CHAPTER 10: SUMMONING SHADOWS

The Juggernaut just recovering from the crash when a burning fist hits his chin, making his body goes upward, followed by another burning punch to the chest as he is slammed to the cold floor, he is about to react when a powerful step to his face buried his head to the floor, when the foot is removed and he wants to have a clear picture of that bastard who slam him, a powerful smash followed as a huge flaming explosion consumes him.

Neil is not confident that a mere flash combo can kill this Orc Warchief, he knew even when he gain this sudden power up, beating this big guy won’t be that easy, he must remain alert, and must attack on accurate hit marks and make sure he won’t give a room for that bad guy to counter.

As the explosion smoke clears, the Juggernaut stood again as bloodied forehead reveal and more loosen tooth is can be seen, he us really pissed to the point he want to crash Neil and make him suffer, the Juggernaut charge again, Neil readied himself, instead of charging like what he does earlier, he resort to wait, changing attack and defending styles works well to confuse your enemies.

And when the Juggernaut is getting closer, Neil charge again his “Null Ascension – Enhancement” to his right arm as its starts to glow and sparks, Neil then punch the ground floor and numerous volcanic like eruption explode on the floor, caught the Juggernaut off guarded again as fissure form and restrain him from his sudden movement, Neil charge to the direction of the Juggernaut.

He then made a powerful punch to the off guarded Juggernaut, landing a massive blow to his chest, Neil is not done, using his free hand, he clenched it and slam it to the cranium of the Orc Warchief, using his right knee as he launch it to the abdomen of the big guy, and followed up by uppercut and right hook.

Neil stood again as he watch the tumbling back Juggernaut, not yet, its not enough, the Juggernaut stood, full of rage in his eyes, he slams the floor to create numerous cracks as he dip his hands on the crack to lift a huge marble stone to throw to Neil.

“Classic low level boss mechanics” Neil shrugged, he knew this trick for sure, the Juggernaut throw the huge slab of stone to Neil with full force, Neil replied only with his arm infused with his Null magic.

The stone come closer to Neil as Neil released his punch, his fist landed on the surface of the slab as it makes a fissure on the whole body of the slab and pierce through it, Neil Suddenly use his null magic in full throttle as it penetrates through the huge slab of marble and the face of Orc Warchief at the other side of the slab was surprised by a burning and explosive punch.

Another explosion erupts as the void monster rolled back from the explosion with his face distorted, Neil stood there with his smoking fist, as the glowing scorching red nerves can be seen in his bulky and massive arm.

“Thanks to you, I’ve unlock another helpful ability, but now we must end this up” Neil spoke as his eyes glows, he made a battle stance as his ruin suit sway in his intense energy.

The Juggernaut recovers as he shaken his head to diminished the dizziness he gain from that punch, he howled in in deep rage as he charge to Neil like a raging bull, Neil remain stood in a very concentrated posture, when the two meet, they exchange blow after blow, the Juggernaut along with his six arms, rained Neil with raging punches, Neil mimics the unarmed self defense battle stance of brawler anime characters he remember in his past life.

Parrying and deflect the punch with connected hand moves, but some of the punches landed a blow on Neil but that punches never stopped Neil in his defensive stance, the force of the mutated Orc Warchief is very powerful indeed as it pushes Neil little by little, when Neil felt the moment this big guy begin to slow his numerous attack, Neil eyes become sharpen as he brushed off all the synchronized attacks.

“Null Ascension – Enhancement” Neil conjure his null skill, the powerful energy output coming from his core begin to spread in his whole body as he burst into madness and begins his counter attack.

A powerful upper cut, fling over the ground the surprised Juggernaut, a direct straight, left hook, right hook to the open wide torso, Neil grabbed the big guy's leg and lift him in the air, slamming him to the marble floor and repeat the slamming numerous times, on his final slam, Neil grab its head and slam his face to the ground, he then run very fast as he grind the face of the Juggernaut on the marble floor.

But the Juggernaut recovers and punch Neil, but Neil is quiet nimble despite how monstrous his body as he just move Hus body away to the direction of fist, and he grab the side of the Void monster and slam its back to his knee, a howling cry erupts from the big guy as he felt his spine broke from the powerful knee slam, Neil lift the Juggernaut and slam his whole body to the floor with his head first meets the cold marble floor.

