CH 95

Translator: MadHatter Editor: MadHatter

This is how it looks when a lone Kurokiri practices on his own.

(Kurokiri POV for the whole chapter)

“Fuuuuuu….”

In my own room, I take on the form of a human being, and while closing my eyes and regulating my breathing, I slowly but surely utilize the power of ≪Cycle≫ throughout my body.

From my abdomen to my heart, from my heart to my limbs and head, from my limbs to each of my fingers, and from my head to my eyes, ears, nose, and other parts of my body related to my five senses, I concentrate the power I’ve channeled to my body.

I lift my eyes.

My whole body is invigorated, my vision is broadened, and my hearing and sense of smell are greatly heightened.

“I feel great.”

I move my body in this state to confirm my condition.

Compared to when I am not using ≪Cycle≫, my physical capabilities have probably been enhanced by 1.5 to 2 times.

Now, as for why I am doing this, it is, of course, for training.

For the past ten years, I have been developing outer skills by fundamentally reviewing the usage of each skill. After all, half-hearted efforts are futile against the God of Calamity.

“Well then, let’s start with this state.”

While retaining the enhancement by ≪Cycle≫, I assume a posture.

“‘Black blood flows in my body. All is devoured by the black fog. Now, let my blood become an ice storm and devour everything. Outer Skill・ Kurokiribaku’.”

A black sphere is conjured in my right hand and flies forward at the same time I wave my right hand. And along with the sound of the explosion, it scatters more black ice and fog than a standard Kurokiribaku.

Apparently, thanks to the power of ≪Cycle≫, the activation efficiency of the skill has also improved.

Then, next is,

“‘From the land of illusion arises the black water of death. That freezes and revolves, and revolves and freezes. The form to serve is the sword. What is severed is reality. Behold, hear, and feel. The moment when the illusion is replaced by reality. Outer Skill ・ Kurokirino… ugh!’.”

A black sword is about to be sprung into existence in front of my eyes. However, right before it could materialize and become an actual thing, the ≪Cycle≫ that had been reinforced throughout my body burst out accompanied by acute pain, and the Kurokirinodachi also reverts to its original illusion and dissipates.

“Ugh… hah… it’s still tough to get Kurokirinodachi in an enhanced state.”

Why did the Outer Skill fail? I know the reason for that.

The Outer Skill is a technique that involves the usage of skills external to the system of skills created by the God of Calamity. Neither the safety and lock that each skill is equipped with in advance are imposed on it. Therefore, its destructive capability is boundless, and as its power escalates, so does the competence demanded of the user.

And if the user lacks the ability to activate the skill, the result will be as it is now.

“Well, perhaps the insufficient ability isn’t something that can be measured in terms of status.”

I calmly search for the cause of the earlier failure.

Why could Kurokiribaku be employed in the enhanced state utilizing ≪Cycle≫ whereas Kurokirinodachi could not? That difference is probably the disparity in the number of skills utilized in the usage of these two outer skills.

Kurokiribaku is based on ≪Devouring Black Fog≫ and ≪Mist Plosion≫ while Kurokirinodachi is based on ≪Cycle≫, ≪Bewitching Fog≫, and ≪Sharp Aqua Pillar≫ with a total of five skills which are analyzed, decomposed, and reconstructed in parallel.

The bottom line is…

“Insufficient capacity? I guess everything depends on this…”

I heave an involuntary sigh.

“Forget it. I’ve already got other things to do.”

While reinforcing with ≪Cycle≫ once more, I picture in my mind the skills I have mastered one by one and think about what they would look like if I simplified them.

≪Devouring Black Fog≫ has the ability to atomize one’s own body and at the same time absorb the HP, MP and SP of the opponents who come in contact with the fog.

≪Cycle≫ is to transform various flows into the predetermined one.

≪Mist Plosion≫ is an explosive skill with a designated point of origin, which scatters mist and ice around the point of detonation.

≪Bewitching Fog≫ creates visual illusions in the midst of the fog.

≪Sharp Aqua Pillar≫ converts magic power and generates a sharp pillar of water from the ground to carry out an attack.

And by combining these to create outer skills… well, to put it bluntly, it’s a matter of creativity. The same skill can vary depending on whether it is used as the main or auxiliary skill.

If I give it a second thought, it reminds me that I have two more skills that I can exploit. To simplify these two skills, I can think of…

≪Monster Creation≫ is the skill to bring forth new life at the price of one’s own power.

≪Dungeon Creation≫ is a skill to create a special substance in exchange for one’s power.

Then, the question is, how can I incorporate these two skills into my outer skills?

“…Let’s give it a try.”

To keep a minimum of capacity available, I cease the enhancement by ≪Cycle≫ and activate ≪Monster Creation≫ as well as ≪Devouring Black Fog≫ in parallel, in the form of creating only the eye of Mystic.

The only reason I chose ≪Devouring Black Fog≫ is that it is the skill that constitutes the foundation of my body, and therefore it is the most manageable.

“Suhaaah.”

I draw in a deep breath once.

“Hmph!”

And then, I produce the ≪Monster Creation≫ formation in my right hand and the “≪Devouring Black Fog≫ formation in my left hand, forcing the two to unite together in front of my chest. At this stage, I concentrate my mind on the development of the skill so that I can create something that can penetrate the depth of the skill.

This may sound absurd, but this is how I always proceed when I conduct the first experiment in creating a new outer skill. When this works, I refine it, and when it fails, I investigate why it failed. That’s how I create the Outer Skills.

“‘The black blood that flows in my body and the secret art of bringing forth new life. When the two forces are merged and united, a new life is born, separated from the form of life as ordained by God. Outer Skill ・ Kurokirinoshinma’.”

While I am mulling this over, the combination of ≪Monster Creation≫ and ≪Devouring Black Fog≫ repeatedly disintegrates and consolidates, eventually emerging as a single formation.

At the precise second when the formation is sparkling and the new outer skill manifests its effect,

“Guaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!?”

My left eye is crushed and a black pearl-like eye with a golden iris is floating where the formation used to be.