Chương 9: Chapter 9
Chapter 9: Why Wait When I Already Know The Future?
…
"Ray!"
Kotori, donned in her astral dress, flew out of the airship to stop Ray but Tsukuyomi appeared in his human form and stopped Kotori.
"Don't disturb Master."
Tsukuyomi then send out knives and defensive plates ready to intercept Kotori who looks frustrated that Tsukuyomi stopped her.
"I have to stop him, I can't let him sacrifice his lifespan for this."
However, Tsukuyomi didn't budge and was still determined to stop her.
"Don't you care about your master? If he continues, his life will be in danger!"
"I understand but this is master's decision."
Tsukuyomi said in finality then he sent his knives toward Kotori as if he was attacking her.
Kotori summon Camael to protect herself but the knives missed her and she heard the sound of flesh being pierced and groaning behind her.
She turn her head and saw the dissipating corpse of aliens and remembered that aliens are attacking Ray. She saw the lady in black bodysuit wielding twin crimson spears killing aliens at a very fast pace but too many of them flowing out of the crack.
"Tch, fine. He will survive this, right?"
Kotori finally resigned and asked for Tsukuyomi's confirmation that Ray will survive this ritual he is making. She will definitely scold him and give him an earful to worry her. She truly thinks of him as her son but doesn't know how to treat him and she treats Ray as usual like how she is with anyone.
"Master will definitely live, master will not easily risk his life."
"Fine then, Camael!"
She then rush toward Scáthach to assist while coating her halberd with blazing flame that caused the air itself distorted due to the intense flame.
…
Meanwhile in Ray's mindscape, he is struggling to filter the massive amount of information crammed into his head. His Thought Partition did help him process the information better like he had another 3 brains.
While the information pertaining The 88 Constellation Grand Rituals are almost fully obtained, he did find additional information that interested him.
He found out that he is facing these side effects due to his mind being unfocused. His current mind is filled with many thoughts and Cosmic Guidance naturally provides all answers to his random thoughts.
The other one is his Kinesis skill. His skills aren't limited by what is listed by the system. For example, he can also use Gravitikinesis, Chronokinesis or Ergokinesis. Respectively is gravity, time and energy but the difficulty is exponentially higher depending on the type of kinesis.
Gravity and energy can be manipulated easily with his current ability but time is hundred times harder to control due to its effect on reality. The bigger the effect, the harder it is to manipulate.
Time is hard to control because the effect can cause alternate timelines, butterfly effects or even paradoxes. Thus his current time manipulation is only at best able to rewind his wound or cause him to move faster for a few seconds.
Anyway, he already obtained the information he needed. He immediately cut off the connection from the cosmos that provides knowledge.
He regained his bodily functions and exited his mindscape to be greeted with panicked Artemis.
'Master! Master finally awake. Sob Sob… Artemis is terrified when master's bond becomes inactive and master's face is bleeding.'
'Oh… Sorry I made you and Tsukuyomi worried. I will repay you both after we finish with this.'
'Hmn, Artemis will hold on to your word. Master cannot make excuses like master's waist hurt or any similar one!"
'Oi! I mean that I will have a snuggle session with you both. My brother still limp from your brutal treatment.'
'Anyway, we talk later.'
Then Ray opens his eyes which are glowing like a flawless black opal that has beautiful stars etched in it.
His mana pool is filled to the brim by the star energy flow from above the sky into him. He swiftly accessed the 88 Constellation Grand Rituals and found the ritual that will create the shield he wanted to make.
"Oh stars above the heavens!, The stars in the infinite cosmos!, Lend me your power, Let me shape the power into a shield to protect against my enemies."
Then a translucent pillar of silvery ash energy bursts to the sky from Ray's body as he finishes chanting and holds Artemis with both hands.
"Over Boost Magic!, Over Widen Magic!, Over Extend Magic! Prototype Magic:Planetary Blockade!
Boom!
The energy pillar intensified when everyone on the site was blasted away by the shockwave and Tsukuyomi managed to catch both Kotori and Scáthach before they fell over.
