Chương 2: Hardships & Promise
Early Morning
Zephyr POV
Waking up with a sweaty body, I groaned feeling the cold stone I woke up and smelled myself.
Sniff
Damn, maybe I should take a shower but I need to buy new clothes to change out the ones I have.
I got up before buying a wooden bucket and climbing down the stone wall, I went over towards the lake and filled the bucket with water before looking around where I could shower without being seen. I rubbed my eyes yawning with everything that happened last night, especially the Nightbringer Set that I don't understand.
Walking around the lake after three minutes I found a place that was somewhat embedded into the cave. I looked both ways before I placed the bucket down and bought bar soap.
I started to take off my clothes with my shirt being first, then my boxers and pants. I bought a small bowl before scooping some water from the bucket and pouring water over myself.
After pouring water over my head I started using the bar soap to clean up my body from it's smell.
20 minutes later
Once finished, I bought a towel and washed my body and bought new clothes that wouldn't affect my movement.
After changing, I walked out the small cave tunnel and saw that there was two new additions to the Black Ceremonial Serpent's Cave.
The first addition is that there are 2 Big snakes smaller than the black serpent but they had different colors instead, which looking more closely they might be its offspring.
The second addition is that there was a cluster of vines growing from the top of the massive pink tree in the middle and looking closely I swore I saw something shiny within the tree making me walk over to it cautiously.
Once I neared, I saw a beautiful sheathed katana that had cherry blossoms at the end of the sheath and feeling something was off I tried focusing fully on the katana and slowly I could see the sheathed katana have pink energy wrapping around the sheath.
Zephyr: "What is this…? What could this pink residual energy mean?"
As I thought wether I should even touch this dangerous weapon, my chest had suddenly lit up in green and became visible through my shirt and slowly green energy moved towards the pink energy.
Much to my amazement, the green energy seemed to subdue the pink energy and soon the green energy encased the entire sheath and blade inside before I saw both energies dissipate into the air.
Cautiously I raised my left arm and grabbed the katana from its ceremonial stand and took a deep breath as I gripped the Katanas handle and pulled the katana out of its sheath and the same pink energy came back before it wrapped itself around my right arm.
Shing
Cut
Cut
Cut
In that moment three consecutive cuts were made on my right arm making me grunt in pain as I looked at the Katana and taking a deep breath I stood up with blood trickling down my arm.
Zephyr: "Whatever you may be, you have piqued my interest and desire to explore your abilities…*grunt*…"
Cut
Cut
Zephyr: "So lets start with you acknowledging me as your new Owner!"
As more blood trickled down to my clothes I began to focus as I tried to feel the green energy in my chest and was successful after a couple of tries.
Having to try to get the green energy to encase the entire katana was the hard part which resulted in more cuts in my already trembling arm.
Cut
Trying my best to get the green energy to slowly encase the Katana after the sixth try it finally managed to encase the katana and the pink energy around my right arm went back into the blade and I kneeled down exhausted.
Zephyr: "Hey Luna you able to buy bandages for me and some alcohol to clean the wounds?"
[Buying Bandages & Alcohol ! 10x Bandages bought! 1x Alcohol bottle bought! 10x Small cotton bought!]
Zephyr: "Thank you Luna…"
I looked through my inventory and grabbed 2 bandages and the alcohol bottle before I started to clean my wound with the small cotton which stung like high heaven and soon bandaged my bleeding wounds.
5 minutes later
Taking a deep breath and exhaling outwards I looked at the katana and read outloud its engraved name.
Zephyr: "Shinoyomi Shinmei… what an interesting name…"
I smiled at aquiring a strong weapon I could use other than the Nightbringers bow and sheathed the katana before I bought a silk woven belt from the system before I wrapped it around my waist.
I placed my katana's sheath in my belt of my left side and looked around the cave before seeing another small opening opposite of the direction I came in before.
I curiously walked towards the opening and saw a large cave entrance within with varying glimmering lights onwards.
