Episode(101) Black Light Core, The Ant & The Elephant
SOVEREIGN OF DEATH~(101)
There was an issue.
Before I could fully complete the process, a thought came to mind. If I finished inserting the will of the trait into the pseudo soul as is, its only ability would be absorbing poisonous substances.
However, did that even make sense?
It wasn't as if poison was everywhere in the atmosphere, and was I supposed to walk around with a syringe stabbing myself full of holes just to fill up the core?
So, Nagisa paused.
What could he do to solve this issue?
There was also the problem of how to recover poison after it was converted. At this rate, this pseudo soul would become a one-time usable power bank.
But I don't need that, I need something that works whenever I wanted it.
He was greedy, however it was that greed that lead him to grow.
My mind worked fiercely and an idea soon sparked.
Poison, Poison…
Negative energy?
Yes! That was it!
What if instead of just poison, I absorb the negative substances in the surroundings?
Wasn't it like poison?
The trait poison assimilation absorbed poison, basically a negative substance and turned it into good positive usable energy form for him.
Then, what if I just tweak the will of my soul a bit?
As the thought came, Nagisa applied it unconsciously.
Having dealt with the negative substances of death, incorporating this function was no difficult feat.
Now, instead of the cores will to absorb poisonous substances, it would absorb all forms of negative substances in the surroundings.
Boom!
A massive explosion shook the surroundings even sweeping away all the poisonous mist.
But, in the next moment as his eyes opened the poison was dragged back towards him but instead of directly being absorbed into him, it swirled around him the mist forming particles of black light like starlight's.
They were magnificent like jewels, unconsciously I reached out to touch them and a word slipped from my mouth.
[Absorb]
In an instant, the swirling particles of black light halted, then like they were being swallowed by a storm, they all rushed into my body.
<
<
[Black Light Core(EX)]: Skill cannot be improved. A skill that has become a part of the individuals being and will be possessed by all his descendants at a weaker level.
Effects:
~Absorb Negative substances and energies and converts them into mana for usage. Negative substances include; Pollution, Poison, Negative emotions, negative mana (Dark magic and miasma)
~Convert Negative energy into physical power.
-Effects of all dark element type spells and techniques will be amplified greatly.
<
[So it worked, huh?]
I was half expecting it to take a few more tries, possible hours and a few near deaths before I could fully complete the concept.
There was even a high chance my true spiritual vessel would be damaged and I would become a cripple, fortunately Reluctant seemed to affect not only the body but the spirit as well.
Does that mean as long as it was a 'vessel' in essence reluctant would activate and restore it to perfection?
If that was the case he didn't need to worry about his black light core being damaged.
Unlike my true spiritual vessel that was truly in a different dimension from the physical plane, the black light core was directly present in his body and could be shattered if an attack landed directly on it.
Now however, I didn't need to worry about this problem at all.
Now, not only could I use this core to quickly fill up my original mana capacity when empty, I could directly use the mana converted from the black light orb without touching my true magical power.
Still, who would have thought wasting time on that infuriating cultivation novel would have granted him such an idea.
I felt the urge to activate the core right now, however unlike my soul container that could quickly renew energy within itself, the core could only slowly gather negative substances in the surroundings so it wouldn't be good to waste.
[Right, there was always time later to check]
For now-
I looked around. With all the poisonous mist cleared, I could now see and I noticed that I was lost.
Multiple passages and my stumbling earlier made it extremely hard to retrace my steps as I wasn't even paying attention to the path.
Sigh*
[Hopefully I can find my way out if I just go forward]
In my heart however I could only lament my luck and terrible decision making.
[Don't be dead, Camilla]
As long as her body wasn't completely pulverized I could still revive her, but nobody liked the idea of dying even if they could be resurrected.
***
Splash* Splash*
The splashing of water resounded as a figure darted through the cave, her feet tapping through puddles.
Her figure, like a speeding train darted forward weaving through the gaps of pillars trying to shake off the monster chasing her down.
But it was futile.
[Damn it!]
Having no other choice, Camilla turned to face the monster her feet sloshing through the shallow puddles as she slid to a halt.
Upon seeing her stop, the monster grinned even wilder and launched itself at her its claws targeting her face.
There's no other choice but to meet it head on!
With that thought, Camilla stepped forward her stance straight and the sword gliding towards the attack to deflect it.
Yet-
Swish!
Her attack met air and the monster vanished without a trace.
[Wha!]
