For a few moments the Territory resisted me, trying to prevent my entry to the Boundary. It was as if the Territory barrier was striving to keep me out, but sidering the strength of it, I believed I could force my way through if necessary, but it didn’t e to that, as suddenly the Territory yielded, weling me in. Opening my eyes, it didn’t take long for Eri, Kana and my sis to appear.

  “Damn, that was unfortable. Never felt that before.” My sis said, and Eri nodded. Kana, who had less experience, merely waited for my answer.

  “I’m guessing it’s because we dived into a Territory that wasn’t our own and roperly Anchored. In any case, it seems to have relented. Shall we meet up with Yamato-san and the other two?”

  “Ugh, I don’t want to.” Kana said, crossing her arms, looking peeved. “But I guess you ’t put him in his pce if we don’t.”

  We opened up the door to the small room we were in, revealing a spectacur sight. The main chamber of the shrine was massive, defying the ws of physics, occupying far more space than its outer size should have allowed. I see, it’s a dungeon, in effect. Massive, gilded braziers lihe walls, bzing with golden and white fmes that did not flicker, casting a brilliant glow. The statue of Kannon was there too, t into the sky far more magnifitly than its glory ierial, arms outstretched, each as thick as tree trunks, and it radiated a powerful presence. My Eye could not help but respond…

  Glorious Idol of Kannon Rank ??? Uhis buildis at Kiyomizu-dera. It will strengthen all light-aspected creatures and allies uhe and of the owner of this Territory, and this ability will be magnified for Kannon, other kami of the shrine and their adherents. Kannon and kami of Kiyomizu-dera gather more adherend utilise it more effitly. Light element produ and purity in the area will be increased, very slightly increasing the ce of unique elemental lights f. Ether Spires withierritory will gee light elemental energy and additional adherence.

  I let out a dull whistle, jealous. Damn, that makes the White Snake Earth Altar look weak. I guess this is a major shrine, so I have to expect better stuff here…

  “It puts our shrio shame.” Kana said, thinking the same thing. “But… we do better, ’t we?” she grabbed my arm. “You could have a statue of Shirohebi built that’s that impressive, right?”

  As Eri rolled her eyes and my sis snickered, I shook my head. “Physically, yes, I could get the kobolds to do it, though we’d not have enough silver, assuming you wao make it out of preetals like this one. But… it’s the adherehe statue is soaked with it, probably over hundreds, thousands of years, which is what makes it special. Still…” I breathed in the light energy around, indigo energies suffusing the area. It fought with my darkness and was quickly scattered, stinging my work, causing internal damage, but Ether Healing easily took care of that. “… when the Earth Altar is upgraded again, it’ll grow ater. I io do it on our return, anyway.”

  As Kana thanked me, I turo Eri and Aiko. “Eri, careful. The light element opposes your darkness. You’ll take damage to your chakra work if you ’t ba. As for you, Aiko… go crazy. Draw in all you . It’s not sunlight, but let’s not be greedy. If you learn light element, that’d be good enough.” If we get Ren-san to train here, he could use the mirror to store a ton of light element, vert it to sunlight, and… profit.

  “I’ll be careful.” Eri was already taking damage, but she had Ether Healing at the first Rank, like Aiko did, so she should be able to cope, and if not I could assist. As we finished admiring the impressive, yet empty halls, noting goldeher Spires jutting up amidst the braziers, the owner of this Territory, Yamato-san, and his two allied didates arrived.

  “Hey there!” Mine said enthusiastically. “This pce sure is akes my shrine look like a dump.”

  Should you be saying that? Your kami will be angry… The uy didn’t say anything, leaving it to Yamato-san to speak. Before he did though, six golden warriors shimmered into life around him, and these felt somewhat strohan the one oerial. They bore different ons, sword, spear, axe, mace, fil and a huge two-handed bde. On seeing those, Kana looked at me nervously, but I merely winked, reassuring her I could hahem. I’m sure I could. They’re strong, no doubt, outmatg a troll in stats, but I still have them well beaten… my Eye was shining, and I read the data.

  Golden Warrior of Kannon – these warriors, with excellent speed, strength and durability, be called upon by those blessed by Kannon. They will dispense mercy to the evil, freeing their souls to do penan Yomi. Yet if one uses them for ill, Kannon will show her displeasure.

  “Yes, it is rather impressive.” I ceded. “But… rather empty. Where are your troops, Yamato-san?”

