D.G. - Chapter 260 - SUICIDAL BRAT

Mayalyn shrugged. She pitched her voice to a fair imitation of Olive at her snobbiest while tilting her head back to look down her nose at the princess, “My intuition is simply superior to the point of incomprehension.” She was the only one to laugh at her joke. She coughed into her hand, blushing sheepishly, “Or, perhaps I have simply observed Jiran learning enough times to know how rapidly he adapts.”

Shaking his head in amusement, Jiran answered Olive's unasked question, “You said you didn’t know what I was doing. Well, in simplified terms, I converted those beasts into aerosolized density, then absorbed it.”

Olive's hairline retreated as her scalp tightened. She swallowed, her voice lacking emotion or inflection, “You absorbed all the density… of that entire beast… in five minutes… Do you realize the implications of what you're saying right now?”

Jiran nodded happily, “Yup! I can tier you guys up a lot faster now.”

Olive inhaled until her lungs were full to bursting, then released it all in a pained groan, “Professor Vorian is going to lay an egg when she finds out about this.”

Mayalyn snickered, patting Olive's hair, “This is a good thing. We must become more powerful to remain at his side.” She leaned close to Olive and whispered in her ear, though her mischievous gaze remained glued to Jiran, “Or do you wish to lose him before even tasting the joys of mating?”

Olive grew red as a ripe fruit and jerked back as if burned, “W-what?! Why would you-agh! You teasing vixen!”

Mayalyn dodged her swipe with a burst of speed from Enhancing. She arrived standing over Jiran in a flash of lightning. He accepted her offered hand, standing. She smoothed his shirt, brushing at some imaginary dirt, “I know you are not done testing. Please use me for any further experiments.”

Jiran was well aware that being a tier behind the rest of the party bothered Mayalyn. The steely conviction in her eyes also made it clear she accepted the obvious risks of what she was asking for.

She's seen me blow myself up several times and still wants to go first. Crazy girl.

He wasn't about to insult her determination by questioning her, but he also couldn't let her volunteer without knowing the dangers, “Until I figure out the right method, it's going to hurt. A lot.” Her expression didn't change in the slightest and he nodded firmly, “Let's get started then.”

Her resolve shifted to pure adoration. She wrapped her arms around him in a hug that was over far too soon. Catching Olive's attention, Jiran tilted his head toward the exit, “Can you bring Niya, Cameron, and Lenton down here? We're going to thin out these beasts so there's no chance of them breaking into the city. They're a hive species though, and will repopulate soon.”

Understanding the danger, Olive went full princess mode and snapped a sharp salute, “These tier sevens are precious resources for the empire. Please do not eradicate them.”

Hmm. Can’t exactly blame her for telling me not to do something so obviously stupid. Does she really think I’ll let her get away without some petty revenge?

When she turned to leave, Jiran pulled himself through a synapse of the framework and appeared right in front of her. She jerked back in surprise but he was much faster than her. Wrapping his arms around her lower back, he pulled her into their deepest kiss yet. She only put up a fight for a second before threading her hands through his hair and pulling him down harder.

Her scent, and the strength of her passion was a heady drug that Jiran greedily partook of until her body went limp and molded against his. He held the now breathless girl at arms length, fully committing her smitten expression to memory. It was nothing like the looks they’d shared in the past, and for several seconds, his heart refused to beat as intoxicating tingles coursed through his limbs.

Olive couldn't pull her eyes from his lips, her voice weak as her knees, “That was… Uhm. Thank you.”

Surprised in the best kind of way, Jiran threw his head back and laughed, “Thank you?” He questioned and her skin turned scarlet all over again.

Breaking his hold with a familiar twist she must have learned from Mayalyn, Olive stormed past him in faux outrage, “We'll see who says something stupid next time!”

Mayalyn appeared at his side. Her fingers threaded through his as they watched the princess saunter up the tunnel until she was out of sight. Mayalyn nudged him with the side of her head, “Want to bet how long it takes her to remember she can fly?”

Jiran chortled, “When did you get into betting? Those cousins must be a bad influence on you.”

