Swish—
Once I broke through, there was no stopping after that. Ezekiel unleashed a chilling energy into Ether’s prayer without hesitation.
The realm of chill he cultivated through training in Ice Magic Technique extended forth.
“…The heat is fading. How is this possible?”
The 1st Princess Ether muttered.
“It’s like… My teacher’s chill was running away to every corner of my body in fear, suggesting it’s stronger than the Sun Elixir drops?”
Her voice was laced with disbelief.
Ezekiel focused with all his might. He had no choice; if he let his mind wander for even a moment, he felt like his brain would burn up from the heat of the Sun Elixir drops.
Meanwhile, Ether’s energy was on a whole other level.
Not only was it vast, but the speed at which she manipulated her energy was astonishing. It was hard to believe she was human, having already reached the realm of the superhuman.
‘With energy honed so finely, her power and recovery must be insane.’
Ezekiel truly understood why Ether could endure so much pain from the flames of the Sun Elixir.
Having not lost many battles himself, he still found Ether’s energy wider than his own. Her title of Goddess of War was well-deserved.
Suddenly, a realization struck Ezekiel.
‘So this is how energy expands. Perhaps I could apply this to myself as well.’
Ether’s body was an excellent textbook.
Even amid the rush, he grasped the opportunity to grow. This realization alone was significant, but it was not the end. Ether’s body was no different from an Imperial Treasury.
‘The principle.’
He combined her incredible body with his keen observation.
Ezekiel discovered multiple traces on Ether’s body. They were the way the 1st Princess manipulated her energy to absorb the Sun Elixir drops.
‘Wait, this method…’
Calculating instinctively, he arrived at a bright idea, like a light bulb turning on.
The answer to digesting the Sun Elixir was here.
‘What if I apply this flow of energy to my chill?’
There was no need to go through Ether. Ezekiel could potentially digest the Sun Elixir drops with his chill alone.
Then Ether wouldn’t need to neutralize the Sun Elixir for him and wouldn’t have to suffer anymore. It was a highly valuable insight.
At that moment…
“Indeed, you are not a physician but my teacher.”
Ether muttered with a strangely amused smile.
“You’re studying my body even in the midst of this. Impressive.”
The 1st Princess was a warrior who manipulated energy countless times. She could undoubtedly feel Ezekiel observing her insides.
“Feel free to look as much as you want. It’s no problem.”
Ether was quick to ease Ezekiel’s concerns.
Reading another’s energy flow to learn without permission was a serious offense, often regarded as stealing, and many had lost their lives for it.
Yet the 1st Princess happily permitted it.
It showed how much she valued Ezekiel.
Just then, a shout rang out from the mansion’s front door.
—1st Princess, reveal yourself at once!
—A coward hides! No different from a little rat!
—Return my man, my man!
The corpses were shouting boisterously. The thick mana they possessed was as if they were yelling directly into Ezekiel’s ears.
Of course, 1st Princess Ether remained completely composed.
“You mentioned a goddess from the Demon Realm? I can’t fathom the reason for her jealousy. What connection does she have with my teacher?”
Ezekiel also had no idea yet.
—Your Highness, are you alright?!
—We will do everything we can to stop them!
The cries of warriors still echoed from the front door.
The sounds of weapons clashing and energy boosts were fierce. This meant the battle was intense.
Thud—! Thud—!
Finally, cracks began to form on the mansion’s front door.
Thud—! Thud—!
Just as it seemed it couldn’t withstand anymore and was about to break…
“Thank you, teacher.”
The 1st Princess softly whispered and slowly got up. She tidied the bandages wrapped around her upper body and elegantly draped her outer robe over her attire.
Clomp, clomp.
Then she began to walk toward the front door.
Her steps were very lively.
The warriors felt her energy first.
—This energy…!
—It’s the 1st Princess’s energy! Everyone, rally together!
Ezekiel also found himself staring in awe at Ether’s transformation. Ether made fists and released them.
“Hmm, I feel better than I expected. This refreshing feeling in my body is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced; perhaps I was meant to rely solely on you from the start.”
The 1st Princess smiled at Ezekiel.
“Thank you. Teacher, you’ve given me yet another lesson today. I shall repay you for this.”
As she said this, she tried to kiss Ezekiel’s forehead.
