One million years ago, the world was a different place. It was an era abundant with gods and demigods, where powerful beings walked Terra, and the lines between mortals and immortals were blurred. Among these beings was Xenia Tsukuyomi, the first Kitsune, a legendary figure whose power and grace were unmatched.
Tsukuyomi was a sight for sore eyes. She stood around six feet tall with an ethereal beauty that seemed almost otherworldly. Her long, silvery hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall of moonlight, contrasting sharply with her piercing violet eyes, which seemed to hold the wisdom of millennia. Wisps of her hair slightly covered the crimson facial marking above and between her eyebrows. Her skin was flawless, with a faint, luminescent glow that hinted at her divine nature.
She wore an elaborate kimono woven with threads of enchanted silk that shimmered with every movement. The kimono was embroidered with intricate magical patterns of foxes and cherry blossoms, symbols of her Kitsune heritage.
The fabric shifted in color, from deep purples to vibrant pinks, all while reflecting her powerful aura. Around her waist, she wore an ornate obi, secured with a delicate silver clasp shaped like a fox's head, the eyes were gems of glowing rubies.
To complete her battle suit, armored gauntlets and greaves made of a rare, shimmering moon metal provides both protection and a touch of elegance.
Each piece of armor was engraved with ancient runes that glowed softly which enhance her magical abilities. Her feet were clad in sturdy yet elegant sandals that allowed for swift movement in battle.
Tsukuyomi was a formidable mage, a master of elemental magic, and a fierce warrior. Though she practiced the knight path, she was a mage at heart, preferring the raw power of magic to the physical prowess of a knight. Her regret lay in her neglect of dual path cultivation, a practice that could have made her unparalleled in both paths.
On this day, she faced Reiner the Blade, a deity cultivating in the knight path. Reiner was not a full-fledged god, but his power was immense and matched that of one.
Reiner was a towering figure, standing at nearly seven feet tall, with a muscular build that spoke of countless battles. His skin was a deep bronze, and his eyes glowed with an otherworldly blue light. His long, silver hair flowed down his back, partially covered by a black, ornate helm adorned with intricate runes.
He wore a suit of dark, gleaming armor that seemed to absorb the light around him. The armor was etched with ancient symbols and pulsated with a faint, eerie glow. His gauntlets were spiked, and his boots were heavy, leaving deep imprints in the ground with every step. Across his back, he carried the Atom Splitter, a large double-bladed sword that shimmered with an unsettling greenish energy.
The battle between them had raged for weeks, and Tsukuyomi's concentration began to wane. Reiner, on the other hand, seemed like an endless sea of battle, ready for more.
"Your magic is impressive, Tsukuyomi," Reiner taunted, his voice carrying over the battlefield. "However, it will not save you today."
Tsukuyomi's eyes narrowed. "Don't underestimate me, Reiner. I still have plenty of tricks up my sleeve."
With a flick of her wrist, she began to cast a series of spells in rapid succession. She summoned Phantom Lightning, bolts of electric-grey energy that crackled through the air, striking Reiner.
The lightning wrapped around him, sending electrical arcs dancing across his armor, causing it to glow and sizzle. Reiner gritted his teeth, feeling the intense electrical current searing his flesh beneath the armor.
"Annoying bitch," he says pissed off.
She followed with a barrage of Shadowfire Blasts, orbs of dark flames that exploded on impact, engulfing Reiner in an inferno of black and purple fire.
The fire clung to him, its ethereal flames gnawing at his aura, slowly wearing it down. Despite the searing pain, Reiner pressed forward, his eyes filled with unyielding determination.
"Is that all you've got?" he shouted, deflecting a Shadowfire Blast with his massive sword. "You're just delaying the inevitable!"
Tsukuyomi didn't respond, focusing instead on maintaining her attacks. She conjured Gust Blades which are gusts of super thin wind that sliced through the air, leaving deep gashes on Reiner's exposed skin. Blood trickled from the wounds, but he barely flinched.
'Such a monster. No wonder Baugra had trouble defeating him. Such resilience is unearthly,' Xenia thinks, appalled still at his resilience.
With a powerful leap, Reiner closed the distance between them, his sword swinging in a deadly arc that struck her multiple times in a second. Tsukuyomi barely had time to react, raising a magical shield to block the strike. The impact sent her flying backward, crashing into a nearby cliff.
Reiner advanced, his expression one of grim determination. "You should have taken your training more seriously, Tsukuyomi. Now you'll pay for your negligence."
Tsukuyomi's body was covered in cuts and bruises, but still able to fight. Blood trickled from her wounds, and she slowly got to her feet. "That wont be enough to stop me, Reiner," she gasped, her voice filled with defiance.
Reiner let out a harsh mocking laugh. "We'll see about that." With a faltered thought due to blood loss, Tsukuyomi's Magica aura weakened for a split second.
Reiner seized the opportunity, closing the gap between them and impaling her with his Atom Splitter sword. Tsukuyomi wailed in agony, the pain unlike anything she had ever experienced. The sword's unique properties prevented her from healing, even as she tried to summon her magic.
