Yata clan

After some time we arrived at the clan and the elders were rather curious about the claims of the sisters, but they allowed me to show it, so I got close to the seal of Orochi, the energy was overwhelming, I took out my ocarina and whispered

-…Hope this hurts…

I once again played the song of healing and the energy noticeable weakened, to the shock of the whole clan, my help was asked as they would like to prepare a stronger seal in anticipation of the arrival of the Hakkesshu, but the preparations would take a month at least

-Why not kill the bastard?

-Orochi is far too powerful Eric, as we currently stand, none of us can beat him, but with your power, one day, we will stand a chance

Maki had renewed hope in her eyes, Chizuru too was smiling, I sighed knowing that they were right, but I didn't like it, I have to become strong ASAP!

Seeing as the reincarnators all have cheats, Orochi will be nothing but a stepping stone, after all, he is bound to specific rules while the reincarnators are not, reality itself may crumble once they show up!

Still, that comes later, since I am here, might as well ask

-Say, Maki?

-Yes Eric?

-Could I learn the Kagura martial arts?

-Unfortunately, that is impossible

-Eh? Why?

-It is a style solely for females, not for males

-Ah god dammit! Fine, I guess that's the end of it then, can we at least spar?

-Spar?

-Yeah! I may be training in the use of a blade, but I will always have my fists, my blade? Maybe not, hence I need to train them!

-I suppose that is possible

I looked at Leona and asked

-Would you like to learn their style?

-…Strong?

-Judge for yourself, are you sure you are ok to fight Eric?

The bandages were gone and I was like new thanks to my healing spells so, I say

-Yeah! Show me what you got Maki!

-Understood then

Chizuru sat next to Leona as me and Maki got on the training ground, she stretched a bit as I did, and before long, we were ready

-Ready?

-Yeah!

-Here I come then

To make a long fight short, sole reason it lasted as long as it did was due to my resilience, I kept getting back up after being owned by either a swing of her arm to my chin, a clone that hit my gut, an assault of both her and her clone or a direct impact to my chest, she mopped the floor with me, but each hit only made me want to get up even more

"Endurance Increased! C—>C+!"

Huh…is it because I am getting my ass kicked?

"And all previous beatdowns"

That took a lot to raise…

"But the results are way better than normal people"

Fair enough, that is "Blank Slate" for ya

I kept attacking Maki, of course it didn't work at any time, either I hit a reflection that was fake, or she parried my hit and crashed me to the ground, only after getting my ass kicked for 2 hours did she stop

-Enough! Can you still stand?!

I got up and used heal

-Compared to Ridley? Nothing at all!

-What a scary boy…

-Says the one who kicked my ass for 2 hours straight!

-…Strong

-Yeah, she is, wanna learn?

Leona nodded and I laughed

-I can't believe I am the weakest of the group! I need my own martial art stat!

Suddenly, I heard a growl, a stomach growl, I looked at Leona and she blushed

-Hungry huh? We did get interrupted before we had lunch…aight! Say Maki, Chizuru, you don't mind if I use the kitchen?

-You can cook?

-Yeah

-…Good…

Curious, they followed…if I remember right, these 2 like spicy food, and Leona is a fan of vegetables, so I will make some spicy food for them, see how they react

As soon as I was done, I served them, Curry, a classic among classic that is extremely easy to add a personal touch to, so I made Leona's curry to be mainly vegetable while the sisters and mine to be extra spicy, needless to say when they tried it, all of their eyes gained stars

"Maki"

"80 (+10)"

"Chizuru"

"80 (+20)"

Leona had no increase since she is used to my food, then again, her score is so fucking high I would be concerned if it keeps increasing…

"If it reaches 300 master, you can officially start worrying hard"

[What is 300?]

"Obsession, unhealthy obsession"

[Ah fuck me…]

"Your bond is already unbreakable anyways, you could just ignore her and nothing would change"

[That would leave a horrible taste in my mouth, I care for her! She is my friend!]

"…I hope this doesn't bite you master"

As we finished, Maki exclaimed

-So good!! How are you so good at this?! That was by far the best curry I have ever had!

-It was delicious

-Dunno, talent I guess?

I smiled kindly and Maki commented

-You will be popular in the future, that is obvious, don't have too many girlfriends ok?

-As if I could even get 1…

-Don't be so pessimistic kid! I was making a joke!

-Perhaps, I don't have time to focus on romance anyways, I need to be stronger…

-Ridley right?

-Indeed Chizuru, that monster will come back one day, and when it does, I will deal with him once and for all

-Well, if you need help, you can rely on us! Right sis?

-Right

-Thanks you 2

Leona pulled my sleeve

-Hm?

