Soul Venerable (Re-written)

 

 

“Shirogane is dying right now. Shall we proceed with our plan of occupying Fort Esela?” Li Xiao Bai secretly sent a telepathic message towards Kobayashi Hana. 

“Didn’t you see what happened to the troll? His head got obliterated by Ayame in one shot. Unless you can kill her in one hit, which is impossible due to the amount of digitized artifacts that she has, I wouldn’t suggest to do that stupid shit. Let’s rethink our strategies.” Hana replied, utter shock contained within her tone. 

She read intel regarding Murasaki Ayame, but seeing it firsthand is completely different. That little pushover is actually capable of dealing super-long range damage without the Troll being aware of the attack.

It needs to be said that as a rank 1, Kel-Zulkis’ instinct is extremely keen. Any killing intent directed towards him will be detected, allowing him to survive most ambushes. That’s why he could rule Fort Esela without a greenskin rival. A creature like that still died under one shot… how can Hana not be wary of her capabilities.

Thus, the thought of killing Ayame never crossed her mind in the first place. Just as Sumire is paying attention to Hana’s background, Hana too is worried about Ayame’s. 

The Devil King is rumored to be still alive, accumulating resources and growing rapidly to attack the Sacred Alliance. If, for some reason, the Devil King returned to Galatreon and found out she killed one of his descendants, the clan head of Kobayashi clan will actually serve her head and soul on a silver platter to appease the Devil King. 

Even the God she believed in wouldn’t know what the Devil King will do with her soul! Just the thought alone could frighten her, an elite of Hartina’s Nine Master clan! Hana isn’t an idiot!

While the demigods of her clan might have schemed for some benefit from Galatreon, at the very least, her soul wouldn’t be given to the Devil King directly by her own family if he knocked on the clan’s door! 

Anyhow, she has to support Shirogane so that she wouldn’t die. If she dies while Hana is present, the Kubikiri clan would ask for an explanation. In the end, Hana’s glory is bound by her family, just as her resources are. 

“Then, about Shion…” Li Xiao Bai asked once more. “She has refused healing from your healers, it must be related to her secrets. Didn’t you want to interrogate her for her family secrets?”

Hana did not lash out at Li Xiao Bai’s question like earlier. She truly did have that plan. The Yukikaze clan is filled with secrets to the point that nobody knows which mountain peak the clan is located at. The whole Fuyuhiro permafrost mountain range is so large that it has a lot of points of interest filled with exiles and rejects. Searching for a specific plankton in the pacific ocean might be easier to accomplish than finding the Yukikaze clan’s headquarters, especially since they could use magical formation to hide themselves. 

As of now, the Hartina royals are having some level of cooperation with Yukikaze, but who wants to stay behind if one can rise above others? The kingdom’s political powerhouses are trying their best to find some way to pressure the Yukikaze clan, but their efforts aren’t bearing any fruit. 

If Hana could get crucial intel and tip it to her clan, then her contribution would allow her to receive more resources and priority in the clan’s inheritances.    

Hana is not afraid that her little ‘interrogation’ will be leaked as she has some wisdom-path attainment. If she played her cards right, prying into the secret of Yukikaze from an unconscious Shion might be possible.

Of course, she isn’t aware that Shion is literally a shell for Devil King Mordred, the one that she’s wary of the most. Her intel regarding the complete nine ninjutsu seals of Yukikaze clan was also lacking. The ignorant are truly the most fearless.  

Unfortunately, Shion has been taken care of by Kasumi, her Soul Armament. “That antimage is truly troublesome… She has too many methods up her sleeves. Our intel regarding Kasumi is almost completely blank. Other than being a metal slime capable of lightning-path and transformation-path methods, we lacked more information, especially regarding its weakness.” Hana pondered by herself.

“So… We have to come clean about the inheritance within Fort Esela? It’s too precious!” Li Xiao Bao asked. Indignance laced in his words.

“If somehow She’s aware of it, then we’ll have to. If not, we can take it later after they are all gone.” Hana replied.

…

“Kel-Zulkis’ poison-path attack is so strong that Kasumi’s defenses still could not completely defend against it. She is now suffering from… genetic collapse.” A healer of Thousand Flower is examining Shirogane whose flesh have some ‘burnt’ marks due to severe radiation exposure. 

Under divine blessings, the rate of her gene collapsing has slowed down to a great deal, yet it’s still collapsing. Of course, her clan’s bloodline being a metal-path lifeform helps greatly, allowing her constitution to resist Kel-Zulkis’ radiation attack (which is a metal-path poison) but her condition can only worsen as time passess by. She either has to be healed by a rank 1 healer, or someone will have to solve the radiation wound. 

