— — — — — —
And just like that, the matter was settled.
Kira simply wanted something to do. Since he had no idea what else to focus on, he might as well be a city lord.
Matsuyoi was pleased—her little Kira had grown up.
Kaguya was even happier. She had absolute confidence in her Earth father's potential, already itching with anticipation.
This moon war? She had already decided it would happen. Even if Eirin herself came, she wouldn't stop her. Nobody was gonna stop her.
She swore it!
But for now… life went on as usual.
...
Kira's daily routine remained the same: train, meditate, study.
And speaking of studying…
Kaguya, princess of the Lunar Capital, truly lived up to her title. Her theoretical knowledge was terrifyingly vast. She answered questions Kira had been stuck on clearly and methodically.
Especially his meditation methods—originally some "improvised technique" his aunt cobbled together.
But his daughter? She gave him proper, refined versions. Complete systems for training both Spirit Power and Yokai Power, including how to raise efficiency.
Day after day passed.
Half a month went by in a blink.
That day, Kira was practicing his fist style, drenched in sweat.
⌠⟦White • Basic Fist Style: Lv8⟧⌡
But today, he could feel it—he was close, very close, like he'd reached the next level anytime now.
"Father, it's time for today's session," Kaguya called out.
Over the half month, she had changed again. From a baby doll to a girl of about five or six. Rosy lips, bright teeth, ankle-length hair flowing behind her, wrapped in an impossibly ornate jūnihitoe kimono—she looked every bit a noble princess.
"Hold on…"
Kira exhaled, then shook his head. "Kaguya, let me keep going. I can feel it. I'm about to…"
But before he could even finish—
His fist came down.
And in that instant—
It felt like his mind exploded.
A flood of information rushed in—fist arts, sword styles, blade styles..... Grappling, combat forms, martial stances…...
Everything he had ever trained surged into his consciousness all at once.
In that moment, it felt like they were melting into one seamless whole.
⌠⟦White • Basic Fist Style: LvMAX⟧⌡
Kira had suspected this would happen. He always felt that Level 9 was the cap for traits—the true MAX level.
But what he didn't expect, the moment his Basic Fist Style reached its max level, it seemed to… absorb other traits. It drew in every other physical technique he had ever learned.
Everything except Spirit Power and yokai Power.
All other traits began merging together.
In a matter of moments:
⌠⟦Purple • Master of Martial Arts: Lv3 (Growth-Type)⟧⌡
"…Done?"
It took him 5 minutes to recover from the piercing headache.
But even now, he was stunned.
Who would've thought—
The moment his first trait hit max level, this would happen?
"Master of Martial Arts… and Growth-type…?"
"So that means…"
Kira was a modern mind. With just those few words, he could piece it together.
Every fist style, sword form, grappling skill… everything he had studied—
All of it had fused into a single trait.
And this new trait could continue growing as long as he kept feeding it more knowledge.
"In that case…" Kira hesitated briefly, then started moving again.
"Huh?"
Kaguya watched him start his forms again. He'd gone blank for a moment, and she almost approached him. But sensing something was happening, she held back.
But the way he suddenly moved—
So fluid, so unpredictable—
"All in one?" Kaguya murmured, stunned. Was that even possible? Was that allowed?
Right now, Kira's movements no longer followed any single form. He held no weapon, yet his bare-handed strikes flowed like sword, spear, halberd, fist, and blade—shifting, chaotic, yet seamless.
Like he was prepared to adapt to any situation in any moment.
A while later, he stopped, quietly exhaling. "It feels like… I've shed an old body and been reborn."
"Father."
Kaguya walked toward him gracefully. "What just happened?"
"Everything I've learned merged into one trait, Master of Martial Arts," Kira said plainly. He wasn't hiding it. He even wanted Kaguya to help him research and test it.
"I see…"
Kaguya paused in thought, then said, "Then, Father, let me ask Eirin for some god-era manuals. Study those and see if they add to your trait."
"Sure." Kira didn't refuse.
This daughter of his was always scheming to push him to invade the Lunar Capital, overthrow her other "father," and lock her in a basement like a plush toy.
What could he do?
Obviously, get stronger.
"Come on, Auntie should have dinner ready."
Kira walked over and took Kaguya's hand. "I need to ask her about when the Lake Genbu kappa clan will arrive too."
"Alright."
Kaguya followed obediently, not pressing further.
Her father growing stronger faster—
That was exactly what she wanted.
"Oh, right," Kira asked as they walked, "Kaguya, based on your judgment, what's my current level?"
"Considering your spirit power, yokai power, and now Master of Martial Arts—Father, you can defeat most mid-ranked yokai."
"Weaker high-ranked yokai should also be beatable."
"But," she added seriously, "you still need to be careful. Some mid-ranked yokai have very strange abilities. A wrong fight could end in mutual destruction."
She knew her father wasn't reckless—but warnings were still necessary.
After all, growth takes time. Rushing only leads to disaster.
.
.
.