Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Binding the Serpent's Soul

In Kitsunehara

In the Nanushi office

In the Nanushi  office the village and clan head Ishida was sipping some green tea with his son Kazuki.

"So, what do you think about Salem-san's father?" Kazuki asked his father as he sipped some green tea. His mask was also off and he had three whisker markings similar to his father.

"He has no ill intentions towards the village from what I can tell. At least he was straight forward in what he wanted from us but that high magic power I felt from him is what worries me. Which leads me to wonder what beast he used Take-Over to gain power like that?" Ishida questioned.

"Yes, no wonder he stated that he was having trouble with his magic. It felt like whatever was in there could even destroy the whole capital I just hope but with Inari's blessing Akemi can contain it."

"I'm pretty sure more than just the capital would be destroyed but enough about that. I wanted to continue our conversation Kazuki." He said seriously, getting Kazuki nod. "So, from what you told me from the imperial soldier captain from Salem-san, the members of Oni-Dragon captured an unknown creature in the swamp."

"Yes, father and the creature from what I know was similar to the ones which re-spawned."

"Hm, I see troubling indeed. Kazuki, I want to put more of Salem-san's abilities to the test so if all goes well, I want you to have a quick battle with him tonight. You and him will be leaving tomorrow."

"I understand father to be honest I too want to know about his battle prowess." Kazuki had been curious about Salem's strength since he got word of him from Harumi and it increased after he felt the burst of magic from him. "But father I'm not so sure it's a good idea to leave so soon."

"I know but I sent some of our people out there to battle one of these creatures but none of them have returned yet and I fear the worst so I need you to find them." The decision Ishida was making was rash but Kazuki was the strongest in the village and there weren't any incredibly strong ninjas left.

 Suddenly the two felt a huge burst of magic which nearly knocked them off their feet. They looked outside the window and saw a magic aura emanating from the temple. The two didn't waste any time and immediately jumped out the window and rushed towards the temple and the ninja's who hid in the shadows all jumped out following their leader.

Earlier at the temple

Salem's pov

"Are you ready Salem-chan?" A woman with long black hair, wearing a kitsune mask and wearing a shrine maiden outfit asked me.

"U-Um yeah I guess." I said nervously as I sat on a seal which had light blue fire coming at it but it wasn't burning me.

'Worry not child the process wants to cause any harm.' A six tailed kitsune said she gently put her paw on my head putting a talisman on my head.

'If you say so.' I breathed out as I pretended not being able to hear or understand her and just wanting to get this over with.

Just a little while ago I was dropped off here by Iroha as Yugen and his dad had to go speak something important. I was a little surprised that they didn't want to stick around to watch or keep an eye on me but since Iroha is still here, I guess that was enough for them. She must be really strong.

Anyway, when we got to the temple, I was introduced to the head shrine maiden Akemi and her nine tailed companion Reiko.  

Now after I explained the situation to Akemi, she said that a special sealing ritual was needed for this not soul cleansing.

"By the grace of Inari." Akemi started chanting and the blue flames grew brighter. "With the blessed fire of the fox goddess I hereby cast thy cast the seal of spiritual harmony."  Her eyes then glowed blue. "Kitsune art: Celestial seal!" The flames then grew large and surrounded me.

My heart then began to beat heavily then I felt my magic seemingly explode from my body covered by gold-green gire and I began to feel a brain mushing headache. An chains come out of the floor to hold him in place

"This creature is just what it is!" I barely heard Akemi scream.

"Akemi-chan don't lose your focus and finish the sealing!" I heard Reiko yell.

Later I found myself in the familiar forest of my mind again but it seemed damaged and a little burnt down.

"ROAARR!" I heard a familiar screech and looked to the side and so the Quetzalcoatl struggling in chains made of blue fire which were pulling it down towards the Aztec temple and it was struggling to get free itself.  

