The initial explosion, while it was a close call, killed neither the deathmonger nor Noboru.
The smoke, which had fully engulfed both, filled their lungs and made it difficult to breathe. At the same time, the pressure wave following the explosion caused Noboru to stumble and almost be blown away. Because he was used to such pressure waves, the deathmonger stood there, unfazed.
Noboru remained completely silent as he stood in the smoke so that the deathmonger would think he had died.
It went perfectly and the deathmonger soon walked around in the smoke, a joyful and relieved expression on his face. He had let his guard down.
Noboru was in the perfect position to land a decisive strike now. If he could spot and strike faster than the deathmonger could realize that he was still alive, then he would surely win.
"Now now, don't hide from me. Let me claim my trophy already."
The deathmonger spoke in a mocking and victorious tone as he searched for Noboru's body.
A smirk was forming on his cheeks as he heard the tone the deathmonger was using. It was so very ironic, but it caused him to pity the deathmonger slightly as well.
How disappointing and soul-crushing it must be to lose to someone thought to be far below yourself.
Noboru calmed his rapidly beating heart and his aggravated breathing. He focused on his essence, and then he did it. Dark mist flooded the space between each of his cells. It served the purpose of enhancing his body's abilities. Strength, speed, endurance, agility, durability; all of these would be enhanced greatly now.
He had always considered those who used merely one fighting style pathetic, and yet, it was considered the norm and to be expected.
This, combined with the fact that he had only used a summoning fighting style until now, made him sure that the deathmonger would not be able to anticipate his newly acquired style.
Self-augmentation.
All of these surprise factors made it impossible for him to fail. He just couldn't. Even if he died, he would not stop attacking. His body, mind and soul wouldn't allow him to ever stop. He must win, and so he would.
Before long, the deathmonger walked close by. He was unable to even register that Noboru was still alive in time.
Not a single second was wasted afore Noboru dashed at the deathmonger, using all of his available essence in one singular blow.
A moment passed, and the smoke cleared as the raging battle finally ended.
The deathmonger was surprised, shocked and afraid as he gazed down at Noboru and at his chest.
His hand had pierced completely through the deathmonger's chest and ripped his heart out.
He remained in this position with his hand lodged deep in his opponent's chest, clutching the still-beating heart tightly.
"Why the surprised face? Did you believe you ever stood a chance?"
His entire demeanor was calm and gelid, rid of any troubled or aggravated emotion. He spoke as if his victory had been decided the moment his opponent first attacked.
The deathmonger's surprised and afraid expression was quickly replaced. He smiled peacefully all of a sudden. It was completely contrary to how he should react given his body's current state.
"Thank you, Noboru. I thought you'd turn out like all the others I've slaughtered. I was blessed to finally meet someone worth my time and killing intent. I have been afraid of dying from old age or some disease my whole life. I can't imagine a more fitting and beautiful way to die for myself other than at the hands of someone stronger than me."
His words came out weak and forced, his skin was pale, and he slowly started to drop onto his knees due to exhaustion and his rapid approach towards death.
Noboru pulled his hand out of the deathmonger's chest, still holding onto his beating heart, with a sickening sound. He didn't care about the man's words or feelings at all. He would die soon either way. Nothing he said or did mattered to Noboru anymore. Nothing other than a single piece of valuable information.
He squeezed his heart until it was flat and stopped beating at once. All the remaining blood inside of it splattered onto Noboru and his clothes, tainting them red.
Because Noboru had removed his hand from the deathmonger's wound, it started bleeding profusely. The blood ran down his chest and formed a puddle beneath him in mere seconds. The odor of blood filled the air and both Noboru's and the deathmonger's nostrils.
"If you are so content and grateful, then surely, it would be no issue to give me a single bit of information, right?"
Noboru smiled mischievously and with satisfaction written all over his face, as he spoke to the deathmonger.
"Haha… whatever kind of information I give won't have an impact on my life anymore, so it doesn't matter. Sure. I'll aid you. You, as my killer, have earned at least this."
"Good. Where is your soul located?"
"Wha-… I see. Now I get it. It's in my left knee."
Noboru jabbed his hand into the dying man's knee without hesitation, piercing it and ripping the deathmonger's soul out brutally. He flinched slightly, and his face contorted in pain for a moment before the man returned to a more peaceful and docile demeanor.
"Thank you. Do you have any last words, deathmonger?"
"No. None."
"I see. I shall go now. You earned a peaceful death. Goodbye."
The deathmonger became fully unresponsive shortly after.
Noboru did it. He had slain a rank 4 Enlightened as a rank 1.
He hadn't removed the deathmonger's soul to ensure his death, and to incapacitate him further. Instead, he did it so that he could absorb it. Now that the deathmonger had died, his soul was merely a source of rank 4 essence, waiting to be absorbed by a power-hungry Enlightened such as Noboru.
It took merely a few seconds until the entire soul was consumed. His body was overflowing with rank 4 essence to the point that he couldn't keep it in any longer. He had to use it somehow. Either he could release it, discard it by using his primary element in an excessive and rapid manner, or he could use it to cultivate.
The first two were processes that require the will of the Enlightened. The third did not. Since Noboru didn't plan on simply wasting this essence, his body was forced to utilize it for his cultivation.
This process would be slow and happen over multiple hours, meaning that he had no reason to worry about his soul breaking now.
He soon went over to Yori, who was passed out on the ground just like before. He was in no grave danger, and Noboru, if anything, was annoyed at how useless he was.
"I always thought a rank 3 would prove more useful than a rank 1…"
He picked his unconscious body up from the ground as he muttered these annoyed words.
He could easily continue to destroy the jade palace, but he believed it to be unnecessary. The rest would surely do the trick. Taking Yori back to the first stronghold and ensuring his safety would be a far wiser choice.