Bursting free from the surface of the chilly water of the Boundary Sagami bay, I held my prize in my hand, the shining greeherite. All arouhe water was turning red from the bodies of the sea creatures that had attacked me, and gathering the scattered ether, I couldn’t help but grin, having seen amber letters fre ay vision, notifying me I had reached level one hundred and five. Sure, individually the monsters here vary from about as strong as one of Kondou Kazuo’s degraded orcs, all the to about as strong as a Silent Hound or simir threat, but the weight of numbers makes them good experieill. Though, out in the deeper waters…

  My Eye glittered, and I could see shapes far out in the depths, vast shadows, that perhaps might have been whales iant squid ierial, but here, were no doubt very dangerous foes. When I had first noticed the glimmer of Etherites ier, while I was training the girls, I had beeed, especially as I was in desperate need of them, and I had swum out too far, only to be attacked by a shoal of vicious shark-like fish. I had triumphed, beating them back, using my water element to turn the sea into a series of cutting bdes, but even so, my body was hampered by the water, more sluggish than on nd, so after that I stuck to the shallows. Besides, if I swim out too far, I ’t keep any eye on them…

  The girls were practising still on the distant shore, though Eri and Shiro were rapidly reag the end of their strength and stamina. No, they had gone beyond their limits, pushing themselves truly hard to try and master new skills. It made me both proud and worried, as they were both in poor dition. I ’t fet to praise Shaeu and Hyath too. Swimming back, I elled a little more water element to send razor-sharp currents swirling arouhe maelstrom slig up ining predators. Earth is what, seventy pert os? There’s no way we leave those resources or assets alone.

  As I closed in on the shore, Shaeu waved at me, weling me back.

  “Well, did-did you profit?” she asked, and I showed off my haul, a glittering three dozeherites, including a pair of green ones.

  “Yes, the o is a treasure trove, even if the danger is great. I levelled up as well.”

  “That’s lucky.” Shiro sighed, also ing over, followed by Eri and Hyath. “I’m supposed to be a didate, as you call them, yet I’m the only one who has a damn level cap. Aki, that’s just not fair.” She puffed out her cheeks adorably, pouting, and I had the brief, amused thought that if the gang could see the cold, aloof Shiro ag so… well, so cute, they’d likely be shocked.

  “Well, any time you want to raise your cap, we .” I suggested, only for Eri to turn to Shiro, a sympathetic look in her eyes.

  “You see? Akio just wants to sleep with you. He’s phrasing it like he’s doing you a favour, but secretly he wants to indulge, I know it.”

  Before I or Shiro could answer, Shaeu burst out ughing. “Really, Eri? You who-who seduced Akio first and always craves physical intimacy would say such? Your words, they do not-not have much persuasiveness.”

  Eri flushed. “Well, that’s because Akio was too shy alemanly then! He didn’t really see me as a woman, just a little sister to protect! I had to be bold to shatter that image. That was then, this is now!” she paused, taking a breath to steady herself. “Well, I get it. I do. You want to have your first time when you feel a hundred pert, when you are as beautiful as you want to be. I still remember that nice penthouse suite in Las Vegas, the night so beautiful. I k was time. But… how about the way the Fae do it? That usually gets a Rank in Lovers’ Link, right? It did for all of us.”

  Hyath nodded, but Shaeu dashed her hopes. “I do not-not think that is possible.” Her eyes shone a brilliant amber. “Shiro, your chakra work is rather-rather distinct. It has many strange features, but it cks a lunar chakra. Without that, I do not-not see how the sharing may be done.”

  “Ugh, way to make me feel inferior.” Shiro tio pout.

  “I don’t think your work is in any way inferior, just different.” I soled her. “Anyway, it’s getting te and you are all tired. We might as well think about finishing up.” I looked at Shiro, nodding approvingly. “Your Silver Cord has thied noticeably, and you’ve Ra up to 2. Good job!”

  “What about me?” Eri asked, and I iigated her as well.