The airship remained in its position unmoved by the shockwave due to the magic circle protecting it.
The crack in space immediately shut closed by the magic activation.
The energy pillar reached 8 meters in diameter as it continues to channel for a while before a translucent glass like hexagonal shaped plates spread in the sky until it encased the whole earth.
The hexagonal plates then glow in purple light for a while before it becomes fully invisible to normal eyes and occasionally a light pulse shows the small hexagonal shapes that formed the barrier.
"Haah that was intense"
"Of course it is, master. That amount of mana can probably filled the greater grail a few times"
Scáthach arrived to catch the exhausted Ray who was about to black out.
"Sigh… master, please let me handle the rest of it and sleep. You pushed yourself beyond your limit that your soul is too exhausted to even regenerate mana."
After not hearing any reply, Scáthach looks down to Ray and sees that he has already fallen asleep in a peaceful face. Her heartbeat suddenly rises to her dismay, herself also confused as to why it happened.
Kotori who just arrived to see Scáthach face lowered and Ray that look peaceful as if he passed away after defeating a great enemy.
She raised her hands to her face trying to hold back her tears. She plopped to the ground with her knees spread open.
"No… It can't be… he can't."
Scáthach, deep in thought about her sudden rise of heartbeat, didn't realize that she mistakenly thought Ray died instead of falling asleep.
(Note: His body is so exhausted that he breathes very shallowly and cannot be seen due to his outfit. That's why Kotori thought he is dead)
Kotori seized Ray from Scáthach as she kept trying to send her healing flame into Ray but it didn't work.
"No, Ray you can't die. Sob, We barely spend time together. Please wake up… I promise to, Sob, try my best to be your mother figure for you. So… please don't die!"
Kotori pleaded while crying her heart out which woke Scáthach from her deep thoughts.
"Wait, master didn't die. He just fell asleep due to severe exhaustion."
Scáthach interjected which immediately caused Kotori to stop her crying and look at Scáthach then Ray. She saw his chest raised a little which is unnoticeable unless she sees carefully.
"Thank goodness! My heart almost stopped, I thought you died."
Kotori hugged the sleeping Ray as her tears once again spilled but it was the tears of happiness instead of sadness. But before she could enjoy her happiness, her spirit power suddenly lost control as her flame danced wildly.
"Not good, my power…"
"Let me help."
Scáthach saw her power suddenly become berserk and offered help. She uses the Primordial Rune to pacify and seal her power which causes her astral dress to suddenly disappear.
The breezy cold night caused her to immediately shiver. Scáthach took of Ray's coat and gave it to her which she gratefully received.
…
Meanwhile Elliot and Karen who are looking at the ritual unfold feel speechless and terrified. The close proximity between them and the ritual mean they are able to feel the fluctuations of mana.
The mana Ray used is even more than the mana used to create the first spirit. They are afraid of what he could create if he intended to attack anyone. Like nuclear power, it can benefit if used for power generation but if weaponised, terrible things will happen.
'Truly worthy as a spirit born from the power of all other spirits.' Elliot is impressed with what Ray did. He can vaguely guess that the magic effect is to block the earth from further otherworldly entities invasion.
He also cannot help but worry, what if Issac manages to get hold of him or use his mothers as hostage to get Ray working for him.
He turn his head back and locked eyes with Karen and Karen nodded.
"We must make sure Issac never get a hold on him."
…
Two days after the magic ritual, the otherworldly entities had started to decrease. The only one left are bigger groups that went into hiding when they are stuck behind the enemies line.
With the Planetary Blockade in effect, the passage are closed shut without any way to enter. Only the neighbouring world have open access to enter earth due to Ray include it when casting the magic.
Today is the faithful day where Shido will meet spirit Princess and initiate the canon timeline.
Ray however still asleep in Fraxinus infirmary while being guarded by Scáthach who stay in spiritual form and his weapon souls who take the advantage when their master still unconscious to sleep with him since he rarely sleep.
Kotori however always spend an hour to visit him and try to wipe him clean but overtaken by Tsukuyomi then followed by Artemis on the second day.
