“Wait, wait, wait…that’s not what I wanted to tell you but kind of wanted to…”

Merissa shakes her head left and right as she put her forefinger to her chin. Meanwhile, since I am on friendly term with the newcomer, Higan and Alstroe didn’t mind it much, more like they seem interested on Merissa.

For the elven twins and Ichirou, it’s nothing for them as they already knew Merissa but for the rest, they are a little shocked at the appearance of the rowdy Merissa.

“What was it…what was it?!”

Merissa thinks hard as she racks her brain for the something she wanted to tell me but to no avail, she’s stuck in constant contemplating. Ferd who was on the sideline approaches me and Merissa and bows down to me.

Ferd smiles as he saw how troubled we are. It seems that he already knows what Merissa is trying to remember and he didn’t hesitate to tell us.

“Miss Asagao, Captain, may I?”

“Ah…go ahead Ferd. Merissa cant’ seem to remember it…”

“My…although it’s a bit important…”

“Eh…what is it?”

“Devils…have appeared throughout the land and sea, a huge number of them to in actuality.”

“So…it has started…”

“Communications has become unstable and the other pirates are suffering from battles. Miss Asagao, we came here to find a solution but it seems that you, together with your companions, are preparing.”

I look at Merissa for confirmation and as she noticed it, she strongly nodded.

“It is as Ferd said, there’s a huge growth in devil’s population and attacks and incident are caused by them. They even started killing magical beasts and normal animals.”

“What?!”

“If this goes on, there will be a problem with the ecosystem and the overall population will dramatically go down if we don’t do something.”

“Merissa, there’s a far much worse problem at hand. For that, we need to go right now to the human continent as fast as we can and head to Nanab Harbor town.”

“Oh?! Then you can count on me even though I still don’t have any idea yet! This Merissa will be fully utilizing our proudest creation ever shown to the face of this world!”

I’m sorry but, from Ichirou’s story, the floating continent of the ethers seems a league more impressive. Well, I really can’t complain about it and we need Merissa right now. That said, we need to inform Priscilla about our plan and have her cooperate.

“Merissa, can some of the pirates go on land? I need them to tell an acquaintance about our plan.”

“That’s a little impossible now. The way the situation offers, everyone is preoccupied battling devils at sea.”

“Ah…I see...”

This is a little unsettling. If we want more forces not only to attack at the center continent but to protect more people, we need help from others as much as possible.

“You shouldn’t try to think everything by yourself.”

Senya came to my side and patted me on the head. I look at her and she was smiling at me sincerely. Merissa stares at Senya hardly while knitting her brows like she is trying to remember something again.

“Asagao. What are…you thinking?”

“Susanoo? I…I need to tell Priscilla about out plan too. She is a good leader and can handle situations well.”

“That’s true…However…Aldeva city is far away from here. Also, our direction…is on another route…”

Susanoo said as he looks towards the direction where the dragon continent is. With Merissa’s help, we could fly over the center continent to get to the human continent and finally, get to Nanba. Aldeva City, as Susanoo indicated, is in the center of dragon continent.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

We can’t delay further the plan and we can’t afford to let go of most of our members here, especially Susanoo and Alstroe. Flight with Casablanca or Hibiscus could be good too however, the dangers of devils are lurking. Even if we say that Pr’thcor’s groups are patrolling the whole continent.

“Hey, if you want some additional hands, I can go.”

Meiko who was on standby said as she raises her hand.

“Meiko…but…”

“I am an adventurer and I know the ins and outs of the dragon continent. I have explored hundreds of towns and cities and met a lot of acquaintance there. If I need to travel real fast, we got this useless tiger here.”

“DON’T CALL ME USELESS!”

Fang strongly exclaimed as Meiko insulted him.

“So, just tell me what to do and everythin’ going to be done. After all, someone like me could not help much. I don’t have monstrous power like you people.”

“I’ll tell you this…Priscilla…is a really dangerous…woman. Well, at the very least, show her something…a proof that…you are acquainted with us. She is strict…and pragmatic after all.”

Susanoo suggested which those who know Priscilla unanimously confirms. She is a real perfectionist to the bone that it is scary at one point. Ichirou also raises his hand and made a suggestion.

“Meiko, if you meet with a dragon kin guy named Pr’thcor, tell him too that they should head to the center continent.”

“Will do, however, how can we identify such man?”

“Asagao left her blood and hair with them. Fang, can you remember Asagao’s scent?”

“Friend, I am not a dog…well, I do remember her scent. It’s strong and really fragrant that it immediately got burned in my head.”

Fang answered Ichirou’s question smoothly. It’s embarrassing to use my scent as a mark but we don’t have much choice.

“With this, we already solved that part of the problem. I am ashamed that I cannot help. Because of my current condition, I feel bad for everyone…especially Ichirou whose soul resides within me…”

Shouko spoke with a downhearted countenance as she grasps her own hand placed on her chest. The unrivaled oriental beauty Shouko felt guilt for taking Ichirou’s soul for her own self to survive. She felt guilty that she wasn’t able to help much.

“Don’t worry Shouko, Ichirou said it himself. It’s fine…This will be a debt that we will pay together, to Ichirou and to Asagao.”

