Chapter 133.
*Spirit Realm. Yuki.*
The trees were twisted, their lifeless branches reaching skyward like skeletal fingers. The soil was dark and barren, devoid of even a single blade of grass. Thick, ominous clouds blocked most of the sunlight, casting an eerie gloom over the land. Everything screamed danger.
"Ugh, this isn't how I imagined the Spirit Realm," Yui muttered, her eyes darting nervously at every shadow and rustle.
"At least it's easier to train here," Katara said, summoning a sphere of water above her palm. "It's like I've been living in a desert all this time. The concentration of elemental particles is so much higher here."
"You two wanted to hone your skills in real battles," I reminded my younger sister. "This place is crawling with dark spirits, and it's because of them that this once-beautiful land has withered... Ten years ago, I saw a strange spirit in the shape of a ball wandering these trees, completely clueless. Yeah, we're standing near where I first appeared. There used to be a Wong camp nearby, but for the past couple of years, the dark spirits have taken over."
This Solstice, we'd decided to enter Yuki's body. Katara and Yui had been begging to join me for years, and while I'd held off before due to their lack of strength, they were more than ready now. I'd even chosen a location far from any ancient spirits. My biggest worry was whether the barrier between worlds would let the girls through. Thankfully, everything went smoothly, and here we were, all limbs intact.
"Alright, we don't have much time—let's hunt!" I clapped my hands. "Maybe next time I'll show you the prettier spots."
Our first opponents didn't keep us waiting. They were massive purple bees, buzzing with dark energy. Katara stepped forward.
"I'll take them!" She swung her arm, and several vertical streams of water shot out, slicing through the bees before they could reach us. "Thought it'd be harder," she murmured, impressed.
"Don't get too excited," I warned, shaking my head. "Those were just average spirits. Your real opponents are coming."
As a warm-up, I led the group through areas inhabited by mid-level spirits, letting them get used to their newfound power. For example, Katara's water technique would've been impossible in the human world. She'd have had to gather water from the air first, then use it.