Reine also wanted to take this opportunity to 'analyse' Ray but Scáthach always prevented her from doing anything other than simply check up.
…
During the afternoon in Fraxinus, everyone is on alert since a spacequake alert went off. Kotori seated on the bridge of Fraxinus look intently at the screen displaying Tohka Yatogami or currently spirit Princess.
Ray who already woken up from his exhaustion since the morning but stay asleep, waken up and greeted Artemis, Tsukuyomi and Scáthach before exiting the infirmary while releasing a yawn.
When he walked halfway to the bridge, he yawned again and decide to fuck walking and ask Tsukuyomi to lift him to the bridge.
His body although recovered, the effect of over using his mana to the limit still present and making him feel lethargic and become second Reine.
Using the defensive plates as his floating chair, he reached the bridge with Artemis and Tsukuyomi seated by his side as he greeted everyone.
"Ya, good mor… afternoon everyone. Ah and thanks for the coffee."
Ray waltz into the bridge and yoinked Reine's warm coffee that left at the side. He drink it in one go before he feel slightly more awake.
"What?"
Ray asked when everyone turned their face toward him. Especially Kotori who looked very surprised with her eyes almost bulging out.
"Oh, hello mother." Ray waved his right hand slightly before Kotori pounced on him.
"You finally awake!" Kotori, although wearing her black ribbon, she still happily hugged Ray without her usual commander persona.
"Yes mother, anyway I wanna say that father is on his way to the spirit. You promised him to meet at the family restaurant right? And we are directly above the family restaurant."
"What!" Kotori is shocked by sudden information revealed by Ray.
"Quick find where Shido is!"
"Yes ma'am!" The crew replied and quickly put up Shido current location on the main monitor.
"He is running toward the family restaurant, he will come in contact with Princess in 20 seconds." The crew reported.
"Need my help, mother? Although he is still fine even without help."
Ray lazily asked Kotori while he was scratching Tsukuyomi's neck and ear.
"Help Shido please, I can't help but worry about him." Kotori agreed as she returned to her seat and open a lollipop.
"Well, let's go save my 'father'."
Ray then uses his space manipulation to teleport to Princess' location. Kotori is about to tell Ray to not call Shido as father but he is already gone.
…
On the ground, Shido is running as hard as he could to the family restaurant. When he was about to reach it, he saw a girl in a princess knight outfit standing next to a golden throne that had a sword embedded into it.
The girl saw him but didn't care and pulled out a massive sword from it and slash towards him. He panicked and put up his right hand due to his reflex.
He waited for a few seconds but instead of getting cleaved in half, he heard a loud 'clang' like the sound of a blunt object hitting a metal wall.
When he opened his eyes, he saw a translucent green wall appear in front of him blocking the attack and the area around it was devastated.
He saw the man again, the man that proclaimed to be his relative but left after Kotori came and interfered with their meeting.
"..." The spirit Princess is confused by the scene that unfolds in front of her. She assumed the guy who ran toward her is one of the hostile human that usually attack her upon her arrival although they lack the machine they usually wear.
"Spirit Princess, I wish you would refrain from killing my father." Ray, wearing the hospital gown since he just woke up from infirmary, sat on the floating defensive plates aloofly as he addressed the spirit.
In Ratatoskr's bridge, Kotori face palmed herself while holding back her anger when Ray called Shido as father.
"You… you are the same as me…" The spirit looks confused.
"Yes, I'm a spirit just like you. Why you look surprised?" Ray lazily ask since the spirit has a confused look on her face. Shido also did but for a different reason.
"Nu?... You are spirit but how is that human your father?"
"I'm a father?"
Both the spirit and Shido are confused by the situation since Ray suddenly claimed to be Shido's son and their faces have great similarity.
Since spirit are never born through a parents and rather due to the magic or created by the first spirit using sepirah core, the spirit are confused by it.
"Anghaa!, my head is spinning."
The spirit ruffles her hair in confusion before she brandishes her sword thinking this is a new trick concocted by the people that attack her.
