Accompanied by my dear Inomite, our travel in search of answers was in full swing. At least, my travel, but I was happy to have such company. As usual, I encountered a number of entities and worlds. It might sound redundant to me, but Inomite was fascinated by all the things that could exist beyond the universes. She who had always lived only in a polluted and sad atmosphere, she discovered life, diversity, beauty. Although she was herself it, but that was only my personal opinion. Obviously, all these adventures were not without danger, and Inomite saw herself many times at the foot of the wall. But I wanted her to improve on her own. I helped her at first, and after a wish from her own person, I intervened less and less. I would intervene of course when the situation was extreme, but most of the time Inomite showed bravery and knew how to fend for herself. A real sexy fighter. At least, especially a fighter in any case.
Seeing my protege go into ecstasies and get stronger and stronger over time filled me with joy, it was an accomplishment I would never have thought of. She unlocked new styles of martial arts and showed with fervor and devotion that she could beat even the worst carrion, she could even create her own movements and thus invent new inimitable arts. She loved to fight melee, fighting like this held no secrets for her. It was very inadvisable to venture into a duel like that against her, it was a sure defeat. Through this, she also unlocked new skills.
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[Skills]
• Un Dos Nen •
- Details : Projects an imperceptible aura cutting off the target's vital functions. Acts omnidirectionally and chases the target until her is hit.
• Flying Shoot Congrat •
- Details : Summons fireworks that attract and dazzle enemies before being burned from within. The user then delivers the finishing hit and smashes enemies before gave a wink.
• Shadow Weapons •
- Details : From his will and his fear of yesteryear, the user generates a weapon of his imagination. Allows via this to reproduce the enemy weapons and know their operation.
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Strangely, she wasn't developing Soda-powers. Well, it wasn't a big deal considering how she was fighting. All her hatred and all her love was transmitted in her punches. Two opposites. Or two sets. Either way, she was very good at fending for herself, and after each victory, she turned to me with that same smile as when I rescued her. A smile dazzling with innocence, a face radiant with cuteness. I melted every time she did that to me, paradoxically I was very helpless in front of this young girl. At times, we came across quiet lands, without hostilities, and reminding me of those nostalgic Wild Lands that I had rubbed shoulders with there from time immemorial. Inomite loved these moments in our travel and she enjoyed camping peacefully in places like this. It gave us moments of relaxation, rest, during which Inomite admired the landscape, the flora and fauna. She was very curious and spent her time increasing her knowledge of everything she had not been able to enjoy in the hole that had seen her being born.
Although all of this was only possible for her because of me, seeing her so happy made me just as happy. I don't know if she was aware of it, but it wasn't that important. I was the forerunner of his knowledge, of his survival, but I didn't care much about that fact. I didn't even know what I was and why I was, so feeling superior after saving someone wasn't a solution. One day, on a temperate paradise world of lush vegetation, Inomite came to me in an unusual way as we watched the course of a calming river.
<< Tell me, Tristan, why do we exist? >>
I was surprised at first, then I told her I didn't know why I was there myself. She didn't have her usual cheerful demeanor, she looked at the sky with a serious air.
<< I would like to know. Why did you save me at that time? >>
She caught me off guard, but I cleared my mind and gazed at the sky as well. I explained to her then that I had seen in her a hope. The reason for her rescue was somewhat selfish, but inexplicably, I couldn't bring myself to leave her, destined to die without ever having known happiness. I was looking for his happiness, but somewhere, it was a way to find me. Explaining the why and how to her, I lost myself in my thoughts. It happened to me from time to time and Inomite found it funny. Seeing that I was doing it again, she laughed.
<< It's nothing. I'm grateful that you saved me. >>
I saw that pleasant laugh again, and my muddled thoughts vanished. For a little while longer, we gazed at the deep blue sky that covered us, stretched out in a grassy bed in the shade of a large leafy tree. After a while, I saw Inomite fall asleep peacefully. Looking at her, I saw her calmed angelic expression, which wouldn't have existed if I hadn't taken her out of the Cloturator world. I perpetually wondered why my intense attachment to this ancient mortal. Why did I have what could be similar to this so-called love at first sight? Was it just one? In any case and according to my current knowledge, this is what would come closest to it. There is a certain difference between apprehending and living, and I was in the middle of this confrontation. Either way, staying in that questioning position all the time didn't help much, so I usually cleared those thoughts out of my head pretty quickly.
