The fifth S-rank item was a Teigu.
"God's Hand · Perfecter: Can greatly improve finger precision."
A Teigu suitable for technicians, completely meaningless to the current Takatsuki.
And the last one was an old friend Takatsuki was collecting: the Ox Talisman, a Talisman with the power of levitation.
"What a pity. If I collected all Twelve Talismans, perhaps I could upgrade to Shendu."
Although he couldn't equip the SS-rank Shendu, he could equip him through the Stigmata method.
He invested the reserved 500 crystals to convert the Fire Demon character card into Stigmata.
"Fire Demon Stigmata"
"Dragon Bloodline: The Dragon bloodline contains powerful magic and an endless supply of vitality, which can greatly alter the wielder's physique but will not change the wielder's appearance."
"Fire Demonic Tao: Master the power of fire magic, able to manipulate and create flames."
With these two very simple skills, Takatsuki affixed them to his back. Soon after, he felt a surge of warmth flow from his heart.
Burning and powerful energy erupted from within. Unlike the directly granted Dragon Body, the Dragon Bloodline was slowly and continuously transforming Takatsuki's body. In just a short while, after the blood flowed throughout his body, Takatsuki felt his magic reserve increase by more than double.
Of course, this was due to the immense boost from the first full circulation; there wouldn't be such a significant increase afterward. However, over time, Takatsuki's physique would become increasingly resilient.
This reminded him of King Arthur in Type-Moon, who had a red Dragon's heart, a similar situation.
And within Takatsuki's body, there was also a circulating fiery aura that Takatsuki could release at any time through any means.
After switching to the sixteen-year-old Natsu's character card, Dragon Slayer Magic appeared within Takatsuki's body.
Dragon Slayer Magic was originally Dragon magic, where humans transformed their bodies into Dragons to challenge Dragons' magic, which could be said to be learning from the enemy to defeat them.
Therefore, this Fire Dragon Slayer Magic perfectly matched Takatsuki's Fire Demonic Tao and Dragon Bloodline, and because of the Dragon Bloodline, he would not undergo Dragonification.
Takatsuki felt that his Dragon Slayer Magic was even stronger than when Natsu himself, from the character card, used it.
The following time was for Takatsuki to familiarize himself with his own power, and the fastest way to do so was...
Battle Echoes.
Takatsuki lay on the bed and began to summon the Battle Echoes within the system.
Several new enemies had been added to Battle Echoes. Takatsuki hadn't challenged them before because he wasn't lacking in crystals. These enemies were Udaeus, the Spirit's Six-Fold Magic Circle, and the Seventh Fairy Nidhogg, all of whom he had fought in one-on-one battles.
"I'll challenge Nidhogg. Let's see if I can defeat him with my own strength, without using the Taixuan Sword God."
Takatsuki lay on the bed and closed his eyes.
Then, when he regained consciousness, he looked at the giant Dragon in front of him...
"How is it you?"
It wasn't the familiar Nidhogg who appeared before Takatsuki, but a bipedal, greenish Dragon-man wearing huge shorts.
And Takatsuki knew the other party's name; no one in this world was more familiar with him—Shendu.
"Kid, I'm here to help you."
Strangely enough, even though Takatsuki had entered the Battle Echoes, the other party showed no intention of attacking. Instead, he opened his large mouth and spoke to Takatsuki.
"Help me? How do you plan to help me?"
Takatsuki looked at Shendu in front of him with a strange expression.
"I know all about your experiences during this time. You want to retrieve your girlfriends, right? But the enemy is Orario's largest Familia, and even you can't guarantee that you can defeat them."
Shendu seemed to have no intention of attacking, directly sitting cross-legged on the ground. Even sitting down, Shendu was much taller than Takatsuki, and continued to speak from above: "Originally, our connection wasn't close enough, so I couldn't lend you my power. Now that we are one, we prosper or suffer together, so I have decided to lend you my power to defeat that arrogant and rude Goddess Freya."
"Oh? Then give me your power."
"Good, now let go of your body and mind, and I will impart all of my millennia of power to you."
Shendu spoke as if it were true, and Takatsuki nodded and approached.
Then...
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
Takatsuki leaped high and punched Shendu's chin, sending him flying backward.
"Huh? Do you think I don't recognize you? Shendu!? The most cunning Demon! I'd rather believe Po Kong wouldn't eat me than believe your nonsense."
Takatsuki dissipated the flames burning on his fist and spoke to Shendu, who was getting up from the ground.
That guy Po Kong, at most, just wanted to eat. As long as she was given enough food, she really wouldn't eat people.
But as for this guy, Shendu, forget it. Shendu could be said to be the most intelligent and cunning among the Eight Great Demons.
"Damn it! You bastard! Die!"
Shendu leaped up, smashing down at Takatsuki from the air, while also spewing scorching flames from his mouth.
But his punch was easily blocked by Takatsuki. Although Shendu's strength was powerful, it was still slightly inferior to the Ox Talisman.
And the flames he spewed...
"Ptooey, ptooey, you're not spitting saliva from your mouth, are you?"
For a Fire Dragon Slayer, it was merely a simple supplement.
Because Shendu possessed immense power, he lacked refined techniques. In his original world, he only needed to freely use his power to defeat most enemies.
And Takatsuki?
"Crimson Lotus: Fire Dragon Fist!"
Forcefully throwing Shendu high into the air, Takatsuki then smashed his flame-burning fist onto Shendu's face, combining the flames of Fire Dragon Slayer Magic with the flames of Fire Demonic Tao.
Originally, when watching the anime, Takatsuki felt that the Dragon Slayer Magic techniques were all quite powerful, but only after acquiring Dragon Slayer Magic did Takatsuki realize.
It turned out that all Dragon Slayer Magic attacks simulated Dragon attacks. The Fire Dragon's Iron Fist was simply a fist wrapped in flames, smashing forward.
And Crimson Lotus: Phoenix Blade was simply a Fire Dragon's Iron Fist plus a combo.
The immense power of the Ox Talisman allowed Takatsuki to send Shendu airborne with every punch, and with every punch, a massive amount of flames passed through Shendu's body.
After only about ten seconds of pummeling, Takatsuki's fist swung through empty air. Shendu's body dissipated into the air, and Takatsuki woke up.
Upon waking, he found that his control over Shendu's power seemed to become more proficient. Recalling the dreams Mei and the others had mentioned previously.
It seems that not only gaining the other party's approval but also violently defeating them is a method.
As for what Shendu said about letting go of his body and mind, Takatsuki guessed it was probably a possession-like situation, but Takatsuki was a very selfish person. He would never casually open his body and mind to others, let alone the utterly evil Shendu.