At this moment, two Shions entered the room. The mature Shion has a body of silver and blue around the edges, while the original loli Shion donned in her combat apparel (snake scale bodysuit and gas mask). 

“You’ve… recovered?” Sumire asked, worried.

The troll’s final retaliation is powerful, the gamma ray is so strong that Shion’s mechanical body is damaged as if she was hit by an EMP. Honestly, Shion has recovered most of her system because Kasumi personally took care of it, but she has to play as someone who has received genetic damage like Shirogane. 

Shion took off the gas mask, revealing her slightly burnt skin like someone who has received radiation damage but it was healed to a great degree. Lying like this was easy as Shion’s skin is made from flexible nano polymer composites that were designed to have similar ability like memory metal. 

“Not completely, my genes have stabilized. Don’t worry, my bloodline is special as despite most healing techniques being ineffective on me, I could heal through my special method. Due to her proximity, I couldn’t say the same about Shirogane. However, it’s not like there’s no way out of this.” Shion said. She signaled Sumire regarding all those who present to leave.

Sumire raised her eyebrows at the mention of Shion’s bloodline, but she did not pry. After a brief pondering, she told everyone else to get out, including Alanis whom she trusted the most. 

Now, the only ones in the room are Shirogane, Sumire, and the two Shions. 

“Speak.” Sumire urged.

“Genetic collapse caused by radiation couldn’t be healed through normal means… at least by the priestess who believed in the Goddess of Boundless Forest. We can send a runner to get elixir from the Azaria Hunter base or fetch a priestess of the Goddess of Heavy Mercury whose healing methods would be extremely effective on Shirogane, but we both know she has no time. According to the analysis of Thousand Flower’s healer, her genes will collapse in a day…”

“Get into the point.” Sumire replied with a frown on her face.

“I won’t hide from you because we’re already a collaborator, I have a method to accelerate healing through the use of souls…” Shion paused, “It’s one of my ninjutsu.” She emphasized her face which has healed significantly from its original radiation wound.

Sumire stared blankly at Shion for a few minutes as she wanted to read what Shion is planning, but unfortunately for her, Shion is literally just a mortal shell. Without the command signals to express micro-expression, Shion is just a dead object.    

“What price do I need to pay?” Sumire asked. There’s no free lunch in this dog eat dog world. If someone suddenly gives you something for free… heh. Such altruism is strange, even the Church of Holy Light who preach the seven virtues isn’t that altruistic. 

“Nothing. It’s the least that I could do, as a member of the same team. Though, I need you to pay for the healing resources…” Shion replied in a matter-of-fact tone. “Souls.”

The two went back into a staring contest once more. “What is it that Shirogane has that you’re interested in?” Sumire asked after an intense stare at Shion’s face.

Shion revealed a faint smile. She instantly entered Sumire’s personal space to trace her chin with her finger. “I want… you.” Shion pushed her lips towards Sumire.

“Wh-” Sumire took a step back in shock. When Shion approached her, Sumire could not detect her at all. It was as if Shion used a movement technique, but she has never used it before. Why did she suddenly use it now? Sumire raised her guard to the fullest.

Shion chuckled. As an antimage (and a machine, mind you), she has better physical foundation than Sumire who does not train her physical body. If she wanted to try anything funny, there’s absolutely nothing that Sumire could do. “For someone who has a girlfriend, you give off the most virgin reaction.”

Sumire did not comment, her hands still hugged her body as if she’s afraid of being molested.

“Wait. You’re… still a virgin?” Shion queried, shocked. 

Sumire blushed slightly, but for Shion’ sense, her micro-expression is an obvious clue. “N- no. I did it a few times with Shirogane before.” She tried to defend herself.

“Pfft. You are so cute.” Shion smiled. “You’re so transparent with your emotions.”  

“Am not specialized in emotion.” Sumire defended herself once more. “Let’s put this matter to a later date.” She switched the subject immediately. “What you say about your healing methods, is it true?”

Shion shrugged. “Yes. The ‘martial arts’ that I cultivated are not similar to the orthodox martial arts of Morgen World. The progenitor of my clan pillaged an extraplanar world and incorporated them into our legacy… It’s best if you see them yourself.” Shion nudged Kasumi who took her mature form. 

“Understood.” Kasumi took out the omni gear from her liquid metal body and equipped it onto her human hand. She then typed a few console codes before it produced prismatic pixels that covered the whole room.

