Chapter 29 - Purification

A/N: I didn't really have time to edit this one since it's late and I gotta get up early, so if you notice any mistakes, my bad. If you point any out, I'll try to fix 'em later.

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Releasing a sharp breath of air, Jin focused wholeheartedly on the flow of energy flowing within his Power Veins. Almost like blood pounding through arteries during physical exertion, he tried to memorize the transition of his energy's base traits to this warm flow glowing within his four shadowy arms.

Unbeknownst to Jin, Mikoto opened her eyes and fell to her knees. Her shoulders drooped as though weighed down by heavy weights. Her arms trembled in an attempt to hold up her body. She felt sluggish as if dumbbells had been glued to every inch of her body. Even her electricity powers faltered. Eyes trembling, she raised her gaze to Jin's back.

"Wha-? Why's he look so hazy? What's with those arms?" She questioned in a quiet struggling voice. Right before her eyes, she witnessed a billowy haze seep out from Jin's body, covering most of it like a morning fog. Somehow, his body also turned partially translucent to her perception. Despite not fully understanding what was happening, she bit her lip and did her best to continue zapping the approaching waves of spider-like creatures.

Unaware that his energy took on some properties of Reiatsu, Jin focused solely on the child-like entity. Part of the guidance forced him to focus his gaze on the child.

'I suspected it, but it seems the kid is the objective.'

He stepped forward. The cement beneath his foot cracked and shattered, briefly startling him. Raising his brows, he lowered his gaze. Sharp tendrils shot at him again, forcing him to focus ahead. To his surprise, they looked slower than before, but they still stabbed toward him with frightening momentum.

Instinctively, Jin waved one hand. A freeform square-shaped barrier flashed into existence with a similar purplish tint to his new defensive barriers. It flew sideways, slamming into the tendrils.

The tendrils fought back after being slapped away by wrapping around the barrier and squeezing it until it shattered. While the tendrils were occupied, he dashed forward. The cement shattered again. Before his foot landed in the miasma surrounding the black-eyed girl, the external guidance led him to clapping his hands together.

Noticing the familiar flow of magic, Jin chanted, "Barrier Magic: Prism Floor."

A square shaped platform manifested above the miasma. Using it as a foothold, he launched himself forward once more. Again, he clapped his own hands to create more footholds.

While dashing forward, the tendrils whipped toward him. At first, he planned to hit them with a barrier, but then the external guidance moved some of his energy in a slightly familiar manner like a form of suggestion. Not seeing an issue in giving it a try, he took over in channeling reishi.

Jin pointed the forefinger of one of his shadowy arms at the tendrils. Energy channeled through the arm. Noticing something strange, he wondered, 'I don't need the chant?'

A powerful beam of Hado #1: Sho fired at the miasmic tendrils. Blobs of miasma exploded and sizzled like ants under the concentrated beam from a magnifying glass.

Nodding to himself, Jin focused on the black-eyed girl again. He saw more tendrils sprout behind her by the dozens. They shot toward him again.

Frowning at the increased numbers, Jin continued creating footholds with his main hands. Then, with his shadowy arms, he prepared to cast more magic. The moment he tried, he felt some incongruence. Controlling six arms in different manners felt wholly unnatural, like trying to write two different sentences at the same time with both hands.

'So different spells at the same time is still too much for me. If it's four Sho's, I think I can do it.'

With that thought, he channeled energy into his arms and fired off four beams of Hado. Each beam took on the warm attribute attached to the arms. Although the beams were smaller and weaker than the first one he casted, they still blasted through most of the tendrils. He also felt a steep drop in energy reserves. Comparing it to physical exertion, he thought it similar to completing a full set of pullups in a single moment.

'Need to finish quickly.'

Forming a slightly angled barrier foothold, he jumped at an angle to avoid the tendrils. Unfortunately, they instantly angled toward him, stabbing into his defensive barriers. This time, they pierced through two of his barriers before stopping on the third of five. He considered using his Prism Blast spell to destroy the remaining tendrils, but then changed his mind. Maintaining his defense would be better.

After a few more steps, he fired a Sho spell at the miasma directly beside the black-eyed girl. Miasma exploded in several directions, all of it sizzling. He landed in the opening left behind.

Upon landing, the black-eyed girl stared blankly up at him in an unnerving manner. Despite how uncomfortable her gaze made him feel, Jin followed the guidance by resting one of his shadow hands upon the girl's skull. Dozens of tendrils fired from all around him like porcupine needles. Having expected such a thing, two of his free shadow hands already clapped together.