“Alright…”

As we wrap things up, Shouko and Shouta approach us and…

“Once more, Ichirou, Asagao, thank you very much...”

“I am really grateful for you, for extending my life…”

They bow their heads down with great sincerity. At this point, denying or trying to be too much humble will get nowhere and it will greatly shame their sincere feelings. It’s not as if I really helped much in Shouko’s case but…

“I don’t know what to say. It is not my soul that was used for Shouko’s wellbeing…”

“Even so, the promised you made, the promise to take Shouko’s soul back brought me to my senses. If it not for your words, I would not have regained my right sanity at that time…I would have lost hope.”

“This really puts me on the spot…”

“As my thanks, Asagao, like Ichirou, I would like you to use me too. I am offering my loyalty to you and will serve under you, except if you try to order me to hurt Shouko, I will follow otherwise.”

“Thank you, Shouta…or rather…Hasu.”

“Asagao…?”

“I…want to test something out. You haven’t seen it yet but…maybe like Ichirou and I, we can make it happen.”

“What…?”

For those who know about it like Casablanca and Hibiscus, they smile confidently at my words as they know my strength together with Ichirou.

“For now, I will show you guys…what I’ve already acquired…”

It may sound like I am boasting, but at the very least, I want everyone here to acknowledge that I am also included as a fighting force. I want to show them how strong I have become, even if this power is borrowed or shared.

I approach Ichirou and in response, he readily held out his hand towards me. I locked my fingers with him as I close my eyes.  Since we already have a high sync with each other, the divine power flows like a smooth river with no whatsoever hindrance to it.

The air becomes violent and power within me started rising. Ichirou’s figure slowly fades into a particle of blue lights as I absorb him.

“[Divine Possession!]”

I shouted.

Manifesting the ashen sword in my left hand, the spiritech embraces my other limbs and full strengthening me to the limit. Bright light spills from my body and power exponentially explode. I firmly try to feel the spiritech that wrapped around my right arm and legs. It gave me the sense of comfort of someone holding power…

As I open my eyes, I can feel the power fully manifesting.

Everyone who saw divine possession for the first time had their mouth gaping or their eyes popping out from their sockets.

“This is…Divine Possession!”

I announce to the watchful eyes that were directed to me. I, for once, want to display this power for a long time now since I’ve been on the side of weak for a very long time. I am greedy for it but, I, too want to feel satisfied with myself.

Even if my body is a transcendental being, I am still me inside, someone who longs for attention and love, a nature I cannot remove from living for too long as a human.

“Amazing…so amazing…so powerful…Asagao…! Asagao…! Asagao! ASAGAO!”

Higan becomes jumpy and super excited as she leaps towards me. Her hands are shaking as she tries to touch me. It was an expression of bewildered and excitement Higan displays.

“What…what…what?! Asagao…is this strong now?! Oh…oh…! This is…this is…wah…wah…I…I have a lot of training to do! I…uh...I need to catch up…even more…!”

“Higan…this is…not my own power…it is my power shared with Ichirou.”

“Even so…this display is too much. Using this kind of power is not an easy feat…”

It’s a little comforting knowing what Higan thinks. I feel a little confident now.

“I am glad, Asagao. Ahahaha! I wonder who is stronger now? You or me?”

“That’s not a good idea…Alstroe…I am still no match for you.”

“But, even so…this power has something, right?”

“This…is the power I am proud of…because with this…I am able to slay Nil, with this, I can erase Arcana magic, with this, I have the power to fight off the devils.”

It is really special.

“Wait…Asagao…what you said…is it…really true?!”

Senya exclaimed from my statement. Come to think of it, I haven’t told her yet about divine possession and my ability in this state.

“Nil’s ability, revision, I am certain that it also revises his body into a new and healthy one. We’ve fought…and I was able to wound him…”

“You…fought that monster?!”

“His wound…didn’t gotten revised nor regenerated. I was able to disable Nil’s power at that very moment.”

“That’s why…you are the key…”

“I don’t know about that…”

I face Shouta again as he sprouted a face of disbelief. I dispel divine possession and on that moment, Ichirou slowly returns from his spirit state. The power slowly dies down and everything around me becomes calm again.

“That’s divine possession, that’s why Shouta…no, Hasu…show me your true form. I want to perform it with you. It is still a hypothesis but…I am certain that we are compatible to do such feat!”

Shouta closes his eyes as he calms down. With a resolute countenance, he starts walking towards me.

As he walks, the cocoon that is Shouta Murayama is shed. Exposing his true form and power, Hasu, a tall and leanly built man with long silky black hair tied in a ponytail and wears the same ceremonial clothes reveals himself to everyone.

Hasu, is by far, proven that he is much stronger than Ichirou and it seems he himself acknowledges it.

Hasu reaches his hand towards me, his young and girlish voice from earlier is gone and now, a toned and more matured befitting of a man’s voice resound as he speaks.

“If I, Hasu, will be proven useful, then I will not hesitate to lend you my power, Asagao. In order to protect this world and Shouko, I will serve you with my utmost best.”

“Thank you…”

I reach out to his hand and grab it. I already felt the surge of pure spiritual foreign power emanating just from his hand. It’s vibrant and violent but at the same time, it is readily faithful to my bidding…

“Here I go…”

[Divine Possession!]