Sage Mode (II)

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Discord Link: KQAtTw9u7x

500 Power Stones = Extra Chapter

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Takauji found himself peering into his own body, with two masses of spherical energy spinning parallel to one another. One was iridescent, like looking into a kaleidoscope, and the other had a simple soft white glow to it. 

So this is my [Mana] and [Chakra] within my own body, now all I have to do is get them to merge together, and as Wukong said I should be able to achieve [Sage Mode]. 

He concentrated, using the full power of his mind to encourage the two energies to merge, to which they obliged, however the pace of the fusing process appeared to be slow. Really slow. Excruciatingly slow. 

Well, this looks like it's going to take a while. I shouldn't have that much trouble getting the ratio even thanks to my brain power, so that's an upside. 

The two energies started to reach out to one another, parts of them beginning to intertwine as Takauji felt a new power start to form. The power that would give him the ability to enter [Sage Mode] by blending his Mana and [Chakra] together. 

Let's hope this doesn't actually take as long as Wukong said, Ranyare might genuinely kill me if it does. 

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"How long do you think he's going to take?" Yu-Long asked his longtime battle partner, swirling above the Monkey King as he spared a glance to the peak of Mount Huaguo every now and then. 

"It's been two weeks since he entered that state, and from what I can tell he should reach it any minute now." Wukong also glanced at the mountain peak, able to see the cross-legged figure of his student in spite of the significant distance between them. 

"Do you think his [Senjutsu] will reach the same level as those Longs from back then?" The Jade Dragon inquired. 

"No clue, those guys were born only with [Chakra] instead of Mana like him, so talent wise they should be superior in [Senjutsu] to him, however he's not a normal Dragon by any means, so maybe he'll prove me wrong." Wukong stroked his beard. 

"It's been a while since the last Dragon Sage was born, at the very least there'll be someone to continue the legacy." Yu-Long took a moment to reminisce on the journey he had gone on with Sun Wukong.

"Indeed, all in all it doesn't really matter whether his [Senjutsu] goes beyond this or not, with Great Red as a powerbase his power is bound to ascend no matter what. The question is what he plans to do with it once he's actually obtained said power." 

"If he's a part of Great Red then we shouldn't have anything to worry about. He's never been the type to misuse his power, or use it all for that matter–" 

BOOM! 

A massive explosion resounded from the top of the mountain, alerting all the Youkai Huaguo as they felt a surge of [Chakra] crashing down on the peak. 

"See?" Wukong said with a satisfied grin. "It only took him a month to achieve all that, what a monster." 

"I don't want to hear that from you of all people." Yu-Long rolled his eyes, allowing Wukong to hop onto his back as they flew to Takauji's position. 

"Looking good there, Panda." 

Takauji's hair had turned completely golden, alongside all four of his irises and pupils. The blood he had received from Fafnir coursing stronger than ever before, and the [Chakra] enveloping his body three times as strong in comparison to when he used [Touki]. 

All five of his senses had reached a different level, the sense of strength making it feel as if he could parry a meteor with his bare hands. 

This was his [Draconic Sage Mode].

My strength, speed, stamina, reflexes, perception, and durability have all reached another level. I'm not just connected to life anymore, it's like I've become a part of it. So this is what [Sage Mode] is, this really was worth attaining. 

"So how does it feel to have surpassed Ultimate-Class?" Wukong's comment caused Takauji's eyelids to widen. "Pretty euphoric isn't it?" 

The Monkey King had confirmed it, he had stepped into the same realm of strength where the Satans stood. Stronger than the likes of Serafall and Grayfia, but still weaker than those of Ajuka and Sirzechs. 

"It won't be long before you reach the level of Albion and Ddraig, but you're aiming for the same power that Gread Red possesses aren't you?" 

"I am." 

[Senjutsu] gives one the ability to read the auras and emotions of those around them, now that I've achieved [Sage Mode] my new comprehension should have greatly increased the strength of my concept of [Delusion]. 

Takauji knelt downwards, placing his hand on a single flower. 

You are not receiving enough nutrients. 

The flower was perfectly healthy, after all this was Mount Huaguo, it had a near limitless supply of nutrients with the amount of [Chakra] flowing through it at all times. However, the flower believed what Takauji had told him. Instantly beginning to wither as all the life left its form. 

