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How should I interact with my puberty?

That was the reigning question in my mind as I travelled from city to city, sometimes flying, sometimes running and jumping from building to building (superhero traversing was always fun), and sometimes just walking normally.

Let's think logically.

Hmm? There's an abandoned construction site nearby, with a barrier to keep mundane people out. That's a good place to think in a calm environment. There was sounds of fighting around, so I took my 'Adam' form.

Now, should I do nothing? Just keep my enhancements as is, and just let nature run its course?

If one thinks of this analogy as a modern man meeting a lion in the woods, while they have their modern tools, such as either a car or a gun, then the modern man's actions are clear. They could either try and shoot down the beast, killing it before it kills them. Or, said modern man can take his car and escape, the vehicle's speed easy outpacing that of the lion.

However, is such an act normally, well, natural? Isn't the car or the gun, man imposing his will on nature, creating an artificial addition for him to use?

"What the? Who are you? What are you doing here?" Said some guy in a modernized shinto priest outfit.

"Just a guy taking a walk." I replied, giving him a nod, and stayed away, continuing my pondering.

"Who ever you are, leave at once! This is a matter involving the Doumon Clan." Said the Doumon guy.

He immediately ignored me as he went back to attacking someone with a... Is that a Independent Sacred Gear? Nah, looked like something that functions the same, but isn't a Sacred Gear. Hmm, that feels familiar.

Back to my inner dilemma. So let's think on a totally natural scenario.

A prehistoric man meets a lion in the woods. Someone with nothing but their natural abilities.

What's the result?

Well, if they have a spear--

No, wait, that's a tool. That's artificial.

Hmm...? Use the terrain to their advantage in order to survive. Either escape or lead the lion into a trap for it to kill itself?

I mean, that is a way to survive, but in that analogy, that would mean, I would quit all magic and abilities to enhance myself till my puberty is done.

No, that's stupid.

That's like fighting the prehistoric man fighting the lion with nothing but his own strength. That would just lead to death 99% of the time. 1% to account of unpredictability.

But wait!

Hmm? It seems like The Doumon guy is winning and saying something about trash, Clan rejects, and worthless effort.

After destroying the magic puppet thing imitating Avatar Sacred Gear--I swear I know that from something--the mindless guy using the magic puppet collapsed on the ground.

Doumon dude stood over him, saying how pitiful and prepared a water spear to kill him.

I teleported the body away, and began to heal the guy that's likely never touched the supernatural till recent, but it still went out and touch him. ...Wait.

"You! You're still here? I told you, you're interfering something related to the Five Clans. I was willing to over look your presence before, but if you don't let go of that Utsusemi puppet, and prostate yourself, I will not spare your punishment." Said the stereotypical Young Master-ish Doumon guy. Or is it just arrogant magic guys in this world?

"He's someone that was experimented on." I noted, as I healed his body and mind. He stopped looking malnourished, and the bags under his eyes vanished. Pieces of his body and magical energy was used to make and link him to that Utsusemi. "He was just someone caught up in all of this. You slayed the symbiotic-parasite thing, so now he can be healed."

Ah, Utsusemi. The fake Avatar Sacred Gears. Slash Dog. Now I remember. I wasn't paying attention to it before.

Now, that I think about it, isn't Magic and Ki something produced naturally by the body? Meaning they are intended to be there from the start?

Also using them affects the body, so they would positively interact with my growth and development as I keep using them, especially in such a crucial growth period as puberty.

In that analogy, the prehistoric man's wits and tool making are essentially a part of what makes him a possible opponent to the lion.

Alright, I'll keep the enhancements.

So what to do about the lion--I mean the puberty itself.

"Again, you put your nose in issues that don't belong to you, Interloper. His life was forfeit the moment he stood against the Five Principal Clans!" Doumon Dude pointed at me with a talisman. "State your name, you who would be so arrogant as to interfere with our Clan's business! I, Doumon Kaimen, will carry down your judgement."

"Adam." I said plainly.

Kaimen stiffened and paled, then activated a talisman behind his back. A beckon calling for reinforcement? ...A lot of reinforcement. Meh, sure why not. Let's see Shinto Magic is like.

"That's not a name to throw around freely, Interloper. I will give you one chance to tell me your real--" Doumon Dude tried to be intimidating.

"Nope. I'm Adam. Chance gone. So as I was saying, you're going to kill the people that are uninvolved, just because they were used by the Utsusemi Agency?" I asked, still focusing on the guy used for the Utsusemi.

Kaimen sneered and fired some water spells at me, that I paid a tenth of my attention to. I used a mana energy shield to block the attacks.

Huh, neat. Doumon Dude's spells uses prayer to the Shinto Gods, that are written in the talisman, to add to the function and strength the spell. It's not quite having divine power added to their magic, but more like the world and territory under the Shinto Gods (meaning all of Japan) sorta give an approval for the spell, thus giving it an extra oomph. Thus the spell would be stronger than a water spell of equal strength and measure. Neat.

