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Return of the Fallen Volume 10 Chapter 118

Arc mentioned Kazuki’s devouring void and it made sense.

(The problem was never the spinning void within me but rather my soul. Since that is the case, with one part of it repaired, in theory, I should be able to gain more power now.)

Kazuki had already felt his powers grow after Nevius helped guide him to fix a part of his soul. Thinking up to here, Kazuki didn’t hesitate. He brought out millions of Cosmic crystals that were filled to the brim with magical energy.

Activating the spinning void within his soul world, a large force pulled at the energy in these crystals like an infinite hole. Combined these Cosmic crystals held enough power to make up nearly a dozen or so stars. The moment the spiral of energy inside of him began to devour the remnants of previous stars, Kazuki once again felt that devouring sensation inside. An unending hunger that could eat the universe echoed out in every direction.

As if this devouring power had been in a thousand-year slumber, it awoke within Kazuki with a ferocious roar.

In seconds all of the magical energy within the Cosmic crystals swept froth and was eaten. The spinning void began to pulse and vibrate before spitting out dense pure power. This power sank into his soul tree and his soul tree took on new growth. With it, once more Kazuki entered a new evolution.

His body expanded and the Realm itself began to vibrate violently as it threatened to fall apart under his new power.

Kazuki’s soul expanded several times over at an unnatural rate and his aura exploded outward as it rushed away from his body like an eruption. Kazuki had to concentrate just to keep his own power in check but he managed to do it with a bit of willpower and focus.

(WHAT IS THIS!?)

Kazuki’s blood flowed through him like a raging river. It was filled with both his ki and vitality. His muscles and bones made snapping and crunching noises as they broke away and were made anew. Stronger, stronger, stronger. His strength climbed to the heavens with unmatched speed.

The spinning void within him stopped but his body continued to evolve as it processed this newfound power. The magic inside of him became so pure that he began to comprehend his own elements better. New ideas, new theories came rushing into his mind one after another. It was almost like the element of fire was trying to tell him something. Almost like he could actually hear it whispering in his ear.

As this happened that feeling, that enlightenment he had felt a few times before seemed to become clearer and clearer. He could almost grasp it it was so close to him.

Kazuki suddenly had a thought and held out his hand. He barely moved as a seemingly unending amount of power came rushing out.

At first, tiny sparks lit up above his palm but a fraction of a second later, a large flame burst forth and expanded at a rapid rate. It grew fast, way too fast. Beyond any speed he had ever claimed to have had, this magic ball of fire expanded millions, billions of times over until a fraction after this initialization, a star had formed.

Not an artificial star, not a fake star that took millions upon millions of inscriptions to scribe, no a real star birthed from real power. All of the complex inscriptions already laid within as Kazuki made them not with his aura, nor his ki but with just his willpower alone. This was something he’d never done before.

Using one’s will to move their magic and materialize a magical spell was the norm but that was all for simple shit, like a ball of fire or a simple sphere of water. What Kazuki did was create an actual star. Fireballs and bolts of lightning require the continuous input of power and will from the one who created them in order for them to continue going. This star though, the moment it was created, it was no longer just what Kazuki created but its own…thing.

It was naturally pulling in energy from its surroundings and on the surface, a type of fusion was taking place along with endless explosions. The star was self-sustaining and could maintain itself. Even if Kazuki disappeared here and now, this star would now go on and exist for billions upon billions of years henceforth.

Not only did Kazuki come to comprehend the element of fire to such a terrifying degree but he was also understanding the depths of stone, darkness, water, ice, wind, lightning, light, and space. There were a few elements he still could not grasp but besides those, it seemed that he got a closer look into everything else.

Kazuki seemed to be in a trance at this moment as he was on the verge of true enlightenment when he felt his body being dragged forth.

The gravity of the star was quite effective and was pulling Kazuki into its depths. This caused Kazuki to snap back to reality and lose that feeling.

Kazuki felt slightly depressed as if he had lost something special. With a thought, Kazuki’s left eye glowed with green light and his body stopped mid-pull.

(It takes some concentration but I can now fully resist a star’s gravitational pull.)

Kazuki could now perfectly control his position around a star. Not only that, he no longer held any fear from the power of a star. He couldn’t help but test this and purposefully allowed the star to pull him the rest of the way inside.

Kazuki was completely unaffected by the heat and instead, it simply felt normal. He let the gravitational forces push him from every conceivable angle. The crushing force could easily harm other beings at the 7th stage but no longer could it cause any harm to Kazuki.

(Kazuki, what was that sensation just now?)

(Sensation? What do you mean?)

Arc spun around Kazuki’s thumb.

(Just now, you seemed to be lost in thought and it felt like something was starting to surround you and flow into your soul world. It didn’t seem harmful so I didn’t say anything but now that your concentration has been broken that sensation vanished as well so I just thought I’d ask. What was that?)

Kazuki was surprised. Arc had actually picked up on something. Kazuki had thought grasping enlightenment was a state of mind or something spiritual but Arc actually said it picked up on something entering Kazuki.

(You said something was entering my soul world just now?)

Kazuki quickly inspected his soul but he found nothing out of place. As a matter of fact, it was the opposite, he felt great, more than great. Reaching one’s peak was one thing but to then reach a new peak followed by another and another, there was something truly remarkable and indescribable about getting to such a place and yet Kazuki had.

(Yes, I can’t say exactly what it was or even if something really was there just a moment ago but it certainly felt as if something intangible passed through you. One moment it was there and the very next it was gone, nowhere to be found.)

Kazuki began to understand what Arc was talking about and he went on to explain the theory or idea behind Divine enlightenment. He couldn’t say what he was experiencing was in fact that but he felt as if it were so.

Arc was puzzled.

(How can one become more powerful with just thoughts. Action is where real growth comes from.)

Kazuki raised a brow. He had literally just experienced something he couldn’t explain through thoughts and his power had just grown, though he knew it might also be explained by the fact that he just gained more power from the devouring ability so he didn’t discount anything.

(How can you be so sure?)

Kazuki was curious why Arc was so confident.

Arc went quiet for a moment before explaining.

(From all I have witnessed growth from. It came only when there was an action. Whether during combat or eating an opponent or consuming their enemy’s Magical beast core. this was the way they grew. I’ve never seen one grow from this so-called enlightenment thing.)

Kazuki could see where Arc was coming from. All of the beings he witnessed were only Ancient beasts. That was the main way their power grew so, of course, that would be what it had seen after all of these years.

Kazuki chuckled before spinning Arc around his finger.

(You ought to get out more often. Then you’ll see that there are a million different ways for one to grow.)

Arc came to a stop and even if there wasn’t a face, Kazuki could tell Arc had a questioning look at this moment.

(Sure sure sure. I’ve only existed for thousands of years, probably even longer but yes let’s go with a young one’s knowledge.)

Kazuki once again laughed.

Even though Arc was way older than he, Kazuki had no doubt when it came to his experiences. Compared to Arc who only had memories of living among beasts, there was no competition on who was more worldly so to speak.