1st Pov Xicor Samiel:
2 Months Later:
It's been who knows how long since my battle with those demon defence members since there's no way to tell the time or the exact date in a separate dimension compared to earth.
Right now, I'm reading a fantasy book with Kuusetsu, alone. Since she's been feeling let out from the games and other activities she's been watching us do, so I decided to do some activities with her with and I think she enjoys my content by the way her small chicken wings would flap and gurgles of happiness.
Over the time after the battle, I've been training with Naruhime in increasing the templates but with something like the ten shadows, it's something unique.
I have to rise the template to a certain amount before it won't rise as it unlocks a new shikigami for me, I must tame that shikigami so it will allow me to move up.
It starts at 20%, which gives me access to Nue, then 30%, for toad and so on and so forth. I let out a quiet but tired sigh, kind of thinking this will take longer than any other templates.
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[Megumi Fushiguro Template: 37% ]
[Cursed Technique: Ten Shadows]
[Speciality: None]
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[Bag-mask Curse user Template: 100% ]
[Cursed Technique: Cloning]
[Speciality: None]
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[Ranta Zenin Template: 27% ]
[Cursed Technique: Paralysing Gaze]
[Speciality: None]
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I've already successfully completed the cloning technique and now I can give one of my clones only one of my cursed techniques, but the one I give will be unavailable to me if the clone is gone.
Ranta Zenin's paralysing gaze allows him to obviously paralysis his targets but he much have his hands pointed at them as well as keeping his eyes open the entire time.
This technique, once mastered, would be a perfect support technique for my clones to use.
My main focus is probably get ten shadows as high as I can before moving on to other techniques until I gain a technique I can use against Mahoraga before it adapts.
Moving on, the demon defence force have been increasing their barrier's strength, doubling patrols and sending out teams to search for me.
I was told this by Shikoku who has snakes inside the shadows on the dorms, gathering information for us to use to our advantage.
Speaking of Shikoku, ever since our relationship has started she's been clingier by holding onto my hand, arm or just out right giving herself a piggyback and even sitting on my lap, pretty much using me as her personal chair every chance she gets with me.
Sometimes pecking me on the cheek or just out right kissing me when we're alone.
All of these affectionate gestures has made Naruhime more 'aggressive' in way as she's always by my side or in my line of sight, its obvious she has a thing for me, it's just me coming forward about it to her about it since it's only a matter of time before she forces me an answer or does something stupid.
I should probably do it when we are sparring since that's the best moment and when she can actually express herself properly.
Kuusetsu's gurgles and light tapping brought me out of my thoughts, "right, sorry, I was lost in thought" I said apologetically.
I continue to read to Kuusetsu as she adjusts her self closer to me to either get a better view of the book or just wanting to get close to me, soon I heard soft, reverberating snoring beside as Kuusetsu went sleep through my reading.
I let out a soft chuckle before closing the book and putting it aside. I quiet leave the room and outside the room was the towering figure of Jouryuu, crossed armed against the wall, likely waiting for me.
As I left the room, she pushed herself off the wall and stood in front of me with her usual expressionless face though there is notable softness to them.
"Is there something you need Jouryuu?" I asked.
"Xicor... fight me" Jouryuu bluntly said.
I blinked several times, "is there a reason for this?"
"Yes" she said without hesitation before turning around and walking away.
"May I know why" I called out but she didn't respond nor stop her movement.
Okay, weird, is this some kind of test or something?
I shook my head before following her to the training ground. The training grounds is a large hollowed cave with the walls reinforced so the entire cave doesn't collapse.
Jouryuu and I enter the grounds to find Naruhime standing on rock pillar with her back to us as lightning cackled around her body.
Her body shakes for a few seconds before letting out a yell as lightning erupts from her body and shoots in all directions, almost hitting me and Jouryuu in the process.
After several minutes, she soon calmed down as steam flowed from her body before she turned to us and froze, a soft blush appeared on her cheeks as she averted her gaze from us.
"H-How much did you hear?" She asked.
"Nothing" both me and Jouryuu said.
