Chapter 47 - The Devouring Heaven Technique
[Warning. It is not recommended to use the martial technique ‘Devouring Heaven Technique’ in your current physical condition.]
‘What exactly is my current condition?’
[Analyzing user’s overall physical state. Meridian damage: 78%, Muscle damage: 55%…]
‘Yeah, yeah, I get it. Basically, I’m in excruciating pain. But it’s not like I have a choice here. If you’ve got a better idea, System, then suggest one.’
The System remained silent.
‘Figures.’
—Hey. What’s this “Devouring Heaven Technique” that’s got you two so worked up?
‘It’s not magic, it’s a martial technique. Simple explanation—it absorbs the opponent’s energy.’
—Haven’t you been absorbing Corrupted Mana from demons all this time? Doesn’t seem like anything new.
‘It’s different. What I’ve been doing is absorbing mana that’s already floating in the air or spells cast by enemies—energy that’s left the user’s body and is free to take. But the Devouring Heaven Technique…’
—Then what does it do?
‘It directly drains energy from the opponent’s body. No middleman.’
—Hmm. Sounds useful, but I don’t see why it’s so dangerous just from hearing about it.
‘No, the Devouring Heaven Technique is… Ugh, forget it.’
What’s the point of explaining the absurdity and risks of this technique to someone who doesn’t even understand martial arts?
‘Just know it’s a technique you have to be careful with.’
Absorbing mana that’s already been refined and released is one thing. But forcibly extracting energy directly from the opponent’s body is on a whole other level.
The latter is far more powerful, but the strain it puts on your meridians and dantian is several times greater.
Not to mention, while using the Devouring Heaven Technique, your meridians are essentially linked to the opponent’s. If you lose control even slightly during the process, your meridians could twist, leaving you crippled for life.
‘…I explained it, but do I really have to use this?’
[Warning. An attempt to interfere with the user’s mind has been detected.]
[Nullified by ‘Heavenly Demon’s Heart Sutra.’]
“?”
“…Annoying. My brainwashing doesn’t even work on you.”
Alkemis glared at me, clearly frustrated.
‘Seriously? She tried to brainwash me in the middle of all this?’
“Fine. Then I’ll just have to do this the hard way.”
If I let her go now, who knows what kind of trouble she’ll cause later.
“W-what are you—? Stay back!”
I stepped right up to her, face-to-face.
…A half-naked, long-haired man in black closing in on a lewdly dressed noblewoman.
I briefly wondered how this scene would look to an outsider, but I pushed the thought aside.
First, preparation.
“Haaah—”
I exhaled all the air from my lungs and drew out every last drop of demonic qi from my dantian.
This was to empty it completely. Just as water flows from a full container to an empty one, energy absorption works best when the user’s dantian is void.
Whoosh—
I expelled the demonic qi through the energy channels in my body.
“Eek! Wh-what’s with this sudden gust—?”
“Let’s begin.”
“B-begin what—?”
Tap.
Using the last reserve of my energy, I pressed a finger against the back of Alkemis’ neck, sealing her movements at a vital point.
“Ghk…! Wh-what is this—?”
Tap.
Another press, this time on a pressure point that silenced her completely.
With that, Alkemis was fully subdued.
All preparations complete.
I laid her stiffened body on the floor and placed both hands over her lower abdomen.
The softness of Parmela’s skin—originally hers—transmitted warmth through my palms.
“Then… let’s begin.”
Reciting the incantation, I recalled the essence of Devour.
“Qi returns to the dantian, all energy converges there. The power of the stars, all begins and ends with its might.”
The meridians in my arms extended through my hands, piercing into Parmela’s abdomen and infiltrating her body.
“Blood flows backward in the shape of a dragon. Demonic breath returns to its origin.”
As I finished the chant, my body became fully connected to hers.
And in my mind’s eye, the entire internal structure of Parmela’s body materialized.
Like an anatomical diagram unfolding before me, I could discern everything—from her organs down to the finest blood vessels.
“—!”
Moving my senses upward from her lower abdomen, past the mana circuits circulating around her heart, I detected something faint and foreign hidden between blood and mana near her neck and head.
It wasn’t mana. Nor was it blood, flesh, or bone.
“Found it. The soul.”
Now that I had my target, all that remained was to absorb it.
[Activating ‘Devouring Heaven Technique.’]
Parmela’s mana, tainted with corrupted energy, flowed into my body through my hands.
It burned. The searing heat of her mana spread through my veins as if threatening to incinerate me from within.
[Warning! High-temperature energy is invading the user’s body!]
