GxG 21
(Kunou POV)
"I don't get it. Why is this so hard?" Complained Hana.
We were currently in the garden near my house, trying to teach her illusions.
For all of her being a Sage, she was still young. She didn't have the experience or power that usually comes with the title yet, and it was slowing her down.
"What do you think your problem is?" I gently asked her. I didn't have high hopes to start this, she doesn't have any illusion based racial traits like I did when I started learning, and she's too young to have the discipline to force it.
"It's just- I don't know! Growing flowers is easier." She grumbled, demonstrating by waving her hand and having a beautiful lotus flower with rainbow petals grow in the pond in front of us.
"Cheeky girl, what you did was super impressive, you know?" I couldn't even grow a flower that fast or easily.
"Yeah, but it's easy. I want the pretty lights." she pouted.
"Have you tried making an illusion that's also a flower?" Blending ideas like that can have unexpected results. I know I used my foxfire to learn more regular fire.
Hana's face scrunched up as she squinted at me. Cute.
"How would that make sense? A flower is a flower, and an illusion is an illusion." She asked skeptically. Pretty solid line of reasoning all things considered.
"Just try it. Pretend it works, and do it." I waved off her skepticisms. Senjutsu wasn't like Magic where everything had to be perfect, there was a lot of wiggle room.
Hana's response was to squat down, stick her tongue out and concentrate.
At first, nothing happened.
Then, some of the patterns that adorned her arms began to gently glow as a misshapen flower began to fizzle into existence.
It honestly looked more like a sparkler firework than a flower, but I didn't have the heart to say that when Hana's face lit up.
She jumped at me and I caught her in my arms as she squealed in joy.
"Did you see? Did you see it?" She stared at me with those big hopeful eyes.
"Yeah, it was a very pretty illusion. You'll be a master in no time." I replied warmly, letting her out of my arms back onto the ground.
It was at that moment that I felt something pass over us.
I tensed up, trying to figure out what just happened, and instinctually pulled Hana close to me.
She must have noticed my body language as she went silent and didn't fuss.
I heard footsteps and turned to see a group of armored people step out.
"Who are you? You shouldn't be here." I accused as I put myself between Hana and them.
The one in the lead, a man holding an obviously magical spear, ran his eyes over us and sneered.
"We heard that the yokai were getting friendly with a new human Sage? Can't have the lessers get any big ideas." He said like it made any sense.
So they were here for Nathan? Do we have a leak or is this something else?
"What do you want?" I growled at them. There were too many of them, and they didn't feel weak. My only choice would be to run.
"What we want, Miss Kitsune, is you. Damn animals have been getting uppity since that training method spread a decade ago." He seemed to be really into what he was saying.
"What does that have to do with you?" I asked back, trying to distract him while I figured out what to do. My emergency communications are cut off, probably that wave I felt earlier.
"It has everything to do with me! Everything I do is for humanity. If I have to raze every subhuman filth down to the last child to uplift humanity, then that is just the mission God has chosen me for." He ranted as he lifted his spear.
Great, I'm dealing with a fanatic. That sounds more like a manifesto than actual reasoning.
He must have noticed my thoughts somehow, because his expression quickly calmed and he started barking out orders.
"Heracles, Jeanne, you're up. Try and take them both alive, but accidents happen." He smirked at the end. It was slimy.
"On it, boss." Replied the blonde girl of the group, while a larger man just stepped towards me while knocking his fists.
Realizing the time for talk was over, I got ready for battle.
My current win conditions are to keep Hana safe, survive until reinforcements come, and not get caught, in that order.
Nathan should know something is wrong and go straight to Hana. He wouldn't do anything else.
Hana had long realized something was wrong, as she had latched onto my leg, barely peeking at the aggressors.
I shifted her into my arms while eyeing the two humans approaching me. I also had to keep an eye on the spectators in case they tried something.
"Hey, Jeanne. Wanna see who can take down the fox bitch first?" The man - Heracles - said to his companion.
"Nah, you can have her. I have some contacts who would pay good money for a spirit. Dead or alive." Jeanne replied while leering at Hana.
Her communication empathy must have picked up what she meant, as Hana started shaking in my arms.
"Over my dead body." I declared as I started to prime some illusions for when I moved.
"Yeah, that's the idea. Unless we can ransom you to cause even more damage to those damn animals playing at civilization." Heracles sneered.
"Ready to start? Try not to ruin the parts too badly." Called out Jeanne, boredom in her tone.
