Soul Venerable (Re-written)

 

 

When Sumire returned to her dorm, it was already dark. Since she wasn’t a martial artist, her stamina was already spent. She was able to keep moving through sheer willpower alone. The moment she entered her room, someone with a sweet scent pinned her to the wall with a hug.

“Shirogane!” Sumire yelped in a low voice, “I haven’t taken a bath yet, let me go. I’ll join you in a bit” She caresses her silver hair.

Shirogane was sleepwalking since was also fatigued after the mission. Fortunately, her instinct still listens to Sumire’s voice. After mumbling a few unrecognizable mutters, she releases Sumire from her embrace and goes back to her bed. Soon, she produces a soft breathing voice as her consciousness travels to dreamland, smiling. 

Sumire’s lips curved upward. She made a mistake by making Shirogane worried about her. Thinking of how she will pamper Shirogane in the future to make up with her, she started undressing herself to take a bath.

The female dormitory of Hartina Southeast Hunter Academy was comprehensive, every room possessed its own bathroom and toilet. Furthermore, Sumire lived in the elite dorm for top students, their facilities are better than average. For example, the water heating feature that could be activated all around the clock, or the bathtub that can be freely used.

After cleaning her body completely with a special soap, she enters the bathtub filled with red hot boiling water. It has a thick texture as if the water was blood but it has a pleasant fragrance and did not stain her body despite the red color. 

The bath water was refined from the blood of strength-path beasts, it has the ability to aid recovery and by submerging herself with the beast essence, it allows her body to increase attributes slowly. This effect wasn’t limited to strength-path cultivators since an enslavement-path magic caster as herself still received the effect despite not being able to effectively absorb the essence. This was one of the privileges of being an elite student of Hartina Southeast Hunter Academy.

Feeling the warm current strengthening her body and repairing any hidden damage she received during her previous mission, she became absentminded. Recently, there are significantly more things to ponder and it took a toll on her mind. 

“[Synesthesia]...” Obviously, the one thing that came up on her mind repeatedly is the body rune that Sebastian offered him. 

Runes that increase her teammates' combat power were not that rare as that was usually the case with elite hunters. Newbie hunters would take attribute-enhancing runes due to how cheap and practical they are. Just inscribe them to one’s body, and one’s combat effectiveness increases in a short run. This increases the survivability of new hunters significantly.

However, for elite hunters like Sumire or her teammates, the advantage of attributes from body runes can be compensated with the quality of artifacts or hunting experience. It would be wiser for elites like them to add more abilities their mortal body did not possess before, rather than adding raw attributes. 

After all, there are some issues that cannot be solved through strength or agility alone.

Sumire sighed as she plotted how to earn the [Boiling Blood Vitality] rune from Lord Mage Mitsubachi. Her thought expenditure was a heavy burden to her exhausted body and soon, she fell asleep in the bath.

When she woke up, she had already changed into comfortable pajamas under the embrace of Shirogane. Sumire took a few glances at the defenseless face of the sleeping Shirogane. “You always did things like this…” she kissed Shirogane on the lips, before stealthy removing herself from Shirogane’s embrace. 

Through her special methods, she calculates the time lapse of her consciousness. “Ugh, I slept for four hours. I need to cultivate…” She immediately sat crossed legs in the middle of the room and cultivated according to her inheritance.

Dark thoughts collide inside her sea of consciousness, significantly increasing her thought expenditure. However, a surging wave of black light soon refilled her dried sea of consciousness, allowing the thoughts to weave around itself to form malicious-will, extremely efficient in making arrangements of harming others. 

With her methods, the malicious-will changed form from lumps of lights into an army of beast-like black lights.

On the other side, a source of wisdom floods her sea of consciousness with a wave of white lights, weaving around itself to form enslavement-will that specializes in dominating the mind of weaker lifeforms. As more enslavement-will become concentrated, it took the form of dark purple skeletal warriors, some dressed with rotten leather armor while others wield rusty swords and shields.

Unlike the black beast army of malicious-will, the enslavement-will skeletal army was simply numbered in the dozens. This was currently her limit under ideal conditions where she doesn't have to expend unnecessary thought, Sumire could not control more than fourteen lifeforms at once. 

The two armies immediately approached each other, initiating a brutal massacre. The beast army was weaker than the skeletal army, but their number advantage could not be underestimated. Each time the black light beast army was killed, it reformed into more beast. 

The ‘immortal’ beast army was never reduced in numbers, yet the skeleton warriors could not do the same. As more skeleton warriors fell to the beast army, the expected snowball effect of the skeleton army being defeated rapidly did not occur. 

The fewer skeleton warriors existing on the field meant higher control Sumire could exert on them. When a skeleton warrior died, their essence was absorbed by their comrades. After half of their numbers fell, each was powerful enough to perform complex actions such as wielding two weapons at once. 

