KamiKowa: That Time I Got Transmigrated With A Broken Goddess-Chapter 35: [] Eighteen Percent

Xavier pushed through the double doors, stepping outside into the afternoon sun with Calypso close behind.

"So what’s next on your divine training plan?" Xavier asked, rolling his shoulders. The workout had left him pleasantly loose, though nowhere near as tired as he’d expected.

Calypso adjusted her skirt. "First, we need to check your status. Pull up your buffer display."

Xavier concentrated, focusing on the internal sensation he’d felt during their practice session. A translucent pink display materialized in his field of vision, hovering just at the edge of his awareness.

===== ESSENTIA STATUS: XAVIER VALENTINE =====

HP: [■■■■■■■■■■■■■] 800/800 IB: [□□□□□□□□□] 0/250

BUFFER LEVEL: 1

METER BUILDING TECHNIQUES:

Basic Combo [+5 METER ON SUCCESS]

Counter Strike [+15 METER ON SUCCESS]

Perfect Dodge [+10 METER ON SUCCESS]

[LOCKED] [REQUIRES BUFFER LVL 2]

[LOCKED] [REQUIRES BUFFER LVL 3]

METER CONSUMING TECHNIQUES:

[LOCKED] [REQUIRES BUFFER LVL 2]

[LOCKED] [REQUIRES BUFFER LVL 2]

[LOCKED] [REQUIRES BUFFER LVL 3]

FEVER MODE: [LOCKED] [AVAILABLE AT FULL METER]

When activated: +15% to all stats for 30 seconds

Consumes entire meter when activated

COMBAT METRICS:

Perfect Executions: 0 • Combo Efficiency: 87%

Current Combo: 0 Hits • Max Combo: 20 Hits

SOUL BONDS:

[Calypso] [▓▓░░░░░░░░] 18%

NOTIFICATIONS:

Execute combat techniques with precision to build meter

Meter resets when sufficient damage is done

Xavier frowned, noting the Input Buffer gauge had dropped back to zero. "The meter drained completely," he said, studying the interface. "I built it up to thirty during practice, but it’s gone now."

"Of course it is," Calypso said, as if explaining something obvious to a child. "Your meter doesn’t persist outside of combat situations. That would make it too easy."

Xavier’s eyes lingered on another section of the display. "Soul Bonds... eighteen percent with you." He turned to Calypso with a raised eyebrow. "Care to explain that?"

Calypso’s cheeks colored slightly, but she maintained her haughty demeanor. "It’s exactly what we discussed before. Your ability requires you to form connections with others to reach your full potential. The percentage represents the strength of our bond."

"And how exactly did we reach eighteen percent?" Xavier asked, unable to keep the amusement from his voice. "We’ve only known each other for a couple of days."

"Time isn’t the only factor in bond formation," Calypso said, examining her nails. "Intensity of interaction, shared experiences, physical proximity—all these contribute."

"Physical proximity, huh?" Xavier grinned. "Like sleeping in the same bed?"

"Don’t be crass," Calypso said, though her blush deepened. "It’s more complicated than that. Besides, eighteen percent is hardly significant. A true bond would need to reach at least sixty percent to provide meaningful power enhancement."

Xavier noticed something else in the display. "Twenty-hit combo, but the meter barely moved. Looks like it takes a lot to fill this thing."

"That’s by design," Calypso said, starting down the path toward the main campus buildings. "If it were too easy to reach Fever Mode, everyone would use it. The system rewards skill and persistence."

Xavier fell into step beside her, hands in his pockets as he considered the implications. "So basic combos give five points, perfect dodges give ten, and counter strikes give fifteen. But the meter needs two hundred and fifty to fill completely."

"You catch on quick," Calypso said with a small smile. "Though I expected nothing less from someone with your background."

Xavier nodded. "So counter strikes are the most efficient way to build meter. That means I need to let opponents attack first."

"A risky strategy," Calypso pointed out. "Counter strikes require perfect timing. Too early or too late, and you’ll take damage instead of building meter."

High Risk. High Reward. Xavier thought, watching a group of upper-year students practicing some kind of energy projection nearby. One girl fired off blue bolts from her fingertips while her partner deflected them with shimmering barriers.

"I need to understand the system better," he said. "The mechanics, the limitations."

"That’s why you have me," Calypso said, her tone softening slightly. "I designed your ability, remember? I know exactly how it works."

Xavier stopped walking, turning to face her directly. "Then teach me. No more holding back. If we’re going to close these gates and break this entanglement, I need to master this system as quickly as possible."

Calypso looked up at him, her pink eyes reflecting the afternoon sun. "Very well," she said. "But not here." She gestured around them at the scattered students. "Let’s wait until we are home. I’ll explain everything there."

Xavier nodded, but as they resumed walking, he found his thoughts returning to the Soul Bond percentage. Eighteen percent. It wasn’t much, but it was something. And given how little he knew about genuine connections—having spent his entire previous life avoiding them—even this small percentage felt significant.

He glanced at Calypso walking beside him. She’d been nothing but trouble since he’d met her, upending his new life before it had even begun. And yet, there was something about her that kept drawing him in. Perhaps it was her divine nature, or maybe just her infuriating personality.

Either way, they were stuck together until they closed the gates or found another solution. And if forming a stronger bond with her would help him gain power, then that was what he’d do. After all, manipulation had been his specialty in his previous life.

But as he watched her pause to admire a crystal formation with childlike wonder, he felt an unexpected twinge of... something. Not quite guilt, but close. The thought of manipulating her for power didn’t sit right with him, despite his past.

Maybe this new life really was changing him.

"What are you staring at?" Calypso asked, catching him watching her.

"Just thinking," Xavier replied, looking away.

"About what?"

"About how much trouble you’ve caused me," he said.

Calypso smiled. "Please. Your life would be boring without me."

Xavier couldn’t argue with that. "So, about these Soul Bonds... how high can they go?"

"One hundred percent is the theoretical maximum," Calypso said. "But that’s extremely rare. It would require complete trust, mutual understanding, and..."

"And?" Xavier prompted.

"And other factors that aren’t relevant right now," she said dismissively. "Focus on mastering your combat abilities first. The bonds will develop naturally over time."

Xavier wasn’t satisfied with that answer, but he let it drop for now. "What about bonds with other people? The display only showed you."

"You haven’t formed meaningful connections with anyone else yet," Calypso explained. "When you do, they’ll appear on the list. But be careful—not all bonds are positive."

"So I need to make friends."

"Not just friends," Calypso corrected. "Deep connections. People who matter to you, and to whom you matter in return."

Xavier fell silent, processing this information. His entire strategy had been to avoid attachments, to remain detached and professional. Now his power literally depended on forming the very connections he’d spent a lifetime avoiding.

"You’re overthinking this," Calypso said, reading his expression. "Just be yourself."

Xavier gave her a skeptical look. "Myself? You mean the professional killer who manipulated people for a living?"

"No," Calypso said firmly. "The person you are now. The one who died protecting a woman he barely knew. The one who chose to start over rather than accept oblivion."

He hadn’t thought about his final moments that way—that he’d died protecting Aiko rather than simply failing his mission.

"Besides," Calypso continued, "you’re already at eighteen percent with me, and I know exactly what you are."

"And what am I?"

Calypso’s expression softened. "A work in progress. Just like the rest of us."