Mexus vanished from his spot, reappearing moments later from the shadow of the trees. Taro watched him emerge.
"I didn't expect you to devise a solution so quickly," Mexus said, his voice laced with a new respect. "Nor to gain two abilities in the process."
Suddenly, Mexus's expression shifted to alarm. He leapt backward, putting a significant distance between them but still close enough to be heard. "Control that thing, Taro!" he called out, his urgency now tempered with caution.
Taro looked down at himself, confused. "Huh?"
"You're absorbing power from everything around you. Even the air. It's nearly undetectable—I couldn't tell until a significant amount of my own energy just... vanished."
"I see." Taro closed his eyes, concentrating. The invisible field around him shrank until it was a tight coil against his skin. Mexus felt the pressure lift and approached cautiously, a sobering thought crossing his mind: Energy absorption is nigh impossible for Dremapols. Those who can manage it can't do it so effortlessly. But he... it feels like he's doing it on a conceptual level.
Mexus quickly hurled three more orbs at Taro. "If one orb is barely doing jack shit, then three should start doing the trick."
Taro caught them. "I see. Thank you." He wondered, though—the way he'd taken the Nightdax technique felt less like theft and more like consumption. He had devoured its very nature and made it his own.
"Wait," Taro called out. Mexus halted. "I was wondering if, every three hours, you could summon seven different species of Nightdax."
"Huh Why is that?" Mexus asked, intrigued.
Taro smiled wryly. "The ones you gave me before were weak. The more, the merrier, right?"
A slow, evil smile spread across Mexus's face. "It's going to be ten."
Taro's smile vanished. "Excuse me?"
"Ten strong species," Mexus continued, his grin widening. "And I'll ensure each one is formidable in its own right."
Taro wasn't sure how to feel. It was a good opportunity, but... ten?
"Don't worry," Mexus added. "It'll be every seven hours. Wouldn't want it to be too overwhelming."
Taro let out a sigh of relief, which was immediately cut short as the Nightdax appeared. Not ten individuals, but seven of each species.
Taro's shock melted into a smile of understanding. "I know the kind of person you are. If it weren't something like this, I'd think you were an imposter."
Mexus chuckled. "I'm glad we understand each other. Try not to die." He waved and disappeared into the trees.
Taro chuckled too, turning to face the horde. "Of course... but—" The Nightdax sprang into action. "—this might actually be overwhelming."
[Taro's internal monologue]
The training was brutal. Every seven hours, Mexus would sometimes add another orb, ensuring the pressure never let up. I can't say it was all fun and games; I almost lost my life more times than I can count. The Nightdax were no pushovers. But I made the most of my time—or at least, that's how it seemed until the 20th day.
[20th Day]
Taro emerged from his shack and headed to his training spot, finding Mexus already waiting.
"Oh, just in time!" Taro exclaimed. "So, my orbs and Nightdax?" He looked around, wondering why they weren't already there.
"Taro," Mexus said, his tone laid back but serious. "You need more practical experience."
Taro raised a brow. "Huh?"
Suddenly a figure dropped from the high branches, landing without a sound. The woman pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose, her gaze analytical and cold. Taro knew her.
"Wait, I've seen you before. You're... Kazuishi?"
"That's Rank Night Crusade, Kazuishi," she said, her voice like ice. "Remember it."
"Night Crusade?" Taro echoed, looking to Mexus for explanation.
Mexus explained. "They're about three ranks below a Drenor."
"I see." Taro's eyes narrowed. "And I assume she's here to test my power, like how Fistman tested my physical stats?"
Kazuishi's clinical demeanor cracked. "did you just say Fistman? The Fistman personally tested you?"
Kazuishi adjusted her glasses, a new wariness in her eyes. "You think Drenor has trainees everywhere? Tch." She settled into a combat stance. "Taro, I don't know what you've been doing these last twenty days, but it's time to put you in your place let us see....what 20 days of a Drenor's Personal Attention have given to you."
Taro felt a familiar, predatory smile tug at his lips—a mirror of the one Mexus so often wore. "Heh...well then...Try your best to keep up."