Funikugami was sitting on the side of the pool, kicking his feet in the water, splashing a floating beach ball my way.
"Fuck!" I said, jumping in fright at the sight of the crow-headed child. I tried to pull the hot blonde I'd been chatting with behind me, but she had disappeared. "Goddamn it, you're like a living jumpscare, you freak. And what happened to the babes?"
"My apologies," said the death god, "your mind dismissed them when I entered. I do not fit into this dream very well."
"Oh." I looked around at the community pool. It was a perfect summer day, sun high overhead, and temperatures in the upper 80s (~30°C). "Right, I'm dreaming."
"Yes, I came to complete our deal, however, when I found your mind it was under heavy scrutiny from curious mortal practitioners, so I decided to stay and keep watch."
I groaned and conjured a Mai Tai in my hand. "How could I forget, our 'deal'."
He bobbed his head apologetically. "You are understandably upset that I lied to you. Then, you will be pleased to learn that I am bound to tell you only the truth now that you have become a member of the Ishida Clan. Ishida Ken found a way to protect you even in death – he was a remarkable man, was he not? I am sure his sister and family are glad that he is no longer trapped within the Egui's dark stomach."
I narrowed my eyes. "He also warned me not to trust you. How do I know you can't lie to me?"
"It will be easily verified once you speak to your adopted family."
"Fair enough." I summoned a cigar to go with my everful Mai Tai. The taste of tobacco was ordinarily unpleasant for me, but this was my dream so I made it taste like bubblegum instead. "But don't you dare take credit for freeing Ken from the Egui."
"I meant to take nothing from your heroic achievement, but alas, it was the second curse that I placed on you that ensured my sword would be freed. The release of the languishing souls of the ghost's victims was a happy happenstance."
"So that thing about me dying if you told me what it did…"
"I am not privy to know the future with such certainty, James Li. That is the realm of a very select few. Though, from what I could see, the second curse only increased the likelihood of your death. Indeed, I did not expect you to survive. Well done, my champion."
[Endowment Received] Champion of Funikugami, Carrion King
Gain 1 Permanent Point of Corruption.
Your Lord grants you the following four abilities. They are yours for as long as you live:
I
[Death's Hand] – Death will not readily claim his Champion. Convert the first four points of Murderous Damage you take in any scene into regular Damage instead.
II
[Oppressive Soul] – Your battle aura is denser than most and is choking to be near. All other characters nearby when you are fighting suffer a 1 Die Penalty to all actions. Your allies can learn to tolerate this with repeated exposure. You can also learn to control this with some experimentation, though it will require conscious effort at first.
III
[Black Dog of the Fens] – Gain 3 Temporary Points of Corruption to surround yourself with a cloak of palpable dread. Once activated, you may convert additional Successes on melee attack rolls into Temporary Willpower damage instead for the remainder of the fight scene.
IV
[Curse: Certain Death] – Gain 1 Temporary Point of Corruption. The next time you touch a creature, convert all Damage they have taken into Murderous Damage. For the next 24 hours, all Damage they would receive is Murderous Damage instead. Only supernatural beings have a chance of resisting this Curse, mortals cannot try.
[Hidden Quest Complete!]
Become the Champion of a Divine Entity.
Reward: 50XP, +1 Affinity
Bonus, Funikugami: +2 Stealth, +2 Perception
Funikugami's wretched black power nearly caused me to lose consciousness as it forcibly entangled itself with my soul and Qi network. Thankfully, it was a quick process, and by its end, whatever he had done to or given me felt as native to me as any of my other abilities.
We were on a beach when I came to, both of us reclining on chairs, though the Kami was entirely shaded by an umbrella. Tragically, I was forced to admit it was extremely cute seeing his crow-headed boy form so out of place in this paradise resort.
"So, it was all about that sword of yours? Ken told me it was you who told him where he could find it in the first place."
"Yes," said the Kami, "Fate has tried to keep my blade hidden away since I first created it. Always has there been some circumstance that has intervened to see it lost once more each time I've had it found. I thought that I had finally been defeated when it was swallowed by the Egui; if the Ishida or the Sunada were to seal the creature away, then I would have been bound by my oaths to protect its prison, and thus, prevent anyone from retrieving the Hakkotsu no Ha, which would have been doubly trapped."
"And then Maki left my dumbass alone in the Shrine."
"I had to act quickly once I realized my opportunity. I hope you can understand."
I shrugged. "It's whatever, man. Ken and them other souls are free, that's what's important. Shitty way to get there, and I don't appreciate being tricked, but it is what is. I knew you were lying to me anyway and I still agreed to the thing, so, can't put all the blame on you. What now?"
"You are wise, champion. Now you do as you please. Need will force you to use my sword in battle, its power is too great to ignore. If you wish though—"
"I don't."
He continued, "I can trade you more power in exchange for Hunting other Evils in the city. Many in Black Harbor cling to life past when I would have preferred them to die. I can empower—"
"Not interested."
"—what I've already given you. Or I can show you memories of great fights that I've seen, so that you may add the dead's talents to your own."
I opened my mouth to rebut him but stopped. Could I really turn that down as the Grandmaster of Black City Kung Fu? Was there any better way to use Style Maker? That was kind of my whole steez, and I was already the death god's champion. I may as well take advantage of the situation.
"I'll…think about it."
"That's all I ask."