She saw the monster in a different location but as she did it vanished again. Every time she turned her head to search, all she saw was a blur escaping her vision too fast for the eye to see.
And it was only getting faster.
It was mocking her, yet she could do nothing but turn her head like a helpless chicken.
Kh!
Camilla gritted her teeth once again reminding herself that she was weak. Even if she tried, there was no way she could keep up with the monsters speed.
[So-]
Focus.
Focus to her very limits. As poor as her perception was, she was still a warrior and focusing ones power for an attack was the basic of the basics.
In this case however, she was focusing for the attack that would come.
And it came quickly-
Slash!
Knife like claws tore deep into her flesh, even so Camilla only frowned slightly.
Her body was almost completely numbed to pain. Still, it was this very moment she sought.
The moment the feeling of flesh tearing came from behind, she turned pivoting on her left leg as her right leg dragged an arc and swung a powerful slash to the enemy.
Yet, the enemy still reacted as the sword closed in and crouched in a posture almost too low for a human.
Hmph!
Camilla however didn't let her miss waver her, instead raised the sword over her shoulder and tore down towards the monster.
In response, the monster deflected the sword to the side and swung its claws towards her face.
Ngh!
Camilla almost couldn't dodge as the claws tore lines of blood on her cheek.
The monster was far from over, before she could even stabilize herself it opened its chest and swung the wolverine like blade with its left hand right at her neck.
Clang!
Just barely raising the sword to block, Camilla was tossed to the side like a ragdoll. She felt no pain as she rolled back to her feet, still her body had become even more ragged than before.
It was too fast and its strength was not lacking at all.
She knew the monster must be taking it easy on her at this moment not wanting to end her quickly, even then she could barely resist.
The monster vanished appearing before her and slashing its claws and blade clashing with her as they twisted and turned.
Its defense and claws were extremely hard and tougher on par with high tier materials.
Sparks constantly fluttered through the air as their shadows entwined in a fierce bloody dance.
Surely, the monster could have ended this battle long ago. Just the very fact that it spared her just to mock her made her angry-
Yet, there was a smile on her face as Camilla continued to clash.
She was growing. Not just a small intangible growth, through this fierce onslaught her skills were improving quickly!
More!
She wanted the monster to continue looking down on her so that she could continue to grow like this.
Clang!
With a dumbfounded expression on the monsters face as its attack was deflected for the first time in the battle, Camilla saw the sparks that flew like fireworks congratulating her.
This alone mad the monster incensed!
Thrusting its claws forward it wanted to punch a hole through the human woman before it, but Camilla expected the attack and kicked the monsters shoulder somersaulting backwards.
'Techniques don't require a charge up, a swordsman is essentially a martial artist and all martial artist should be capable of switching from movement to stance easily to prevent interception'
Recalling Nagisa's words, Camilla pictured the posture of her next move before she even landed and bending her knees as she landed against the pillar she launched herself forward with incredible speed.
The monster had lost its posture and before it could regain stability, Camilla arrived with the sword tip thrusted at its chest.
Sword energy wrapped around her sword and the monster could only twist its body but it was too late. The sword pierced its shoulder and with a slash its entire arm was gone.
Camilla looked at the sword in her hand, feeling the earlier sensation and feeling elated.
This was growth.
Just as her joy had settled in, a loud shriek echoed behind her.
[Kiieeeeeeeeeeek!!!!]
Even though it was stronger than herself, Camilla had taken an arm. This was why a warrior should never hold back in their attacks even if they belittled the opponent.
Well, it was time to finish this.
With that though, she swung the blood off the blade and prepared to rush in.
But, a magical power several times her own pressed down on her making her face pale and she grunted.
[What!?]
The next moment, alarm bells rang in her head and instead of rushing forwards she leapt back.
Crash!
An energy blade tore deep into the ground where she previously was, but she didn't stop there constantly dodging. One, two, three, four!
Several energy blades came at her and the last one just barely hit her shoulder throwing her of balance as she twisted through the air.
Camilla landed, holding the shoulder that had been cut and was now profusely bleeding, she glanced up.
But what met her gaze wasn't the same monster from before. No, it was the same but there were differences.
Four steel like spider legs extending from its back as its body hung in the air using the legs to walk.
The arm that had been severed had now been replaced by a dangerous looking scythe.
[Ugh…this-]
It was true that no one should underestimate their enemies. But, one thing held true.
An ant should never anger an elephant.