The sword simply bent.
"Irigar, does she have a weak spot?" Li Xiang asked, pushing off with his legs to gain some distance.
[Her eyes and mouth,] Irigar quickly responded.
"Got it," Li Xiang acknowledged, launching another attack.
The fairy, perhaps due to her lack of consciousness, reacted sluggishly, instinctively raising a hand to block the sword again. This time, Li Xiang didn't let go; instead, he channeled mana into the blade, slowing its dissolution.
He threw a bolt of mana with his left hand, forming a sword that floated in the water. Using the sword in his right hand as leverage, Li Xiang propelled himself upward, parting the water with a spin. As he descended, he projected another sword in his right hand and, without hesitation, channeled all his momentum, weight, and mana into a strike aimed at the fairy's mouth.
This time, the blade met no resistance, piercing straight through.
Li Xiang released his grip, seizing the sword he had thrown earlier. He flipped backward, pressing his left hand against the fairy's forehead, and drove the sword into her left eye. Letting go, he conjured another sword, which he immediately plunged into her right eye.
Breathing heavily, Li Xiang felt a tearing pain in his right arm, a warning of mana overexertion. The fairy's body went from struggling to completely still, gradually becoming more transparent. Her once vacant expression seemed to soften into one of relief as her form dissipated into the water, leaving no trace behind.
For some reason, Li Xiang felt a pang of sadness.
[If you hadn't acted, the Mage's Association would have found her within days. Her fate could have been much worse. Those old scholars have a particular interest in studying wild fairies,] Irigar reassured him.
"Let's get out of here," Li Xiang said, not wanting to dwell on it.
[Wait, she left you a gift. Don't you want it?] Irigar asked.
"A gift?" Li Xiang echoed, confused.
[It's too dark here to see clearly, but if you sense for it with your mana, you should find something,] Irigar suggested.
Li Xiang, slightly puzzled, soon located a small black seed with a faint magical aura buried in the muck. After washing it clean in the water, he asked, "Why would the fairy leave behind a seed?"
[Because she was a plant-based fairy. As for why she took on a humanoid form, that's the ghosts' fault,] Irigar explained.
"If I plant this seed, will she come back to life?" Li Xiang wondered.
[Yes, but it's unlikely she'll return as a fairy without sufficient mana,] Irigar clarified.
Li Xiang wasn't disappointed. After all, the fairy had been corrupted and distorted; now, she could at least return to a more natural state.
"What about the crack?" he asked.
[The Mage's Association will handle it, and you wouldn't be able to enter it anyway. The entire area is surrounded by a barrier. At your level, it'll be years before you can even think about it. By then, the crack will have long since vanished,] Irigar reassured him.
Li Xiang ascended to the river's surface.
"Ahh," he sighed in relief as the oppressive atmosphere dissipated. Taking deep breaths, he felt much better.
[Sub-quest 4: Haunting Spirits Completed. Reward has been issued. Please choose a suitable time to claim it.]
Li Xiang chuckled, "Irigar, for once, you're right on time."
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein