[With that, the human is surely dead. Now it’s ti to extract his soul...]
The machine concluded, shifting its gaze towards the frenzied Monarch.
It had certainly gotten lucky, with the aliens being so arrogant that they didn’t attack in sync.
However, that still didn’t change the fact that its reserves of spiritual energy were running dry. The second battle was certainly going to prove more troubleso.
Though it remained unfazed, it lunged at the Monarch with ferocity.
While the colossal clash between the two towering behemoths was underway, Michael’s body lay on the lifeless remains of the Monarch, his lips still curled into a smile.
Earlier, after experiencing being hit by the robot for the first ti, he had experinted with Psychokinesis, coating his body in the energy, making his movents faster and easier.
As he lay there, his fractured heart too weak to form a beat, a thought crept up in his mind.
What if he went deeper?
Not just using Psychokinesis to move his body but to control the flow of his blood, bypassing the need for a heart altogether. With the few seconds of life he had left, he did just that. It proved tougher than he expected, but he managed to keep himself sowhat stable, his blood still coursing through his veins and the fractured state of his skull barely held together.
A desperate last act that wouldn’t buy him more than a few seconds, with his energy soon to disappear.
That would have been the case... If he hadn’t masterfully landed on the lifeless body of the Monarch.
Indeed, before the punch had been sent towards him, he had already aligned his position in such a way that should the worst happen, he would be sent towards the free source of spiritual energy.
[You are in an area with a staggeringly high concentration of spiritual energy. 50,000% cultivation speed applied.]
[Spirit Surge takes effect.]
[You have consud spiritual energy: 2400 Spirit]
[You have consud spiritual energy: 2400 Spirit]
[You have consud spiritual energy: 2400 Spirit]
Reaching speeds of cultivation that most would have killed for, Michael absorbed the energy around him greedily. The power that surged in his body was not only tis higher than what he used to keep the Psychokinesis technique working, but it also started to nd his body and advance his spirit.
As long as nothing interrupted him, he was bound to reach the Grandmaster realm, powering him up imnsely.
’With the machine and Monarch fighting each other, nothing would be foolish enough to get near .’
Michael thought, his vision slowly fading. Even if his injuries were being healed, that didn’t an his body was over the shock. He was bound to lose consciousness for a minute or two while his mind recovered.
Fortunately he didn’t need to be conscious to keep cultivating, since he had that much experience in it.
’That reminds...’ His lips slowly relaxed.
’It is the sa as that ti...’ He realized grimly.
First it was his hearing, then his sense of touch, then his ability to sll, and finally his vision went black.
’Am I... going to have another nightmare of the distant past?’ A quiet wonder settled in.
’So be it. I have grown accustod to them by now anyway. All they can do is remind why I keep on moving.’
"..."
"..."
"..."
GASP!
Abruptly Michael rose, his eyes springing open, an agonizing wave passing through his body, caused by the irregular beating of his heart.
Massaging his face with a groan, he observed his surroundings.
Lying on a king-sized bed, the only thing that obscured his naked body was the white silky sheet lying on the bed. Gentle sunlight made its way from the large window in the bedroom, marking the start of a new dawn.
’I am safe...’ He let out a sigh in an attempt to calm down his emotions.
"Honey?"
For a mont he was taken by surprise by the soothing voice that ca from his side. Shifting his gaze, he glanced at the woman that lay beside him.
A peerless face, flawless in every detail. Hair spilled across the bed like a crimson waterfall, so vivid it surpassed the intensity of lava. Eyes blazed a shade darker than blood, radiating both gentle comfort and rciless authority. Smooth skin peeked from beneath the sheets, revealing just enough of its alluring nature to captivate all life that exists.
In a graceful motion she stretched gently, bringing her hands above her head, before slowly rising into a sitting position.
"Nicole..." Michael murmured, montarily smitten.
Not missing his loss of words, a mischievous smile tugged her lips. Slowly tracing her finger over his spine, she sent shivers to course through it.
"Like what you see, huh?" She teased, her gaze effortlessly seeing past his facade. "Why did you rise so abruptly? Is sothing wrong?"
With a shake of his head, Michael glanced in front of him. "Nothing, just the usual nightmares."
"Hoh?" Nicole arched an eyebrow. "Could this perhaps be about last night?"
With a chuckle, Michael shook his head, signaling she was off by a lot.
Nicole giggled charmingly.
"Silly , you are right, there is no way that could be a nightmare... Co on, don’t leave guessing and just tell ."
A dejected sigh escaped his lips.
"It was about my family. With unable to prevent their deaths, sotis it makes wonder what the point of it all is..."
His eyes widened a heartbeat later as he elaborated.
"But please don’t think about it. You and the Sacred Order have given far more than I deserve already. I don’t have the right to trouble you with my state of mind."
"You dummy." With a frown Nicole flicked his forehead.
"Honestly, aside from your... questionable naming sense, I can think of only one flaw about you. Occasionally you can be denser than a pile of rocks."
Seeing him raise an eyebrow, she elaborated.
"Do you really believe you don’t deserve anything? Besides, even if you were in debt to the Sacred Order, which you aren’t, it wouldn’t an a thing. We are in this together, every problem of yours is mine as well."
A faint smile spread across his face. "Alright, I will try to be less dense in the future... As for the naming thing, sadly I fear there is no cure for that."
With a laugh Nicole glanced at the ceiling.
"For nightmares, the most effective solution I’ve found is to keep your mind occupied with sothing else, which makes you forget about them entirely."
Michael didn’t refute the idea. "It sounds plausible... But it doesn’t seem to work on . The war with the aliens is still ongoing, yet here I am still plagued by nightmares."
"Hmm..."
Nicole humd pleasingly, putting a finger over her delicate lips. A few seconds later her eyes flashed a deeper hue of crimson in realization.
"I was planning to save this for later, but... I guess today is as good a day as any."
Wrapping one hand over his head gently, she whispered into his ear.
"Guess what..." She smiled, gently guiding his hand towards her warm abdon. "You are going to be a father."
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