  “Troops?” he looked puzzled and annoyed. “None of the kami that Kiyomizu-dera vees are weak enough to ma here. I have had to strive alone, but for my golden warriors.”

  “Oh yeah, you mean like… well, my shrine has a load of creatures who dwell there. They’ve helped me out a bit.” Mine-san decred boisterously.

  “My bro has a whole army, hundreds and hundreds of troops.” Aiko grinned. “No fancy golden statues though.”

  At her words, Yamato-san looked surprised. “So, you enter here, despite not being chosen? Hikaoke the truth.”

  “Well, of course.” Kana snorted sourly. “My father and grandfather tried to tell you that. Akio has mastered the art of Chirurgery. And he uses it to help us grow stronger.” She sounded proud, as if it was her own achievement, only looking down and flushing when Eri stared at her silently for a while.

  “I see.” Yamato-san said, frowning, deep in thought. He then took in the equipment Eri, Aiko and I was wearing, though before he could speak, Mine-san chimed in. She’s certainly a genki girl, for sure, very eid forward…

  “That dress, it’s like super cute.” She gushed over Eri. “That axe though, not sure it suits a pretty girl like you.”

  “Oh, it does. I use it to cut dows that buzz around Akio.” She warned, elig a giggle from Mine-san, who hopped over to Aiko.

  “Leather huh? That’s a good look. That bow though… whoa, it’s like… totally on fire. Cool! Where did you get that? Is that a sacred relic? My shrine didn’t have any, our pce is a dump. But I see Yamato-sama has some!”

  Yes, I noticed that. He was wearing goldements, as well as carrying what looked like a ser to burn inse, and I could smell sandalwood, aloe, lotus and saffron.

  “Actually, my bro and Shaeu won it from her brother. So it’s a genuine magical item.” She grinned. “But my bro’s gear, that’s all ade, right?”

  I nodded, and it was then Kana grabbed my arm again, something she seemed to be doing more often. “Hey, Akio, why don’t I have anything?” she pouted, still wearing just hakama.

  “Because you don’t fight.” Eri shot her down. “If you could level, Akio would make sure you had what you needed.”

  “Ugh…” she ceded, pouting, only to look surprised as I handed her my spear.

  “Use this for now. I’m fih swords and pistols.” I told her, as she blushed.

  “Thanks, Akio…” she said in a small, mosquito-buzz voice.

  “Enough of this. I am very busy, and I still o meet more shrines with my father before tomorrow and the cve.” Yamato-san said. Mine-san shrugged, hopping ba, whistling, and we regrouped. “So, you uand the majesty of Kannon now, I believe?”

  “Yeah, I certainly do.” I agreed. “But… this Territory, it’s only Rank 2? I would have thought with such a wealth of Ether and light element, you could have pushed it to Rank 3, though without troops… yeah, you’d have to take some signifit risks and be here a lot…”

  “Kyoto is hardly so safe as to be able to afford the long period of weakness.” Yamato-san sighed. “Which is why cve is so important. We o gather and allocate the faithful properly. Though we will still not have the numbers…” his eyes lingered on the girls then. “… or so I would like to say. If ordinary people be made useful…”

  “They still don’t pare to most didates.” I warned. “But we’ll give you a show. So, what’s your problem you wanted us to help you with? In exge, I’d like to have access to this Territory for a while. The light element here is pretty dense, and I’ve been wanting some.” It’d certainly shock the Diviner if I turned up with light element…

  “Light element? You mean the indigo energies?” Yamato-san asked. “The Golden Warriors are stronger when within it.”

  “Yes, you must know the elements. Earth, water, wind, fme, light, darkness…” I left out spatial, wood/nature, lightning and other more plicated ones. “The energy be used.”

  “And how do you know this?” The silent priest spoke up, looking intrigued. “My ability is one of water. I do feel stronger when I am by rivers or kes.”

  “I have a good Eye.” I tapped it, as it glowed amber.

  “I see.” Yamato-san said, another frown on his face, as he tried to work out what my ability actually was. Good luck with that, I’m still not a hundred pret sure myself. “But enough of that. Together, we may be enough.” He led us outside, and the temple was magnifit. Gold and red was everywhere, great shimenaes winding through the geysers of light element, smaller statues of Kannon and the other enshrined deities everywhere. Up overhead the sky was boiling silver, ripples increasing in iy.

  “What are those?” My sis asked, and I looked to see a series of golden hands. Even as I watched, one darted outwards, smming down on a passing creature, smashing it to a paste of ether and silvery blood. My Eye glittered, and I could see they were also a uype of building.