I cautiously entered and took out a Lantern I just bought from the shop and took a look at the orange and white crystal clusters on the wall and Identified them as Ignis Vis Crystals and Ordo Vis Crystals which hold Primal Aspects that are needed for crafting.
I immediately took out an iron pickaxe from my inventory and mined the crystal clusters on the walls. Once I mined the large cluster veins I continued further in until I heard hoarse groans making me defensively take out Shinoyomi.
Thud
Thud
Thud
As I waited until the groans and footsteps grew closer I could see a green human silhouette but what made me step back was the dead stench coming from the silhouette.
Zephyr: "Is that a corpse..? How can it be walking?"
As it approached I could see the undead being in front of me and In a matter of seconds more of these slow undead beings started to appear out of nowhere.
I raised Shinoyomi and focused before attacking the furst undead with an overhead strike that when swung left a trail of pink energy with peach blossoms appearing.
Shing!
Roar!
As my strike hit its head It tried to lunge at me but Shinoyomi lit up in pink flames before the undead's head was engulfed in pink flames that burned its already rotting flesh.
Thud
Groan
Thud
Groan
Thud
Groan
Soon the first undead fell and the other three neared and looking nervously at all three I took a good look at my blade and back at the pink energy coming out the middle part of the blade and the top of the blade that was extended with pieces of the blade stuck in the undeads skull.
With a sudden tug from my right hand, the stuck pieces of blades dislodged within the skull came out and cut one of the nearby undeads legs and simultaneously the first undead turned to ash.
Thud
Groan
Without hesitation I raised Shinoyomi and performed the same overhead strike again but followed it up with a swift left and right slash that had pushed both undead back with Shinoyomi extending its range and soon flames engulfed their bare torsos.
I focused again and focused on their head with the left undead having their head split in half Iand swiftly attacked the right undeads head.
Shing
Thud
Shing
Thud
Once both undead fell, I looked at the undead that was trying to crawl towards me before splitting their head apart with an overhead strike.
Groan
Thud
Once the final undead had fallen I explored deeper into the dark cave and for the next few minutes searched the dark tunnel and fought off more undead whom had their ashes remain.
Much to my curiosity I had picked up their remaining ashes in an empty glass bottle before storing it within my inventory for future alchemy uses.
After who knows how long there was a split in the cave one tunnel going further down and the other tunnel leading right with a dim torch placed in the rocky wall making me stare at the right tunnel with suspicion.
Zephyr: "Hey Luna, are you able to buy me a proficiency for swordsmanship or a new skill that aids with weapons for katanas?"
[Hmm, there are skills for katana and proficiency with weapons! Knowing you don't want overly expensive skills I will see what might fit your current style and katana!]
After two whole minutes Luna appeared once more in the form of the blue screen but it had a list of Skills and not long after another smaller list for Proficiency appeared.
[—————————————-———]
{Basic} laido- 2,500 pts
Description: Fluidly draw your blade from its sheath and cut an opponent and sheathing your blade in a single movement
{Beginner}Bokken Technique- 3500 pts
Description: A technique that lets wood clash with steel by making the bokken meet the katana at a specific angle and using your body to absorb the impact and redirect attacks to opponents
{Expert} Sword Heart- 75,000 pts
Description: They Weapon and User come together as one and the sword becomes an extension of the users body, being able to bring out a weapons maximum potential as well as the users
{Semi-Expert} Hienken - 45,000 pts
Description: This skill allows the user to strike the opponent three times unexpectedly within a blink of an eye
{Advanced} Maai- 11,500 pts
Description: Allows user to sense when an opponent is within 5ft of their field using their instinct and strike in an instant
{Advanced} Cherry Blossom Art- 27,850 pts
Description: Using the opponents attacks to redirect their attacks onto themselves by shifting the direction of power or manipulating the balance of the opponent
{Beginner} Vorpal Strike- 18,500 pts
Description: Using the power of darkness to lenghten your weapons reach and attack as if having an invisible blade
{Basic} Square off- 2500 pts
Description: Defensively position your sword and parry an attack before counter-attacking with an upward slash
{Basic} Energy Arc Slash- 5,000 pts
Description: Send a seperate energy attack with a swing of your weapon
[————————————————-]
Looking through the list I thought deeply before looking at the other blue screen that held the proficiency for swordsmanship and man was it expensive yet rewarding for the future.