"Variant Detonation" "Blade Blacksmith" They each called out, a glow forming around Heracles and a sword forming in Jeanne's hand.
Shit, they both have sacred gears.
The fight started with Heracles kicking off ground and shooting towards me.
I barely got out of the way, but as he hit the ground I got caught in the edge of an explosion.
I guess that's what his sacred gear does. That's really bad for me.
It negates my advantage of using illusions to be mobile if he can just detonate the entire area.
I barely regained my footing when I had to duck to avoid a sword from behind.
"Tsk, I was hoping this would be easy." Grumbled Jeanne, as if trying to murder me was nothing more than a slightly annoying job.
"Get bent, bitch." I growled at her, already moving to dodge another one of Heracles' attacks.
This cycle went on for a few rounds, Heracles and Jeanne taking turns attacking, trying to box me in and make me make a mistake.
I wasn't able to retaliate as the second I tried to strike one, the other would attack and I would have to switch focus.
Eventually this macabre dance reached an interlude, and I smiled at them.
"What are you smiling for, bitch? You're breathing harder than us. It's only a matter of time before you lose." Jeanne chirped cheerily, in contrast to her actual words.
"No reason." I beamed at them, before fading from view.
I had spent all of our exchanges weaving an illusion around us, and now I could finally have some room to breathe.
Unfortunately, not everything goes to plan and Heracles explosions were harder to deal with than I thought.
"Heracles, I can't see her anymore. Just blast the whole area, flush her out." Jeanne drawled, and Heracles laughed.
"It's more fun when they run and fight back, but I do love a good carpet bombing." He said with a slightly deranged smile before he started throwing out explosions randomly.
This was working better than their earlier tactic, and I had to take a few hits so Hana didn't get hurt.
Hana at this point was sobbing in my arms, but otherwise totally still.
While dodging some more of Heracles blind attacks I turned my attention to Jeanne. She seemed to be the cruel one, but she was also distracted waiting for him to finish.
That was an opportunity. Kitsune aren't known for just illusions.
Dodging another near miss, I caught a moment where Jeanne was looking the wrong way.
A chance!
Gathering most of my reserves, leaving only enough for my escape, I launched a foxfire fireball at her.
It directly connected with her face, and she let out an unholy scream.
"Shit! Jeanne!" I heard from the watching group, who clearly weren't expecting me to be able to fight back.
"Alright. That is enough fun. It seems this animal has some bite after all." The leading man with a spear began, before lifting his spear towards me.
"True Longinus Balance Breaker: Polar Night Longinus Chakravartin - Itthiratana" He declared in a heavy tone of voice.
The spear glowed before creating a single orb.
Shit. The True Longinus? This just got even worse.
I barely had time to observe Jeanne or whatever the spear guy was doing, as I was sprinting towards the garden gate under my illusion.
The entire time I was fighting Heracles and Jeanne I was moving towards the gate. Fighting back was never an option, but I couldn't let them know that.
That was until I felt my illusions vanish as if they were never there.
"The bitch is making a run for it! Get her!" He called out, but seemed content to sit back and watch still.
Better for me.
As I neared the gate, I could tell my pursuers were gaining on me. Whatever that balance breaker had done had locked me out of most of my powers.
All I had was my enhanced strength and fox senses.
I ducked with Hana in my arms when I felt something behind me, and saw one of Heracles explosions sail over my head.
That attack caused my heart to drop.
It had flown right through the gate, but was stopped by a barrier.
A barrier I know doesn't exist right there. Is that what that wave was earlier?
I skidded to a stop just before I crashed into the barrier, debating whether to run left or right.
That moment of hesitation cost me.
By the time I noticed Heracles' next attack nearing me, it was already too late for me to dodge with Hana slowing me down.
Making a snap decision, I hurled Hana as far as I could to the side.
I didn't even have time to scream before I blacked out for a moment from the blast.
I came to moments later with Heracles standing over me, and Jeanne about to strike down Hana with a sword.
No, not Hana.
The barrier around her.
Her amulet was glowing brightly around her neck, projecting a barrier around her.
It was not looking good though, as cracks were already starting to form. It was probably meant to be a life-saving method to stop single strikes, not sustained attacks like Jeanne was doing.
"Stop hurting Miss Kunou! I want my Daddy!" Hana at this point was bawling, emotions running high.
Jeanne was not looking too good either. My attack had burnt a good half of her face, totally ruining one eye and most of her hair.
Serves her right, foxfire is some nasty stuff.
