God Ash: Remnants of the fallen.-Chapter 1102: Even Greater is Required.

Filling his lungs with the cool night wind, Cain slowly exhaled.

Then he opened his eyes.

Their depths were blacker than the surrounding darkness. Despite being black, they glowed with a dull, sinister red glare.

A thick, vicious aura slowly dropped out of him, coiling and rippling like dark tongues of fire.

Demon Matter was extremely volatile, so it was rather dangerous for it to mix with the Ki and mana in his body.

Or at least, it should have been.

In reality, the two energy sources seemed to compliment one another very well. Rather than devouring his Ki, it was more accurate for him to say his Ki bolstered his Demon Matter and made it more vibrant and yet, harsh.

Increasing the effectiveness of the two, was thus, rather simple.

By simply increasing the density and volume of both energies, he could, in essence, increase their effectiveness.

However, the nuances of handle such obscure, mystical elements was quite the chore, as not only was he playing in hot coals, he was also heading into uncharted territory.

He was well aware, that Demon Matter was a unique energy signature that was unique to him.

It would be more accurate to call it a mutation than anything else though.

He sucked in a deep breath,

Increasing the volume was not a big deal in the slightest. All he had to do, was use his Ki Plundering technique to gather Ki. As for Demon Matter, his reserves of it grew the stronger his body became.

The more of it he could endure, the more he would contain. A rather paradoxical phenomenon indeed.

Cain let his mind settle into a calm.

The night wind was silent.

Even the sound of his own blood flowing reached into his ears.

He emptied his lungs, and then filled them up again, doing so over and over until he could sense the energies raging like a storm in his very depths.

His body was like a vast container.

The contained was layered, and within these layers were five distinct energies.

His Ki, Demon Matter and normal energy were contained within the first layer.

They represented his manifestation on the physical plane.

The physical presence a creature could exert was largely tied to the physical energy it could exert on its surroundings.

A sort of "gravitational" pull, it one could call it that.

It had little to do, however, with physical proportions, although these characteristics did in fact influence physique. They were not one and the same.

His regular energy was in the form of his physical stats— strength, agility, a portion of perception, and even control, stamina, and his health pool.

These base stats could be bolstered by the two other physical energy sources.

These energies existed in the container in dynamic ways, with the most predominant one simply being scattered throughout relatively evenly.

Circulating through his body thanks to the Nirvanic Circle Veins of the Death Goddess, his Ki and Demon Matter were like conduits that could transfer and transform his abundant energy much more efficiently, making his physical presence, his "gravitas", much more potent.

The alternative to increasing his current power, was to increase his base stats directly. And while that was sure to bring a boost, the multiplying factor, was not his physical pressure, but the energy that could amplify it.

’In other words, refining my physique and increasing my stats should be hand in hand with growing the other two.’

That, was the secret to his growth.

Once he was done with his breathing exercise, Cain began channeling his Ki Plundering technique.

Everything that existed within the universe had vital energy.

It was a strange, ever present force that existed in everything, everywhere, all at once.

The force binding the particles of a structure. The force that created the wind, and that churned the ocean.

The forces that hung the stars and the moon in the everlasting void, and the energy the heat of the sun brought.

It was all there. That was vital energy.

But compared to Devils and Mutant Creatures, and Humans, all these things were more of phenomena and objects, than living vessels.

The energy could not be interpreted the same way.

However, it was the same thing. And with Ki Plundering techniques, all manner of living beings, could in essence, steal and plunder this energy that is existed in everything, everywhere, all at once, making it their own.

Most beasts could do this so naturally, their Ki becomes completely ingrained into their base physical presence, allowing for a moluch more robust physical and starting potential compared to Humans.

By Plundering the abundance of the heavens and everything beneath them, one could in essence, transcend their physical body, and become a literal god.

As he sucked in every deep breath, Cain felt the energy violently chrin in his body.

His Nexus of Ki revolved and rotated, pulling in more and more of that vital energy.

At the same time, he cultivated the {Sunflame Body Tempering Technique} with the {Eternal Sunfire}.

As he sucked in the energy of the very world, he expelled its impurities. Like metal being heated until all the impurities were burned away.

The more heat he absorbed, the more heat flexible he became, and the more heat he could take.

By increasing the strength and size of the vessel, he was increasing the potential volume of energy he could store.

That was the magical nature of the {Sunflame Body Tempering Technique}.

The ability to increase his base potential— the very roots of his "gravitas".

The air around him became so hot, it felt like the world was boiling over.

On the surface of his body, a dull golden flame lit up.

Wisps of steam rose off his body as his sweat evaporated before the night wind could get to it.

A long time had passed.

Cain opened his eyes and let out a sigh,

’Morning is coming. I should get some sleep.’

A terrible scent hit him, forcing his face to scrunch up,

’But first, I have to take a damn bath!’