[————————————————]
{Basic} Swordsmanship- 5000 pts
Description: Swing a sword with 2 years of experience
{Beginner} Swordsmanship 12,000 pts
Description: Swing a sword with 5 years of experience and able to fight off bandits
{Advanced} Swordsmanship 25,000 pts
Description: Swing a sword with 8 years of experience and able to fight armored opponents
{Expert} Swordsmanship 50,000
Description: Swing a sword with 15 years of experience and able to halve an armored opponent in half and gain insights to harness power of Sword Aura and use it briefly for a limited time
[———————————————]
Looking at the cost of both lists I sighed in disbelief before looking at my points and sighed once again.
Zephyr: "The one that matches Shinoyomi is the Cherry Blossom Art the most, and I do need swordmanship mastery to use the sword art…"
Zephyr: "Luna, buy both the Beginner Swordmanship, and Cherry Blossom Art for me!"
[Buying {Advanced} Cherry Blossom Art & {Beginner} Swordsmanship for 39,850 points! Both bought items sent to users Inventory!]
Zephyr: "Thank you Luna! Now then, can you also buy the skills laido, and Maai?"
[Buying skills {Basic} laido, {Beginner} Bokken Technique, and {Advanced} Maai for 17,500 points! Sending bought items to users inventory!]
I opened the inventory space and browsed the contents inside until I saw a variety of colored orbs that had the name of the skills engraved upon them.
I started with the gray colored orb that held the laido skill and clutched my head and as I felt new strange memories in my mind.
Looking through these newfound memories I saw a shadow hold his hand on the katana's handle and another shadow appear charging at the first shadow before he was cut in half from top to bottom.
As I watched the second shadow fall, the first shadow looked at me before repeating his stance as another shadow appeared but was cut down in an instant.
After watching the scene unfold for a third time, I had learned the laido stance and came back to the cave tunnels with a migraine.
Zephyr: "Argh! My head!"
After I had completely memorized the new stance, I took out a green orb that was the Bokken technique and pushed it into my chest and I was transferred to that same empty space from before.
In front of me, a white haired woman appeared with a wooden bokken in her hand as she looked at me before numerous black shadows appeared from thin air with their weapons raised.
???: "Oh my, it seems we have rude guests today!"
???: "Hmm? Oh it seems someone came to learn! Well I guess I can teach you, so look closely and don't falter!"
Not long after, the shadows charged forwards at the white haired woman only for the woman to move fluidly through them deflecting their sword strikes.
After a few more strikes she started tilting her bokken with every sword strike and using their strikes momentum to make them attack one another.
Swoosh!
Clang!
Swoosh!
Clang!
Swoosh!
Clang!
Every tilt of her sword resulted in bloodshed at the hands of each shadow until the last shadow fell and dissolved into ashes.
???: "So tell me, where you able to learn anything young seeker~?"
Zephyr: "Yes? But I don't have the same speed or strength to properly deflect attacks"
???: "Then I shall show you once more that one does not need strength or speed only momentum to attack~"
Once she finished speaking, the shadows appeared once more and the white haired woman started to show me the same technique once more.
35 Minutes later
(Mind Realm)
As she kept fluidly deflecting the shadows attacks onto themselves it wasnt until the 7th round that I got the main concepts of the technique.
???: "So it seems you finally got the basics~?"
Zephyr: "Indeed! Sorry to disturb you and having to take awhile until I got the hang of the technique!"