Hmm, some fucked up magic residue in the unconscious experimented-on-guy's system from whatever experiment he was in, some in his mind. Hmm, no, it's more like his own magical energy was changed. Gonna have to reverse that. Fix that. Heal that. Regenerate this. And...

Huh. Is that blood and chemicals made from his parents, running in him? ...I hope this guy's parents are okay.

Either way, he should be okay now. Just need recovery to wake up. Psychologically he's gonna be a mess remembering the past two and a half months.

Hmm, at least I now know where Utsusemi Agency's HQ was from his memories. They didn't care to talk or walk the 'experiments' around.

Doumon Dude was panicking running around and dodging attacks. Wait, where are those attacks coming from--Oh me. I finished analyzing his spells and began reflecting them back. Huh, didn't even notice. Guess Shinto Magic isn't that complicated.

"Their existence soils the honor of the Five Clans, thus the stain of their being much be washed away." Doumon Dude declared. He was now wary of me, as his spell had no effect, but smirked as his reinforcement returned via Shinto-style teleportation. Shoji doors appeared via magic circle, and now multiple Onmyoji came to aid.

They even had different flavors. Two like Kaimen were water. Three were fire, three were wood, three were metal, and three were earth.

Woah. Are the Five Clans really fruitful or were all these guys just free with nothing better to do? They were really fast coming here. It's only been 8 minutes.

"So he really is him, huh, Kaimen. The Infamous 'Adam'." One of the fire-flavored guys sneered. "Your panic shames the Doumon Clan. You should have handled such problem, even if you had to use your own life."

"You dare, Himejima Tanaka!?" Kaimen said back.

Speaking of fast, should I speed up my puberty to be done right away?

But wouldn't that have adverse effects? Like poisoning the lion, and thus its diseased carcass spread a plague to the land?

Or, should I just calculate how long it would take to run its course?--1 Year, 6 months, 9 Days, 4 Hour, and 2 minutes--Thank you, brain.

So treat is as an exercise in self-control, and not acting out regardless of my brain chemicals are telling me?

"Enough you two!" Said an earth-flavored guy. "Are opponent dares to be distracted before all of us. That is a disrespect that must be addressed first." He said, and the two actually stopped arguing, but were now glaring at me, looking offended. "I, Nakiri Arata, asked you, 'Adam', why do you stand before us, the Five Principal Clans?"

Hmm, I would have to intensely focus on mindfulness meditation 24/7 for the duration of this period?

Huh, not a bad idea. In fact, why didn't I think of this before? It should help also as a defense mechanism to spot any foreign mind influence.

Alright, now with that done, I should go back and tell the girls the good news that I found a solution to my dilemma.

No, wait there's this whole thing first.

A quick look down at the unconscious guy--Wait. A quick look through his memories show his name is Hinata Shogi. Right, I need to get Hinata to a safe place, then deal with the Utsusemi stuff.

I send a quick message to the girls back at the inn.

"Hey, girls. I found a guy that was experimented on. I healed him, but there are others that I need to find. For now, just look after this one I'm sending over. He won't be awake for a few hours, so just keep him safe till I get back."

A wind spell should arrived at the inn carrying my words, and after that I'll teleport the kid away.

Kaimen Doumon was terrified. He of course did not show it, as it would besmirch the honor of the Doumon Clan.

This was meant to be a simple mission. Find the experiments of the discarded rejects, that now call themselves the Utsusemi Agency, and remove all evidence of their existence, so they don't become a further stain on the Five Principal Clans' names.

All throughout his battle with this Adam--and it really does seem he is the infamous one who invaded hell--his opponent barely looked at him.

His single shield spell stopped all of Kaimen's attack, and then once it took enough hit, it started reflecting them back.

Worst of all, Adam didn't even seem to need to look toward Kaimen or focus on him, for the reflected spells to home in and target him.

Spells that had a history of thousands of year, to when the Kami freely walked the earth. Yet in that time, now only had Adam managed to completely analyze them but figure out their exact details that he could reflect them.

Was he prehaps on of their Clans' rejects? It was the only thing that could explain his in-depth knowledge of the Onmyodo Arts.

"Why you ask?" Adam replied to Arata Nakiri. "I do not profess to be a champion of justice or the like, but if I find an innocent before me that needs help, I'll help."

The Five Clans Onmyoji Enforcers stood in shock. Not because of Adam's words, but because there was an odd, nearly mythic serenity in his voice, denoting that he was speaking the full truth. Not out of virtue, but because there was no point in lying in his eyes.

Suddenly a light enveloped the body of the Utsusemi Puppet and it vanished, teleported away.

"You are delusional." Arata stated, looking on with wide-eyes. "This is not a situation where the foolish and weak were preyed on by the Devils, but a conflict between humans. More than that, you sent that puppet away. Whoever your allies are, they will now face the Clans' judgement too." He said.

