"Infinite Storage - Retrieve Divine Shield of the Unsullied!"
Handing over the light but durable shield to Sagi, "This weapon was made by a Legendary classed Purity Nemean Lion and has since ascended into the God class in alignment with my soul as its slayer."
"Although it's connected to me in the Soul realm (due to our connected bloodline) this shield does not have a Soul Vow, Sagi take this and make it yours and trust it to help you conquer this hurdle."
Equipping the Divine Shield of the Unsullied along her forearm, a divine glow radiated from her, despite her tattered armor, she bore the look of a true trojan warrior princess.
Pumping her fist raising the Shield to the sky, "Soul Vow! - Thetis!"
The Shield explodes with fiery magic, its metallic rim burned by a golden flame dyeing it pure gold, while its center remained snow white, the family emblem of the Troys burned into the Snow white Nemean lion skin, etching their crest of a man on a chariot, pulled by two horses in two different directions.
Strengthened in power and resolve we began the familiarization process.
For the 9th time in my perspective, standing face to face with the Ancient Omega Porcupine, she lets out a battle cry and jabs a small knife nicking its forehead and slams her palm after mixing their blood.
A deep voice of determination announcing, "Soul Vow - Bayonet!" invoking the blood vine attaching their souls together.
No two branches of timeline are the same, some slight inflections and changes in every reiteration even if it was a time reversal, there will always be some change in behavior and outcome.
This time will be different...
"You will feel the full weight of the Troys bear down upon you."
Sagi gathered magicubes chanting "Ancient Siege Magic, Trojan War Horse!"
A Hollow construct made of magic solidified and rolled towards the Ancient Omega Porcupine at a breakneck speed like a bullet train ramming it flat into the wall.
Although the Omega Porcupine was slightly cushioned by the spikes in its back, the force managed to damage its internal organs, vomiting blood.
Gripping the blood vine with both hands, Sagi had timed it perfectly pulling with all her strength after the moment of impact, causing the Omega Porcupine's body to be limp and easily flung over the finish line.
Closing her eyes, diving into the soul realm, instinctively she took a battle-ready stance this time with the Thetis, the divine shield of the unsullied by her side.
The powerful magic had caught the Omega Porcupine off guard and disrupted its mental clarity, causing a significant delay for it to bring its attention in the soul realm.
Allowing Sagi to gain an advantage and continuously pull its soul while guarding, wary of the Omega Porcupine's manifested dormant soul's every move. In that moment meters away from the finishing line it had fully jumped into the soul realm as well, halting Sagi's progress.
Both equally strong in spirit, unable to overpower the other, coming to a standstill for over 5mins, until a renewed strength ignited in the Omega Porcupine, and began dragging Sagi's soul forward.
Releasing shots of pin missile at her staggering her further, thankfully they harmlessly bounce off the protection of Thetis the divine shield.
Not willing to lose her progress with the Omega porcupine so near the finishing line, trusting her newfound strength her soul charged towards the Omega Porcupine like a shield bash knocking into it, allowing the soul vine to become lax while they clash face to face.
Like a seasoned fighter Sagi's soul unleashed a barrage of uppercuts and side bashes using shield combat techniques, while also parrying tens of spike jabs. Winning by a landslide heavily inflicting damage and bruising its soul out of shape.
In a desperate attempt to survive, the Omega Porcupine curled and rolled its manifested body, flaring all of its spikes defensively, and leapt into the air attempting to crush and impale her soul from above.
Sagi shifted her position and placed a foot over the finishing line, bracing for the coming impact, in a fluid motion using its own momentum against it, catches the oversized ball of spikes at 135-degree angle, and tossed it backward over the line at a 45-degree angle.
Crossing the finish line, the soul burst into magicubes and was absorbed into Sagi's soul belly devoured completely.
"Ping... World System - Soul Dominance Successful, Ally Familiar registered. Bayonet the Ancient classed Omega Porcupine."
The space distortion subsided and Sagi awakens, as I crouched beside her. Giving me a tight cushiony squeeze of a hug, sparkle in her eyes.
"I'm proud of you Sagi, you've accomplished a feat many dare not try and in turn empowered our party further, partner." as I smiled at her while holding her hand in mine, within it our party coin, stamped with a thumbs up - The Sugoi Squad, tastefully representing our accomplishments and victory that day.
Thanking Minato for his help and headed back to the guest house to rest for the rest of the day.
In the cool crisp air of the night, we stood on the balcony together admiring the beauty and nature the ranch had to offer. Telepathically in tune, we headed back to the training compound to say our farewells.
Shaking Minato's muscular beefy hands I expressed my gratitude, "Thanks again for everything you've done for us Minato, we've decided that we'll be heading off tonight on Icarus and continue on our journey."
"So where to next? Now that you have the means to go anywhere in the world."
Opening my map browsing the points previously demarcated, "Before heading for our quest location in Arcadia, we'll make a stop at the city of Athens followed by Phrygia, as suggested by Eri the Eyesore."
"So far following her instructions have gained me an irreplicable friend and ally, so I'm excited to see what's next." looking at Sagi as she wistfully looks at the stars in the open sky.
"I have left something for you at the guest house, as thanks and also as an added security measure." Both men smirking, locking eyes grunting and nodding in our silent sign of respect for one another not one to disrespect the other by rejecting a gift.
Minato turned his body and faced towards the sea, "Since you're headed for the city of Athens I suggest going west from here, right now you're on the ancestral lands of the Alpha demon bull which is just a tiny island located far north beyond Andros."
"About 4000 kilometers away from the nearest north island of Hyperborea where you had caught the Shadow Leopard."
Surprised I asked, "That's a really long distance you had to travel just to arrive in Andros, sorry I didn't know you had to make such a journey just to meet us at the Tauros horns blacksmith shop."
Chuckling, amused "You'll find out how powerful mobility beasts are shortly; besides it was quick work getting to Andros when you have the fastest mobility the Alpha demon bulls possess, the powerful Charles the Ancient classed Atomic Demon Cockroach."
"Took me about only 6 hours reach, no stops included."
Slightly impressed ... God damn that Cockroach has the flight powers of a commercial airplane but riding that definitely isn't first class.
Minato getting more excited talking about his best work, "You want me to call Charles to show you?"
Okay time to go. Raising the amulet, "Call forth Icarus!" Exploding in sparks of magic it jumped out of the amulet, shaking its body before stretching it large feathered wings.
Both hopping onto its mighty stature as it flapped its giant wax wings slowly lift us before flying west.
After we had for some time, Minato went back to the guest house curious what I had left behind. Like a shrine for the gods the entire wood cabin house had been transmuted into one made from Solid gold.
"I guess he did pay for those beasts after all in his own way..."
Exploring further into the living room, on the countertop I had left a note.
"For Minato, these should help for your next few legendary classed beasts ... Signed Yuujiro Haruki"
Looking behind the counter 20 jars filled to the brim with my own blend of anesthetic poison.
With an appreciative smile, he looked towards the open sea, "We'll meet again soon friend."