"What a terrifying power that is." Wukong commented with a dry chuckle.

You are receiving enough nutrients. 

It listened again, believing his illusion completely, and springing back to life in a matter of seconds. 

"My illusions are now capable of affecting more than just perception, they can now influence thoughts themselves to a certain degree, but I doubt it would have much effect on those as strong or stronger than me." 

Regardless, it was still a very valuable boon to have attained. 

"If there ever comes a day where you're stronger than everyone, wouldn't your illusions become reality itself?" Wukong concluded. 

"That is possible, but I'd rather not get ahead of myself." Such a day was still far into the future, if it ever even came. "You have my thanks, this power will be of immense use to me from now on." He bowed respectfully to his teacher. 

"Don't mention it, I was just acting in accordance with the favor I owed Nurarihyon. Oh, and by the way, how long do you think you were in that state for?" 

Takauji scratched his chin. 

"Uh, it felt like a few days. Why?" He noticed Wukong's odd choice of words. 

"It's been two weeks, on top of the two weeks you spent learning [Touki]."

The Dragon blinked repeatedly, hoping he had misheard his teacher.

"You aren't serious are you?" 

"I'm serious, the deep state of focus you were in messed up your biological clock." 

Shit, I'm going to be skinned alive once I get back. 

"That look tells me you have a not-so-happy woman waiting for you back home." He read Takauji's face completely. "Best of luck." 

I don't think luck is going to be enough to get me through this. 

Knowing what a week of his absence did to her, he didn't even want to imagine what would await him after an entire month of it. But he could predict that it had something to do with him no longer being alive at the end of it.

"Actually, if you're going to be killed once you return anyway, why not get some practice with that new form of yours while you're at it?" Wukong channeled his [Touki] to its absolute maximum. Brandishing his staff with a prepared smirk on his face. 

"You won't use your [Sage Mode]?" Takauji asked. 

"No, it's not just that I don't want to since I'd probably end up killing you if I did, it's also that my [Sage Mode] is under a seal that only Indra can remove." 

"Indra? I thought you quit being his vanguard some time ago?" 

"I did." Takauji decided to relent, seeing that Wukong wasn't interested in elaborating. 

"Alright then, I'll get some practice in." He brought out his treasured Sayafushi, the connection between swordsman and sword having become stronger than it had ever been. 

I can hear you Sayafushi, my ears are no longer deaf to your wishes. I will follow your lead, trust me. 

"You've made that blade happy, good. Happy wife, happy life." Wukong charged at him like usual, Takauji now able to read the old man's movements and parry each of his thrusts with computer-like precision. 

Takauji planted his left foot forwards, swinging upwards in an attempt to push Wukong onto the defense, confident that the Monkey King would be easier to fight than when he was on offense. 

"It feels like you have more power than you can handle doesn't it?" Wukong performed a backwards somersault, gracefully landing on his feet. "I'm afraid there's no shortcut for you to get accustomed to it, you'll just have to keep practicing with [Sage Mode] until you're comfortable." 

Wukong pointed the tip of his staff towards Takauji, allowing one of the ends to extend towards him with immense speed in an effort to hit his abdomen. 

But Takauji's reflexes had improved, he quickly put Sayafushi away into [Vacio] and grabbed the end of Wukong's staff with both his hands. His feet were dragged through the mud until it eventually came to a halt. 

"You know I could've just kept extending my staff if I wanted to right?" Wukong said. 

"I know, but we're here to test out the limits of my [Sage Mode] aren't we?" 

"That we are," Wukong chuckled. "It's like I said before, those eyes of yours truly are exceptional, and I'm not just talking about the fact that there are four of them." 

All of Takauji's physical attributes had undergone three evolutions. 

One when he assimilated with the parasite. 

Another when he became a Dragon. 

And now a third, by infusing the power of [Chakra] into his body. 

"What can I say? Being a monster has its advantages." 

"That it does." Takauji took a deep breath, feeling the [Chakra] coursing through his body getting even stronger. 

"Just keep in mind, you won't be able to use [Sage Mode] for as long as you can here in the human world since the [Chakra] in my mountain is significantly more abundant. If I had to make an estimate I'd say you could use it for about ten minutes at a time." 

"Ten minutes is more than enough, most of my battles only last a few minutes to begin with." 

