Demonic Kitsune

The time spent within the Demonic Treasure Vault is different from the time outside, akin to an entirely separate space. An hour there equals two hours outside both the distorted and ripple spaces.

Within the allotted 24 hours in the library, Clare attempted to read as many relevant volumes of techniques as she could from the first to the fourth floors. She managed to memorize over forty technique booklets. Even reading and generalizing information from forty books on each floor is a task worthy of a former Heavenly Saintess; anything less would be disappointing.

Clare went further, instilling the knowledge in her mind’s vast library, a habit she had developed whenever she read something new. Ordinary people couldn’t memorize such massive amounts of detailed knowledge from a single floor in less than 24 hours. But Clare isn’t ordinary.

It is impolite to refer to her as the same. While it wasn’t typical for her to totally memorize all those volumes of texts, she couldn’t precisely remember the most significant volumes in her collection unless she utilized a technique to astral-project herself to her mind's library to re-read them.

However, this should be enough. Clare should be exhausted after reading from the allowed floors, right? Yet, she wasn’t overjoyed; it wasn’t something to be proud of. Nevertheless, Clare, who was about to step out of the Demonic Treasure Vault, had a smile on her face. She had achieved all the goals she set for herself upon entering the Vault.

As the Heavenly Saintess, the First Saintess of the Central Holy Church, she had acquired wide knowledge from its library. She could summarize the core points of each technique booklet among the thirty texts she read in one of the biggest libraries in all of Salamander. For Clare, it wasn’t bad. No, that was an exaggeration. It was amazing, but not spectacular.

Her lips still curled into a slight smile. She earned two more things besides the summaries of the “Forty” technique texts she found. The first was an in-depth understanding of the Scythe Technique, which she thought never existed since scythes were rarely used. It all came down to her father's words: “To take something extremely old down, just try something new.”

Clare found something new in choosing a scythe, its basics, its main techniques, and the special handouts she discovered. Her father once said finding something true was the most important thing. The degree to which she could utilize this technique depended on how well she could sync and use the Asura energy required for it with her body’s synchronization. Most techniques traded explosive power for in complete synchronization with the body, especially demonic techniques.

However, this was a misconception many combatants fell for. The more outstanding the techniques, the more they actually required the ability to sync and utilize them with one's mind and body. Fully synchronized, the more powerful they became. As a result, many combatants, whether Knights, Assassins, or Saintesses, used Holy Mana, and Aura Techniques they weren’t fully synchronized with. This was best described as “for every action, there is a reaction.”

Although techniques were made to sync and utilize through initial synchronization, not everyone could transcend human limits to achieve full synchronization. If one picked a technique without the knowledge to sync with it, or the appropriate energy to match it, they would struggle to bring out the technique's full ability.

In the end, becoming stronger is a must if Clare wants to bring out the glory of this technique… She raised her hand and slipped the book between her robe, recalling her goal of vengeance and the strength required to achieve it. 

She never actually existed.

Clare realized she would have to train harder to complete the Mithril Body and Soul Reinforcement and Mithril Physique Circulation to achieve full body synchronization. She also realized the true glory of the new scythe techniques she once thought never existed. It was a booklet she just slipped between her robes…

Absolute Reaper Compensation: The Six Binds of Grim: פיצוי קוצר מוחלט!

… as she finally got out of the library. Clare felt soothed by the fresh, cool breeze as she waited for all the little Arrancars to finish. Once they were done, she and the others left with Julianne Xue, the demonic female instructor, who had returned to check on them as the deadline approached. Clare then returned to her room at the institute.

Clare tucked her hand into her exquisite robes and walked over to the magical fluorescent bead lamp by her bedside. The little booklet she had grabbed from the Demonic Treasure Vault appeared. Clare’s pale, delicate hands swept the dust from the book’s cover as she handled it with care. She glanced at the technique’s title once more.

“Absolute Reaper Compensation: The Six Binds of Grim…”

Clare hadn’t heard of it but knew its origins. It was tied to the First Scythe Knight, the first knight of a certain kingdom to wield a scythe apart from figures like the Grim Reaper, King Yama, or Death is a Girl. This knight had also become a contractor with one of the first twelve divine beings—gods. However, the knight vanished mysteriously, to the point even the contracted god didn’t know his whereabouts. He was categorized as an “air nomad who vanished for a hundred years before reappearing in an iceberg." 

What was his name again?

In any case, this knight’s technique had been found in the Demonic Treasure Vault. This meant that at some point, he had joined the Demon Clan, leading to an unusual history regarding the twelve gods in the Seven Heavens.

