Chapter 105: Breaking through

Words : 1034 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

It hit like a punch to the gut. No, as if Vacuse swallowed a volcanic ball. He opened his mouth to scream, but his throat was burning, and he could only let out a whizzing sound. Blood fell from his eyes, and his flesh twisted as if it would tear free from his quaking skeleton. But he gritted his teeth and forced his will to keep what he ate in. His insides rolled like a boiling sea, and just like Rith promised, he began to refine the flesh that he ate. What was left for Vacuse was to control the massive amount of energy that followed, and he forced it down his soul space, throwing it at his core with all the roaring power that he could muster. He trembled, his body turned rigid, and all he could do was sit there, sweating. His face was pale, and his eyes tightly shut. He looked as if he would fall over in the next instant. "...the flesh... is more powerful than it seems, Vacuse. We must use everything we have for this one. You’ll crumble!" Vacuse heard him, but he was simply too far gone to do anything. He was using all his power to hold back and cultivate the massive amount of power that Rith was sending him. He didn’t reply. But his body was healing just as fast as it was breaking down. He was locked in such a situation for a long time. Captain Mera was the first to wake up, and she stood guard behind her master, her face wide as she realized what was going on with Vacuse. "He’s trying to break through to the next Advancement Stage? Here? But he’s going to need a large source of energy that he would send into his soul space." "Don’t tell me he has pills and potions... huh. He’s the Dragon heir, of course he has!" But she still had a horrified look on her face. She had seen a lot of Advancement, but none had been quick. When did he even bond with his beast? More importantly though, "What type of breakthrough is this?" Vacuse’s body was breaking down, only to heal the next instant. The flesh would peel, and yet it would heal. Again and again. It was as if there was something terrifying inside him that was fighting him. All she could do was stand there and watch. "But he’s always so cautious. Why would he try breaking through here in the Wilderness...!!" Suddenly she froze, and her eyes turned to where the shrine should be. She shuddered, flinched, and swayed, as the memories alone were enough to make her heart cold. Her eyes went wide. "The... that thing... I..." She realized that she couldn’t properly remember what happened, but she couldn’t see the shrine again. What’s more, every single living thing in the surroundings that was within reach for her to feel was gone. It was as if she was in the dry desert. Even the trees that were not destroyed seemed to be cowering. She looked from the tree to Vacuse. "What happened here?" But she didn’t get her answer. Eventually, she settled down a few feet from him, and since there was nothing more she could do, she focused on keeping her eyes on him. One by one, those who fell unconscious woke up with massive headaches and fuzzy heads. They couldn’t accurately recall what happened, but they knew something terrifying appeared. When they saw Vacuse, especially those in the New Dawn, all they felt was both a flash of envy and surprise when they realized that he was actually trying to break through into the next stage of Advancement. They all fixed themselves, setting down camps around the Dragon heir. They gave him enough space in the middle while the others arranged around him. Captain Mera ordered that scouts should track back their way so that they could get back immediately once Vacuse was done. Meanwhile, she also sent Soulbearers to go around to make sure there were absolutely no threats around. The Captain knew the journey would be difficult, and yet she had accepted the mission anyway. But she hadn’t expected it to be that difficult. From the beginning, it was almost as if they were walking at the edge of a knife, and now, the person she was supposed to protect was getting ripped apart and healed again and again. But since there was nothing they could do, the only thing they did was settle down and watch. And just like that, two days passed. During that time, the rate at which Vacuse’s skin peeled slowed, and he no longer wept or dripped blood from his mouth. Even the energy that was blasting around him had slowed down. Then, on the third day, Vacuse opened his eyes. His eyes flashed a deep purple with rings of black. "You’re awake?" Kagerou said. He was playing with his daggers up ahead and was the first to notice. But Vacuse didn’t say anything, as the next instant, a sound akin to the breaking of stones sounded inside of him, and the next instant, a wave of overpowering aura rushed out of him, so potent it left all the people around shaking. Only Captain Mera was unaffected, but she narrowed her eyes when she saw that the aura pressure was affecting those in Stage Three as well. Isn’t Vacuse just breaking out to Stage Two? Why is his aura this powerful and strong? All the Dragon warriors were looking at him as if he was a threat. And those in the lower stage visibly trembled. Kagerou was frozen in his place like a deer caught in the sight of a predator as he watched Vacuse’s eyes. The intense pressure was like a hand clamping down on him. What the fuck? Vacuse frowned. He had broken through, but from what he knew, it was something that should include a blast of energy. It should be something that caused a show. "...fool, I’ve spent almost all my energy into healing you! Quick, you should have some potions, right? Drink up before your new soul space sucks you dry!"

Chapter 105: Breaking through

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