2nd Stage

"H-hey..." Seeing Heian Ciemnosc walk up to them. The blonde young girl braved her chest out and initiated conversation. She didn't expect Heian Ciemnosc to greet back as he walked with his arms hugging dozens of Orangebreeding Fruits. "Hey."

The blonde young girl blinked speechlessly, her eyes round and analyzing the monster before her. The situation changed so fast in the last few minutes it was difficult even for an Ashes Soul ream 1st stage cultivator like her to manage. From Heian Ciemnosc being in trouble, the strongest fellas wanting to play him, to a sudden intensifying moment where the hidden tiger with lamb's sheepskin was coming out, to a sudden intervention, and finally, this. A slaughter. While their coffin was the monster's Covert Space bags, and their burial would be his stomach.

“Open your arms,” Heian Ciemnosc commanded lightly. The young girl gulped and did as asked. Her thoughts were left blank when the unexpected thing she thought about happened. Heian Ciemnosc placed those 50 Orangebreeding Fruits into her arms, ascertaining not one fell again to the floor. The young girl’s eyes widened. She looked at Heian Ciemnosc and wasn’t sure how to react.

“Mister, Student… this… wh-” The young girl’s voice swiftly softened. She just didn’t know how to proceed. Were they safe? Will he let them go? With or without poison? She was so confused. But Heian Ciemnosc looked at her and tilted his head to the left, his eyes showing not an ounce of anything as he grasped her left cheek with his index finger and thumb. “That emblem of yours, you are a vassal of one of the organizations I massacred here and from the north, yes?”

Heian Ciemnosc’s last word was spoken so quietly and softly that it left the young girl dumb and incapable of not responding. She looked up at him, her big eyes clear as she unsurely nodded. “Yes, we came from the north. Our superior organization treats us regularly. We recently became their vassals through subj-”

“I’m not asking that, nor what I’m already aware of,” Heian Ciemnosc shook the girl’s head with his fingers grasping onto her still, softly, before lowering his head and widening a forced smile that was not a smile. His nose right above hers, he said with darkness behind each letter of every spoken word. “You’re also lucky you didn’t move at the right times, girl.”

“... But,” the young girl became stiff and began trembling. Yet, she toughened up and called for his attention. Heian Ciemnosc, who just turned around, twisted his neck and looked down at her uncaringly. She continued, her heart thumping a great deal of heavy beats. “Why did you do that to her family paintings and pictures? Did you have to? It was unnecessary… not cruel, just low!”

“...” Heian Ciemnosc continued to look at the girl, then tilted his head to the right and touched her navel with his right palm. The young girl and the other 2 young girls behind her couldn’t prevent that or protect her from it, so Heian Ciemnosc easily made contact with her clothes and body.

“?!” However, Heian Ciemnosc pulled his hand soon after placing his palm on her navel. While the other 2 were worried he had done the same to her as to Tae before, they wanted to look at her face. But just as they peeked over her shoulders, she covered her crimson face while Heian Ciemnosc’s right hand formed a loose and delicate fist and raised it to his shoulder level.

They didn’t see it, but the blonde young girl felt and saw the dark Power Energy run down her body and to her crotch. It was very feeble and not invasive. In fact, it felt like an embrace. And despite its numb, nonexistent touching sensation and slight coldness. The young girl felt like she could live within that embrace forever. That only lasted a couple seconds before immediately disappearing. But the disappointment and abandonment feelings she should’ve felt were replaced by a sensation she could have never thought she would go through…

“Kyaaa!” Her panties were gone, and when she gained enough courage to look up at Heian Ciemnosc with teary eyes, still fearful of him, she noticed his raised loose fist and had an indication. Heian Ciemnosc opened his right hand and showed a tiny thing that her Spirit Sense couldn’t even see, let alone detect what it was. It looked like a square-shaped cardboard the size of one’s thumb and the thinness of a butterfly’s wings.

