3rd Pov:
Xicor's words echoed across the cave as his shadow expanded in front of him, a large sleek and muscular tiger standing on two legs with fur that absorbs light, while faint crimson lines traced across it as ritual markings emerged from the shadow as it let an ear piercing roar as it attempted to crush Xicor with both of its hands.
Xicor immediately leapt back as a beam of water hit the towering tiger away and into the side of a large boulder.
'Now I see where Agito got its size from' Xicor thought before landing on a nearby ledge and crossing his arms over his chest, 'now it's time to see what tiger funeral is like'
Tiger Funeral burst from the smoke cloud in a blur as it struck its fist into the clones, who shot it with water, sending him away. It attempted to follow but it was punched in the face, making it recoil back slightly.
In front of it stood another clone but this clone didn't continue their attack but instead, they quickly raised their arms up as Tiger Funeral charged at him before it froze in place as a pair of large eyes appeared behind the tiger, staring it down.
There was no follow-up; Xicor blinked a few times before looking to the right, down below him to find the clone he gave the Jinichi Zenin template to standing with his arms crossed and back turned to the fight.
"Oh for Jesus Christ" Xicor shook his head before he yelled down at the clone, "Stop fucking aura farming and get in there!!"
"Oh yeah", the clone blinked back into reality and leapt up in the air before launching 7 cursed fists down.
Tiger funeral managed to break free as it slashed at the clone in front of it, pushing him away as the barrage of fists rained down.
The clone that was slashed away staggered up before almost falling. Tiger Funeral relies on its animalistic nature, as well as cursed energy, to fight and learn from the attacks.
The clone took a deep breath and stood fully up but there was resistance in his movement. Tiger Funeral shot forward thrusting its fist in the clone, launching him away before the tiger swung behind it as it destroyed a cursed fist.
It didn't have time to follow up with another attack as the water clone launched large balls of water into Tiger Funeral, smashing into the walls.
The clone then launched different balls of water, this time in the air. The balls of water began to fire beams of water into Tiger Funeral's position.
'Come on show me a hint of that ability in action' Xicor thought with annoyance.
He shook his head, 'Who am I kidding, I'll just use it for Agito anyway so I may as well end it so I can move on with other things'
Xicor stood up and called out to the clones, "hold it down!"
The clones immediately nodded and moved, one of the clones raised their hands to freeze the Shikigami as the other two moved to restrain it even further.
Xicor's hands began to create lava as it dripped from his hands, "This is no divine flame but it'll do for the job"
Xicor clasped his hands together before pulling them away and began to mould an arrow with lava. The rock around Xicor began to melt as the arrow was fully formed.
"Volcanic Arrow" he whispered through the wind as he let go of the arrow and fired it down on the shikigami as it roared at the incoming arrow.
The arrow struck its target as the arrow transformed into a ball surrounding the target within it, practically cooking the victim before the ball expanded into a pillar and shooting small balls of lava in every direction.
The air was thick with ash and smoke as Xicor waved his hand over his face to push the smoke away before it dissipated revealing nothing in the impact zone.
No body.
No roar.
No fighting in the distance.
Nothing.
Even more to confirm he did it, the clone's techniques have returned to Xicor as well as the summoning of Tiger Funeral.
Xicor lets a smirk cross his features, "Next step, is the divine general himself, but that's for another time"
With the current abilities Xicor has, he doubts he can defeat Mahoraga before it can adapt so for now, he will wait until he can for sure kill it.
But for now, his next plan for his progress involves going to the human world and collecting a few things.
Xicor walks to the entrance of the training ground with Shikoku waiting there, sitting down on a chair she brought while reading through a book.
She looked up from her book before closing it as her ever-going smile crept onto her lips, "You done with your pet taming?" She asked.
"Yeah, and I have a favour to ask" Xicor said as Shikoku raised a brow.
"Alright, let's see what you have in mind" she replied, putting the book aside and giving him her full attention.
"Tell me, do you have a way back into the human world?" He asked.
Shikoku nodded, "Yes I do, I can open a temporary gate into the human world without them noticing" she confirmed.
"Good, I want to go back into the human world to grab a few things for me as well as us" Xicor requested.
She stared at him for a few seconds as her brow furrowed slightly in worry, "Alright, I'll trust but you must return safely, without a scratch" She pushed herself off her chair and stared deep into his eyes.
"But if I find a single mark on you, mister, you're forbidden from the training for 2 years" she said seriously.
Xicor took a deep and audible gulp before repeatedly nodding, 'why are women so scary'.
"Yes ma'am" Xicor said as his posture straightened instinctively.
Her features softened as she pecked Xicor's lips, "Good"
She was about to open a portal but Xicor asked something, "By the way can you change my appearance?"
She turned to him and shook her head, "No, that kind of ability is not in my department, that would be in sister Fukuma's"
"That's fine, I can hide in the shadows and use my mask to hide my identity from the people" Xicor replied.