"Wait! I thought you are my long lost relative! How am I suddenly your father. No, I never even married to have a son!"
Shido shouted as he tried to get an answer from Ray since last time his face was quite hidden but now Ray wears nothing to cover his facial features, Shido can clearly see their uncanny similarity.
Before Ray could answer him, the translucent green wall moved and enlarged to cover him fully. He heard something ricochet on the barrier before he suddenly envelope by a light and appeared on a metallic floor.
Shido was transferred to Fraxinus by Kotori's order since AST arrived and they brought bigger and more guns than those displayed in the anime.
When they are first alarmed of a spacequake, they are all ready to mobilize with usual load out but when their monitoring device shows that the spirit that appeared a few days ago also present, they deploy more units and bring heavier weaponry.
They arrived at the scene and saw the spirit Princess and a green dome that hid a person under it. They opened fire at both, not noticing that Ray isn't in the dome but hidden from them using simple illusion magic.
"You came again, won't you ever understand that none of those will affect me?" The spirit said with a resigned expression before sending an attack to disperse the flying AST like swatting flies.
The AST didn't pay any mind to what she said and continued to attack her.
Ray, hidden in illusion wanted to help but if he killed the AST, he would be negatively perceived by Tobiichi Origami in the future. He had to use less lethal magic or attack on them.
'Perhaps this could work perfectly, the CR suit should provide enough protection that they are only incapacitated.'
Ray then dispel the illusion before casting the spell.
"Widen Magic, Gravitational Whirlpool."
A large magic circle appeared around the flying AST before an invisible whirlpool formed by gravity swept them away and fell from the sky, directly into the spinning whirlpool.
A single magic incapacitated 90% of the AST, leaving few that are farthest from the group or manage to escape due to luck.
They are alive but unable to attack anymore because the intense spinning made them dizzy and those unlucky one puked.
The spirit then shifts her attention to Ray after they AST are no longer a threat. She is amazed by Ray's magic but, it makes her wary. Ray realizes it and lifts his hand to surrender.
"I'm not here to harm you, I only intended to save my father. Anyway goodbye, I feel sleepy again from casting magic." Ray releases a long yawn before he lazily waves her goodbye and vanishes, leaving her with more questions and confusion.
Ray reappear with his harem on tow at Fraxinus. He saw Kotori and Shido looking at him, former is angry while latter one is disbelief.
'Oh now is really a wonderful time to mess with them both. Hahahaha' Ray thought before he move closer to Kotori while showing his head as if asking for praise.
"Did I do well, mother? I managed to protect father from the spirit and AST."
Ray act can see that Shido face change several times as he talk to Kotori while Kotori manage to keep her composure due to the black ribbon she wearing but her anger are building up as time passed.
"Father… mother? Oi, what is happening, Kotori?"
Shido stagger slightly as disbelief plastered his face. He is in shock as the relative that visited him a while ago suddenly call him father and Kotori as mother.
Shido wanted to believe it's just a prank, everything from the spirit encounter to a very similar faced guy calling him father as a prank but he had a feeling it wasn't.
However before Ray can see his fruit of labor, his exhaustion kicked in and he lost sensation of his body without a chance for his Telekinesis able to take over his body function.
He instantly collapses but Tsukuyomi swiftly deploys plates to catch his fall and Artemis move him into a sleeping position.
Kotori's building anger immediately vanishes as if they were never there before. She became worried, Ray's body are still exhausted and he forced himself to help her save Shido.
"Don't worry, master, just sleepy. Master will wake up after a rest."
"Master told Artemis to tell you to prepare a lot of Caramel Pudding when he wakes up."
Tsukuyomi and Artemis inform Kotori before they bring Ray into the infirmary to rest.
When Ray continues resting in the infirmary, Shido is sent back to school to continue his class. Kotori said she will explain later at night.
…
Later that same day in the evening. Shido returned home and conducted his usual routine like taking bath and cooking a meal.
When he passed by the living room, he saw Kotori and Reine sitting on the table with drinks while watching the television.
"Oh Shido, you're finally back from school. I almost thought you forgot the way back home."