It had a brownish, obscure color. And once the young girl held it after Heian Ciemnosc grabbed both her wrists and raised them for her palms to face the sky. She felt the thing was very familiar…

“Ah!” Due to her curiosity, she couldn’t help but send her Power Energy to it. As soon as it was touched by her Power Energy, it grew back to its original size, revealing a pair of white panties with blue stripes. It hovered perfectly above her palms for a second, showing their prettiest splendor before falling on her palms. Her eyes blinked as the 2 girls behind her were wordless and paralyzed.

“Umf!” The girl pocketed her panties and took out some pants, putting them on as quick as possible, not noticing the already departing Heian Ciemnosc. But as he walked away, he didn’t forget to remind the girls, “That can happen to you too if you don’t leave.”

“!” The girls’ eyes grew wide as they helped their leader dress up before hurrying away, leaving this place of death and the tree behind in just a few minutes, disappearing from Heian Ciemnosc’s nake eyesight. Heian Ciemnosc didn’t depart, however. He looked around and took an arm of an Elf out before starting to munch on it. After a few bites, he looked at the tree and spoke loudly. “Hey, now protect me. I’ll give you a little something so no more Fauna will come to tax you for protection in the future… At least not that many.”

Swoosh, swoosh, pat pat. The tree’s branches swayed upwardly as if in response, sharpening its leaves backwards. Then, a new undersized-branch formed at the center of its trunk to a 2 meters length with leaves growing on its ends right after. Like this, it patted the space at its base before its tree trunk. Heian Ciemnosc nonchalantly walked there with 4 Orangebreeding Fruits in his hands.

“Good boy, girl… everything.” Heian Ciemnosc sat with enthusiasm and moved his butt around. The branches above seemed not to mind and started moving softly to let some wind get to Heian Ciemnosc. The brand new branch unnaturally went up the tree trunk and joined the other more oversized-branches. Then, as he took a bunch of corpses and roots began to seep out from the ground, Heian Ciemnosc added with a slightly reprimanding tone. “You need to stop storing so many thousands of delicious things. If I can smell them, how can Second Step Fauna not? If you keep being lustful, and all of them evolve with you, what’s gonna be of you without strong protection?”

Swash swash, Crrrkkk, trrrucccrrr, kkrrrcrrrr… Heian Ciemnosc received responses from the tree as it swayed its leaves a bit more, and the grass parted on its own to let more roots sprout from the dirt. At last, a 1m x 1m little room was made with enormous roots as thick as a human male’s torso, forming walls and a ceiling around him.

The roots were of a dirtier color, seemingly because of always being underneath, and they formed quite the impregnable wall to protect Heian Ciemnosc in his cultivation. This unknown, unique tree seemed more than glad to willingly safeguard Heian Ciemnosc and receive that ‘something’ method to protect itself for a little longer. That would be enough for this damned tree to grow and prepare enough to breakthrough in spirit.

Heian Ciemnosc, on the other hand, was just thinking… The futile attempts at humiliating him by cultivators, especially that middle-aged man, Tae’s intervention and fun display of character. His sudden movements surprising them all despite some being at the 10th stage of the Ashes Soulrealm. It showed Heian Ciemnosc’s battle prowess remained and hadn’t nonsensically changed from one moment to another.

He was, for sure, able to face off against a Crabstynian realm cultivator and became one step closer to matching Spirit Rebirth realm cultivators! The flawless execution of combining his Vocón Link and dark Power Energy delighted him. There was still no change to his Claws Out or Vocón Link, other than the latter now having a range of almost a thousand meters… Of course, it was easy to simply enlarge it, but to divide it was still too taxing.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Even now, when Heian Ciemnosc separated his dark Power Energy in several directions to catch every fleeing cultivator, Heian Ciemnosc became slightly tired and felt a good portion of his dark Power Energy reserves depleting fast. Meanwhile, eating those people and drying their bodies was simpler than eating them fresh and raw. Also, he loses track of time whenever he has a good meal with warm blood and organs that are barely starting to cease.

For collecting snacks, it was better to dry them first, then enjoy a good meal with still great flavor. Heian Ciemnosc’s Vocón Link’s properties shared through his dark Power Energy would take away all the initial, living Power Energy and tasty whisps of Spirit Sense and even Soul. Later, the proper help to his cultivation base and foundation would come whenever he ate them physically.