"Above all," Tanaka Himejima continued. "For daring to interfere in an issue involving us, the very people tasked by the Shinto Gods to protect Japan, how foolish are you?! That you would oppose us... for such pitiful sentimentality? No! What is your true goal, Adam? How did you even find out about this conflict?"

In response, Adam shrugged.

"I have no goal, I was just simply on a walk to clear my head and happened upon this situation." He said plainly.

That has to be a lie... right? Kaimen thought.

"So I acted. Because I could." Adam raised a hand, and gestured for them to come at him.

"That arrogance will be your undoing." Kaimen spoke up, gritting his teeth at the sheer naiveté and idiocy for why Adam interfered in their task of protecting their Clans' honor. "This isn't a fight against the Biblical Devil that favored you. In this land, you are but a guest before the Shinto Gods, and we are their will. You will soon learned the folly of crossing the Five Principal Clans!"

"I'm sure I will." Adam rolled his eyes. Rolled his eyes. He dared!? "Now, are you done with the pre-battle banter and the self-justifications to fight me? Yes? Good. Let's get down to it. I can feel some kids fighting those Utsusemi across the city and an adult should really go handle the situation."

===

Alisa Monk was pacing around in worry after her master, Lord Adam, or rather Kenji as he liked to be called in this life, had left.

She had tried to run after him of course, but by the time she got out of the building, Kenji was already at the horizon.

Alisa had many thoughts in her head. First, what did Kenji mean by 'he just reached puberty'? Second, how would he even know?

"Huwaaa, huwaa, huwaa, huwaaa." The red faced Isabella was holding her head in her hands, trying to contain herself, but it was obvious she was overwhelmed by the revelation. Her eyes almost seemed like swirls from how filled up she was with confusion, embarrassment and maybe even shy desire.

Given that it was Alisa and Isabella were the last two to speak, it stood to reason that... maybe their looks was what made Lord Kenji think so?

Alisa felt her face fire up again, for who knows how many times in the last half hour. She shook her head to refocus her thoughts again.

What did it mean for Kenji to declare that? And how would things be different if it was true?

Maybe Lord Kenji was just thinking out loud? He tends to do that a lot. Alisa thought.

"Um, Ms. Alisa?" A normally authoritative, but now timid voice called out.

Alisa looked to see it was her... Former Queen.

Spoiler: Charity Antal

Charity Antal was Diodora's former Queen Piece. And while the former Holy Maiden and Queen broke under that filthy devil's care, her method of coping was by acting as an enabler for him.

Once saved, once given the chance, she broke again, falling down completely in her guilt and remorse, as she sought to service Kenji as a form of penance.

Alisa still harbored some resentment for Chairty, Diodora Astaroth's Queen. Yet, the woman before her was almost like a frightful lamb, tiptoeing everywhere she went.

"What is it, Charity? Also didn't we all agree to not act like strangers?" Alisa said back, referencing herself and the other former sisters and forced Peerage members.

Charity flinched. "Right, right. Of course." She took a moment to collect herself. "The others... everyone is waiting at the dining room to discuss, um, you know."

"Oh, okay." Alisa's eyes widened in understand. Yeah, she should have done that, rather than pace around in worry. "Let's go then. Isabella, come on. Meeting." Alisa said out loud, forcing Isabella from her spiraling thought, and stopped the creepy smile that was forming on her face, making the former Bishop self conscious again.

At the dining table was most of Diodora's former Peerage. Some had chosen to seek quiet lives away from anything related to the supernatural, and especially the church. Some felt they could contribute more acting as freelancer, wandering knights, exorcists, or healers helping those who need it in the world.

The rest of those present felt they couldn't leave Lord Adam's, Kenji's side and wanted to repay him for the salvation he brought them.

Alisa sat at the head of the table, not something intentional but the sisters did seem to see her as Kenji's second, to defer to her when he wasn't around.

To Alisa's right was Sile Sullivan.

Spoiler: Sile Sullivan

The Irish woman was a Former Rook and owned the dojo building on the other side of Kenji's house, providing a place for training. Not just for Kenji but all the former Holy Maidens so that they may be ready to help Kenji when he needed it.

Next to Sile was Rasha Al-Badr.

Spoiler: Rasha Al-Badr

Rasha was an Egyptian Holy Maiden that loved nothing more than to help and heal others. She was almost too willing to help and save others, even to the detriment of herself. Even her Sacred Gear seemed to encourage this behavior.

Sanctified Stigmata, the Hallowed Blood Salvation of Ills, was a Sacred Gear that was Rasha's blood itself. Her blood was a panacea that could cure all illnesses, no matter what they were, even the Devil's infamous Sleeping Diseases. She could also heal all wounds, and restore one's spirit even from the depth of despair. Of course Diodora instantly wished to have her for himself, as she was a very useful pawn. In the literal sense of being a toy to that Devil and a Former Pawn.

Of course, her power wasn't without a price. In order to use her Sacred Gear she had to bleed to use this power. She even held scars on her arms and forehead from how many times she was forced to reopen those wounds. She covered her arms with elbow length gloves. She wanted to the do the same to her face, but Kenji had commented that her scar made her look "cool", thus she held that one up with pride.

