God Ash: Remnants of the fallen.

Chapter 307: Flames that do not Burn (2).

Ki manifestation was very hard to master. Of the handful of people who could use Ki in the universe, very few of them managed to manifest their Ki. This was because there were very few manuals that could help one do this.

However, monsters and beasts had this very easily compared to other races. This was because the stronger the physical body, the greater the control over Ki a creature would possess.

Evangeline was a very rare case because of this fact. Cain could only learn it because of a few factors.

First, and most important, was the fact that he had something to model to help him, which was none other than the {Chaos Orc}. Second, his ability to sense energy changes was second to none in the entire universe.

Ki manifestation was all about two things...

"Your mind is the vessel, and your energy is what is contained within. By manipulating the vessel, you also manipulate the shape of the liquid."

"However, the vessel doesn't affect the nature of the liquid. It can't... That is what the plundering techniques are for. Each ki plundering technique is unique in its way. No one is similar to another, so I cannot give you tips concerning yours. However, the secret lies in your ki plundering techniques.

If you want to harness that power, then you will need to understand what it is first."

Manifesting Ki was all about changing the nature of the energy itself. Although Evangeline was correct about this part, she was also missing a few things...

'My body... That was the key all along.'

Cain managed to figure out how to create the first piece of the puzzle he was creating for himself.

Ki was different from mana because it was a physical energy. Trying to manipulate it the same way he would mana was wrong. He had to sync his mind and body together first.

'The potential is in the body. The mind simply provides a guide.'

With this information brewing in his mind, Cain was able to lay down the groundwork. However, he still had no way how it would turn out. This was uncharted territory he was entering. Ki was harder to understand. Although the system offered a lot of help, for some reason, it didn't treat Ki the same way it did mana.

The thing that drew all these factors together, was the fact that Cain had placed an unconscious limit on himself. His neglect over maintaining his connection with his body had strained their relationship, making the final step harder. However, he had managed to get back in touch with himself.

Thanks to all these things, he was finally able to initiate something truly spectacular.

His arms immediately exploded into a conflagration. Compared to Cain's, the Ki Fire around the arms of the {Chaos Orc} was like the flames of a dim candle.

The {Chaos Orc} stood in shock for a second. However, it soon replaced the shock with rage as it charged forward. A bad feeling immediately overwhelmed it.

Cain was simply engulfed in this feeling of bliss...

***

{Congratulations to host. You have unlocked a basic Ki manifestation ability, [Ki Fire]... }

[Ki Fire]: A Flame that does not burn. An external manifestation of internal energy.

[Ki Fire Ability]: The unique nature of the host's Ki has birthed a strange Ki ability, {Kill}.

{Kill}: The host's Ki manifestation ability. As soon as the host successfully lands an attack on an opponent, the opponent's defenses decrease by 70%. Every successful attack following the initial attack restores the host's total Ki by 1%.

{This ability costs 20,000 Ki points to activate, and 10 Stamina points per second to keep active. The longer this ability is kept active, the greater the strain on the body of its user}.

***

Cain didn't have time to completely understand the skill before the {Chaos Orc} was upon him again. This time, there was obvious intent in its eyes. Previously, it had been playing with him, just like how a tiger plays with its meal before devouring it.

Now, it wanted to kill him as fast as possible...

Obviously, Cain was having none of it. His hands shot out, completely wrapped in bright red flames. These flames weren't hot at all and didn't burn. However, he could feel them in his hands, as though the tongues of flames licking his hands were material in nature.

BOOM!

The moment their fists slammed against one another, the {Chaos Orc} recoiled in shock. At the same time, Cain a rush of energy flow into his body.

'Now!'

Cain's eyes turned red as he shot forward. Before the {Chaos Orc} understood what was happening, Cain had landed a dozen blows. A decrease of 70% was not just terrible. It was the difference between life and death.

Cain could feel the {Chaos Orc's} flesh rupture under his onslaught, causing a sick and twisted grin to spread upon his lips.

The {Chaos Orc} was a (God) grade beast for a reason. It kicked its heels against the ground as it dashed backward in an attempt to get farther away from Cain. Although its defense increased the longer it fought, it was minuscule when compared to its strength and speed. It was also pointless before Cain now, as it had been decreased by 70%.

Cain chased after it like a rabid animal. His fists flashed as he rained blow after blow. In the blink of an eye, his Ki was already close to being halfway full. On the other hand, the {Chaos Orc} looked absolutely miserable.