Heian Ciemnosc could simply eat them entirely in one go with his Vocón Link, eating them and proportioning the most insane torture to them if they were still alive, or simply make them disappear. However… Heian Ciemnosc was too young to do such boring activities. It was much simpler and enjoyable to eat them with his hands and teeth and taste them the primordial way. He could taste them with his Vocón Link. It was even enhanced, but the intention was what mattered…

Thus, as Heian Ciemnosc placed 3 piles of corpses to his front and sides, he laid his back on the tree trunk and dozed off for 12 minutes before sitting in a lotus position. His fingers semi-interlocked, respectively. His index and middle fingers were flat and pressed together as dark limbs emerged from his Dantian region. He opened his mouth to receive piece of cleaned corpses after piece.

His Psychogenic and Dantian Link worked at maximum motor. Heian Ciemnosc’s dark Power Energy began crushing the incoming bits of pure energy, turning into this dark Power at an unimaginable speed, as always, and incorporating it as his own to become part of his storage. As he did, the tree he was leaning his back on shuddered, but Heian Ciemnosc began cultivating. Though he remained alert, nothing could stop him from cultivating. He became engrossed quickly.

… One hour later, Heian Ciemnosc’s 3 piles of corpses were replaced thrice. He opened his eyes as dark smoke drifted from his skin like an engine about to say goodbye to the world. The black smoke was as opaque and dark as his Claws Out and Vocón Link, but it had some limit. It didn’t grow past the size of his Claws Out, seemingly dissipating into space. Whereas they could reach much longer if unobstructed.

“Haaa…” Heian Ciemnosc opened his mouth, from which dark vapor came out as his nostrils and ears similarly belched some. His darkest eyes were wholly pitch-black, which receded and revealed his white sclera like a reptile’s eyes opening in reverse, gathering into his irises and pupils that have always been like one entity. ‘2nd stage, um. This is a good start for the year.’

Heian Ciemnosc stood up. The wall was made of branches opened, receding back into the ground as the tree trunk swayed a little, congratulating Heian Ciemnosc on his successful breakthrough. Heian Ciemnosc didn’t waste a moment and casually put some Human and Demon thighs to his mouth. Rudely speaking while eating, he turned around and asked the tree, “I’m almost out of protein. Where can I find some weak little Fauna around?”

Heian Ciemnosc had time anyway. He took just a few hours to come here from the Academy’s territory and just about an hour to breakthrough to the second stage. He could spend a few hours cleaning the place after helping this tree-pal up. He could return with the boss’s baby to the Academy anyway, then let some Sub Student drive it back to the Count City for some silver coins.

“Oh, come on, don’t be like that. I’ll bring some back for fertilizer. Don’t make me waste time!” Heian Ciemnosc mistreated the tree as it remained silent. When it heard about Heian Ciemnosc’s extra gifts, its branches shook and vibrated. Meanwhile, Heian Ciemnosc felt his head flooded with buzzes, all proportioning him information about where every single fucking Fauna, even peak Second Step, was within this 3* Region.

“...” Shaking his head, Heian Ciemnosc walked away from the tree, not without slashing his wrists with his nails and letting some dark blood pour around the first 4 meters worth of grass in the middle of this hole. When the tree sensed that and felt Heian Ciemnosc’s dark blood fall near its roots, it became docile and meek. And when Heian Ciemnosc left, the tree was like an obedient child told to grow up well and live ‘their’ life well.

… After Heian Ciemnosc departed the hole, leaving the tree for some time and going to hunt some peak Ashes Soul realm Fauna, he returned to the tree 3 hours later, burying a few raw, large carcasses before leaving. Neither Heian Ciemnosc nor the tree spoke to the other again, and their cooperation finished. At last, Heian Ciemnosc departed from the Orange Origin Trent tree to its luck and life. Whether it evolved or not was up to them.

Having eaten 4 fruits, distributed 50 to the trio, and kept another 50 for Evans and practice, Heian Ciemnosc contenly drove back to the nearby City. It didn’t take more than a few minutes to arrive there, take the teleportation portal, and make his way back to the Academy.

. . .

The next day, evening. On the road to the Saberbone Diabolical Club’s headquarters.

