2. Awakening

"Oh, shit. I'm hearing voices," Soujin whispers with awe. "Now I have to deal with a ghost?"

But the sword's response was swift and unexpected. "Wait a minute, your soul feels different... Who are you?"

Confusion clouded Soujin's thoughts. He struggled to make sense of the situation which felt like a dream before him. "Who am I?" he whispered to himself.

But before he could formulate a coherent response the sword spoke again.

"You know what? Forget it. We'll talk about this later. If you want to survive, you need to tap into my power, and you need to do it right Now."

Soujin's heart raced with fear and excitement as he gripped the sword tighter. He remembered its weight and now it was heavier in his hands.

"But how?"

"Trust me and shout out my name!"

Heart pounding with anticipation, Soujin took a deep breath and steadied his trembling hand. He lifted the sword high into the air and shouted with all the conviction he could muster, "Kaze no Monogatari!"

A surge of power coursed through Soujin like a tidal wave and filled him with a sense of strength and purpose he had never known before.

With each passing moment he could feel the power coursing through him, a newfound confidence surging within his veins.

In a swift motion Soujin raised his sword high, the sigil of wind dancing in his hair as the blade hummed with arcane energy. As he slashed through the air, a shockwave of wind erupted outward, cutting through the Senodokidatsu like a scythe through wheat.

The creatures stumbled and faltered in the face of Soujin's power, their masks twisting in fear and confusion. But Soujin wasn't finished yet. With a flick of his wrist, he sent out wind projectiles, each strike finding its mark with deadly accuracy.

While Soujin continued to unleash his new abilities upon the enemy, he gained a sense of exhilaration.

" Oh yeah! This is some amazing shit! I feel Super!"

"Oh? What is this?"

Soujin turned to see Muffet standing before him, her gaze fixed upon his transformed sword "You're using Sword magic? I didn't doubt you could , but so soon after this so called 'Reincarnation' of yours. Not bad, Captain.

Soujin gave Muffet one mean glare with his eyes lowered.

"Didn't you leave me to die a few minutes ago?"

Muffet simply shrugged off his remark with a nonchalant wave of her hand. "I did no such thing," she replied coolly. "I merely told you that your sword is your lifeline and went off ahead. It's not my fault if you are too slow."

Soujin huffed.

"Right, because abandoning a newly appointed captain in the middle of battle is a great example of teamwork." he retorted while lowering his eyes briefly.

Muffet's lips twitched into a smirk.

"Ah, but look at you now," she countered, gesturing towards the Senodokidatsu lying defeated at Soujin's feet. "Seems like you're managing just fine without me."

"Yeah, well, I guess I owe it all to your stellar leadership," Soujin quipped, playfully rolling his eyes.

Muffet chuckled, her laughter scattering through the battlefield like a beacon of camaraderie amidst the chaos.

"Flattery will get you nowhere, Captain Soujin," she replied, her tone light and teasing.

As the adrenaline of battle began to ebb away, Soujin's thoughts turned to the revelation of his new abilities. "So, this is Sword magic, huh?" he mused, examining the transformed blade in his hand with respect.

Muffet nodded. "Indeed. It's a unique form of magic, one that few are able to master to full extent but it seems you have a natural affinity for it, Captain Soujin."

Soujin's eyebrows shot up in surprise at the unexpected praise. "Me? Master Sword magic?"

Muffet's smirk widened into a grin. "Don't be so suprised. All Captains are Master of Sword Magic, including myself."

Soujin felt a swell of pride at Muffet's words. Even as he struggled to wrap his head around the idea of being a master of such magic, Muffet atleast helped him to feel at ease about this situation.

"It looks like iv'e got some big shoes to fill... after all, if i'm a Captain, I have to be the leader of a Divine Squad, whatever that means, and iv'e got to be a leader."

"You'll do just fine, Soujin. Just remember to trust in your instincts and never underestimate the power within you."

With a nod of gratitude, Soujin turned his attention back to the battlefield, his newfound confidence bolstered by Muffet's encouragement.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As the last of the Senodokidatsu fell before them, the battlefield momentarily quieted, the only sound the ragged breaths of Soujin and Muffet as they surveyed the scene of their victory.

But their break was short-lived, shattered by the deafening roar of the Yellow Dragon Senodokidatsu as it descended from the skies above. Its massive body loomed overhead, casting a shadow over the battlefield as it unleashed a horde of Dragon-like Senodokidatsu, each wreathed in flames.

Muffet's brow furrowed in concern as she watched the scene unfold. "Is that thing... creating Senodokidatsu?" she murmured to herself, her eyes narrowed in concentration.

Soujin followed her gaze, his heart sinking at the sight of the fiery creatures descending upon them. " Arggh... this is going to some tough shit…"

Muffet nodded as she prepared to face the oncoming onslaught. "Agreed."

With a shared nod, Soujin and Muffet readied themselves for battle once more, their swords raised in defiance against the approaching tide of enemies. As the first wave of Dragon-like Senodokidatsu descended upon them, they charged forward to meet the challenge head-on with their blades swinging fiercely at the army.

With each strike of their swords, they carved a path through the enemy ranks, their movements fluid and precise as they fought with a synchronicity born of their own trust in one another despite how quickly their meeting was.

In the face of the descending Dragon and its fiery minions, Soujin and Muffet stood firm, their swords raised and their resolve adamant. Blasts of fire rained down upon them but they moved with fluid grace. They dodged and weaving through the flames with a synchronization.

The Dragon continued its relentless assault from above and it seemed hopeless to jump that high to meet the Dragon. Soujin felt a surge of frustration building within him.

