Chapter 9: Dark Aether

Geist resides in everything. From inanimate objects to the smallest critters each one contained some essence of the [Weltgeist], but humans contain something unique.

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

By divine right humanity subdued nature. Our bodies held invisible organs from which we could channel geist to turn the normally vaporous energy into elements found in nature. There are six of these organs that occur naturally in the body, and they are referred to as [humor nodes].

Despite our body containing the nodes for each element it is exceedingly rare to find someone capable of mastering them all. For most, all of their nodes remained closed except for the one they have a natural affinity for. Garridan Wraith was no exception to this as his [dark aether] node was clearly his strongest.

The only problem with this is that I only know five techniques of this element. That being [Shadow Portal], [Necto], [Induresco], [Shadow Puppet], and [Single Target Illusion]. To put it bluntly, I know nothing about this element besides the basic utility abilities. I need more!

I rolled under a pink tendril of smoke as it flew over my head. Nozomi and Charlotte had already moved on with their respective part in our rescue operation with their part in the mission being to collect the heroines. Ibaraki-dōji and I would fight in single combat, and for the first time ever I fought alone.

Channeling geist through a [humor node] is how one generates elemental energy. With the [dark aether] node being located near the eyes to cast any technique I have to 'project' it out into the world. That should mean that if I can think of it, and it fits under the concept of darkness I can create nearly any technique.

"[Induresco]." For the first time I thought about what the technique even actually did. In my hand rested a throwing dagger, the material color was black but underneath the surface there was also highlights of dark purple. The thing weighed absolutely nothing in terms of weight and when I threw it the thing glided through the air with zero friction.

Ibaraki stepped out of the path of the blade and I wondered if [shadow puppet] could control hardened shadows created by [Induresco]. The answer was a resounding yes as the blade made a complete 180-degree turn and still maintained its momentum slamming into the stunned Oni. Instead of drawing blood, all I got was a smoke clone exploding in a burst of toxic fumes that I had to [shadow portal] away from.

"Ara, Ara I hope you didn't expect that I'd be that easy to kill, you'll hurt my feelings." The voice came from behind me as another clone tried to rush at me. My foot slammed into the ground as I projected a spike of darkness rising from underneath her. The trick worked like a charm as the clone popped before it could reach me.

Two whips of cherry blossom smoke snapped through the air towards me, the clones stood on opposite sides. With no time to sink into my shadow I decided to try another idea brewing in my mind. In my palms, I imagined a smaller version of the [shadow portal] appearing. My palms tingled at the icy feeling the swirling orbs of black-purple darkness gave off as heat drained into them. The whistling sound of wind being sucked into the void told me I had done it.

"[Black Buckler]." I felt giddy coming up with my own technique as the pink smoke of the whips dissipated on contact with the two mini portals. This didn't stop me from rushing one of the clones and testing whether or not a miniature black hole makes for a good pair of knuckle-dusters.

The clone threw a wild jab that unfortunately for it landed right in the middle of a [Black Buckler]. Once the clones hand fell inside it fell forward as the sucking force of the portal pulled them in. I could feel their hand inside and much like the original [shadow portal] technique I could choose a destination for it. I chose for it to emerge from the other portal I had conveniently placed next to the clone's head. Emerging from the portal at the same speed the punch entered the clone's own fist and crashed into the side of its skull causing it to pop.

Dissipating my shields I dodged the second clone's follow-up whip. A dagger flew from my fingertips like a speeding bullet before burying itself in the clone's chest. I could feel more clones surrounding me and yet a grin appeared on my face. I was happy.

***

(Shuten-dōji POV):

"Had enough?" Her words rang in my ears and had me biting my lip until I tasted blood. It wasn't like this bitch wasn't panting herself, her pale complexion even paler. Her hair looked like it had been through a typhoon and her silver eyes no longer held the amused gleam they once did.

"I ain't even warmed up yet." I lied as everything burned from either the strain of my muscles or the lightning this bitch hit me with. She didn't need to know that though.

"Look, let's stop this shit. Your darling little sister will get what she wants without us needing to fight." Her words were logical and normally I would agree but I have my own motives. Ever since that bastard used that illusion on me I've been horny. Masturbation makes it worse and even when I asked Ibaraki to punch me it didn't do shit for me. By provoking one of the most powerful exorcists in Japan I hoped that I'd feel that rush of pleasure he made me feel.

"Unfortunately for you this isn't for my little sister. I wanna fight you!" The giddiness in me grew as she sighed before taking up a fighter's stance, a serious look glinting in her silver eyes. She's going to hurt me!

"Haaaaaah... very well, just know I won't hold back." Her words came from right behind me as her body crackled with arcs of silver-blue electricity. The woman circulated fire and air elemental energy before releasing it as lightning, her crackling fist drove into my back sending scalding pain roiling through my body.

Not to be outdone I used my own elemental combination of water and air, the gourd at my hip rattling as if it came to life. Deep red mist poured from the top like steam from a teapot, the air became dense with the cloying taste of booze. The sky above the school was bathed in crimson mist, and a moan left my lips at the feeling of power filling me.

"I call it [Drunken Mist], do you like it? You're probably feeling the effects right now, aren't you? Phantoms need a bit more kick to get drunk after all, our regeneration can be a bitch sometimes like that." I wasn't kidding when I talked about our regeneration. You could break our hymen and unless you kept constantly thrusting in five minutes we'll be 'virgin' again.

Thiiiiiish is nothing!" Her slurred words didn't stop the fact that she was a deadly combatant as a blade made of crackling lightning met my club and cut through it like a hot knife through butter. Bending backward the blade just barely sailed over the top of my tits, the chirping sound of lightning filling my ear.

Her body was overextended from the slash and my foot dug into her stomach kicking her up into the air. Jumping up from my bent position I delivered a series of jabs and strikes into her gut. Normally this bitch would just dodge all of this before kicking the shit out of me with her speed, but being drunk makes things different. Her reactions were delayed, and her strikes no longer contained the crisp precision they once did. This bad gone from a one-sided beatdown into a drunken brawl, both fighters dishing out pain in equal measure.

I loved it!

***

(Katō Nozomi POV):

I noticed something was wrong when we saw my daughter, in fact, we saw everyone Garridan told us to rescue laying next to one another. The second thing that was wrong was the little girl standing in front of us. Her eyes seemed dull and lifeless until they saw us, until they saw Charlotte.

"Darling..." She frowned as she looked at me, her eyes losing that spark of happiness she had at seeing Charlotte. "I'm taking you home." Her stern tone sounded like a father scolding his daughter who stayed out too late.

"Who are you and why are you calling me darling?" Charlotte's blunt question seemed to break the girls heart as the little bit of light in her eyes left. The air began humming with malice, before she opened her kimono. Underneath was a naked body covered in knives, they hummed to life before floating into the air.

"Darling I don't know what that bastard did to you but just know I love you! I won't let these pests get in the way of that!" I could only widen my eyes in horror as dozens of knives tore through the air right at me.

I channeled geist into my body imagining it turning hard as stone, it had been several years since I used my earth node. Instead of succeeding I watched in horror as the metal blades cut through my body like a hot knife through butter. Searing pain wracked my body as my vision swam, Charlotte was yelling something but my mind couldn't focus. I felt cold, so cold.

"...I'm dead aren't I?" I whispered to no one in particular as my world faded to black.