Chapter 694 The Spirit’s Power
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The violet haze of twilight stained the forest in pale, somber hues. In the sunless sky of the ‘Closed World’¹, no sun ever rose – there was only the vast, shimmering veil of an endless aurora of mana. Soft, flickering light filtered through the canopy, coating every leaf in a thin layer of silver.
”A spirit… wand?”² Kazumi asked.
She stared down at the artifact in her hand. The handle was carved from weathered wood, clutching a massive, translucent crystal sphere. It was scarred with signs of age; strips of white cloth were wound around its length like bandages covering old wounds.
”It is a magic tool – an item crafted to aid the mages we spirits served back in the age of Lady Freyja and Lady Lilith,” the spirit Leader explained. “Back in what you call the Era of Ancient Civilization.”³
The Leader narrowed her eyes, tracing the wand’s form as if navigating a labyrinth of distant memories. Her voice was ethereal, like the sound of water dissolving into the wind.
”I see… so it functions as an amplifier,” Rena noted.
Standing beside Kazumi, Rena reached out and ran a gentle finger over the wood. The moment her skin brushed the crystal, a faint ripple of light pulsed outward.
”Well, no use standing around talking about it! Let me show you how it’s done!”
A petite spirit, much smaller than the others, bounced toward them like a stray spark from a campfire. She was a tiny fragment of light that seemed to pulse with pure energy. With a playful twirl, she vanished into the crystal ball.
”Listen up! I’m going to teach you a chant, so say it loud and proud,” the small spirit’s voice echoed in Kazumi’s mind. “Just like when you normally use your magic, focus on kneading that mana inside you and hold the image tight. Let’s see… how about we use that spell the Lady over there – the silver-haired girl – used earlier?”
So they really do know who Rena is, Kazumi thought quietly.
Punting that thought to the back of her mind, Kazumi began to circulate her mana. The power coursing through her veins seemed to hum in harmony with the biting twilight air. The mental image sharpened, turning vivid and terrifying, until the words finally spilled from her lips.
”O ancient pact dwelling within my blood, awaken! Summon the gales that tore the northern tundras and scorched the southern wastes! O Twin Goddesses, Freyja and Lilith! I call upon the moment your clashing breaths entwine to form the Great Vortex! Give me the wind that is sweet as honey, yet cold as tempered steel! Sharper than a rose’s thorn, swifter than a shadow’s leap! O silver threads that sever the void, be born now! Become my blade! Become my blade! Become my blade! This wind, borne of my will, is no longer a mere breath – it is a sentence of death, the overture to an endless slaughter! Gather, O Storm! Whirl! Sharpen! In the names of the Twin Goddesses, Freyja and Lilith – WIND BLADE, MANIFEST!”
Kazumi thrust the wand forward. The crystal sphere turned incandescent, blinding her instantly. The mana she had spent so long refining erupted in a violent torrent, making the wooden handle shudder in her grip.
”Wait! That chant is – !” Rena’s panicked cry was cut short as the spell tore free.
A deafening roar shattered the silence. Countless silver blades of pressurized air shredded the landscape, screaming through the trees and severing leaves, branches, and solid trunks without resistance. The wind let out a low, predatory growl that made the very earth tremble.
The ground groaned. An ancient giant, a tree that had been the master of the grove for centuries, was cleaved in two. It began a slow, agonizing tilt before crashing into the dirt. A cloud of golden dust billowed up, caught in the dying light of the day.
”Eek!” Carla let out a tiny shriek, breaking the stunned silence that followed.
”Wh – what… what kind of power is that…?” Kazumi stammered.
”That’s practically God-tier magic,” Rena sighed, slapping a hand to her forehead. “That’s a spell from the ancient era. Honestly, Freyja and Lilith were basically handing out the same power the gods use to anyone who asked back then.”
The surrounding spirits, however, looked quite pleased with themselves.
”Indeed,” the Leader said. “The magic of the past was far more potent, though it required complex incantations and an immense drain on one’s mana.”
