[ Rei's Pov ]
The next morning, the relative peace of the forest was again broken, this time by the rhythmic swish of wood by my new room-mate. The last night was something I would never forget. Imagine you look under your bed in the fear that someone is there and when you look there you found your cat purring at you. Well them both reapers turned out to be her underlings who were sent by her master to retrieve the artifact from her.
But she did make them repair my door so it was even and we back again.
Opposite her, I held a similar branch, my grip still feeling awkward and unfamiliar to this whole combat thing. I was a rookie who only won a fight in games and I was sure I will get overwhelmed in less than a minute…no in seconds.
"Alright, Rei-chin," she said, her voice being deceptively light "Let's see if you learned anything from nearly decapitating that poor tree yesterday"
I took a tentative stance while focusing my mind to gather energy. The ki within me felt like a small, flickering flame, difficult to grasp and control contrary to the outside ki that I could use rather easily.
I closed my eyes for a moment, drawing in the natural energy. It flowed into me, a cool, sensation resonating with the ki within. I could feel it gathering, swirling around my hands, a faint white luminescence beginning to emanate. This was the ki from my body.
"See?" I said, opening my eyes and focusing the gathered energy into a thin, sharp edge along my wooden branch. It wasn't as potent as the accidental strike yesterday, but it was controlled, intentional "I can channel it. From outside, it's… easier to gather in large amounts. But from inside, my own reserve feels limited"
Bennia nodded while her gaze was sharp "Interesting. So, you're like a sponge, soaking up the environment. That could be useful. But let's see how you handle a little pressure" She tossed me the other wooden branch she was carrying "Spar with me. No holding back, Rei-chin or you will get hurt"
The spar began clumsily on my part. Bennia moved with a fluid grace contrary to her earlier sleepy demeanor. Her strikes, even with a wooden branch, were swift and precise, forcing me to constantly block and parry. I tried to infuse my own strikes with the gathered ki, but my control was shaky. The energy would flare inconsistently, making my attacks unpredictable even to myself.
"Inefficient!" Bennia called out, her branch whistling past my ear. "You're acting randomly with your moves. And you're relying too much on the energy. Fighting isn't just about power, Rei-chin. It's about rhythm, about anticipating your opponent and staying fully present in the moment"
She suddenly increased her pace, her movements blurring. I could sense her ki, a dark, blur vortex pacing here and there. It was just a general mass of energy, not a clear indication of where her strike would land. I tried to react, to dodge, but her wooden branch connected sharply with my arm.
"Ouch!"
"See?" Bennia said, stepping back "You can sense my energy, yes. But it's not a convenient little outline of my body. It's more than that. If I move fast enough, your senses won't be able to pinpoint the exact trajectory of my attack. One solid hit from a real weapon in this world, Rei-chin, and you're done. This isn't some game you can respawn from" Her tone, though still playful held a serious undertone" This world doesn't care about your good intentions or your cool powers if you don't know how to use them properly"
We continued sparring for what felt like hours. Bennia relentlessly pointed out my flaws – my clumsy footwork, my predictable blocks, my reliance on raw power over technique. Each correction, each strike I failed to anticipate, was a stark reminder of my utter inexperience. I was getting more and more reasons to not pursue this path but I was from giving up and not like being a loser, not again in this life.
Finally, panting and bruised, I requested "I… I need a break."
I collapsed onto the soft forest floor, closing my eyes and focusing on the vibrant energy around me. It flowed into me readily, soothing my aching muscles, mending the small cuts and bruises I had sustained. The exhaustion began to recede, replaced by a renewed sense of vitality.
Bennia watched this with a growing curiosity with wide eyes "That's… incredible, Rei-chin. You recover fast"
I explained, still feeling the energy coursing through me "The natural energy… it has healing properties too, it seems"
Bennia's excitement was palpable "Gather more, Rei-chin! As much as you can. Let's see the extent of this 'sponge' ability of yours!"
I nodded, pushing myself back to my feet. I closed my eyes, focusing my mind, seeking the calm stillness needed to truly tap into the senjutsu. The forest around me pulsed with life, its energy a tangible presence. I reached out with my senses, drawing it in, not just to heal, but to accumulate around me.
. . .
[ 3rd POV ]
A profound stillness settled over Rei. His breathing slowed, his body relaxed, yet an unseen force began to gather around him. The very air seemed to hum with anticipation. The ki from the trees, the sunlight filtering through the leaves, the subtle vibrations of the earth – all converged towards his outstretched right palm, which he had raised slowly towards the sky.