Of course, it wasn’t enough to overcome the beast army since Sumire reinforced it without caring about the thought expenditure. 

It took a while before the number of skeleton warriors turned into one. The solo skeleton warrior who wields a giant katana fought fiercely since Sumire used her undivided attention to control it. The warrior slaughtered the beast army extremely similar to how Shirogane would, elegant and efficient. It wasn’t wrong to say that she was training her manipulation technique by paying great attention to her partner’s fighting style.

The last skeleton warrior was too strong for the beast army, but eventually it fell under unwavering claws and fierce fangs. By then, the first light of dawn had already shone upon her windows. 

She ended her cultivation session with a smile. “I’ve increased my spiritual force development quotient by 0.123% tonight, so fast!” she muttered, satisfied. If it wasn’t due to the amount of inspiration she gained recently by seeing Shirogane go all out fighting against goblin hordes, this won’t be possible at all.

Of course, her talent in the Violet Sword Blaze team was only second to Shirogane, but the latter preferred to sleep and act according to her emotion instead of cultivating steadily step by step. She could argue that her cultivation method is not as brutal as Shirogane’s, but as long as her partner never stopped cultivating, Sumire would be happy.

At this moment, Shirogane started to wake up. Her loose pajamas reveal her massive porcelain-like cleavage as she rubs her sleepy eyes. Sumire was tempted to tease her but considering her busy schedule today and Shirogane’s stupidly strong body, it would be unwise to have some steamy action at the start of the day. 

“Good morning my dearest.” Sumire took Shirogane’s hand to help her stand up and get dressed, but Shirogane did not move according to her will. Instead, she pulled Sumire into her embrace with her crazy strength and stole a French kiss. 

“Mpphh!” Sumire patted her head, “We’re busy today, let’s do this another time.” as she pushed away Shirogane’s warm body.

Shirogane looked visibly sad as a trace of tears formed on her eyes. “Y- you sa-. You said after. We.arrive at. Dorm…” she stuttered.

“I’m sorry, there are some urgent matters that we have to take care of, okay? I promise that we’re going to do it tonight if we manage to do all the things that I need.”

“Mmm.” Shirogane nodded expectantly. 

“Don’t be sad, let’s take a bath together.”

…..

Hartina Southeast Hunter Academy’s cafeteria was one of the best places for its students to eat. The rich option of food and the semi-open air environment made it a great location for casual gathering. Instead of using gold or mana crystals as hard currency, an internal system of contribution points was used within campus ground. The system was made to incentivize taking internal missions of the academy instead of relying on one’s background to pave their path.

As Sumire arrived at the cafeteria with Shirogane in tow, a black haired youth waved towards her. “That’s our table, let’s go.” as she led Shirogane forward.

“Good morning captain, sister. Come, let’s eat.” Kurogane politely offered a seat for the two girls. 

“Thank.you. Broth- brother.” Shirogane took a seat and started taking meat on the table.

Each food present on the table was cultivation resources that took a large amount of contribution points to purchase. Without a strong captain that leads them through difficult missions over and over again, it would be hard to fulfil their expenditure. 

Shirogane’s waist was slim, yet she devoured a high-calorie roasted boar thigh as if it was jelly with no bulge visible on her stomach despite gulping them incessantly. 

“These are today’s specials. It’s a meat harvested from Enduring Mass Boar, a strength-path beast whose meat is beneficial for our stamina. Captain, your body is weak, you should follow my sister and eat a lot.” Kurogane voiced his opinion after seeing Shirogane’s appetite.

As Sumire ate the grilled meat, Yamamura and the others arrived at their table. The quiet table became somewhat crowded with new cuisine being delivered. Looking at the mountain of meat and vegetables, it would be hard to judge whether the group will waste it, but every meal was purchased with a large amount of contribution points, they were made out of precious cultivation resources harvested from myriad beasts and cooked by professional chefs. Eating them supports cultivation and raises their foundation directly.

With the almost-late appearance of the sleepy Sakuya, the Violet Sword Blaze team becomes complete.

“Now that we’re all here, let’s start our discussion.” Sumire looked at her teammates, still devouring precious food with fervor. “With our marks from our last mission, we are eligible to partake in the bi-annual Southeast Hunting Festival, what are your thoughts?”

“It's about time we fight with our peers. I’m so sick of hunting monsters.” While eating on the thigh meat of a fire salamander-type beast, Sakuya voiced her opinion. Arrogance filled her blood, she won’t back down from the competition, especially since the reward behind it could make her drool.