She noticed me waking up, as she grew a dark smile across her face.
"You are going to pay for that one, bitch. This thing seems important to you? I wonder how you are going to feel when I run her through with my swords." She said with a manic look in her eyes.
All she cared about was hurting me back, totally ignoring that she caused this by attacking in the first place.
"NO! Why are you doing this? I don't even know who you are!" I cried out.
Jeanne and Hercules just laughed.
"Didn't Cao Cao already tell you? You're not human, so you have to go. Try being the correct race in the next life." She giggled at that.
"How does that even make sense? I haven't done anything to you." I despaired as she brought her sword down on Hana's barrier, cracking it more.
"The supernatural have been preying on humanity for centuries. Yokai feed, devils slave, everyone murders. You are a blight upon the world, one we are correcting." She was nearly screaming at the end.
She brought her sword down one more time.
The barrier shattered.
I still couldn't move.
[LINE BREAK]
One moment I was on the ground, seeing my worst nightmare.
The next? I was floating in a sea of stars.
"Child." Came a feminine to my side.
"Huh?" What was going on?
"Child." Came a firmer, masculine voice from the same direction.
Finally turning my head, my jaw would have dropped in any other situation.
"Amaterasu! Tsukuyomi! It's nice to finally meet you, but I have to get back!" I pleaded with them, as they are obviously to blame for my current starry situation.
"Do not fret, Child. The flow of time here has been... altered to suit our needs." Said Tsukuyomi.
"Oh, thank you? Does this mean you are going to help us?" I asked in growing excitement.
A little divine smiting goes a long way in today's economy!
"I know what you are hoping for, Child, but we cannot intervene directly. Indra's mark is upon those interlopers, and to act against them personally is to cause a war we cannot handle." Amaterasu shattered my fragile optimism.
"Oh... then what is all this for?" I asked glumly. Mama always says to not put all your hope into the gods, but this just seems cruel.
"Just because we cannot act, does not mean all options are severed." Said Tsukuyomi.
Taking a moment to really look at the two gods, they seem to be almost in a rush.
Like they wanted to follow the correct decorum, but as fast as possible.
"Just because we cannot act personally, doesn't mean we cannot bless one of our subjects. A little something to shed off that filthy spear's ability?" Amaterasu added with a wink.
"Oh? OH! Yes! Uh- Yes please, I would love your blessing to get through these trying times." I tried to say in a formal tone, but the current situation did not really allow for that.
Both of the gods smiled. Amaterasu tapped my forehead, followed by Tsukuyomi. Both their fingers glowed.
"Your bloodline already carries my blessing as my Chief Shrine Maidens, but I'll add a personal touch." Amaterasu stated as the glow faded.
"And I'll have to match that to not seem stingy. Do us proud, young yokai." Tsukuyomi added as his finger stopped glowing.
"Thank you, I'll be sure to use your blessing well." I stated, doing a formal bow to them.
Both of the gods just smiled and waved as all three of us began fading from view.
I didn't notice one tail turning moon silver and another tail turning sun gold.
[LINE BREAK]
"Do you think that was enough?"
"It has to be. If something happens to the Princess, that's OUR asses on the line, brother."
"Fucking Indra."
"Fucking Indra is right. I do hope that Sage likes our gift to his little wife."
"They aren't married yet, sister."
"Bah, I've been watching kitsune since I first created them. The only question is if he's going to take the mother, too"
"If you say so, sister."
[LINE BREAK]
Opening my eyes, I barely noticed the power surging through my body, nor how different that power felt.
All I could see was Hana crying, and Jeanne winding up the final blow.
I didn't think.
Couldn't, the pain from that last hit hadn't just vanished.
I just moved, the new power flowing to assist me.
"Hey! Stop!" Heracles called out, surprised by my sudden movement.
As I neared them, I leaned into some of my new instincts, lashing out with a tail.
A distinctly metallic tail.
It cleanly severed Jeanne's arm that was holding her sword, causing her to totally miss Hana, letting me scoop her up as I ran by.
Jeanne screamed even worse than before, but I couldn't bring myself to care.
Hana gripped me tightly, sobbing so hard she couldn't get out a single word.
She felt different now though. A resonance? That's new.
No. Two different resonances. Something to look into later, after we get out of this.
"MAMA! You're ok!" Hana cried into my arms as I almost tripped.
This resonance might be more important than I thought.
We are still trapped in this barrier, but I'm faster than all of them now that I'm not crippled by that weird balance breaker and newly blessed.