-…Me too…

I smiled and caressed her head

-I know

"Leona"

"170 (+5)"

…

"…Master…"

[Please…don't say anything…]

I sighed inwardly

After the meal, we were taken to our rooms, I ended up sharing it with Leona since the Blood Riot is too concerning a possibility to leave alone so we slept there, I also made sure to call Rhoam and tell him that I would stay for a month in the Yata clan training my martial arts, he told me to train hard and call often since everyone there would miss me, I promised him and hung up

And thus, we stayed there for a month, training, eating, playing, and I took the chance to get closer to the Kagura sisters by expressing my interest for Motorcycles, something they latched onto and allowed me to befriend them properly really quick

As things were going so well, my stats increased

"Eric"

"Rank: D+"

"Age: 9"

"Strength: D+"

"Agility: D+"

"Magic: D-"

"Endurance: C"

"Charisma: B-"

"Luck: F-"

"Perception: B-"

Yes, things were going well, so of course, everything fell apart the day before the new seal was placed, I woke up in the middle of the night by a rumble

-?!

"Master! Goenitz is back!"

The absolute cunt!

Maki will die if I don't hurry!

I rushed towards the seal and I got there nearly instantly, there I saw Goenitz smirking, Maki with a bloodied arm, likely broken, and the seal cracked

-Stop resisting, it will only make your death more painful

-As long as I live…you won't destroy the seal…

-Then di-

I got in front of him, his expression twisted to one of fury before I yelled out

-FLARE!!!

The flames consumed him and sent him flying through the roof, breaking it and giving me the chance to run to Maki

-Maki!

-Eric?! What have you done?! Run! Get outta here!

-Not without you! Come on!

-I can't, I have to protect the seal…

-Then I stay too! Heal!

Her arm was restored and she got up, moved her arm from side to side before sighing

-Are you not leaving?

-Not without you, if you will defend this to the end-

Goenitz landed, looking furious

-Then all I gotta do is kick this guy's ass right?

-You have mocked me for the last time child! Prepare yourself!

Analysis!

"Goenitz"

"Rank: A+"

"Age: 34"

"Strength: A+"

"Agility: A+"

"Magic: A"

"Endurance: A"

"Charisma: B-"

"Luck: B-"

"Perception: A"

Fuck this guy is strong…

-Where are you looking boy?!

He raised his fingers, I kicked Maki aside as a tornado rampaged where we were, he smiled and rushed to the seal, I blasted him with a fireball mid air which again, only earned a scowl and him appearing before me

-Bad children need to be punished!

-SHIT!

He made the pose and I went cold

"WIND GOD'S BREATH!"

He really is fucking Ultiyng a kid huh?!

I casted Endure, a spell that last 5 seconds and allows me to survive a deadly hit, at the cost of all my mana though so…yeah, this is gonna suck

He grabbed me and began slashing me, his hands resembled knives with how efficiently my flesh was torn and cut, he had no pity, the pain was driving me insane, I should be dead due to the heavy bloodloss, he sliced me for 2 whole seconds, then he finished with a massive X cut that covered my entire torso before sending a tornado below me that impacted me like a sledgehammer up, and then another one down, I was left in a pool of my own blood

-ERIC!!!!

Maki freaked out as Goenitz laughed

-Serves you right boy! Don't cry too much, you will join him soon

-YOU BASTARD!!!

As Maki and Goenitz began fighting again, I forced myself up, like a zombie, I got up, my entire body was nothing more than exposed flesh, my skin was gone, but Endure kept me alive, barely, I pulled out the ocarina and began playing

The Song of Healing struck like thunder, Goenitz stopped attacking and began choking, he looked back in disbelief

-HOW ARE YOU STILL ALIVE?!

I didn't answer, I kept playing, he tried to raise a tornado but nothing came out

-HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?! WHAT IS THAT SONG?!

Maki didn't hesitate and began laying the beatdown on Goenitz, but while he lost access to his wind powers, he still had strength and agility way stronger than us, so he was able to keep up until at last Chizuru and some clan elders arrived, Goenitz knew he was done

-Tch…time to leave

-You are not going anywhere!

-Boy! You got me into this-

He suddenly appeared before me, I nearly screamed

-AND NOW YOU ARE GOING TO GET ME OUT!!

He grabbed my face stopping the song and tossed me at the seal, breaking a part of it off and knocking me out for good

…

When I woke up, I was once again in a sterile white room, this time, there were 3 people by my side, Leona, Maki and Chizuru

"Maki"

"160 (Her savior)"

"Chizuru"

"150 (Crazy hero)"

Heh, not bad

"Saving someone's life is as usual, a perfect way to become friends with them"

[Unbreakable bonds forged in the fires of war]

"More like while getting curb stomped"

[We are all alive aren't we?]

I looked properly, Leona was asleep on the left side of my bed while the Kagura twins were asleep on the right side, I looked at my phone, it was 21:40, the day after, seems like I was out for a bit…

"The seal was cracked but not completely broken, and thanks to your intervention, Orochi will need a long time before he can escape"

[Good! Fuck that guy anyways, am I considered a hero by her clan now?]

