(Mael's POV)
"I have never met a Traveler before." Ren said as she led me through the hallway of the Shrine Temple, "I've heard many tales about them. Kazuha occasionally gets them, but they are a rare sight in Kurama."
"Kurama?" I asked
"That is the region where you are at." She said as we reached the main room, "Kazuha has many regions; it is a large land. Kurama is located a bit to the south-west, lush with forests and grass plains. You are in the middle of the Kurama Forest, which has several cliffs and Kyubi Mountain."
"I see..." I said, "And when it comes to the Godlands.....Kazuha is one of the many.....well, lands?"
"Yes...." She said as she walked over to a chest, "The tales of Travelers that I was told growing up, all of the other Lands get the most Travelers.
"Interesting...." I said
She opened the chest and pulled out my sword and gun, "I still...worry about doing this...." She said softly, straightening up and turning to me, "You are still a stranger....But I am desperate. The shrines and their temples must always be attended to.....and I cannot leave mine to help my sisters....."
I nodded, "Worry not." I said, "I will help you. I just need to know where they could be...."
"There is a large Fort, in the middle of the Forest." Ren told me, "Within, a group of dangerous men reside. Some of them wield magic while the others are barbaric warriors."
"Do you think they could have harmed your sisters?" I asked
She nodded, "Physically yes." She said, "But I worry that before they try to defile them, they would force them to use their gifts for them. If anything, they intend to sell them to the Benihime."
"Benihime?" I asked
She tucked some of her hair behind her ear, "Apologies, you might not be familiar with Kazuha's clans." She said, "The Shogunate has dozens of Samurai Clans serving them. But there are other Clans that oppose the Shogunate, being declared outlaws. The Benihime is the mightiest of these clans, constantly challenging the Nakamura."
"I see..." I said, "And these men will sell your Kitsune brethren to them."
She nodded, "Yes." She said, "I am sorry if you feel like you're delving into a dangerous mission. I-"
"Don't worry about it." I said, "I have to do this."
"I heard the Travelers gain great powers at times when crossing through the Cosmic Tear." She said, "Did you receive the same?"
"You are not unsettled by my eyes?" I asked
She frowned, "Strange statement....but no." She said, "I've seen worse."
"Do you know what they mean, though? Being a Fox-Spirit." I said
She nodded, "Corruption." She said softly, "They are the eyes of a Corrupted Deity."
"But you're not concerned by me?" I said as I slid the katana in the sash of the kimono, "Strange...."
"Kitsune have many gifts." She said, looking down, "One of them is being able to tell what other spirits pose a danger to them. Right now, the Spirit within you, while it is great.....it is not dangerous.....to me....."
"Then you know that I received some great power." I said, "However, I just got here. So right now, I have to rely on my tools here."
"I understand." she said, "I can point you in the direction of the Fort. But I am afraid I cannot leave the premises."
"It is fine." I told her
"By doing this, we are even." She said with a bow, "I will also be eternally grateful, Mael."
"Right...." I said as I looked to the side, "Anything else you can tell me about the men?"
"One of them wields animals as his own soldiers." She said
"I was attacked by a large black bird. That's what caused me to fall down the cliff." I said as I looked at her, "Does he summon birds?"
"Yes." She said, "Perhaps it was he who attacked you."
"Well, he's made it personal then." I said seriously, "Point me to the right direction."
"I'll handle this."
***********
"These sandals are light....." I said as I was walking down the path through the forest, "And comfortable.....nice....."
I was pointed westwards by Ren, telling me that the Fort was by the River. I assume it is the same river I had landed in, near the Waterfall. It is all happening too fast, but I cannot just sit there and do nothing. The System wants me to help the Kitsune, so I should.
I get Gear and another Skill unlock. The more abilities I have, the better. And I have to perform certain Tasks to unseal the Dragon form too. I can't waste my time, I have to take advantage of the power I was given.
Systems can make very strong without any restrictions, as long as conditions are met. The Superhuman Gene, from what I understand, is capable of granting me great power but I have to work hard to improve it further or even control it.
That is why the System is a better option for the Godlands, or so they say. I say both powers are incredibly useful in their own ways. The only drawback of the System is that I don't have access to it on my world, but I don't know when I would be able to go back.
After I help Ren out, I will ask her what she knows of the Blood Moon.
And man...
She is one sexy woman. A Fox-Woman with an amazing body, curves sculpted by the gods, and a large set of amazingly shaped breasts. When she prostrated, her ass was also quite large.
What are the odds that she would "aid" me with the System? That would be something, huh?
She saved me, so I owe her at least this. Using this against her won't be nice.
I have to focus on helping out the other Kitsune, which would not only complete my Task, it would put me on good graces with them.
I walked down a slope, making my way down the forest. The Shrine and small temple was already a mile or two behind me, I was simply walking down casually.
"Kazuha...." I said, "A part of the Godlands....."
A location in the Godlands based off Feudal Japan, huh? With a Shogunate of its own. I wonder if they operate the same way that they did in my world, a long.....long time ago.....
As I walked and thought about this, I heard distant shouting.
I placed my hand on the handle of the katana, "Hm?" I said as I looked ahead, spotting movement through the trees, "People?"
I quickly rushed over to the brush, crouching down and staying low, looking ahead of me.
I saw that next to a stream, a group of men were huddled over a cage and a wagon.
"This ain't a fucking Kitsune!" one of them shouted, "The fuck is wrong with you?"
"What are you talking about, they can shapeshift!" the other said
"You imbecile, they don't have that ability anymore!" he retorted, "This is some fucking hag, that is all!"
Inside the cage, a woman with brown hair, who also looked rather busty and curvaceous, was hugging her knees and crying.
"Please, leave me be....." She sobbed, "I don't know where I am...."
"Should we take her to the boss?" one of the men asked
"She ain't no damn Kitsune, there's no point." the man said, "We should just rape her and hang her, let the bears take her from there."
"Sounds like a plan." the other said as he began to take his loincloth, "Hehe!"
"NOOO!!" She shouted, "Leave me alone!!"
She kicked against the cage, squirming as the men began to open the cage.
I jumped out of the bushes and ran towards them, "Hey!!"
The men stopped and turned towards me, "Huh?" one said, "Who the fuck is that?"
I saw as one of them drew a katana, "A dead fucker, that's who!"
He swung his sword at me but I slid on my knees, avoiding the swing. I then immediately straightened up and drew my own sword, thrusting it him and stabbing him on the side.
"argghh!!!" He shouted
I pulled the blade out and grabbed the sword with both hands, looking at the others, "Don't you dare touch that woman." I said with a scowl,
"I'll cut you down right here."