Marco was taking heavy breaths while looking at the ground, he was still recovering from the death caused from Erubetie, and thanked god that he was stoned otherwise he would have a PTSD about it, he wasn't really conscious during the death, so he didn't had memories about the attack killing him.
Then Marco was trying to gain as many informations he had about himself, and fortunately he didn't found any anomaly, but the Nine Tailed Chakra Gates he got really attracted his attention, then he felt a little hand on his back and heard a voice.
Sylph: Marco…?
Marco smiled and turned around.
Marco: I'm back…
Sylph: Marco!
Gnome: …!
She and Gnome hugged him, and Marco's expression softened, then he hugged them back.
Undine: Ahem…
The three of them turned around, and found Undine with a stoic expression.
Undine: As much as I like leaving you three alone and rest, we have things to do.
Marco: Yeah, you are right…
Sylph and Gnome were worried and said.
Sylph: Are you sure? You just died…
Marco: And I was damn stoned, if I wasn't under the effects of weed I burned like a retard some dozen of minutes ago, I would have beaten Erubetie. Don't worry about me, you can say I got an enlightenment during the moment I was dead…
Marco stood up with a confident expression, and said.
Marco: Well, what are you waiting for? I will need your help in future.
Sylph and Gnome nodded, and vanished, entering back in Marco's mindscape, but there was something strange… There was only room for them instead of 4 like before.
Marco: 'System, feature.'
*Ding*
*Nine Tailed Chakra Gates: This is the evolution of the Nine Tailed Gates, it swap the previous 10 Gates(Start included) with 3 Gates: Chakra Gate, Kurama Gate, Bijuu Gate.*
*Host has access only to the Chakra Gate*
Marco was disappointed about the limited access, but since he was able to go up to the 4th Gate before, it was a bit normal since this is a more controlled form than the Nine Tailed Gates.
Now he needs to make Undine's test, and win… He hoped that Serene Mind would help with his Gates.
Marco: Can you give me a minute? I need to stretch the body a bit since I literally died some minutes ago.
Undine: It's possible, proceed.
Marco nodded and started to stretch his muscles, inside his mindscape, Sylph and Gnome were surprised that he didn't used the 1st Gate immediately, but they decided to wait and see.
1 minute passed and Undine spoke.
Undine: Since you have already Sylph and Gnome I think you are familiar with the test I will make.
Marco nodded, it will be a fight, he will show his powers to her and he could make a contract with her.
Undine: I'm not nice like Sylph and Gnome. If I deem you unqualified, I won't pardon you. I will let Erubetie finish what she started.
Marco: *Sigh* Always with threats… At least prove to me that you are able to accomplish it…
When he finished talking, his body started to release pressure and he grinned, it was completely different from the 1st Gate, this was… The Chakra Gate.
His body was surrounded from a golden aura, his skin, clothes, hair, even his crimson eyes turned golden or yellow.
At his forehead there were small horns, similar to oni's horns, around his neck appeared 6 black magatama, on his abdomen there was a black prominent swirl, and other black lines were going through his body.
Sylph and Gnome were shocked with his sudden change, and the feeling of wilderness that was present every time he transformed disappeared.
He put himself in a boxer stance, ready to attack, right now his strength, speed and durability were on par with himself when he was at the 3rd Gate.
Undine was surprised from his appearance, since she didn't know about anything about his Gates.
He sprinted, and was in front of Undine in a moment, then he striked out with a palm, she summoned a thick wall of water to block the hit, Marco attacked and the wall broke immediately, then he used the momentum gained to strike Undine.
The attack may be weaker than before but it made her fly some meters away.
Marco: C'mon! You can do better!
Then Marco used Gnome, and his body was full of the power of earth, surprisingly, his weight didn't change, before coming here he trained with Gnome, if he could use her power even without the increase of weight, then he could use Sylph with Gnome, making everything more efficient.
After using Gnome, he used Sylph too, and became as light as a feather while carrying the strength of a small mountain.
He shot to Undine and prepared to punch her 5 meters under the ground they stood. But Undine's voice stopped him.
Undine: You pass.
Marco lost his momentum and stumbled forward, falling in the ground.
Marco: ...Huh?
Undine: I said you pass, you are able to use Gnome and Sylph's powers at the same time, and this makes you worthy of my power too.
Marco deactivated both his spirits and the Chakra Gate, and stood up.
Marco: That's all?
