The same vision, as it always had been.

She had seen it over and over.

But it rarely ever changed.

She witnessed this countless times, but this time, she tried something new.

Shiro: [Hey so, are you ever gonna say anything?]

The figure did not respond, they just kept staring.

Shiro: [Surely you’d like to have a chat, right? I don’t mind one if you’d be okay with having one, but that’s entirely up to you.]

The figure kept staring.

Shiro: [I’m curious about you, and maybe you’re curious about me. Then again, if I had to guess, you’re probably already here because you know something about me that I don’t, right?]

No response.

Shiro: [Come on, anyth–]

The next moment, a series of sentences rushed through Shiro’s head, all playing at once.

These beasts are simply incomprehensible. They must be exterminated.

I’m not really the fighting type, so I’m not sure that’s a situation I’d like to handle.

I move when I feel like movin’, I attack when I feel like attackin’. But if my lady orders it, then I’ll do it!

Even if my position may be noble, it is an honor to speak with you. I’d like to discuss an important matter at hand, if that’s alright.

Shiro: [ACK!......GHHHHH….STOP!]

The hell is some big shot doing here?! Her whole ass crew too?! The fuck is going on?!

An arm and an eye. A small price to pay for the one I serve.

Those damn brats. They’re makin’ me look like I’m jus’ foolin’ around! Alright, time for me to go at it too!

Both me and him are a couple of goofballs. How we married the people we married, that I'll never know.

Shiro: [GHHHH….P-PLEASE!]

Those who hurt him, I absolutely won’t forgive!

To gain strength like that requires an immense amount of practice. Are you sure you’re truly ready?

Sorry. I wanted him to be more normal…so I kinda just….yeah

Do you really think I can be strong like you?

Shiro: [WHO….WHO ARE YOU?!....WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!]

The figure then spoke the words she was now familiar with hearing.

I’m…

Shiro: [YEAH?!]

Before her question could be answered, the vision had once again ended.

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A week had passed since the preparation period of the fourth trial had begun. Within that time, Shiro had almost gotten accustomed to her friends living in her home. She felt as though it was like living with siblings she never had.

Kōkatsu however, had been absent a large portion of the time. Only coming into the house for meals, which she would bring back to the shack, refills of water, which surprised Shiro to see her not drinking sake, and to use the bathroom, which Shiro had assumed she would have just grabbed jars from her house to do, but she had instead entered the house to use the bathroom itself. Kōkatsu hadn’t even been back in the house while the moon had risen.

That was until yesterday, when Kōkatsu had walked in, collapsed onto the guest bed in Shiro’s room, and both slept, and continued to sleep even now.

Now, Shiro, Nero, and Silvia were all hanging out by the living room sofas, chatting with one another.

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Nero: [She was alright with you taking on the task of fighting Daroma?!]

Shiro: [She said “if anyone is gonna do it, then it makes sense that it’ll be my daughter”. Something along the lines of that.]

Silvia: [Your mother hassss a lot of faith in you. We sssshould make ssssure we live up to her exsssspectationssss.]

Shiro: [Yeah, definitely!]

The three of them then started to look around the room. An activity that they had been doing all morning at this point in time. Eventually, their eyes all met at a single location, the stairs that provided the means to reach the rooms on the second floor. One of said rooms currently contained a sleeping kitsune within.

Shiro: [Is she really still sleeping? I get that she got almost nothing in terms of sleep, and it’s still early, but I’m shocked she’s not up yet. Even my mom is up and she likes to sleep in an hour more than I do.]

Nero: [It is rather strange. I would have assumed she would wake up bright and early to move out, but maybe she would like to get some extra rest while we have time?]

Silvia: [We sssshould move out by the end of the day at the very leasssst. However, I do not mind waiting for her.]

Shiro: [I’m a little worried, but in the worst case scenario, I’ll go upstairs and wake her up at–]

Shiro had then been interrupted by a distant voice in the room upstairs.

Kōkatsu: [MY BABIES ARE READY!]

Following that yell, loud thumping of footsteps could be heard throughout the house, before a kitsune girl jumping through the air, landing right in front of the shoji appeared. She quickly opened the door, and ran in the direction of the shack.

Silence filled the room for a few moments.

Shiro: [...So what was that all–]

The kitsune girl then ran back to the front of the shoji. Her kimono now adorned with multiple weapons around it.

Kōkatsu: [Ladies and singular gentleman! I would like to present to ya! My! Finest! Works!....actually wait, my swords are better…My! Second! Finest! Works!]

Nero: [The first statement was technically correct, since you said it in a plural sense. Unless both swords were made at separate times, of course.]

Silvia: [Are your clothessss alright?]

Shiro: [Is she doing kabuki poses as she’s saying that?]

Silence filled the room, before the girl continued changing her poses and speaking once more.

Kōkatsu: [The three great warriors standing before me have humbly requested the work of the divine, and as such, I have brought them sacred gifts!]

Kōkatsu then walked over to Silvia.

