Return of the Fallen Volume 7 Chapter 48
It was Zetrazz who wished to see more blood being shed. This titan had tried to incite Tozu with maddening whispers in Tozu’s head but in the end, it was Zetrazz’s presence that brought things to an end. Because he showed himself, it showed Kazuki the Titans continuous manipulation tactics as well as scared the living shit out of Tozu and Sasai.
Now that the two Ancient beasts knew there was a titan constantly observing their every move from Kazuki’s compass, there was no way they could ever believe that Kazuki wasn’t under Zetrazz’s protection. They didn’t know what kind of relationship there was between the two but the fact was there was something there.
After engaging Kazuki once in battle, Tozu was already sure that winning over Kazuki would be a difficulty in and of itself but now that he knows of Zetrazz, Tozu wouldn’t dare fight Kazuki. As a matter of fact, if Kazuki attacked him, he had already resolved himself into fleeing at his greatest speed along with his younger brother Sasai.
Fleeing though wasn’t necessary as it turns out.
Kazuki understood now why Tozu made a move moments ago and knew Tozu wasn’t attacking him but the dark energy in his compass. Kazuki and Tozu were not enimies. After discussing a few things it became more and more clear.
“Let’s talk about the territory. Me and my younger brother will split it with you three ways, equal parts all around. How does that sound?”
Kazuki wasn’t interested. He didn’t want any territory at all.
“I have no reason to hold authority over this part of the ocean. Territory doesn’t entice me.”
Tozu didn’t expect this but he understood it. What would a human want with an icy ocean.
“If you’re not interested in the Territory, can I take it your fine with it going to me and my brother alone?”
“It depends.”
“On what?”
“On what you offer up instead. I may not want it but it is still worth a great deal. Especially for you two. To hang onto it would be an inconvenience and rather annoying but if you have nothing to trade for it, I suppose I’ll just have to keep it for now.”
Tozu thought for a moment before a ring on his large hand flashed.
A boulder-sized chunk of gold landed on the ice next to him.
“This is what I have on me for now. If you agree you can take this as a down payment. Back in my territory, I have many mines. For this territory, I will give you a mountain’s worth of gold. You, humans, love gold correct?”
Kazuki looked at the pile of gold. It was true people loved gold and he was no exception, though he found it kind of lame to be bought with simple gold even if it was a mountain’s worth.
Tozu took Kazuki’s silence as a bad sign and so he turned back to look at Sasai and nodded at him. Sasai pretended not to see his older brother’s knowing look.
“Sasai. Take it out.”
Sasai was hesitant but Tozu glared at him. Sasai rolled his eyes in annoyance before its left front fang began to shine.
This time something bright yellow on one side and blue on the other side came out. It was also the size of a boulder. Kazuki looked it over curiously but couldn’t quite tell what it was.
“This is?”
Sasai hissed.
“You don’t even know what thisss isss! Human, do you live under a rock?”
“Sasai, watch your tone!”
Sasai flicked his tongue in defiance but said nothing else.
“Forgive my younger brother. The reason he’s acting like this is because of what this fruit is?”
“This is a fruit? You want to give me a tiny piece of gold and a piece of fruit for all of this territory? Are you insane?”
Sasai’s eyes widened but with a glare from Tozu, Sasai did nothing.
“Your reaction is normal Kazuki. This fruit is exceedingly rare and can only be found in my younger brother’s territory. It is called a Rukia fruit. It grows under extremely harsh conditions near the base of a certain underwater volcano. It withstands the blazing heat from the volcano as well as the sub-zero temperatures the northern current brings. Add to the fact that it is many miles below the surface, it bears millions of pounds of pressure at those depths. It grows by soaking in the tiny nutrients that many vents spew out. All of these things make the Rukia fruit interesting but that alone is not what matters. If one consumes this fruit, it will permanently make your soul grow faster and stronger.”
Kazuki heard this and his heart started to race. He quickly controlled it and tried to control his expression but Tozu had already seen it.
