Heaven Breaker: SSS Rank Tiger Evolution-Chapter 43: Humility and Kindness

"His name?" Raiden said with a serious expression. "He is the great Celestial Devourer, the one Higher than the Highest—the Supreme who wears his hunts upon his fur and threatens to bring the world to an end. The founding deity of Axel: Charia, the Cosmic Tiger."

Raiden sighed as he looked at that single tooth.

"This is one of the few remnants I have of a past so ancient that I sometimes wonder whether it truly existed, or if it is nothing more than the illusions of a senile old man."

"And what was that past like?" I asked.

"Glorious. Tigers like us were spread across the entire land, living in plenty and abundance, revered as gods among men," he said with an amused laugh. "I remember it well. Humans—those small, weak beings—would approach us uncertain, unsure whether they should even try to fight us for resources or simply accept their deaths. Yet they were funny and beautiful enough that we drew close to them."

Raiden then looked at Laxus with tenderness, a warm smile forming on his lips.

"What a foolish idea it was of mine—to teach legendary techniques to those hairless monkeys," he laughed as he placed the tooth back on its pedestal. "But at least I wasn’t the only fool who came to love them. In fact, I think that if there is any reason for the ruin of our kingdom, it was our great, foolish hearts."

Raiden continued laughing, nostalgia filling his chest.

"Forgive us, Grand Master. We never deserved everything you gave us over the generations, and we can never repay such grace," Laxus said, lowering his head in reverence. Raiden merely waved it off.

"It’s all right. The one who lost himself to his emotions from the very beginning was me, and no one else," Raiden sighed. "I’ll need some time... Sun Eater’s fangs are right over there. Just do what you came here to do."

We nodded, soon finding another pedestal—this one holding a terrifying replica of a beast.

Where Charia had left only a single fang, Sun Eater had a complete model: hide, bones, teeth, eyes, muscles—possibly even organs.

A perfect recreation, unlike anything else in the vault.

Another testament to countless clashes and their eternal enmity.

"If you had come later, we could have given you his entire body for your evolution," Laxus said. "However, I fear you can’t absorb more than a single fang at the moment."

"Don’t worry about that..." I said as he tore out the largest fang from Sun Eater’s model, fresh blood spilling out with it.

’Truly an identical model to the real thing.’

Laxus handed it to me, and I bit down, the power of that fang resonating throughout my entire being.

Slowly, I closed my eyes, feeling that power vibrating in harmony with mine—and a third one.

’No... it’s not just a third,’ I realized, sensing deeper. ’There seems to be even more—something they haven’t noticed yet.’

"How do I absorb it?" I asked, uncertain how to proceed.

"Just initiate the process and it should be absorbed naturally... though it may be a little different from usual."

I nodded, expecting as much.

Taking a deep breath, I asked the system to begin the evolution.

[ Consume Aura (100 → 0) and Sun Eater’s Fang to evolve your Fangs from [Wild] to [Ferocious (Mythological)]? ]

[ Warning! This evolution borders on higher entities that may become aware of you. Do not proceed unless you are certain they are not hostile. ]

’I have no enemies. I doubt anyone means me harm,’ I thought before continuing.

[ Mutation in progress. ]

[ Loss of consciousness will result in death. ]

[ Interference will result in damage of uncertain extent. ]

[ I wish you luck Kai as this might be our end. ]

"What?"

As usual, my aura stirred and slowly touched every part of my body.

"But what—?"

My aura suddenly dispersed into the surroundings. My eyes widened as I felt the space around me grow colder and colder.

When I looked ahead, there was nothing but an omnipresent, empty starry sky.

The fang floated before me, its power resonating outward into infinite nothingness.

Then, two golden eyes gazed at me from afar, their owner no more than a shadow on the horizon.

"Who are you, to take my power as your own?" the voice asked, irritated.

’That must be Sun Eater,’ I thought. ’He shouldn’t be hostile to one of his own kind.’

"A tiger named Kai," I replied. "I admire your power and wish to claim it. If you like, I can meet you later so we may get to know each other—we aren’t that far apart, after all."

"A tiger named Kai, you say... I recall hearing something about you. And I believe I recognize you," he laughed softly. "Interesting how far you’ve come in such a short time. I remember seeing you as a cub—when you were born and as you grew. You were amusing to watch on your bold journey toward power."

He seemed satisfied, while my bones trembled.

’He knew me before I ever knew him.’

"I’m tempted to take you as my disciple. I will grant you this power, but I recommend greater caution in the future. You never know who might be on the other side. After this, come find me in my territory. I’ll welcome you with a warm embrace, good food, and good drink."

"Where exactly?"

"Just enter it. No tiger enters my territory without my knowing. And of course, bring Raiden as well—the one who handed over my fang. I’d like to exchange a few words with him..."

"All right. I’ll do that."

Immediately, the fang before me reacted, its energy becoming calmer, more tranquil.

But Then...

The heavens trembled as a new connection formed.

[ Forgive our boldness, we come in peace. ]

’Why is the system reacting?’

Sun Eater snorted irritably.

"You came to say something too? I’d love to hear your grand words," he mocked.

’Who is he talking to?’ I shuddered under a new gaze.

Two eyes stared at me from the other side of the starry sky—or rather...

The sun and the moon gazed upon me together, with the cosmos trailing behind them.

Entire constellations lay behind those eyes—an entire universe staring down at me with overwhelming presence.

I trembled. My mind trembled. My soul trembled.

Blood poured from my seven orifices.

Instinctively, I knew—Charia was looking at me.

"So then, do you allow him to walk this path?" Sun Eater asked without the slightest respect.

Charia stared intently for several seconds—the most painful seconds of my life.

Then he simply closed his eyes and ignored me, without saying a single word.

I struggled to steady my breathing as sweat and blood streamed down my body.

[ Please don’t kill us. We humbly ask for just a little power. ]

"He agreed tacitly. Then you all have no objections either, correct?" Sun Eater shouted, as dozens of entities in the star-filled sky focused on me.

"Of course."

"Yes."

"Why not?"

Eyes opened briefly, scanned me, then closed once more.

"Excellent!" Sun Eater laughed, seeing that he alone continued to watch. "All have given permission. You may approach—do not be afraid."

[ I’m going, please be kind to me. ]

’Who is he talking to?’ I wondered as a bridge of light extended through the infinite void toward me.

An entity slowly walked along that bridge of light.

"We should get to know each other better later," it said. "But even so, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you face to face."

[ The system extends its greetings to the user. ]