???: "Don't mention it kid, it's just a little skill of mine afterall~"
I chuckled before I was transported back into the tunnels with another harsh migraine with new memories being added.
5 Seconds later
(Overworld)
After having taken a breather I looked back at my inventory space and focused on the blue colored orb that had the Cherry Blossom Art.
Zephyr: "Welp, I should prepare to learn everything now!"
I took out a blue sphere namely being the Cherry Blossom Art and pushed it in my chest before my eyes blanked out and I appeared within a dojo with an old man sitting in front of me.
Zephyr: "W-"
Before I could speak I was suddenly thrown a bokken at me and I reached out to grab it and the old man began to speak.
???: "As the inheritor of the Cherry Blossom Art it is the duty as your master to fully teach you everything…."
Zephyr: "Inheritor? Are these even my real me-"
???: "So prepare yourself to know how gruesome our style of Cherry Blossom Art can be…"
Before I knew it the old man had dissapeared and my face crunched up as I felt the tip of the bokken hit my ribs but it didn't stop there as I felt the side of the botten hit my head and I grunted in pain.
Zephyr: "Argh! Why- Argh!"
???: "Why aren't you blocking my attacks…? If you don't even try why should I trust my Cherry Blossom Arts to you?"
Hearing him say that I stopped and looked at him in surprise before I got up and with an iron grip on the Bokken I focused and thought back on the Bokken technique.
Once the Old man started attacking again I raised my wooden bokken and focused on where he would appear next and In an instant I was smacked on the head but I managed to block one of the old mans strikes.
Of course it wasn't perfect once I felt my hand hurt from blocking the hit. I tried to look around for the old man's strikes and blocked 1 of 5 strikes and so we continued for the next few hours until I started to get beat up.
4 Hours Later (Mind Realm)
???: "Impressive! Whoever you learned your Bokken technique from has my gratitude in making you resilient in taking hits!"
???: "Well, now I wonder if your hatred for me has made you angry? Why don't you try attacking me…"
Looking beat up with my face swollen, bruised lips, and purple spots on my skin I looked miserable and took a deep breath and looked at the old man.
Zephyr: "I know I can't hit you but I will try beating you up with all I can…"
With the bokken, I held it close to my chest and looked at the old man before I rushed forwards and struck downwards.
Clang!
As my bokken fell against his own he had causally waved his bokken and my strike was nullified as it slid downwards as he tilted his bokken diagonally.
Not even half a second later, the old man hit my head and I fell to my knee and as I tried to look at the old man again I saw my vision turn blurry but I stood up slowly and took a moment to take a breath.
Zephyr: "Once im done regaining my senses I will beat you….!"
As much as I tried, the following minutes I spent them recovering after every blow hitting my head and trying again until I couldn't no more and fell unconscious.
??? POV
What a talented young disciple, *sigh* if only that other kid was this diligent in training. But it does appear we have gained a good seedling this year, already has an somewhat solid foundation.
???: "Still, if you taught yourself to block using just a Bokken thats enough to place you higher than before… hmm…"
With a wave of his hands, pink sakura leaves rushed from the nearby sakura trees and wrapped themselves gently around Zephyr's body before Zephyr dissapeared from view.
Zephyr POV
(Overworld)
5 minutes later
After what seemed like ages, I woke up only to find myself in the entrance of the 2 split cave tunnels.
And not even five seconds later I held my head in pain as I recieved back the pain and technique the old man teached me which took a painful 3 minutes to recover from.
3 Minutes later
Zephyr: "Damn Old man almost cracked my head open!"
At the same time I cursed the old man, I felt like I was a new person and as I wielded Shinoyami, I felt like I could perform the Cherry Blossom Art but I held off since I still needed to use the [Beginner] Swordmanship and Maai skill.
Thinking deeply of wether to use the beginner swordsmanship mastery or take on the Maai orb skills trial…hmm..
Zephyr: "This time I should probably be better prepared, so swordmanship mastery it is!"
