Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Deepening Bond
Vahn looked at Hellbringer Saber and swallowed hard. A Saint Grade was really Strong.
His own chest was scratched, but his saber was clean. He had won using barely a tenth of the Spirit Energy he’d wasted on the first beast.
Lilith approached the carcass, her veiled head shaking slightly.
"You were overconfident," she stated, "and you almost paid for it. However, you adjusted quickly and learned the temper of your weapon mid-fight. That is a trait of a true warrior."
She looked at the Hellbringer Saber, now dormant and simply black. "You see now? A Saint-grade weapon does not forgive inefficiency. But when mastered, it requires only a fraction of your effort to achieve utter destruction. Clean kill. Excellent resource management."
Vahn grinned, a tired but triumphant look in his eyes. He got his praise, albeit wrapped in a fresh criticism.
"Thank you, Instructor," he said, sheathing the Hellbringer.
He then looked over her head to check their Bonding Status.
Emotional Connection: 3.5% (↑1%)
Physical Connection: 0.5% (0.04%)
"Hum, her emotional connection rose by a whole 1%. But why didn’t it trigger any rewards?" he grumbled inwardly
But soon, he realized the rewards likely only came with major milestones, not incremental changes.
"Looks like I need to take it to the next level if I want to conquer her heart and body and get those juicy rewards." He grinned evilly, his mind already spinning with cunning, flirtatious plans to melt her cold heart.
Vahn’s training continued relentlessly for the next two hours. He faced several more Mortal and Earth Rank Beasts, steadily internalizing Lilith’s lesson. With each clash, his experience soared, and his energy control increased further.
He learned to kill swiftly, relying on the refined cutting power of the Hellbringer Saber and his superior Agility rather than costly elemental Arts. The Saint-grade weapon, once a hungry burden, now felt like a perfectly balanced extension of his will, consuming only the bare minimum of Spirit Energy required for each flawless strike.
Soon, the Starless Forest lived up to its name. The oppressive, dark canopy swallowed the last vestiges of daylight, plunging the woods into a deep, velvety gloom.
Lilith led them to a small, protected clearing where Vahn quickly erected a simple, makeshift tent.
As darkness settled, Vahn, ignoring Lilith’s silent assessment, set about preparing their meal.
He pulled a generous cut of meat from a recent kill and recalled his Divine culinary abilities.
A moment later, a plume of rich, savory smoke, utterly unlike the usual scent of woodsmoke and decay, began to waft through the clearing. The aroma was complex and profound, a captivating blend of spices and perfectly rendered fat.
"Hey Lilith, do you want some?" he asked, looking at her back.
Lilith, who had been standing guard with her back to him, maintained her cold, emotionless posture.
"I do not require human food, Vahn. My cultivation provides sustenance. So do not waste your effort," she stated, her voice as flat as steel.
But as the Delicious Aroma of the expertly prepared, sizzling meat reached her, her head subtly tilted. She remained motionless for another moment, fighting an internal battle, before finally letting out an almost inaudible sigh of concession.
"This smell... is so distracting," she conceded, turning slightly. She then stepped closer to the small fire and the meal Vahn had laid out.
"Fine. Since you insist, I will try some to appreciate your effort."
Saying that, Lilith took a piece of the perfectly cooked meat.
Vahn found her tsundure personality quite adorable. He watched with anticipation as she brought it to her veiled lips, wondering if she would even remove the shadow to eat once.
She didn’t. The shadowy veil simply receded momentarily around her mouth, and she took a bite.
As soon she did, her expression instantly changed. The cold calculation melted away, replaced by an unmistakable look of pure enjoyment. Her lips, the only part visible, parted slightly, and her movements became less stiff, entirely focused on savoring the complex flavors.
She ate steadily, unconsciously letting the true, unguarded emotion of pleasure wash over her whole body, something Vahn had never witnessed before.
He smiled softly, feeling a genuine warmth that had nothing to do with cultivation. He didn’t interrupt, simply enjoying the sight of the ruthless Saintess of Darkness being conquered by a good meal.
It was only when she looked up and caught Vahn seeing her eating with such unmasked delight that she snapped back to awareness.
A dark red blush instantly spread across the upper portion of her veiled face, visible even through the shadows. It was a reaction of acute embarrassment and vulnerability.
She quickly finished the bite.
"It is merely adequate," she lied instantly, her voice sharp and attempting to reclaim its authority. "You are easily distracted by frivolous things, Vahn. Focus on your training, or you will be devoured by the creatures in this forest, regardless of the quality of your cooking."
With that sharp remark, she instantly continued to act as emotionless as before, turning her back to him and standing guard.
But something clearly changed. The stiffness was forced, and the silence now held a new, fragile layer of shared, private acknowledgment. The cold fortress of her heart had a tiny new breach.
Vahn chuckled quietly, picking up his own portion. He didn’t press the issue. He had seen enough.
Emotional Connection: 10.0% (↑6.5%)
[ Rewards Gained: Darkness Affinity +100%, Curse Monarch’s Halo ]
[ Curse Monarch’s Halo: No curse in existence shall harm the blessed one ]
Vahn’s lips curled with satisfaction. His hard work had paid off.
"With the Curse Monarch’s Halo, no curse can harm me.." he muttered inwardly, feeling an extra layer of security.
Moreover, he was getting a step closer to her heart.
Still, this wasn’t enough.
He had a long night ahead, and a cunning plan to hatch.
--
Vahn finished his meal, the warmth and energy of the divine cooking settling his core. He then turned his full attention to Lilith, who was standing rigid guard, fighting hard to maintain her detached façade.
He didn’t choose to rest or flirt; he chose to focus on the next level of training.
"Instructor," Vahn began, his voice serious. "I need an advantage for the packs of Venomous Earthworms waiting for us. Speed and a sharp blade are not enough against coordinated attacks, I need to know where they are before they strike."
He took a respectful step closer. "My current perception is based on my basic physical senses. If you want me to be strong enough to challenge your mother’s system, I need your help to develop my Spirit Sense rapidly."
Vahn then made his bold request, tapping into the newly established trust between them.
"I am asking for your direct assistance. The fastest way for me to learn the true use of Spirit Sense is to experience someone’s who had already developed theirs. For example: You. I need you to share your Spirit Sense with me."
Lilith stood motionless even after hearing his sincere request. Her powerful, Saint-level Spirit Sense was a vast, sprawling ocean compared to Vahn’s empty pond. Sharing it would grant him an immense, instantaneous insight into combat awareness.
"That is impossible," Lilith stated, the finality in her tone wavering only slightly.
"Impossible, or uncomfortable?" Vahn countered gently. "I am aware that to share a deep, fundamental aspect of one’s technique like that, we would have to establish a physical connection. Our cores must be aligned, and our auras intertwined."
Hearing his shameless words, Lilith became visibly tense. The interaction with Vahn was slowly dragging her into unknown territory.
And she couldn’t tell whether that was going to end in something good—or something disastrous.