Chapter 11
Angela muttered some incomprehensible words before collapsing again.
This wasn’t the most pressing matter right now, so I decided to move on.
‘Let’s head downstream.’
I recalled reading somewhere, maybe on YouTube or in a book, that if you get lost in the mountains, you should follow the flow of water.
I wasn’t entirely sure, but it was better than running around aimlessly.
The stream I had relied on for bathing and doing dishes over the past few months now served as my map.
“Hoo…!”
The magic sphere disappeared as I moved further away from the Sara Sisters.
It seemed to be some kind of device powered by one of their spells.
Ta-da-da-da!
I squeezed out every last bit of Qi I had, operating the [Wind Wave Style] to its maximum capacity, but I was reaching my limit.
To begin with, it was almost impossible to overuse sword techniques I had learned just recently without mastering a proper cultivation method.
This was merely a trick made possible because Alben’s body possessed [Heavenly Martial Physique]-level talent for swordsmanship.
“Arrghhh!!”
An emptiness, akin to hunger, surged up from my completely drained Danjun.
The Qi I gathered through breathing was utterly insufficient for the amount I was using.
Buzz….
The Qi required to maintain the sword technique had been entirely depleted.
The aura of the [Wind Wave Style] that had enveloped my body gradually dissipated.
‘I haven’t even made it out of the mountains yet…!’
This was… an unexpected variable.
The terrain of the mountain was far more rugged and complex than I had anticipated, causing me to consume more than double the amount of Qi.
‘If I keep descending at this slow pace, they’ll definitely catch up.’
The Sara Sisters surely had some form of tracking magic.
Without the speed granted by the [Wind Wave Style], they would catch up to me before the day was over.
And it’s not like I could leisurely accumulate Qi just by breathing.
‘I need to recharge my Qi quickly.’
But how?
No matter how talented my body was, suddenly comprehending a top-tier cultivation method and using it to fill up an empty Danjun within a few minutes was outright impossible.
“Ugh…”
It was then that the girl in my arms, groaning in pain, came into my view.
“…Wait a second.”
Angela’s backstory flashed through my mind.
Right now, she’s suffering because there’s too much Qi accumulated in her Danjun.
‘What if I could transfer Angela’s Qi to my own Danjun?’
This concept didn’t even exist in the game.
There wasn’t any skill in Valdeon Saga that allowed a character to absorb another’s Qi.
But it wasn’t entirely out of the question.
[Bloodsucking]
A genetic skill of the vampire race.
It’s a simple mechanism that allows one to absorb the opponent’s stamina, but it boasted an extremely useful and broken performance.
I remember that playthrough as a vampire was so easy that it wasn’t even fun.
“Let’s give it a try.”
Sitting still and waiting to be slaughtered by the sea beast that took my arm sounded worse than trying something.
I laid Angela on the ground and placed my hand over her lower abdomen.
‘I can feel it.’
A sensation I wouldn’t have recognized before opening my Danjun spread through me.
Whooooosh-!
The fierce flow of Qi inside Angela’s small Danjun.
Seeing it like this made it seem even more daunting to draw it into myself.
‘Oh, screw it, let’s just do this.’
Everything depends on one’s mindset.
I gathered the last of my Qi and sent it through my hand.
Like a plant extending its roots, I connected my Qi to hers.
Tap!
‘It’s connected.’
The root of my Qi touched her Lower Danjun.
Now, if I could just pull the flow of Qi to my side… it would be over….
Ssssss!
Things rarely go so smoothly, do they?
“Argh!”
Although I intended to use the root of my Qi to absorb hers…
Her Danjun tried to draw in my Qi instead.
It moved violently, like a black hole devouring everything in its path, consuming all power indiscriminately, regardless of quantity.
“Ugh… Argh…”
Drip-
A stream of blood trickled down from my nose.
Maintaining contact with this rampaging Qi drained my mental strength rapidly.
“Ugh… Aaah… Aaaargh…!”
Angela writhed in agony even though her eyes were closed.
A body with a fully opened Upper Danjun would try to absorb Qi regardless of its owner’s will.
The reason why Danjuns are divided into three and must be opened in stages is to assess whether one can handle that amount of Qi.
Right now, she’s like a newborn trying to drive a sports car.
“Ahh, it hurts…! It hurts…!”
‘Shit, I’m in a lot of pain too…!’
To stop a sports car that’s running wild…
To control a car that’s lost all traction…
‘You have to calm the baby down.’
I wasn’t sure if it was possible to calm a baby down inside a rampaging car.
But at least Angela was within my reach right now.
I stretched out my other hand and gently patted her head.
“J-Just calm down… it’s going to be… okay….”
“Hic… Hic…”
“That’s right, good girl….”
As I pulled her small body tighter into my arms, her trembling gradually subsided.
