(Mael's POV)
I looked at my arm, "What the hell....?" I said, "Weapons...."
The burning sensation disappeared, leaving only the mark. I didn't hear the ringing inside my head, as if the voice departed from my mind. It simply chimed in to tell me that and stopped talking.
What is that thing? What is she? It sounded feminine, so I assume it some sort of female entity. Is it being connected with the Distorted Godlands itself? I haven't heard anything of the sort nor did the DBG mention any sort of entities.
I do wonder what I have gotten myself.
I opened my mouth,
"Arcus"
Suddenly, a glowing blue light appeared from my hand and I watched as a short bow began to take form, manifesting in my hand. It was dark grey in color, with some black feather markings on it.
I know Arcus was Latin for Bow, so I knew that this would bring forth a bow. But I am not sure if it was just supposed to come with arrows, since I didn't summon any. Lanceus and Gladius were Latin for Spear and Sword respectively, so the other commands can summon those weapons.
This is my Magic?
"No....." I said, "This is an ability granted to me by that Thing.....my Magic is different. But the Voice said it complemented my-"
I was cut off by the loud howling yet again, giving me a shiver down my body. This time, it was much closer, around 100 meters to my right and down the cliff. A group of trees ruffled again, causing more birds to fly around in a panic; the sound of crows followed by loud shrieks filled the air.
Whatever it was, its mere howling was enough to make me feel uneasy.
"Shit..." I said as I stepped back, "What....?"
Suddenly, the trees began to ruffle violently, causing more birds to fly out. More and more trees began to shake violently, making a path directly to the cliff I was on. I was on the top, which was around 100 feet high, so whatever it was needed to have good jumping legs in order to come out on top.
Then, I saw a shadow jump out from the trees, shooting straight into the cliff. It crashed around 40 feet away from me, causing a powerful shockwave that shook the ground and caused me to stumble.
"Oh shit...!" I said as I held the bow in front of me, "What the hell?!"
I then heard a deep growl, which was loud enough to rattle my bones, the vibrations spreading throughout my body. The mere sound of it was enough to give me chills down my spine as well; fear was settling in.
From the dust cloud, I saw glowing red eyes as the large figure of a wolf came into view, emerging from said cloud. I saw a massive wolf, with dark grey fur and massive white fangs snarling right at me. There was strange smoke-like trails coming out of its fur, rising up to the air as it stood there, glaring right at me.
"What the hell is that?" I said, my body shaking slightly in nervousness, "A wolf?"
"Ho....?"The voice in my head said again, "A Forest Okuri. A vicious Wolf Yokai which tracks down its prey and rips them to shreds."
"Yokai.....?" I said, "Japanese Spirits...."
"Fufu, Japanese? What do you mean? You are in Kazuha!"The Voice said, "Home to The Yokai! Distorted Spirits and Beasts that hold great power! Either fight...."
"Or Run...."
****************
"Shit!!" I shouted as I ran down a path, "It's still chasing me?!"
I looked behind me, hearing the loud growling of the wolf that was chasing me through the forest. In the distance, I could see the glowing red eyes as the figure of the beast was getting closer and closer.
"It's still so fast!" I said, "I thought I lost it!!"
I had managed to hit it with a few arrows, spectral ones that the Voice told me to use by simply pulling on the bow. It used up Magic Power, which was evident in the faint feeling of my energy being drained. The arrows did no damage, only pissed the damn dog off, but it was able to be slowed down as I ran away.
I don't know what caused it to slow down for a moment, but I didn't care. I was able to pick up the pace and get a good head start, running through the forest at rapid speed. My life depended on it, and I had to get somewhere safe.
The snarling got closer, and I could feel the air suddenly shift temperatures, getting colder as the wolf approached me.
The next thing I know, I tripped over a log and fell down, rolling through what felt like some bushes.
"Argh!" I exclaimed, rolling on the ground still, "Shit!"
I stopped and immediately got up, holding onto the bow and drawing the string, summoning a faint grey arrow. I pointed at the bushes and saw the massive wolf bursting through with a vicious snarl.
"You little...." I said, panting, "Here I....."
My eyes narrowed, seeing how the Wolf was frozen still, its head slowly hanging down as it snarled. Something told me that something it saw made it stop it's onslaught, because I doubt it would not think of pouncing at me; I was an easy prey.
The Wolf suddenly growled and turned around, dashing away with blinding speed, leaving me there by myself.
Or at least I thought.
I frowned, "What?" I said, "What was that....?"
I looked to my side, seeing that I was in a clearing of some sort. In the distance, I saw a few rock formations that had some white and red marks on it, seemingly painted by someone.
"Hm...?" I said, looking over to the other side, "Huh.....?"
I saw that in the distance, there was what I recognized as a red Tori Gate. It was quite smaller than what I had imagined one to look like, but there was no mistaking that it was indeed that.
"A gate...." I said, "Am I in the boundaries of a Shrine?"
"That is correct." I heard a voice say
I jumped up, turning around and seeing that right behind me, there was a woman standing. Behind her, there was a wooden shrine building that was around 20 feet in height and 50 feet in length, making it quite spacious.
"Who are you?" I said, holding my bow down and slowly releasing the string, the spectral arrow disappearing, "You..."
I widened my eyes slightly, seeing that this woman had light brown fox ears. That was the first thing I noticed about her, seeing that she had animal ears at the top of her head, almost as if she was some sort of Fox-Girl, like those in the Pre-War Media.
The next thing I noticed was her beautiful pink hair, which was long and lush, draped over her shoulders and complemented her fair skin quite perfectly. And as my eyes went down, I saw her large cleavage, which was barely covered by the kimono she wore. She had a mature and curvy body, which was enough to make any man lose in thought. The mere sight of her was alluring; her body was very buxom, with thick thighs and a nice and large ass.
I gulped slowly, "I...."
"Hello, Cosmic Traveler." Her voice was husky, but alluring, "You are within the boundaries of the Northern Kurama Shrine. No violent Yokai will dare cross inside, so you are safe."
I blinked, "Oh." I said, "I...I see....."
"I am Ren." She said, holding her hands in front of her, "The Guardian of This Shrine."
"Ren...." I said, still blinking, trying to stay composed
"You were chased by an Okuri." She said, "What misfortune has been thrown at you, to be chased by a vicious predator."
"Uhm, well...." I said, "I really don't....wait, what did you call me?"
Her blue eyes looked at me with a serene allure, "Hm?"
"Cosmic Traveler....." I said, "How did you know that I-"
"I am a Yokai." She said, "A Kitsune, to be exact. My kind has the ability to sense others' spirits, and your spirit is bathed in the Cosmos. Travelers come through the Cosmic Tear above and land in this realm. I have met a couple of Travelers such as yourself, I know what kind of spirit you possess...."
"Oh...." I said, not sure if I should believe her, "A Kitsune....well, that explains the ears."
"Might I ask you, Traveler." She said softly, "What brings you to my Shrine? Was it the Okuri?"
"Or do you wish to spread misfortune as well?"