“Watch your eating manners.” Kurogane wiped the juice that splattered on his face due to Sakuya’s boasting, “She’s right though, it’s about damn time we show our strength. My hands are itching to smack some of them. Just because we went out hunting for a while, they became arrogant. Last night, I received three duel invitations.”

Yamamura and Ramiel nodded together, “My hunter-killing skill is getting rusty, this might be a good chance to practice.” Yamamura said.

Despite having the same opinion, Ramiel looked at Yamamura with weird eyes. “Although I agree about it being a good practice, you were just looking for an alibi to dismember people alive again, don’t you.” he shakes his head at his friend’s weird quirks. However, he wasn’t against it either, “I’m in.”

From the seven, the ones who haven’t voiced their opinions are Shirogane and Seraphina, but Shirogane will always follow Sumire’s arrangement so only Sera is left.

She sighed while secretly glancing at Kurogane, holding her true feelings within her heart. “Since all of you agree with going, then I will follow.” 

Sumire did not want to force Sera to participate with them so she gave her a chance, “You can choose not to go, we won’t hold grudges against you. Even if we won without you, you will still be part of us.” Sumire wasn’t humble, confidence filled her voice.

Sera didn’t even have the trace of doubt in her teammates abilities, but she can’t let them go without her support, “If I didn’t go with all, our team will lack a healer. That won’t do. … I don’t want K… Kuro… to be hurt...” the first part of her sentence was clear, but her voice lowered as she started whispering and murmured silently for the latter part.

Sumire chuckled at her answer for a simple matter. She was conscious of her future brother-in-law’s virginity, so she supported Seraphina’s advance towards Kurogane. Unfortunately, Sera was inexperienced in this type of thing, it’s hard to make her love interest to see her not as a teammate but a potential lover.

Still, it was better for things to go on naturally. She might be their captain, but she felt that with the sins on her hands, she is not qualified to make decisions for her two most innocent comrades. 

“Alright, it’s decided.” Sumire’s eyes radiate the energy of youth.

“Captain, you are in high spirits, what’s wrong?” Yamamura inquired. It was extremely rare for the captain to reveal emotions; it was rumored that Sumire cut off most emotions to conserve her massive thought expenditure. Even as her comrades, he didn’t know if that was the truth.

“Really? Hahah, it’s because of this.” She produced a body rune, “Kurogane, with this, your defense against lightning-path methods increased significantly. We can take on the Blue Wave team without the need to suffer too much now!” 

Everyone with the exception of Sumire and Shirogane who single-mindedly focused on eating her food changed expressions. 

“[Rubbery Skin]? Captain you are crazy!!!” Kurogane almost screamed as he barely managed to suppress his excitement, “I like it!!” 

Yamamura’s eyes glinted with excitement, “With this, Kurogane can take more agro from that wench. When the time comes, can you give me a chance to slice her skin inch by inch, captain? I’m getting hard even by thinking it…” there was some level of insanity in his tone, his pants bulging around the crotch area.

“Tsk, what a degenerate.” Sakuya commented.

“Thank you for the compliment.” Yamamura replied.

“Get a room, you two.” Sumire joked while showing a faint smile, “Anyway, I got you a present too.” She gives Sera a different beast leather engraved with high quality rune.

Sera Gasped, “This is… [Child of the Forest]!” she could not hide the desire within her eyes. 

Amongst the seven, Seraphina has the weakest survivability even under ideal conditions. Now that she had [Child of the Forest] rune, her survival rate increased significantly. 

“Captain, what does this rune do?” Yamamura asked curiously. 

“Ignorant muscle brain…” Sakuya did not let go of the chance to attack him.

“Your compliments always make my day, if only you’ll step on me…” he replied.

“Ugh…” she rolled her eyes, trying not to be associated with Yamamura.

Sumire released a rare giggle, “You two fits together so much. You should try dating him, Sakuya. He might surprise you.”

“Violet Sumire!!!” Sakuya glared at her, furious.

“Calm down, I was just joking.” Sumire smiled, “Anyway, [Child of the Forest] allows the user to absorb wood elemental particles directly from wood-path materials. If our Sera uses it, she can heal herself from near-death as long as she is within a rich wood-path environment.” 

Considering the city’s proximity to the endless forest of Azaria, it wasn’t an exaggeration that her survivability increased tremendously. As long as her brain and heart wasn’t destroyed, she could recuperate slowly.

The downside is, [Child of the Forest] uses 4 rune slots, significantly more than the average body runes that took only 1 or 2 slots. 

“I’d have to free up some rune slots. Kurogane, since you have a new rune, would you like to go to the rune scribes together with me?” She asked while the others were talking.

“Sure!” he nodded. “I Can’t wait, let’s go after our meeting ends.” 

Sera was happy from the bottom of her heart. She finally has the rare opportunity of spending time with her crush.