It would’ve been great if I could target only what I needed, but the Devouring Heaven Technique wasn’t designed that way.
From the user’s perspective, all that mattered was stealing the opponent’s energy. The technique was designed to draw energy directly from the dantian, regardless of where contact was made.
So, to absorb a specific entity inside the body… I had to drain everything first.
Imagine trying to retrieve something from the bottom of a deep, water-filled pit. If you can’t reach it, you’d have to drink all the water first.
[Warning! Mana absorption has exceeded the user’s capacity!]
And my body had to endure until the process was complete—which was far from easy.
On top of that, while Corrupted Mana could be stored in my dantian as demonic qi, Parmela’s pure mana couldn’t.
With nowhere to go, her mana rampaged through my body, tearing through my meridians.
[Warning! Severe overload in the user’s meridians—]
‘Shut the hell up! I’m about to lose my mind…!’
Almost there.
Just a little more, and I’d reach Alkemis’ soul…!
My veins bulged as if ready to burst, and even my muscles swelled unnaturally under the pressure.
—…St…op.
Just as I thought I’d reached my limit, a faint voice echoed in my head.
Gritting my teeth, I accelerated the absorption, finally pulling the source of the voice toward me.
—Stop! I said stop!
As it was dragged from her head down to her abdomen, Alkemis’ soul screamed.
Slurp—
A warm, viscous energy surged up through my palms.
[You have absorbed ‘Alkemis’ True Soul.’ The object has been stored in your dantian.]
“Haah… Haah…”
As I released the technique, my legs gave out, and I collapsed.
“Parmela’s condition…”
I checked her pulse.
Her breathing, blood circulation, and energy flow were all stable.
Looking at her now, peacefully asleep like a doll, there was no trace of the frenzy Alkemis had caused while possessing her.
“Ha. Finally… it’s over…”
My vision blurred.
“…Mmm.”
Parmela opened her eyes.
“…You really are… a troublesome woman…”
Staring into those crimson eyes, I muttered weakly before darkness swallowed me whole.
“…”
When I opened my eyes again, I was met with an unfamiliar ceiling.
…Feels like I’ve said this line before.
“Ugh… Aah!”
Stretching made every muscle in my body scream in protest.
“Ow. My body…”
I glanced around.
The clothes I wore weren’t mine—instead, a luxurious white silk sleepwear. The room’s interior was excessively opulent.
And most glaring of all, the wallpaper patterned with the crest of the Herthe family.
Knock knock.
“Pardon the intrusion.”
Without waiting for a response, the visitor opened the door and stepped in—
“—You’re awake?”
—only to pause upon seeing me already sitting up.
“Ah… Long time no see…? Head Maid?”
“…Indeed. I suppose it has been a while. You’ve been unconscious for five days.”
“Is this… the Herthe family’s mansion?”
The crest on the walls confirmed it, but I didn’t recall any guest rooms like this in the villa. The only remaining possibility was the main estate.
“…First, let me assess your condition.”
The Head Maid strode over and took a seat on the chair beside the bed, reaching for me.
“Whoa there. I’m not that easy.”
“Your nonsense suggests you’re fine. Stay still.”
She placed her hands on my wrist, then my neck, checking my pulse before forcibly prying open my eyelids and peering into my mouth like a physician.
“…Hmm. There are still aftereffects from the mana overload, but you’ve mostly recovered. Remarkable resilience.”
“Mana overload?”
“Don’t you remember? During your battle with Alkemis, you absorbed her mana beyond your limits. After you collapsed, it took considerable effort to stabilize the rampaging mana inside you.”
“Ah… Thank you.”
“Save your gratitude. That’s not what you should be focusing on right now.”
“?”
“…Theodor. Do you not remember what you currently look like?”
“Ah.”
Right. My disguise is gone.
“Hmm.”
As I hesitated over what to say—
“I believe there’s someone else you should speak to first.”
The Head Maid stood up indifferently and headed for the door.
“I’ll fetch the young lady.”
Thud.
After she left, I sank into thought, alone in the room.
‘How am I going to explain this to Parmela?’
The first thought that came to mind:
‘…Damn it. I’m unemployed now, aren’t I?’
And the next worry that followed:
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…Young Lady.”
“Y-yes?”
“You can’t have a conversation while hiding by the door.”
Despite the Head Maid’s urging, Parmela remained half-hidden in the hallway, only her eyes peeking into the room.
“I-I-I know that! J-just give me a second…”
The part of her face that was visible was flushed red, as if someone had poured boiling water over her.