"Barrier Make: Barrier Dome."

A dome-like barrier flashed into existence, covering both Jin and the black-eyed girl. Then, following the guidance provided by the Chat Group app, he channeled most of his remaining energy into the palm grasping her head. The gentle light glowing within the shadow arm suddenly exploded into a brilliant flash of light. Jin felt a little heat, but that was all.

However, the same could not be said for the black-eyed girl. A skin-curdling screech echoed from her throat, startling him. He barely forced himself to keep his hand on her head.

Around him, the miasma shook. A sizzling sound echoed in the vicinity like butter thrown into hundreds of hot pans at the same time. Gradually, the miasma melted away into a dark smoke, which then wafted away into nothingness.

Back near the entrance of the factory building, Mikoto stared wide-eyed as the spiders and miasma vanished from existence as though they were never there in the first place. Then, she focused on Jin himself. Although she didn't feel as heavy now that he was further away, she still felt like she was underwater. Even so, she prepared herself to help him if needed.

Eventually, Jin noticed a prickling sensation as the external guidance faded away. He stopped channeling energy. The light died down, revealing a half-translucent little girl. Her lips moved. At first, Jin didn't realize what was happening, but then he looked closer. Although not great at reading lips, he figured it out after she repeated it a few times with an ever-increasing pout.

[Thank you, mister. Bye-bye.]

"Ah, I see. Bye."

Suddenly, the girl faded away into dust. Jin didn't really know what to make of it.

'Not the smoothest operation, but mission accomplished, I guess.'

Turning around, Jin dismissed his four shadowy arms. As they faded away, he trudged back toward Mikoto. He felt more tired than if he had lifted weights for a few hours.

'Need to raise my magic stamina somehow,' He noted.

Before long, he reached Mikoto who was still sitting on the ground with her feet just outside her hips. Ignoring her examining eyes, he reached out a hand toward her. She blinked a few times, but then sighed and grasped his hand, allowing him to help her up. Upon standing, Mikoto brushed off her legs and skirt.

"It could have gone better, but good job, Misaka-san."

"Hmm. Thanks, I guess," Mikoto grumbled. Then, in a quieter voice, she added, "Why'd there have to be spiders?"

Jin smiled a little at her comment, but then said, "Really. I know about your fear of insects, so I'm glad you stuck it out back there. Would have been annoying to deal with those on my own."

Turning her head away, Mikoto played with her skirt as though unsure how to respond.

"Maybe next time we'll fight something that isn't bugs or a child so you can show off more."

"Tch. I could've taken care of all that on my own without breaking a sweat. Since I'm the best."

Smirking, Jin sarcastically agreed, "Right…"

*Ding*

Both Jin and Mikoto pulled out their phones at the same time and noticed that the tutorial mission had been marked complete.

"Since the mission's over now, I'll need to leave."

"Eh? Right away?"

"I'll walk you to the edge of the factory area, but going back home from your dorm is a bit… inconvenient."

"Ah, yeah. That makes sense," Mikoto said, pouting her lips slightly without noticing it.

The two of them walked outside and toward the outer wall of the factory grounds in silence. Upon reaching the door, Jin said, "This'll be goodbye for now, but we'll see each other again later. If you need anything, just ask in the group chat."

"Sure. Seeya later, old man."

Raising a brow, Jin glanced at her. Then, he adopted a serious expression and asserted, "Seriously. I don't know about the others in the group, but if you really need help with something, shoot me a message. I'll be happy to help you out. Would hate to see you get hurt in the future, especially now that we've fought together."

Unable to stand his serious expression, Mikoto blushed slightly and lowered her eyes.

"I get it. Now, shoo."

Smirking, Jin pulled up his phone and selected the option to head home. Just before the circular lights could form, he smiled and waved goodbye.

After Jin disappeared in front of her eyes, Mikoto sighed and kicked a rock next to her feet.

"'I'll be happy to help you out~'. Pft. Whatever. As if I'll need your help, old man."

Then, she fell silent for a few seconds with a pondering expression. Eventually, she sighed and started walking home.

Upon reaching her dorm, Kuroko dashed out the front door yelling, "ONEEE-SAAAAMAAAA! Thank god you're okay! I can't believe a sumo wrestling esper broke into our room and smashed our table!"

"...What the hell?" Mikoto grumbled.