Capítulo 275: Kneeling today to Rise tomorrow!
"Ghost Serpent… Ghost Serpent…" Shadow Origin repeated in amazement. "One of the most unique oddity of the Harry Potter Random World. No wonder.
"Intangibility and Soul Chill is quite a filthy combination. You must have some incredible Luck to stumble upon such a rare magical creature. It can only be found in a handful of timelines. As I said, incredible luck… Tch-Tch!"
The corner of Kai's lips twitched. He didn't know if it was Luck or something else that made him obtain the Ghost Serpent.
However, he agreed with Shadow Origin's one statement.
Ghost Serpent was unique. Too unique. Even Meg, who was a 13th-floor fallen Candidate, had never heard of it before. The magical creature wasn't even mentioned in Kai's current Harry Potter timeline.
Within him, Selene seemed to hiss in agreement.
-I am unique, yes,- she told him.
Kai's mouth twitched again.
"Tell me the method, now," he urged the 18th-floor Contestant, grinding his teeth to show his pained expression. "And it better be something implementable."
"It is," Shadow Origin said. "Learn a Breathing Style. Fuse your sword and movement Abilities, creating a new Breathing Art."
Motherfucker! Kai cursed the moment he heard it. But he couldn't show it on his face.
How would he explain the fact that he knew a Breathing Style couldn't be learned even after practicing it for years?
Yet, the Sponsor's next words lifted Kai's spirits to the ninth heaven.
"Generally, a Contestant would need years of laborious training to learn a Breathing Style and then create one suited to themselves to turn it into an Ability," Shadow Origin said, hitting the hammer on the nail. "But this is Verse Fusion Random World. Here, ordinary logic doesn't work.
"What needs years to be gained in ordinary circumstances, you can do the same in months or days, depending on your abilities and the risks. The rewards are not guaranteed, but always remember this —
"— Chaos and Order count efforts as much as accomplishments.
"You already have the means to walk on this path from this very moment. Use it."
Kai knew what Shadow Origin meant.
The only thing was that he hadn't considered it before after learning the details from Sponsor Aphrodite.
"We still have some 20 minutes left to us," Shadow Origin mumbled. "I will look forward to a performance worthy of being a Contestant who brought out a Verse Fusion Random World. Do not disappoint us, kid. The kings are watching you. Hahaha!"
With that, Shadow Origin cut off the channel.
Kai fell into silence. He sat down on the rocky ground, falling into deep contemplation. Must he do it? He thought. Must he bow his head to a mere Character?
Yoo-hoo…
Must he? The words kept repeating themselves in Kai's mind.
Yoo-hoo…
Kai sneered inwardly. Mysteriously, the voice that had seemed like gusts of chilly wind gained substance by his side.
"Yoo-hoo!"
Kai flinched, his hands landing on the hilts of his swords.
How? The word exploded in his mind, along with the sheer disbelief.
How could anyone approach him without him knowing about it? Why didn't his instincts warn him? Was he that lost in contemplation?
No. The problem didn't lie in him, but the other party.
Kai, like a puppet, turned his head left and saw Shinobu just inches away from his face, smiling at him.
The Insect Hashira giggled. "So even you can show such an expression," she jested.
Kai sighed in relief but gained a deeper apprehension of this lady in his heart. "Why are you out of bed and walking like this?" he asked gently, smiling. "It will worsen your injuries."
By now, Kai had already figured out that the needle she had stabbed in his neck that night was the antidote.
The Resonance of Sacrifice had surprised him.
Kai had never thought Shinobu's refusal to take the HP capsule, and instead saving it for him, despite her overexerting herself to go against the Flame Hashira, would trigger the third resonance.
The more Kai experienced it, the less he understood the Skill — Heart Rhythm.
It was all too mysterious, even for him. Not to mention, no matter how Kai looked at the current circumstances, it didn't look like Shinobu's mind had been tampered with by the Systems.
The only thing Kai had done was to speak the truth, using a false identity.
She was beautiful, no doubt.
Shinobu saw Kai looking at her, his hazel eyes fluctuating under the morning sun, and she blushed. She sat down near him, wrapping her hands around her knees.
"You can feel them, too," Kai said, recalling the sensation he had just after waking up.
Shinobu nodded. "Demons," she whispered, looking out into the darkened rainforest. "They are everywhere."
"It's my fault," Kai chuckled and lied. "I caused too much commotion, exposing our location. They can also sense the connection I have with Nezuko. It draws them to us unknowingly. Sigh!"
Silence took over then, as they gazed at the gurgling river and the scorched ground between it and them.
After a few moments, Kai stood up and faced the seated Hashira.
She looked up at him, expressionless.
"As I am now," Kai said, a dense will to achieve greatness churning around him, "I can't protect you and Nezuko. It's because of me you two are in this situation.
"A man should take responsibility for his actions. But I am not conceited enough to not see how weak I am against demons of Hashira-level or beyond."
Kai looked up at the vast sky, closed his eyes to calm the doubt in his heart, and then looked at her again.
Then, slowly, Kai kneeled in front of her, both his knees striking the rocks with a dull thump.
Kai's head followed, his forehead striking just inches away from her bare feet.
"You…"
"Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho!" Kai shouted, kowtowing, shouting, and shedding false but equally realistic tears.
"Teach me the Total Concentration Breathing Style," he begged. "Give me strength… Give me strength… to protect you."
Shinobu's eyes reflected Kai's snowy white hair.
She leaned forward and rested her head over Kai's, preventing him from banging his head. Her answer entered Kai's ears with a giggle.
"Umu!" she nodded. "I will take you as a Tsuguko. It's just… I don't even know your name."
Kai felt the weight of her head and smiled. "Just call me Arlen."
It was good that none could see the smile on his face becoming a demonic grin.
************
Tsuguko: Disciple/Successor
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