Evolution of the Ruined Heir
Chapter 276 - 276: Another Source

It said a lot of things that Malakai didn't bother paying attention to, but he still caught snippets of them.

About how they'd been searching for the essence. About how it was the source of all the universe's filth. About how getting rid of it would get rid of the filth in the universe and end an ongoing war.

Despite all of this incredibly important information, Malakai's focus never left his thoughts. His plan. Right now, there was nothing more important than escaping this situation alive.

Finally, the manipulator's voice cut through his thoughts.

"I'll consume you and offer you to my master and end all of this…" The darkness erupted from it, moving towards Malakai at a rapid pace.

Malakai felt every instinct in his body screaming at him to move. To escape. One touch from that fog of darkness, and he was gone.

Regardless, Malakai didn't move. His grip inside the pouch only tightened. He knew… if what he was about to do didn't work, it was all over.

'Please.'

It was the first time Malakai had ever prayed. He didn't know who he was praying to, only that he wanted this to work by any means.

As the darkness reached him, Malakai brought out his arm and threw the only grade three vita core in his possession into his mouth. The darkness engulfed him, and silence descended.

For a moment, nothing happened. Just the happy humming of the manipulator echoed across the forest as it waited to devour Malakai. It couldn't wait to see how pleased its master would be with this gift.

It would receive praise.

But as the seconds passed, in the midst of endless silence, the manipulator suddenly narrowed its eyes, focus shifting toward the darkness that engulfed Malakai. T#hi*s. is part% of a s+e$ri&es f@r!o^m! My V@ir^tua*l# L-ibr-ar#y+ Em-p^ire (M%V&L*EMPY&R^)&.

He had felt a resistance coming from within.

"This filth can't…" the manipulator muttered. It refused to believe that Malakai could have done this. He might have the life essence, yes, but he didn't possibly have enough vita to power it with.

Just as it began to brush off what it had felt, a powerful force slammed against its darkness.

Its eyes widened, locking onto the mass of swirling black. The darkness had begun to swell, cracks forming across its surface, and from those cracks, a bright green light radiated.

It looked like an ancient beast had been sealed within, and now, it wanted out.

The manipulator had barely begun to comprehend what was happening when a pillar of green erupted from the center of the darkness, piercing into the heavens like a holy lance.

The force of the explosion slammed into the manipulator like a tsunami crashing onto shore. It was hurled off its feet, sent spiraling through the air with violent momentum.

Twisting mid air, it managed to regain balance, skidding to a stop.

It turned, shocked eyes snapping toward the source of the explosion.

Malakai.

The boy who had been cloaked in darkness before was now a beacon of green.

Vita spilled from his body in such intense waves it engulfed the entire space. But more than that, the manipulator could feel it, feel how all the vita in the area now bent to his will.

Its expression darkened. "What is this power…"

As it struggled to understand, Malakai was in another world entirely.

He had used the power of the essence before, the most recent being during the Hunt, when he'd overwhelmed Aurelia for a moment. Then again in the forest, where he'd felt a sudden burst of strength that didn't last.

But this… this was different.

He had always wondered, if the life essence needed vita to function, what if he used Vitaeon?

They were a source of vita, would it work?

However, now, he had been forced to turn to the other option since he had no vitaeon left. Vita cores.

Until now, only death awaited those who swallowed a vita core. Their energy was too much. Unlike Vitaeon, one couldn't fully assimilate it. The core would consume them first.

But with the life essence… it seemed as though his case was different.

Malakai had swallowed the grade three vita core he'd been keeping. And right now, he was feeling a surge of power the likes of which he'd never felt before.

It didn't feel unstable. It didn't feel like it would slip from his grasp.

It felt like he'd been elevated.

One thing filled his body. Overwhelming power.

He felt above everything. Like he could do anything.

Malakai focused, and his perception expanded. His vita field, once limited to a mere 26 meter radius, surged outward, reaching distances he never thought possible. Over a kilometer of space lit up in his senses like a blank canvas.

Within it, he could see everything. Feel everything. The flow of vita. And compared to before, he could control it.

A twitch of his finger, and the boulder he'd been lodged in exploded into millions of fragments, each one tearing through the air like a bullet.

Malakai rose to his feet calmly, eyes landing on the manipulator.

The creature had moved, creating distance between them. It watched him cautiously, eyes narrowed.

"What are you?" it asked once more.

But Malakai didn't answer. He simply raised his arm, and the vita responded.

Countless sparks of green ignited in the air. Then, one by one, glowing spears of vita formed, each pointed directly at the creature.

At that moment, Malakai looked like a god commanding an army.

His arm dropped before the manipulator could blink.

The spears screamed forward, tearing through the air with terrifying speed.

The manipulator's expression changed violently. It threw its arm out, and a thick fog of darkness erupted around it like a barrier.

The spears hit.

An explosion ripped through the forest, engulfing everything.

A thick haze filled the air, obscuring all vision. But within it, the manipulator's thoughts spun faster than ever.

Words couldn't describe the shock coursing through its mind. Malakai had almost broken through its darkness. He was stronger than it thought!

It was about to wonder how, when a chill shot down its spine.

'What?'

It turned sharply to the side, just in time to see a curved blade screaming toward its neck.

A moment later, two irises shone through the haze.

The manipulator's eyes flew wide.

It was Malakai.