Undine: Yes, if the fight carried on, I could lose the fight… I wanted to test your willpower. The power of water is one to reflect the heart. Project your serene heart out of your self, forming a pure blade…
Marco: …
He didn't understood much about what she meant, things like possessing a calm heart were foreign things for him, he would either maul the monster or get away, he knew this is an important step for him, but it's just that this one is pretty big compared to others.
Undine: There was once a swordsman who wielded all four spirits at once. He had a natural talent, but it still took him a year to wield the power of water. I wonder how long it will take you…?
Undine extended an arm, and Marco grabbed her hand, the contract is done, and Undine vanished from the place, appearing on his mindscape.
*Ding*
*Congratulations for Host to obtain the Special Enchantment: Water Manipulation*
*Fusing with Support Feature…*
*Host will be able to fuse the Water in the Nine Tailed Chakra Gates to calm the body, heart, and spirit.*
*Host will be able to use the Kurama Gate under the Enchantment: Serene Mind. Once the Enchantment disappears, Host will revert back to Chakra Gate.*
Marco: 'Holy shit!'
Marco was shocked from the last message, and his determination to be able to use the Serene Mind increased to new levels.
Marco: Alright! Time to leave the ca… ve… Wait a second…
Since Marco was stoned and doesn't remember anything, he didn't knew the way he should take…
Marco: 'Undine, do you know where is the exit?'
Undine: Go forward until you reach the 4th intersection, then turn right, continue forward, and you reached the exit. Oh my, this room is really well made, is it your bedroom?
Marco: '...Yeah…'
Undine was probably talking about his bedroom in his past life, but he shook his head and followed her directions, and reached Alice at the exit.
Marco: Yo.
Alice: Hmm, it looks like you got the power of water.
Marco looked around, and seen many crude random drawings in the dirt.
Marco: So you were comfortable, huh? 'While I got killed she was drawing… "Things"?'
Alice: Don't worry about that. More importantly, how is the power of water?
Marco: Well, I feel like a connection all around me, as if everything is under my control. I feel like that…
Alice: Hmm, I don't know how one should feel that… But yes, I guess it's like that…?
Alice nodded with a knowing, smug smile, she has no idea about it… Meanwhile in his mindscape the spirits were talking.
Sylph: It's fine! Fire, wind, earth and water all flow through the universe! Those four flows go through Marco, and everyone else in the world! But now Marco can feel the flows! All thanks to Deeny!
Undine: …
Sylph: Now I can play with Deeny! Alright! Yaaay!
Undine raised her hand and trapped Sylph in a water bubble.
Sylph: *Gurgle* *Gurgle*
Marco: 'Don't make a mess in the bedroom…'
Then his consciousness turned back in the outside world.
Alice: By the way… You met with Erubetie, didn't you?
Marco: …Perhaps?
Alice: Perhaps?
Marco: I inhaled drugs I found down there and burned…
Alice facepalmed herself from the sheer stupidity that sentence implied.
Alice: *Sigh* Whatever, where will we go now?
Marco: Now it's time to make a visit to the Kitsune Village and then we will go to the Gold Region.
Alice was exasperated because she would go to the Kitsune Village once again, a place made of monsters that she hates… But she followed Marco anyways, however, she noticed something…
Alice: Hey, where did you get the scar?
She noticed it some seconds ago since there was an hole in his shirt, Marco seen the scar and sweated a bit.
Marco: W-Well… Let's say that while I was unconscious, Erubetie left me a little gift…
Alice came in front of him and gripped his shoulders.
Alice: Tell me.
Marco: A-Alright… Jeez… Erubetie killed me while I was stoned, with a spear in the chest and squeezing my heart, and Undine regenerated my body and heart.
Alice: …
Marco: …
Alice: WHAT!?!
She was shocked from the news, Marco died, and came back thanks to a miracle… Alice took a serious expression and dragged him behind a tree.
Marco: W-Wait, Alice!
Alice: Wait my ass! I will be sure to suck you until exhaustion! You little runt…
Alice's tone got sadder, but she recovered immediately and began to strip Marco and have fun with him.
Marco: 'How did we even reach this point?!'
[SPECIAL QUESTS]
1st. Kick Gabriel's ass
2nd. Achieve coexistence between Monsters and Humans
3rd. Kill Illias
4th. Return to Lucifina's grave
5th. Visit every places in Illias Continent, Sentora and Hellgondo
6th. Turn back to Sabasa Kingdom
7th. Visit Kitsune Village using the Nine Tailed Cub System