While I marvel at the massive ice spikes, lost in the joy of my newfound power, Pixie flutters closer. "That's incredible! Even my magic isn't that strong."
I'm so absorbed in the sight before me that I barely notice her words. Pixie raises her voice, waving her hands in front of my face. "Minoru! Hello? Earth to Minoru!"
I snap back to reality, blinking a few times before focusing on her. "Oh, sorry about that, Pixie. I got a little carried away."
She giggles. "It's okay. I understand. That was really impressive."
I give her a slight nod, acknowledging her words. "Thanks, Pixie. But we should get going."
Pixie flutters closer, her wings shimmering with a gentle glow. "To make sure I don't get in your way while we're traveling, I'll stay in your COMP. You can summon me anytime you need."
I nod in agreement, watching with mild fascination as Pixie transforms into a red light and gets absorbed into my COMP. The sudden shift catches me off guard, and I stare at the device on my wrist.
"Burroughs," I begin, remembering that I haven't fully explored one of the COMP's primary functions, "how many demons can be stored and summoned through this device?"
Burroughs' voice comes through clearly. "The COMP can store up to ten demons and summon three simultaneously."
I process this information, considering the tactical advantages. With a small arsenal of demons at my disposal, my capabilities in battle would be significantly enhanced. The thought of recruiting as many demons as possible to bolster my strength and versatility in combat solidifies in my mind.
"Understood," I reply, already strategizing in my mind. "Thanks, Burroughs."
As I start to strategize, I remind myself that it won't take long to reach Minato City. However, I must remain cautious upon arrival. A large leyline fount is situated there, attracting numerous powerful demons. I conclude that as long as I maintain a safe distance from the Tokyo Tower, I should be fine.
I prepare myself for the journey, feeling a surge of excitement at the prospect of encountering more demons. The idea of acquiring new skills or recruiting other demons into my ranks fuels my determination. With a deep breath, I break into a run, feeling the exhilarating rush of speed as the world blurs around me.
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After arriving in Minato City, I make my way to a nearby cemetery. To me, it's the perfect place to find demons—a haven of malevolent spirits and restless souls. The gravestones and mausoleums stand as silent sentinels, guarding the secrets of the dead. The air is thick with an eerie stillness, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves and distant echoes of the city.
As I walk among the tombstones, I encounter various demons. So far, the cemetery seems to house only zombies, Pretas, and a peculiar type of demon known as Kamiotoko. The Kamiotoko are part of the Rumor race, taking the form of a white orb with exaggerated features—plump lips painted with bright red lipstick. They hover eerily above the ground, their strange appearance adding to the surreal atmosphere of the graveyard.
During my encounters, I've managed to assimilate some skills—such as Mudo, an element of Dark magic. Though the idea of wielding dark power excites me, Mudo itself is somewhat underwhelming. It's more of a curse than an outright offensive spell, gradually sapping the life force and Magatsuhi of the target. If the target is weak to Dark or is at a level similar to or lower than mine, there's a slight chance of killing it instantly. Despite this, the skill's potential intrigues me.
Disappointment gnaws at me as I realize the limitations of Mudo. Despite its potential, the dark magic is of little use against the demons infesting the cemetery. Most of them are resistant to Dark skills, and those I've encountered so far are weaklings, hardly worth the effort. I sigh, sheathing my katana, and prepare to leave in search of stronger opponents.
Just as I turn to go, a powerful presence registers on the edge of my senses. It's a stark contrast to the feeble energies of the zombies and Pretas. This new entity is moving swiftly, closing in on me with incredible speed. Instinctively, I raise my katana, bracing myself for impact.
The attack hits me with a force I hadn't anticipated. I'm sent hurtling through the air, crashing through two buildings before slamming into the side of a towering structure. Dust and debris surround me as I struggle to my feet, disoriented but unbroken. I glance around, realizing I've landed in the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower.
Despite the pain and the unexpected turn of events, a grin spreads across my face. The sheer power of that strike excites me. Finally, a worthy adversary. A true challenge. For me, a battle is a conversation, a dialogue between warriors, and I can't wait to engage in this exchange.
As the dust settles, I see my opponent emerging from the shadows. The demon is humanoid in shape, but with distinctive features that set it apart. Its body is covered in shaggy, black fur, and it has a hunched posture, giving it a wild and feral appearance. Its face is concealed by a white, mask-like covering with dark, hollow eyes and a melancholic expression. Small, horn-like protrusions emerge from the mask, adding to its otherworldly look. A deep, red fissure runs across its chest, from which Magatsuhi leaks out, pulsating with an eerie glow.
It is riding a ghostly, spectral steed with flowing, ethereal forms that trail behind it. The steed has a light, translucent quality, emphasizing its ghostly nature. The demon holds reins attached to this steed, guiding it forward.
Additionally, It is adorned with a red and black patterned cloth draped over its lap.
Without hesitation, I call out, "Pixie!" A glowing pentagram materializes before me, marked with arcane symbols at each of its points. The pentagram also contains a small, stylized cross in its middle, adding to its mystical aura. Surrounding the pentagram is a circular border filled with cryptic, unknown script, its characters flowing seamlessly around the circle's circumference. From this ethereal symbol, Pixie emerges, her wings shimmering as she takes her place beside me.