I took out the swordmanship masteryfrom the inventory space that came in the form of a scroll and took a deep breath, I ripped the scroll and not a second later my entire body reeled back in pain as I felt my body's bone crack and expand.
[Wait, Zephyr Dont-!!!"
Zephyr: "ARGHHH!!! WHY IS EVERYTHING *Pant* PAIN RELATED!!!!"
[Please hang in there Zephyr! It should only take 5 hours!"
Zephyr: "I WILL PERSEVERE THROUGH THE PAIN!!!"
As I kept feeling my body be repeatedly beaten down and repair itself I grit my teeth in pain and slowly memories started playing in my mind showing me training my techniques in the wilderness having my flesh torn and healed from battles against humans and beasts alike.
I persevered through the pain both mentally and physically but the pain didnt stop and neither did I and so this continued with new memories and experiences being forced upon my now bleeding body.
Zephyr: "ARGHH!!!"
5 Hours Later
[Z-zephyr..? A-are you awake?]
Hearing Luna's voice I simply hummed before I slowly got up from the ground floor pulling myself up before shakingly taking a deep breath.
Zephyr: " Damnit, *inhale*….*exhale* who would have thought it had increased my proficiency with Shinoyami…."
As I slowly walked towards the right tunnel I saw a small black cloaked shadow appear with what appears to be a crossbow and a shiny dagger.
Swoosh!
As the bolt was fired from the crossbow I raised Shinoyami and waved the katana horizontally, sending the bolt back to the shooter who was surprised and died with a bolt stuck in its bleeding head.
Clang!
Thud!
I grabbed the tunnels stone to hold onto and followed the path and slowly walked forwards until I saw another 2 small cloaked figures with short swords guarding two wooden doors.
???: "Gah?! A human!?"
Hearing them talk in a gibberish language I could not understand, I took a deep breath and raised Shinoyami and focused on harnessing the pink energy within Shinoyami and as the two cloaked figured clashed I swung horizontally.
Swoosh!
Clang!
Splat!
Thud!
Clang!
Splat!
Thud!
As the blade of Shinoyami split into various pieces, pink energy wrapped around each part and the pieces were sent flying decapitating the cloaked figures that never expected the humans orthodox attack.
Looking at the figures decapitated I took a closer look at them and the only thing that they could be are goblins.
Using the system space, I stored their corpses for future use and opened the wooden doors to find a huge cavern filled with wooden boxes, small huts, iron weapons, and
a multitude of small goblins staring at me.
???: "Humie! Kill da Humie!"
???: "Kreek!"
Seeing the wave of cloaked goblins charge forwards with their poisoned daggers in hand I focused and took a deep breath before raising Shinoyami high.
Channeling the pink energy within Shinoyami I had swiftly split the blade into 16 seperate floating pieces around my body.
I focused myself on Shinoyami and the pink energy started to form a perfect replica of Shinoyami's blade.
Zephyr: "Hmm… guess I will need to fully test out my swordmanship…."
As the first 5 goblins charged and jumped me with their poisoned daggers ready to stab me, I swung horizontally and vertically as the energy had split the 3 lunging goblins bodies in half.
Swoosh
Splat!
Thud!
Thud!
Swoosh
Splat!
Thud!
For the goblins that tried attacking from behind they had gotten 2 sharp sword pieces stuck in their throat before swiftly decapitating their heads from their bodies.
Splat!
Thud!
Swoosh!
Thud!
Now getting used to my body with some small pain still residing, I rushed forwards and with precise strikes had cut the next wave of goblins with diagonal and horizontal strikes.
Swoosh!
Thud!
Swoosh!
Thud!
Swoosh!
Thud!
Swoosh!
Thud!
Swoosh!
As the frontline goblins fell by my blade the other goblins behind changed their tactics to attacking by distance with a new arrival approaching.
The sword pieces kept blocking the bolts that continued to fire at my body but were unable to find openings.