Mayalyn ignored his question, “So, how was she? I chose us the perfect partner, did I not?” She turned him around toward the nearby swarmers that were entirely oblivious of their existence. Instead of answering verbally, he squeezed her hand tighter, allowing his overwhelming love for her to momentarily shine through his usual Remalonian placidity. She breathed deeply, basking in the smell of it until her skin prickled with delight.

Cursed my ass. My life couldn't possibly be any better than it is right now.

With a mischievous grin, he scooped her up in his arms and dashed into the air. Trusting his aura to block sound, she squealed in delight as they soared high above the poisonous fog. Jiran's aura plucked two dozen of the swarmers from their hiding spots and gathered them into a large ball. Armament and Elemental Castigation turned them into a crackling glacier that quickly melted into a large glob of invisible density. 

They flew into its center and he directed Mayalyn to lay flat on a bed of aura. Her gaze contained absolute trust as he carefully manipulated a thread of mana to block most of the nerve bundles at the base of her skull. Those leading to her manacore and organs were left alone for obvious reasons.

“You should close your eyes for this part.”

She nodded and did as instructed. Then, he flayed her skin and muscles while forcing the thick density Into her body before sealing it inside. He patched her just enough that she wouldn't bleed to death, leaving plenty of damaged tissue for the density to swarm into. Despite most of the pain being numbed, Mayalyn couldn't stop the screams that were ripped from her lungs.

***

Before Olive returned with the others, Jiran had retreated to the central chamber. He stood next to Mathayes with a palm resting against the man's forehead. Mayalyn was in a corner of the room, her body rent into a shifting puddle of bloody bits and undulating mana, well into the first phase of her ascension to tier five.

Jiran had thoroughly sanitized a section of the floor and created a soft mattress for her. Of course, neither act was necessary since a localized coating of her mana protected her during the body-shattering ordeal. He didn't care if the tokens of affection were unnecessary, he would have spent all his mana to bring her even a dash of comfort after what he put her through.

He did his best to learn quickly, hating the suffering his inexperience bestowed. Unfortunately, there seemed no way around causing significant pain during the absorption process. Even the smallest, most gentle lacerations in the tissue were torn wide open by the density attempting to worm its way inside. It was made all the worse since the density came from beasts three tiers higher than her. At least that same fact meant her Growth was maxed after only a few sessions.

He wasn't about to leave her alone and vulnerable, so he idled the time by practicing with Mana Venom. The tier eight Mathayes was the perfect subject. With over double Jiran’s Concentration, manipulating the stubborn skill inside the man was challenging, yet well within his limits. He rapidly cycled through minute alterations of the skill, each devouring the last to sustain itself, saving a considerable quantity of mana.

When he felt Lenton’s aura brush against his own, Jiran quickly unleashed the venom he'd prepared some time ago. It flowed through Mathayes, sealing his consciousness as he’d done to the Templari. The man slumped to the floor, snoring against the wall.

Olive entered the chamber first. She had changed again and now wore an armored uniform that she clearly didn’t take the time to adjust with Forming, considering how ill-fitting it was. Seeing Mayalyn’s state, she rushed over, “She’s ascending already?”

“She was at thirty percent Growth when we started, and they were three tiers above her. It took less than forty.”

Cameron pranced in behind her, escorting Niya, “Huh? Less than forty what? Wait, she’s… But she just ascended last season! It took me three whole seasons to get through tier four. How is this possible?!”

“I would very much appreciate an answer to that question myself,” Lenton Teleported to Mayalyn’s side, leaning over her to carefully inspect her progress. “Fascinating. Jiran, did you notice how her hea-core is completely detached from the tissue around it? I knew her people are different from us Imperials, but this is a significant divergence from standard ascension theory.”

“Considering how many books you forced me to read, I wouldn’t know,” Jiran deadpanned, earning a sheepish chuckle from the old man.

Niya looked between Olive and Jiran suspiciously, “I thought you said he was going to show us a new experiment. One of you spill. How did she gain seventy percent Growth in only a few hours? Wait! You didn't let her—” Niya’s words cut off as she came a little too close to voicing one of Madra’s greatest secrets.

Jiran shook his head fiercely, “No! Nothing crazy like that.” Niya and Cameron released relieved sighs. As the only one there who didn’t know about challenger density, Lenton shot him a confused frown which Jiran ignored. In as nonchalant a manner as he could pull off, Jiran explained, “I simply converted dead tier sevens into density, cut her up, and stuffed the density inside her body to increase the absorption rate.”

