Chapter 26: Why Are You Coming Out From There? (3)
After confirming that the Gwang-ung (Mad Bear) had collapsed, Mitchell turned his gaze elsewhere.
There stood Grant, looking like a complete beggar.
“Why are you even here? No, more importantly, what on earth did you do to end up in that state?”
At Mitchell’s question, Grant made a tearful face.
“Mitchell…… do you have any idea how long I’ve been looking for you?”
He then began to recite the vast epic of his recent struggles. To summarize: he had entered to find Mitchell, gotten lost, and engaged in a series of bloody battles against demonic beasts.
[Stupid brat. Who wanders around the Demonic Realm so recklessly? Sigh, to think a descendant of mine would be like that.]
That was Kalia’s assessment after hearing the story.
Of course, Mitchell, who had been experiencing the Demonic Realm for a while now, felt the same way.
Hadn't he almost died back when he first caught the Red-Eyed Rabbit?
He only moved about with confidence because Kalia was with him; otherwise, he might not have moved at all.
“I get it, so just rest for now. I have things to do.”
Mitchell brushed off Grant’s blackened, grimy hand that was gripping his collar and looked at the spirits in the vicinity.
Previously, he couldn't see them properly until he used Soul Drain, but now, he could see the spirits at a single glance.
Furthermore, he could even sense other sensations, including their colors.
‘It’s because I’ve reached enlightenment…….’
Mitchell stared at the spirits as if possessed, but soon snapped out of it.
Since the spirits of the demonic beasts were dissipating like evaporating gas, he had to diligently circulate the Heavenly Destruction Heart Law.
He wanted to absorb them all and return to the camp to convert them slowly, but there was a limit to the amount of soul energy he could absorb at once.
In particular, a strong beast like the Gwang-ung would fill his "vessel" to the brim.
Thus, he intended to absorb the spirits in stages, but…….
‘Huh……?’
All the spirits in the area were absorbed into Mitchell.
Even then, there was still a bit of room left in his vessel.
Seeing Mitchell's reaction, Kalia explained the reason.
[It is because your enlightenment is related to the soul.]
Previously, Kalia had said he would provide the direction but told Mitchell to find out for himself what lay at the end.
Though he had gained enlightenment this way, it was ultimately thanks to Kalia’s guidance that Mitchell could attain the specific realization he needed.
“As expected, Master is the best.”
At Mitchell’s sincere remark, Kalia clicked his tongue.
[If you have time for that, leave this place quickly. Seeing how many types of beasts gathered here, it is not a safe spot.]
Mitchell nodded and turned his eyes toward Grant.
Grant was currently meditating to recover even a little bit of his stamina.
To meditate in a place where you don't know when a demonic beast might pop out—he must have been in truly terrible shape.
‘Well, I suppose…….’
He said he had been chased for several nights and eventually fought as the number of beasts grew, so it was understandable.
Mitchell stood guard beside the meditating Grant.
After a short while, Grant opened his eyes and sprang to his feet.
“I feel like I can breathe now. So, what do we do?”
“Let’s go to the camp I set up. It’s a relatively safe place.”
Grant nodded and stuck close to Mitchell’s side, as if he never wanted to get lost again.
However, there was one thing he hadn't considered.
“Ugh! Get away from me a bit!”
“Why?”
“I’m getting dizzy just from the smell, so back off!”
At Mitchell’s words, Grant looked down, smelled his own body, and gagged.
Even he thought it was too much.
[……Wash up before you leave. Demonic beasts might follow the scent all the way to the camp.]
In the end, they could only head for the camp after he washed his body in a nearby stream.
They had been walking for half a day.
As soon as they arrived at the camp, Grant went back into meditation, but Mitchell started a fire and sat before the campfire.
“Tch, it took days to track that Gwang-ung, yet we were only half a day's walk away.”
[I allowed you to encounter various beasts so you could gain enlightenment, and yet you show no gratitude. If you’re so dissatisfied, you become the Master.]
Ugh—
Since there was no lie in those words, Mitchell shut his grumbling mouth.
He had been so focused on perceiving souls that he simply moved according to Kalia’s instructions, but every beast they encountered was the perfect prey for Mitchell to hunt.
Furthermore, he hadn't faced a situation dangerous enough to break his concentration completely, so reaching the 4th Class would have been impossible without Kalia’s help.
Knowing this, Mitchell scratched the back of his head.
“I was just surprised that it was so close. I know all about Master’s grace.”
[As long as you know. More importantly, start by circulating the Heavenly Destruction Heart Law.]
Mitchell sat down and began his meditation.
