We hurried through the dense underbrush, Yume leading the way. Ash lifted off my shoulder and changed her form to a blue and violet dragon. She was still the size of a house cat, for now at least, as her larger size would have made navigating the woods more troublesome.

  A clearing opened up before us, revealing a scene that made my blood run cold. A young girl, no older than ten, huddled against a moss-covered boulder, her wide, terrified eyes locked onto the four hulking brown and gray figures advancing toward her with predatory intent. They were more than twice her size, their pig-like snouts twitching as they sniffed the air. They had floppy pig ears that wiggled in excitement, and their crude, wooden clubs were held to the side in an attempt to corral the child.

  The girl's breath came in ragged gasps, her small hands clutching at the rough stone behind her. She was dressed in a simple, tattered tunic and leggings, her dark hair matted with dirt and leaves. One of the creatures let out a guttural snort, its beady eyes gleaming with malice as it took another step closer.

  Yume tensed beside me, taking an involuntary step towards the child. Ash, now perched on my shoulder in her dragon form, let out a low, warning growl, her wings hitched threateningly. The creatures hadn't noticed us yet, their attention solely focused on the helpless young girl. I could feel the tension in the air, the unspoken threat of violence hanging heavy between us.

  My first instinct was to rush in, but I hesitated long enough to scan the creatures.

  Unknown Oku

  Threat Level: Yellow

  I almost chuckled at the name. Oku, as far as I knew, was just the word for orc pronounced with a Japanese accent. Then again, the porcine features were definitely a classic Japanese take on the creatures. In any event, the threat level was well within acceptable parameters for a head on fight.

  "Hey!" I shouted, stepping forward, my voice cutting through the clearing like a blade. The creatures paused, their snouts wrinkling in confusion as they took in our presence. The girl's eyes flickered to me, a spark of hope igniting in their gray depths.

  Yume's arms ignited in blue flames, her body tensing as she prepared to fight. Ash's growl deepened, her tiny form vibrating with barely contained fury. I could feel the tension coursing through me, the familiar surge of energy that always accompanied a fight.

  The creatures exchanged glances, their crude weapons shifting in their three fingered hands. One of them let out a low, rumbling growl, its beady eyes narrowing as it sized us up. I could see the calculation in its gaze, the moment it decided we were worth the trouble.

  I smiled, my hands tightening on my spear. "Let's see how you handle a real fight," I said, my voice low and dangerous. The creatures charged, their clubs raised high. I braced myself, ready to meet them head-on.

  An unfortunate smell hit me like a bulldozer as soon as they got close. It was a mix of body odor and sewage that was strong enough to make me want to retch. Resisting the impulse was difficult enough that I lost the initiative. Instead of lashing out with my superior reach, I was put on the defensive, parrying an overhead swing from the leading oku.

  Using the momentum of the parry to my advantage, I stepped around the fowl smelling creature and extended the butt end of my spear behind me. One of the two creatures that were charging at Yume tripped over the haft, falling face first and buying her time to deal with the oku one at a time.

  Unfortunately, that left the fourth and largest pig faced creature to flank me from the side. My spear was on the wrong side for me to intercept an attack, but Ash had my back. Her roar started out as more of a screech, but turned into something far more intimidating as she grew to the size of a horse.

  The oku's swing faltered, though whether that was because of Ash's telekinesis or the surprise of having a massive snarling dragon in his face, I couldn't be sure. Probably both. Either way, the creature soon vanished under a flurry of blue scales and claws.

  I heard, as one of the oku fighting Yume behind me started to squeal in pain, but couldn't spare the time to look. The rotund enemy in front of me was apparently unsatisfied with the fight thus far. He roared in anger—making my eyes water from the stench of his breath—then lunged at me.

  He was too close to use my spear effectively, so I dropped it and struck out with my fist at the elbow of the arm swinging the club. I heard a snap, but it wasn't enough to stop the enraged oku from latching his maw over my right shoulder and tackling me to the ground.

  I had the wind knocked out of me, though a part of me thought that might be a good thing. I wasn't all that interested in smelling dumpster breath anyway.

  Reflex took over, and I used the momentum of the tackle to roll myself on top, delivering several hard knee thrusts into his ribs. I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder as the oku's tusks tore through my shoulder pauldrons, prompting me to jab a fist into his trachea several times until he released me.

  Standing, I reached out with my mind and levitated my spear into my waiting hands. I finished the wheezing pig-man off with a quick thrust through his chest before pausing to look around.

  Ash was off to the side, retching into the bushes, but seemingly unharmed. Yume was standing over a burnt husk, scowling as she scanned for additional threats, ears twitching. Her efforts proved fruitful, as a second later she caught my eye and pointed to a tree on the edge of the clearing.