  “No breakthroughs yet, but I think you are close.” I could observe her work and cord iail, and they were definitely pushing noticeably more aether through her body, though I could see from the numbers she hadn’t mao Rank up. “A day or two more of hard training and I think you’ll breakthrough. I’m hoping it being higher Rank might stabilise the chaos that your work is now.” I paused, a little guiltily. “But we o do another round of Ether Healing training first.”

  Eri shuddered at that, but her face was resolute. “I hate that. But I want to get better, and I know it’ll help. I suppose it’s too much to ask the twins for help with that.” She sighed. “I’m a bad girl for even thinking I wao share this pain, especially after what they’ve been through.”

  “I don’t know. Ren-san was tougher than we gave him credit for, and his sisters seem like brave little fighters. They might be back soohahink. But if they do genuinely want to quit, of course I’ll honour that. Anyway…” Shaeu and Hyath were , aher had Ranked up, though that was to be expected, as they were w towards higher Ranks. Besides, sidering how long it took me to Rank up some of these skills, seeing them do it so quickly does sting a little…

  “It’s damn invehat we don’t have any way to check our skills.” Shiro sighed, sitting down, exhausted. “’t you focus on teag us those, Aki? Well, it’s not terrible having you oversee our progress, but…”

  “Sorry.” I apologised, holding in a smile at her hints of tsundere. Despite her protests, there’s definitely a touch of it in her personality. “I got Examination skills to start with, but I don’t know how I’d teayone else them. Tan, surely the pantheons had simir methods of determination?”

  Shiro’s eye fshed ruby as Tan took over. “We do indeed. I myself roughly gauge a person’s strength and skills through their ether.” She licked her lips, well, Shiro’s, and tinued, “I also smell and even taste the calibre of a skill. It is how I know you would be such a divine way to quench my thirst.” The hungry look she was giving me was discerting. She then ughed bitterly. “Have no fear. I ot eat you now, much as I would wish to drink in your essence. As to these exaumbers, these… game-like measures…” she shook her head in denial. “World Tree is fasated by knowledge, they likely have a way. Some of the other pantheons too. We merely use colours to mark Rank. It works adequately. Most wish their exact strengths cealed anyway.”

  I agreed with that. Shaeu then spoke up, as Hyath, exhausted through she was, was busily preparing drinks and snacks for us. I o remember to show her some affe ter.

  “You know games?” Shaeu smiled. “Fasating. I did not-not uand these things until I veo the mortal world. Though now I would not-not be without them, as they are rather eaining.”

  “Well, I have been with the princess for many months.” Tan crified. “I would be a fool not to have learned from watg and listening. I could not hope to rule a world I did not uand. Besides, there are worlds with teology greater than yours within the pantheons, I said so mere ho, remember?” she said, a touch huffily. “Though most teological worlds do not eo reach the higher Astral, I admit. Too hidebound and stubborn, and Material ws yield to Astral. While teology and culture spreads between worlds of a pantheon, many distrust such Material ways. Therefore I had heard of such things, but until now had little detailed knowledge of them.”

  “Really? Well, I suppose in a way that makes sense. I get a bit unfortable when my abilities seem to break immutable ws like servation of energy, so maybe some stific civilisations would ht reject such abilities. I’d think more would study them though…” I’m also irely vihat the Material ws don’t apply. I’m no stist, but I’ve heard of things like zero-point energy, parallel universes and more. The energy could be ing from somewhere, like the Astral itself… also… I had thought on this. Ixitt was bining the two, and Shaeu and I had beed from modern stifiowledge in breaking through with our elements, though that was obviously only a portion of the whole picture, else we would have been much higher Ranked now, most likely.

  Shaeu seemed to think so too, as she looked troubled. Even so, she kept her silence, and after some refreshments and banter on more recreational topics, we left the coast behind auro the heart of my Territory. There I had a meeting with those of my advisors that were present, hammering out our expansion and defens. Moira, looking as stone-faced and austere as ever, was delivering a report, when Shaeraggo returned.

  “… so, where we have reached the furthest extent we cim, we have begun to draft kobold and dwarf architects and artisans to fortify the area. We hope to install Fae Stones and Warning Bells as soon as we have succeeded in quering the entire radius, and…” Moira paused as Shaeraggo swaggered in, a smile on his face. For a moment she looked very irritated, before professionally standing aside.