Seeing the taller yet hunched goblin with an Iron sword, I hummed before I sheathed Shinoyami and leaned forwards with my right hand on the handle.
The goblinhad rushed forwards with his sword drawn and in the shadows I saw a tribal
looking goblin with red tattos in his skin and wooden club raised pointing at the taller goblin.
???: "Goblin God Balar Blessing!"
Hearing him shout something, the tall goblin seemed to have stopped before his body grew stronger with bigger muscles and charged towards me at greater speed.
Clang
Splat!
Splat!
Thud!
Thud!
As the tall goblin was about to stab me with his iron sword I calmy drew my blade and slashed his head all the way downwards splitting his body halves.
With the goblins momentum it seemed my body was covered in red blood and both sides of his body splattered against the caves walls in two seperate directions.
Zephyr: "How anticlamatic…."
I looked at all eleven remaining goblins before simply waving Shinoyami at them and the sword shards were sent out utterly killing the rest of the goblins.
The only one that remains is the tribal shaman goblin who shiouted out words before plunging a dagger into his heart and I saw his body turn to ash.
I looked around the place before I started taking some colored vis crystals that these goblins seemed to have and searched around the tents to see what they had.
5 minutes later
Entering the tribal shaman goblins tent I saw something familiar with it being salis mundus and a purple crystal that was leaking purple smoke.
Zephyr: "What is that…? Why do I feel familiar with it…?"
As I reached out to grab a hold of the crystal, the dark purple mist seemed to be attracted to my hand as it slowly moved towards me before it wrapped itself around my arm and seeped into my right arm.
Focusing on the purple mist within my body, I dont feel like there were negative effects. But if I am able to use a small amount of it, I would have 3 types of energies I can control to an extent.
Zephyr: "Now that I look at it, it looks awfully like Taint….oh for the love of-…well atleast it didn't hurt me straight from the start…"
I sighed before walking back out the cave entrance and looked at the downward slope tunnel.
Zephyr: "I should probably use this time to fully integrate the Maai technique…lets do it"
I took out a blue orb and slowly pushed it into my chest and everything faded to black in an instant.
??? POV
(Mind Realm)
As I awaited the new inheritor, I saw a young man appear with a sheathed katana on his waist.
Of course it would have been as expected having sword users join us but it was the aura he was releasing that surprised me and made me take him serious a tad bit.
???: "You there! Have you been training a type of art?"
Zephyr: "I have, is that a problem?"
???: "No no, but it will make it easier to teach you Maai"
The young man nodded and I beckoned him to follow me towards the prepared arena where we shall start.
5 minutes later
Not long after we arrived and looking at the young inheritors surprised face made me chuckle at the rather large dojo
Zephyr: "I see, then I hope to learn what you would teach me!"
In an instant I saw the young man lean down and make a laido stance and I smiled before I leisurely walked towards him until I stepped within 3 meters in front of him.
Swoosh!
Clang!
Swoosh!
Clang!
Swoosh!
Clang!
Within a second, 3 swift sword strikes attacked me from the right, left and above me, but I had sidestepped the overhead strike and stepped backwards avoiding the horizontal strikes.
???: "Aha, you have an basic understanding and are able to attack thrice in a second!"
Although at first it was unexpected to have him attack thrice within a second yet that exited me since we could skip the basics and step into the advanced training.
???: "Since we are here, I want you to try defending against me now and train your reaction time"
Seeing him perform the same Laido stance I walked forwards until his katana turned pink and slowly the blade split into 16 pieces and floated near him as if protecting him.
And that was not all as pink energy came out the katanas handle to form a perfect replica of the origal blade.
???: "Interesting…, very well then I hope you prepared enough…"
Zephyr POV
In a flash, the old man with a chonmage appeared in front of me and I..could not see his blade strikes yet Shinoyami seemed to be able to as all 16 were being used to block his strikes.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Clang! x13
Although I didn't know when to strike, I knew I had to take my time to sense my surroundings as he kept disappearing and launchig strikes from every angle.
