3rd Pov:
Xicor walks through the corridors of the ornate walls of the underground base, where he and the others reside. His steps are relaxed and comfortable, like the world's cruelty is just an echo of the past.
His hands are tucked in his pockets as his lips whistle a tune from his past. His steps come to a halt as in front of him stands the tall dark-skinned goddess, Jouryuu.
She has her neutral expression plastered on her face but the air around her conveys her curiosity as well as the slight raise of an eyebrow.
"Xicor, where have you been?" she questioned softly, not a demand but more of curiosity.
"I felt a strange sensation and went to investigate it, I have data that would interest Shikoku" Xicor answered.
"I see, may I join you?" she asked, tilting her head to the side.
Xicor shrugged his shoulder, "Sure"
They both walk next to each other, neither saying a word, it was an awkward silence that ended with them entering an open room with a circular platform in the centre of the room.
Lying lazily on the platform is Shikoku as she messes around with various items from the human world, in her hands she holds a tennis ball while bouncing it on the ground and back into her hands.
Just as she bounced it on the ground a fourth time, it bounced away from her hands and landed in Xicor's hand.
Xicor glanced at the ball before looking at the goddess with a teasing smile, "Having fun all by yourself?"
She made no move to change her posture as she waved over at them, "It was starting to get boring until my darling~ came over" she said her voice resounding like honey.
Finally, she sat up properly and beckoned Xicor closer to her. He obliged to her request as he was promptly pulled into her embrace, his head resting between two soft pillows, her sharp nails gentle racked through his hair.
They remained like that for several minutes, basking in the warmth of their bodies until Xicor murmured, "I have some data you might be interested in seeing"
"Oh~? And what might that be?" she hummed, her eyes closed with content at the position they're in.
"It would seem a boy has gained an ability, although it's from a woman but still it should be something that would catch your attention" Xicor said as Shikoku's hand stopped moving for a second in surprise.
"A male gaining abilities is something unheard of among your kind" she said thoughtfully.
"Indeed, which is why I record the whole thing, including his fights for a short period of time" Xicor said as Shikoku's shadow expanded and a TV came out.
"Can you connect the footage to this device?" she asked as Xicor nodded before moving out of her embrace, much to her reluctance.
Xicor placed his hand on top of the TV as his cursed energy enveloped his hand on top of the TV. The screen turns on as static is first shown before it shows the demon defence force and the boy.
Xicor sat down in a lotus position next to Shikoku as she glanced at him and a feline smile graced her lips, she stood up for a second before plopping down on his lap as she rested against his back, she let out a satisfied sigh before bringing her attention back to the screen.
Jouryuu glanced at them before returning her attention to the screen, her eyes did lingeron them for a few seconds.
They watched every detail shown to them, Shikoku's hand cupped her chin in thought and her brow furrowed in a mixture of worry and confusion, even Jouryuu's brow twitched almost mirroring Shikoku's emotions internally.
Xicor noticed it almost immediately, his hands gentle cup her cheek and made her face him, "What's wrong?" he muttered to her.
She looked down, trying to find the best way to explain before looking back up at his eyes, "Those people possess a blessing, even the boy"
Xicor blinked several times, processing what he was told, "What does this mean?" he asked more out of caution than curiosity.
"It means that the human god is now joining in our war against the humans by strengthening their souls and inadvertently, their bodies" she said as her eyes drifted over to each person with the blessing.
"I'm not sure why she would interfere but this changes everything, we have reached a level where we would have comfortably taken them down but with their god involved, we need to attack them within" she said as she twisted her body around to look at Xicor before pressing her lips against his.
She remained against him for a few seconds before pulling back slightly, "Thank you for bringing this to me, we should report this to big sis Taikyoku"
She slowly got up and turned to the other two, "Jouryuu, you will remain here in case they find a way, your top priority is to keep little sister Kuusetsu safe" Jouryuu nodded and walked away.
"Xicor you're coming with me, I received word not too long ago that they've approved the black pool for you" she said as she gave Xicor a hand to get up.
He immediately took it and got up but they didn't let go of each other, Shikoku tightened her hold on him as they sank into her shadow and flew through the vast pocket dimension.
The empty dimension seemed to have no limit on space and even no life, they continued to fly through the space until a bright light was seen growing closer and closer before they went through it.
On the opposite, a black slime slowly rose before he split open revealing Xicor and Shikoku, hand in hand. They stood in front of a wide crack at the side of a massive wall.
Standing at the entryway was someone all too familiar to them, as soon as the person saw them appear, she blitzed toward them or more specifically, Xicor.
Xicor was tackled to the ground by the person as he let out a grunt from the contact. The person buried their face in his neck as they nuzzled closer into him affectionately, wrapping their arms around him tightly.
Xicor let out a chuckle before patting the head of the goddess who tackled him, "It's good to see you as well Narubime"
Naruhime let a hum but made no move to get up from her position, "I missed you" she whispered against him.
"Come on you two, you can cuddle once Xicor here is finished with the black pool" Shikoku said.