Neil punch very hard the back spike of the stun Juggernaut, breaking it easily as he stab the legs and thighs of the big guy with brute force, resulting to endless howl and grief, Neil stab with another spike its neck, although how much the Juggernaut struggles at mad Neil, Neil just brushed his desperate wailing, Neil then laid him facing the ceilings as Neil stomp hard as the spikes from the stabbed parts pierced through the thick muscle.

“AAAAARRRGGHHH!!!”

No matter how it screams for agony, in face of no remorse Neil, it will just meet its end, Neil use the last remains spike to the stab to the chest, the Juggernaut knows Neils intention as his six arms stopped Neils forceful arms.

“Do not resist for your death's call is coming, accept it like the other voids that been killed”

Neil said as he maximized the output of the “Null Ascension – Enhancement” in his body and pressing the spike to the chest closer and closer no matter how the mutated Orc Warchief resist with his weakened arms.

In the end Neil manage to overwhelm the Juggernaut, howling in pain, as his whole body trembles as Neil cut through the chest, Neil raised his right hand as it glows and the eyes of the distorted Orc Warchief witness such glow, Neil's null energy starts to accumulate in his right hand, his target is the heart of the Juggernaut.

“Be gone, to the depths of the abyss” Neil last words as he bring down the judgement hammer.

The Juggernaut shielded himself with his six arms but futile to stop the powerful blow on time, as the punch go through deep to his chest, what’s come next is a massive explosion in the throne room, as it erupts to the roof of the castle, shaking the foundation of the whole room, the dense smoke blows to every window and open doors to the next room, few moments later, a small crater can be seen.

In the middle of the crater, numerous blood splattered all over the place, the Juggernaut body was blown into smithereens and scattered, a young small man with red violet hair kneeled in the middle of oozing blood as he bath into it, he really looks like a blood maiden if he was a girl, stood up with his shredded clothes and summon his spear to serve has his staff to assist him in his limping walk.

Breathing heavily he walks out of the crater and goes to the door of the entrance of the throne room, he trailed the scattered smoke and dust that fill every room, for a few moments of walk and a little bit of recovery, he made it outside, he saw many goblins, trolls and orcs waiting for him and on the center front is the Kobold shaman, Neil just chuckled in his weak state as he spread his gaze on the whole enemy crowd.

“Strong one! Defeating my guardians in such amazing feat really pleased this humble one, but the finale has begun!” Kobold Shaman welcome as he revealed his ulterior motives, as hi stroke his staff in the ground, a magic circle form, he then begin his chant incantations.

Neil felt the strong surge of power, a power exceed his expectation, he tighten his grip into his spear and no longer look to the Kobold shaman, he feel the sense of nostalgia in such powerful chant, his guts telling him a bad situation or an evil event may occur, Neil walk fast despite he is limply in his weaken state.

“Lily White! Do what is must!” Neil finally ordered as he summon Lily White.

“As you wish my master!” Lily White appeared out of thin air, it was surprised the Kobold Shaman when the heavenly beauty appeared out of nowhere in a flash, Neil gritted his teeth in deep cursing.

Lily White begin the incarnation of her spell as the numerous force of goblins, trolls and orcs are coming to kill them, but Lily White is very fast in chanting her spell and very proficient in its structure compare to the Kobold shaman that keeping a slow but steady incantations.

“True Ice: Frozen Prison”

A burst of cold suddenly come forth, blowing away the impeding forces on pursue, thick mist covered the whole place, the floor become a thick ice sheet, the Kobold Shaman was alarmed in the sudden move, as he felt the intense cold that freezes not just the outside but also his inside, he endured the cold front as he is about to finish his incantation.

The goblins was flying away due to their lightness while the trolls stab their spear to the thick ice sheet and serve as their pole to grip on in order not to be blown away, the orcs struggle in the pressuring breeze, because of their heaviness in weight added by their armor they are confident not to be blown away, but the cold pressure was intense as it freezes them in and out of their bodies.

“True Ice: Will Of Ice Dragon”

Coming from another powerful chant of ice art skill that Lily White invoke as the three long and gigantic powerful apparition of majestic ice dragon spawn on thin air and rushed to the struggling group of Void Monsters, devouring them in theses powerful ice giant path, causing a massive ice explosion in every nook and cranny of the castle rooms, even the kobold Shaman is gawked in surprised to see three visage of the intimidating ice dragon rampant inside the castle walls.

