[PARK IN YOKOHAMA, 8 PM]
The spirit standing before me is an ancient nine-tailed beast, Kitsune Ishi. I know she's strong—she was a famous spirit in the past, even considered a guardian deity. Her life force is powerful enough to sustain her without absorbing anyone else's life force.
We've known each other since we were both created by our "Queen," but we've never really gotten along.
"You should take this seriously, Misaki. Or else, you'll die by my hands," she said.
Nine tails appeared on her back, the same color as her hair. She probably doesn't have any manifestation, but even without one, she's still a formidable force.
"Shape-shift: Scythe—Death Rhapsody"
My scythe summoned a mist, and its blade became enveloped in darkness. I tried to strike her, but she wasn't moving… maybe the smoke slowed her down. I rushed in to land a blow, but in an instant, she stopped my scythe with one hand, unharmed.
"Is this all you can do?" she taunted.
She gripped my scythe so tightly I couldn't pull it from her hand. She was trying to eliminate my manifestation.
"Gaze upon my eyes and bow to my presence: Absolute Domination."
She locked eyes with me, and my body went numb. I'd be in danger if I stayed like this. I needed to put some distance between us. I switched my scythe into a new weapon with a longer range.
"Shape-shift: Sniper Rifle"
The force of the transformation caused her to lose her grip on my scythe. I quickly created some distance, but my body was still numb.
"What did you do to me?" I asked.
"Oh, that? It's a new skill of mine. Weaklings present themselves and bow to me," she said arrogantly.
"I'm surprised you can still move after that," she added, smirking.
"Then let's see if you can still move after taking this."
"Sniper Rifle: Spirit Calibre"
I fired a shot, but she avoided it in an instant.
"That's a good weapon, isn't it? If it hits me, my life force will be directly damaged," she said, still unfazed.
She charged at me, too fast for me to dodge. She landed a blow directly to my stomach. The impact made me cough up blood. It was clearly a one-sided fight.
"You depend too much on your manifestation… That's for the weak, Misaki," she sneered.
"What do you really want from me?" I asked.
"That girl... why did you tell her about the spirits?" she demanded.
"Why not? She can clearly see them. What's the problem?" I replied.
She punched my face, slamming my head into the ground. She was furious.
"What kind of fool are you? Risking our race? Did humans really brainwash you?"
"No, I believe I can trust her. Please believe me," I said, struggling to stay conscious.
"How can I trust you? You've become so weak, Misaki."
"Then if I defeat you, will you promise to leave me alone?" I challenged.
She nodded, and we formed a pact. The pact is a method spirits use to ensure both parties uphold their promises. If either breaks the pact, they will die.
I made my condition clear: if I win, she will leave me alone, won't interfere with my plans, and won't harm Himeko. But if she wins, I'll have to kill Himeko with my own hands and never interact with humans again.
I smiled, realizing that everything was now within my control. Even if I'd defeated her earlier, there was no guarantee she would leave me or Himeko alone. But with the pact, I had ensured the safety and freedom of both of us.
"You're smiling, Misaki? Do you think I didn't know your plans? How you held back earlier to trick me into using the pact?" she said, her eyes narrowing.
"I'm so sorry, but I was also holding back earlier..."
"Spirit manifestation: Claws of the Thunder God"
I didn't expect Kitsune Ishi to use a manifestation. After all, she always viewed them as tools for the weak. But then I realized—this wasn't just any manifestation. The blades, capable of cutting through space itself, crackled with lightning that lit up the night sky. It was a manifestation befitting a god.
In that moment, I didn't feel fear or despair. Instead, I was excited. Finally, after millions of years, I could fight without holding back.
"Spirit Arts: The Fate Foretold."