"You are not to enter combat and immediately retreat if you are discovered, am I understood" she said, her serious attitude returning.
Xicor immediately nodded as she opened the portal. Xicor was about to step through but he was stopped when Shikoku grabbed his arm and spun him around before bringing him into a kiss.
She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck as Xicor responded by wrapping his own around her waist. After what felt like an eternity they pulled back slightly, "You better come back safely, otherwise I'm confining you to your room"
She pecked his lips one last time before she reluctantly let go and stepped back, Xicor gave one last smile before walking through the portal as it slowly closed and disappeared.
Shikoku stared at the spot where he was, she let out a small sigh before walking away as she sank into the chair in her shadow but she held onto the book close to her chest, like it was the most precious thing.
Stepping out of the portal, Xicor felt the air of earth, the sound of wind reaching his ears and cold wind mixed with snow against his skin.
Xicor looked up at the dark, snowy sky. He took a deep breath of the air he hadn't felt in 6 years, "Earth, still as beautiful as ever" he allowed a happy, refreshing smile to grace his lips.
He spread his arms wide as he accepted the refreshing winds. He remained like that for a few minutes before lowering his arms putting them in his pockets and walking off to where he sensed a massive amount of people since he was looking for civilisation to grab the stuff on his mental list.
His walk was slow and casual, wanting to take in as much of the quiet place he preferred, no distant highways, no screaming, no politics, just peace.
As he walked further he heard and sensed something to his side, glancing over he spotted a crow perched on a branch, its beak pecking into a small hole at the side of the tree.
Seeing the bird Xicor immediately went into action for his first check on his list, "change".
―――――――――――――――――――――
[Mei Mei Template: 0% ]
[Cursed Technique: Black Bird Manipulation]
[Speciality: Battle Axe proficiency]
―――――――――――――――――――――
As soon as Xicor changed his template, the crow turned its head to him and tilted its head in curiosity. Xicor let his cursed energy flow through the air towards the bird.
The bird stood in place for a minute before flying over and landing on Xicor's raised arm he instinctively put out.
His mouth spread into a satisfied smile as it stroked the bird's neck with one finger, "Good boy"
"Go find more of your kind and lure them to me" Xicor ordered as the crow squawked at him before flying off through the falling snow to fulfil its master's request.
With that done, Xicor continued his walk towards the city, along the way he tamed more birds and those his own birds brought, making a small army of black birds.
Once he was satisfied with the number of birds he immediately gave them a command, "Go and spread out, gather information about the Onmyou agency" The birds immediately responded by squawking and flying off in random directions with a few remaining by their master.
"As for the rest of you, you will help me find some things for me to bring back" The birds flew off as Xicor sent his mental list through the bond they have connected, which can allow him to see what they see and send mental commands.
Xicor walks more as the snow touches his head and grazes his face before he let out a yawn. He soon reaches the top of a hill as the view of the city illuminates down below.
His mouth goes into a thin line, a slight discomfort rises in his stomach. The pain of his own species after him as well as forcing him to end the life of his brother.
The reluctance of returning to them is impossible, after all, they don't see him as their own anymore, 'the true colours of humanity are just savages'
He pushes his discomfort aside and takes a deep breath and leaps through the trees to get there faster. He leaps from a tree and now he leaps to the roof of a house.
He eyed the empty street with little to no activity, 'good thing it's dark'
"Hey, what are you doing up there?" someone called out.
Alarmed Xicor turned to the voice and spotted a pair of men wearing coats and they were looking directly at him.
"Umm, Nothing" Xicor responded.
"Who are you?" One of them questioned.
'Okay Xicor think of the first name that comes to mind and not your own or something stupid'
"Winnie the Pooh" he replied, 'Fuck!!'
"Winnie....the Pooh?" One of them repeated.
"So what are you doing up there Mr Pooh?" The other questioned
"Looking for all the fucks I give" Xicor replied sarcastically, "so can you guys like, you know, go away please"
"Well.... Have a nice night Mr Pooh" one of them said as they began to leave.
'Huh, that went better than expected' Xicor thought as he blurred through the roofs before reaching a high building that reached far up.
He gazed down at the city with a mix of awe and a need for destruction to spread across it like a virus. The crow landed on his unmoving shoulder as it let out a few noises, almost like it was conveying a message to its master.
More and more birds group up with Xicor, he closes his eyes as the valuable information comes into his brain and slowly processes it.
All of it was information about the stuff on his mental list but nothing about the Onmyou agency. He sighed in disappointment, while it's something on his list to find in his time here, he doubts he'll find all of their facilities as if he finds just one and goes for the next after he finds it, they set up traps and expect him to find them.
He shakes his head as he puts his hands back in his pockets while staring down at the city as the crows begin to fly around and spread out with one of his shoulders remaining, like a comforting companion.
"Better do this template before going out there"