  “Brother, did you not-not learn how to knock?” Shaeu objected sourly, but her criticism did little than momentarily dampen his enthusiasm.

  “Pay it no mind, little sister.” He said cheerfully, nodding an apology to the annoyed Moira, ted it with a dignified ination of her own head, her bck hair, ly held in pce by hairpins as always, glittering in the light of the mps around us. “I have met with Primal Forest, and when I did-did tell him he would be meeting your… husband… my sister…” He stumbled over the word a little, but at least he had ceased scowling, like he was eating rotten food, when saying it. “… he was most ied, and agreed to a trade, though I could not-not get him to give me a hint as to the price.” He sighed, no doubt remembering how his own finances were gouged at the purchase of not one, but two pairs Gates.”

  “Great.” I agreed. “You’ve done good work, brother-in-w.”

  “Yes, I am quite-quite impressed. Perhaps yrowing up, brother.” Shaeu also approved.

  With a plicated expression on his face, half happiness, and half chagrin, we hashed out the details, and agreed I would meet Primal Forest when I dived into the Boundary, at the Spring of Clear Refles. Apparently Shaeraggo had kept this a secret from everyone, as he didn’t want his father, Prince Shaetanao, te i, our first meeting having to be in a rather more… private… setting. Which I totally uand. Meeting Shaeraggo and Shaeranna was trial enough…

  “That should not be an issue.” Shaeraggo expined. “Primal Forest, like most-most Fae, has a loose sense of time. Waiting a little while will not phase the old tree.”

  “Right. I’ve too much to do iermath of the mess in Kyoto to spend the day here as well.” Keeping track of time was somewhat easier during the slowing, as it was ing close to a oo one corretion, and even the lower Astral was slowing, though not as much. That reminds me… perhaps ime we should train at the rebuilt mansion. The higher ether density and greater time dition might make for a better training enviro. I think they’ll be able to take the higher ether pressure…

  ********

  Leaving Eri and Shiro to get some actual sleep, not wanting to push their broken bodies too far, Shaeu, Hyath and I got dressed and headed out into the m sun. Greetihere with a yawn was Trey, who was standing guard along with Lieutenant Nakano, the two of them seemingly having arrived from Kyoto ht.

  “Rough night?” I asked sympathetically, and Trey shrugged.

  “All part of the job, man. Besides, I had to be here now, since Lua is bringing the remainder of the Bck Wolf in today. I got word they have just arrived in Japan, where the military met them. I let Aliyah grab some sleep, my sister be a bitch wheired, and we don’t he hassle today.”

  “No kidding.” The Lieutenant ughed. “Anyway, you have a lot on your schedule. But just so you don’t worry, we have soldiers in Nishimorioka keeping an eye on your family, along with those noble security goons. Around all the shrines where there were casualties too. We ’t stop all the leaks, but we at least stop shit spreading.”

  “Thanks, I appreciate it.” I said, and his smile was mog.

  “I bet you do. Just like we’ll appreciate your batch of Special Forces you do Chirurgery on. They’ve been drawing lots on the order, sounds like they are all pretty hyped after seeing their rades outperform them is. And that’s not all…” he grinned, but wouldn’t be drawn into saying more. “I’ll let your secretaries fill you in.” he cmmed up, clearly amused at something.

  I wonder what he means. With that, I ehe office, to see Karen-, the guys, and also Haru-san, all looking flustered.

  “Hey Haru-san, you got back all right?” I asked, and on hearing my voice, everyone was looking at me hungrily, like I was some sort of fresh meat. I then realised there was someone else in the room, my ese tutor, the fussy-looking entleman.

  As Tanaka-san hurried to put on some tea, helped by Hyath, Karen- spoke first. “Akio-kun, I know I should be getting used to these important people who keep calling, but it’s hard, you know!” she pined. “I’m just a personal assistant, a secretary! I’m not cut out for this.” She let out a long sigh as Haru-san silently patted her on the bafly, her expression sympathetic.

  You know, as horrible as Kyoto was, at least some good has e from it. Haru-san seems a little brighter, a touch more fident, maybe? Perhaps the thought of finally having a Territory, being a genuine didate in her ht, has helped focus her mind?