“We exchanged attacks earlier with our auras. I was surprised by the unique way you used yours. It was like it drilled through mine. I’ve never seen that move before. If your aura was stronger it would have most likely destroyed mine and continued forth into my body where it could have caused some real damage. At the same time though you saw my aura attack. The moment yours hit mine, Mine split into hundreds of pieces and came rushing back at you or rather toward your compass. Had I been actually trying to attack you with aura though, things would have gone very differently. Excuse me.”
Tozu released his aura in the surroundings and Kazuki could feel a hefty pressure upon him.
(He’s trying to show me how strong his aura is.)
Kazuki smirked as this amount was nothing. It was barely enough to make him flex. This however was not where it ended. As time went by, Tozu gradually increased his aura. The pressure at first only felt like 30 or 40 thousand pounds atop him but it quickly felt like a few hundred thousand pounds and then a few million.
This wasn’t the only surprising thing about Tozu’s aura though. He had incredible control over it, enough so that Kazuki was affected but the ice beneath him was left perfectly fine.
Kazuki could no longer take this weight and pressure with just his body and brought out his own aura. He made a dozen layers to protect himself but he could do little more than cover his body. He couldn’t spread his aura out past himself due to Tozu’s aura taking up space. Tozu’s aura kept Kazuki inside his body.
“This…is impressive.”
Kazuki circulated his ki and used strengthening aura on his body and felt the pressure from Tozu was greatly reduced.
(If we were to fight all out, I would have to use strengthening aura and mobilize my ki the entire time. Add Sasai into the mix, the winner and loser can hardly be seen.)
Tozu felt a good deal of resistance coming from Kazuki and felt pleasantly surprised.
(This human, even with everything I’ve got, he can still stand, and not only is he standing, but his eyes are also telling me this isn’t the only cards he can play. What a little monster!)
Tozu pulled his aura back.
“You are very strong, I’ll admit but with this fruit, you could become so much more. Not only will your aura vastly improve but with your soul growing stronger faster, it will help you enter the 6th stage much much sooner.”
(Enter the 6th stage!)
Kazuki’s mind flashed with Glacious’s memories. The 6th stage was similarly named after the fourth stage. The fourth rank or stage being called the Mind-Body stage, the 6th rank was called the Mind-Body and Soul stage. The Mind-Body stage was a connection between the mind and body. Once this connection was formed, a person could go past their physical limits. The 6th stage, Mind-Body, and soul were as the name suggests, connecting your mind, body, and soul as one.
Kazuki didn’t have all of Glacious’s memories when it came to the 6th stage but he had enough to know that a strong soul was one of the prerequisites. Without a strong soul, one could never form a connection between the mind, body, and soul.
Kazuki had just entered the 5th stage, the core stage very recently. He didn’t even think about entering the 6th stage so soon but with this Rukia fruit in front of him…The gears in his mind began to turn.
(Another step further. I’m at the core stage now and yet with my strong body I can contend with Ancient beast who are equal to the 6th stage. If I can reach the 6th stage, does this not mean I’ll be able to go toe to toe with someone at the 7th stage. I would no longer need fear, Fera. I may even be able to slay her. The possibilities this Rukia fruit lays out in front of me.)
Kazuki’s eyes were full of nothing but the Rukia fruit.
Tozu stepped in front of it, snapping Kazuki out of it.
“This fruit is rare beyond rare. Only one grows in my younger brother’s territory every few thousand years. When I and my younger brother were not yet brothers the two of us fought over this fruit. I managed to win so long ago and ate the fruit. My younger brother did not. This had only become ripe a few years ago. My brother was saving it for when he was close to ascending to the next realm but instead, it is offered up to you today. This is a huge sacrifice as you can see. This is why Sasai is unwilling but if we were to take over this territory, it would benefit him greatly.”
“For the territory, this is a very attractive offer. I believe this is a good deal. Alright.”
Kazuki quickly stored the Rukia fruit as well as the boulder-sized chunk of gold before continuing.
“Now that the territory is settled, let’s discuss the treasure in Motozu’s lair.”
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