But in the end, Kanbe Hikaru and Kikyo stopped at the final threshold—though aside from that final step, they had shared almost every other form of intimacy.
As for that final step... it wasn't that he didn't want to, nor was it that he couldn't.
He certainly wanted to and was capable, but it wasn't right; it wasn't the time.
Currently, Kanbe Hikaru was still at the stage of Six Transformations and had not yet undergone Materialization. Although he had gradually regained 'vitality,' most of his bodily functions were still driven by Demonic Qi and filled by Blood Transformation—in essence, he was still dead and empty inside. His most important internal organs lacked true vitality, and he couldn't leave anything behind.
He felt that to truly take that final step, he should do so as his truly living, complete self.
Not with a body of the deceased like this.
He also felt that the step wouldn't take too long to reach.
As long as he completed the accumulation of quantitative changes to achieve Materialization and found the right opportunity, he would be able to skip the Seventh Transformation and reach the eighth, or even the ninth transformation.
And once he completed the Twelfth Transformation, he would be able to achieve that step.
To let himself, thoroughly and completely, come back to life.
For Kikyo, it needed to be the same.
She was a priestess, and more so, a traditional young girl raised in and influenced by the culture of the Sengoku Period.
She was still very young.
She would also respect Kanbe Hikaru's choice.
...
Later, the morning sunlight pierced through the thin clouds, spilling onto the wilderness grass.
Dewdrops hung from the tips of grass blades, teetering on the edge of falling.
Kanbe Hikaru opened his eyes.
His body felt light, yet filled with an unprecedented explosive power.
He raised his hand, palm facing upward.
Zzt—
A very thin purple electric arc jumped at his fingertips without the slightest delay, as if it were an extension of his own body.
The feeling was wonderful.
He lowered his head and looked to his side.
Kikyo was leaning against a tree trunk, her longbow resting across her knees, her eyes slightly closed, her breathing steady and long.
She had fallen asleep.
For a priestess who always maintained vigilance, this was almost impossible in the wild.
But because he was by her side, and because of that almost frenzied fusion of spiritual power and Demonic Qi last night, she was exhausted.
However, the Barrier she had set up in advance was still functioning.
Kanbe Hikaru's gaze fell upon her.
Her white top was somewhat disheveled from their previous actions, the collar slightly open, revealing a large area of skin below her collarbone as delicate as snow, shimmering with a lustrous glow in the morning light.
The red hakama pants wrapped around her slender legs, which were currently stretched out casually. The smooth, undulating curves extended all the way to her waist, tracing a breathtaking silhouette.
Kanbe Hikaru took off his tattered outer garment and gently covered her with it.
His movements were very light.
But Kikyo still woke up.
Her long lashes trembled slightly, and those pitch-black eyes slowly opened. The daze of initial waking vanished instantly, replaced by her usual coolness and vigilance, but the moment she saw Kanbe Hikaru, that vigilance transformed into softness.
"You're awake?"
Her voice carried a slight huskiness from just waking up.
"Yeah."
Kanbe Hikaru sat down beside her and naturally reached out to help her tidy the stray hairs at her temples.
Kikyo's bright, beautiful eyes looked directly at him as she suddenly asked, "How do you... feel?"
"Very strong."
Kanbe Hikaru looked at his palm; under the pale skin, a network of purple blood vessels was clearly visible. "Better than expected. The power of the thunder beast isn't just on the surface; it has truly become a part of my body."
In the past, he used Demonic Qi to drive his body.
Now, with the blessing of the thunder, his body itself was the manifestation of Demonic Qi.
Speed, strength, and reaction time had all increased by more than just one level.
But—
It wasn't enough.
The quantitative change had indeed caused a massive shift, but it hadn't yet completely broken through that layer of qualitative Barrier.
Materialization is a leap in the level of life.
It is like the thunder beast's complete elementalization, or like Kidomaru's fundamental change and transformation that touches the level of laws.
Kanbe Hikaru was currently at an extremely delicate threshold.
He treated the Six Transformations as pockets and stuffed every pocket to the brim. Especially the [Sharp Body Transformation]; after merging with the lightning, it had expanded to its limit.
But even so...
"Still missing a little bit."
Kanbe Hikaru whispered to himself.
"Just one step away from the threshold."
Kikyo keenly sensed the change in his mood. She sat up straight and then gripped the 'young man's' palm beside her, their fingers interlocking once more.