“True Ice: Ephemeral Winter”

From the skies, a huge circle of power covered the area of above the castle roof, when Lily White finish her chanting spell, a powerful blizzard befall on the whole castle, raining of snow bolts, icicles and crystal glasses, an explosion erupts again, the Kobold Shaman never expected such outcome as he abruptly summon his magic shield to defend himself from a massive wave of ice art skills attack, as he witness a countless casualties piled up in a just a few minutes, that snow woman is truly powerful.

The whole castle was now covered in thick mist and snow, ice slabs are scattered everywhere, piles of frozen corpse of the goblins, trolls and orcs are everywhere, some are died in gruesome and unsightly way, others are frozen to death, few managed to survive but suffered bleeding and freezing, the only one being remain unharmed is the Kobold Shaman, what left in his sight is a total massacre, such caliber and hazardous magic, who is the identity of that godly snow woman to cause such huge disaster to them?

Neil’s feet give up, he can’t walk anymore due to exhaustion, Lily White carried his small and frail master in her arms as she flew to the window of the room they currently crossing, making it outside the castle walls to escape, Neil is breathing heavily as Lily White felt his master gasping for air in her huge chest, her eyes are full of pity and concern to Neil’s condition.

As they flew, they heard an explosion coming from the castle, and from that big smoke screen appeared a void behemoth in form of a Minotaur with a three eyes, green essence energy imbued the new born threat as the small figure resting on its shoulder, Lily White alarmed as she flew faster to avoid being detected, the Minotaur's third eye suddenly shine and launched a powerful rail beam in a random forest.

Breath is heavy, rashes and cuts in his skin, his clothes are ripped and ruined, exhaust and fatigued will soon catch him, fear lingers and heartbeat throbs fast, stirrup emotions and shaken body aligned, here he is, Neil Simmons, caught himself in a danger that he never expected to be happen, that crafty pig snout, if not because he is pushed to the limit, he will crushed that Kobold into mince meat.

“Ah, screw it, that damn pig!” Neil ranted, he clenched his fist and felt the painful swell of his legs and feet.

Lily White try to cross the greenish landscape she is currently flew up to, with her clear vision, she saw that the area she currently crossing on was a deep wide snow forest at a mountain side, ditching any obstacles that might hamper her flight as she tries to comfort Neil, as few minutes pass and she finally reach the outskirts of the snow forest, in her front was a now the snowy road and the white covered meadow.

“Aarrgghh,,, damn it all!” Neil catching his breath as he grunted, upon raising his head, as he felt the repercussions of the pain after his fight with the Juggernaut.

“Master, be at ease, we can make it to the Smoke Bone Village, please bear with it” Lily White sweet voice cheering Neil to hold on.

“I’m trying too, but god the pain is truly crazy shit” Neil replied as endured his pain with great fortitude.

A light that guides him out of the strange and snowy forest was nothing but his beloved waifu, Lily White, as he felt a the huge bossom resting in his ravaged chest, Neil try not to get aroused from that soft and huge twin peaks along with a sweet and luscious scent coming from Lily White, feeling refreshed from the cold and soothing winds, Neil felt the warmth and he let himself indulge with it to diminished the pain he gone through.

“I wanna go home, the big bull with a laser eye is a rank B level threat at its best, we must not fight it head on for now” Neil twitched as he continue recovering himself, as he stare from a far a rampant raging giant bull.

”Smoke Bone Village, that’s far from here, its gonna be fine” he muttered to himself as the two almost reaching the road to the Smoke Bone Village, away from the direction of the Void Giant. “Holy moly…”

Destroyed landscape, burning forest and numerous wild animals caught in the laser beams that struck the snowy environment, Neil sigh in relief as that big idiot never manage to sense their presence from a far, he just closed his eyes and touch Lily White's cold yet beautiful face.

“Tell them that I didn’t heed to your words and jump in danger, I know big sister Faye will be angry to me” Neil said in weaken voice as he buried his face on Lily White's warm and soft huge blossom.

