Chapter 136: Second Psychic Power Amplification
A bear-paw-shaped bubble landed on the peak of the Mountain Villa District.
Aokiji landed safely in the bear-paw-shaped crater created by the impact.
"Fubuki's amplification should have started a while ago."
Aokiji estimated the time and speculated.
He wondered if the trick of giving Fubuki headphones to listen to music would distract her enough to help her endure the pain.
A small passage on the mountaintop slowly opened.
Aokiji jumped straight down.
He quickly arrived at the area housing technological creations like the giant robot and the Psychic Power amplification device.
Tatsumaki was floating in front of the capsule chamber, her expression filled with a hint of anxiety and worry.
Upon discovering Aokiji's return, she immediately flew over, grabbed his hand, and dragged him toward the capsule chamber.
"Aokiji, is this situation normal? Fubuki seems like she can't take the pain anymore, and the music in the headphones isn't working."
Tatsumaki felt a faint sense of unease and self-blame.
She stared intently at Fubuki's pained expression through the observation window.
"Could it be that something went wrong with my control of the device?"
"No, everything is normal." Aokiji checked the console and confirmed the data was fine.
Through his Observation Haki, he sensed that while Fubuki's aura was fluctuating wildly due to the pain, its intensity was also steadily rising.
"Does it actually hurt this much... Didn't you say you used some method to distract Fubuki last time? What was it? Use it now!"
Aokiji: "..."
As soon as Tatsumaki said those words...
Even Fubuki's cries of pain inside the capsule chamber paused for a moment out of a guilty conscience.
It was true that she enjoyed the thrill of snatching things from her sister.
But she absolutely didn't dare let this matter be exposed in front of her sister!
Furthermore, Psykos was also involved.
"Don't worry, I'll switch the music in the headphones," Aokiji comforted her as he began to operate the controls.
He selected the special CG audio from the encounter with the two "rabbits" after the first amplification and played it in Fubuki's headphones.
The effect was outstanding!
Fubuki's pained expression immediately lessened significantly.
In its place was a look of shock and bashfulness.
He actually recorded it?!!
And he's even playing it for me in front of my sister!!
Fubuki closed her eyes, not daring to meet Tatsumaki's concerned gaze; her delicate features flushed crimson because of the music in the headphones.
This is too, too... Cold sweat from the pain continued to flow.
"It's working! Fubuki, do you feel a bit better now?"
Tatsumaki asked, her concern unconcealed.
Fubuki could only close her eyes and nod slightly in a small voice.
For the first time, she felt that hearing her sister's voice was such a shameful thing.
"Phew—that's good." Tatsumaki clearly relaxed a bit. "Aokiji, what kind of music are you playing? The effect is so good."
"Death Rock."
Rocking and rolling, an experience of being pushed to the brink of death—how could that not count as Death Rock?
Tatsumaki raised an eyebrow in obvious surprise.
"Fubuki actually likes listening to this kind of music?"
"Maybe because it's full of passion." Aokiji waved his hand, signaling Tatsumaki to come over to the console.
"Don't disturb Fubuki. Come over here and wait for her to finish."
Tatsumaki observed Fubuki for a while longer, and after confirming she wasn't in as much pain as before, she slowly floated over and sat on the chair next to Aokiji.
Her eyes were fixed on the data on the console that she couldn't understand.
It was as if she would forcibly destroy the device and rescue Fubuki the moment there was any anomaly in the data.
Tatsumaki watched the data, and Aokiji watched Tatsumaki.
He was completely washing away the images he had seen earlier in Stinky Prison.
He stared so much that Tatsumaki felt a bit uncomfortable.
She turned her head to glare at him and whispered:
"Hey! Fubuki can see us, don't keep staring."
"I'm just looking to restore my mental stability, don't mind me."
Tatsumaki, in a fit of pique, gave him a pinch.
She confirmed again that Fubuki in the capsule chamber hadn't opened her eyes yet.
"I don't care, you're not allowed to look! What if Fubuki sees and asks about it later!"
That was actually the least of his worries; Fubuki already knew.
Only Tatsumaki thought she was hiding it well.
"Then who's going to replenish my missing SAN points?" Aokiji spread his hands.
Tatsumaki pursed her lower lip and, after confirming Fubuki's status once more...
She controlled a tiny amount of gentle Psychic Power, swirling and entining it.
"It's just Psychic Power..."
"Don't push your luck! You said it yourself before, Psychic Power is closer to the concept of the'Self,' it's more... more intimate..."
Aokiji didn't expect the boomerang to hit him back.
Blocked by the logic he had once used, Aokiji simply gave up on verbal arguments.
Haki flowed, slowly merging with the Psychic Power.
The slender body trembled.
Tatsumaki's fingers clenched until they were white.
She hadn't realized last time... that having their powers entangled was such a... shameful thing... Tatsumaki's eyes were fixed on the data on the console.
She pretended that nothing was happening.
But her increasingly rapid breathing couldn't be hidden.
The curves of her "small buns" rose and fell accordingly.
The branded scar felt slightly hot.
Gurgle~ Squish~
"It's better to let Fubuki lie down to save energy. Let me adjust the tilt of the capsule chamber."
Aokiji spoke with a serious expression, seemingly considering Fubuki's well-being.
He operated the buttons to adjust the capsule chamber to a horizontal position.
Fubuki inside also shifted into a lying position, with the observation window facing upward.
Tatsumaki's eyelashes flickered slightly as she silently watched the change.
She neither spoke up nor stopped him.
Looking at Fubuki lying in the capsule, the heat became even more intense... Fubuki was wondering about the movement of the capsule chamber.
The CG music in the headphones suddenly disappeared briefly.
Then, it immediately switched to a brand new piece of music.
The roar of battle could be heard.
She could even faintly hear her sister's subtle gasps.
Fubuki's pupils snapped wide.
This is?!!
Sister and Aokiji? Now? Right here?
Am I part of this loop again... The brain is a miraculous organ; it can automatically imagine images through the sounds it hears.
It is also a disobedient organ; even if one tries not to imagine, it will involuntarily construct details based on the sound.
Fubuki couldn't describe her current mood.
Those sound effects poured out of the headphones without a moment's pause.
It felt as if her brain was turning to mush along with them.
Fortunately, this time was different from the last.
To avoid hurting her, Tatsumaki hadn't tied the device's restraints tightly, and Fubuki broke free with a little effort from her arms.
She moved her hands and feet in rhythm with the music.
Aokiji held his phone in one hand, bringing the receiver close.
This way, Fubuki's attention should be completely distracted.
——————
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In the deep mountains and old forests.
Inside another Dojo built on a mountaintop that fit the stereotype.
A girl with short hair, tanned skin, a beauty mark below the corner of her lip, and a capable aura in every movement was shouting energetically in front of the TV.
"Grandpa, come quickly! Big brother's match is about to start!"
"What's there to see? That kid is definitely competing for the prize money again. It's not a pure contest for exchanging and studying martial arts; it's meaningless."
The Grandmaster of Void Fist, Suicho, walked over steadily.
With white short hair and dressed in a deep black martial arts uniform, the first impression he gave was that of a stubborn old man.
His eyes held dissatisfaction as he looked at the images playing on the old-fashioned TV.
That flighty grandson of his was greeting the audience in an unseemly manner.
"He doesn't have the slightest bit of a martial artist's composure!"
"Don't say that, Grandpa," Suiko laughed brightly. "If Big Brother ever settles down, his head must have been broken in a fight. Big Brother!"