Heaven Breaker: SSS Rank Tiger Evolution-Chapter 44: Endless malice

The goddess, whose the voice was used by the system, stood before me.

Inevitably, my eyes scanned the figure in front of me from head to toe, without restraint.

’This... this is strange—why?’

Thousands of questions rose to my throat, yet at the same time I found myself unable to say anything as dozens of other eyes also scrutinized her—these ones filled with tangible malice.

She swallowed hard, her breathing uneven and frightened, her eyes staring into the void and at whatever hid behind it before returning to me.

"I know you have questions, but please—there are too many people watching," she said. "During the evolution, we’ll have more time. So just this once, don’t question anything."

The sky trembled with more and more laughter, making her shiver.

"Don’t worry about us. It’s not like we’re going to hurt you," Sun Eater said with a laugh that clearly hid tens of thousands of sinister intentions.

"Only he can hear what I have to say," the goddess spoke in a trembling, fearful voice. "You ancient beings cannot know this—and you know very well why."

"What a shy little girl," a laugh echoed through the void.

"We’ve all been through this at some point, it’s nothing special. Don’t be shy," another one said.

The goddess clenched her teeth, then took a deep breath and focused on me.

"Let’s begin already," she said anxiously. "Please," she added.

I swallowed hard, ignoring everything I was seeing and hearing around me.

Everything here seemed to carry an extra layer of meaning that was unknown to me—and yet also forbidden to question.

"All right," I said. "Let’s get this over with." She nodded and knelt beside me.

Her appearance grew even clearer at such close distance. There was something about it that deeply unsettled me.

"Your mutation requires power above your current level, which is why I’m here," she said. "Your aura alone wouldn’t be enough to properly fuse and accommodate this fang. What we’re doing is almost like an extra evolution."

I nodded as she removed her white gloves and touched me with her bare hand.

My aura moved—startling me. I wasn’t guiding it. The goddess was.

Suddenly, my aura condensed several levels beyond what I could achieve with my current control. My mind immediately immersed itself in understanding how she was doing it, learning in the process.

If aura normally felt fluid like water, now it was like dense, heavy magma—barely moving, yet carrying far more power. And since it was infinite, more and more power accumulated exponentially.

At the same time, her body began to emit a glow that soon merged with my aura, and then with my body.

Slowly, that mixture of aura and energy spread throughout my entire body.

A frightening amount of time passed.

At last, she sighed.

Then she raised her hand toward Sun Eater’s fang, which immediately dissolved into light.

That single fang split into dozens of tiny, thin needles that instantly pierced my flesh.

The motion was painless thanks to her sublime control.

Even so, whispers grew louder and louder as I felt something new blooming within me, at an ever-deeper level.

Whispers upon whispers...

’I really am going to go insane one day,’ the goddess sighed, looking at me as if she could read my thoughts.

"Calm down and get used to the sensation," she said. "Sun Eater is a being of light and shadow—elements you haven’t yet come into contact with, but soon will."

I nodded, understanding what she meant.

Spirits of light and darkness.

They were more intense than the others, their whispers closer to screams—but still something I would be able to endure with time.

She took a deep breath before continuing.

"I made some major and minor adjustments. I’ll notify you once we leave here," she said, staring into the void as more and more laughter echoed at us.

"Understood," I said. "Just give me answers next time," I asked, my tone filled with desperation and pleading.

"I’ll do my best, but know that even I lack them," she bit her lower lip. "Everyone wants answers, but no one wants to give them. This world is unfair—always unfair."

"But..." She looked deeply into my eyes. "If you can at least obtain power, perhaps that injustice..."

"...won’t be so terrible."

She said that, and then the starry world collapsed. My head throbbed in pain as my blurred vision returned to the familiar vault.

Laxus looked at me with interest as I clenched my teeth, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

’It seems like time hasn’t passed here.’

[ Skill Acquired: [Living Shadow (Lv.1)] ]

[ Skill Acquired: [Flame Resistance (Lv.1)] ]

[ Spiritual Hearing 1 → 2 ]

[ Flame Resistance 1 → 2 ]

[ Bite 6 → 8 ]

’Living Shadow?’ I immediately questioned, focusing on my shadow.

At first glance, it looked normal... though perhaps—better to study it later.

"Did something happen, Mr. Kai?" Laxus asked. I merely snorted.

"Yes. Sun Eater saw everything from the front row and wants to meet with me and Raiden," I said bluntly.

Laxus rubbed his chin, pondering.

"That’s not something one hears every day. It makes me wonder what his intentions are. Still, Raiden can—and should—handle this matter on his own."

Gravis snorted beside us.

"Whatever it is, Master can wipe the floor with that bastard whenever he wants."

"Is that confidence well-founded?" I asked. Gravis and Laxus fell silent.

Footsteps echoed in the distance, drawing closer.

"No, it isn’t," Raiden said, arms crossed. "Whether it’s me or him, we can never say who would win in a confrontation."

I nodded, imagining that might be the case.

"I imagine he wants you as a disciple," Raiden said. "I think it would be a good idea to accept."

"Why do you think so?"

"You have the same power as him, and he can certainly teach you a great deal," Raiden sighed deeply. "It’s simply the obvious choice."

I laughed lightly.

"It’s obvious that nothing in this life comes without a price," I said still intoxicated by all the malice that Sun Eater and everyone else displayed. "I’m sure even this assistance will become a debt to be paid in the future."

Gravis immediately growled at my frank tone, veins bulging.

"Watch how you speak of the master! You—"

"Calm down a little." Raiden laughed gently, even a little hopeless, placing a hand on Gravis’s shoulder.

"You’re not entirely wrong, Kai. So far, both you and Gravis have proven to be excellent investments, and I believe the same is true for all your siblings... Still, business is business, and matters of the heart belong only to the heart. Knowing that, I ask you, Kai—did you come here for business, or guided by your emotions? And how do you know what drives me, or Sun Eater?"

"I don’t know," I admitted, "but I find it strange that both of you help us so readily. And I would like some honesty."

"You’re right... it is strange," Raiden said before turning away. "In any case, let’s leave this freezing basement. I urgently need a hot drink."

I sighed deeply as I followed him along with the others.

"Mr. Kai," Laxus called. "Today’s schedule is free so you may settle in and adapt to your mutation. If you wish, I can order the maids to take you to your room and prepare your bath. As well as serve you food and drink—and even warm your bed, if you desire."

My ears perked up at that last part, but I coughed dryly.

"I’d like to see my friend first," I said firmly. "I’ve been waiting for an opening for quite some time."

I sighed.

"I hope she’s all right."