Duality (DxD) (Part 1)

Ch 148 - Reviewing Footage

While Jin was living happily with Mittelt. Proposing to her and hearing her accept. Having loving intimacy with her and being happy with her in his arms. Not everyone was having such fun with their time. Not everyone was getting engaged after having an entire week of sex. A not so romantic, but very memorable proposal.

Some others were busy with their time. Doing something else that could be considered productive. While Jin was waiting for problems to be thrown at him, someone was planning problems to throw at him.

In front of a black cloaked skeleton on a stone throne, a green glowing orb floated in front of him. Magic circles circled the orb in densities where it was hard to read them. The skeletons black void eyes seemed to stare at the green glow displaying a holographic video of something. That something was Jins fight with the 5 Stray Exorcists. It was a green holographic video of the fighting from beginning to end.

The green goggles didn't just give the Fallen Angel enhanced perception, able to see the fight from so far away with perfect clarity. The magic on the Sacred Gear, the true purpose of the Sacred Gear, made by Mors, was to record the entire event. The entire fight and everything that happened. From Jin struggling, to him turning the tables, to him getting pummelled and using what seemed to be a last resort technique.

With the taps of bony fingers of the stone arm rest of the throne. Mors watched the fight. Over and over again. But it seemed like he was getting agitated, almost annoyed watching it over and over again.

Mors: Jin. Jin, Jin, Jin. This fight, you. It's all so... underwhelming. I mean with your power, your abilities. I was expecting so much more. I... I was expecting something so grand. I was supposed to admire this fight. I was supposed to watch you squish them like bugs! I WAS READY TO SEE THE TRUE POWER OF THE WORLD ENHANCED BY ITS PROTECTOR! THE BLACK DRAGON OF DESPAIR! THE DEATH DRAGON!

Mors shouted as he smacked his hand down into his thrown and shattered the stone arm rest. He looked at the recording of the fight in complete disappointment. Like Leo, Mors knew of the true power Jin held. Mors was the one that told Leo, which surprised him when Leo said he could take Jin down. But now Mors understood. Leo was confident because Jin didn't know the power he held. The fight wasn't just to assess the abilities he could use, but to see if Jin himself held the aura of someone that held such powerful powers. But it was nothing like that. The fight was of a struggle. A hero prevailing against villains. Yet it couldn't even be described as that. A hero wouldn't have been so brutal and mocking. It was a monster cornered, then turning the tables to hunt its hunters.

Mors didn't watch what he wanted to see, but he saw what he needed to see.

Mors: *Sigh* At least it wasn't a complete waste of my efforts. I still have a good understanding of what he can do.

Mors said taking out deep sighs. Tapping his bony fingers on the stone of the throne, on the other side. Waving his right hand as the green holographic screen expanded and turned into a 3D holographic model that surrounded Mors. It was all real size. Mors was looking at Jin standing at 6 foot 7 inches, completely frozen mid fight. He saw the details on Jins face and the blood he had spilled. The clothes he wore and the small, tiny, near invisible scars the fights created.

Mors stood up, but while people kneeling at Mors may have made him seem small. While sitting down constantly and hunching over may have made him seem small. While being a skeleton may have made him seem small. Mors stood up straight and looked down at Jin.

His skeleton standing at 7 foot and 2 inches. Something that towered over Jin. Because Mors bones weren't fragile. Looking at them properly, they seemed strong, powerful. They were bones but they seemed like cast iron. Bones that wouldn't break to any normal forces.

Mors: The style he used. The same Fist of Flowing Water; Crushing Rock style Ban used. Nearly at the same mastery too. It's extremely impressive at his age. But it's expected of a body that can house a Root of the World. However, physically he's not nearly as strong as Ban. Ban was multiple times stronger at his peak than Jin is at now. Though, that's only natural as Ban pursued strength for years with the First Head of Hydra as his Sacred Gear. Every second after Ban found out about his Sacred Gear, he pursued greater strength. Jin will need time to get to that strength.

Mors walked around Jin, looking at his body and technique. He had watched the video hundreds of times. He had carefully watched Jins movements and style. Mors wasn't a martial artist and despite how often he watched it, he would never be able to copy what Jin was doing. He was never able to copy Bans movements. He tried, but he couldn't. Limitations of the body, or maybe limitations of the mind.

Mors wasn't a martial artist.

But he could identify the styles used by others. However, he couldn't identify one. One specific style Jin was using and used often in the fight.

Mors: This other style. When he flickers. It's new. It has similar fundamentals to the Fist of Flowing Water; Crushing Rock and Fist of Whirling Wind, Slashing Steel. But it's different. Is there a third style I didn't see Garo preform a third style in conjunction to the two others? Water, Wind... Fire. Does that mean there's an Earth style then? Did Ban make a new style?

Mors looked at the holographic 3D video play. He watched the style. It definitely seemed like something Ban made. It worked with his style when Mors tried to imagine it fighting side by side. It worked with the Fist of Whirling Wind, Slashing Steel. But Mors looked at Jins actions and reactions. He looked at Jin slightly improving. He wasn't getting better at the style. It was something completely different. Mors realised it very well.

He was improving on the style.

Mors: Jin. You made this. Hahahahaha! Superb! You're a brilliant mind like Ban! Like me! Even your way of using Fox Fire internally! It was risky, but amazing! Maybe if you perfected the technique, refined it so it didn't have such drawbacks in the body, you would have changed the balance of power for Kitsunes. It's such a shame you're lacking so much power! Understanding of your power!

Mors looked at the fight, and no matter of impressive it was, how much growth he saw from Jin in the fight.

It was still disappointing.

Mors sighed as he paced around. Mors yet again had to change his plans because of new factors and variables he didn't foresee. His plans were becoming even longer because of Jins inadequacies. Mors needed Jin to become more. To become powerful enough to truly enact his plan.

Mors: Maybe I'm being hard on him. Compared to me, he's young and lacks experience and knowledge. At least he's not limiting himself to only using energy like Senjutsu is taught. To condense it under his feet to nullify the aerial disadvantage he had was quite genius. Yet since he didn't use it more. I can only assume he thinks using energy like this is considered Senjutsu. Maybe I should just tell him the power he has?

Mors said as there was silence in the darkness. Telling Jin of his powers would make his life, or undead life a lot easier. But then a chuckle from Mors was heard as he knew it was a terrible idea. Only a joke.

Telling Jin would be impossible and he would only gain something from it if Jin started to use his powers. To grow and develop more.

Mors needed to force Jins growth.

Mors: Jin. You are doing well to play this out. Oh well. We both have a while to play this match. I've being playing on this chess board longer than your ancestors have been alive. I can continue playing a bit longer. I can only plan to make you stronger.

Mors said as his throne crumbled and he grabbed the green glowing orb. Closing his hand as it disappeared into the darkness of the black glow.

Mors: When you're stronger, the rest of my plan will fall into place. I'll make you stronger, observe your weaknesses. Then I'll take advantage of the harvest I've sown. Enacting the last steps of my plan.

More slowly sank into the darkness as the darkness wasn't a cave. But complete darkness. Infinite darkness with no other light to be seen.

Mors: For an eternal rest.