However above all, while Rasha wished to be by Kenji's side, she never wants to heal anything ever again.

On Alisa's left was Isabella, still sitting red-faced, and next to her was Charity, and finally next to Charity was Hina Taliah, another Former Pawn.

Spoiler: Hina Taliah

Hina, the Syrian Nun and Former Pawn was... adaptable. That was all Alisa could say about her. Somehow she never seemed bothered by living with the Astaroth Devil. Yet oddly Diodora didn't care to 'play' with her any more than he'd normally would with the other former nuns. Almost like he was disappointed in how easy it was to "break" her. If she ever actually was.

Alisa wasn't sure if Hina stayed with Kenji out of gratitude, a sense of wanting to repay him, or... Well, just plainly wanting to "repay" him. Alisa wanted the former Pawn to begone, but she was relatively harmless, and Kenji didn't mind having her around, so Alisa relented.

Hina usually kept to herself, but... Well, today's topic was likely to be the one that she would be most engage in.

"Where's Cecilia?" Alisa asked. Cecilia, of course, was another of their group, a former, well current nun and Former Bishop of Diodora.

"She said she's not coming," Rasha answered. "She said, she's gonna stay at the rebuilt church, as she's still doing her rounds, and that while hilarious, this topic isn't so serious that she needs drop everything and come here."

Not serious? Our Lord Kenji is hitting his, um, well you know." Sile started with enthusiasm before instantly losing steam. "It's an important time period, so we should, well..." A blushing Sile looked at Alisa for guidance.

Why are you looking at me for? I'm as clueless as you are! Alisa of course didn't say that but kept a stoic front.

"Lord Kenji is a Master Martial Artist. Not only that but he is too aware of his own spiritual and physical energies. It's not that surprising for him just recognize the signs of his body hitting that stage of development." Hina spoke up, putting the subject in some clear light, and to get things started.

"Then, um," Charity continued. "What matter is... what do we do about it?" She asked while looking around to see if that's the right question.

"S-S-So what do I--WE, we. What do we do?" Isabella squeaked.

"Or if we need to do anything at all." Hina added.

"Sometimes I forget that Lord Kenji is still a thirteen years old boy, due to how mature he is." Alisa said. "But he is a boy, a young man, as the ones with life experience, at least in that part of life, we should seek not just to protect and aid him as we have, but guide him when he needs it. Like right now."

"Does, err," Rasha spoke. "Does he even need our help? Kids these days have their computers, and Kenji is more knowledgeable than the average boy his age, so..." She then looked to the side, a blush coming to her. "The only thing we can really offer is, well..."

"Practical experience?" Hina said with a playful smirk.

And just like that, silence hit the table, as the bomb the sisters were dancing around was popped, by Hina just dropping it without care.

"H-H-Hina! What are you saying?" Isabella stuttered.

"I'm not saying anything." Hina playfully smiled back. "I'm simply voicing what's on our minds." No one really could argue. Lying is a sin after all. "We could also do nothing."

"Nothing?" Alisa asked.

"Nothing." Hina nodded. "So Kenji is growing up, he is becoming an adult and might be more interested in other activities than just studying magic and training. But he could just as easily not be interested at all, or even interested in boys instead of girls."

"Don't say that!" Isabella shouted, standing up as she nearly slammed her hands on the table. Her eyes wide and voice full of horror at the possible disappointment.

Then the pinked haired former nun, noticing the awkward stares, and one of the girls coughing in the background, and quickly sat covering her face with her arm.

Alisa patted the girl's head to comfort her.

"Um, but still... what do we do about this?" Charity added. "If we choose to do something?" She clarified.

"Would you all rather Lord Kenji desire our bodies or not?" Hina again spoke with all the subtlety as a hammer to frail glass.

"H-Hina!" Charity squeaked.

"H-How dare you imply that we'd try to, to, have se--defil--tempt--do that or take advantage of Lord Kenji's kindness?" Sile cried out in anger, even while blushing.

"I mean..." Rasha looked away.

Isabella was quiet in her thoughts before hiccupping at what imagination created.

"Hina, do you have to be that crass?" Alisa asked with a sigh.

"I'm just asking you all, what would you all rather do? If we're saying what would be the right thing to do, then it's to answer Kenji if he is confused, or has some questions about some concepts. But we all know that's not what this meeting is about?" And now Hina's innocent smile seemed predatory, even if it didn't change. "The point of this meeting is to determine what will we do, if Kenji became attracted to us, or any of the women in his life. Should he exclusively date that girl? Should we all offer ourselves to Kenji, asking to become his women?" Red-beet faces all around again. "Or should we simply ask him to leave all that intimacy and relationship stuff till he's older? And so on." Hina's smile now had a kinder touch to it. "It's importantly to lay all this out on the table now. Lying to ourselves would be the worst mistake, so it's best to just be honest on what do we want out of this relationship with Kenji?"