  Hand of Fiveness Rank ??? Uhese Defensive Empts only be built by the grace of Kannon. They will target aroy evil, granting them fiveness. They also absorb light element and unleash bsts of divine light at higher ranks.

  “hose are some det looking defences.” I admired them. I wonder if that means Haru-san could build those too? “Though I guess if you pushed for an upgrade to Rank 3, they’d stop w and your Territory would be in danger.”

  “Yes. Kyoto is exceptionally dangerous. Hence why there have been casualties.” Yamato-san admitted. “It is imperative cve resolves with us banishing the evil from Kyoto. It stalks the streets, and while Kiyomizu-dera is mostly left alone, as are other shrihat the faithful guard, stepping outside of these safe areas leads to battle.”

  “The Night Parade?” I asked, and he agreed.

  “Amongst other foes, though the Night Parade is by far the most dangerous. If we run into it, we should flee immediately. Now, the area around Kiyomizu-dera has been secured, and I have expao the south, to Chishaku-in, bringing it into my aegis, and further south lie Amaterasu fa shrines, which are out of the reach I trol, anyway.”

  Yeah, I’m not prepared to start hostilities with any other fa on his behalf. “I see. I expect your trol expands out about a kilometre?”

  Yamato-san agreed. “Yes, so I would like to press to the north to -in, enabling further solidation of our defensive position and trol of Kyoto, but…” he shuddered then. “The streets to the north are the haunt of many dangerous foes, one especially. I have beeen back a number of times. Still, you believe you are strong enough to impress me…” he said, clearly trying to provoke me, but I merely smiled back, secure in the knowledge that I was indeed powerful. “… and with the aid of Mine-san and Naruhito-san as well, I hope we drive out the enemies.”

  “Well, I’m pretty pumped. Shame I ’t get any more levels, but… you still squeeze out a few, right Eri?”

  She nodded, hefting her axe. “I’ll do my best. Besides, we have to defend Akio’s honour.” She paused. “And yours tht Kana-san?”

  She seemed surprised, but nodded vigorously, gingerly carrying my long spear. “Yes. I want to show them us smaller shrines aren’t useless!”

  “Well said!” Mine-san grinned. “My shrine is shitty too! Us shrine maidens should stick together!”

  “Enough chatter. Time is wasting.” Yamato-san said, before leading us to the north, where a tangle of twisted streets and minor shrines y untested…

  ********

  Uhe trampling of the golden warriors, the throng of skeletons and zombies that choked the streets were being pulverised, bones splintering, flesh teariher scattering in the wake of the six statues. Occasionally a rger skeleton, carrying rusted bdes and wearing cracked and threadbare armour, would step up, but they were no match for the Golden Warriors.

  Yamato-san is looking annoyingly smug… “So, I don’t get why you are struggling so much. Your warriors seems more than capable of handling these trash mobs, you don’t even have to step in yourself.” Most of the skeletons and zombies are on par with the zombie woman with the knife I first fought bay first day… though some of them are quite a bit stronger, but even so, they are no dao Yamato-san. Although if I started here, I’d have died for sure… although if I took the power, not w my from scratch, then maybe not…

  As I pohat, Yamato-san shook his head in denial. “Don’t be a fool. If it was this easy, do you think I am inpetent enough tle? No, there are real dahat stalk the streets of Kyoto, and when we draw them in, you will uand.” He sniffed, clearly annoyed.

  Man, he’s got a thin skin. “Alright Eri, might as well gain some free levels while you .”

  “She’s seriously going to fight, but, like… she’s not chosen, right?” Mine-san chattered. In fact, she had been giving a running entary this whole time, talking Kana’s ear off, but at least it was calming Kana down, as she hadn’t seen bat in the Boundary yet, only my Territory, and it had shocked and scared her.

  “Well, Eri-san is rather fiery.” Kana observed, a touch sourly. Eri gave her a look, before darting into the mob of skeletons to the side, hair streaming out behind her, along with the fluttering of her dress. She swung her axe, and brittle bones and armour shattered, skeletons breaking apart. “See? You don’t have to be worried about her. Besides, Akio is watg. You think he’d let her get hurt?”

  As Eri mopped up some of the skeletons the golden warriors were missing, I nodded. “Yeah, I’m keeping an eye on her. Against these I keep everyone safe without any problems.”