Wasting no time, Pixie chants "Zan!" and a small tornado materializes, engulfing the demon in a swirling vortex of wind. I seize the opportunity to instruct Burroughs, "Analyze the demon." In an instant, Burroughs processes the data as I prepare my next move.
I unleash a Bufu spell. Unlike before, when a wave of ice spikes erupted, this time, the target and the tornado are encased in a prison of solid ice. The demon is momentarily immobilized, providing the perfect setup for my next strike.
Drawing on Lunge, one of the skills I acquired earlier. I feel a surge of power and the concentration of Magatsuhi in my katana. As my blade connects with the ice, a shockwave reverberates through the air, shattering the upper portion of the building. Debris rains down as the structural integrity of the tower gives way.
Though the ice and the demon are obliterated, I can still sense its presence. This opponent is tenacious. To counter its speed, I cast the last skill that I have assimilated from a Preta in the graveyard: Sukukaja. Enhancing my agility, speed, and precision. The world sharpens around me, and for the first time, I can clearly see the demon's swift movements as it charges towards me.
Suddenly, Burroughs' voice broke through the intensity of the battle. "Part of the analysis complete: The demon belongs to the Haunt race, resistant to Dark, weak to Electricity." It was clear Burroughs had prioritized the most crucial information, given the urgency of the situation. I silently thanked her for the timely intel.
Dodging to the side, I narrowly avoid the demon's charge. A grin spreads across my face as I retrieve a yellow stone with an electric aura from my COMP's storage. During my exploration of the cemetery, I had discovered this storage function and found a few useful items left by the previous owner. Among them were an Agi Stone, a Zio Stone and a Dia Stone capable of casting fire, lightning and healing spells respectively.
With a swift motion, I hurled the Zio Stone at the demon. Upon impact, a bolt of lightning surged forth, stunning the demon and halting its advance. Capitalizing on its momentary paralysis, I lunged forward, aiming for the demon's chest where the Magatsuhi was visibly leaking. My katana pierced through its heart, and a powerful shockwave radiated from the point of contact, carving a significant crater in the demon's torso.
In a final act of defiance, the demon raised its arm and muttered in a weary voice, "Eiha." A pillar of dark, flame-like energy erupted around me. Pixie's scream pierced through the chaos, her voice full of alarm. The malevolent darkness clung to me, the sensation of death imminent despite my resistance to Dark magic. Each moment stretched into an eternity as I felt the oppressive force gnawing at my very existence.
When the darkness finally dissipated, I took a shuddering breath and surveyed the aftermath. The tower I had crashed into and everything within a kilometer radius had been obliterated, leaving nothing but rubble and silence. The demon and its spectral steed disintegrated into Magatsuhi, their forms fading away.
I tried to stand but found myself unable to. Looking down, I saw that parts of my body had been corroded or decayed. I retrieved the Dia stone and activated it, a soft green light enveloping me. Most of my wounds healed, leaving only a few minor injuries.
As the last of the Magatsuhi flowed into me, Burroughs' voice broke the silence. "The 'Eiha' skill has been assimilated. Yakou of the Haunt race has been added to the Demonic Compendium."
"Burroughs," I asked, my voice steady despite the fatigue, "is Pixie gone for good, or is there a way to bring her back?" The loss of an ally like Pixie, who could use healing and wind skills, felt like a significant blow.
"Pixie's essence is currently within the COMP," Burroughs replied. "Given enough Magatsuhi and time, it is possible to revive her."
Relief washed over me at the prospect of bringing Pixie back. I couldn't afford to lose such a valuable ally.
I took a deep breath, feeling the lingering pain of my injuries slowly dissipate. With Pixie's potential revival secured in the back of my mind, I turned my attention to my next destination: Chiyoda City. But as I started moving, a new problem emerged. Where Chiyoda should have been, there was only an expanse of sand, stone arches, and stretches of water.
"Fuck," I muttered under my breath. The trip is going to be a lot longer than I thought.
As I navigated through the strange landscape, the realization that the Vortex World had twisted and reshaped familiar territories hit me harder. I needed to be more vigilant and adaptable. Every step I took in this new terrain felt like a journey into the unknown.
The arches cast long, eerie shadows that played tricks on the eyes. The stretches of water glistened under the harsh light, creating an illusion of tranquility that I knew was deceptive.
With each step, I steeled myself for what lay ahead. The path to Chiyoda City might be longer and more treacherous than anticipated, but I welcomed the obstacles. After all, in this world, power was everything, and I was determined to seize it.
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Name: Yakou
Race: Haunt
MP: 230/1600
Resistances: [Dark]
Weakness: [Electric]
Strength: E+→E
Endurance: E+→E
Magic: E+→E
Agility: D-→E+
Luck: E+→E
Skills: [Mudo][Eiha][̶M̶o̶r̶t̶a̶l̶ ̶B̶l̶o̶w̶]̶[̶P̶a̶r̶a̶l̶y̶z̶e̶-̶E̶y̶e̶]
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Name: Yakou
Race: Rumor
MP: 100/100
Resistances: [Dark]
Weakness: [Light]
Strength: F
Endurance: F
Magic: E-
Agility: E-
Luck: E-
Skills: [Mudo][Paralyzing Bite]
---------------------------------------------