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Chapter 57: Masashige Kusunoki (II)
🕑 Added 2024-09-12 16:00:11 +0000 UTC10+ Advance Chapters: patreon.com/Accel14
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Yasaka's attendants had prepared a small table for the three of them to gather around, alongside a meal consisting of rice, grilled fish, and miso soup for their breakfast.
"Where's Raynare?" Yasaka asked, Takauji able to sense her eagerness to try and forget what had happened the day prior.
"She's still sleeping," he replied curtly. Shooting a knowing smile her way as she continued to put up a front.
"I've been meaning to ask," Masashige spoke. "Did Azazel force you to make Raynare into a servant–"
"No, I did it of my volition." Takauji glared at him sharply, to which the Fallen Angel breathed a nervous chuckle.
"I see, I did hear that she's gotten pretty strong as of late, she's probably around High-Class now right?" It was only now that Takauji understood just how poor Raynare's reputation at Grigori was.
I'll probably have to make her pay a visit and show-off a little if I want to have her build a positive reputation, just what were you doing for all those centuries? Sheesh.
"She's Ultimate-Class now." Masashige choked on his food, patting his chest with his fist so as to not regurgitate all over the table.
"Ultimate-Class? That Raynare? What timeline am I living in?" He scratched his temple, unable to comprehend what he had just heard. "It's only been 2 months since you took her under your wing hasn't it?"
"Yeah, to be honest I didn't think much of her when we first met. But if there's one thing I've learned, it's that everyone has the potential to surprise you." He side-eyed Yasaka. "In all sorts of ways."
The Kyuubi felt a sharp chill crawl down her spine, clearing her throat as she faced Masashige.
"Might I ask how long you are planning to stay here? Masashige-san." As the successor of Grigori, his presence at the West Youkai Faction was sure to make waves on top of that of the Vainglory Dragon's.
"I'm honestly not too sure of that myself, I'm supposed to work with Pandora until Azazel is able to return from training the Gremory's, and we have no idea how long that'll take so I'm afraid I can't give you an exact timeframe."
She nodded in understanding.
"I see, I don't exactly have a problem with it, but I'm just worried both of your presences at once might give my faction a somewhat aggressive outlook." Especially seeing as both Takauji and Masashige were close to Azazel, alongside the Satans and Seraphs opinion of the man.
"Haha, don't worry, I've been given the order to repel anyone who tries anything on your faction even if they are part of the three, the same as Pandora has."
Yasaka turned to the Dragon with a suspicious look.
"Oh? You were given such an order? I wasn't informed of that." Takauji turned his head, suddenly finding the ceiling to be exceptionally interesting at this time of day.
You weren't supposed to tell her about that one!
Noticing that he had spilled something he wasn't supposed to, Masashige decided to come to Takauji's rescue by steering the conversation elsewhere.
"By the way Pandora, there was a deal I was hoping we could make while I'm here."
"Go on."
"You see, when I was creating that Artificial Sacred Gear, I found the properties of your blood rather interesting. However, I used up all the material in its creation so I'm unable to study it anymore."
It was pretty easy to conclude where Masashige was going with that.
"I don't mind giving you more, but like with Azazel I'll be expecting something in return."
"I thought so," Masashige smiled. "I have a few offers of my own, but is there anything you have in mind before I put them on the table?"
Azazel did say I should make use of him.
"While you're studying my blood, I want you to make finding a way to fuse it into Raynare's [Twilight Healing] a top priority, actually make it the top priority. After that you can do as you please."
Yasaka curiously listened in, even though she didn't understand nearly as much about Sacred Gears as Takauji, let alone the future Governor-General.
"You want me to fuse it into a natural Sacred Gear?" He tapped his chin and hummed. "Sounds like a good challenge, I'm in."
Aren't I such a thoughtful boyfriend? But on a serious note, Dragons are going to become more and more important as time goes on. If possible I'd like to find a way to bring her into the fold, maybe I could even end up getting her to learn [Senjutsu] if all goes to plan.
"But are you sure that's all you want? I thought you would ask something of more, personal value if I'm being honest."
"Well, there is a spell that I've been struggling to complete, and I was wondering if you could help me with it?"
"A spell even that unfairly powerful brain of yours can't figure out? Color me interested."
Takauji had learnt quite a few spells over the past two months, but now he wanted to take a crack at creating one for himself. An extremely powerful one to boot.
"Have a look," he used [Vacio]. Pulling out one of his more important notebooks and handing it to the Fallen Angel.
"Let's see here, [Goryūtenmetsu] is it? That's an interesting name." As Masashige's eyes continued to scan the pages, his expression gradually started to grow more stern which Yasaka did not fail to notice. "Pandora, forgive me if I'm jumping to conclusions, but this looks like something you'd use on a whole town, not a person."
Yasaka frowned as Takauji smiled darkly.
"Will that be a problem for you? This isn't an official request so think nothing of turning it down, I was just wondering if you had any insight you could offer me."
Masashige remained silent for a moment, his expression returning to its normal aloof state.
"I'll be honest, I'm also rather interested in this spell, but just so you know if I do complete it I'll probably be acquiring it myself as well."
"If you're capable of solving it, then you have every right to use it for yourself." Takauji's philosophy remained firm as ever, their violet pupils locking with one another as a certain sentiment was shared between them.
"Alright then, you seem to have a plethora of other spells in here, do you mind if I study those as well?" He flicked through the pages.
"Sure, consider it compensation for helping me with that spell."
"Great, actually other than obtaining your blood, there's another request I'd like to make."
"What is it?" He noticed the glimmer in Masashige's eyes, telling him exactly what his next words were about to be.