Before arriving at the Academy, it was just a few hours before the early morning, so Heian Ciemnosc managed to attend this day’s class. Thanks to his Universal Conveyance, Elena sent him the lecture as soon as it finished, and by then, he was on the road back to the Academy. Having already watched it, Heian Ciemnosc had no problems feeling as if he was right there when it happened, and the class he did attend went on without troubling him.

This time, the lecturer taught them about countering Elemental attacks without exerting themselves. Using only the terrain, pure energy, and their Power Energy to defend, deviate, and even block via detonations to the attacker’s moves. There was first the need to go through theoretical details, and then the teacher would show the class what methods and techniques are useful, for that matter. No Art whatsoever was needed, and the consumption of one’s strength, Power, or Neutral Energy and Spirit Sense was negligible.

As days passed, the students would learn the precise method or technique necessary for a situation, or as many as possible. Heian Ciemnosc was interested as another way to manipulate the world was just another door to more possibilities. But others, like Elena, didn’t see it as meaningful as he did. They simply preferred to grow bic, stronk, and separate heads from necks or bodies.

Instead of directly going to his Master’s abode after classes were over, Heian Ciemnosc walked with Elena to the club’s headquarters. He couldn’t escape if he wanted to. But more than anything, Heian Ciemnosc would never run away from a dispute, challenge, problem, or enemy. In this case, he wasn’t afraid of Arla, the man Devourer.

Just as they were about to walk into the club, Elena pulled Heian Ciemnosc’s jacket sleeve from behind and yawned, “Arr, ahem. I will go to my room first. You go and put Senior Apprentice Sister Arla in her place. She deserves it, eh.”

“You’re sleepy? From what?” Heian Ciemnosc looked at Elena as she walked past him and asked her. Se stopped and turned around with weary eyes, but she looked at him as always before responding with a frown. “Well, someone decided to not only breakthrough to the next realm, but also a stage. Uuugh~, you know how difficult it is to cultivate without resources? Master is teaching me how to forge now, but it will take me a whiiiile before I get the hang of it.”

“Mmnn…” Heian Ciemnosc hmmed pensively. Elena looked at him as if waiting for his response without being asked to. Then he looked down at her and titled his head forth and a little to the left, “I may give you a couple things in a few days or weeks. That may help you enter the Crabstynian realm.”

“You want in my pants?” Elena sobered up, defiantly asked, and stood straight with her nonexistent tatas sticking out. Heian Ciemnosc nodded quite a few times, slightly, as if it was something of everyday occurrence, but then said in a calm and light tone. “No, I just feel so sad my little sister is getting behind. It’s humiliating, I know, siiiigh~. But you must go through it, receive your Big Bro’s help, and become attached as your princess-ly heart falls for me.”

Heian Ciemnosc: ( ͡°- ͡°)

Elena: (・∧‐)ゞ

“Then… Then this Little Sister will take it. Notify me now that you have that thing. I’m talking about your Universal Conveyance when it is done. I will still work hard, though. So, if you don’t hurry enough, your resources might be for nothing. I wouldn’t want Big Bro to feel that sort of thing, okay?”

“...” - “...” Heian Ciemnosc shook his head, gently grasped Elena’s left cheek, and made her shake her head with him. She scrunched up her nose and put on her ‘rabbit about to bite yo ass’ face to scare Heian Ciemnosc off. But after being given enough time to decide, Heian Ciemnosc said with nothing but cruelty in his heart, not a single bit of honor left. “Oh. Okay. Now listen to your Big Brother and go to your room while he fucks a hot chick, ‘mkay?”

Elena: ヾ(´￢｀)ﾉ

Elena weak-punched his chest a little, rubbed it just in case she hurt him, and turned around while waving him goodbye. Seeing her reaction, Heian Ciemnosc tilted his head to the left almost to the point of laterally positioning his head. Then, with a smirk, he followed the odor of a bitch in heat, not able to take it anymore and walking back and forth and spreading her ‘please males, come’ intent all about.

‘Sigh…’ Without a doubt, Heian Ciemnosc knew he was in for being subjected to lots of positions, lovely words, and hugging. All kinds of ‘hugging’...

…