Naruhime let out a sigh of relief before jumping down to us, her gaze shifted to me, "so are you here for another spar?"
"Not now because Jouryuu requested to fight me" I explained as her brow twitched slightly and her hand clenched a bit in an obvious sign of jealousy.
"I'll stay and watch" she immediately said.
I shrug my shoulders as we took our positions, both of us standing on stone pillars staring at each other. The air was tense as my mind worked through strategies of how to fight against Jouryuu, who I have no knowledge of her skills.
I have yet to learn rct yet but I'm getting even closer, just one more push and I'm through, that's all it has to take.
My work through different techniques I could do but a sudden thought occurred to me. Why not I just combine my techniques?
My eyes widen at the thought and I think Jouryuu noticed, by the way her eyes narrowed slightly.
I pull the mask out of my shadow and put it on, thanks to the ten shadows technique I can store things in my shadow but at the cost of baring the weight of said object. I can even hide and travel through shadows throughout the area, perfect for surprise attacks.
Now let's see where a current me fares against a different god of thunder.
3rd Pov:
Xicor and Jouryuu stared at one another before they disappeared as their stone pillars explode from the force of their speed.
They met mid-air, fists clash against each other with each of them blocking and deflecting. Xicor did his best to dodge more of the strikes since they hit more than anything he has faced, slightly stronger than Naruhime own strikes.
Xicor ducked under one of the fist before hitting her in the stomach with ratio. The attack didn't push her back but it did make her grunt out in slight discomfort.
Xicor jumped back as a clone manifested beside him. Xicor ran off to the side with the clone leaping up high with cursed energy coating its hand before launching 7 cursed fists down upon Jouryuu, who raised spread her wings wide and flap them up as she was immediately in front of the clone before striking the clone in the chest as it plummeted into side of small ledge.
Suddenly, a beam of blood was shot out towards Jouryuu's back but she turned around to defect it but it was already too late but the tip of beam wasn't the usual sharp arrow end but a blunted end.
The beam travelled under Jouryuu's arm before it impacted her shoulder as a sudden force hit her, greater than she expected from an attack like this as it made her grunt in discomfort like the ratio attack Xicor did.
That's because it is.
Xicor has combined blood manipulation and ratio in a ranged critical strike. The clone used this opportunity to launch a cursed fists a Jouryuu but she smashed it with her fist.
Jouryuu brought her hands to chest level as she brought them close before sharply clasping them together.
The clone down below had rock walls appear beside it but it didn't have enough time to escape before the wall blurred into him, crushing the clone dead.
Jouryuu instantly turned around with her hand shot out as a large ball of lava was stopped by her hand before she crushed the attack and turning it into droplets.
As Jouryuu destroyed the orb of lava, a Chinese dragon came crashing into her and launching her down to the ground as she skidded to a stop.
Xicor appeared behind her but was swiftly kicked away, into the caves wall. Jouryuu lifted hand behind her as she stopped Ryu from ramming her.
She then grip Ryu's head with both hands and smashing it to the ground as Ryu slowly disappeared, having taken more damage than it is allowed.
Jouryuu sharply turned as she flapped her wings forward, boosting her speed as she blurred away.
Xicor attempted to find her but all he saw were blurs before the back of his head was grabbed and smashed into the ground.
Xicor swatted her hand off his head as he rolled around and thrusted his fist forward, coated in cursed energy as a cursed fist was shot into Jouryuu but it didn't send her away, it was only an inconvenience as she blocked the attack and destroyed it with ease.
Jouryuu grabbed Xicor by his ankle before throwing him away. Xicor put his hands together in a sign of a bird, "Nue"
The big red owl flew out of the shadows below as it catches Xicor with his talons and safely land him down before the bird sank back into his shadow.
Xicor stared at Jouryuu, trying to judge what came over for this spar to occur but nothing came to mind. Xicor shook his head and put his hands together in the sign of a wolf, "Totality, Divine dog"
A large black and white werewolf emerged from the shadows behind Xicor, it hunched close to its master, ready for him to send a command.