  We turned together and began stalking forward, only for a fifth hidden oku to break from cover and begin running away at a surprising speed. I didn't hesitate, cocking my arm back and hurling my spear as hard as I could. I still wasn't that experienced at throwing, but with the aid of my telekinesis, there was no way I could miss.

  The fifth—and hopefully final—smelly creature was sent tumbling to the ground with my spear through his neck. I tried to pull the spear back with my power, but grimaced when it remained stuck in the heavy corpse. Resigned, I sighed and began walking to retrieve it, scanning a new notification as I went.

  Essence gained! You now have enough essence to increase your level and open your Root Chakra.

  That was new. I had dealt with Potential, qi, and mana, but essence was something I had yet to learn about. Curious, I tried focusing on the new term and was gratified when I got an answer.

  Essence- Gained through life experience and defeating opponents, essence is a measure of a being. While Potential measures how much and in what ways a person can grow, essence represents the growth itself.

  In other words, Potential was like a container, and everyone had a different size and shape. Essence, then, was like water that could fill the container. Having a lot of potential was useless if it wasn't filled with something like experience.

  What the Voice had said about gaining strength was starting to make more sense. By defeating opponents and experiencing challenges, a person could grow stronger. As a spire lord, I had the unique ability to expand my potential along with my domain, which meant I could surpass my limits.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  I paused for a moment as a further implication struck me. My ability, Soul Bond, mentioned that it would enable my bonded partners to increase their Potential alongside my own. It also mentioned I could share my essence with someone to form a bond. I still wasn't sure how that might work, but I felt like I was a step closer to figuring it out.

  Not that I was in a hurry to bond just anyone—the emotional connection was far too personal to have with a stranger—but the advantage this could give was immense.

  "—never want to taste somethin' that fowl again!" Ash was still ranting about the taste of the oku she had torn apart. Apparently they tasted as bad as they smelled.

  "I guess that means you're not a fan of bacon then?" I asked as I ran my hand over her scaly shoulder.

  She glared at me. "Don't you dare ruin bacon for me, Cai Masaru Ryuzaki! I will never forgive you!" She pouted, something that looked strange in her dragon form, yet somehow still cute.

  "Sumimasen," a little voice spoke from beside me. I turned to see the girl from earlier holding Yume's hand. Now that the fighting was done, I examined her more closely.

  Her dark hair was disheveled, and dirt streaked her round cheeks. Her wide teary gray eyes were hesitant, and her small hands trembled as she clutched something to her chest. The hem of her simple tunic was torn, and one shoe was missing, leaving her foot scraped and bloody.

  More noticeable were the rounded raccoon ears and the tail swaying behind the girl. She took a step back when I activated my Eyes of Wisdom to scan her.

  Unknown Tanuki

  Threat Level: Red

  I gave her a reassuring smile and crouched down to appear less threatening. Since she had spoken in Japanese, I responded with the same. "It's okay, you're safe now. My eyes glow sometimes, but they won't hurt you." I gave a small bow, "My name is Ryuzaki Cai, it's a pleasure to meet you."

  The tanuki girl returned my bow and answered politely, "I am Suzuki Miyu. Thank you for saving me."

  Ash changed her form and shrank down to her fairy size before landing on my shoulder. "What's she sayin'?"

  "Ash, this is Suzuki Miyu, a tanuki yokai." I spoke to Ash in English, then switched back to Japanese as I introduced the dragon to Suzuki-san. Yume had already introduced herself, and the girl seemed more readily accepting of my kitsune lover. It made sense, considering they were both yokai, and Suzuki-san was likely more familiar with fox spirits.

  What followed was a slightly difficult conversation, in which Yume and I asked the poor girl what had happened and how we could help, while Ash badgered me for translations. Any time I was too slow to deliver, Ash would tug on my ear impatiently.

  In the end though, it was worth it, as Ash successfully made friends with Suzuki-san, and ended up sitting on her shoulder. Suzuki-san, in turn, rode on Yume's back as we began escorted her back to her village.

  "Oh no! So Suzuki-san got hurt lookin' for her brother?" Ash patted the girl's cheek consolingly.

  "Mmm. She said that several men from her village have gone missing in the past few months, and no one has been able to find them. Her older brother went out to collect herbs for their family a few days ago, but never returned." I glanced back the way we had come as I continued. "Apparently, several people are blaming the oku for the disappearances, though it hasn't been proven. She says her father may be able to tell us more."

  The girls continued to talk as Yume and Ash attempted to help the tanuki girl feel better. I took it upon myself to maintain awareness of our surroundings, especially since Yume was currently being used as a translator.