3 minutes later
Clang!
Clang!
Clang! x13
As I was patiently waiting, I sensed something and focused on that spot before it disappeared and I had to sense his strikes once more.
Until I caught a glimpse of his Katana's blade striking my left only to be blocked by the blade pieces.
And so it continued with me slowly catching some glimpses of his blade strikes and slowly catching his pattern I took a deep hreath and unsheathed my blade striking at three different directions and only one out of three struck their target.
???: "Subarashi! It seemed you truly have potential, young inheritor!"
???: "Well then, I shall ask you to come sit infront of me so I can teach you a better way to use Maai"
I nodded and sat down in front of him as he sat down and pulled out a cup of green tea from his kimono"s sleeve and drank some.
???: "Ah, nothing like a relaxing evening teaching! Well then, the fastest method to unlock your ki would be to open your meridian's by yourself"
Zephyr: "Huh? Ki? How do I do that?"
???: "I will simply tell you to close your eyes and do as instructed either using your weapons energy to guide your merideans to connect to one another or I use my skills to open them"
I nodded and closed my eyes before first using Shinoyami's energy to wrap around my body and started at my stomach where I felt it being the most comfortable.
As I started circulating the pink energy into a circle within trying concentrate it into a ball, at the same time I started gathering the nature energy and mixing it within the pink energy of sword energy.
I soon started to gather the new energy of the purple mist and started placing the tainted mist as the very core, and covered it with the pink sword energy to act as the first layer and made the nature energy mix seamlessly into both of them.
Five minutes later
Once I felt like all three energies were balanced and not erupting I heard my teachers voice.
???: "Hmm, since you have perfected making your core I shall help you open your other meridean with acupuncture"
I hummed and calmed my mind once more as I started to feel thin needles pierce my skin yet I felt no pain, only emptiness strangely enough.
???: "Now simply try moving your cores energy throughout your body and once it has been fully covered head to toe revolve it back to your core…"
And so I would channel the cores energy slowly, making sure the taint was contained within both energies and spread them throughout my body for the next couple of minutes.
25 minutes later
Once I finished spreading all my energy through my merideans I felt a qualitive leap in my body with gravity becoming lighter and my muscles being reinforced with 3 types of energy.
But I still needed to revolve the energy once more, so lets try to see how long it might take and so I started.
5 Hours later
??? POV
As I looked at this young student of mine I couldn't help but express my admiration for both his talent & potential growth. He has revolved his energies for the 5th time, purifing his body and making his body accept the energy to flow more fluidly through his body.
???: "Well, I think this should be enough for now, hey kid you exceeded my expectations!"
???: "You can now perform any technique you have with twice the efficiency and able to draw more power for your attacks"
Zephyr POV
Zephyr: "Thank you for helping me reach a new step in power!"
???: "No worries, at least you gained something out of our meeting so just make sure to further integrate Maai into your laido stance!"
Not long after, I felt myself blacking out so I could only nodd and with what little time I had, I bowed and thanked him for teaching me as I fully dissapeared.
???: "Well kid, my name is Yamamoto, nice to have you as a discple of mine!"
Back into Overworld
Once I woke up I smelled horrible and saw my clothes have black goo in them making my nose scrunch up in disgust before I wasted points in the shop to buy a wooden barrel, a bucket full of water, and 2 pieces of soap.
45 minutes later
Zephyr: "Ah that was a nice bath~"
As I was changing into new clothing, I heard footsteps rushing from the down sloped tunnel and saw a group of goblins.
Zephyr: "Time to test!"
Clang!
Splat!
Clang! x3
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
Clang!
In that moment, I had sprinted forwards and killed four goblins with a horizontal swing of Shinoyami and waved the blade in a fluid motion returning the thrown daggers at the goblins who groaned in pain.
Using the pink sword energy, I decapitated the rest of the goblins and wiped their blood with a spare cloth I bought and sheated Shinoyami.