The circulation of the Dark Aura became effortless, and soul energy began to fill his Aura Hole.
He had felt it when dealing with the Gwang-ung, but converting spirits into Dark Aura had become as natural as breathing.
‘It still hurts just the same, though…….’
Well, pain disappearing only happens after mastering the Heavenly Destruction Heart Law, so that was a distant story.
However, the pain had significantly decreased compared to before, so Mitchell was greatly satisfied with just this.
[You’ve become quite usable. Yes, you should at least be at this level to use martial arts properly.]
“Oh!”
Mitchell brightened at the mention of using martial arts properly and unfolded the Ghost Soul Step and the Delusional Soul Movement Technique.
Tak— Tak— Tak—
Perhaps because his stage had risen, the management of Dark Aura while performing footwork felt much smoother.
“I think the effectiveness of the Ghost Soul Step has become much stronger too.”
[That is because the essence of the Ghost Soul Step is the control of the soul. Try using the Heavenly Destruction Sword as well.]
Lifting his sword, Mitchell immediately unleashed the Heavenly Destruction Flash.
The sword qi compressed, and its color deepened. He sent the flash flying toward a nearby tree.
Slic—
Soon, the tree, its base severed, tilted and fell over.
Feeling emboldened, he then drove his reverse-gripped sword into the ground.
Thump—
Following the principles of the Heavenly Destruction Formation, Dark Aura spread in all directions through the ground.
Seeing the formation manifest so easily, Mitchell grinned.
‘Oho, will this work too?’
Since the sword was still planted, he only needed to activate the formation.
As Mitchell manipulated the Dark Aura as he envisioned, the ground soon surged.
But it didn't happen just once.
Ku-gung— Ku-gung— Ku-gung—
Like a heartbeat, dust rose from the ground at regular intervals.
If an enemy were nearby, they would lose their balance, and even their spirit would be suppressed, making it difficult to move.
Adding the Heavenly Destruction Flash to this would be nothing short of a nightmare for an enemy.
Mitchell let out a laugh despite himself at his vastly improved abilities.
“Heh heh heh.”
[Is it that good?]
Do you even have to ask?
Nodding his head, Mitchell tried to suppress his unceasing laughter and finally performed the Incarnation Art.
Energy scattered and surrounded Mitchell, instantly taking the shape of a monster.
However, unlike the blurry form from before, the appearance was now much clearer.
Also, the Dark Aura, which used to drain away like crazy, stopped being consumed the moment the Incarnation was formed.
It felt as if he could keep the Incarnation active for hours if he just stayed still.
‘The emission of energy truly isn't the exclusive domain of 4th Class Aura users for nothing.’
Only after slowly testing his martial arts did Mitchell truly feel what it meant to have become a 4th Class Aura user.
Previously, he had merely imitated a 4th Class user with his massive amount of Dark Aura.
But a true 4th Class Aura user was not like that.
One must realize the essence of the energy they handle and be able to command it like their own hands and feet.
[The difference between the 3rd and 4th Class is greater than the difference between holding a brush in your mouth versus your hand.]
“It really is.”
[And the reason the Incarnation has changed so much is that the grade of your soul has risen. The Incarnation will continue to grow alongside you.]
Those words made him feel good.
It felt as if he had gained a friend who grows with him, rather than just a martial art.
Well, a similar fellow was already right in front of him.
Grant, who had emerged from the tent at some point, was staring at Mitchell with his mouth agape.
“What…… have you perhaps reached the 4th Class?”
“Yeah. I gained enlightenment while helping you earlier.”
“Damn it!”
Grant shouted in frustration.
Mitchell found the reaction absurd. Why was he fuming when someone else's stage had risen?
Before Mitchell could argue, he understood the reason through Grant’s following grumbles.
“To be caught up to again! Does this even make sense?! How does it make sense that you, who haven't even held a sword for half a year, are already at the 4th Class?! It feels like I’m the only one whose growth is stagnant!”
“What can I do if I’m just a bit talented? Anyway, since when were you watching?”
“Since you used the Heavenly Destruction Flash.”
Uh…… then didn't he see the Heavenly Destruction Formation too?
Mitchell worried about how to explain using the formation, which no one had taught him—rather, which no one in the current Lunay family could even teach.
Just as he was rolling his eyes and thinking hard, Grant spoke first.
“The thing you used after the Flash. That was the Heavenly Destruction Formation, wasn't it?”
“…….”
“There’s nothing left of the 2nd form of the Heavenly Destruction Sword onwards, so I can’t use it, but I’ve seen the records of what kind of martial art it is. But its power seems weaker than the records? Well, I suppose the power would be different since the records were of the Master ancestor using it.”