Clare had heard the story back when she was a child at Holy Academy in her previous life when she first became a cadet of the Central Holy Church. The history was indeed unusual, but the most certain aspect was the lost and astounding techniques of that unique individual, who seemed to have walked a path similar to Clare’s current one. The technique she thought lost, ‘Absolute Reaper Compensation,’ had been hidden in the Demonic Treasure Vault.

‘Dad, I did indeed find something new.’

Feeling gratitude for her father’s guidance, her tails wriggled with pride as if she could feel his warm hand on her head. Her upright, triangular ears pointed slightly downward, cutely in his embrace. With a warm smile spreading across her lips, Clare gently shook the remaining dust off the back of her hand.

— — — — — 

As she recalled the mysterious knight’s history, his Scythe Technique, and the way he wielded a scythe, she marveled at its power. The technique, known throughout Salamander as a lost art, was as enigmatic as its owner.

In Salamander, knowledge of this legacy was often distorted. The Central Holy Church kept details secret, considering it a matter for the Twelve Gods of the Seven Heavens—Eden. From fragmented knowledge, Clare understood that the Divine being with whom the mysterious knight had a contract was a sole contractor divine being, meaning only one contractor at a time.

However, if this legacy had reached the Demon Clan, how was the contractorship still strong today? Clare knew that many public stories about this god were false. From ancient times until her death, it was believed that the divine being had only one contractor unless that contractor died, a fact accepted as common sense in the heavens.

But this wasn’t entirely true.

If one looked closely, one would find no rule limiting the god's contractorship to a single individual. Mastery of the scythe, a highly respected and difficult weapon technique, hinted at deeper secrets. A close examination of the divine being’s history revealed that, in ancient times, there had indeed been periods when there was more than one contractor.

This happened when the twelve gods fought for supremacy of the Seven Heavens. At that time, a particular Divine being accepted two contractees and granted them all its power equally before being cunningly put to sleep by the other gods. However, the karma title of the Absolute Grim Reaper could only be passed down to one of them. The contractee who couldn’t inherit that title traveled far and wide to hone his skills and techniques.

This contractee ventured as far as the Demon Clan, at the edge of the Salamander, and created his own technique in the process. This Scythe Technique he created was titled “Absolute Reaper Compensation: The Six Binds of Grim.”

Clare had never heard that the technique for the Six Binds of Grim had another name or actually existed. It wasn’t formally recorded anywhere, not even partially—only fragments and rumors. To think it was created by the contractee of that Divine being!

Although he left the “middle states” and traveled all the way to the cruel and masochistic Demon Clan, he didn’t forget his roots as a Knight and a contractee of that Divine being. If that was really the case, why were the techniques left here, in the Demon Clan? Clare could only think of one answer: something significant was hidden from the public eye and the records of that Knight.

If that was true, then something must have happened between the unknown Knight, the Divine being put to sleep, and the cruel Demon Clan. Could the connection between the Knight and the Divine being have been severed, as she did with Isolde? Did that cause a war between him and the Demon Clan, who followed only strength and power?

But Clare ruled out those conclusions. The Mysterious Knight, even without the connection to his Divine Being, should still be strong if he could create such a powerful technique. Besides, that didn't matter to Clare right now. She let out a deep breath, and her tails, which had been stretched out in relaxation, curled at their ends.

‘... What matters is that it’s now in my hands.’ 

Clare grasped the booklet's edges tightly. The “Six Binds of Grim” combined the Demon Clan’s methods with the Mysterious Knight’s techniques. It was perfect for Clare, who, despite having different goals, was on the same path as the original contractee. It felt as though fate had placed the Six Binds of Grim in her hands.

For Clare, this technique would be crucial in her revenge against Wenceslas, the leading Archbishop. Her gaze grew intense, and bloodlust radiated from her, making her bushy tails twitch with anxiety. She recalled Wenceslas's arrogant look as she gazed down at her bloodied form, and a violent anger surged within her, swirling like a tornado in her mind.

During her time at the Institute, Clare had only ever felt such rage when she remembered the Archbishop's grin on the day of her death. Her demon side amplified her emotions, while her foxy side was excited only about the discovery of the Six Binds of Grim.

‘Let’s not get too excited.’ 

Little by little, Clare calmed her harsh breathing and retracted her bloodlust. Instead, a dark-purplish-yellow aura of killing intent swirled around her eyes before disappearing altogether. She didn’t forget. Hell, she wouldn’t forget. She was just waiting to build her strength and influence, biding her time accordingly. Her absolute vengeance would happen. She would make sure of it no matter what, even if it took her countless years to achieve it.