To Xicor's side, another clone emerged. The clone immediately leaped towards Jouryuu as she prepared to strike the clone down but she didn't get the opportunity to as jumped out of her shadow behind her.
Xicor pointed both hands at her before firing off flames from both hands, covering her form. From the smoke, Jouryuu stood with crossed arms over her face before she slowly lowered them but she didn't get time to breathe as she was hit heavily in her back, not by the clone but by divine dog. Jouryuu grunted a little feeling the same discomfort from similar attacks.
Just seconds after Xicor fired the flames, he used ratio to create a weak spot on her back and sent the location of it to divine dog through their bond.
Above both divine dog and Jouryuu, the clone launched several cursed fists down on them as divine dog quickly sank into the shadow as the area around Jouryuu was smashed up by the large fists.
Xicor stared at the smoke while standing on top a ledge with divine dog hunched beside him like a silent guardian and the clone standing close to the edge of the smoke, waiting for the goddess to make a move but it didn't have time to do anything as a stone cover arm shot out of the smoke and pierce through the clones chest.
Clone slowly melted like clay before disappearing. Jouryuu turned her attention to Xicor on the ledge with divine dogs baring its fangs at the tall woman.
"I'm satisfied" Jouryuu said before turning around and begin walking away.
"Huh"
Xicor blinked for several times, silently processing what he just heard, "now wait a minute, what do you mean you're satisfied"
Jouryuu looked over her shoulder at Xicor with a hint of approval, "I wanted to see why Naruhime enjoys fighting you, now I see why, as well as the potential of humans but with you on our side, I'm reassured of our victory"
With that she walked out of the training ground, Xicor returned divine dog back into his shadow before he slumped on the ground in defeat.
Naruhime walked over and placed her hand on his shoulder, "How are you feeling?" she asked softly.
"...I'm alright" he said after a pause.
She averted her gaze from him as her mind wandered before shaking her head furiously. She sat down next to Xicor and rest her head on his shoulder, neither gazing at each other.
Simply enjoying the moment while testing the boundaries of each other, Naruhime's hand drifts to Xicor's as she interlocked them,
Xicor looked at their interlocked hands before tightening them, silently reassuring her that he doesn't mind and welcomes it.
They stayed like that for a while before Naruhime opened her mouth, "Xicor, can I test something?"
Xicor turned to her, curious, "sure"
She nodded slightly and pushed herself forward as she covered his lips in her own, Xicor didn't hold her nor reciprocate the kiss as it is something Naruhime wants to test as well as fearing what he might do would upset her.
After a few seconds she pulled back slightly with only a few inches away from each as Naruhime had a soft flushed face.
She brought a hand to her mouth as her fingers traced her lips, before looking directly into Xicor's eyes as she wrapped an arm around his neck and with, her free hand, cup his cheek, keeping him there so he can't run from this moment.
"I don't know what I'm feeling but I don't want to push it away as it's quite nice to have so from this moment forth, you're mine" Naruhime whispered, ensuring only him and herself can hear those words.
" I have Shikoku?" He asked out of caution.
"Xicor, we are not humans, we are not bound by their rules and we're gods, we take what we want and right now, I want you in my life" Naruhime softly said before connecting her lips to his.
Xicor stared at Naruhime's closed eyes for a few seconds, slightly unsure before shrugging his shoulders mentally, 'screw it'
He reciprocated the kiss by wrapping his arms around her, bringing her closer. After several minutes, they pulled back with their foreheads connected.
"I will be called back to our main base to guard mother while the rest of you are here to deal with the humans, honestly I don't wanna go but I don't really have choice in the matter since big sis Taikyoku told me so" she said with a slit pout.
Xicor laughed soft before stroking her hair as she hummed in content, "don't worry, we'll see each other soon"
She hummed in acknowledgment as she moved to rest her face in his shoulder as she sighed in content, "don't move, I want to prolong this moment for as long as I can before your taken away"
"Alright" Xicor said reaffirming his hold around her as he watched her smile grow slightly.
They remained like that, in each other's arms with Shikoku sitting not too far with a video camera in her hand as she giggled mischievously.