"And what is it do you want, Hina?" Alisa said, almost challengingly.

"I want him to be happy." Hina said with a small smile. "No matter the outcome, or his choices, I just want that boy to be happy. For the hope he gave us, only offering him my everything for his happiness would suffice."

The room fell quiet after that. Hina's words and their sincerity, did resonate with the other former Peerage members. Maybe not to the same degree, or the same way, but in a similar sentiment all the same.

What do I want from being by Lord Kenji's side?

That was the question that rang on all the present former Reincarnated Devils' and Holy Maidens' minds.

Thus they simply contemplated that question in silence.

And naturally that silence was shattered after a while.

A ball of light and wind swirled and appeared above the dining table.

"Hey, Alisa, you and the others are there, right?" Kenji's voice echoed out of the communication spell. The former nuns quickly headed there.

"Kenji! Y-Yes, what is it? Are you alright? Are you in danger? Do you need help?" Alisa quickly asked in a mother hen way.

"Yeah, it's all good. Ended up meeting some Onmyoji guys from the Five Principal Clans, really Young Master-types. Heh. Anyways, there's kind of a complicated situation. You know that Aloha boat thing, where 233 kids died? Turns out, nope, they didn't die." Kenji explained. "Some group called the 'Utsusemi Agency' made up of people thrown out of the Five Clans, had kidnapped them and experimented on them to make Fake version of Independent-Type Sacred Gears. The kids used are more like puppets to the monsters linked to them, their mind kinda brainwashed, and not all there. That organization also likely kidnapped those kids' parents or relatives. Can one of you check that, just in case?" Rasha immediately got a laptop and started to do so. "Anyways, found one of those Utsusemi kids, they were hunted down by some Doumon guy, real prick. Was going to kill the kid after he defeated the linked monster, because clan 'pride' or 'honor' or some shit. I stopped Doumon Dude, got the kid and healed him."

"Where are you, Kenji? Tell me and we'll head to assist you right away." Alisa said.

"Nah, this whole thing is way too easy. I wanted to try out the Onmyoji spells and see what they're like. I just need you to look after the kid, and the others I'm likely to find till I get back. Use the dojo since I'll try to find all 233 students, as well as their parents or guardians taken by the Utsusemi Agency."

"We hear and obey, Lord Kenji. We'll ready the dojo right away." Sile said promptly.

"Gee, Sile, I told you to cut it out with the 'Lord'."

"R-right, sorry." Sile said, looking down for a moment.

"Alright, thanks girls." All the women present smiled despite themselves, at their savior gratitude. "Now I have to go--Oh! Neat combination attack. The mana circles between the five elements and get amplified with each cycle, till it is fired by the spell group's leader. Although they really shouldn't have went with Earth on top of a building, away from the, well, ground. They really didn't think though. Hmm, I almost figured out everything about Shinto Magic but something feels missing..."

"...Kenji?" Alisa spoke. "Please don't daydream mid-battle and forget to fight." She advise.

The group reached the dojo, then the ball of light expanded, and the body to a sleeping teenager appeared on the floor. One of the former nuns, went and moved him to the side, while getting a pillow for their head. Isabella realized they will need a lot of pillow and blankets, and set about with Charity and Hina to make some magic constructs, from that 'Projection' Magic, Kenji showed them. They were empty constructs but would work all the same, for this simple task.

"Nah, I do that automatically, even if I don't think about it. Anyways, just a second, let's see Wood overcomes Earth. Don't have wood around, no way, there's an apple in the fridge, right Alisa?" Kenji asked.

"Um..." Alisa blinked at the question.

"Yes there is! I saved you one, Lord Kenji!" Isabella cried out.

"Stop with the 'Lord', and thanks, Isabella." Kenji said back, and the girls felt his magic reach into the kitchen and teleport the apple to him.

"Alright then, gotta go, girls." Kenji said.

"Stay safe, Kenji." Alisa said, as did the other girls.

"Oh, and before I forget, I figured out what to do about the whole 'puberty' thing. I decided to just leave my optimized metabolism as is, and just deal with any urges or emotions with mindfulness meditation. Should be a good training. Whole thing should be done in a year and half, so you girls won't have to be bothered about me being awkward around you for that long. And don't worry, I'll be mindful around you so you don't feel bothered by me, and give you all your space." The ball of light and wind, turned into the shape of a thumbs up. "Later!"

"Wait, what?" Alisa blinked at that.

""NO!"" Almost all the rest of the girl except Hina and Rasha cried out.

Rasha just pouted in disappointment, while Hina was giggling, trying not to laugh out loud.

===

As I ended the telepathic wind call to Alisa and the others, I bit into the apple. The bite was large so I can get the seeds, and spit them into my hands, coating them with Life Energy that I've been gathering from the environment, and from my own Ki.

"...Let Oyamatsumi's ire hold you in its crushing grip. Kuitsukushi Kōsoku Ryū." Arata Nakiri, was finishing his chant, as he and the rest of the Onmyoji squad said the spell's name together. Aww, they even had a synchronized semi-dance movement and finger pointing to target me at the end. Cute.