"Don't get complacent, any opponent strong enough to even make you use [Sage Mode] in the first place won't go down easy." Wukong plucked a few hairs out of his beard, blowing on them as he created a few clones of himself with his [Replication] ability. "Ready?"

"Ready." Takauji assumed his one-handed stance, his eyes sharpening as the clones started to approach him. 

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! 

He was met with a barrage of swings, his reflexes working overtime to make sure he parried each and every one. Even a poorly-aimed hit from Wukong's staff hurt like hell, he had learned that the hard way.

"Hey, Wukong." He said in between breaths. "You don't mind if I use my abilities now?" Takauji continued to parry their attacks. 

"Go for it." 

Takauji plunged the tip of Sayafushi into the ground, standing on its hilt as he puffed his chest up. 

He opened his mouth, a sea of black fire leaving his maw as the fire enveloped all the clones around him, burning them into a puddle of [Chakra]. This was his [Rotted Flame], the ability he had attained by fusing his [Contamination] with Fafnir's flames.

"Those flames are quite something." Wukong praised. "They're able to devour both the Mana and [Chakra] of your opponent, I can't imagine it's a very fun ability to fight." 

"They couldn't devour [Chakra] before, but I guess they adapted to it once I started learning [Senjutsu]. I imagine the same mutation would have occurred if I had acquired [Demonic Power] or [Light Magic]." 

"Illusions, flames, and [Senjutsu]. I don't know what other abilities you have, but these three seem to be your primary sources of strength." Wukong himself had 72 transformations, so even all of Takauji's abilities combined weren't much quantity wise to him. It was their qualities that intrigued him. "You probably shouldn't obtain any new abilities for a while, and focus on improving the ones you currently have as much as possible. At your level and beyond, quality is all that matters, quantity has very little meaning." 

"I thought as much." Sirzechs literally only used his [Power Of Destruction] and was a Super-Devil capable of contending with even Gods. 

[Sense Manipulation] was his support that worked in conjunction with his [Delusion], [Rotted Flame] was pure-offense, and [Senjutsu] improved his offense, defense, and support altogether. These were the three cores that made up most of his power. 

The journey of mine only began 2 months ago, but I already can't recognise who I was back then. What a strange life I'm living, but strange is good. Strange is fun, strange is exciting. I love excitement. 

"I'd give you a few more pointers, but knowing you you'll probably figure it out on your own anyways. Feeling ready to head back home?" 

Honestly my chances of survival would be better if I just secluded myself here for the rest of my life. 

A very angry Raynare awaited him. 

"Yeah, I am." 

Wukong motioned for Yu-Long to approach, both himself and Takauji hopping onto the Jade Dragon's back as it took off to the skies, the Monkey King creating a portal with his staff as they flew through it. 

"I'll drop you off at the East if that's alright with you, since Nurarihyon probably wants to check up on you." 

Anything to delay my inevitable doom. 

"That's fine with me." It was pretty late at night by the time they arrived, Nurarihyon himself immediately coming out to greet them the moment he sensed Wukong's presence. 

"It looks like you had quite the lengthy stay at Mount Huaguo, Pandora." The gourd-headed old man said, not before giving Wukong a respectful bow of course. 

"It was time well spent." He replied curtly. 

"That's good to hear, I trust you haven't forgotten the terms of our deal?" 

"Of course not, I'll protect the East as well from now on. You needn't worry about that." Nurarihyon heaved a sigh of relief. 

"Splendid, you wouldn't happen to be open to training some of my people as well would you? I can compensate you with a variety of techniques, including some of my own." Part of the deal Takauji had with Yasaka was to train the members of the West, once he had gotten more familiar with [Senjutsu] that was. 

"I'll take it into consideration, but I wouldn't get your hopes up." On top of Raynare probably not letting him go for another year, Takauji had spent an entire month without flirting with Yasaka. His mental state was basically in shambles. 

"I see," Nurarihyon scratched his chin while hiding his displeasure, which unfortunately for him Takauji could see right through. "Well, I don't want to hold you any longer, I'm sure you're itching to get back to the West." 

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This training arc probably should've been longer, but I can't write training arcs if my life depended on it so... rip. 

10+ Advance Chapters: patreon.com/Accel14

Discord Link: KQAtTw9u7x

Word Count: 2533