‘I’ve captured Angela several times before.’
I know what actions, physical contact, food, and dialogue she likes.
I have them all memorized by heart.
“Mmm…”
Angela, who slowly began to calm down.
As she did, her Qi also stabilized bit by bit.
‘Perfect.’
This was the perfect opportunity.
Now, quickly pull her Qi to my side…!
– Hmm, as expected, you’re lacking in technique. I appreciate that you thought of me in this moment of crisis, though.
Suddenly.
A dignified voice echoed through my soul.
– I’m someone who considers myself indebted to you.
– The others might be upset, but…
– Just this once, I’ll help you.
What the—who the hell are you, talking in my mind all of a sudden…?
– Focus.
I felt an ethereal energy settle over my hand.
It was as if a ghost’s hand, transparent and pale, was gently laid atop mine.
– Forcibly absorbing something isn’t the only way.
– Make it come to you willingly.
The root of my Qi dug in even deeper.
I worried that the Qi I had barely managed to calm down might turn violent again.
Gulp! Gulp!
Angela’s Qi started flowing up through the root I had connected.
“Huh?!”
– …This should do. You’re smart enough to understand.
The voice vanished, but the absorption of Qi continued.
My Danjun heated up and filled rapidly with Qi.
‘Whoa, the speed is insane.’
At this rate, I’m absorbing Qi faster than top-tier cultivation methods would allow.
Of course, it’s quicker to draw in Qi that’s already concentrated in someone’s body rather than filtering and accumulating it from the atmosphere.
“Mmm…”
Perhaps it was because I was absorbing her Qi.
Angela’s face, which had been twisted in pain, now looked much more at ease.
“It worked.”
After I filled my Danjun with a considerable amount of Qi, I withdrew the root.
“Huff.”
…Let’s ignore that strange noise that came out as I pulled away.
I quickly collected and contained the Qi I had absorbed, smiling contentedly.
“To think I could obtain such high-quality Qi this quickly.”
If I had acquired this in the game, I would have been utterly shocked by how convenient it was.
Though there’s the drawback of needing a target to absorb from, it’s a minor issue compared to its benefits.
“Who… was that voice?”
It was a voice I had never heard before.
The manner of speech and tone were dignified, like that of a noble middle-aged man, but judging by his words and actions, it seemed like he held some goodwill towards me.
“…I have no idea.”
Even if I racked my brain, I couldn’t think of anyone who would match.
And now wasn’t really the time to ponder it.
“Let’s descend all at once this time!”
Now that my Qi was replenished, it was time to operate the [Wind Wave Style] once more.
Buzz!
As I stirred my Qi, an unexpected message flashed before my eyes.
[Due to your “Intelligence,” you have gained an epiphany.]
[“Blessing of Growth” accelerates growth based on your epiphany.]
[You have acquired the skill “Great Absorption Art”]
‘Great Absorption Art, huh.’
I didn’t expect to come across a skill I didn’t even know about.
I smirked as I began to move, lightening my steps.
“Now this is getting interesting.”
***
“What… What on earth is this…?”
The report came in.
It stated that two suspects, presumed to be the culprits, were seen leaving the mountain.
A clear failure of the escort mission.
This incident would deal a severe blow to the reputation of the Guardian Knights.
However, such things didn’t matter to Ornica in the slightest.
“C-Captain…?”
Erina’s eyes trembled violently as she looked at ‘it.’
“……”
Corinne couldn’t even open her mouth.
“Ughhhh! Those bastards… I’m going to kill them!!!”
Galli roared endlessly.
This was the camp where the 3rd Squad had been staying.
It was a precious place, full of memories they had shared with Alben.
However.
The place had now turned into a nightmare.
A gruesome nightmare, the kind you’d never want to face.
The tents were all torn to shreds, and every visible surface was drenched in blood.
The hotpot they had planned to eat upon their return was spilled on the ground, now cold and congealed.
“Ah…”
Ornica’s eyes darkened.
He could guess what had happened here, but he didn’t want to acknowledge it.
‘No… It can’t be…’
The culprit who kidnapped the princess had passed through here, of all places.
There must have been a mage among the suspects, as the security magic they had set up around the area was deactivated.
‘No… No, no…’
They must have encountered Alben, who had been waiting for them at the camp.
And they eliminated the witness.
Then, they took Alben’s body with them.
‘No… It can’t be true…’
The bodies of well-formed men sell for a high price in the black market.
They become playthings for noblewomen with twisted tastes.
‘No. No, no…’
–Ah! You’re back, everyone.
–Does it suit your tastes? I’m glad.
–Thank you for saving me.
Rising from the depths of his soul, this sensation…
It was undeniably.
No, it was definitely…
Overwhelmingly unbearable.
‘No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.’
It was ‘despair.’
—
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