“Yes master, I will heed to your orders” Lily White replied in sheepish voice as she felt her master nudging in her chest to get warmed, Lily White blushed but she didn’t opposed to it and let his master indulge in her body because she already belongs to him in every inch of her soul and body. “Sleep well, master"

Neil has a total of 1030 energy power level, the 350 power he accumulated is coming from the rich essence of the Orc Warchief turn into Juggernaut, he then transport his consciousness to the Null realm to begin his summoning for his new servant as he step on the center of Ying and Yang floor and the five gem tablets that surrounded it, breathing deeply as he call the “Null Ascension – Creation Pact”

“BREATHING FOR THE SOUL AND EMOTION”

“Admirable will and courage, still true to herself, believing in dreams and wishes like an innocent and clueless child, a gullible and clumsy young lady in normal day, but return deadliest and relentless killer at night.

“CREATING THE VESSEL OF EXISTENCE”

“Jet black short hair, golden lustrous eyes, small yet attractive nose and lips, an innocent face of younger years, petite and small body with pinkish tone skin, slender legs and arms, hand and toes are well develop, the body undergoes a special training to be pushed to breakthrough to its limit, shaping and honed to the finest edge of slenderness.

“PRODUCING THE WEAPONRY AND ABILTY”

“Black ninja-jumpsuit with set of protective chainmail inside, utility belt contain of set of special hand made grenades and smoke, small belts hold a numerous set of Shadow Kunais and Shurikens, Ancient Ghost Blade(Katana) and Cursed Soul Devourer Dagger(Tanto), she mastered all kinds of ninjutsu at such young age, a genius among her peers, but she falls in the demonic art of shadows and miraculously the first human to control the dark arts without succumbing to its corruption and bend to her will”

“CULMINATING THE MEMORIES OF PHANTASM”

“Her name is Tsukiyume Kurumi, born in the ninja clan's lowest hierarchy, dreaming of becoming a true and fully pledge ninja, to enjoy the adventurous life with free leisure lifestyle, but when she step her foot to the outside world, reality slaps her fast than she anticipated, war, crime, assassination and other dark sides is been revealed to her, struggle to survive till a clan termination befalls in her, accidentally discover the forbidden arts of shadow ninjutsu, she practice it for survival and escape, exile from the pass, she begins her true job, and from that day, she became a big and terrifying name in her whole country, biggest of her fame record of killing a thousand samurais in one night, they call her “The Shadow Song Devil” in her ruthless career, after serving the great emperor for few years, she suddenly vanished without a trace left”

“BRINGING EXISTENCE AND NEW LIFE”

“Come fourth and live, Tsukiyume Kurumi, watch my back, be my ears and eyes to the world, cloaked in my shadows, fulfill the honor you’ve lost long time ago, time for your lost soul step to my path and my guardian in the darkness,, ARISE!”

Neil felt his energy power diminished to 530 energy level as the summoning circle sucks his energy sacrifice like a vacuum, the energy essence become to form once again, but this time, it reshape into a small and midget size human, Neil is quiet excited as the energy essence start to get depleted to the forming body, the light dispersed as the cute and lovely little lady appeared bare naked to the front of Neil.

Kurumi open her eyes as her golden lustrous eyes meets Neil sharp and lovely gaze, Kurumi then kneeled in front of Neil without hesitation, it really surprised Neil in her actions, but Kurumi never fidget despite in her whole nudity.

“Kurumi of Tsukiyume Clan, pleased to served Milord desu~” Kurumi introduced boldly with her mild accent intact. “My body and soul belong to milord, please use me in accordance to to your order desu~”

Suddenly, Neil dash to Kurumi and hug her tightly, Kurumi was shock and totally surprised, she did dare to push Neil as she already knew in her rebirth that she will served her master absolutely, Kurumi felt the warmth of her master and his sweet scent are lingering in her nose, Kurumi felt the sudden bliss in such affection that his compassionate master shown.

“You know what, after watching your story archives, I want to curse Kusanagi and Ryujo for their treachery they done to your clan, Misaki for her poisoning your cousins, Kagura for stabbing your sworn ninja sister Kurenai in the back and Maki for her underhand cruel plan for your eradication to hide the truth from the emperor about his men plotting to steal the rule from your previous lord”

Neil said in sorrowfulness, as he freed Kurumi from his arms, gritted his teeth in his new servant tragic backstory, back when he was a new player in that game and he is not a full blown anime lover, he finish the companion quest of Tsukiyume Kurumi to recruit her in his ally companion in battle, at first he just quiet normal reaction in reading the first and second stanza of Kurumi's backstory, and when he finally complete the story archive, he shed tears for the tragic end of Kurumi.