Kotori looks at him from top to bottom before her eyes return to the television.
"What took you so long? We wait two hours for you."
Shido saw her little sister acting differently from the usual cheerful and cheeky Kotori, wondering where the usual one goes. Then he looks at Reine who Kotori introduced as their Head Analyst who also doubles as infirmary nurse.
"I wander a bit after classes are finished."
Shido gave an excuse as he sheepishly scratched the back of his hair.
"Mah, anyway… take a seat. Reine and I will explain the existence of spirits like… the girl you saw this afternoon."
As Shido takes a seat, Kotori tries her best to explain about the spirit, their relation to the spacequake and why they are targeted by AST.
…
"Thats…" Shido sympathize with the spirits as they aren't even aware or willing.
"Cruel? Yes, they unknowingly sent here from the neighbouring world which caused a spacequake when they arrived."
"That's why AST will kill them since their arrival itself will cause destruction to the world."
As Kotori explained, Reine show Shido images from the tablet to help him understand better.
"Is there… is there a way to help them?"
Shido ask Kotori with his newfound determination to help the girl. He cannot bear seeing her sad face that filled with tiredness and resignation as she keeps being hunted by AST for something she didn't even want to do.
Kotori however smirked as her bait was finally hooked.
"Glad you ask, Ratatoskr is an organisation that aim to save the spirit rather than to kill them like AST."
"There is a way for you to help. You just have to save them using the power of love!"
Kotori excitedly exclaim but Shido is confused. He thought he misheard what Kotori said just now.
"Power of… love?"
"Yes love, you will date the spirit to save them with the power of love."
"Haah!"
Shido is confused, he thought Kotori was joking but the seriousness in her voice said otherwise.
"You aren't joking… right?"
Shido asked again to confirm and he saw both Kotori and Reine nodded their head.
"Anyway how about the other spirit… . His face resemble mine and he called me father and you as… mother."
Shido hesitantly ask Kotori who sighed and lose all her previous excitement before she rub her temple with her fingers.
Shido then look at Reine but she simply shook her head and refused to explain.
When Kotori is finally ready, she both fists while raising her arm on the table to support her head and create a grim atmosphere.
"I wanted to explain to you but I'm afraid that you can't handle the truth."
Looking at the situation, Shido swallowed in response before he became determined and ready to know the truth.
"I… I want to know."
Kotori sighed, she wanted to refuse but knowing his older brother is very stubborn when he was already determined. She sighed and reluctantly explains Ray's origin.
…
"So… he is basically my son from the future!?"
Shido smacked the table in surprise after hearing Kotori's explanation. Although Kotori omitted who the mothers were.
"You all aren't playing a prank on me right?"
Shido asked to confirm it again but seeing his sister's serious expression, he gulped and fell back to his seat.
He didn't expect to have a 4 centuries old son that returned from the future and was able to live that long, his son clearly isn't a 'human'.
Shido decided to stop for now, his brain cannot take anymore of this. From the spirit of another world to having a 400 years old son.
He stood from his seat before he left the living room. He wanted to take a bath and have some time to recover his spended sanity.
"I'll take a bath first, after that I will make dinner."
Kotori and Reine remained on the table, took out the tablet again and switched into pictures of diagrams.
"I didn't see any sudden fluctuations of emotions from Shido."
"Hmn, onii chan take it surprisingly well. Well good for us then, we manage to secure his cooperation on saving spirits."
Kotori laid back on the chair while looking up with her eyes closed and sighed.
Suddenly the tablet Reine was holding vibrated and a message arrived. Reine opened it before her half closed eye widened suddenly.
"What happen?" Kotori, sensing the sudden silence, asked Reine but Reine simply showed the message to her.
"From Fraxinus?... Ray is missing from the infirmary but left a letter… 'Going out to find a certain friend, will return in two days. PS: I will be borrowing the card mother gave me.' "
As if her stress level isn't high enough, this time she feels like her blood vessels are going to burst.
Ray went out to find Kurumi to help him with his quest of dealing with Mio or Reine. He left early to find her before she found Shido to make a partnership.
