Return of the Fallen Volume 11 Chapter 8
Tearing into a new Lower Realm, Kazuki instantly spread out his aura. This time this new Realm was much bigger than the last and he could barely even cover a third of it with his power. To his surprise, this place held no life in it whatsoever. Not only did it have zero life, but it also had even fewer planets and stars than the smaller Realm before it. Kazuki didn’t care though. As long as there were stars, the likely hood of there being small amounts of Origin energy was high.
Not only that though. Because he could detect no life, that meant he could destroy whatever he pleased with no consequences. Kazuki made quick work of the stars. He opened thousands upon thousands of rifts while he stood at the center of them all. In a single move, he devoured the energy or used Cosmic crystals to absorb and store the power of these stars so that Arc could absorb the Origin energy.
He no longer needed to move and simply opened countless rifts around him. This took precision and endless amounts of power. If he were not careful, the many rifts being so close to one another could cause a singularity and form a massive black hole. One in which even he was unsure if he could withstand. Thankfully, Kazuki was quite skilled.
The more he and Arc handled these stars, the more efficient the two became. From devouring thousands of stars a second to tens of thousands. Their speed only increased as they went. Eventually, Kazuki searched the entire Realm until there were no more stars left that contained Origin energy. Kazuki and Arc still did not know how this Origin energy materialized inside of these stars nor why some stars contained Origin energy while the vast majority did not.
Even though Kazuki and Arc had dealt with hundreds of thousands of stars, this Realm contained hundreds of billions of them. The ratio of Origine energy to none was way off. Arc theorized it was due to the idea that Origin energy had a mind or some type of will of its own, while Kazuki wondered if it was some rare force of nature that was occurring. Something that needed all of the correct pieces to fall in line in a certain order but due to the complexity it was beyond rare.
Once done with this Realm, Kazuki tore open the fabric of this Realm and the two moved on to the next one. This time Kazuki was curious and he began to look for clues. He tried to see if the stars that had Origin energy in their center had any commonalities between them. Size, color, energy output, gravitational force, pressure. This quickly led to a dead end as he found that one may have similarities to another but that same one would be completely different from another. He could not find the right path forward.
(Why bother trying to find out why when it’s a waste of time and energy? Even if you know, even if you understand it at a fundamental level, how does that help me get more of it. Instead of focusing on what you don’t understand, keep your head straight and focus on what is currently working for us.)
Kazuki shook his head.
(Mankind was not meant to stumble forever in the dark. Eventually, we discover, connect the dots and make our own light. Curiosity is one of our biggest assets in my opinion.)
*Tzzzt*
(Well your opinion is stupid. Even the Gods do not fully understand Origin energy, what makes you think you can understand and lead the way in what they can’t?)
Kazuki shrugged.
(I can’t say for sure but more than that, how do you know what the Gods understand. From what you’ve said you have no memories of such things. Are you contradicting yourself?)
…
(I told you the more Origin energy I absorb the more intelligence I gain. I cannot explain why I know it but I just do. Now stop with the dumb questions and let’s continue on.)
Kazuki was about to ask something else when a voice entered both of their minds.
(Who in the 7 Realms of Hell are you!?)
A rift opened in the distance and a mountain-sized being stepped out from it. This being was massive and looked like its body was made from molten lava. It towered over Kazuki and was at the 7th stage like him. The being spread out its aura and tried to pressure and intimidate Kazuki but Kazuki was unafraid.
(I did not come here to fight. I simply need a few of these stars. After that, I will be on my way. If you like I can even trade you for them.)
Kazuki thought he was polite but this creature did not see it that way.
(LEAVE OR DIE! THIS REALM IS MINEEEEEEEE!)
Arc chuckled inwardly.
(It seems this beast needs to be taught a lesson.)
Kazuki gave a nod.
Wings of flames erupted behind this creature and a spear made of firey plasma formed in this creature’s hands. Kazuki wondered if it was stupid. An attack from a seventh stage being in a Lower Realm would easily destroy the fabric of that Lower Realm but Kazuki noticed this creature’s true power right away. Even if it was at the same stage as Kazuki, there was clearly a difference.
As this creature rushed forward, Kazuki did not even move. With a single thought, his aura came crashing down atop this mountain-sized lava beast.
(YOU THINK THIS
*Bang*
Before the creature could finish its sentence, Kauzki’s aura compressed and squeezed it and crushed it into tiny pieces instantly. Kazuki opened his mouth and both his devouring technique and soul reading ability moved at the same time. His devouring technique ate the magma-like body while his soul reading ability absorbed this 7th stage soul.
Kazuki felt his soul healing at an accelerated rate for a few good seconds before it slowed once more to its original speed. At the same time since his soul healed by a few fractions, he gained a little more strength from devouring the creature’s body. Only a fraction more of strength may not seem like a lot to most, but for Kazuki, this fraction of extra strength was something that could destroy a world.
Kazuki sighed.
(It’s not much but I suppose it’s something.)
Arc laughed inwardly.
(Do you hear yourself right now. That fractional gain, most could conquer worlds with just that tiny bit yet you treat it almost as an inconvenience. You really are fascinating you know that?)
Kazuki raised a brow.
(Stop looking at me as if you are studying me. It’s weird.)
*Tzzzt*
(How can I look at you when I have no eyes. Stop being a baby and just accept that you are an odd one. Anyone would be curious about you.)
(You know what I mean. Even if you have no eyes, you can see everything I do. Just stop acting like I’m some interesting thing every time I scratch my ass. Not everything needs your comment.)
*TzztzT*
(I’ll stop commenting when you stop reacting. Currently, this is a bit of entertainment for me. You wouldn’t deprive me of my fun, would you.)
Kazuki grabbed Arc and removed it from his finger before tossing it millions of miles away in an instant. An instant later a small rift opened and Arc came flying out before landing back on Kazuki’s thumb and yelling.
(STOP DOING THAT!)
Kazuki shrugged.
(You stop acting like I’m some zoo animal and I’ll stop tossing you like you are annoying.)
Neither spoke another word after that for a while. Neither one could drop their stubbornness. So they simply just stopped talking altogether for a bit.
This Realm that had the magma creature had many worlds with life but life was questionable here. Nearly every world was one filled with toxic gas or oceans of fiery lava. It seemed this Lower Realm was one made for creatures like the lava beast. On said worlds, there were other much smaller creatures that were similar to the enemy Kazuki had just killed. All of them were incredibly weak, not a one was above the 2nd stage.
Still, Kazuki searched their souls and took what information he could. These creatures were all very dumb though and were more like cavemen. They were barbaric and lived a life of survival of the fittest. Kazuki gained a small insight into the element of fire but besides that, there was nothing else of note.
Kazuki and Arc went about the usual before moving to the next Realm and the next and the next and so on and so forth. After a few months of this, the two had enough to teleport to the grand source of Origin energy. The moment they entered this new Realm, the two were left shocked.
A tiny Realm full of Origin energy. From side to side, top to bottom, this Realm was by far the smallest. A mere thousand feet in any given direction yet this still was in fact a Realm.
(Arc…This is the place?)
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