Return of the Fallen Volume 7 Chapter 33
Kazuki’s introduction of ki was very thought out. After explaining the basics, and fundamentals, he even showed Sid a few real-life examples of ki, even going so far as to transfer a bit of his ki to Sid. The moment his ki circulated through Sid, Sid’s eyes widened. He felt a comfortable warmth spread from his chest and out to his limbs. The fatigue he had felt from days of working nonstop, faded into oblivion. Even the bags under his eyes reduced and he felt a few years younger.
He opened and closed his fist a few times, a current of strength flowing in his grip. He brandished his trusty hammer and swung it a few times in the empty air.
*Whoosh whoosh*
His hammer shoved the air out of the way as it made whooshing noises again and again.
“So this is the power of ki.”
After a minute or so, Sid could feel the unnatural strength start to leave his body and the feeling of comfort faded. The weight of his hammer returned and he set it down.
“To hear about this power is one thing, to experience it is a whole other level. You say this power can interfere with magic?”
“Yes, I’m assuming this was one of the flaws you found in my design. With ki in the magical device itself, it could interfere with whatever element I put inside the weapon and the device might not activate at all because of it.”
Sid nodded along before rubbing his chin in thought.
“This is a problem. I’d say if you didn’t have god metal, then you’d be shit out of luck right from the start. This ki energy of yours already interferes with magic energy but that’s only the start. There are no inscriptions that I am aware of that can be used with ki. Even aura is difficult but I can still manage it. Your ki though…With the god metal, you got lucky. Orichalcum can absorb every energy in the world and your ki is no exception. The material isn’t the problem but how then would this ki of yours come together with the other energies without interfering with them first. For that, I think I have a way.”
Kazuki was intrigued. Sid was still confident even knowing about the problem with ki. One of the problems the two encountered was the fact that the ki energy Kazuki used needed to be under control somehow. The moment this power is disconnected from Kazuki, it tends to return to nature itself. If it’s trapped within a magic device, then the moment Kazuki launches it away from him where he no longer has control of the ki, it could bleed through the device itself and come into contact with the magic and interfere with it. After that, who knows what would happen next. The going theory so far though was a complete and utter failure.
At that point, the weapon became an incredibly costly paperweight and nothing more.
Kazuki wanted to know what Sid had come up with so quickly.
“What’s the plan, old man?”
Sid waved a hand and a small bluish-green rock appeared in his hand. At least Kazuki thought it was a rock before Sid tossed it over to him. Snatching it out of the air, it was actually a scale from some animal.
“A scale. Is this from a lizard, what does it have to do with
Kazuki’s stopped mid-sentence. As he inspected the scale, he found that the underside of it was angeled in a weird way and had 8 points sticking out from inside of it like eight tiny little hooks. Kazuki sent some of his aura into it to take a better look and immediately his aura was reversed. It had been reflected back towards him.
Kazuki looked up at Sid with confusion and awe. Sid nodded.
“This is from a creature called Motozu. This small piece is something I came across long ago before I had even a single grey hair. This scale is capable of reflecting energy. I got it off an old man back in the day and he told me about this creature. Deep in the coldest part of the great blue, there lives a creature as fast as lightning and as powerful as a great dragon. Said to control the rains and the waves, it can flood a continent with a mere whip of its mighty scaled tail and crack undersea mountains with its breath. The Motozu is a mythical being said to bow to nothing, not even Titan’s.”
As soon as Sid mentioned titans, Kazuki could feel the dark energy in his compass pulse with power.
(Such a creature…There’s no way such a being exists. Not on this world, nor with me on it. I am the strongest there ever was and ever will be in the lower realm. This old man is telling warped tales. He was fooled by the old man who sold him that cheap chipped shell.)
Zetrazz voice rang out loud in clear in Kazuki’s head. A mix of rage and what Kazuki thought was jealousy maybe.
Kazuki chuckled inside his mind.
(Hehehe, Zetrazz. Why does it sound like your envious.)
The moment Kazuki said these simple words, the dark energy within his compass erupted. It shot out of his golden compass and slammed into him like a meteorite.
*BOOM!*
Kazuki was immediately slammed into the floor and sent straight through it as if there was no resistance whatsoever.
Sid was completely taken aback and called out in worry.
“Kazuki my boy, what…Are you alive down there! What in the fire devil’s ass just happened!?”
Kazuki as well was left speechless. Going through the floor didn’t hurt in the least but still, he was left dumbfounded. His thoughts were spinning rapidly as he called out in his mind.
(You! What the fuck was that!?!?!?!?!?)
Zetrazz tone was cold as he responded.
(I would say the same to you, little mortal. Do you think I will allow such slander. Have you already forgotten how you nearly died before because you dared spout such nonsense in front of me. Keep your words in check in regards to me, lest you forget your place. I won’t kill you for that would make me a hypocrite but if you keep running your mouth, I can’t promise I won’t take out some of my ire upon you. Remember that ant.)
Zetrazz voice faded away and the dark energy in Kazuki’s compass went as still as death. Kazuki felt cold sweat run down his back. He quickly took his compass and tried to store it in his ring but found that the dark energy within prevented him from doing so. This small fraction of power from Zetrazz was enough to fully block Kazuki from storing his own compass.
(Leave the compass around your neck Kazuki, otherwise, I’ll choke you with it.)
One more cold threat from Zetrazz and Kazuki stopped dead in his tracks.
(This bastard. I need to find Glacious as soon as possible. He’s the only being that can contend with Zetrazz on equal footing. With his help, he should be able to completely remove all of Zetrazz’s energy from my compass.)
Kazuki felt fear. It was one thing with Zetrazz watching and listening in on his every move but Zetrazz could actually physically harm Kazuki. This fact left Kazuki horrified. Zetrazz was an odd Titan. Usually, Titans were basically emotionless and only kept to themselves, unless someone treads upon their territory. Zetrazz was not like other Titans. He was obsessed with Glacious and wished to fight him. At the same time, he seemed to have mood swings at the slightest exchange of words. Kazuki had no clue if Zetrazz would actually keep his word and let him live. Who knows if Kazuki said or did something, not to Zetrazz liking and the titan just snaps on him and kills him instantly.
Kazuki thought things would be fine like this. A stupid voice in his head every once and a while. A dumb comment and a weird laugh every now and again but he now realized how wrong he was.
“Kazuki answer me! Are you ok my boy!?”
Kazuki snapped back to reality hearing Sid’s worried tone.
“I’m fine.”
Kazuki jumped out of the deep hole in the floor and with a wave of his hand, the ground repaired itself, along with the stone floor.
“Kazuki, what was that just now? One second we’re having a normal conversation, the very next, you’re falling through the floor as if you weigh a million pounds.”
Kazuki shook his head.
“It was nothing, I’m fine now.”
Sid didn’t believe Kazuki for even a second.
“My boy, if that look on your face means your fine, then I think you’re even nuttier than I.”
Kazuki made an ice mirror to see what Sid was talking about. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale expression as if one had seen a ghost. Cold sweat poured from Kazuki constantly and he was completely disheveled. There was a clear fear of expression etched on his face.
Kazuki circulated his ki and his drumming heart started to ease. His sweat stopped and his expression relaxed.
“I’m really fine now. Please continue about this creature.”
Sid looked Kazuki up and down. It was obvious he wasn’t fine and he was hiding something but Sid knew it wasn’t his place to pry. With a heavy sigh, he went back to the depths of the ocean.
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