6 CH6: Inner Moka

My future garden was currently in the form of a weed-filled field beside a small frog and snake-filled pond. By their extra eyes and hoods, they weren't exactly normal snakes. By the gentle bubbles in the pond, it was either the produce of a natural spring or something big was at its bottom. Grasshoppers leaped from massive stalks only to be caught by large toads. Mole holes covered the ground, and small plant monsters hid amongst the weeds.

Moka tugged at my arm. "Maybe we should find another spot for your garden."

I looked over the weak monsters and measured my PL against theirs. Even suffering burnout, none of them were at my level.

"This is their home; we shouldn't take it from there. I saw a spot nearby we could carry over a small water barrel and build an irrigation system. You don't want to make them resent you." Moka said.

While a pond was convenient I didn't really need it. My inventory could take care of water transport. I decided to save the pond for a later project. A pond was better for a cow pasture than a garden.

"I don't care if they resent me or not. But I don't really need a pond; I can just order a water barrel and some pipes. Water irrigation isn't that hard." I said.

We left and found a place a little farther away from the school. There wasn't a drop of water in sight, but that was fine. I didn't plan to do much on the first day. All I really did was plow the ground with qi. Which was mind-bending work. I pushed my hand out and willed the ground to crack open in a straight line. I walked slowly like I was plowing with a horse and managed only a row at a time while I walked. Large rocks stood in my way, and while I was weakened, I couldn't do a thing about them. Burnout sucked, and I felt horribly weak even while I tilled the ground.

Qi control Adept: 88%

Qi Gardening: Intermediate 78%

Moka quirked an eyebrow. "When you wanted to build a garden, I thought there would be more work." Moka said from atop a boulder under a shade tree. Did she expect me to have her pull a plow?

I was sweating bullets, and my whole body burned, but the results spoke for themselves. The soil was getting tilled phenomenally, and my skills were rising. Best of all, traces of my qi remained in the soil so the plants would have a head start when I planted my seeds. First, I planned to try a blueberry patch using seeds from my original blueberry bush. A second generation should be even more suited to my qi. Then there was my oversoul skill. I thought about how I would practice it and had an answer.

Moka coughed to get my attention. "Sorry about that; sometimes I get excited about things, and everything else falls to the wayside. It's a real problem. Gardening can wait; let's do something fun, just the two of us."

Moka sighed as I stabbed a hand in the dirt, touched a worm, and pushed my qi into it. No statistics flashed across my vision, but I felt a small qi battery form within the worm. If I needed to, I could draw upon it.

Oversoul: Beginner 2%

That wasn't surprising; I didn't have enough power to risk such a dangerous skill before. I hesitated to use ascension before I mastered qi control and enhancement. Unfortunately, that power wasn't something I could throw around without a care.

I pulled my arm free and brushed the dirt off.

"You don't have to do that for me. I'm happy spending time with you. What got you interested in gardening?"

"I like watching things grow, and eating something I grew myself feels satisfying. Do you have any hobbies?" I asked.

Moka flashed a smile. "Painting sometimes people, places I've been to, or whatever images my mind can conjure."

That was interesting. I walked over to her and pulled the vampire girl into a hug. "Thank you for keeping me company while my body hurts. I'm not good at going long periods without training. My parents say it's unhealthy and for the longest time; it feels like I've been doing nothing but preparing for the end of the world."

Moka perked up. "Are you talking about one of the prophecies? Like the wizard one about the dark lord in England, the one about the destined restart of the great war between the Christian factions, or are you talking about one of the other prophesies?"

"Not a prophesy, just a looming threat casting a long shadow. I sensed a dark being when I was a child and can still sense it now. When I was younger, it awakened for a short time before going back to sleep. At that time, I sensed an overwhelming hunger. When it wakes again, I'm not sure it will go back to sleep before its hunger is sated. So, I train every day using the creature as a benchmark. Even if it's only a little, I always try to make myself stronger than the day before."

Moka smiled in a way that made it obvious she was holding her tongue. "You can do it if you keep trying."

I laughed; I couldn't help it. "I know I'm weak right now, but I'll continue growing stronger. Even if it's only inch by inch, I'll eventually reach that creature's level. Once I heal, I'll be much stronger than I am now."