The ground cracked, as soil and dirt broke out of the walls and ceiling congregating on one spot to form into the shape of an eastern earth dragon. The dragon held within it the concept of 'sealing'. The poem chant the Five Clan Onmyojis used, mentioned caves and how they sealed evil. Then they appealed to Oyamatsumi, the God of Mountain to affirm that aspect for the spell.

Huh, they're going to imprisoning me, rather than beating me? Are they trying to go for 'we have suppressed you and thus have you in our mercy'? Weirdly nice of them, when they have been so pompous this whole time.

Now, very quickly, let's see what I learned. Shinto Magic involves prayer to the Shinto Gods, Shinto Spells are made based on one of the Five Classic Eastern Elements, and reference a Kami related to said element in their chant. There are a sort of ritual to the spell, be it the talisman with the writing, the poetry in the chants, or the mini-dances.

Are all these things needed or can you do without?

Can I do it say, without prayer, without appeal to gods?

Let's try it out.

Let's see, if I recalled Wood beats Earth by separating, right? In that case:

"We're in a building, a structure of iron and steel. As Metal carries Water, within this heart of Metal, Wood is fed and nurtured!" I focused my Magical Energy within the apple seeds, that have been soaked in Life Energy, and threw them forward. "Guardian Tree Wall!"

The seeds exploded in action, growing into plants and then trees, combining into the one tree that reached from floor to ceiling, then expanding outward without breaking the walls or pillars.

The earth dragon hit the tree and stopped. It wasn't contained but it was struggling against the tree, as it's roots were trying to hold it. The earth-shaped dragon seemed to be unable to move around the tree, always ending up hitting it.

"Impossible! A mere simple elemental spell interaction, is holding back the great Devouring Detaining Dragon?!" Shouted one of the Onmyoji, a metal-flavored one, so a Shinra.

"Hold the technique! Our ritual will not be overcome by an empty natural interaction, that holds no weight or soul behind it." Shouted Arata.

No weight?

I mean they're right. Not about beating my spell part, energy-wise mine just had more, and I could keep feeding it to outlast their dragon.

The problem is this spell was wasteful as fuck.

Not with the energy I fed it, those I put into precise measurements, without any energy lost fed into the seeds or spell. It's after the spell was cast, that energy was massively wasted. The tree spell was wasting a lot of energy just existing, rather than focusing on using it. It's like an AI that's writing the most bloated 100-page text message possible, just for a simple "Hello World" message, rather than a simple Python's: print("Hello World").

Why? I'm controlling the energy input perfectly?

Hmm, the tree is doing it's job of attracting and pulling the dragon to it via normal Five Element interactions, and try hold it down, but it's like it has no... "weight"?

Their spells are rituals. They have chants, dances and prayer.

I could probably use more energy to control the spell after it's formed, but a programmer is suppose to make their code do its thing from the get go, rather than write another code to correct the mistake of the first code.

Idealistically, I think. I dunno, I'm not a programmer, I just use the comparison.

So, it's the appeal to the gods then? That's what allows the spells to act more in accordance with the caster's will?

"O' Lord Kukunochi, please let this sapling tree, grow and flourish through the earth, so it may bring prosperity upon the people of this land." I called out, and almost immediately I felt the actions of the tree becoming more... streamlined?

The tree was losing excessive branches. It didn't branch out uselessly, having extra wood for no reason that just used up energy for being there, and not aiding in the original spell effort to beat the earth-shaped dragon.

I also felt attention on me, and old and worldly wooden one, that's lived through the ages but ignored it. That's probably normal for Onmyoji to feel a god's gaze on them. No wonder they're all so arrogant all the time.

I felt another attention, a sunny one join in, looking on in amusement. Why is another kami joining in on this spell? I mean, they're not opposing me, but still. Weird.

Hmm, if this is the Sun Goddess, then why? No, wait, lots of gods have agriculture as a domain or an aspect, or just something they dip their toe nails in, and sunlight helps plants grow, so it's probably that. Huh, neat.

No wait, why would Amaterasu come look at this spell at night? Ah, maybe another sun or light related Kami. Probably.

Suddenly I felt the sunny attention pouting and leaving.

"Brothers, do you see? His spell is weakening!" Said one of the Five Clan Onmyoji. Water-flavored one.

"Of course he is, his prayers held little reverence and his spell has no history. His arrogance in trying to fight us on the same grounds, is why he shall be reprimanded by the heaven's tribulations." Cried out another Five Clan Onmyoji. Oh, a Fire-flavored one agreeing with the previous Onmyoji commentator.

Hmm, gods are fickle. Yeah, these Shinto Spells are hit or miss depending how favored are you to the Shinto Gods. And since the Five Principal Clans have been tasked to defend Japan a long time ago from Evil Spirits, no wonder they have a lot of talent (favor) for it.