  Yamato-san was watg Eri, a look on his face that was hard to interpret. It didn’t look like he was admiring her beauty, or anything like that, but he did look a bit greedy. After a moment of study he turo me. “So, she is not a chosen. No blessing from any god? spiritual legacy?”

  What’s with all the questions? “No, Eri is just an ordinary girl from a little town in the mountains. She’s got here through hard work.”

  “I see.” His gaze strayed to Kana and my sis, before returning to his golden warriors, who he urged on to battle the slowly diminishing hordes, though he did direct them away from where Eri was fighting, allowihe leeway to reap more undead, which I appreciated.

  The silent priest, Naruhito-san, as well as Mine-san, were preserving their strength, as was I, and there was no point in Kana or my sis doing much as of now, so we tio push on steadily, clearing several streets. Eri had gained a level, which was wele, and should have beeing close to another, when the skeletal host started thinning, the remaining numbers deg aed, as if dipped in acid. Eri shuddered, swinging her axe to hack down those that came towards her, but Yamato-san fell back, his golden warriors lining the street, f a barricade.

  “What is it?” I called, aook a moment to respond, looking nervous.

  “Your test. Since you cim to be so powerful.” He ma st. “One of the dangers of Kyoto is upon us. Each time I have fro, I have been forced to flee back to Kiyomizu-dera or Chishaku-in. But with all of us together, we reach -in, right?”

  “My bro said we could, so of course we .” My sis defended me. “Maybe I’ll get off a few shots this time.” She took a deep breath, running through her kyudo warm-ups, faster thahe lessons she had learned from duelling Shaeraggo on the archery field fresh in her mind.

  “I’m a bit scared, Akio.” Kana said, her hands on the spear trembling. “I… I’m regretting ing a little, now.”

  “o.” I patted her head, calming her. “Unless it’s on the level of an Unseelie Duke, I’m fident I at least get you all away safely.”

  “Got to like, love a man with fidence. Kind of hot.” Mine-san ughed. Eri turo gre at her, axe cutting dow of the deg zombies, and Mine-san giggled. “What? Jealous?”

  “I think we should remain cautious. Yamato-sama looks nervous.”

  “As well I should be. You will be too soon.” He decred. A mist was rising, a fog, creeping along the narrow, tareets. “My Golden Warriors are divine, yet they are no match for the evil that roams Kyoto. Well, I hope when you see this, you will uand the importance of rallying behind a strong, blessed leader.”

  Oh, I know that. But it doesn’t have to be you… oh, disgusting. The girls aren’t going to like this… Moments ter, the quiet Boundary streets eg with chittering and clig, the girls cried out, as what I had seen with my potent eyes had bee visible to them. Spiders, scorpions, millipedes, tipedes, frogs, snakes and more, each disgustingly rge and bloated, radiatiheriergies far in excess of their size, choked the streets, swarming closer.

  “Shit, I thought some of the creatures in Nishimorioka were gross!” My sis decred. Eri dropped back to us, her knuckles white as she gripped her axe tightly, and Kana stepped behind me, shaking. Mine-san also looked troubled, as if she was going to be sick.

  “They are but the vanguard. Do you think my Golden Warriors fear them?” Yamato-san scoffed. “It is the fog, and what gees it, that I ot defeat…” as the mist touched the first golden statue, it began to melt, breaking apart, and with my Eye I could see the mist was attag the ether and adherehat made up the statue. Nasty. Strengthening my Eye I peered through the fog, only to see a strange sight. The fog and the venomous creatures were p out of a rge cy pot, crude-looking and partially sealed with a blood-red wax, though the seal had shattered, leaving the pot gaping open. Well, sidering everything, this is fug ironic…

  Kodoku Pot [Possessed Tsukumogam - ???

  I remember deg that this whole mess with the didates was a Gu vessel. Kodoku was the Japanese version of that myth, right? And a Tsukumogami is a tool that has bee a spiritual being, I think? Shit…

  “Beware the mists!” Yamato-san cried. “It will rot you if it touches you. The creatures are not to be uimated as well. They are endless so long as the pot lives!”

  “In that case, like… we take out the pot?” Mine-san said, and my sister agreed.

  “On it.” She loosed an arrow, which bzed into fme, the bright yellow bze strengthened by her own fire element now. It soared towards the pot, only for a spider to leap up and block it, dying as the arrow ed it. “Damn. That was a good shot too…” she reached for another arrow.