"Would you be down to spar with me?" Yasaka's eyes widened.
Maybe we're more similar than I thought.
"I was just about to ask you that." He replied with a pleased look in all four of his eyes.
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After finishing their breakfast, Takauji and Masashige went to the large open courtyard within the headquarters. Standing opposite to each other as a few onlookers started to approach, Yasaka and Kunou included.
"Come to think of it, won't we end up hurting some of the bystanders if things heat up?" Masashige said.
"True, let's handle that shall we?" Takauji waved his hand, creating a barrier around them so as to protect anyone from getting caught in the crossfire.
"Not bad, but just for extra measure." Masashige tapped the barrier, enhancing it with his own Mana. "So, how do you want to start this?"
Takauji pulled out a coin.
"We'll do heads or tails, winner makes the first move."
"Sounds good, I'll go with heads."
"Then I'll take tails." Takauji flipped the coin with his thumb, both fighters watching it gain airtime as it started to descend onto the ground.
Heads.
Masashige unsheathed his cane, revealing a blade from within as he pointed its tip towards Takauji.
"[Jūgeki Byakurai]." He spoke, a powerful red beam that made a phaser-like sound shot through the air, reaching Takauji before those watching the battle could even process the fact that he had attacked.
And even though the stream of red energy had pierced a hole through Takauji's chest, Masashige's lips dipped into a frown.
"Illusions, what a troublesome ability to deal with." Takauji had already used [Vanishing Step], appearing behind him with Sayafushi primed and ready to slice Masashige's back wide open.
But Masashige refused to turn around, despite having noticed the feint with [Mana Sense].
["Nake, Benihime"]. Another incantation left his mouth, his sword glistening with crimson fervor as a hexagonal blood-colored shield appeared behind him. Blocking Takauji's attack head-on.
That Sacred Gear can block Sayafushi's attack head on even without entering [Balance Breaker], impressive.
No, it's not just that, it's his command over the Sacred Gear as a whole that really matters.
Takauji was still calm as ever, channeling [Contamination] into his blade in order to destroy the shield Masashige had constructed to defend against him.
What?
But it didn't work.
"Sorry, but [Benihime] doesn't use Mana nor [Chakra]." Masashige slid the tip of his weapon under his shoulder and pointed it towards Takauji. ["Kamisori, Benihime"]. A crescent of crimson energy catapulted itself towards Takauji, the latter not too impressed by the technique's speed as he used [Vanishing Step] again to distance himself.
"That beam technique you just used would've been more effective."
Masashige smiled, pointing his blade in a different direction as Takauji was shocked to find the attack having changed course, hurling towards him while the latter had been taken by surprise.
"I stand corrected," He smiled. Infusing his arm with [Touki] as he smacked the technique onto the ground with his brute strength. "But if it doesn't use Mana or [Chakra], then what exactly is its power source?"
"It's called [Spiritual Energy], rather than feeding off nature like [Chakra] does," he pointed towards his heart. "It uses my spirit as its source, or soul if you will."
That must be something that's unique to his Sacred Gear, [Benihime] I believe he called it? Very interesting.
"Neat." Takauji filled the entirety of his body with [Touki], Masashige's expression tightening as he felt the immeasurable pressure radiating from the Dragon. Eliciting him to extend all of his dark, feathery wings that looked like the everpresent night.
All twelve of them.
Reached your level? Give me a break Azazel, he's beyond that, and to think he's the same age as me.
Takauji couldn't contain his ever-widening smile.
Maybe there really is someone in my generation who can match me.
He could feel Sayafushi start to tremble within his hands, eager to prove itself against Masashige's [Benihime].
You feel it too don't you? That blade may not have the same type of strength you do, but that doesn't mean it's any weaker.
The onlookers could feel the tension in the atmosphere rise, causing them all to hold their breaths as the Fallen Angel and Dragon stared at each other in silence momentarily.
"This barrier should be able to handle it even if we go a little further, wouldn't you agree?" Masashige said.
"Indeed."
Now that Takauji had used [Touki], Masashige thought it only right to respond in kind. Coating his body in crimson energy as his pupils ignited with an ominous fire in them, all of his physical attributes being bolstered in the process.
"Azazel told me much about your creative uses and applications of [Mana Step], so I decided to explore the technique myself a little."
Masashige disappeared, using his version of the movement technique called [Flash Step] to appear in front of Takauji in an instant, his blade preemptively aimed at him like Azazel had taught him.
But once he was close enough, he noticed something off with Takauji's pupils.
They had been split.
CLANG!
Having perfectly read Masashige's attack, Takauji swung at the opening on the Fallen Angel's side, forcing the latter to move his blade in a defensive position.
But he was a little too late, only able to brush Sayafushi's alloy as he was sent flying into the dirt with a major wound on his ribs, blood spilling from his torso as it stained the grass below him.
He actually survived [Prediction], now I understand Masashige, you're the real deal.
For reference, had Azazel been in that position his body would've been cleaved in two without question, unless he had Fafnir's [Balance Breaker] active of course.
"If I recall correctly, I asked you for a spar, not a fight to the death." Masashige somehow still had the strength to act aloof as he hauled himself to his feet.
"That injury is nothing to you, just heal it already so we can continue." Takauji stretched his neck from side to side as waited patiently for Masashige to mend himself.
"Such a demanding sparring partner you are," he grinned. "If you're going to take this battle seriously, you don't mind if I do the same, do you?"
"Of course not, impress me enough and I'll show you something even better that I can do with my [Senjutsu]."
Takauji turned to Yasaka, the intent in his eyes clear to her as she started to empower the barrier even further with the support of her [Leylines].