Okay but there is one thing missing.

I did the elemental interaction understanding, the divine-appeal, but while the spell is working better now, it's not doing what I want of just taking the earth dragon and absorb all its energy for later use. I mean, it's doing that but not that fast, it's more of an equal-ish struggle at the moment.

Sure, I could speed the whole thing up by just throwing Mana at the whole thing, and brute force the control, but that would be like a child whining about not winning a game, because they didn't figure out all the rules.

What's missing?

Classic Eastern Elements. Reference to the Kami. Appeal, pray to the Kami. What else?

"His spell has no history!" I recalled.

Ooooh! That's what the Fire-flavored, Himejima Onmyoji kid said.

Thank you overly expositionary Himejima kid.

It's not enough to reference the kami but also call on how they used or interaction with the element used in the spell.

Ritualistic Spells need history behind them. To call on long tradition and stories about what's being done.

I grinned.

Well in that case.

"Just as the Tree Trunk Elder provides the wood for food and shade, I ask Inari Ōkami to take this Wood and complete this work upon which we stand." I felt another presence at invoking Inari's name, and while the Apple Tree was starting to not just absorb but use the energy taken from the Earth Dragon to finish the construction of the building, we're in, it didn't feel enough. The tree didn't have enough energy to do both take power from the earth-shaped dragon, and build. Hmm, let's home she's not too salty.

"What the hell are you doing? Are you just calling on gods without precedence?" Cried out Kaimen.

"B-Brothers! Our spell is being being suppressed!" Cried out Tanaka.

The Onmyoji cried out in horror while shouting in protest.

"And no wood can stand, flourish or be filled with life without the heavenly light, thus for this I," I teleported us with the combating spells to the roof, and raised my arms up in a Y-shape.

Huh? Why did some of Five Clan Onmyoji the pale at what I did and faint? They are muttering about the teleportation spell. Why is that a big deal?

Oh well.

"Praise the Sun!"

The sunny attention was back. Huh, it really was Amaterasu and--Err, isn't the Apple Tree shining too much?

Okay wow, the earth dragon just turned to dust in a second and now the tree shined brightly as all around us the construction building was being, well, build in fast forward.

The Five Principal Clan Onmyoji were looking around in awe and terror. Why are they not paying attention to the battle?

Was one of them crying?

After the building was done, and the tree spell ended, with the tree vanishing in a wisp of light, I moved.

I knocked out all the Five Clan Onmyoji, and left magic zip ties on their hands. That should keep them occupied for a while.

I'm not taking them anywhere, that's too much work, and I don't care.

Jumping off the now finished building as I head to where I feel two kids, two Sacred Gear users fighting... a Doumon guy? He feels like a Doumon but without the Water-flavor. Meh.

Hmm?

Huh, looking on from the outside, the building is... pretty impressive. It's not like I was focused on the architectural details, but it looks like a mini-temple-castle thing but modernized a bit.

"Hmm, looks nice." I commented.

I noticed that sunny attention again preening at me. Huh, why is Amaterasu still focusing on me? The spell is over.

Almost as if just realizing I noticed that, the sunny attention instantly vanishes.

I shrug at the odd interaction. Maybe the Kami keep watching the casters after the spell is over out of curiosity.

Anyways, time to head to the kids.

With another Hercules-Style Soru, I dashed in the air to reached the fight.

"Eh?" Muttered a young woman with light brown hair tied up. "Where'd you come from?"

"What!?" The Doumon Waterless Dude cried out. "Who are you? How did you get past the barrier, this place should have been invisible to everyone?"

"There was a barrier?" I blinked at that. I honestly didn't notice. The Doumon guy looked outraged by that.

I kneeled next to the other guy around, a kid with a bleeding hole in his chest, that was closed up by his Sacred Gear cat covering it with its tail.

The Avatar Sacred Gear cat hissed at me, but I just smiled and let my Life Energy spread out, covering both it and the boy, healing and rejuvenating them both.

The cat calmed down after that.

"W-What? The fuck, I'm alive?" The delinquent looking guy said.

"Yep, one second." There was also another kid, an Utsusemi user laying on the ground, his Utsusemi looked like a shapeshifting slime. I teleported the kid to me to heal him, and the slime teleported with him.

"What the hell?" Doumon guy cried out in shock. "It doesn't matter who you are, trying to help these Grigori pawn. Don't get in my way of attain that Sacred Gear's power!" Huh? Are those golems? Huh, Earth-flavored Doumon guy, neat.

Wait if I recall he was thrown out of the Doumon Clan for not having Water-affinity, right?

Weird, Water supports Earth, he could have been some trump card or heavy hitter of the Doumon Clan, if they trained him right. Oh wait, the Five Principal Clan are "traditionalists" to the point of villainy in the setting.

Also the Slime Utsusemi was attacking me.

"Wait, Nobu?" The Cat Sacred Gear guy said, before his eyes widened at the slime behind me. "Watch out!"

Wait. This Utsusemi User kid is called 'Nobu'? That's hilarious.