For a few more centuries, we continued to survey the different worlds that exist. Desolate lands, particuliar idylls, and still so many Cults and myths about me. A titanic serpent, a poltergeist, a disturbing eyeball or even a strange spark. Most of them looked more like urban legends or local myths this time around, but some caught me more than others. Some where, unlike the previous ones, the deities representing me were accompanied by another entity, smaller and of feminine appearance. The spitting image of Inomite. It was only a hypothesis, but it seems that since I frequent Inomite, the latter has been irremediably added to a lot of Cults. Do these Cults have the gifts of clairvoyance? Or was it the presence of Inomite by my side that had influenced them? The question was currently unanswered to me, but as always, it didn't seem to really impact the continuation of our travel.
The bonds that I had forged with Inomite and which bound us were continuously strengthening, she also improved day by day, as if her existence had been doomed to enrich herself with knowledge. I was really proud of it, like a father to his daughter. But what I felt was more than a parenting relationship, it was something I still couldn't articulate and explain despite all this time. A dead end in which a part of me had stuck. However, over and over again, I felt that aura lurking around us. No matter how much we traveled through billions of worlds in less time than it takes to tell it, this threat was persistent. I don't know if Inomite felt it, but I did. It wasn't oppressive in itself, I had after all lived an unknown time in the silent hell that was the Darkness Dimension, but in another way, the omnipresent threat didn't reassure me. In fact, it was actually mostly Inomite that I was worried about, she who had far fewer options than I did.
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Carefree as she was, I don't think she felt that pressure, so I was definitely the only one feeling and apprehending it. After a while, this pressure made me decide to make a certain decision, and I, who wanted to interfere as little as possible in Inomite's learning, came to her. The latter was surprised to see me go against her with such a serious air.
<< W-What's up? >>
I then came to her and looked at her. This confused her for a while, but she quickly let go of the poor guard she had made and placed herself in a position of servitude, helpless in front of me. She ultimately had blind faith in me. I crouched down in front of her and held out my hand to her. Surprised, she put her hand in mine. I positioned my other hand above his, so that I could hold her hand with both of mine. There followed an intense light escaping from my closed hands, which traveled all over Inomite's body.
<< W-What's happening? >>
Her body emanated an intense white glow, as if filled with an immeasurable energy. Somewhat panicked, I explained to her that she had nothing to fear, that it was for her good. Releasing her hand, I stood up and watched her being light up. She looked at her hands, her arms, her legs, her whole body, puzzled. I then displayed her data and showed her.
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[ Inomite Kami ]
Classification : Empress Soda
- Skills -
• Arduous Revenge
• Opportunity Seizure
• Un Dos Nen
• Flying Shoot Congrat
• Shadow Weapons
- Soda-powers -
• Model Apprentice
• Kanojo
⚠️ UPGRADE ⚠️
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Her perplexity hardly eased.
<< What's that? >>
I then explained to her the concept of skills and Soda-powers. However, I and her were skeptical of the last word surrounded by warning acronyms on both sides, although I was aware that I was responsible for this change. I did not know exactly what it was going to give, my first intention was simply to make her stronger. I therefore activated this "UPGRADE" and Inomite felt an intense aura running through her. Suddenly her data scrambled and changed.
<< I-I feel alive again! >>
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[ Inomite Kami ] 2⭐
Classification : Empress Soda
- Skills -
• Grivellery Seal
• Kill to Kill
• Vehemence
• Lock-Out Embargo
• Mind Control
- Soda-powers -
• Fist Centon
• Intense Waifu
• Talion's Reciprocity
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She had just taken a titanic step forward. And even several. Like Pepsi Modira, all of her skills had evolved. Opportunity Seizure became Grivellery Seal, Un Dos Nen became Kill to Kill, Flying Shoot Congrat became Vehemence, Shadow Weapons became Lock-Out Embargo, Model Apprentice became Fist Centon and Kanojo became Intense Waifu. However, a few other small changes had taken place. Arduous Vengeance, formerly an active skill, became a Soda-power named Talion's Reciprocity. As for Mind Control, it was just a new skill she had adopted. I was redone, to see my protected so much increased after a simple gesture on my part. His physique had also changed a bit. Formerly small, around 1m70, she had gained a more adult height and morphology, now reaching around 2 meters. Her hair had turned silvery white as well, like her eyes. Obviously, I had the ability to change what was around me, and it was actually quite logical given how I had made the Lost Idyll bloom. I just never really took into account this power over more conscious beings.