“So your understanding of information-path was also this deep?” Those words left Sumire’s lips unconsciously. 

“Kasumi is a Soul Armament that I received from one of the Great Archmage’s minor inheritance. Is that a weird thing?” Shion replied, unbothered by her prying.

Sumire nodded. “True.”

After several information-path spells are activated to cover the whole room in antidetection methods, Kasumi nodded at Shion.

“Perfect. Let me show you one of the nine ninjutsu seals of the Yukikaze clan…” Shion made some hand seals rapidly as she secretly siphoned some soul from her Soul Phylactery as ‘catalyst’. After all, ninjutsu is soul art through the usage of hand seals.

“Rank 0 Sha Kuji-in (Healing seal) Ninjutsu, [Inner Heal]!” Shion’s hand produces a lump of faint purple soul. The lump of soul-matter couldn’t last long in the material plane, but Shion is not rushing. “Do you want to try this on yourself first?” She asked at Sumire.

“Can you split it into half?” 

“Do you think my mastery upon healing methods is that great?” Shion replied, frowning. “Remember that I am an antimage specialized in killing, healing is not my forte.”  

“Fine. Use it on me first.”

“As long as you pay.” Shion sent the lump of faint purple soul-matter at Sumire. She received it without a sound, but after a few seconds, her eyes gleamed in faint purple gleam. 

“Amazing. Through the use of souls, it can boost the natural healing of the physical body.” Sumire felt her tiredness go away as hidden wounds in her body are slowly being healed. It also had a positive effect on her sea of consciousness and soul, this was truly a miraculous method that was based on the soul.

“Soul, mind, and body. It is all connected. The best body tempering technique will eventually touch the aspect of mind and soul, it is the same with spiritual meditation or soul tempering technique. We are more like assassins trained in the art of souls than true martial artists. That’s why my Yukikaze clan is the bane of necromancers and are great antimages.” Shion elaborated patiently.

“So you’re an assassin who wield a fucking handheld cannon to war?” Sumire mocked. “Okay. I trust you on this one.” Sumire gave her the greenlight to treat Shirogane. 

“You should try picking up refinement-path discipline, it might prove useful in the long run.” Shion replied, but did not explain in depth.

Sumire actually listened and considered her suggestion seriously, but Shion didn’t pay more attention to Sumire.

She activated the same ninjutsu once more. It is as Sumire has said, the healing method merely amplifies the natural healing of the body by giving the soul a ‘push’. The younger the target, the more effective it will be. As someone who’s in the prime of her life, the effect on Shirogane is more than enough for her body to out-regenerate the genetic collapse.

The most miraculous effect from this method is that it does not overdraft Shirogane’s soul nor damage her future foundation. The price of this healing is the souls that Shion harvested from the battlefield. Since Sumire had some attainment in necro-path, it was crystal clear for her to see. 

“Do you mind if I use my investigative method on her to make sure if she’ll make a full recovery?” Shion asked.

Since Shion has shown goodwill by asking for her consent, Sumire felt it was alright for her to check on Shirogane. After all, Shirogane has a passive defensive method. If Shion went overboard, it would activate and retaliate in the most gruesome way, thus, Sumire was sure that she wouldn't take it too far. “Go ahead.”

Just like earlier, she made some hand seals which rendered her crimson red eyes to gleam in purple shine. It was extremely brief as a scan with her eyes could detect far more than what Sumire could expect.

“She’ll wake up in an hour. Her genes are unusually active now, I think my method inadvertently broke the shackle of her bloodline…” Shion muttered in surprise. 

“Really? That’s great news.” Sumire shared her shock. 

The stronger the bloodlines, the harder it is to awaken it’s latent abilities. It’s common sense.

For example, Sakuya who has the bloodline of Four-tailed Deep Crimson Firefox, a rank 4 fire-path desolate beast, had awakened her first bloodline ability far earlier than Shirogane. Compared to others of the same level, it was a great bloodline ability, but she fell short if she’s placed next to Shirogane who is one of the kingdom’s true elite.    

Although Shion is not privy towards Shirogane’s awakened bloodline ability, it was relatively easy to deduce due to her familiarity with Hartina Kingdom’ Ten Master clans. Well, there’s only Nine Master clans now. 

“I’ll take my leave now. You can share the happy news with her.” Shion paused. “Also, you owe me 50-man soul and the pleasure of taking you on a date.” She nudged at her mature clone. Then, both of them left after Kasumi used some methods to retract the prismatic pixelated particles that enveloped the whole room.