Blood poured down its face and body as it tried to guard against Cain. A look of genuine panic spread across its face as it continued to backpedal.

'Ah... How the roles had reversed.' Cain thought as he continued attacking.

A sly grin appeared on the face of the {Chaos Orc}. It had not been moving without purpose. It had intentionally moved closer to where its axe had been dropped. As soon as its fingers were wrapped around the shaft of the weapon, he swung with wild abandon.

Cain's eyes narrowed as he dodged backward with a flip. However, the {Chaos Orc} was very persistent as it kept moving forward and swinging.

Cain pulled {Maelstrom} out of his inventory and fired it midair at the eye of the {Chaos Orc}. Grunting, the {Chaos Orc} used the flat of the axe to block.

Cain used this opportunity to create space. Cain dashed toward the {Scale of the Abyssal Flame}.

Grabbing the weapon, he realized that he felt a slight connection to the blade. It was almost non-existent, but it was there. Grunting, he swung his weapon backward.

Although the defenses of the {Chaos Orc} were now low, that didn't mean its other stats were affected. Its strength was still enough to send Cain flying not a wall, creating a dust cloud.

Cain felt lightheaded as he tried to escape the crater made on the wall. However, the {Chaos Orc} was faster.

Without a moment of hesitation, its feet scraped against the ground, producing scars as it smashed its large fist into Cain's abdomen. Cain coughed out a mouthful of blood, but the bloody monster was going in for the kill.

It swung its axe violently at Cain. With a grunt, Cain raised his blade, blocking it successfully. With a snort, the {Chaos Orc} dragged the weapon across the wall, pulling Cain along with it. Gritting his teeth, Cain applied pressure to his back and raised his legs, stomping on the {Chaos Orc's} chest, sending it flying backward.

Turning his body swiftly, he kicked against the wall, creating a horizontal motion. Chasing after the {Chaos Orc}, he swung again. The {Chaos Orc} blocked with its axe and they continued their exchange for a while.

The walls of the mountain trembled as more and more rocks and boulders fell, bringing down a large amount of {Black Tungsten}.

Cain ran around these boulders, while the {Chaos Orc} bulldozed through them. Both of them continued to fight, neither one backing down even a bit.

On their faces, were grins...

"Hahaha!" Cain let out a laugh.

"Grahh!" The {Chaos Orc} roared excitedly.

Their battle had reached its climax. Their bodies had been longing for this. Their minds were ready.

It was time to determine who the victor and the vanquished was. Millions of sparks and hundreds of clashes filled the empty cavern with the cacophony of battle.

Suddenly, Cain felt a wave of weakness hit him all at once...

'Oh no...'

He knew what this was...

His stamina had been completely exhausted. His body suddenly stopped in its tracks. He couldn't even move his eyelids as an intense lethargic sensation came over him.

'I did my best... I guess it isn't too bad to rest now.'

He really was tired. His body was completely exhausted. His mind even more so.

He heaved a sigh as he silently watched the large battle axe grow larger in his eyes.

Suddenly, darkness flooded his vision...

He felt something cold envelop his body, causing him to smile. That was because he recognized it.

'Well, well...'

Cain's body suddenly disappeared into the darkness beneath his feet, causing the {Choas Orc} to let out a few confused sounds.

"How are you holding up?"

The first thing Cain heard as soon as he could see light again was Evangeline's slightly raspy voice.

Cain grinned, "I am as tired as all hell..."

Evangeline shook her head, "You a nutjob. I like that..."

Cain felt a stream of energy pour into his body, filling him with strength once more...

Cain was silent, "I thought you had abandoned me."

Evangeline gave him a stupefied look, "I might be a bit deviant, but I am not that much of a terrible person, am I?"

Cain chuckled at her words, "I see..."

Hearing this, Evangelime pouted, "Oi, what do you mean by that?"

Shaking her head, she glanced at the {Chaos Orc} that was still in the distance, looking around for Cain.

"We are in this battle together from now on. I have your back. This isn't a one-on-one battle anymore. Just try not to die on me again, okay?"

Although her words weren't very reassuring, they still filled him with some warmth. Taking a look at his status screen, he found that he had recovered some stamina.

'It was her...' Cain had been surprised too many times by Evangeline, so this wasn't very mind-boggling to him.

Cain nodded at her request with a smile. Standing onto his feet, he stepped out of Evangeline's protective shadow.

'Time for round two, bastard!'