Return of the Fallen Volume 12 Chapter 25
Knowing the full story now, Codex’s initial fears had subsided.
(So in the end, you managed to take control due to many things falling into your favor. Being fused with a fragment of Arc, facing off with the Gauntlet but it’s only a third of a whole. Manipulating time with your soul world and having access to a near-infinite source with the chaotic energy around you whilst the Gauntlet only had a small amount of energy left. So this means you do not have the ability to take on full Artifacts or rather take full control of them. Due to the Gauntlet’s weird ability to split itself, you had a large advantage one could say.)
(One could say that…Your point being what exactly Codex?)
Codex couldn’t help being a bit giddy.
(No point really. It’s just good to know the same thing can’t possibly happen to me or Sword. I cannot divide myself, and therefore would not weaken to such a level that a Demigod could take control of me. Not only that but you and I both know how to use and manipulate Chaotic energy so we are just about equal in that aspect. The only thing I really need to be wary of is the way time works in your Soul world. Though, as long as I do not allow you to form a vulnerable connection with me, I will never be affected by the time dilation within your Soul world. Hehe, today is a good day and the future is bright it seems.)
Codex was truly happy. It trusted Kazuki but this trust only ran so deep. So knowing Kazuki could not place a Slave mark upon it, a sense of relief was only natural. Though even if a Slave mark could be placed on it, it was still confident in breaking it. The reason why the Gauntlet could not was because it was a third of an Artifact and Kazuki’s soul was simply too monstrously strong. This joy quickly turned to regret when it realized it had given up a bargaining chip when it traded back a piece of Kazuki’s soul for this information.
(Kazuki, the trade, you knew it was unfair right from the start, didn’t you?)
This accusation, Kazuki let it flow off his back like water.
(Who knows. You had a fear and I simply eased that fear and gave you peace of mind. Not a bad trade for something you did not even need in the first place. Why keep a piece of my soul? If I say I will do something then it shall be done. No need to hold something over my head. Especially something that could harm me. Right?)
Codex could only sigh and agree.
(Fair enough.)
As Kazuki continued o fly through the sky faster than a Vajra ship, he felt something in the distance.
(Kazuki, do you sense it?)
Kazuki already knew what Arc was referring to and paused for a moment.
He turned to look toward the east and his eyes narrowed. Several billion miles away, there was a disturbance down in a wide lush green forest.
(There are some beasts fighting. More than that though, around one of the beast’s necks there is something that holds a small amount of Origin energy.)
Even without his eyes, Kazuki could sense the Origin energy from this distance which thoroughly surprised him.
(Kazuki, it seems you are picking up the scent of Origin energy now. If you can sense it even from here, it must mean the fusion between you and the piece of fragment I gave you is completely one with you already. I was curious if I could take it back but if it’s at this level already then it’s already too late. That piece is a part of you now and forever.)
…
(Kazuki, you are quiet but you don’t seem upset by this.)
(I…I’m alive after all, why be upset? Even if I had to give up all of my humanity to continue on…it would be a deal well worth it. Forget me, that Origin energy isn’t very strong but it should definitely help with getting you three back on your feet so to speak.)
Kazuki heard this and it was true, he wasn’t upset. He had an inkling in the back of his mind that this was permanent so in a way, he was already prepared for such news. In the end, how could he be upset over the fact that he was still alive? The fact that he still existed meant that he could still see the smiling faces of Mei and Kosaru. He could still hear Marty’s odd way of talking and appreciate Samuel’s cleverness.
(Let’s go and collect it. It may be a little off track but if you have some origin energy you should be able to pinpoint the location of the kids right?)
(Right. It’s not enough Origin energy for me to be able to get an exact location on them but it should at the very least point us in the right direction. This way when we use the Stargate I’ll know which city to teleport us closest to them.)
With a thought, the silver wings atop the gauntlet began to flutter at a high frequency before Kazuki shot far and away at incredible speed.
Half a moment later, Kazuki appeared above the forest.
He had been focusing solely on the Origin energy but now that he was closer he noticed one of the beasts was fighting over top of a small body. A child’s body.
(Hmm, one is attacking and the other is trying to protect that corpse.)
Kazuki had concealed himself so neither beast knew he was there. Kazuki sent out his aura and just as the two beasts were about to collide once more, they both froze on the spot.
They both looked shocked. Kazuki could sense their souls with his soul-reading ability. One exuded fear and had a fierce will to protect while the other emitted extreme hostility and rage.
Kazuki didn’t really care about either of them and was just going to take the medallion hanging around the beast’s neck when Kazuki heard a voice.
(He…lp!)
Kazuki’s attention turned to the corpse. He could sense a small soul fading away from within the corpse of the child. He really had no reason to get involved but seeing the small dead child, he was reminded of Kosaru.
With a thought, his aura entered the body and he took a look at the situation.
(Kazuki, what are you doing? You have no reason to meddle.)
Arc was annoyed and was about to just take the Origin energy from the medallion but then stopped. The Medallion flashed several times and spoke to Arc.
Arc then grumbled before telling Kazuki.
(Kazuki, let’s help them.)
Kazuki was surprised by Arc’s quick flip-flop and raised a quizzical brow.
(Don’t look at me like that. That Origin energy in that stupid medallion told me it would not let me absorb it if we did not help so let’s just get this over with already and move on.)
Kazuki smirked. He had already read the souls of both the two beasts and the dead child and understood the situation.
The beast with the medallion was the dead child’s pet while the beast with the hostile intentions hated people and saw the child entering its territory as an act of aggression. The angry beast attacked and killed the child during the fight and the pet was heartbroken and wanted to protect its master even in death.
Kazuki could see both sides but in the end, this forest did not belong to anyone and the angry beasts had gone too far. The child was completely innocent, maybe foolish for going to this place especially alone but innocent none the same.
With a thought, the angry beast exploded and its soul was obliterated. The pet beast was shocked. Even if it was a beast it was highly intelligent and knew something was off. It fiercely guarded its master’s body when Kazuki finally appeared in front of it.
The moment it saw Kazuki, it became even more terrified. As a beast, it relied heavily on its senses. Sight, smell, hearing yet it had failed completely in detecting Kazuki’s presence. Not only that, it could feel intense and horrific pressure all around the moment Kazuki appeared. Still, even in absolute fear, this beast did not attempt to flee but instead chose to guard its master’s dead body.
Kazuki took a step forward and gently placed his hand on the beast’s head before smiling.
“You stood your ground even when there was no chance of you winning…Admirable.”
Kazuki then lifted the beasts up and out of the way with a thought before kneeling down next to the dead child.
“It was you who asked for my help. Even as your soul is fading away, you held out hope that someone would save you.”
Kazuki held out a hand over this child’s body and sent out a small wave of ki.
“Come back.”
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