Ray plans to partner up with Kurumi to save the second spirit, Nia Honjou from DEM. Ray definitely can do it himself but he would have to expose most of his power.
If he did so, Issac would pay attention to him which could ruin his chance to easily eliminate Issac and make him wary of Ray.
However, Ray did plan to return in two days. Just in time when spirit Hermit appears. Ray plans to seal her and Nia, who he is going to save.
Nia Honjou having difficulty falling in love with anyone due to her angel 'Rasiel' will lay them bare of all secrets and make her distrust people.
However, Ray is immune to divination abilities and definitely immune to Rasiel. Plus Nia Honjou that he going to save have yet to develop the distrust on people since she still probably being torture by that bastard Issac.
He definitely give Issac a long and painful death for torturing his best girl.
Just that is enough reason for him to yeet blackhole to DEM headquarter here Isaac is but he has to refrain himself since there are a lot of innocent and unrelated employees in the building.
So, Ray's plan is to meet up with Kurumi to team up and storm Neryl Island, the DEM's private island in the Pacific Ocean where Nia are held.
The security in the island is 30+ wizards that guard the scientists. Ray needs Kurumi's help to secure Nia while he will hide in shadow until Nia is saved before he destroys the lab.
…
Ray, who woke up that night after helping Shido, equipped his Hunter attire that was folded and kept on the small table of the infirmary.
"Wakey wakey you both, it's time to leave."
Ray slowly nudges both Artemis and Tsukuyomi who are sleeping by his side. Artemis, who first woke up, raised her hands to Ray's shoulder before going for a quick kiss.
"Good morning master."
"It's still night time tho…"
Artemis, who still looked sleepy, greeted Ray after the kiss. Tsukuyomi also woke up but remained seated on the bed in seiza position.
Tsukuyomi is more reserved than Artemis so, unless Ray asks for it, he will not initiate the kiss and is patiently waiting for his turn.
Ray of course knew it and always remembered to give his affection to him too. When it's his turn, he shut his eyes with anticipation while his ears and tail are moving so rapidly that he has to hug his tail to prevent it from wagging.
"You look as adorable as always."
Ray gave Tsukuyomi a longer kiss while fondling his ears for a bit before he looked at them both.
"Well I'm going to search for someone with Cosmic Guidance help."
"Why are we searching for that person, master?"
"Well… she is crucial for my next plan and completion of my quest. I already grasp her location, directly south of our current position."
Ray said as he shut his eyes to focus on using Cosmic Guidance to pinpoint Kurumi's location.
"Anyway let's go, I already left a letter to inform my mom about my little adventure."
Ray then slips his hand into his coat before he fishes out a paper with a note written on it. He made the note using magic that he invented to make tricks like this.
"Mu… master, Artemis can sense that master is planning to add another harem member."
Artemis puffed her face a little as she questioned her master's intent.
"Artemis will not stop master, just make sure master will not forget Artemis ok?"
Ray is surprised that this time, Artemis compromised but before he can be overjoyed, his joy flushed away immediately.
"Master has to spend the night with.us.first. ok?"
Artemis with her bold and sensual voice spoke to Ray which surprisingly followed by a nod of agreement by Tsukuyomi.
He was double teamed, his suffering came swift. His little brother hasn't fully recovered from that night.
'For the sake of harmony, I'm sorry little brother. I definitely will remember your sacrifice.'
Ray nodded to their request as he silently prayed for his little brother's survival and was grateful for his valiant sacrifice.
—————
(Note: Sorry I'm a little late, I was stuck with making sure I got the plot right and suddenly the internet got cut off because I was late to pay the bill.
Anyway, a short chapter with 4.8k words only but the next chapter will have a bit more action.
My friend who helped me with checking the plot accuracy said that Ray acts as son and Kotori's and Shido's interactions are unsuitable/not believable. If it did then I can only say its AU, i didn't plan to follow canon plot anyway. I gonna modify it or I'm going to write ten more chapter on Date a Live world)
(28/02/22)
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