”No wonder that civilization went extinct if they were throwing stuff like this at each other,” Kazumi muttered.
”Exactly… that’s why Rena limited the magic of this world – ” Rena caught herself, glancing quickly at Carla. She fell silent, not wanting to reveal too much.
”But I didn’t use that much mana. How did it do so much damage?” Kazumi asked.
”Because I helped!” The tiny spirit popped out of the wand and hovered in front of Kazumi’s face. “I can even shorten the chant for you if you want. It loses a bit of its ‘oomph,’ sure, but check this out. ‘O Twin Goddesses! Call the holy air! Wind, become my blade – Strike!’ Something like that?”
”That is… significantly shorter,” Carla whispered.
”That’s the beauty of spirit magic! By using a medium like this wand, we can act as a bridge. We slash the mana cost for the caster and handle the heavy lifting of the incantations for you,” the spirit explained.
The little spirit made a light, musical chime and flew right up to Kazumi’s cheek, giving her a cheeky wink.
* * *
The tiny spirit, who called herself Vichteris, turned her sparkling eyes toward Kazumi. “Count on me, okay!” she chirped before diving back into the crystal ball. For a split second, the sphere pulsed with a soft, bioluminescent blue before settling back into transparency.
But the wand felt different now. It was heavier. It felt warm, like a living pulse was thrumming against Kazumi’s palm. It was as if someone else’s heartbeat was synchronizing with her own fingers.
”Don’t worry about the forest. Leave it to us,” the spirit Leader said with a calm, reassuring nod. “It’ll be back to normal by sunrise.”
”Wait, seriously?” Kazumi asked.
”Dammit! Viss overdid it again! She’s such a pain!” one of the other spirits cried.
”I mean, we can do it, but…” another grumbled.
The other four spirits began wailing and complaining in a chaotic, high-pitched chorus. The Leader gave them a sharp look before turning back to the group with a soft smile.
”Please look after Viss – I mean, Vichteris.”
With that, she took off, vanishing into the deep woods like a gust of wind. The other four followed, still grumbling as they faded into the shadows.
”I guess the spirits are as lively as ever,” Rena murmured.
”They were… certainly a lot more energetic than the legends say,” Carla added with a weak laugh.
”Well,” Kazumi exhaled, looking at her companions. “Let’s head back.”
\Rena and Carla nodded. The sky had shifted to a deep purple, and the shadows of the trees were stretching long and thin. They turned to leave, the smell of broken cedar still clinging to their clothes.
Then it happened.
”Rena! Kazumi! Help! It’s a disaster!”
A sharp, panicked scream tore through the woods. Gazura came crashing through the underbrush at a dead sprint. He was drenched in sweat, his face pale with terror.
”Hah… hah…!” Gazura skidded to a halt, gasping for air. “It’s Leo… he… they’re about to do something terrible!”
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Summary:
Kazumi tests the ‘Spirit’s Wand’ under the guidance of ancient spirits. By using a long-forgotten chant, she unleashes a ‘Wind Blade’ of devastating proportions, revealing the terrifying power of ancient civilization magic. The chapter ends on a cliffhanger as Gazura arrives with news of an impending disaster involving Leo.
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Trivia:
- The wand’s handle is wrapped in cloth like bandages.
- The spirits immediately recognize Rena’s true identity as a ‘Goddess’.
- Vichteris (Viss) resides inside the wand’s crystal ball.
- Ancient magic required longer chants but could be simplified by spirits acting as a medium.
- Rena deliberately limited the world’s current magic to prevent the destruction that ended the ancient civilization
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Character Insight:
Kazumi experiences a mix of awe and fear regarding her new power. Rena shows a protective/cautious side, hinting at her role in historical magic regulation. Carla remains the ‘everyman’ perspective, grounding the high-fantasy stakes.
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Behind the Scenes:
The author notes a two-month hiatus due to family health issues (daughter’s hospitalization and wife’s injury).
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Leo – A character reflecting on his surroundings and the conditions of their journey.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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