Also I punched behind me a few times with Ki.

I wasn't in the mood to use spells right now.

The slime was evaporated from the heat of my fist, while the golems were blown up with holes all over them.

I didn't noticed as I was focused on using Senjutsu to heal this 'Nobu' kid.

Nobu. Heh.

"W-What the hell happened?" Doumon guy fell on his ass in utter shock.

"What is this power? I only saw his arm twitch." The girl muttered with wide-eyes.

"...The fuck are you, man?" The guy I healed asked. "What are you doing to Nobu?" He then pushed himself past his fear to check on his friend.

"Healing him." I said, as I hovered my hand over Nobu's (heh) chest, and a ball was pulled out into my hand.

"What is that?" The delinquent guy asked.

"The Utsusemi." I said as the Slime had disappeared. "And your friend is now fine."

The kid was already doing well, since his adaption to the Utsusemi and his will power pushed him to stay alive and be better.

"Y-Y-You! That white hair, that ability to manipulate Life Energy like that. You're, you're..." Doumon guy stood up as he pointed at me and shouted in terror. "You're Adam!"

"Yep." I stood up. The Avatar Sacred Gear guy and girl from Slash Dog still looked roughed up.

Hmm, I still had half the apple, I didn't eat it all. And oh! There were still two seeds inside it. Neat.

I took the seed in my hand, held the half-eaten apple in my mouth, then cupped the seeds between my palms and plunged Life Energy into them.

It was a bit tricky to guide the seeds growth to skip the tree and just make the apples.

"And viola." I said. Now I had two apples in my hands.

I threw one to the girl, who almost didn't catch the apple as it jumped between her hands a few times. Butter fingers.

I gave the brute-looking guy the other.

"Eat. You guys need to heal up." I told them. They needed some vitality on top of healing their injuries.

"Are... Are these the apples from the Garden of Eden?" The girl asked.

"Wait, what?" Doumon guy asked. "No! Don't give them that!" He shouted.

"They're the Apples of Inageya." I deadpannd. Just because I gave you apples, doesn't mean you have to assume that.

"What?" The girl blinked at me in confusion.

"They're from the supermarket." I clarified with a sigh.

"Y-You! What the hell are you playing at? Why are you here, Adam?" Doumon guy shouted. "Why are you helping Samejima Kouki and Minagawa Natsume!? Are you with the Grigori?"

Huh, nice giving the kids names. I'm really starting to appreciate these villains with the exposition bug.

"I just happened to be in the area." I looked up to see a kid with light silver hair. He had two white futuristic wings sprouting from his shoulders, with feathers made of energy. The kid felt like a Human, a Devil and a Dragon.

And he was short. It was a chibified Vali Lucifer.

Pfft, what? I mean, that cute but, is something wrong with this universe to make him a shouta?

No, wait, this is still too early from the DxD canon starting point. So this is kid Vali? Man, his growth spurt hit him like a truck.

Well, anyways.

I dashed and punched Doumon guy in the guts, knocking him out.

"So fast!" Natsume cried out.

"The fuck, he makes it look so easy." Kouki grunted.

"Oi, White Dragon kid." I called out.

"Oh? So you sensed me, Progenitor of Humanity?" Vali said, standing on some high beams of the building we're in.

"Can you deal with this guy? I don't know where to drop him off." I said.

"What?" Vali blinked in confusion.

"I'm gonna go rescue the rest of the kids linked to the Utsusemi in the city, then I'll head to the Utsusemi Agency facility to get everybody else. Okay? Later." And I went on my way, barely hearing the shouts of surprised from the kids.

"What the flying fuck was that!" Kouki cried out.

"That, that... Did he just give me some janitorial job of collecting the trash? Is that what you're implying Adam!" Standing next to the other members of Slash Dog cried out to the sky, as an aura of power and rage engulfed him.

"So that's Adam. I... wow. Not exactly sure how this meeting was suppose to go." Natsume said, now more calm and trying to process everything.

"You know him?" Kouki asked.

"I heard about him." She said as she took a bite out of the apple gifted to her. "He's suppose to be the Spirit Inheritor to the First Man, Adam, but there are other theories about him due to how powerful he is."

"'Spirit Inheritor'? To the First Human? The shit, why is someone like that just hanging around and helping us?" Kouki asked, looking overwhelmed a bit.

"K-Kouki?" A voice called out, as Kouki's friend started to wake up and sit up.

"Nobu! How are you feeling, man? All good?" Kouki asked, with surprising care.

"I'm fine. Actually, I feel great." Nobu tried to laugh like he usual did when hanging out with his friend. "Although the last few moment felt crazy."

"Yeah, tell me about it." Kouki sighed.

Natsume hummed and nodded in agreement.

Before the digested apple reached her stomach, and energy burst out of her whole body, as her Avatar Sacred Gear, Griffon, one of the Four Fiends, the Fiend of Deviousness, Spirit of Kyuuki began to grow and transform.