Suddenly a blue fire erupted from the temple and morphed into a giant nine-tailed fox which used its tail to pull the Quetzalcoatl back down to its temple but it still put up a fight.

"Oh, hell nah." I said as since this was my mind I at least had control of it or so I know from other media so and so I concentrated hard so golden-green chains come out of the temple and helped in dragging down the Quetzalcoatl down and since it was struggling with the flaming blue chains and tails of the literal giant fire fox it couldn't escape.

After a bit of trouble, the fire Kitsune fully made contact with and it was fully sealed inside the temple and in a flash, it was gone.

I opened my eyes and saw I was in the forest in my mind but I was on the ground this time and the forest wasn't burnt down this time but full of green life once again. I actually began to feel a lot better and the flowers began to grow more. Then I felt something land on my head and so it was my owl transformation. I chuckled and affectionately scratched behind its ear making it hoot happily.

It flew in front of me and gestured for me to follow it and I did just that and I ran towards me and rubbed its head on my leg so I picked it up and rubbed its head affectionately and continued on.

 After following it for a bit, it led me to a map which showed me a layout of my mind but the picture represented the damaged mind or soul or whatever. But there was blue fire covering it and damaged areas seemed fixed aright know and I looked around the forest and so the vegetation was fully grown again.

Then we got to a clearing and I saw the blue flaming fox looking down at me with a smile on its face.

"Um, thanks a lot for your help." I thanked the fox for what I thought was a representation of the sealing spell used by Akemi. It nodded and began to disappear.

I floated and quickly put my rabbit down and flew out of my mind.

I then opened my eyes and so I was back in the temple and spring back to my feet and looked around a little. The things around and saw the walls were a little destroyed. I noticed Yugen and his dad were also there along with some ninjas.

"Wow did a hurricane hit this place." I lightly joked while releasing a little chuckle.

"Just what in the world was inside this child!?" I heard the clear voice coming from Reiko now.

 Night time

I was in a traditional Japanese room provided for me by Nanushi though he wasn't as slick as he thought he was. I can sense the ninjas a little closer by watching me.

I decided to goof around for a little bit by taking selfies of myself in the room and eating the phone. After I was done, I decided to test something.

I began turning my arms into that of the Testora' claws in a low percentage of course and light them in fire dragon slayer magic with little explosions circling around it like mini fireworks. I didn't feel any more headaches. Then I shifted the claws to the glacier wolves, then my owl wings. Finally, I fully began to change forms from owl to rabbit to snake to ant to cat to the much smaller size of the giant sparrow.

"Nice baby~." I smirked as I went back to normal and laid the futon.

I was glad to be back at one hundred percent but looking at that map in my mind made me see I don't have much variety when it comes to my transformations to help me tackle different obstacles. I had three fire users in my arsenal and it would increase to five or six if I catch the phoenix, Kitsune. I should work more on my variety. Many animals and monsters have unique aspects to them which can make them useful.

I sat up, sat in a crossed legged position on the futon and began absorbing the Ethernano in the air. "I wonder if I can also control the ethernano in the air." I questioned myself

I began to feel the magic in the air and instead of absorbing it into my body I tried concentrating it into my hand and 5 minutes later a beautiful green light formed in my hand.

"The hell?" I questioned as the light disappeared and walked around the room as I felt there was something or someone in the room. It wasn't the ninjas as I could have at least heard them if they got a little closer.

After I found nothing wrong I turned to my futon to continue my ethernano but I saw a really beautiful lady with black hair, white fluffy ears and nine tails. She wore a white and red kimono showing off her curvy legs a bit. She was sitting on the balcony with the moon shining behind her making beautiful scenery.

"Damn nice entrance." I complimented as my jaw also dropped but I wondered if the ninja were ignoring her or she put a spell on the area preventing them from seeing her.

"Thank you. I'm glad someone appreciates them and also closes your mouth before something enters it." She seemingly teleported in front of me and closed my mouth as she gave me a saucy smirk.

