Vasya nodded before he set his pack against the wall, and taking his rifle in his arms, the stock resting over his shoulder, lay against it and removed his glasses. His eyes drifted closed and his breathing soon evened out. His mind remained dark for some time before a pair of glowing blue feline eyes lit up the darkness.<span style="color: #80FFFF">“So, you’ve finally accepted our bond. Excellent. Unlike other demons of the likes your companion is familiar with, I’m much more mellow in temperament, but just as powerful, if not more so due to our unique bond.”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #BFFF00">“What do you mean?”</span>Vasya asked.<br/><br/><span style="color: #80FFFF">“Our bond allows me to be anchored in your body without possessing, which I don’t desire to do. Over time, we will merge into one. You and I will jump start this process through periods of training while you rest and sleep through training.”</span>The voice spoke from the direction of the eyes before the darkness was swept away to reveal a gorgeous snow-covered forest of massive redwoods, sequoias, and varying other tree types, and revealed the other presence to be a massive white and blue winged snow leopard.<span style="color: #80FFFF">“You seek adventure and a way to save mankind, maybe even find a way for the vampires and humans to coexist peacefully without subjugating each other. You want a world where demons have no need to be summoned, you want a more peaceful version of the old world.”</span><br/><br/>Vasya staggered back in shock of both the new environment and the demon’s appearance and revelations about his truest inner desires.<span style="color: #BFFF00">“Y-yes.”</span>He gulped, his amazement and shock outweighing the fear that had begun to creep into the back of his throat.<br/><br/>The Leopard nodded, it’s muzzle orienting into a smirk.<span style="color: #80FFFF">“You and I are better matched than anyone may ever realize, and since I'm not one of those idiot demons who got themselves locked inside of weapons, always itching to take over their wielder, I do not have that desire. Compared to those demons I guess I could be considered an angel of sorts, since I do not thrive off of the same emotions they do. But I’m what the Japanese would call a Yakusoku no akuma. A Demon of Promise. On my own I am equal in power compared to those Black Series Demons, but our bond is strengthening us considerably over time, partially because we are matched so well. There is also another benefit for us, while you may enjoy this power, you do not need it in your eyes, which is also why I chose you, because you would use it to help, to heal, to save, not just to fight.”</span><br/><br/>Vasya began to smile.<span style="color: #BFFF00">“You’re right. I’ve heard that the Japanese Imperial Demon Army isn’t quite as dedicated to saving humanity anymore. But what they have drifted away from is one of the goals I hold down deep. Just because I want to enjoy myself while I do doesn’t mean I don't care.”</span>He stated as he stepped forward through the gathering snow and placed a hand on the leopard’s shoulder, which was even with his own.<span style="color: #BFFF00">“Now that I have this power, what can I do with it?”</span><br/><br/>The Leopard moved their head down and licked Vasya's forehead before speaking.<span style="color: #80FFFF">“Because I am not limited to a weapon, the possibilities could be nearly endless. But one of the biggest abilities you’ll have will be shapeshifting. Mostly into my current form, if a bit smaller, and one other for when more aerial agility is needed. The last I will show you another time. However, I want to focus on your more elemental based abilities first. You’ve already discovered our talents with ice, but you are also capable of using water, lightning, and wind. These are the elements you have the most affinity for due to either your past, the country you grew up in, and other factors that were my own additions.”</span><br/><br/>Vasya smiled and held up his right hand as he covered the whole arm with a thin layer of ice that shifted and clinked quietly as he moved his arm.<span style="color: #BFFF00">“You mean this ice?”</span>He asked.<br/><br/>The demon nodded in reply.<span style="color: #80FFFF">“Now let’s see what you can do with it, let loose, you don’t have to worry about hurting yourself or anyone else here.”</span><br/><br/>Vasya nodded as he lifted his arms up, thick waves of vapor pouring off of his hands as they came up.<span style="color: #BFFF00">“Приливная полка!”</span>He shouted as he brought his hands crashing down into the snow. As soon as they were buried in the snow and hit solid ground, spikes of ice erupted from the snow and barreled through the forest, smashing trees to smithereens for over a kilometer of distance and half a kilometer wide. Vasya stood up with a look of shock on his face.<span style="color: #BFFF00">“I can do this in the real world?”</span>he asked.<br/><br/><br/><span style="color: #80FFFF">“Yes, but you’d likely pass out for over twenty-four hours from the effort. Here you can experiment and train without actually exerting yourself, after all you are still growing into your newfound power, and your body is still getting used to it’s enhancements, as well as building new energy reserves.”</span>The demon explained as the damage disappeared.<br/><br/>Vasya was amazed, and frankly he wanted to learn more.<span style="color: #BFFF00">“Is there any way I can make full body shields that are stronger than steel or even titanium?”</span>He asked, and so Vasya and the demon’s discussions and experimentation continued as Vasya slept before he shook himself to take the next watch. He groaned as he sat up and pushed himself up with his left hand pushing up off the ground.