( Yuuki's POV )
With a creature of this size, I was considering sending Marica and the other girls back to the castle, I couldn't open portals to another world, but I could open portals to other places I had visited in this world.
???: umm? ...Onii-chan.
Yuuki: Hey, are you okay?
One of the unconscious girls, with red hair, got up in a daze; she staggered a little as if she had woken up from an eternal sleep, I approached to check out the girl, but when she caught my eyes, for some reason she decided to steal a kiss.
I didn't feel any danger so I didn't react, but the moment our lips touched there was a strange exchange of energy between us, I could pass on some of my powers to someone through a kiss, but this was something different.
I involuntarily entered my sage mode and the girl who kissed me was covered by a layer of energy, a power similar to Touki but this layer of energy was black and almost looked like ink.
In addition to becoming filled with power, the girl's eyes turned yellow and two katanas appeared in her hands, her gaze now completely focused and she approached the edge of the mountain ready to face the colossal enemy without a doubt in her mind like a seasoned warrior.
???: Stay back, master, I'll take care of this.
The girl jumped off the mountain and began swinging her katanas in the air; with each swing, huge black slashes were created that damaged the BETA worm, although that only left superficial wounds and the creature lost none of its combat ability, the creature let out a monstrous screech and crystal constructions began to emerge from the ground.
He was creating a battlefield favorable to him, but I wasn't going to allow that. I activated my IS and used a disruptive energy pulse that stopped the formation of crystals around the area, When the BETA's plan was blocked, the creature switched to a breath attack. Upon opening its mouth, the creature breathed a burst of crystals that, due to its enormous size, it was capable of targeting us all at the same time, I created a barrier to protect us, the redhead girl was out of my reach, but she was able to move her body with great flexibility to dodge the crystals and at the same time use them as platforms to get closer to the BETA, she swung her katanas at close range, but the creature had hardened his armor and the girl's attacks were ineffective.
Tentacles emerged from between the worm's defensive plates; the girl was about to be caught, so I flew towards her, cutting through all those tentacles with energy bullets, I created some stone stakes and that worked as shackles for the BETA, but that wasn't going to be containment for long.
???: I'm sorry, master. If I had more power, I could cut this monster down.
Yuuki: Hey, what's your name?
???: ...Excuse me, master, but I don't think that's the most important thing right now.
Yuuki: Confidence is important for better performance on the battlefield.
???: ...My name is Jubei.
Yuuki: Well, my name is Yuuki. Regarding having more power, there might be a new power hidden within you; try to dig deep.
After telling Jubei that she had more power within her, I flew around the BETA to get his attention, Jubei seemed somewhat hesitant, but she closed her eyes and tried to find the power I was talking about.
She remained still, floating in the air, but I could feel her power rising; the aura around her ignited violently, forming black wings of energy on her back, kinda like a Sekirei, Jubei swung hwr katana again and now a continuous wave of black energy completely covered the BETA and its armor slowly dissolved.
I flew high in the sky and charged two powerful Azure comets; when the creature's defense was destroyed, I fired my attack and two giant beams of energy pierced the enemy and the terrain, this place has been permanently marked by our battle.
Jubei's power dissipated and she lost consciousness again, I flew under Jubei and she fell softly into my arms.
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After our fight we had a lot to talk about, so instead of returning to Alba Castle we stayed at an inn in a small village at the foot of a snowy mountain, I told Marica that I could open a portal so she could return to the castle, but she insisted on staying.
The tall girl with silver hair was named Gouto Matabei and since she was the only one conscious at the time, I started the interrogation with her.
Yuuki: Tell me, Matabei, what is your relationship with the Crimson Crows (CR)? You were being pursued by creatures under their control, and you even knew me by name?
Marica: Who are the CC? Are they one of those groups similar to the Order?
Yuuki: Yes, their top priority is increasing their army of dangerous beasts; they're a bunch of backstabbing bastards, but there are some genuinely dangerous individuals in their ranks, they almost got me once when they attacked me by surprise after an intense battle.
I lowered my shirt a little to show my scar on my chest and the two girls were surprised, but Matabei recovered quickly and she told her story.
Matabei: We are not related to the CCs, not directly at least; we were forcibly pulled from our world to be subjects of experiments, The one in charge of those experiments is the one who has a relationship with the CC, but Fumina is the one who can tell you more, we escaped thanks to her, and it was her idea that we should look for you for help.
Yuuki: So she's the world traveler.
Marica: What are world travelers?
Yuuki: They're people who gain power the more worlds they travel to, I am one too.
Matabei: Yes, she thought about coming to you for protection, but I have another request to make.
Yuuki: Um, and what is that?
Matabei: There are others who couldn't escape like us, and among them is someone very, very important to me, and I want to ask for your help to rescue her, I know that's a lot to ask, but I'm prepared to give you anything in return... Even my life and my body.
Upon making that serious declaration, Matabei blushed and began to remove her shirt; the clothes she was wearing did not cover much of her body, so she could end up naked in seconds.