"If only we could reach that thing," he growled with his eyes narrowed in concentration.

Muffet shot him a glance with a nod of understanding.

"Leave that to me."

With a swift motion, Muffet raised her hands and closed her eyes and began focusing her energy with a fierce intensity. Soujin watched in awe as a shimmering aura enveloped her. It unleashed raw power like lightning dancing across the sky.

"What are you doing?" Soujin asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Muffet opened her eyes, her gaze steady as she met Soujins eyes.

"I'm going to shoot down that Dragon," she declared, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Soujin's eyes widened in astonishment. "Shoot it down? How?"

Muffet's lips curved into a confident smirk. "With my Mystcry."

Soujin furrowed his brow in confusion. "Your what?"

"Mystcry is a form of magic unique to the inhabitants of Frosdia. It's the manifestation of a person's energy, their very essence given form through sheer force of will."

Soujin listened intently as Muffet continued.

"The Divine Blades have created spells that harness this energy, allowing us to channel it into strong attacks. But to use Mystcry effectively, one must master the intricacies of each spell, knowing exactly which signs to use and how to build up the necessary energy."

Soujin's eyes widened in understanding as Muffet spoke. "So that's how you're going to shoot down the Dragon..."

"Exactly. Now, stand back and watch closely. You might just learn something."

Muffet's voice rang out with confidence as she called out the spell,

"Divine Arts #10, Shakuri" Her fingers thrust forward, releasing the concentrated beam of ice energy that soared towards the Yellow Dragon Senodokidatsu.

Muffet's Mystcry grew in her hand getting intense. Soujin watched in awe. He felt a surge of excitement as he witnessed the power of Mystcry in action.

Her fingers released a concentrated beam of ice energy that soared towards the Yellow Dragon Senodokidatsu.

The beam struck the Dragon's wing with precision, causing it to recoil in pain as ice encased its damaged wing. However, the Dragon's resilience was evident as it shrugged off most of the damage, its fiery nature rendering it resistant to the ice.

Muffet gritted her teeth in frustration, her gaze locked on the wounded Dragon. "It's low enough now," she declared. "We'll have to use the buildings to reach it."

Without hesitation, Soujin and Muffet sprang into action, darting between the buildings with agility and precision. As they ascended higher and higher, they kept eyes fixed on their target looming overhead.

With a final burst of speed, they reached the top of the tallest building, their swords raised and their resolve unyielding. With a mighty leap, they launched themselves towards the Yellow Dragon Senodokidatsu, their blades slashing through the air with deadly precision.

But the Dragon was no easy foe. With a deafening roar, it lashed out with its massive claws, swatting Soujin and Muffet aside like mere insects.

Muffet and Soujin staggered to their feet, their bodies battered and bruised from the Dragon's vicious assault. Soujin was the first to grimace in pain.

"Damn, that thing hits like a whole freakin truck" he muttered, clutching his back and rubbing it. "I hope we get Captains insurance for our pain and suffering."

Muffet shot him a concerned glance.

"Are you okay?"

Soujin winced as he tried to straighten up, but the pain shooting through his spine made it nearly impossible. "I think my backs broken," he groaned, his voice strained with discomfort.

"Hang in there, Soujin. We're not out of this yet."

Taking a deep breath, Muffet steadied herself, her mind racing with strategies to overcome their formidable foe. "My Mystcry and sword magic may not be enough to take down this Dragon, but I can weaken it," she explained, her tone resolute.

Soujin nodded in understanding.

"Then it's up to me to deliver the finishing blow."

"No. It's up to 'you.'" Muffet said with a cute-like smile.

"Wh-bh- th-WHAT YOU MEAN, ME?! I haven't done this before, you know!"

Muffet chuckled at Soujin's face, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I mean you, Soujin. Your sword magic holds the key to defeating this Dragon. Give it everything you got."

Muffet's words echoed in Soujin's mind, unlocking the determination from earlier in triple layers within him despite his doubts and fears. With a deep breath, he began to draw upon the power coursing through his veins like a raging torrent. He forms a violent wind aura around himself picturing himself with a majestic figure and flowing white hair which were features which he did not have saving the day and impressing Muffet enough for her to bow to him.

"Alright.. SUPER SOUJIN is about to rock this dragon!"

With a swift motion, Soujin thrust his sword forward, unleashing a barrage of wind slashes at the Yellow Dragon Senodokidatsu.

But despite his efforts, the Dragon seemed unfazed by Soujin's attacks. Soujin gritted his teeth in frustration, his mind racing for a solution to their predicament.

Muffet watched Soujin's struggles and shook her head. "You're not putting enough force behind your strikes boy. Are you giving it 'everything' you've got? Like every every, everything? For real?"

"OF COURSE I AM! My Muscles are hurting over here!" Soujin shouted with a strained tone.

"No, you're not, Soujin," she replied firmly, her eyes locking onto his with intensity. "You need to unleash the full force of your sword magic, to let it flow through you like a raging storm. Only then will you have the power to overcome this foe."

Soujin's gaze hardened with resolve as he absorbed Muffet's words, his mind clearing as a sense of purpose washed over him. "Right. I can do this."

With a deep breath, Soujin closed his eyes, focusing all of his energy into his next strike. He visualized the wind swirling around him, gathering strength and momentum with each passing moment.

As the Dragon's fiery gaze bore down upon him, Soujin summoned every ounce of strength within him, channeling it into his sword with a fierce intensity.

"You thought you could corner me, didn't you? Well get ready Dragon, because I'm about to become a Dragon slayer!"