Out of nowhere I found myself sat cross-legged facing her with a table separating the two of us. Two seven tailed kitsune seemly teleported into the room one with a tea pot on its head while the other held a tray of cookies. But it was more than remembering the paintings in the shrine and the kitsune with her. It clicked in my mind.

"Oh, y-you're the goddess Inari aren't you." I said nervously.

"Oh, was it that obvious~." She answered a little haughtily as she poured some green tea. "Tea?" She offered and not wanting to piss off the goddess and humbly accepted it.

"S-So lady Inari what does a goddess like you want from a mortal like myself?" I questioned as I flinched in my mind on how cringy I sounded.

"Oh no need for horrific Salem-chan you can just call me Inari." She waved off as she poured herself a cup.

I drank some tea making my ears raise at how good it was. I ate one of the cookies and I was blown away at how amazing it tasted. I saw Inari looking like holding back a laugh.

"Is something wrong?" I asked her.

"A tail comes out of you and it's wagging." She pointed out while giggling and I looked behind me and saw the glacier wolf tail had come out and was wagging happily.

"Yeah, it happens sometimes." I said sheepishly. "These are really good, but what did you put in them?"

"Ara~ Ara~. You're so adorable Salem-chan and I'm afraid that is my little secret." She giggled melodically but she immediately turned professional. "Now Salem-chan, one of my Kitsune, informed me that you have a connection with these other worldly creatures." Her hand was enveloped in azure blue fire and then an image of some of the anomalies here in Taiyo.

"I just travel around killing them." I simply answered.

"I don't get satisfied half-truths Salem-chan." She said seriously. "To my knowledge when a person killed one of these creatures, they would come back stronger. But you killed one and from what I was told it was actually killed. So boya let me ask you what is your connection with these creatures and how long have you been hunting them. Remember I'm a goddess so lying to me will not be fun for you Salem-chan" She moved a little closer to me giving a good look at her buxom. "Eyes up her boya." She lightly joked but I could tell she was still serious.

"Eyes don't have walls." I spoke the old saying from back in my old life and Inari looked amused but decided to dial it back not wanting to get too comfortable and said the wrong thing which might anger her.  "Okay here's the gist. Like I said, travelling around the world killing these creatures as you can say it's my job of sorts. My boss gave me some freaky ability to send them back to their home dimension as you said there other worldly." I hoped this information was enough to satisfy her and I saw her smirk.

"I can still tell there's a little more to the story but I'll let it slide." She waved off and backed away from me. "So, our suspicions were correct these foul creatures are not from our world." She put on a cute thinking face. "Was that why sensed that dimensional hopping reptilian slut here again?" She made a disgusted face.

"Damn you must really not like this person." I could tell she was talking about Selene.

"A lot of us don't. She's nothing but a fraud along with the rest." Inari shocks her head. "Oh, darn, looks like our time is up. Well Salem-chan it was nice to meet you. Bye~." She blew a kiss at me and in a white light she had disappeared.

"Huh she seems cool." I commented as I had a little blush on my cheeks.'

I noticed the tea and cookies and so I began to scuff them down enjoying this amazing taste.

"Salem-san." I heard a male voice call me and I turned to the balcony to see one of the ninjas who was watching me. "Nanushi-sama requests your presence." He informed.

My cheeks were filled with Inari's cookies which I'm pretty sure I looked like a chipmunk so I couldn't answer so I just gave him a nod and thumbs up.

In the forest

A little while later I was in the forest following the ninja to go meet Nanushi but I had my guard up in case the guy tried anything sus.

We got to a clearing of sorts and I saw what seemed like a fighting arena from a fighting game. Though it had a big statue of a nine tailed fox.

"Ah Salem-san I'm glad you have arrived." Nanushi greeted me.

"Yeah, what's up?" I jumped and landed close to the three.

"I need you to battle Kazuki." He bluntly told me.

"Huh?" I raised my eyebrows in surprise.