Inomite also wore a star next to her name, preceded by a 2. I deduced that following her evolution, she had reached a new level. For my part, I did not have this indication despite my many changes, perhaps it was due to my unique nature. Curious about these new things held by my acolyte, I analyzed this information.
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[ Skills ]
• Grivellery Seal •
- Details : Due to its natural charms, the user steals all statistics boosts from the target and its allies. Is priority if the target or its allies is about to boost.
• Kill to Kill •
- Details : The user's aura doubles his Defense and Speed and chases all surrounding enemies until order their death concept to activate.
• Vehemence •
- Details : The user ardently expresses the impetuous force of his emotions. Has various effects depending on his mood.
• Lock-Out Embargo •
- Details : When activated, this skill negates the effectiveness of all items present and makes the effects of affected items useless on the user.
• Mind Control •
- Details : The user focuses on the target and alters his mind. Allows to know his weaknesses, skills, memories and other powers like telekinesis, telepathy or just mind control.
[ Soda-powers ]
• Fist Centon •
- Details : In the presence of the user, steals all martial arts and melee combat techniques from enemies and take them over. Also lets instantly create a trick from stolen arts to counter opposing styles.
• Intense Waifu •
- Details : In the presence of the loved one, receives a boost of 150% in all statistics and enjoys a gift of invulnerability while the loved one is present. If the loved one bears witness to his love for the user, the latter frees himself from his chains and merges with him out of love.
• Talion's Reciprocity •
- Details : Continuously increases Attack, Defense and Speed by 5%. Like an debt to the user, any statistics increases orchestrated by the opponent are also valid for the user.
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<< So? What's it? >>
I was stunned by the effectiveness and usefulness of her new powers. Without some of my skills, maybe she could compete with me. A certain Soda-power attracted my attention as much as ever, but I didn't pay much attention to it for long. I told her that her new skills were truly incredible, her buried potential was probably unsuspected. This news delighted her, and I could see again that smile that I loved so much. We had both just experienced a new breakthrough in our epic and, who knows, in our relationship. Only, something abnormal was brewing around us. I felt the air and the wind change, the clouds were gathering and darkening. A thunderstorm could have simply been preparing, seeing at worst a storm, but given the components of the air that I was able to analyze thanks to the Natural Talent that I had obtained from the C-800, I knew it was not just a hurricane that was going to hit us.
Instinctively, I put myself in a defensive position, prepared for all eventualities. Inomite did the same, but I had the overwhelming feeling that she was helpless in the face of what was to come. It was then that part of the cloud mass in front of us converged into a vortex full of electricity and threw a purplish flash in our direction. Quickly placing myself in front of Inomite, I cast a reflective forcefield to counter this spear of light. Drifting the lightning to the left and destroying the equivalent of a country, I couldn't believe the properties of this purple lightning. Initially 4 times higher than lightning, its voltage and power only increased as I blocked it. 80 million, 100 million, 150 million, 200 million. Even the space began to distort in the wake of this lightning and the formerly paradisiacal and peaceful landscape was slowly set ablaze. Without difficulty, one of the faintest flashes of this stormy thing could have crossed and slashed the Lost Idyll in barely an attosecond. It seemed obvious, but nothing was natural or normal in the events that were unfolding now, and although I was used to the lack of logic, it still struck me as surprising.
Keeping Inomite behind me, safe from that thing that had come our way in the form of a threatening supernatural cumulonimbus, I had a very, very bad feeling. This aura, as dark and infamous as it is, that I had felt for many years, was found in this celestial blackish mass. The beast, the thing, in short the entity I dreaded, now stood in front of me, and it seemed to really resent me. Or at least, wanting something that I had.