"No need to rush."
She leaned in further, resting her body against his shoulder. She spoke naturally, her warm breath brushing against his ear. "You've already progressed very fast. Too fast is sometimes not a good thing."
Kanbe Hikaru turned his head, the tip of his nose brushing against her soft hair.
"I know."
He tightened his grip on the young girl's small, slender hand. "But I can feel that the opportunity is right before my eyes."
"I just need one more straw."
"A straw that can break the camel's back, or rather, a straw that can cause the bucket to completely shatter and reassemble."
His gaze fell upon the items in his pocket.
poison jiao scale, favorability 25.
Nekomata Claws, favorability 18.
Because he had previously focused his main efforts on the horn of the thunder beast, these two items had seen progress, but not much.
Now...
Since [Sharp Body Transformation] had already accommodated the lightning and become [Thunder Muscle].
Then the remaining transformations should also be put on the agenda.
Push all the quantities to the extreme.
At that time, Materialization would occur naturally, like a flood breaking through a dam.
'The favorability of the poison jiao scale still needs to be ground out. That thing is too insidious; I can't just consume it directly like the Thunder Horn.'
Kanbe Hikaru calculated in his mind.
'The Nekomata Claws, however, can be put on the agenda.'
As he was thinking, a sudden vibration came from his chest.
It was the red comb tucked into his collar.
[Yura of the Hair: favorability +2]
[Current favorability: 25 (A bit concerned)]
[It is protesting. It felt the power feedback after the Thunder Horn was consumed. It also wants to become stronger and doesn't want to be treated by you as a mere vibrating massager.]
Kanbe Hikaru: "..."
The resentment of this comb was quite heavy.
And what do you mean by massager?
However, Yura of the Hair's ability was to manipulate hair, which was essentially a combination of threads and wind.
If he could completely master her ability... Kanbe Hikaru glanced at Kikyo's jet-black, beautiful long hair behind her.
"What are you looking at?"
Kikyo seemed to sense his gaze and looked up slightly. Her eyes, which usually carried a sense of aloofness, now seemed to contain spring water, shimmering with light.
"I'm looking at your hair."
Kanbe Hikaru spoke the truth. "It's very beautiful."
"..."
Kikyo didn't say anything, but her grip on his hand tightened a bit more.
After that, it was time...
"Let's go back."
Kikyo stood up, tidied her clothes, and shouldered her longbow.
Although her tone was still calm, her reddened earlobes betrayed her mood.
When the two returned to Kaede Village, it was already noon.
Under the Torii at the village entrance, little Kaede was kicking stones out of boredom.
Seeing the two figures walking side by side, the little girl's eyes lit up. She was about to rush forward, but her footsteps suddenly stopped.
She saw it.
Her sister was walking in front, and although she appeared to have a steady pace and a calm expression as usual...
That Oni-God big brother following behind had his gaze constantly glued to her sister.
Moreover...
Her sister's hand was reaching back ever so slightly. Although they weren't directly holding hands, that distance, that atmosphere...
Too close.
So close that not even the wind could slip between them.
Kaede sniffed her nose.
"So sweet."
She whispered to herself.
In the past, her sister's body only carried a cold scent of sandalwood and herbs.
How does it feel now... like there's an extra cloying sweetness?
"Kaede."
Kikyo walked closer and patted her younger sister's head. "What are you daydreaming about?"
"No... nothing!"
Kaede stuck out her tongue, her gaze circling between the two of them before finally landing on Kanbe Hikaru.
"Big Brother, you seem to have changed."
"Oh?" Kanbe Hikaru asked with a calm expression, though he was puzzled. "Did I get stronger?"
Could it be that this little girl, Kaede, actually has great talent too?
The 'original work' didn't show that!
Of course, although Kanbe Hikaru relied on the so-called original work for much of his information, he didn't trust it completely.
This was a 'mixed world' after all.
Many things were even less likely to be identical to what he was familiar with.
To this, Kaede shook her head.
"No."
The little girl pointed at his hair. "It feels... a bit frizzy, like you were struck by lightning."
Kanbe Hikaru: "..."
Kikyo couldn't help but chuckle softly.
That momentary smile was like melting snow, making Kanbe Hikaru's heart skip a beat.
"Let's go, let's go home."
He said.
At this moment, becoming stronger was for survival.
And survival was to protect this daily life.
The threshold of qualitative change was right before his eyes.
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