Grant didn't stop there and even mentioned the Incarnation Art.
“Ah, I saw the martial art you use in the records too. That thing where a monster appears on the outside. The ancestors who learned the Sword of Death used it. Did they call the name Incarnation Art?”
As the talk continued, Mitchell became flustered.
The family’s secret techniques—and lost ones at that—were being displayed by an outsider.
Yet, Grant was speaking more calmly than expected.
Mitchell held out both hands to explain calmly and opened his mouth.
“Grant, how this happened is……”
“Why are you acting so flustered? I know everything now too.”
“What?”
“I said I know. Because of what happened at the Raphael family last time, I was worried about you, so I searched through the family archives from the very beginning. Then, just before coming to the Demonic Realm, I happened to find this.”
Grant pulled out a very old-looking, thin book from his chest.
[That is something I left behind. It’s about my life and the Sword of Death. Hmm, however, I don't remember if I wrote about the Soul Stone in there. Back then, that Imperial Mage geezer threw such a fit, saying that leaving a soul behind was against the laws of nature…….]
You should have remembered that!
Mitchell didn't want to talk about Kalia if possible. He trusted Grant and Kayden to some extent, but he didn't know about the others yet.
No, even if everyone was trustworthy, he didn't want to reveal Kalia’s existence.
A secret is only a secret when no one knows it.
The moment someone found out, whether intentionally or unintentionally, it could eventually spread out of control.
If that happened, Mitchell, who was only a 4th Class Aura user, would surely become tempting prey.
Seeing Mitchell frowning, Grant chuckled.
“Don't worry, only I know about this for now. You shouldn't go around telling anyone else either.”
“Right, thanks……”
“Don't thank me, I’m the one who should be more thankful. The artifact Nox had, that belongs to our family, right?”
“That’s right.”
“The fact that the first head of the family left behind an artifact is in this book. At first, I couldn't connect it to you, but you suddenly started using the Heavenly Destruction Flash properly around that time, so I made a rough guess.”
So that was it.
Indeed, it didn't make sense to suddenly use an unstable martial art properly.
Grant continued while looking at the nodding Mitchell.
“They say that artifact passes on knowledge. It’s written that it imparts knowledge step-by-step according to one's level, and that’s why you said you’d tell me later, right?”
“Huh? Uh…… right.”
It was actually because I was too busy with my own training…….
Mitchell did his best to hide his guilty conscience.
“I knew it. Anyone else would have run away the moment they got something that incredible. But you even said you’d join as an adopted son.”
Hearing Grant’s words, Kalia began to laugh.
[Fortunately, it seems I didn't write about the Soul Stone. I thought I couldn't do it because that Imperial Mage old man made such a fuss. I ended up persuading him, though.
Anyway, the fact that you possess a treasure remains unchanged, so be careful not to let others know.]
Mitchell gave a small nod.
That aside…….
‘Since things turned out like this, I should keep my promise and train together.’
Grant’s stage was higher, but wasn't Mitchell the senior when it came to the Demonic Realm!
He intended to show him what it was like to roll around in the Demonic Realm.
Thus, the training began in earnest the next day.
Mitchell first taught the Heavenly Destruction Flash to Grant.
“So this…… is the Heavenly Destruction Flash…….”
Performing a perfect Heavenly Destruction Flash for the first time, Grant was so moved he couldn't speak properly.
Indeed, since Grant was already a 5th Class and already knew the unstable version of the Flash, he succeeded easily after only a few attempts.
‘But the Heavenly Destruction Formation will be different!’
Mitchell looked forward to Grant repeating the same struggles he had faced and taught him the formation.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
He succeeded in one go.
[Oho, he acted so clumsily that I thought he was a fool, but he’s quite talented. His acquisition of martial arts is unbelievably fast. To succeed immediately despite being a 5th Class Aura user.]
Kalia’s eyes gleamed as he looked at his talented descendant.
[Mitchell, from now on, the two of you will train the Heavenly Destruction Sword together, so be prepared.]
“Huh? You said you’d teach me a new martial art once I reached the 4th Class.”
[This brat, where do you get off talking back to your Master? You’ve only just become a 4th Class. Know that you will do nothing but train until you become a mature 4th Class.]
“Tch, I get it.”
His grumbling was short-lived.
Mitchell picked up his sword once again.
It was because he agreed with Kalia that he needed time to fully internalize the things that had changed upon becoming a 4th Class.
And so, time passed quickly, and a month went by.