A shadow fell over our moment. "How cute Moka and Arakan the bastard together and isolated?" Saizou quickly transformed. His tongue lengthened nearly two feet, his legs shifted, becoming bow-legged, and he bulked up. In one hand, he held a crowbar. "I'm going to break your arms, then force you to watch me rape your little girlfriend."

Quest Defeat Saizou

Bonus?

Bonus?

Reward: 2 Gotcha Tokens

Failure: Netorare

I pulled my immature soul cutter free of its sheath and charged forward as the ogre swung. The crowbar halted against my blade, and Saizou stared at the weapon in my hand, unable to see it. I raised my mostly mended hand and pushed qi out from it. A shockwave blasted Saizou back, and I moved in. His arm fell like a club, and I sidestepped it and hit him in the gut with my elbow. He took a step back. I retreated, slashing my sword in a downward stroke. He screamed even though no wound appeared. I raised my hand again and hit him with another shockwave.

Horrible pain lanced through my arm, and I knew that was the last shockwave I could use before it broke worse. I backstepped to get some distance. Saizou was either tougher than I thought, or my burnout was worse than I imagined. While I was distracted by the pain, Saizo lashed out with his crowbar and hit my leg. I screamed as the bone shattered.

With a swipe, I shattered the crowbar with my Asauchi as I fell. Moka charged in with a tombstone and smashed it against Saizou's face. While he was dazed, she leaned down to try to move me. I reached out to push her away, but I brushed the Rosary on her chest. The cross fell away, and the world was covered in darkness. For a moment, it felt similar to the creature I felt. Maybe it was also a vampire. While Moka's power was impressive, it was much weaker than the other being.

Her body changed; Moka's pink hair turned silver, and her green eyes turned red. Moka's tiny cute fangs extended, making her look almost savage. "You are a mystery, and your blood tastes amazing even in my slumber. So, don't worry, I'll protect you for my other self's sake."

Saizou struggled to his knees. "I can't believe it; you really are a vampire. So then why are you defending that piece of trash."

"The only trash I see is you; know your place." Moka kicked down, and with a single powerful strike, she finished Saizou off.

Moka stared down at me with her crimson eyes. "I can feel your power; you shouldn't have had any trouble against someone like Saizou. Your weakness is self-inflicted."

"So, you're aware of what outer Moka experiences."

Moka's eyes widened slightly before narrowing. "I know what you have planned for me, and it won't happen unless you're much stronger. I won't date a weakling; right now, all you have to offer me is your blood." Moka said.

Quest Defeat Saizou

Release Inner Moka: +1 Gotcha

Score a kiss from inner Moka: Failed

Rewarded 3 Gotacha Tokens

"Could you train with me?" I asked.

"How bold. Why should I waste my time training with you?"

"Well, I can always give you more of my blood."

My future vampire waifu licked her lips. "Fine, but I won't go easy on you," Moka said.

"I wouldn't ask you to."

Moka growled. "You aren't working yourself to death either. Let your body heal, then I'll knock you around all you want." Inner Moka said before yawning.

She snatched the Rosary from my hand, and outer Moka fell on top of me. The pink-haired vampire was already snoozing before she fell on me. Since we were like this anyway, I decided to use my Gotcha tokens.

The Gotcha rolled a 4, 10, and 10; a large, scaled heart fell on the ground, still beating.

Heart Of Siegfried – An item that, when implanted, can impart the powers of the servant Siegfried, the dragon slayer.

I shoved the organ in my inventory for safe keeping and rolled again. The Gotcha rolled a 3, 5, and 9.

Jasmine – A vampire killed at an early age at the hands of humans. She was taken just before she a mob of humans could murder her. Summon her at your own risk.

My final Gotacha rolled a 4, 1, and 16

A capsule fell to the ground.

Goku's Spaceship Post Namek – A ship outfitted with a newer model gravity training room, beware there are no healing pods inside.

I understood the message loud and clear. While I had an awesome ship to train in higher gravity now, I didn't have a way to heal myself after training. With all my random goodies, I would have a fun time in the future. But first, I needed to get Moka and me out of here.

Slowly I leaned up and used my sword to pull us up until I could hobble on one leg. After that, I had to put a little weight on my sword and jump. After doing the motion a few times, I had it down and made my way toward the dorms. No one came to help me, so it took a long time.

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