Chapter 165

Chi, a culmination of ki and chakra. Igor knew about its existence from one of Nakamura's books. He hadn't set himself on working to acquire it yet since he still hadn't reached the pinnacle of ki.

If absorbing Triny's energy could in fact provide him with this power, then he would be stupid not to take such a shortcut.

"I see. Thank you for your advice, sister. I know what to do now."

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|DxD|

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The night was ominously quiet. Deep in the forest, Aurelia stood protectively in front of Igor. Just a few moments prior, she had erected a barrier that would mask his energy signature. Her senses remained focused on their surroundings for just in case her barrier missed something or someone.

Igor was hovering above the ground with his legs crossed, his eyes closed in concentration. His power was gradually increasing, his hair slowly rising upwards. A gentle red aura formed around him as his power continued to climb until eventually, his hair shed its layer of yellow and turned red.

su su su su su su su su su

Assuming his Demigod Form was a quiet and seamless process. Taking on the transformation was as fluid as breathing without any ripple effects caused to the surroundings. Having taken his time to assume this state, there was no rapid build up of power which would result in an explosive shockwave.

Aurelia still wasn't sure if it was a good idea for him to attempt this so close to Shuri's home. While there were a few kilometres between here and there, she would prefer it if that distance was multiplied by ten.

But, if he deemed that there was no need to venture that far, then she could only trust him.

[Please succeed, my lord.]

Gradually, Igor began absorbing nature energy. To be accurate, it was the nature energy that gathered around him. Like little motes of black streaks, malevolent nature energy entered his body from all directions.

He still didn't completely understand the exact reasons why this happened. Whether it was his demi-ki at fault or some other reason, he had only guesses.

But, he didn't fight the feeling.

[So this is what it feels like…]

Now that he was paying attention and actively observing the changes in his body, he could feel his power actively growing in percentages. The tainted energy passed through his aura cloak and into his body where inch by inch, it gradually joined itself with his ki veins.

Like smaller rivers joining a larger river, the tainted energy seamlessly merged with his demi-ki, not even impeding it in the slightest. He could feel himself becoming stronger, but he could also feel himself becoming…rabid.

What he felt was like a compulsion, a strong desire to destroy all sentient life being born within him. This desire was like a weed that if not kept in check, would spiral out of control.

[This won't happen a third time.]

Not allowing for his will to be subsumed, he easily squashed the feeling like a pest beneath his foot. Control him? His pride wouldn't allow it.

[No one controls me.]

He completely eradicated those little flies in his head telling him to kill all sentient life in all the realms. Mainly because one of those flies just so happened to include Aurelia in its kill list.

Gruuu!

Having gotten a feel for the tainted nature energy, he began absorbing it en masse without fear. The malevolent energy of the world "excitedly" gathered around him and entered his body.

His aura, one that was purely crimson, was defiled by black streaks of lightning that circled around him. Like the dust from coal, "sprinkles" of black merged with his aura, his power rapidly rising.

But as violently as his aura fluctuated, Igor was calm. His eyes were still closed, his face not showing even the barest of twitches or signs of struggling. It was only because he remained so calm that Aurelia did not try and interfere.

She was still worried about him attempting this, especially since if the situation devolved too much, he may sprout horns like before. If that happened, then there was no telling the consequences.

[I believe in you, Igor...]

Su!

Vanishing, she had went off to strengthen the barrier in response to his growing power. Not only did she have to hide his energy, but she also had to make sure that no gods or other entities would be able to peer into what was happening inside.

Igor on the other hand, was managing to maintain control. There were new subtle voices persuading him to destroy everything, but it was pointless. Trying to convince him to destroy all sentient life was the same as asking a lion to be a vegetarian. It was impossible.

Like wooden arrows against a metal wall, the compulsion had no effect on him.

[It seems I can only be influenced in times of great emotional stress.]

With this little discovery, he was now confident that he could still harness this tainted nature energy without losing himself. It was surprisingly easy to keep his wits, but he attributed that to Triny no longer actively trying to control him.

[Looks like she kept her word.]

Regardless, that was not the point of him assuming his transformation. He didn't know whether he had gathered enough nature energy for her to manifest in his mind, but it was time to meet Triny and end things once and for all.

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|DxD|

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In beautiful pastures extending as far as the eye could see, Igor manifested in the grasslands. His crimson hair glistened beautifully in the sun as his eyes locked on a certain individual.

"..."

As if she were waiting for him, Triny was standing just a few metres from him with a nervous expression on her face. Her golden hair had lost its lively lustre, her eyes ashen like a person who lacked sleep.

"You're back…"

Her voice was soft, but it held hope.

"I am."

Her eyes brightened in anticipation. She was about to run to him when all of a sudden…everything changed.

"I am here to kill you."

"..."

Her eyes which were filled with hope slowly died. To hear his words and the solidity behind them was something she took a while to process.

Yet as she looked into her eyes, she finally lost hope.

"I-I see…"

She lowered her arms weakly as she tried not to sob. There was no anger or fear on her face. Only resignment as her eyes watered. Death- it was something she had been expecting when he left. But to be faced with the reality was quite crushing.

