The underground city's lanterns cast a warm glow across Riei's chambers, their light dancing off the scales that adorned her pale skin.
The beautiful snake spirit reclined on a plush divan, her serpentine lower half coiled beneath her.
Her green eyes flickered between Ryan Hanley, who lounged carelessly in an ornate chair, and Migi, the small fox familiar curled in his lap.
"Darling," Migi purred, her bushy tail swishing lazily. "Whatever you ear, I want you to keep in mind that you can't not act out on it, okay?".
Ryan's lips quirked in a half-smile, his crimson eyes gleaming with amusement.
"You mentioned a problem, Riei. Something about the Obsidian Wraith?" Migi asked after confirming Ryan's expression.
Riei's delicate fingers traced the rim of her jade teacup. "Indeed. It seems our underground paradise isn't as harmonious as we'd hoped." She paused, taking a sip of her tea.
The aroma of jasmine filled the air, mingling with the incense burning in the corner.
One of Riei's servants, a young woman with wolf-like features, silently refilled Ryan's cup.
He nodded in acknowledgment, his red eyes never leaving the snake spirit.
"The Obsidian Wraith, a cult that works with everything the Underground city falls under." Riei continued, her voice like silk over steel, "have been growing bolder. They're like a cancer, spreading through the shadows, corrupting everything they touch."
Migi's ears twitched as she lifted her head. "Cancer? Aren't all types of people welcomed in the Underground city last I checked".
Riei's eyes narrowed. "Welcome, yes. But there are rules, little foxy. Rules the Wraith seem intent on breaking at every turn."
Ryan leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, causing Migi to readjust her position with an indignant huff.
Despite the gravity of the situation, his voice remained calm, almost bored.
"And what exactly are these shadow spirits doing that's got you so ruffled, Riei?"
Riei's laugh was as cold as it was beautiful. "Oh, they're quite busy. Muscling in on territories, demanding protection money, offering 'services' that no one asked for. It's all very... mundane, in a way. But effective."
"Sounds like they're running a good old-fashioned racket," Ryan mused, a hint of amusement in his tone.
"Darling," Migi chided, her tail flicking against Ryan's chest. "This is serious. Our own interests could be at risk."
Ryan's hand absently stroked Migi's fur. "Oh, I'm aware. But sometimes, the old ways are the most effective." He turned his attention back to Riei. "I assume they've approached you as well?"
The snake spirit's face darkened. "Their leader, Chung, sent an envoy yesterday. They want a percentage of all our operations. Thirty percent, to be exact."
"Chung?" Migi's eyebrow arched. "The ice spirit contractor?"
Riei nodded, her golden eyes glinting dangerously. "The very same. It seems he's expanded his ambitions since we last crossed paths."
The wolf-like servant refilled Riei's cup, her hands trembling slightly.
Riei placed a comforting hand on the girl's arm, a gesture that didn't go unnoticed by Ryan.
"Your people are scared," he observed.
"As they should be," Riei replied, her voice tinged with frustration. "Chung's reputation precedes him. His ice magic, combined with his skill as a contractor... it's a formidable combination."
Migi's form shimmered, and suddenly a beautiful woman with fox ears and multiple tails was sat in Ryan's lap.
She leaned in close, her breath hot against his ear. "Darling, perhaps this is an opportunity. If we were to... assist Riei, the benefits could be substantial."
Ryan's lips curled into a slow, predatory smile, his red eyes gleaming. "Now that's an interesting thought." He turned to Riei, his gaze filled with a mix of calculation and excitement.
"Tell me more about Chung and his operations. I think it's time we reminded these Wraiths why they call me the Spirit King."
********
The soft rustle of bamboo leaves filled the air as a gentle breeze swept through the garden of the traditional Japanese house.
Ryan Hanley sat cross-legged atop a moss-covered rock, his eyes closed in deep concentration.
The stone beneath him seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy, responding to his presence.
Migi leaned against one of the wooden pillars of the house's veranda, her multiple tails swaying gently behind her.
Her keen eyes never left Ryan's form as he struggled with his cultivation.
Ryan's brow furrowed as he attempted to draw his sprawling aura back into his body.
Tendrils of ethereal energy danced around him, shimmering with an array of colors that defied description.
As the Spirit King, his power was immense, but it was also wild and untamed.
"Breathe, darling," Migi's soft voice carried across the garden. "You're trying to force it. Let it flow naturally."
Ryan's crimson eyes opened, a flash of frustration crossing his features. "Easy for you to say," he grumbled, rolling his shoulders to ease the tension. "You're not the one with enough power to level a mountain thrumming through your veins."
Migi chuckled, her fox ears twitching in amusement. "True, but I've been watching you for hours. You're approaching this like a battle to be won, not a dance to be learned. You keep forgetting, your powers are not working the same as back in henin era".
Ryan sighed, running a hand through his hair.
The air around him crackled with suppressed energy.
"Since I awakened as the Spirit King, it's been... overwhelming. I can feel every spirit, every ebb and flow of energy in this city. It's like trying to contain an ocean in a teacup."
Migi gracefully pushed off from the pillar and sauntered towards him.
As she approached, the wild energy surrounding Ryan seemed to calm slightly, responding to her presence.
"That's because you're trying to contain it, darling," she said, kneeling beside his rock. Her golden eyes met his red ones. "You are the Spirit King. You don't contain the ocean; you are the ocean."
Ryan's eyebrows rose. "Poetic, but not exactly helpful in practical terms."
Migi's laugh was like tinkling bells. "Close your eyes again. Instead of trying to pull your aura in, try expanding your awareness. Feel the limits of your power, acknowledge them, and then... simply be."
Ryan looked skeptical but closed his eyes nonetheless.
As he followed Migi's instructions, the chaotic energy around him began to shift.
Instead of wild, uncontrolled tendrils, it started to move with purpose, swirling around him in intricate patterns.
"That's it, darling," Migi whispered encouragingly. "You're not separate from your power. You are your power."
As Ryan's breathing steadied, the pulsing energy began to synchronize with his heartbeat.
The garden itself seemed to resonate with him, the plants swaying in a non-existent breeze.
Slowly, Ryan opened his eyes. The overwhelming aura hadn't disappeared, but it no longer felt like a burden.
Instead, it moved with him, an extension of his will.
"I... think I understand now," he said softly, a hint of wonder in his voice.
Migi's smile was both proud and mischievous. "Of course you do, darling. Now, shall we see what the Spirit King can really do?"