[300 PS = 1 Chapter Bonus]
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[Congratulations! You have earned enough EXP to upgrade the "Stygian Flame" skill to level 2! Would you like to do so? YES/NO.]
I was about to click "YES" when I heard footsteps behind me.
I didn't need to turn around to recognize who it was.
"Can you explain to me what exactly you're doing with the stray devil's body?" Rias asked in an almost authoritative tone.
I stood up and looked at her seriously. "It's something I have to do, Rias."
The stray devil's corpse was completely charred, with only a few pockets of flame in different places because the Stygian Flame burns until the bones are gone.
"I'm a Kasha, remember? I need to deal with corpses, especially when I kill someone or it's a corrupted supernatural being like this. It's my duty."
Rias looked deep into my eyes for a few moments and finally took a deep breath. "I understand. But we needed the body to confirm the fulfillment of the contract. How am I going to report this without anything to show?"
I picked up a rib bone from the corpse and threw it to Rias, who caught it in midair. "Have it chemically analyzed. DNA exists in every cell of the body, including the connective tissue in the bones. This one has only been superficially burned."
She looked at the small piece of bone, its color darkened by fire, and nodded.
"You have an answer for everything, don't you?"
"I do my best." I shrugged, avoiding her inquisitive eyes.
She smiled and turned away, but again I was interrupted before I could focus on the system.
"Nishihara-kun," she called.
"What?"
"Next time, try to let me know before you act so... self-sufficient."
"I'll try to remember that," I replied, trying not to sound sarcastic.
"I'm glad to hear that... I'll wait outside the shed. That way, you'll have more freedom to finish your work."
As Rias walked away from that gigantic old shed, I took advantage of the distraction to finally accept the skill upgrade.
As soon as I clicked "Yes," I felt a wave of heat wash over my body, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was almost like a vibration, a pulsing energy that seemed to connect directly to the essence of my existence. The Stygian Flame was more alive within me than ever before.
[Skill "Stygian Flame" upgraded to Level 2.]
[Description: The Stygian Flame, once so powerful that it burned the very God of Fire, Hephaestus, now obeys your commands with greater ease. Its range, control, and power have increased considerably. You will be able to shape the flame into more complex forms and create original techniques or copy techniques you have already seen.
(Caution: Prolonged use of this skill may cause physical exhaustion.)]
An involuntary smile appeared on my lips. A new world of skill had opened up to me.
I extended my right hand, and the flame appeared immediately. The color was the same — red like blood with black tones around the edges. However, I felt that it was more flexible and stronger.
I moved my fingers, and the flame followed the movement, forming small swirls in the air.
"It's much more responsive than before."
Before, it only surrounded my fists and was a short-range thing I had only used to burn corpses, but now... it was like moving a muscle. Natural.
I closed my eyes for a moment and imagined a sword. Nothing too elaborate, just a simple blade with fiery details around the edges. When I opened my eyes, it was there, looking exactly like a sword—a weapon made purely of flame but solid enough that I could feel it in my fingers.
I swung the sword in the air, and the feeling was... indescribable. I tested a few quick strikes in the air, and the blade remained unchanged.
"This is incredible..." I muttered to myself.
Curious, I extended my left hand and tried to create something different. Maybe... a bow?
With simple movements, the flame molded itself and transformed into a bow made of dancing fire.
"Wow..."
If I could create a bow, it stood to reason that I could create arrows as well, right? So I tried to do that.
I closed my eyes for a moment and visualized the shape—a simple, long, thin arrow with a sharp tip and a slight glow of heat around it. To help me visualize it, I remembered Jogo's fight against Sukuna in Jujutsu Kaisen, when Sukuna uses his iconic fire arrow.
When I opened my eyes, the arrow was there. It was perfect, with heat radiating from its surface.
I pulled back the string, which was also made of fire but surprisingly solid to the touch. I aimed at a loose stone beam that wouldn't fall as soon as I hit it.
"Let's see what you can do..."
The arrow cut through the air, leaving a streak of red and black light in its wake. When it hit the beam, there was an impact followed by a small explosion. The heat and force were so intense that the concrete began to melt around the point of impact.
"Wow..." I said and looked at my hands.
The control I felt over the flames was now almost... intuitive.
"Now, the next test... Let's see how this works in hand-to-hand combat."
I ran toward one of the concrete pillars of the warehouse. With a jump, I spun in the air and delivered a flaming kick straight at the surface. The concrete cracked immediately, and a network of fissures spread across the pillar before a piece of it collapsed.
I tested different combinations of attacks, using punches, kicks, and even elbows. Each blow was imbued with flames, which increased not only the impact but also the devastation around the point of contact.
I fell back to the ground with a soft thud, my breathing rapid with excitement.
"I feel like I have the same control as any great Avatar firebender," I muttered. The comparison made me laugh. The possibilities this new ability gave me were endless.
However, I quickly remembered the final words of the description: 'Prolonged use may cause exhaustion.' I closed my eyes and let the flames disappear.
It was easy to bring them back now that they were more connected to me, but it wasn't worth wearing myself out right away.
As I turned to leave the shed, I heard Rias' voice from outside: "Are you tired, Nishihara-kun? Or do you have energy for a few more contracts?"
"The more money, the better. After all, my aunt's hospital bills will start coming in soon."
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