Kōkatsu: [Silvia! A request was made for a sword that is of the serpent style, correct?]

Silvia: [Yessss. That issss what I requessssted.]

Kōkatsu: [Very well! Then I present Junkyō!]

A serpent styled sword was then given to Silvia. It had an incredibly bright silver to its steel, and at the top of the hilt were four curved downward triangles in each diagonal direction, with small balls on each of the end points.

Silvia: [I’m rather impressssed with thissss. I esssspecially like the top of the hilt here. It remindssss me of how the top of jessssterssss shoessss look.]

For a third time, the room filled with silence. Until that moment, Kōkatsu was standing proudly, but following Silvia’s comment, she leaned over and put her hand near her mouth to whisper.

Kōkatsu: [Please don’t say that. Yer makin’ things embarrassin’ for me.]

After whispering to her, Kōkatsu once again began to act proud of her pieces.

Kōkatsu: [Next! Nero! Yer request was odd at first. I wasn’t sure how to interpret what you drew. But then it became clear to me! And I must say, ya have excellent taste!]

Kōkatsu then presented the weapon. It looked like a sword hilt, that was completely circled from top to bottom in what appeared to be a metal collage of angel wings.

Kōkatsu: [I present to ya, Aureola dell'Ogre! I made sure the naming of it suited ya! In case yer curious, ya simply need to put the tiniest amount of matōki into it, and it’ll activate!]

Nero: [And when it activates, it’ll be the scythe covered frisbee that I mentioned?!]

Kōkatsu: [Yes! But please do not activate it here! I do not want to cause any damage to Shiro’s house and I will not be paying for any damages made!]

Nero: [Right! Understood! Thank you very much, Kōkatsu!]

Kōkatsu: [This is simply the demonstration of why I am the greatest!]

Kōkatsu then moved over to Shiro.

Kōkatsu: [Finally! Shiro! As per yer request, the green katana! I have gone ahead and given it the name Storm!]

Kōkatsu then presented a katana that had bright light green steel. Even the hilt had tints of said green, with the only the ito being a different color, that being a bright red.

Shiro: [It’s beautiful…]

Kōkatsu: [Right?! I only make the greatest!]

Shiro: [Seriously…thank you for this Kōkatsu…it sounds odd but actually getting to see it…]

Shiro sat there, staring at the blade before uttering her next words.

Shiro: [...I think I know what I’m gonna do for my matōki ability…]

Kōkatsu: [Hoho! Seems we have an eager one over here! Well, with all of these presented, I take my leave! Farewell, noble ones!]

Kōkatsu then continued to pose on her way out, before closing the shoji with one of her tails, and then turning around to open the shoji shortly after.

Kōkatsu: [Alright we all good? Cool, I’m sittin’ before we head out.]

Kōkatsu took a seat next to Shiro on one of the sofas, laying down as lazily as she could.

Shiro had then gotten up, holding her sword, and asked the group a question.

Shiro: [Would it be alright if I practiced something away from here for a bit?]

Kōkatsu: [Huh? Yeah, ‘s fine. I’ma watch some TV anyways.]

Nero: [I’m alright with waiting. Though I might go outside and test out my weapon as well.]

Silvia: [I’m fine with mine, sssso I will not need to tesssst anything. It issss fine, however, if you would like to tesssst ssssomething, Sssshiro. Kōkatssssu and I will wait here until you are done.]

Shiro smiled at the group sitting down.

Shiro: [Thanks guys! I’ll be back in a bit!]

With that, she ran outside, before flying to a secluded area away from the town.

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Shiro was now by herself, in an open grass field.

The entire time she had been there, she had stared at the blade she now had, trying to figure out something.

Shiro: [If Kōkatsu called you Storm, then I might as well give you a fitting name for your next step.]

She contemplated some options through her head silently, before opening her eyes.

Shiro: [Come to me…]

A name was then uttered from her mouth, and a massive lightning bolt from the sky struck down upon her.

Shiro had once again gained a brand new form of strength.

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It was now noon, and the group was preparing to head out.

Kōkatsu: [We all set?]

Shiro, Nero & Silvia: [Yeah!]

Kōkatsu: [Alright! Then let’s go! We got quite the journey ahead of us! We might get injured, we might even die, but there is no mights for us! The only certainty is that we’re gonna kick this trial’s ass! RIGHT?]

Shiro, Nero & Silvia: [YEAH!]

Kōkatsu: [Let’s move out!]

After she spoke her encouraging words, Kōkatsu and the rest of the quartet headed out to conquer the fourth trial’s tasks.

Shiro had stopped briefly to say farewell to someone.

Shiro: [Bye, mom.]

Airi: [Bye, Shiro. Make sure you come back alive.]

Shiro: [You worry too much, old lady!]

Despite her usually getting upset when Shiro had called her old, Airi simply smiled hearing the comment.

The group was now fully on the move…

And now, the fourth trial, the one in which no one had succeeded for the past few centuries…

Was now underway.

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END OF PHASE 1