  “So, I surmise something has occurred, yes-yes?” Shaeu asked, curious, and Karen- nodded.

  “Well, I had a call from Tsumura-sama…” she paused. “Not your pretty fianumber one million, or whatever number you’re at now.” She sassed me, feeling both fortable enough with me as her boss, and also stressed enough, to do so. “No, her grandfather. With the schedule for meeting the newers from abroad, those meraries.”

  “Yes, Treyvon said that was today.” I agreed. The training school also starts up again this evening after school finishes. Hinata said she had some rich fners who her Healing too. Damn, I am going to be very busy. I wonder how many will attend tonight, after… after the deaths.

  “That’s far from all.” She said. “I also had a te-night call from the secretary to the Prime Minister, since he couldn’t get hold of you, since you were over in that other world, the Boundary.” She tinued. “The Prime Minister wants you to call him as soon as you . Like, right now!”

  “The Prime Minster? Call him directly, not his secretary?” I queried.

  “Yes, that’s what I said! This is bad for my nerves. If I make a mistake on the job, I’m going to upset plenty of important people…”

  “You’re doing just fine.” Haru-san soothed. “Our master owes us a reward. I may be dead, but I still deserve pensation. You too. Why don’t we go drinking ter, just the two of us? On Akio-kun, of course.” She grinned.

  “Master?” Karen- spluttered. “ht. Yes, I guess to you he is…”

  I half-listeo their banter, pleased to hear more liveliness in Haru-san’s tone, a little surprised she’d voluo go out with just the two of them. I’ll definitely pay for their night, no question. Soon my phone was answered, and I was greeted by the Prime Minister, Abe-san.

  “About time you called, Oshiro-san.” He said with no preamble. “We have a situation. Another one.” He pined. “You see your ese teacher there? Yed you were able to learn fast, right? Well, prove yourself. Every sed you aren’t spending with work today, learn.”

  “Why the rush?” I asked, and he snorted bitterly.

  “Two matters. Only one of which I dare speak of over the phone. You never know who might be listening. Damn Ameris.” He pined. “Let’s just say I need you to pay particur attention to any ese that might be helpful to talk… Cultivation.”

  Cultivation? The term surprised me. “You know about that sort of thing?” I said, curious.

  “Not until now.” He said, sounding like he had a terrible headache. “I’ve been using seargines frantically, cheg Wikipedia, more… oddly enough my daughter had heard the term, even if she didn’t know much about it, and it turns out one of the undersecretaries read some literature on the side… no, there’s no time for this. Get the Chirurgery on our Special Forces done as quickly as you , then deal with these meraries, get them settled. Then e to…” he rattled off an address, and it turned out to be a secure military facility oskirts of Tokyo.

  “All right, I’ll be there.” I promised, taking a deep breath. Yeah, this is going to be a busy day. for the wicked, as my mom would say, it seems…

  ********

  “… so, if anything feels out of the ordinary, or the pain bees unbearable, do alert someone. Just because the Chirurgery has always been safe before, that doesn’t mean somebody won’t have side-effects.” I warhe man before me, who was merely wearing his underwear, which wasn’t strictly necessary now my Eye had improved, but the Special Forces didn’t seem to mind, not even the few women who were being atteo by Shaeu, who only wore sports bras and fortable, extremely unsexy panties.

  “Yes sir, I uand!” the soldier said, saluting me, sweat dripping from his body, the faint tremors of the pain he had endured remaining. As he left and the soldier took his position in front of me, my ese teacher was stantly saying new phrases, which I would memorise a back, occasionally being asked a previous phrase or bination of several, which I answered fwlessly, the teacher tinuing to be shocked. Though what was more shog is that as I learn ese, Shaeu seems to uand it as well. It’s extremely strange.

  I began my work on the soldier, ign his groans of pain, stantly parroting what the teacher was telling me, itting it to memory. A lot of the terms were ones I had only heard Japaranstions for, things like Dao, Realms, Dantians and other strange, yet slightly familiar terminology. The teacher couldn’t hide his puzzlement at the request, and I was a bit fused myself. I o learn ese quickly, especially around Cultivation? Does that mean… are Cultivators real? Or are some Divine Favours Cultivatioed? Or… yes, it’s probably that.