… The Holy Grail War. 

Clare caressed her fluffy tails as she pondered. She leaned against the plain white wall, its chill relaxing her rigid body.

After disrupting the links of multiple Divine Beings from their Contractees, she had caused those Divine Beings to become enraged. They rained down spears of golden lightning with loud, thunderous sounds that shook both the Heavens and Earth. The skies had darkened like an abyss for a few seconds. At least, that was what Clare saw that day, teetering on the thin line of death.

From what she knew about the Holy Grail War, kingdoms, Great Families, and Continental Clans with great forces would seize this opportunity to fight each other in territorial wars. They would seek revenge for their lost comrades taken by the Central Holy Church, which had masterminded the crusade to eradicate the First Saintess over a mere Ancient Text. This, of course, had backfired.

They would ignore the fact that they all agreed to it initially to acquire not only the Ancient Holy Text but also superiority and authority over the lives of common citizens. It was only natural for both the Demon Clan and Monster Clan to join in. Clare would also make use of this advantageous chance. She would utilize what she could and take what she could, even if that meant using the power of the Clan. She grasped one of her bushy tails firmly, and an unfathomable shock ran through her whole body.

The sound of Clare’s teeth grinding echoed in the room, along with her knuckles popping in frustration. She would wait patiently until she could build enough strength to pursue her revenge wholeheartedly. If she went out as she was now, recklessly pursuing her revenge on Wenceslas, the ringleader, she would likely die. She had to focus on what she could do right now.

Clare admired the Six Binds of Grim with a murderous gleam in her eye. However, there was also a look of utmost concentration. Inside the elegant, dimly lit room, only her ragged and fierce breathing could be heard. She retracted her hands from her fluffy tails, and the poor thing flinched in fear.

… Unbeknownst to her, the Holy Grail War she wanted to take advantage of had already ended two years ago, unfortunately.

* * *

After the trip through the narrow path between a partly flaming-purplish, canyon-like woodland, and the ripple in space encased by the misty atmosphere and realm of translucency to the Demonic Treasure Vault, the schedule of the Institute of Arrancars continued without much change.

The only difference was that personal training time had increased. Previously, the Demonic Instructors enforced a tight schedule before granting the "Dining Hall Entry Pass Badges" for dinner. However, after leaving the Demonic Treasure Vault, Clare and the other little Arrancars were given free time after finishing their morning training before lunchtime.

Naturally, they were expected to learn the techniques they had taken from the Demonic Treasure Vault. Clare made the best use of her time to learn the “Six Binds of Grim.” The Asura energy flow required for the technique needed rigorous training, along with the adaptability and synchronization of the technique to her body.

‘The Scythe technique is so strange yet more eerie in nature than ‘Chaotic Windfiery of Hellscythe…’

In simpler terms, it wasn’t easy to grasp at all. It was incredibly difficult to master the Six Binds of Grim. Clare, who knew the Central Holy Church’s original values and techniques, found this new technique odd, difficult, and extremely dangerous. The technique couldn’t be executed correctly without the right body structure, bone reinforcement, flexibility, and energy capability. Impatience could tear the user’s body to shreds.

‘Even so, the Six Binds of Grim is a well-made technique.’

Many generations had passed since its creation, and Clare could appreciate the ingenuity of such a dangerous and powerful technique. However, analyzing its roots between the Divine Being and the Demon Clan was incredibly challenging.

‘It's like trying to dismantle an automobile and expecting to find who created the piston in its engine.’

This was the case for the scythe technique Clare was learning, passed down through texts from two opposing cultures and methods. Yet, this challenge was precisely why she could learn the technique. Line by line, verse by verse, and chapter by chapter, Clare’s emerald eyes analyzed every text from the booklet. Learning the technique with her body was equally important. The difference between learning by reading and physical practice was astronomical.

The ambient air rushed across the field as Clare swung her scythe. In the grassland shaded by reddish blossoms just outside the platform area, she practiced a technique she had combined from the Ancient Text and the Central Holy Church before her death. Her dark red, demon-illustrated robes danced in the air as she moved her feet.

Her movements were impressive. The alloy-steel curved dark blade dashed in a half-crescent form from the right side, seemingly suspended by her hands and feet. The resulting form was so precise that anyone could see the shape of a crescent moon in just one motion.

The Crescent of the Starless Night Sky: Η Ημισέληνος του Ουρανού Χωρίς Αστέρια: הסהר של שמי הלילה חסרי הכוכבים.