Zephyr: "Hmm, I better go back now and wait till I get some rest before continuing where I left from"
With a final glance at the dark tunnel downwards I gathered the last of the goblins bodies into my inventory and left the tunnels to head towards the Sacred Ceremonial Snakes cave abode to get some nights sleep.
[Zephyr, would you like to recieve Sword Master, Yamamoto {Advance} Ki Training Method?]
Zephyr: "Huh? Did I not recieve the method through his words?"
[There are still other ways to train your Ki but once you reach certain levels in your ki,you wouldn't go far without a training method to further improve yourself!]
Zephyr: "Then I will gladly recieve it!"
Not long after I looked through my inventory space tfor a green orb but instead saw a green book with Yamamotos name.
Zephyr: "Hmm, I should probably read it when I go back home to fully immerse myself in it"
Well time to backtrack and have a good nights rest with the others waiting for me to come back.
1 Hour later
Arriving back at the cave opening where I could see the missing vis crystals I walked through the area and saw a surprising figure with it being Gaia.
Zephyr: "Gaia! What are you doing here?"
Hearing my voice, Gaia had charged at me before lunging at me and so I opened my arms and hugged Gaia who was smiling with joy in her space.
Gaia: "Zephyr! Finally you returned! I couldn't rest without you by my side and I also wanted to check up in you!"
I smiled and hummed as she had her head rested on my chest and soon enough she looked up at me.
Gaia: "Wait, why do I feel my entire mana throughout your body? And what the dark aura in your veins? Wait did a god curse you!?"
Seeing Gaia with an angry expression I quickly got rid of the misunderstanding and told her that it was from a tainted vis crystal.
Gaia: "You did what!? Why would you put something dangerous into your body!?!? It doesn't hurt does it?"
Zephyr: "No no, all I can say is that my body seems to adapt to the taint and the taint seems to like being with me as if familiar with it"
Gaia: "Hmm, tell me whenever you feel any discomfort with this taint and I will make sure to purge the abomination!!!"
I nodded and looked at the night light sinking into the cavern from above and told Gaia it was nearly time for me to sleep and so Gaia followed me into my small abode with a bed laying there.
Gaia: "So this is where you live? It seems nice, but what is this soft white thing on your bed?"
Zephyr: "Oh thats called a bed, it's where you sleep with comfort at night"
Gaia: "Then lets go sleep!"
Not even a second later Gaia was bouncing on the comfortable bed with happiness and I stepped out the cave to change my clothes into some silk and bought a silk gown for Gaia that should fit her.
Zephyr : "Gaia here is a gown for you sleep in, it should fit?"
Gaia stopped bouncing pn the bed and pooked at what I was wearing then at the silk gown and she nodded before she shood me away from my abode.
3 minutes later
Gaia: "Z-Zephyr you can come in now…"
Hearing Gaia call my name I walked inside and saw Gaia blushing while hiding under the sheets making me laugh and get a pillow thrown at my face.
Zephyr: "Ouch, why did you hit me so hard…?"
I soon went to the other side of the bed and put the pillow down before laying down feeling comfortable.
As I was about to go to sleep I saw Gaia trembling a little bit so I lightly tapped her shoulder before she simply held my hand and made me hug her.
Zephyr: "Goodnight Gaia"
After a moment of silence Gaia answered back in a whisper like tone.
Gaia: "Goodnight Zephyr….don't leave me alone…"
Zephyr: "I won't, were Soulmates so its my responsibility to take care of you"
Gaia: "Mhm…"
Feeling Gaia put her head on my shoulders I hummed a lullaby and nearly at the end heard her sleeping and so I closed my eyes resting my head above hers.
Whatever I did to deserve such happiness, I promise to protect you even in death. I will kill any who make you shed a tear…..
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To be Continued
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A/N: Although a bit cringe a the end, I hope you guys enjoyed the story and wholesome interactions
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