Chapter 9: Determination

"Listen well." Iori began to pace in the small courtyard, white robes and long inky black hair billowing out in the breeze. "Deciding which of the Divine Organs to unblock first will significantly affect your path forward. Each provide a different benefit but the one you do first will have an even greater effect."

"The Heart, the central point for Ki running through your body. Unblocking this organ first is a must for those that follow the De path. It provides faster Ki circulation, simple I know but in combat even the smallest millisecond will determine victory from defeat."

"Next the Lungs, the primary way for Ki to enter into the body. Those following the Soto will unblock this first as it provides a larger area of influence when taking in ambient energy."

"Following that, the Stomach which is the secondary method to taking in ambient Ki. While not providing the increased area of influence, it allows for the consumption of Ki through food or concoctions."

"Next the Liver, acts like a filter for the body. It increases the innate physical defense against foreign Ki by taking the energy and refining repeatedly. This is not an absolute thing, those with more control can and will easily find a way around it."

"And finally, the Brain. The hub for all things and interactions throughout your body. This organ is the most dangerous and important to unblock. Not only does it speed up activity in general but also significantly increases your mental defenses. Meaning mind control and other bewitching techniques will have a much harder time sticking. Like before, do not solely rely on this organ alone to defend you against such attacks."

"I want each of you to sit there and think of which of these options sound most beneficial for you. While individually they don't sound too impressive, they're still act as cornerstones for your future development. Spend however long you need."

With that, Iori folded in on himself and sat facing them, his eyes fluttering shut. Honestly, with how still he was, it wouldn't be out of the norm to consider him dead. Especially not with his rather worrying lack of breathing or moving in general.

The 3 sat in silence, passing glances at one another but daring to speak and break this rather serene environment.

The Oni, Daidachi, sat with his tetsubo laying peaceful across his lap. Thoughts came whirling into the lad's mind. While he wasn't nearly as talented as either the princess of Kyoto nor Riko in terms of Senjutsu, his robust body provided a lot of benefits that only soared further with the usage of Touki. He grew faster, stronger and more durable while spilling Ki out like a faucet.

He was a simple man, and tended to enjoy the more mundane things of life. Fighting, drinking, eat and having sex. But if he was being honest with himself, the sex part was more of a fantasy than anything else. Eating and drinking was more his thing. Being aware of remnant Ki in the food he ate was one thing, but actually getting a permanent benefit from it was another. Just the image of him, being 12 feet tall of course, lounging before a grand throne with women on one side dancing and a stack of giant drumsticks on the other filled him a sense of longing.

The Nekomata, Riko, fell deeper into her own racing thoughts. This day had been VERY eventful and there was much for her to tell her elders. An entire methodology of Ki usage was just lost to history and no one ever knew. She could already see the world shaking possibilities this master just spouted out without care. It was as though such knowledge was so beneath him that he saw no need to hide or hoard it. The thought of one of her branch clans being slaughtered by those Devils came to mind, making her clench her teeth in seething anger. It was said that nekomata, had gone insane from the usage of Senjutsu. And after she killed her master becoming a Stray, the family in question then thought it was prudent to then massacre every nekomata in their territory in retaliation. There hadn't been any news since.

'House Nebiros…'

If she could ever get her claws on anyone from that house….

More Ki. That's what she needs. Enough energy to absolutely demolish anyone who would dare to challenge her family again. She would show the world that there would be consequences for such a tragedy.

Kunou loved her mother. Loved her people, and generally wanted to the best for them as a whole. While she was looking forward to take over after her mother retired, it didn't mean she was too thrilled with how much trouble they would face. The young kitsune was there when the Devils press-ganged her mother into giving up territory all over Japan. When that Stray Devil had slaughtered all those Yokai and also when it was finally put down how the Devil family responsible then strong-armed them into giving up ruminations for killing a 'talent'. Every time, she looked on as her mother gave up pieces of themselves with a small smile on her face. She wouldn't be fooled by such a smile, having saw it all her life only know when this Yamato Iori popped up out of nowhere did that smile turn genuine.

Sure she knew Yasaka loved her more than the world itself, and also how hard she worked so that her daughter would have an easier future. And Kunou appreciated it, she HATED those greedy enough to continue taking from them. The Devils, The Fallen Angels and the Church. They just stepped all over them without ever expecting any push back in the slightest. And it's not like the Yokai's could depend on their wayward allies like Sun Wukong in the slightest. He was probably busy chasing panty shots or something.

So what did the Princess of Kyoto want? Power. Not just in the way her mother had. As it didn't matter what any of the other factions did, as long as they could escape there would be no recourse. She wanted the power to chase them to their homes, their territory. She wanted them to feel the booted heel of someone so much above them and make them grin and bare with it. Just like her mother has done for oh so long. And if it meant following this man and his unorthodox ways, then she would cling to his path no matter how difficult or strange it might be. Her heart would need to be strong for the bloodshed ahead.