Niya blinked at him for several long seconds before giving up on him, “There’s something seriously wrong with your head.”

Lenton pulled his jaw off the floor long enough to huff at Jiran, “I would have to agree with my favorite pupil. How can you speak in jest regarding such a world-shattering revelation? What you’re saying breaks every law of denservation known to exist! I… Damn you, Jiran!” Lenton’s jaw clamped shut as he furiously scratched at his lower back.

Niya ignored the old man’s antics, deeply offended by his earlier claim. She shuddered and released a choked gag, remembering the year he’d locked her away, “I knew I shouldn’t have come down here with him. I need some fresh air.”

Jiran let her make it a few meters up the nearest tunnel before puncturing her Manabody’s defenses and wrapping a tentacle of aura around her leg. Niya froze, his words about cutting Mayalyn open and stuffing her full of density tumbled through her thoughts on repeat. She looked back at him with panicked eyes, catching sight of his malicious smirk. Her fears were confirmed.

Jiran increased the pulling force of his aura to drag her back into the chamber, “Where do you think you’re going, cousin? Did I forget to mention that you’re next?”

“Nooo!” Her cries only grew worse once the cutting began.

***

Several hours later, after clearing out ninety percent of the swarmers, Jiran and Lenton were the only two not in the process of ascending. They passed the time discussing the finer points of his new absorption method. Lenton’s input had been instrumental in how much less pain Olive had to go through than Mayalyn, Niya, and Cameron.

Lenton examined the unconscious Mathayes, poking and prodding with a handheld formation he’d created on the fly, “This shouldn’t be possible. It’s the same as the Templari. His moieties are in alignment, there’s no damage to his channels or meridians, and I can’t sense any fluctuations in his roetts or pathers, yet he remains comatose.” Lenton had shifted to scratching at his neck and elbow, his wrinkled forehead heavily furrowed, “Are you… going to tell me how you did this?”

Why does he sound afraid?

The unexpected question in the middle of the old man’s nonsensical rambling snapped Jiran from his ruminations. His first mentor, Samris, could have been Mathayes’s twin. Watching Lenton hover over Mathayes had taken Jiran on a jaunt down memory lane to when his crazy journeys first began.

With a fond smile, he shook his head, “Not this time.”

Lenton sighed in relief, “Good. Not sure I can handle another dose of knowledge from you today.”

Jiran’s brows drew down in thought, “What’s that supposed to mean? This isn’t the first time. I always expect you to jump at the chance to learn something new, but all too often you refuse. I remember the last question you asked when we first met. You wanted to know what mana and density are. I’m getting closer to that secret, but I feel like you won’t want to hear it when I figure it out… before you.”

Lenton harrumphed at the verbal jab, “You’re right. I won’t. It wouldn’t be worth living in misery for the rest of my years.”

“Misery? Does it have to do with your curse?”

“That’s right.”

“Oh,” Jiran paused, mulling over Lenton’s words. Since the old man didn’t look like he was going to reveal his secrets this time either, Jiran shrugged, “Well, I’m close to figuring the curse thing out, too. I’ve narrowed down the why and how of unique abilities. I’ve got a plan for a cure, though it's not something I can attempt without the right circumstances. It shouldn’t be long now.”

Lenton tugged at his long beard, frowning, “Well, when you figure it out, don’t tell me. Knock me out like this fool and fix me. Then, we can talk each other's ears off without worry.”

Jiran chuckled, “I’m looking forward to it.” Against his will, his eyes stung and his voice turned sentimental, “Thanks for everything, Lenton. You gave me a second, third, and fourth chance at life. I… know I’ve said it before, but Thank you.”

Lenton cringed and scratched harder at his neck, heading for the tunnel to the surface, “Suicidal brat! If only you held that life of yours in higher regard, I wouldn’t suffer so greatly!”

Jiran watched him go, then his gaze tracked to Olive and Mayalyn who now shared a corner. He mumbled to himself, thoroughly enjoying the storm of emotions that blazed in his chest whenever he looked at them, “I really have put my existence on a low rung of importance in the past. With these two to come back to, that’s going to change.”