  The only reason I could think of was that there was a ese didate we had somehotured. The location I was asked to go to was suspect, and this sudden rush… It seems a risky move though, especially after what the Ameris tried… well, I’ll soon see.

  The m passed like a blur, and there was a flurry of extra lots drawn, as with Shaeu’s help and my noticeably strengthened aether reserves, we were able to do signifitly more Chirurgery than pnned. One more day should see Special Forces pleted, though I guess they’ll try and persuade me to expand my work to military personnel where reflexes and stamina is vital, such as fighter pilots. I certainly , but… well, I’ll need some cessions.

  Once we had quickly washed ourselves off, the extreme mental trati, we were in a transport vehicle heading towards Tsumura-san’s base, Aliyah, Trey, Manx and Travis apanying Shaeu and me, along with the Lieutenant, and the now somewhat-afraid ese tutor, who I was starting to feel a great deal of sympathy for, as he tio drill new words, phrases and nguage rules into me. The poor man. He even had to tinue shouting through to me while I was sh…

  “Fuck, it’s creepy how quickly you learn.” Aliyah cursed, the few hours of sleep she had snatched obviously not helpiemper. Though, I still remember she was useful when the disaster in Kyoto happened. I guess when she o she turn it on. As expected from a top merary, I suppose.

  “It’s purely a matter of numbers.” I shrugged, before itting the set of phrases to memory. “My processing power and memory are insane. Of course, it doesn’t help so much with abstract thinking, like retionships, but if it needs calcutive abilities, I’m fine.”

  “The whole world’s going mad. If we ’t pete with people like you, then there’s no point to us anymore.” She sighed, hair beads jingling as she shook her head bitterly. “And shut up Trey, I get it, I do! I’m just venting. I know that’s why we had that painful treatment shit they do. I already feel faster, smarter and strohough it’s nothing pared to these monsters.” She said, her tone grim.

  “For now.” Shaeu answered, amused by her irritation. “Aliyah, you would do well not-not to think so small. Otherwise, what use do you have to us? We are shouldering your lives, and the lives of your rades, and paying them quite-quite well, are we not-not?” her gaze was fierce. “If you are of no use, then we should…”

  “Yeah, I know.” She interrupted, frustrated. “When it’s time for shit to go down, I’m your woman. Fuck, I’m even a little grateful, much as it tears me up inside. But we are meraries, not good little soldier boys like him over there.” She Lieutenant Nakano. “If you olite words and ‘sir, yes sir’ then you’re damn well out of luck!”

  “As it happens, I’m not the most respectful of soldiers.” The Lieutenant grinned. “If it wasn’t for all this, my career path would have stagnated.”

  The talk tinued along those lines, until we reached the pound. We were waved through by numerous armed soldiers, the pce having a heavier guard than ever before. Soon, we were seated in a rge gymnasium, nearly a hundred people lined up, their ethnicities and skin tones varied, yet all looked fic. At the front was someone I reised, havi her in Las Vegas briefly. On seeing Aliyah and Treyvoense expression loosened.

  Beside us sat Tsumura-san, Motoko’s grandfather, as well as several ranking military officials. “So, these are the Bck Wolf pany members who remained after accepting your offer.” He said. “They have all passed the background checks. We have had to be noticeably more careful than usual, due to the current circumstances. Besides…” he looked at me, his gaze fierce. “As a grandfather, I ot help but worry.”

  “I get it. Motoko will be safe with me, I promise.” I reassured him. “Now then…” I turned back to Lua, who was leading the group. “Lua, it’s been a while.”

  Her gaze strayed to Treyvon, who o her. Taking a deep breath, she replied, smiling as best she could, despite her nerves. “Ciertame has been. I… hope there are no hard feelings?”

  “Hard feelings? Well, I have my pints, but… it’s all water uhe bridge, right?” I turo Trey and Aliyah. “Well, why don’t you two start things off?”

  ShipTeaser