“It's fine Milord, Kurumi is already used to it desu~” Kurumi bitter smiled, as she held her hands to the each side of Neil's cheeks. “My sufferings and realization is the one who mold me to become one of the best among best kunoichi to live-“

“And perish without avenging your fall and disgrace for being frame up by your trusted yet treacherous milords and blame you and your clan to be the one who implemented the rebellion and ruthlessness killings” Neil cut in as he lowered his head. “I don’t want you to go through and suffer the same fate again, I don’t promise it but I will do it in my own way”

“Milord,,, I-“ Kurumi's shy voice sounded as she can’t believe her new master was a righteous and kind young man. “Thank you, for giving Kurumi a new life desu~”

“Null Ascension – Power Transfer” Neil invoke his spell as he pass some of his energy power level to his new servant.

Kurumi's power level on summon was 55 power level, Neil give 250 power level to Kurumi as he pass the refine energy to his servant, Kurumi felt again the sudden bliss as a warmth feeling shared by his master entering his body and circulate in her whole being, her power jumps to 305 energy power level of Intermediate-Class Battle Sage, she like it as she felt the sudden vigor rising up from her lonely soul, Neil has a plan to distribute the 150 energy power level to Lily White.

“Take dress and rest well, time for me to return to the real world, I will summon you when you are battle ready”

Neil said as he patted the soft black hair of the loli ninja, Neil leave the floating island and ascend to the portal, Kurumi give her last gaze to Neil and then rest and letting her body to get used to the energy and new environment.

Neil awaken in a soft and comfortable bed, on his left side, Faye is sitting while her head is laying on his bed and sleeping peacefully, at his ride side, Lily White is still sitting at his side wide awake, not moving like a statue, staring at Neil with a smile, Neil sigh in relief as he move his right hand and touch Lily White’s creamy hands, Lily White blushed as he felt the warm and soft hands of Neil.

“Null Ascension – Power Transfer”

Neil let his refine essence energy flow to Lily White, as his power level deteriorated to 130 power level while Lily White's energy power level is now at 310, a level of Intermediate-Class Battle Sage, Neil smile as he then return his gaze on the ceiling.

“Master, why?” Lily White confused ask as she never expected Neil make his sudden action without even asking her.

“I'll drop the plan for the High-Class Battle Sage, since we encounter some big shots along the road, I will invest more in you, I want some secured life insurance ya know” Neil replied as he smile.

“I see, if that’s what you are aiming for, then I am willing to accept it as it is” Lily White said in agreement as then felt Faye is starting to wake up.

“Speaking of which, she is very angry at you right now” Lily White added as she closed her eyes and no longer smiling.

“I will accept what will be the accountable punishment, and good evening Big sis-“ Neil casually talk as he shifted his gaze but cut when Faye's fingers begin to pinch his cheeks.

“You will be ban from training starting tomorrow!” Faye directly said the judgement hammer. “No training till you got enrolled to the school okay? Am I understood? “

“No objections,,,” Neil answer as he sigh in his bed and continue to sleep.

“That’s it?!” Faye shocked to Neil’s reply, she didn’t expect for the young man to agree very fast. “Ehem, from now on, you will stay with Michael, Teacher, thank you for saving Neil, this young man is truly reckless”

“But her recklessness is quiet admirable, to be able to save some captives on training is quiet the feat, but danger is danger, young man, don’t throw away your life so easily” Lily White spoke like a magnanimous teacher as she wink to Neil.

“Undying habits, welp as long as the captives are fully heal, they can now return to their normal lives” Neil said as he drifted to sleep.

“Sigh,,, Lil' Neil is truly hard headed, but thank you for such act of heroism” Faye voice with calmer tone as she lean closer to Neil and kissed his forehead.

Lily White twitched in shock, but she suddenly suppressed her feelings, she can’t show her vulnerable side to her student, although a pain in her heart suddenly appeared, Lily White pretend that kiss was never happen or she just never saw it, Faye eyes open as he saw Neil fall asleep with such innocence and defenseless slumber, she just move away and look to Lily White and smile.