Sumire was too happy for her partner’s bloodline awakening to react at Shion’s advances. However, her desire for Shion was real, just as Shion was with her. 

….

A few minutes later, Kasumi and Shion had a telepathic conversation while walking towards a specific location in the ruined Fort.

“Just as we expected. Her soul… is special!” Shion did not express anything on her face, but the emotion sensors in her system are filled with joy that came from Mordred’s soul.

“Was this another theoretical ‘extreme soul’ that our previous selves could not find? Did He left an arrangement for us?” Kasumi asked her main soul. 

“Probably not to the point of being an ‘extreme soul’, but still a soul mutation nonetheless. Also, no, the karmic retaliation of the world would be more severe if I arranged something like this. It is unrelated to my ‘Great Archmage’ nor ’Devil King’ identities.” Shion replied. “Let’s call it… [Capricious Soul True Strength]... Too bad she suppressed her emotion with telepathic Ruthless Sword Emotion and cultivated in sword-path. If she cultivates in strength-path without her emotion being shackled, she might be a potential Brave…”  

“Quite unfortunate, yes, but we need to prioritize rebuilding a new mortal shell for you.” Kasumi reminded her main soul of what's important. “Do not get sidetracked.”

“Of course, but she’ll be one of the primary targets for Project: Wild Hunt, her soul might become a crucial factor for perfecting my Armored Soul Tribe’s ‘racial traits’.” Shion truly wanted to kill Shirogane and fetch her soul so she can experiment further, but considering her investment on Sumire (through Nyx), she felt that this situation is not a ‘coincidence’. Perhaps, fate has something in mind for Sumire and Shirogane.

“Understood. Marking both of them for high-priority observation.” Kasumi nodded as both arrived in an underground storage room, away from prying eyes. The two did not activate further antidetection methods because both are under [Faux Soul Configuration] that allows them to be immune to most telepathic-based detections.  

“If I recall correctly, the entrance should be right about… here?” Shion scanned the whole room with her telepathic thought, but the granite walls are artificially inept material that blocks telepathic thought. This was intentional design of the fort as most fortress walls are made from magic-resistant bricks or tempered with certain materials so that most investigative methods are blocked. 

The two were looking for an entrance, but according to Shion’s memory, such a thing should be hidden underneath layers of antimagic granite walls. After a lengthy search, she found out what she’s been looking for: a small hole embedded in the granite wall. The hole was rectangular, it was hidden underneath a small cover that would be extremely hard to find as it was made with the same material with the antimagic granite wall.

“Have you finished what I’ve asked regarding the gunlance?” Shion asked Kasumi.

“You wanted me to design the 5th weapon configuration to dig a granite wall, correct? Here.” Kasumi sent a telepathic message containing the blueprint of the new weapon configuration.

“Perfect.” Shion nodded. Then she retched, puking a black liquid. The crude oil-like liquid soon evaporates into a lump of dark mist that moves according to the telepathic will of Shion. This was the whole Dark Mist that she had, she did not leave any left in the gunlance or the heavy shield. Then… a holographic image of a tall male appeared beside her. 

With the appearance of Mordred’s Chaldean truesoul, it means he is no longer controlling Shion. At this moment, Kasumi’s Metal Core was the one who steered that empty mortal shell.

Mordred traced the air with his fingers, the Dark Mist followed his telepathic command to enveloped his badly rendered 3D image-like truesoul. From the soul undulation, it was clear that his soul cultivation had reached the peak of 10 transparent stars, he is on the brink of rank 1! While Kasumi was repairing Shion after being hit by Kel-Zulkis, Mordred was consuming souls to rapidly increase his soul cultivation. Unlike body and spiritual cultivation, Mordred’s soul cultivation is easy to raise as long as the proper resources are available

“Although my computational ability is reduced significantly, this is the best way to infiltrate the inheritance’s micro-plane. You will progress as usual, I will pave a way for ‘Shion’.”

Mordred paused in ponderation before adding. “In light of Project: Wild Hunt, I will have to sever our Soul Link, just like what I did to Nyx. You’ll be moving independently, but further instruction will be sent through improvised methods.”

“Very well.”

Then, Mordred’s truesoul with the dark mist entered the rectangular hole. Information-path experts will identify this hole as a USB port. Chaldean Soul is pure information current, while the dark mist have inherited the ability to interchange between material to ethereal. When the dark mist is used to ‘hijack’ his own truesoul, it takes on the property of being pure information current. Thus, this little USB port is an entrance for both.

After her main soul disappeared, Kasumi used an information-path magic spell to erase their traces.