Still, she didn't run.

"I won't resist."

"..."

Igor didn't show any remorse or hesitation in what he was about to do. Raising his hand to the sky, a crimson orb formed…

Vwomp

…before it rapidly expanded to the size of a house.

Zuu zuu zuu zuu zuu zuu

Excercising his ki-control, he gradually compressed all the energy in the sphere into the size of a car. Now holding a large sphere of rotating demi-ki above his head, Igor casually delivered his next lines.

"This will make sure that you will never regenerate."

"..."

Gazing at the large sphere hovering above him, her vision slowly worsened as tears clouded her eyes. Collapsing to the floor, she cried silently at her impending doom without even trying to fight it. She could see that he was serious. He had made no effort to hide his killing intent in the slightest.

He was truly going to kill her.

"Do you have any last words."

"..."

It hurt that his gaze was as hard as steel, his eyes looking at her apathetically like a parasite. Maybe those eyes were right.

Maybe she was a parasite.

"I'm sorry…"

Muttering a final apology, she closed her eyes and made no further moves. Maybe dying would be better compared to the never-ending loneliness.

"..."

Igor found it odd that she didn't try anything but sit there. Or perhaps using tears and arousing his pity was her weapon. Regardless, she was vulnerable and he wouldn't miss such a simple shot.

"Goodbye."

Waving his hand forward, the sphere swiftly rushed towards her with speed unbefitting of its size. Triny opened her eyes when she felt the heavy pressure descend on her, but she made no moves to either dodge or block.

Time seemed to slow down as the sphere neared, her body begging her to move away.

[I-I'm scared…]

Watching it inch closer and closer, her fear continued to grow. It completely covered her vision and she could already feel the searing heat bite into her skin. But she didn't raise her arms. She didn't rise to her feet, nor did she conjure any sort of shield.

Quickly shutting her eyes, she only hoped it would be quick. She was afraid of pain and she didn't want to regenerate from this.

But just as she felt the orb lick her nose, it suddenly seemed to have vanished.

"...?"

Opening her eyes, her gaze was drawn up to the sphere that had suddenly risen towards the sky where it finally exploded.

BOOOOOOOOM!

"Whaa…?"

She was confused. Touching her nose, she flinched when she felt the tip of it had burned. But her body had already set to healing it.

Lowering her gaze, she was now confronted by the redhead who looked at her with veiled anger.

"Why didn't you dodge? Why did you not try to defend yourself?"

"..."

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|DxD|

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"Why didn't you dodge? Why did you not try to defend yourself?"

Igor couldn't help but question her. Standing right in front of her, he could see how a part of her nose was chipped. Thankfully it was regenerating, but that proved how fatal his attack was.

"Why didn't you fight back? Did you think your regeneration would save you?"

He looked into her eyes and what he saw made him clench his teeth in anger.

"Were you really going to let yourself…die?"

Her eyes were hollow without a single shred of light in them. Those brown eyes that were filled with life were now empty as she looked at him.

However, her answer served to make him almost tear his hair out in frustration.

"Die…? Yes..."

"..."

He had to hold himself back not to shout at her. He was this close to losing it, but he controlled himself

"Why? Why would you do that?"

"Because…"

Her eyes wet up as she spoke.

"...what's the point? I-I have no one. So what's the point of living?"

"..."

Those words struck him deep. He was no stranger to loneliness, but alteast it was only for a decade. And he had the gym to stave off the worst of it. Here, he saw nothing. He didn't even want to imagine where she would be if she wasn't in his mind.

"Can't you possess another person?"

With literally millions of yokai, there should've been someone she could communicate with. But it seemed asking such a question tugged at her insecurities.

"I can't! I tried. I tried a lot. But I can't! None of them can see me! None of them can hear me! Many times I tried to speak, but I was like air to them!"

She was unable to stop the tears now.

"You…hik…you were the only one who managed to speak to me. Y-you were the only one able to hear me. If…"

Closing her eyes tightly, she bowed before him.

"If you hate me as well, then I don't want to live anymore. So…"

Rendering herself in a completely defenceless state, she pleaded.

"...please…please kill me. I don't want to live anymore."

"..."

Igor wasn't sure how to react. Maybe this was a ploy or a trick. But, maybe she was being genuine. Who knew what the truth could be.

[Damnit.]

But he no longer cared anymore. Second-guessing was for smart people. This time, he chose to listen to what his gut has been telling him this whole time.

"I don't hate you."

"...?!"

Raising her head, Triny couldn't react before she was suddenly enveloped in a hug.

"I'm here now. You're no longer alone."

"..."

His words took a while to process in her head. And when they did, she truly couldn't stop the deluge of tears from spilling out of her eyes.

"Hik…hik…"

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she held him very tightly as she repeatedly muttered.

"Thank you. Thank you…"

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AN

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I'll be quick. Power outage= no writing. No writing= no updates. Now that there's power, we have updates. Hope you enjoyed this chapter and will enjoy the next two.

Moving on, this is just sad. I think I dropped a tear or two. Poor lass. Just how bad was it that she was willing to trust someone who had almost killed her just a few seconds ago?