Chapter 36: Earth Bond

Fuck, I'm stuck now. I can't seem to write the next chapter. See you soon, I guess. This will be the end of me if I can't write it. My brain doesn't want to give any idea right now. Bye bye my readers for now

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Earth Altar Dream World,

"So, why am I here again, Mom?" Yuuto asked, sitting on the floor in front of Gaia, who was still chained to the pillar.

A cluster of green particles emerged from Gaia and coalesced into a humanoid form in front of Yuuto.

Gaia, now in human size, stood before Yuuto and playfully pulled his ear, like a concerned mother scolding her child.

"Don't you dare pull that stunt again while I'm trapped here? Promise me you won't risk your life until I escape this place," Gaia admonished, releasing Yuuto's ear.

"Okay, please go easy on me, Mom," Yuuto massaged his ear, still feeling the slight ache.

"No!" Gaia looked at him sternly. "Promise me you won't be reckless. Your recklessness nearly got you killed."

"Understood, Mom. Are you worried about me?" Yuuto asked with a mischievous smirk.

"Of course! If you die, how am I going to escape from this hellhole?" Gaia replied, her tone serious.

"So, is there any particular reason I'm here?" Yuuto inquired, looking at Gaia with curiosity.

Gaia knelt down, gently taking hold of Yuuto's left hand. She placed her hand on the back of his hand, and a soft, green glow emanated from her touch.

After a few seconds, Gaia withdrew her hand, revealing a new marking etched on Yuuto's left hand.

[Image Here]

"Don't worry, my son. You can easily conceal the marking by infusing magic into it. It will naturally fade away on its own," Gaia reassured Yuuto, her voice filled with maternal warmth.

Yuuto, a mix of curiosity and uncertainty on his face, asked, "Mom, what exactly have you done to me?"

Gaia knelt closer to him, her eyes radiating kindness as she explained, "I've established a special connection with you, my child. Now, you can communicate with me directly, and I've bestowed upon you my blessing. It will aid you in gathering Nature's Energy more swiftly, and the very essence of nature will embrace you with love."

A grateful smile spread across Yuuto's face as he looked down at the back of his left hand. He carefully infused his Demonic Power into the marking, causing it to vanish. With a heartfelt expression, he gazed back at Gaia, thanking her silently for the unexpected gift.

'You sly bastard,' Yumi playfully commented in his mind.

Rising to his feet, Yuuto spoke softly, "I must bid you farewell, for now, Mom. But I promise, we'll meet again soon. In the real world this time." And with those words, he disappeared from the dream world, teleporting back to reality.

As Yuuto vanished, Gaia murmured to herself, her voice tinged with concern, "Please, my son, be cautious in your endeavours." Her heartfelt words lingered in the air, an unspoken prayer for his well-being.

.....

The Next Day,

Dining Room, Rias Gremory

Akeno, Rias, and Koneko appeared visibly exhausted, their weary expressions speaking volumes about the events of the previous night. Sleep had eluded them all.

In stark contrast, Yuuto wore a cheerful smile as he set plates of food before his tired friends.

"Why do you all look so worn out?" Yuuto asked, his tone laced with genuine concern.

The three girls stared back at him, their gazes fixed and unfaltering.

Yuuto chuckled softly, a glimmer of understanding in his eyes. He had a hunch about what they had been through.

"Here, please enjoy your meal. Be careful, it's still hot," Yuuto offered, his voice soothing and warm.

"Hmm," the three of them replied in unison, their tired voices barely audible as they began to partake in the food.

As they ate, Yuuto wiped his hands with a towel and quietly made his way to the living room, giving them the space they needed to recharge and recuperate.

"So, what brought you here, Sensei?" Yuuto asked, his body at ease as he leaned against the wall.

"Just wanted to talk, really," Souji replied, taking a sip of the coffee Yuuto had thoughtfully made for him.

"Go ahead, I'm all ears," Yuuto encouraged, his gaze fixed attentively on Souji.

"Did someone from the Pendragon family pass down their sword style to you?" Souji inquired, genuine curiosity resonating in his voice.

"Well, sort of," Yuuto responded, a hint of intrigue colouring his tone. "There's a connection, let's put it that way."

"Also, I couldn't help but wonder... Why did you mention that there's no good teacher who can guide you?" Souji pressed on, his curiosity unabated.

Yuuto paused for a moment, reflecting on his past words. "You know, I said that in the heat of the moment, but it's not a belief I hold deep within. Perhaps it was just a passing thought. But tell me, is that why you decided to come here yesterday?" Yuuto asked, a faint smile playing on his lips, curious about Souji's motivations.

"Yes, that remark did get under my skin, but listen kid," Souji stood up, his expression serious. "If you truly want to refine your Tennen Rishin-Ryu technique, I'd be more than happy to teach you once again."

"Thank you, Sensei, and I appreciate you offering to teach me again," Yuuto replied gratefully, a sense of genuine appreciation in his voice, as he made his way out of the living room.

It wasn't customary for Yuuto to thank Souji, but this time he felt compelled to do so. After all, he had used the techniques Souji had imparted to the original Kiba, and he owed a debt of gratitude.

"You're welcome, you little brat," Souji said with a smile, his eyes filled with pride, as he vanished from the mansion, teleporting away to his own affairs.