Chapter 97 - Conundrums

Yin smiled.

"Could I have a couple of days to decide whether I want to level up more and have the System totally merge with my soul?"

The Creator was shocked.

"Under normal circumstances, that should not be possible, but for you, I shall make an exception. Alright, Yin Sohaya. I will give you a week to decide. But bear in mind that you cannot abuse loop holes in the System's rules. Even if you decide to not go through with it and be stuck with your current level which is 20 – you will lose the System itself and go back to becoming an 'anima-less' individual. Someone who is not even worthy to be a Slayer. But you will live, that is the one upside to that decision. I will contact you again at exactly a week from now. Think about it until then."

A bright shimmering light illuminated from above whatever world the Creator and Yin were at the moment and blinded Yin Sohaya's vision. 

When he opened his eyes, he was already at his bed.

The windows were already bright. The sun did not make its presence unknown.

Yin's mind was riddled with problems.

What was the correct decision here?

He also did not know what would Thanatos do once he had taken over his body.

If Yin had asked, he was sure the Creator would keep his mouth shut about it.

Yin Sohaya was in a rut.

Two knocks were heard on his door.

"Yin! Breakfast is ready!"

It was Suna's voice.

"I-I will be down in a minute…"

"Alright, do not waste too much time or we are going to end up eating all of what Gavin cooked!"

She exclaimed.

"And here I was thinking I was finally going to make a difference on my own. With what power I had gained. Only to find out it comes with a cost, my own life."

Yin sighed.

He did not notice it but Luken was at his doorstep.

After hearing what Yin had spoken about, he said nothing and let his presence go unaware.

The Commander was now worried about what Yin had said.

"What did he mean by that? And why would it cost him his life of all things?"

Luken asked to himself.

Breakfast was over in quickly, they had not eaten Gavin's food for weeks now and were craving for it, so it was an instant hit for them.

Sparring went on as usual, with Suna and the Commander going at it with no holds barred, for Suna at least.

Blow after blow sent shockwaves to the forest.

"Show me your other spells, Zach."

Gavin said to the Fire Slayer.

"Very well."

He unleashed an array of spells, they were quite honestly still a work in progress.

Some of them flopped and failed to even manifest, but it was due to his blue flames being harder to control than the usual red ones.

But there was clear progress in Zachary's spell casting.

His scythe was the one who was left untouched, he was still not confident enough relying back to his old ways.

Using his scythe while disregarding his affinity itself was a hole he did not want to dig himself back into.

Zachary Lancaster wanted to become a Slayer that was both adept in fighting with spells as well as physical combat in close quarters situations. The last thing he wanted to do was to be a one-trick pony.

While they training was going on, Yin was sat under a tree.

Contemplating long and hard about what the proper decision might be. Both for himself and for mankind.

The Commander caught wind of this and made quick work of Suna, dropping her on her butt swiftly.

"You still have a lot more to learn, Suna. But every single time I come back from an expedition, you get stronger and stronger, keep it up."

Luke Regalia said with an innocent smile.

Hearing such words of praise coming from the top two Slayer in the Corps as well as the Commander was definitely a boost in her confidence as well.

The Commander walked up to Yin.

"What is with the long face, Yin boy?"

He asked.

"O-Oh. It is nothing, sir. I am just worried about my next assigned conquest, you know? That is all."

Yin responded.

His voice was not much more chipper than usual.

In fact, it was obvious that he was being kind of a downer, and the extrovert Luken saw through this.

The Commander sat down and leaned on the tree next to Yin.

"When I recruited you, Suna, and Zachary, I always knew you guys were something else. The Six Blades never recruited people who did not show promise and high skill ceilings. That much is true. However, I have also kept one thing in mind, I expect you three to be the young core of the Six Blades who shall be with the organization for the long haul! Not only for a couple of months or years. Can I trust you to maintain that sort of expectation, Yin?"

The Commander was lenient in his tone, as always, Luken was friendly.

But this time, something was different, Yin thought.

"Does the Commander know?"

The white haired Slayer asked to himself.

Yin was far too confused to give a proper answer.

He just nodded his head.

Luken placed his hand on Yin's shoulder.

"Listen, we are your family, okay? You can tell us anything you feel comfortable sharing about. Whether it be problems or anything else, really. We'll be happy to help and listen to you. You know that already, right?"

"Y-Yeah. Thank you, sir Luken."

"Ah, do not mention it, Yin. So, show me what you have been practicing on for these past few weeks! I am pretty eager to see!"

Luken Regalia's carefree and happy go lucky attitude was the breath of fresh air that Yin desperately needed in these conflicting times.

He was thankful for the Commander.

Yin stood straight up and warmed up.

He activated the Nix Eyes, manifesting the white masquerade covering his eyes and turning his pupils snow white.

Gavin turned his head around because of the high concentration of Anima cells he sensed, as did Zach.

Suna was clueless but she knew that something was going on with Yin.

She looked over and nodded.

"Oh, I guess this is sir Gavin and the Commander's first time seeing Yin's Nix Eyes. This should be interesting."

She chuckled.

"Okay, I am just going to forego the 'how' and ask you to show us exactly what that new form of yours does."

Luken said as he was grinning.

"How come you guys are not as surprised as we were when we first saw it?"

Suna asked.

"We have seen all sorts of crazy stuff and weird powers from many other Slayers, Suna. I prefer to include this in that category myself."

Gavin responded.

"So, Yin, what exactly does that mask and your shimmering glowing eyes do? I mean not to lie, but you kind of look like an Angel now with your white hair and all that jazz."

Luken laughed.

The others and even Oliver stared at his face.

Scrutinizing his bad attempt at a joke.

But it had some kind of truth in it, though.

Yin's silhouette was definitely reminiscent of an Angel's.

His glowing white eyes if you had not told anyone that it would belong to Yin Sohaya's it could fool any resident from Niflheim that it was an Angel's pupils.

"It looks like you are already warmed up yourself, you mind fighting me, Yin?"

The Commander asked.

He was also getting ready to up and fight as well, he took out his sword and threw it to the ground below.

"Whenever you are ready, Commander."

Yin smirked.

He thought that he should definitely make use of the time he has the System right now.

It is not important for him to worry about losing his own body and consciousness as of this moment.

What was important right now was to show the Commander and Gavin that him, Zach, and Suna did not waste all these weeks training just to show no results for nothing.

"Hmm. Yin definitely seems stronger. Unnaturally so."

Gavin remarked.

"Alright then."

Luken targeted Yin with his finger pistol and shot it point blank at the white haired Slayer.

Yin dodged it with no problem whatsoever.

"Woah, nice speed, Yin boy. Check this out, though."

Luken activated the Aqua Juxtaposition and manifested a clone made out of water but looked entirely identical to the Commander.

The concentrated beam of water which came out of the Commander's point finger was the catalyst for that.

Same as the droplets he spread before taking care of those Wingless Angels at the Outer Gates.

Yin sensed that someone's presence was right behind him, but he thought he was just imagining it since Luken was in fact in front of him.

His miscalculation in not turning around would cost him dearly.

The Juxtapose clone kicked Yin at the back and knocked him down on the ground.

"You okay?"

Luken smirked.

Some blood began to drip from Yin's nose, which quickly turned into vapor because of his passive healing skill.

"Never been better, sir."