  “If it was that easy, I would have defeated it by now!” Yamato-san decred, two more of the statues starting to colpse, the other three holding back the host, smashing and stomping the vermin tide, green, red, blue and silver gore spttering the streets and ing walls. “But together, perhaps…”

  “Well, time to show off what that creepy snake Ugajin gave me.” Mine-san sndered her own patron, which I felt was unwise. “Growth!” she called, and vines burst from the ground, reminding me of Hyath atacks. A riature element was radiating from it, and the front rank of bugs was snared. Even so, the fog was starting to eat through it quickly, but that didn’t seem to phase her. “And decay!” she called, and suddenly the vines withered, and as they died so did the creatures they were holding, and as they turo dust, bright ether spilled. “Not bad, yeah?” she finished. “I’m like… not bad at all!”

  “The numbers are ehough.” Yamato-san warned. A folden statue was overwhelmed, ed in snake coils and pulled down by massive tipedes. Aiko was loosing arrows at the pot, but eae was blocked by a sacrifice. Eri was clutg her axe, uo get close, and Kana… She’ll be fine. She wao e… it’ll be a good lesson.

  “The river flows, the banks break. Let all be washed away by the fury of the floods!” the priest decred, and my Eye could see water element surging within him, moments before a wall of water burst into being, sweeping away the low-lying fog and crushing the front rank of the creatures, dashing dozens to pieces on the walls or drowning them. Even so, the strength ent before it made it halfway through the packed ranks of vermin.

  “Uh, I need like, a minute or two to go again.” Mine-san gasped. “You going to show us what you do, handsome?” she looked at me, before winking at Eri, teasing her, having worked out by her possessive attitude she had some sort of close retionship with me.

  “If we ot defeat it we must retreat. Four of the Golden warriors have beeroyed.” Yamato-san warned, frustrated. “At this rate, we will never reach -in.”

  “Back off your statues, they don’t want to get caught in this.” I warned. “I hahis.”

  Yamato-san gave me a querying look, to ascertain I was sure, but my fident smile must have vinced him. The fog was back, the verminous horde too, the Kodoku p them out from the broken wax seal, so it was as if our efforts had achieved nothing. The golden warriors ked backwards, and as soon as the path was clear, I gathered my fme energies, drawing upon Foehn.

  “You creatures are soiling the eyes of my sis and her friends.” I decred, earning a snigger from the girls iion. “Burn to ashes until nothing remains. Foehn, Iinguishable Bze!”

  A tide of roiling yellow fme poured from my hands, filling the streets. The first wave of is, araids and frogs were caught in the bze, flesh vaporising, a few of the stronger, more armoured creatures like the millipedes thrashing around, trailing white and red fmes, as their insides cooked and boiled. The torrent tinued, and the fog itself caught fire, the air igniting, and a wall of heat pressed against us. Still, I was not done, and even as the pot tio discharge creatures, the head of a brutally-rge tipede emerging, the tide reached the Kodoku, engulfing it as well. Cy began to crack, and the wax started to dissolve, the smell of blood filling the air.

  “Like… that’s crazy. Your boyfriend sure is a wild one.” Mine-san said to Eri, whed.

  “I’ve seen Akio do better.” She said proudly. “Like he said, this isn’t anything special to him.”

  Nice brag. I o look domineering here. I want to rub it in their faces I’m not to be messed with or taken frahe Tsukumogami tried to flee, but tongues of Foehn were surrounding it, even now falling ihe opening, and a great flood of ether out. Some was taken by Yamato-san and the others, but most was ing my way.

  “Shaeu told me about that giant mushroom guy.” My sis said. “I guess pared to that, this stupid pot isn’t anything special.”

  “Amazing…” Kana whispered, holding my sleeve with her free hand, her dark eyes refleg the bze. There was a moment of silence, only the screech of dying vermin filling the air, before the Kodoku shattered, exploding, fmes spelling its end.

  You have gained in strength. Your level has increased from Eighty-Seven to Eighty-Eight. All of your Material statistics have increased by eleveher has increased by twenty-seven.

  A level-up. Nice. I get the feeling I’m pretty close to the one, as well. “The Foehn will keep burning until all the fuel around here is gone. Just give me a sed…” I elled earth element into the ground, splitting the earth, moving the bzing fmes to either side, f a corridor through the bze for us to traverse. It was a bit theatrical, but also rather impressive. “Shall we go then?” I asked, and as everyone except my panions looked as me dumbly, I started strolling through the passage of hellfire, admiring the pretty droplets of fme as they cascaded down like rain.