  The forest gradually thinned, giving way to a scene that felt ripped from a history book. A low, moss-covered stone wall, barely waist-high, marked the border of the town. Beyond it, the architecture was distinctly Edo period Japan –gently curved tiled roofs, dark wooden beams, and paper screens adorning the windows of every building.

  It was a quaint yet lively place, though not with the energy of a human city. A slower, more deliberate rhythm permeated everything. The air itself felt thicker, laced with the scent of woodsmoke and damp earth. As for the inhabitants, they were… different. I had to stop myself from staring at the wide variety of people.

  Tanuki, like Suzuki-san, were among the most common. They walked along the streets, some carrying small bundles, others playfully jostling each other. A pair of tengu, their long noses prominent even from a distance, argued heatedly over a game of go at a low table outside a teahouse. Kapa were easily discernable by the water filled flowers on their heads. The flowers were pretty enough, though the kapa themselves were less so. They looked a lot like I had originally pictured goblins, though with scales and claws. I even spotted a few people who looked normal. They were either humans or incredibly skilled shapeshifters.

  “Wow…” Ash breathed, her voice barely a whisper. She left Suzuki-san's shoulder to land on my head for a better view. “This is…Amazin'. I can't wait to explore!”

  Yume, ever the pragmatist, scanned the crowd with a critical eye. “Be careful, Ash. Just because they look peaceful doesn’t mean they are. Many yokai are notoriously fickle.” I looked at her with a raised eyebrow. She blushed and looked away with a small shrug.

  We hadn’t walked more than a few dozen meters into the town when a shadow fell over us. I turned to see a towering figure blocking our path. He was an oni, easily seven feet tall, with red skin the color of fresh blood and a pair of wickedly curved horns protruding from his forehead. He wore a simple, but imposing, set of black and silver armor, and wielded a massive club with iron studs—one I recognized as a tetsubo—that looked capable of knocking out an elephant with one blow.

  “Halt,” he rumbled, his voice low and rumbling. “Strangers are not permitted to wander freely within Mahō no Kōsaten. All outsiders must present themselves to Lord Kuroyama.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “And if we refuse?”

  The oni’s lips curled into a predatory grin. “Refusal is…discouraged. Lord Kuroyama values order. And he has ways of ensuring compliance.” He didn’t need to elaborate. The sheer size and power radiating from him were enough to convey the message. I was tempted to scan him, but didn't want to appear aggressive. Then again, maybe glowing eyes would be normal here.

  “Suzuki-san is from here,” I said, gesturing towards the little tanuki who was currently clinging to Yume’s hand. “Perhaps you know her family?”

  The oni glanced at the girl, his expression softening slightly. “Ah, little Suzuki-san. A good family. The girl may to return home. But the rest of you…come with me.”

  Suzuki-san’s face lit up with relief. “Thank you, thank you!” She bowed deeply to the oni, then turned to us. “I’ll go find my parents. Please, be careful!” With a final wave, she scurried off, disappearing around a corner.

  Yume and I exchanged a look. Neither of us were thrilled with this turn of events. For her part, Ash was impatiently waiting on my shoulder, unable to understand the conversation until I explained it.

  “So much for keeping a low profile,” Yume muttered, eyeing the oni up and down like he owed her money.

  “I don’t like bein’ told what to do,” Ash grumbled, her wings twitching irritably. “Especially by a big, ugly brute like him.”

  I sighed. “Me neither. But we don’t have much choice, do we? Let’s just go along with it for now. We can assess the situation once we’re in front of Lord Kuroyama. Who knows, perhaps he'll be reasonable.” Ash snorted, but didn't add anything else.

  Reluctantly, we allowed the oni to escort us deeper into the town. He moved with surprising grace for his size, his iron-studded club resting casually on his shoulder as he walked. We passed more yokai, their eyes following us with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. The atmosphere grew increasingly tense with each step.

  The oni led us through a maze of narrow streets and winding alleys, eventually arriving at a large, imposing structure in the center of the town. It was a larger building than any of the others we had seen, with a wall and a gate protected by oni guards. This was clearly the seat of Lord Kuroyama’s power.

  “Wait here,” the oni commanded, stopping before the gate. “I will inform Lord Kuroyama of your arrival.” He disappeared inside, leaving us standing in the courtyard, surrounded by watchful eyes.

  “Well,” Ash said, breaking the silence. “This should be…interestin'.”

  Yume simply nodded, her gaze fixed on the castle gate, her ears and tails showing her agitation. I couldn't help but agree with the emotions I was sensing across our bonds. This situation was dangerous. I just hoped this lord Kuroyama would be satisfied with talking, because fighting our way out of here didn't seem likely.