“….”
Ezekiel instinctively jerked backward to avoid it. Not out of dislike, but if he absorbed even a bit more of Ether’s heat, he felt like he’d explode.
Of course, the 1st Princess smiled at his reaction, looking completely relaxed, as if she had regained her composure as a Goddess of War.
Ether addressed the area beyond the front door.
“Messenger, I said just showing your face would be enough, right?”
Immediately, a frantic shout came back.
—That’s no longer sufficient! You must step in and wipe them out!
—More importantly, are you alright?
“I’m completely fine. I shall take the lead.”
Bang—!
With a crash, the 1st Princess burst through the front door.
Her restored self—not just restored but even stronger—turned the tide of battle in an instant.
Hope filled the faces of the warriors. The corpses hastening under the influence of the goddess of war’s necromancy staggered all at once.
No wonder.
The 1st Princess’s power was monstrous.
“Turn to ash, you vermin.”
Shh—!
Ether shot a light arrow, strung without the bow. Nevertheless, it acted almost like a spear.
Whoooosh—!
As she said, the corpses truly turned to ash.
It was exactly the opposite of mana energy. The fundamental difference was clear, especially as the essence had perfectly absorbed the Sun Elixir, leading to its tremendous strength.
It felt as if a miracle had descended in the name of Ether.
‘The 1st Princess’s health seems resolved now…’
Ezekiel felt a strong dizziness.
At the same time, a significant sense of unease surged within him. Originally filled only with chill, something warm was coursing around his heart now.
Suddenly, he recalled the Emperor’s words.
—Think of your body as a mansion; the Sun Elixir decides whether it’s a livable place before building its grounds.
Those words were right. Now, around Ezekiel’s heart, an elemental spirit in the shape of a girl resided.
‘You are… the Sun Elixir Spirit?’
The girl nodded impatiently. She still seemed to regard Ezekiel with a hint of caution.
‘You don’t like my body? Because it’s cold.’
The spirit silently nodded, then started to create a blazing home on her own. It seemed she was accepting the reality of needing to live here.
But…
Perhaps due to not being accustomed to the spirit’s warmth.
The dizziness intensified. Also, was it because he relaxed after confirming the 1st Princess’s recovery?
His eyes suddenly closed, and his body lost its balance.
“Inspector! Inspector?!”
Voices of the frantic messenger echoed.
“Inspector! Please hang in there!”
That voice grew fainter.
Soon, he completely lost consciousness.
How much time passed?
In a dark space, Ezekiel suddenly regained his consciousness. He found himself lying on an exceedingly spacious, soft bed.
It seemed like dawn, but he couldn’t tell how many days had passed.
“…Ugh.”
He tried to get up but failed.
He couldn’t even move a finger.
It was because he hadn’t fully digested the power of the Sun Elixir. The spirit had essentially built a mansion right next to his heart.
Just as Ezekiel was about to attempt to speak with the spirit…
“Finally, you’ve awakened.”
With a familiar voice, a soft hand brushed over Ezekiel’s face.
In the dark, he could barely see a figure.
However, he could distinctly make out the voluptuous and graceful curves of a woman. If there were a body formed to excite a man, this would be it.
The hair that brushed against Ezekiel’s upper body was exceedingly soft. It was incomparable to any silk.
Ezekiel quickly realized who was before him.
“…Ether?”
“Correct. So you do recognize me.”
Ether continued to caress Ezekiel’s face. Her touch was too soft for anyone who could be called a Goddess of War.
“I promised my teacher two things.”
A rather rare gentle voice followed.
“First, I said I would repay the favor.”
“That you did.”
“And…”
With a tap, a dim light turned on.
“….”
Ezekiel found himself blinking involuntarily. The 1st Princess was wearing nothing but underwear.
She had no coverings at all. Truly, just the underwear barely covering her breasts and behind was all there was.
‘…My body won’t move.’
While Ezekiel thought this, Ether climbed onto his abdomen, accompanied by a subtle smile.
“…If you catch me, I’ll squeeze you. Didn’t I say that?”
Finally.
Slowly.
Ether’s underwear strings fell loose and began to slide down.
“From now on, I shall do both things simultaneously.”
The overwhelming difference in power made resistance impossible.