Naruhime groaned but reluctantly got up while pulling Xicor with her. She stood in front of him for a second before crashing her lips against him.
Her arms wrapped around his neck and brought him closer to where her chest was pressed against his, after a minute she finally pulled back and stared at him as she licked her lips, "I needed that" she sighed contentedly.
They walked inside as both goddesses stood close to his flanks, the deeper they went, the more ornate the walls became with various paintings decorating them.
Soon they came to a bright, wide-open room with a circular table in the centre with eight seats around it, two of the seats were occupied, in one seat sat Jaku'un and in the other sat a woman in a white demon defence force uniform with long pink hair reaching her waist with a streak touching her right shoulder and to finish off are her pink eyes and her tanned skin.
They both perked up at the newcomers as they stood up to greet them, "Hello, big sis Shikoku it has been some time" Jaku'in said with a slight bow.
"Indeed, it has been quite some time since we last saw each other, big sis" the other goddess said as her eyes drifted to Xicor with curiosity.
"My My~ and this must be the famous Xicor Naruhime has been talking nonstop about" Jaku'un said as her eyes drifted over to Xicor as well.
She stepped forward and placed a hand on her armoured chest, "greetings, I am Jaku'un, one of the youngest of the eight thunder gods"
The other goddess stood next to Jaku'in as she placed a hand on her hip, "And I'm Fukuma, pleasure to meet you"
Xicor nodded and greeted them back, "Hello, I am Xicor Samiel, it is a pleasure to meet you both"
"My, you are filled with so much of that cursed energy Naruhime said in your body, I'm surprised it hasn't corrupted you in any way" Jaku'un noted as her eyes scanned his body from head to toes.
They continued to chat lightly until a firm voice echoed around the room, "Is this the human going into the black pool?" The voice resounded from above as everyone looked to the source.
Floating in the air is a tall woman with long white hair and firm purple eyes, she has purple lightning bolts under her eyes and another tattoo on her forehead.
She has an air of authority and command that would make most people in the same room as her follow her command due to the natural aura radiating off her body.
Xicor's hands twitch, not from nervousness but from excitement. His body wanted him to go and fight the goddess in the air but rationality won him over as doing so would paint a bad impression for him.
Xicor remained where he stood as Shikoki stepped forward with Jaku'un and Fukuma stepping out of her way.
"Yes, he is, is it prepared big sis Taikyoku?" Shikoku said as Taikyoku glanced at Shikoku before shifting her gaze over Xicor, noting the intimacy between him and her younger sibling.
"Yes it is prepared" she said simply as she slowly lowered herself to the ground.
"Good, we have something to talk about once he enters the pool" Shikoku said seriously.
Taikyou raised a brow at her, she is well aware that Shikoku rarely takes things seriously unless it's something that could threaten them.
Unconsciously, she looked at Xicor who was being led to the pool by her other siblings.
'Is it him?' After a second of thought, she shook her head, 'No, can't be, mother said to treat him like our own before I even told her of the human with Shikoku, almost like she knew him'
Finally, she looked at Shikoku, "Go on and tell me"
Xicor was dragged through the halls of the god's home with Fukuma and Jaku'un close behind them, their eyes locked on Xicor, almost like they're trying to decipher a complex puzzle.
"It's just through here" Naruhime said as she pushed a set of double doors.
Once it was open, inside was a square room filled with a strange black liquid almost like tar with a set of stairs going into it, the room was dimly lit with the only source of light being the blue flames decorating the walls.
Xicor stared at the black pool as it swayed around, almost like it was alive. He was brought out of his thoughts by Fukuma who put a hand on his shoulder.
"I must warn you this will be painful, not only on your body but also on your mind as well" she said as she looked at the pool herself, "it will show you things you love and hate at the same time, it will determine how much power you will receive depending on your choice"
Xicor nodded, thanking her for the warning. He took a deep breath and took a step down to the pool, the pool reacted as it slightly reached out for him.
Just as he was about to take another step, Naruhime grabbed his hand and spun him around before crashing her lips against him, as the kiss continued she pushed her tongue inside and danced with his own.
Fukuma and Jaku'un glanced at each other before looking back at them.
They continued their make-out for a minute until Naruhime pulled back and pressed her forehead against his as a spark of electricity travelled from Naruhime and into Xicor.
"Good luck" she whispered as she reluctantly pulled away and anxiously crossed her arms.
"Thanks" Xicor said as he took more steps down. His feet went in and all he could feel was how cold it was. Soon, his whole legs were in, next were his stomach and this time, the pool reacted more as it began to crawl slowly up his body.
Xicor continued down until he was completely under. Underneath was a vast void with no light in sight, nothing, he decided to close his eyes and concentrate on the inevitable pain. He kept his eyes closed but the pain never came and instead, he felt open air.
Confused he opened his eyes to find the once black pool completely gone. In its place was a child's room filled with toys and books, this room was all too familiar to Xicor and he surveyed the room.
"This...is my...old room"