  “You… what… what is your ability? You see things, empower people, call upon fme ah? It seems strange. Which kami has blessed you? Izanagi, Izanami? It surely must be a powerful one.” Yamato-san seemed a bit aggrieved as he followed me with his remaining two statues in front of him.

  “No, though it is a powerful god heless.” I said, leading us through. Oher side of the fmes, a mob of skeletons and zombies dressed in rags that resembled clothing from well over a thousand years ago, started shambling our way. That gives me an idea…

  “Hey, Eri, Aiko. You take these ones out. I’ll back you up, so go wild.” I then turo Kana. “Kana, you too, okay. Just… just spear a few at range. I promise I won’t let you get hurt.”

  “Uh, why?” Kana asked, face pale.

  “Because even if it doesn’t directly be you, it’ll help you overe your fear. Besides…” I leaned in close, whispering right into her ear, so even Yamato-kun couldn’t hear her, though Ka bright crimson at my closeness. “… you want to show Yamato-san you kick ass, right? I’ve got your back. You saw me deal with that crappy pht?”

  She nodded, swallowing, gathering her resolve. “All right. I trust you, Akio. And if I do get hurt, you’ll take responsibility, all right?”

  “Don’t worry, not a hair on your head will be harmed.” I promised, only to have her frown, looking away, irritated. Uh, okay. She’s very geable today…

  “e on then, Kana-san.” Eri ordered. “Watch how I do it.” Axe raised, she rushed into the mob, while Aiko was firing off arrows. Having an idea, I called upon a little Foehn, and with her own fire element and my assistance, she could imbue her arrows with Foehn, making them far deadlier. Although she ’t create it herself, it’s still . Hmm, I wonder if she could learn Foehn if we worked together? Watg Eri hew through the mob, Aiko shooting down stragglers, while Kana, trembling, was using the long spear to poke at weaker foes, was a strange spectacle indeed.

  “Uh, you like, sure you don’t want us to do anything? I’m feeling kind of like a third… uh…fourth, fifth wheel here?” Mine-san giggled.

  “Save your strength. We aren’t do. It’s still some distao -in.” I said, unleashing the occasional burst of earth or fme to strike down ehat were approag Eri’s or Kana’s blind spots, though Aiko was catg most of them.

  “Indeed.” Yamato-san mused. “But perhaps first… a detour?” he proposed, eyeing the girls ptively. “I admit, your boasts are true, you do have skill. If we avoid the Night Parade and there are no other wandering dangers like that vile pot, then we should mao reach it, and I cim it.” He smiled avariciously. Yeah, he’s definitely getting the better deal here. I’m going to drain as much of his Territories’ light element as I as pensation, no doubt.

  “Certainly. Your father, Uchida-sama will be very pleased. It will bolster his position at cve signifitly.” Naruhito-san decred. “Saving our strength to achieve this is a worthy aim.”

  “So, level with me, Oshiro-san.” Yamato-san asked as the girls finished mopping up the wave of enemies, Eri having levelled twice more. “Do you still have the strength to go on? Using such powerful fmes must have drained your spiritual power.”

  Feeli, huh? “There’s no problem for another few battles like that.” I assured him.

  “In that case… I nning to clear a path directly to -in, but since you are so fident, if we could take a small detour and secure Kodai-ji and Yasaka-jinja shrine? As well as some smaller ones in the area. That would solidate the shrihat are part of Susanoo fa.”

  I gave him a hard, searg look, before nodding. “Fine. But I don’t have all afternoon. I know time flows differently here, but I have pns this evening. So let’s make this quick.”

  Surprised at my arrogance, he nodded, and we all gathered up, ready to press on…

  ShipTeaser

  So yeah, sihe debacle with Miyu and the rewrites, I've o make a ge to this arc (how that is ected might seem odd, but it'll make sense in due course *smile*) so I came up with a plot to make it work. And yeah, it does, and it's fine, but... it felt just a tiny bit cklustre. So anyway, I went bad noticed a mistake ierday's chapter. I was going to fix it, when suddenly I was struck by a fsh of inspiration. What is it's not actually a mistake?

  The minute I sidered that, by following character motivations and personality, I had a different version of what I needed, one mubsp;more satisfying. And from that, other events I was fitting together but felt a little shaky, suddenly felt rock solid. This isn't the first time that's happeoo. Sometimes it almost makes me think I'm pulling this shit from a parallel dimension *wink*

  In any case, events are going to fit together mubsp;better now, so hopefully this arc should truly be a banger lol!

  [colpse]