103. Changes

minimi22

A pair of hands tore through the thick threads of Tomoka’s cocoon. However, this wasn't what surprised Kumoki. No, what surprised the giant spider was the black chitin covering the pair of hands. Each finger sporting a wickedly sharp point at its end. 

In the past Komoki had witnessed another two humans surviving the process but neither had suffered such a change. As she watched the hands tear apart the cocoon making a hole big enough for their owner Kumoki couldn’t help but feel a tinge of fear. A moment later a ripping sound could be heard throughout the cave. The cocoon had been torn open and a figure crawled out of it.

A humanoid body covered in black chitinous armor with a bright white mane of hair coming out of her head. Two pairs of spider-like legs protruded from her back with black chains wrapped around them. White Lichtenberg figures marking the entire black chitin. Finally, a pair of bright pink eyes with multiple pupils could be seen behind the black chitin covering her face. 

“T-Tomoka-sama?” Kumoki couldn’t help the stutter that escaped her. The sheer pressure the entity in front of her gave was enough to make her want to flee. 

“I feel weird, stronger but weird.” Tomoka couldn’t help but admire the changes her body had gone through. The black chitin covering her body reminded her of the accident that had given her right arm a similar ability. However, she didn’t feel her chakra being drawn towards the chitin armor covering her body. 

Feeling the energy flow within her body, Tomoka soon realized that she now had access to another source of energy. This energy felt wild and volatile while also being gentle and unmovable. Yet it answered to her will without the slightest bit of resistance. It was this energy that fuels her chitin armor. 

“A-are you still yourself Tomoka-sama?” Tomoka was taken out of her thoughts by Kumoki’s question. 

“Who else would I be but myself?” Hearing Tomoka’s answer Kumoki felt a bit conflicted. Tomoka felt different and yet the same in some way. 

“Well, now that I am done with this there are things I need to do.” Tomoka had just noticed that her guess was right. She had a hunch that her phantoms would be dispelled during the trial. For this reason she had delivered a message to Nozomi and Hinata before the trial started. 

Concentrating for a bit Tomoka controlled the natural energy coursing through her body. A moment later the chitin armor covering her crumbled into dust alongside the extra limbs that disappeared without leaving any trace. With the armor gone, Tomoka's naked body was presented to the world. 

Now, without the obstruction of the armor it was clear to see Tomoka’s changes. As if a few years had gone by, Tomoka's body looked more developed. Her height increased by a few centimeters while her curves became clearer. The last dregs of baby fat were all but gone revealing the uncanny beauty that would continue to develop in the near future. 

However, none of those were of any importance compared to the extremely complex matrix of tattoos coursing through her frame. More impressive is the rather large black gem attached to her sternum where her heart should be and it  seemed to be the origin of the tattoos.

Looking closely one could see that the tattoos look like a strange and complex combination of fuinjutsu, circuitry and what could only be guessed to be some form of magic circle. Three different languages working together to form an extremely effective array intended for the gathering, storage and usage of natural energy. Or at least that was Tomoka’s best guess. 

Putting the mysteries of her body’s changes for another time, Tomoka got to work. As she was about to do the hand signs for her Phantom clone jutsu she felt a weird intuition. Like a voice telling her that there was no need for useless actions. Following the intuition Tomoka simply willed her chakra into the form of a phantom. 

In an instant black smoke seemed to spill out of Tomoka as it formed into a phantom. However, unlike her phantoms this one felt stronger. Looking closely Tomoka discovered why. This phantom like herself had access to natural energy and by proxy, senjutsu.   

“Nice.”

minimi22

ps: from now on fanstranslations.com will be one chapter ahead of here :3