The name of this technique was handed down in reverence to the moon’s Holy Goddess, believed to brighten all paths, even on starless nights. Clare, however, was never a believer in any gods or divine beings. This technique was a result of combining both Ancient and Holy techniques she had acquired two days before she was betrayed—the same night she drank with Saints and Saintesses in a grand celebration. She never knew it would be her last celebration with them.

Clearing her mind of these lingering thoughts, she focused on her stable and soft movements, contrasting them with the flow from the 'Six Binds of Grim.' She had just improved the technique by herself.

— The waves flow in the paths of the absolute rays of the moonlight.

— The empty twilight intertwines the current of the starless sky that traps the opponent in the endless shapes of a crescent moon.

— The opponent who gets trapped by the different paths shrouded by the darkest of nights yet bright as the day will be lost, drowning and confused in the endless barrage of sharp, curved strikes and pseudo-twisted swings, unable to do anything as it faces the moonlight goddess.

….

The reason it was such a strong technique was due to its step-by-step nature and the stability within the structure of the movements.

‘Next... will be the Six Binds of Grim.’

Her long Emerald hair fluttered, and her nine tails stood on end. Inhaling and exhaling deeply, she released all the tension pent up in her body as the breeze tickled her skin. At that moment, she felt like a free bird—an albatross. With tension relieved, her feet became light as she delved into her imagination and let it all go wild. Soon, her body moved.

The air trembled as the previously drawn dark scythe, which had dashed in circular motions highlighting the Crescent of the Starless Night Sky, disappeared. The harmonious breeze changed course as high-density swirls of different rotations generated a loop of sparks, colliding with the alloy-steel scythe. Her tails tensed and curved at the tips, forming a rhythm with her. Her hands moved along with her feet diligently and elegantly among the grasses. Heavy blows were swung, and the curved blade parted the stirring air.

Two ambient air currents collided, creating more sparks. A massive curve coursed throughout, containing the power to split open even a large tree trunk and rock in one go. The air vibrated, and the aftershock trembled her hand. Despite the pain from her palm to her hand, she persisted, cracking everything in her path.

If the “Crescent of the Starless Night Sky” was light and stable, the “Six Binds of Grim” was heavy, swift, and seemed to bind the air in an inconstant, explosive carving. The Six Binds of Grim flowed like carving a path shrouded in darkness, cracking desolation and corruption in any living thing to insensibility. Its movements were so destructive and powerful that Clare’s body, despite rigorous training, could still not come out unscathed after practicing it. Cold sweat dripped down her cheek to her delicate neck.

This was a big predicament. The softness and consistent flow of the Crescent of the Starless Night Sky contrasted with the extreme firepower and inconsistent flow of the Six Binds of Grim. If she could somehow combine these two, she would create a new technique never seen before.

But doing so would be much harder than creating the accumulation technique—Superiorization of True Deviation—she had already created. Or acquiring a new type of energy—Asura energy—from combining Holy Mana and Demonic energy and a mixture of both, which were called "Oil and Water." and something in between. 

In this case, it was like directly mixing flame and water without extinguishing either. If she could combine the two, she would create a new technique unparalleled by any in existence.

Of course, it would be more than this Half-breed could handle. She could endure it due to the strong physique and overwhelming vitality of her demon side, but what about her foxy side? Others had attempted it before, but none were able to find success in combining two polar opposite techniques.

‘... but it’s still worth trying.’

The pursuit of extreme stability and extreme swift destruction. The two techniques Clare had were already enough to be called treasures in Salamander in terms of their profundity. However, if she could mix these two techniques, which were already so high-level they could be treasured as a Clan’s secret techniques, she would create a legendary technique. Additionally, the generational difference between the two techniques wasn’t as much of a problem for Clare as it would be for others.

What she had to focus on was mastering both techniques first and creating a foundation to build upon. If she could create this technique successfully, those Central Holy Church fuckers would truly die by her hand. In terms of mastery, Clare could likely master them both with her old body. However, the current body of GIMEL wasn’t quite used to such movements yet.

‘If it doesn’t work, I can always use other techniques to cover up the flaws. Let’s do it.’

Clare wasn’t only excited for her revenge; creating new scythe techniques was any True Saintess’s dream. Especially when Clare, with her own knowledge, was ready. The wind blew, and her fluffy ears and tails tingled as the grass shook where her feet moved. The scythe in Clare’s hands moved with elegance, accuracy, and roaring violence. Performing all of this in a quiet and majestic part of the platform beneath the reddish blossom willow tree, Clare succumbed to inner peace as she came to a conclusion.

First, after mastering these two separately, she would create an entirely new overall technique.