Soul Merge

Kisuke is supposed to close his shop around lunchtime but Riveria arrived messing with his schedule. He truly didn't expect that the prideful High-Elf would arrive the next day he messed with her which Kisuke also finds interesting.

More than two hours past lunchtime, Kisuke closed his shop and went back to their underground base. But instead of going to his laboratory as he used to, he went straight to a simple detached stone building on the west side of the training ground.

The stone building has nothing in it except for the lighting system and walls, ceiling, and a floor full of magic circles. Closing the entrance, Kisuke proceeded to the center and sat cross-legged. Before he started with what he needed to do, Kisuke activated the magic circles which serves as concealing and defensive barriers.

The magic circles shone brightly with different colors before disappearing a few seconds later to serve its purpose. After checking that everything is working as expected, Kisuke closed his eyes and dived into the inner world where the visualization of his power is located.

Arriving at the world which is constantly flooded by blood, Kisuke went straight towards the Japanese castle which is the center of everything here. He didn't bother looking for Benihime as he won't be able to find her here so his steps led him to the top floor of the castle where there are three different colored and sized orbs that are floating side by side.

Previously, there are only two orbs which composed of his Shinigami and Hollow Reiryoku-Ki which are crimson red and dark green respectively and the source of his powers. Now, however, is a third small golden flaming orb that Kisuke knew the core of the Falna he received from Hestia. He doesn't know if every Falna core looks the same or if only Hestia has this kind of core. Nonetheless, that isn't important right now.

Kisuke then went to the center of these three powers and sat down cross-legged. Closing his eyes again, he then began feeling these three orbs. Kisuke focused on the two large orbs and started his work.

The moment Kisuke focuses on them, the crimson-red orb and dark-green orb started shaking and two threads of their respective colors came out and met in the middle of the two.

A shockwave then blasted out, shaking the whole mansion and almost uprooted Kisuke from his sitting position. However, despite this, Kisuke continued what he's doing, combining his two power sources into one, Soul Merge, as the system calls it.

A few seconds later, a small dark golden orb manifested in the middle of these two big orbs and continues to grow slowly as the threads continuously feed it.

He doesn't know how long he has been doing this as he had to use his full attention just to combine the power sources and now the dark golden orb which is radiating with cold aura grew to an inch in diameter compared to a foot big orbs.

Once he thought that it's enough, Kisuke stopped the process and slowly disconnected the two orbs from the newly created one. It was then the flaming golden orb, that represents Hestia's Falna, which is two inches in diameter suddenly moved and swallowed the newly created dark golden orb.

Kisuke already knew that this might happen so he just carefully watch the process. As the flaming golden orb 'devours' the combine Shinigami and Hollow power source, it grew colder and wisps of its flame disappeared, but instead of dimming like Kisuke is expecting, it grew brighter, leaving on the shiny golden orb.

Although a small part of the dark golden orb still remains, it stopped absorbing it and separated from it. Kisuke immediately understood what it means, "The limits of Level..."

Kisuke then stood up and observed the Falna extensively before touching it. As his finger touches it, his mind suddenly became connected with someone else, more specifically, his patron Goddess, 'Eh? Eh!? What's going on!? What's this?' Kisuke immediately the familiar and panicking voice.

'Hestia-sama?'

'Eh? This voice... Kisuke-kun?'

Once he confirmed that he's connected to Hestia, he immediately assumed the worst, 'Hestia-sama. It's me, Kisuke. Please calm down... I'm sorry for suddenly disturbing you, but you can talk by just thinking about what you want to say to me... For now, please tell me who's with you right now.'

'Eh... Ah, okay. I'm currently with Loki and Hephaestus and they're asking why I'm using my Inchor but I don't know what to say. A little while ago, Freya is with us and she already has separated from us, but she's currently looking over here with interest...'

Since it has come to this, Kisuke intended to continue what he thinks he should do, 'Well then, please try to ask Loki-sama and Hephaestus-sama to cover for you, especially against Freya-sama... And one last thing, please grant me permission to level up.'

Kisuke didn't immediately get an answer from Hestia as she started talking with others, presumably with Loki and this Hephaestus who Kisuke haven't met before but heard a lot, 'Hestia-sama is friends with her?... The blacksmith she's talking about is... It looks like she'll bring someone interesting.'

A few seconds later, Hestia returned to Kisuke, 'You say permission to level up... How do I do that?'

'Just think about how you would normally grant a level up to someone.'

'Ehmm... Like this?' The moment she said that, the shiny golden orb suddenly expanded and doubled in size while also releasing a shockwave. The shockwave this time, however, didn't just stay in this room as it expanded and expanded until it touched the entirety of Kisuke's inner world. Kisuke noticed that everything it touched changed and somehow, became more bright and sturdy. The bleak inner world isn't so bleak anymore, "This is... So it's really purification and refinement... Level up is amazing." He muttered in astonishment. Although he's already expecting that this is the case, he's still very surprised to see it in action.

Although it might not look much of a change in his inner world, it's actually a big change as this is his first time seeing an actual change in here, including his time as a Shinigami of Seiretei, "Benihime would be surprised when she comes back... I just don't know if she'll suddenly attack me because I did some renovation in her home without her knowledge when she's away..."

Thinking about Benihime makes him think about his mother, Sakura, too, 'I wonder if mom is safe... But I need her to activate the Sacred Gear so that I can pinpoint the previous world's exact location...'

'Uhmm... Kisuke-kun... Are you still there?'

'Ah, sorry about that. Thanks~! I just leveled up. See you when you come back~.' Kisuke immediately closed her connection with Hestia.

"For now... Let's do our best to gather those materials and energy required to open a portal back whenever necessary." Kisuke knew that once Sakura activated the Sacred Gear, aside from telling him the exact location, it would also mean that she's in danger that she has to use it. By that time, even if he's by himself, he has to make that jump.