A small, white spark ignited in the centre of his palm. It grew steadily, swirling and condensing, forming a sphere of pure, concentrated natural energy. The sphere pulsed with a gentle light, growing larger with each passing moment as Rei's focus deepened. Bennia watched, her initial curiosity morphing into wide-eyed astonishment. The sphere continued to expand, its glow intensifying, illuminating the surroundings in an ethereal white light.
Minutes stretched into an eternity. Rei's brow furrowed with concentration, beads of sweat trickling down his temples. The sheer volume of energy he was drawing in was immense, a testament to his innate connection to the natural world. Finally, a tremor ran through his body. He felt a dizzying wave of exhaustion as it broke his focus. His eyes snapped open to see.
Bennia stood frozen, her jaw slightly agape. The entire clearing was bathed in a brilliant white light emanating from the colossal sphere of ki hovering above Rei's outstretched hand. It was a breathtaking, terrifying sight, a miniature sun pulsating with overwhelming ki. It resembled the legendary Spirit Bomb from a long-forgotten anime, a swirling vortex of pure energy.
"What… what do I do with this?!" Rei stammered, his voice filled with panic. The sheer scale of the energy he had gathered was overwhelming. If he released it here… the entire forest, perhaps even a significant portion of the town, would be obliterated.
Bennia, jolted from her stupor, darted back and forth, her mind racing "Think, think! Teleport! We need to teleport!"
Rei's eyes widened in horror. "Even if we teleport, this energy… the explosion…"
"Up!" Bennia yelled, pointing frantically towards the sky "Release it upwards! Into the open air!"
With a surge of adrenaline, Rei thrust his hand upwards, severing his connection to the gathered energy. The massive ki sphere, no longer anchored, began to ascend rapidly, a brilliant white comet streaking through the midday sky. Bennia grabbed Rei's arm, her golden eyes blazing with magical energy. In the blink of an eye, the familiar sensation of teleportation washed over them, and they vanished from the forest.
High above Kuoh Town, the enormous sphere of pure ki continued its ascent. As it pierced through the upper atmosphere, the sky began to distort. The bright midday sun seemed to dim, replaced by an otherworldly luminescence. Then, with a silent, majestic burst, the ki sphere detonated.
The energy rippled outwards, not in a destructive explosion, but in a breathtaking display of celestial power. The daytime sky was momentarily replaced by a panorama of the cosmos. Stars, nebulae, and distant galaxies blazed into view, as if a veil had been torn away from reality. For the civilians of Kuoh, it was as if night had fallen in the middle of the day, a surreal and awe-inspiring spectacle.
Children playing in the park pointed upwards in wonder, their innocent laughter echoing in the strange twilight. Office workers, taking their lunch breaks, stood frozen, their conversations dying in their throats as they gazed at the sudden, impossible view of the universe. An old couple, strolling hand-in-hand, stopped in their tracks, their faces etched with a mixture of confusion and awe.
In the Occult Research Club, Rias Gremory and Sona Sitri were locked in a tense game of chess. The strategic silence of the room was abruptly shattered by Sona's queen's urgent voice. She stood by the large window, her usually composed demeanour replaced by wide-eyed shock.
"President! Look!"
Rias and Sona turned, their eyes widening in unison as they witnessed the impossible sight outside. The midday sky was a swirling canvas of starlight and cosmic dust, a breathtaking and terrifying display of power they had never witnessed before. A silent understanding passed between them – something extraordinary, something potentially dangerous, had just occurred.
Meanwhile, far across town, perched on a sturdy branch high in another part of the forest, Bennia chuckled, snapping a picture with a small, old-fashioned camera. Beside her, Rei stared at the dissipating glow in the sky, his face a mixture of shock and disbelief.
"Whoa," he breathed, still reeling from the near-catastrophe.
"Whoa is right, Rei-chin!" Bennia exclaimed, admiring the photo on her camera "That was… epic! You have some seriously cool powers! Way more impressive than just slicing a tree, I'll give you that."
Rei looked at his hands, a newfound understanding dawning within him. He had felt weak, insignificant, a pawn in a game he didn't understand. But the raw power he had just unleashed, even accidentally, hinted at a potential he had never imagined. The path ahead was still fraught with danger, but for the first time since arriving in this strange world, a flicker of something akin to hope ignited within him, fueled by the immense, untamed strength that lay dormant within.
'I have….Unlimited power'