That doesn't help me against their numbers, and I can also feel my blessing fading over time. Some kind of freshly blessed boost wearing off.
I evaded them for a few minutes, taking pot shots with my foxfire when I could. It was gold and silver now too, and much more powerful.
Sadly, they had learned their lessons from before, and eventually boxed me against the barrier again.
Cornered, beat up, and exhausted. I had no fight left in me, and I had to carry Hana with one arm as I had taken a bad hit.
Cao Cao approached, a deep scowl on his face.
"Did you enjoy causing so many problems bitch? You have nowhere else to run now. Any last words?" He asked, confident in his victory.
Panting, hair in one eye, I looked up and met his eyes.
"Yeah, just one thing. My win condition was time."
I smiled, all bloody teeth.
"Huh?" He was confused, but never got to finish his question.
There was a loud thump.
The barrier cracked.
And then the sky fell.
[LINE BREAK]
(Nathan POV)
I would say I'm a pretty happy guy. Some jokes here, a laugh there.
But right now? Having broken through the barrier?
Seeing Kunou so beaten and injured that she was barely awake, and Hana covered in scratches and bawling her eyes out?
I was furious, releasing the full might of my ultimate class touki.
"Oh? A human? You wouldn't happen to be that Sage we were looking for?" A man with a spear asked, but he looked wary from the power I was giving off.
"Daddy! You have to help Mama! She's hurt!" Came Hana's voice. I almost chuckled, it seems a lot has happened between them.
"Daddy? You're this thing's father?" Spear guy scoffed, as if the idea was personally offensive to him.
I didn't even respond to him. I just flash stepped to Kunou and quickly stabilized the worst of her injuries.
The spear guy took that as a personal offence, as he attacked me from behind.
Slow.
I didn't even have to look to slap away his spear with one hand.
I couldn't see his reaction, but I heard his panicked orders.
"Guys, we need to retreat. NOW, Georg."
Seems he was at least smart enough to know when he was beat.
Wouldn't help him.
Finally happy with Kunou's condition, she passed out with Hana clutching her.
I gently patted her head, brushing some of the dust out of her rainbow hair.
"You're safe now, Little Flower. Just give me a moment to clean these guys up."
Hana gave a massive sniffle before nodding with her whole body.
Flashing one last smile to her, I turned around, scanning the retreating forms of the assailants.
I could see them converging on one nerdy looking guy. That must be Georg, their escape somehow.
Can't have that.
I flash stepped to him, aiming to cripple him with one strike.
Sadly, one of his teammates was watching me and struck out, causing me to slightly miss and clip his arm instead.
He screamed, but faded from view, leaving me with the spear guy and some other cronies that didn't leave while I was treating Kunou.
"Shit, Georg is down. I'll go balance breaker and try to fight him off while you guys run." He ordered the remaining assailants before turning back to me.
"True Longinus Balance Breaker: Polar Night Longinus Chakravartin" Was all he said, 7 orbs forming around him and causing his power level to reach mine.
It doesn't matter. Borrowed power is always worse.
We began to fight. I was stronger, but sometimes my instincts would flare up on certain attacks.
That spear was a pain. I had to do something about it.
"Why are you doing this? We could lead humanity into the future!" He cried out at me, fending off my attacks.
"You hurt my daughter. I haven't killed before, but you make me want to try." I stated monotone back at him.
"You betray your roots, gallivanting with these sub-humans." He nearly frothed out.
This conversation was over. He was a moron.
Throughout the fight I had been observing him, and I found the thread for me to pull.
He was connected to that spear with some sort of soul-tether.
I might not be good at soul surgery yet, but a messy cut? Easy.
Putting my plan into motion, I feinted an attack and then left an opening which caused him to strike me right where I wanted him to.
In the blink of an eye, I grabbed the spear before he could react.
Pulling him towards me, he was too surprised to let go.
With my other hand I landed a palm strike center mass.
We were only connected for a moment, but that is all I needed.
A surge of senjutsu aimed right for the tether sliced through it.
His eyes widened before he let out an inhuman shriek, letting go of the spear and falling backwards.
Before I could react, a portal opened behind him and I could see Georg with a mangled arm catch him before closing the portal.
The spear, now bereft of its previous connection, tried to connect to me.
I promptly rebuffed it, spending a moment to put some simple formations on it using my blood to seal it.
Turning to the few people left, I spoke.
"Your leader is defeated, and your group has left you. Surrender."
They all dropped to their knees.
The fight was over.