"More like a living miracle"

[It'll work]

I also noticed I had like 34 missed calls, 14 from Rhoam 20 from Samus…whoops…yeah I should call them, but only after I wake up my friends here

I shook Leona awake, once she saw me smiling at her, her pupils expanded and she hugged me very tightly, it actually hurt

-Sorry to worry you…

-…Idiot!…

Eh, my first time being called Idiot! Doesn't feel that bad…hopefully I didn't worry her too much…

"…She cried"

Fuck, god dammit all!

I hugged her back

-Sorry…I really didn't want to worry you…

-…Idiot…

Now I feel guilty! Dammit!

Ugh…well, I can't apologize for what I did, I saved Maki after all, the pain was worth it

Suddenly, I got hugged twice more, both sisters hugged me the moment they woke up, I was now suffocating

-Eric you fool! Are you ok?!

-How are you feeling?!

I couldn't really talk so after a bit they released me

-Ok…sorry about that, Maki, how you holding up?

-I wasn't the one who was skinned! I am fine!

-Cool, then all is ok, ah, right the seal, did it break?

-No, but it is heavily damaged, it will take a long time to repair it, and by then Orochi would have been able to escape…

-Goenitz?

-Escaped, but not without leaving something behind for what he did to you

-Eh?

-Sis cut off his arm after he tossed you

-Damn Maki! Awesome!

-You aren't scared?

-Why would I be? Screw Goenitz! He nearly had Leona kill her family and me and now he nearly killed you, my friend, and me! Screw that guy!

-…Hah…you are something else Eric…

-I aim to please!

-If you can joke around like that, you are fine

-Of course I am Chizuru! Goenitz can't kill me!

-YOU WERE IN A POOL OF YOUR OWN BLOOD!!!

Suddenly Leona exploded and hugged me again, terrified

"Leona"

"169 (-1)"

[Holy shit it can go down?!]

"It can, but only if you anger them a lot, I guess your lack of concern over your own life angered her greatly"

…*Sigh* ok, guess I gotta do something

-…Leona

-…

-Look at me

-…

She raised her head, tears trickling down, I gently wiped them with my thumb

-Goenitz is very strong, but we forced him back, if I hadn't interrupted, Maki might have died

-…

-I know you are worried about me, and I thank you, but I can't apologize for what I did, because I don't regret it

-…You could have died…

-But I didn't, let's celebrate the fact that we survived

-…And what about next time?

-I will be stronger

-But what if you are not?! What if it doesn't matter?!

-…It will matter

-You don't know that!

-Neither do you

-!

-Leona, believe it or not, I am not one who likes to get hurt, but if my friends are in danger, I will not hesitate to get involved, regardless of how hurt I get, I can't lose anyone else…not again…

-…

-So please, forgive me Leona, but I won't stop

-…

She hugged me again

"Leona"

"165 (-4)"

Yeah, I expected that much…

-Eric!

Maki spoke up

-Thank you for saving me…

She then bowed, Chizuru joined in saying

-Thank you for saving my sister

And then just like her sister she bowed, I sighed and said

-Raise your heads, it's weird to see you like that, I did what any friend would have done, nothing else

-You really are something else Eric…

-It doesn't feel like we are talking to a boy you know?

-Well excuse me for my ar-ti-cu-la-tion!

That made things a lot lighter, and we spent some more time just speaking about meaningless things, until at last I had to ask

-…Did anyone die?

-…Unfortunately a few guards were eliminated when they tried to stop Goenitz…

-…I see…

-It's not your fault Eric, Goenitz is to blame for everything

-…I hope you are right…

-You saved Maki and prevented the destruction of the seal! You are not at fault, end of story!

Chizuru was the one who got serious this time and all I could do was nod

-Good, come on, let's let him rest

The ladies left and I was left alone, I called Rhoam first and explained why I was unavailable

-So you got involved and nearly became human beef huh?

-I couldn't just do nothing, they needed help and I had to prevent that jackass from killing Maki

-Boy you are something else, few would so willingly get so hurt to protect others

-What would you call them?

-Fools

-Don't you have a nicer word?

-Yes, heroes

-That's better

-Who else do you know would do what you do?

-Link

-…Yes…that is possible

-I feel he is like me, neither of us care about the odds, if we can help, we won't hesitate even if we get hurt

-And what if you can't?

-We are not fools, I know Link isn't one, he would find a way, he would think and then save

-You have a high opinion of my boy

-Of your entire family uncle, Link is like my brother, I know him

-Hm, he will be happy to know you hold him in such high regards

-I am merely stating facts uncle

-Hm, all right, stay safe, please…I don't want to hear a stranger's voice telling me what happened to you, ok?

-Ok! See ya uncle!

-Good bye

Afterwards I called Samus, I was honest about what happened and as expected, she only said one thing

-You fool!

-Yeah I expected that

-What else?! Are you trying to die? Why go directly to fight?! Couldn't you have just played the song?!

-I had to save Maki

-You can't save anyone if you are dead! If not for Endure what would have happened?!

-…

-Ngh…I know why you did it Eric…but…the thought of you dying is…

-Sorry Samus

-…Idiot

I was somehow able to smooth the conversation after that and once I confirmed I was ok, we hung up, tired, I decided to sleep