Reiner's eyes gleamed with triumph. "You spoke too soon," he said, his voice filled with elation. "Once I absorb your divine essence, I will ascend to true godhood."
Tsukuyomi's vision blurred, but a spark of rage ignited within her. She reached out, grabbing Reiner's armored chest. "You... won't... have me," she growled, her voice trembling with fury.
With a surge of power, she launched twin beams of pink energy from her eyes, aiming directly at Reiner. The beams hit him head-on, burning through his aura and forcing him back. Reiner roared in pain, struggling to push the beams away.
Tsukuyomi's rage fueled her magic, her determination unyielding. "I should have killed you that day a thousand years ago instead of showing mercy!" she screamed, her beams growing in intensity.
Reiner's aura began to falter under the continuous beam. He tried to pull his sword out of Tsukuyomi, but she held it in place, impaling herself further to keep him close. Reiner's eyes smoked and burned, his vision darkening.
Desperation set in, and Reiner attempted to fight back. "You can't kill me, Tsukuyomi!" he bellowed, his voice strained. "I am invincible!" His aura began to rise but Tsukuyomi's resolve was stronger.
'I can't let him power up!'
She stopped the laser beams, her body trembling with exhaustion. Reiner was blinded, his once-imposing figure reduced to a desperate, flailing form as he teetered on madness.
With a final effort, Tsukuyomi opened her mouth and unleashed a wide spread of pink flame, engulfing Reiner in a torrent of foxfire, the fire so hot it constantly let off 500° heatwaves.
The flames consumed him, burning away his flesh and bones. For five agonizing minutes, Tsukuyomi poured all her remaining energy into the attack, until her innate foxfire ran out.
As the flames died down, Tsukuyomi collapsed to her knees, gasping for breath. She looked up, hoping to see Reiner's charred remains. Instead, she saw a transparent figure, Reiner's soul form, standing before her.
Reiner's soul raged, his eyes burning with hatred. "You think you've won? I'm not done with you!" he snarled, he turned to flee.
But as a mere soul, he could do no harm. Tsukuyomi used a bit of her divine powers to absorb Reiner's soul, pulling it into herself. She felt his essence merge with hers, healing her wounds and restoring some of her strength.
Unfortunately, the sword's unique properties prevented her from fully healing. Even after she pulled the sword out, the wound remained, slowly draining her life force. She knew she had only stalled her inevitable death.
Xenia Tsukuyomi lay on the ground, the Atom Splitter sword still embedded in her abdomen. Pain coursed through her body, but her determination remained unbroken. She knew her time was running out. The forbidden spell was her only hope to ensure her essence would endure.
With trembling hands, she pulled out a beautiful pink pendant, its amethyst crystal glinting in the fading light. She began to chant the ancient incantation, the air around her crackling with energy.
"System," she whispered, her voice strained. "Are you there?"
A soft, mechanical voice responded in her mind.
[Present, Host.]
"I… I need… I need to perform the forbidden spell," she gasped, each word a struggle. "I want you to ensure that I can only be awakened by a descendant with at least 90% purity in my bloodline. That's a new directive."
[Understood new directive. I will enter stasis mode and await the proper conditions,] the system replied.
[Host, proceeding will destroy your physical body. Please confirm the Host would like to use Forbidden Spell: Soul Transplantation.]
Xenia nodded, though tears welled in her eyes. "I have no choice. I must protect my lineage. Promise me you will follow these instructions."
[The System breaks no promise, Host. Your legacy will be preserved until vessel conditions have been met.]
She took a deep breath, focusing all her remaining energy into the pendant. The ground beneath her began to tremble, fissures forming as raw magical energy erupted from the earth. The sky darkened, swirling with ominous clouds as lightning crackled overhead.
"By the power of my divine essence granted to me by Holy Terra, I bind my soul to this magical pendant," she chanted, her voice growing louder and more powerful with each word. "Let it be a vessel for my spirit."
The pendant pulsed with a brilliant light, growing brighter with each passing second. Xenia's body began to glow, her form shimmering with an ethereal aura. The energy around her intensified, the very air humming with power.
"System," she called out, her voice echoing through the chaos. "Activate the spell. Now."
[Activating spell]
[Goodbye, Xenia. It has been an honor to serve you. I will await you upon directive match.]
The ground around her exploded in a burst of magical energy, sending shockwaves rippling across the landscape. Trees were uprooted, rocks shattered, and the very fabric of reality seemed to warp and twist. The destructive force of the spell was immense, a testament to the power she wielded.
Xenia felt her physical body disintegrate, the pain unbearable but fleeting. Her consciousness merged with the pendant, her soul finding refuge within its crystal heart. She could feel the Atom Splitter sword being absorbed into the pendant as well, its dark power contained.
As the final words of the spell left her lips, the pendant shot into the sky, a streak of pink and amethyst light. It soared across the land, a comet of pure energy, until it finally came to rest in the chest of a woman named Elysande Kitsura.
Elysande picked up the pendant, marveling at its beauty. "What a lovely pendant," she murmured, thanking her husband Rudeus for the gift, though he was confused but played along.
And so, Xenia Tsukuyomi's essence was preserved, awaiting the day when a worthy descendant would awaken her power once more.