Chhhh—chhhhh…!
"…?"
The faint sound of a train passing through and leaving the station drew Kaelis's attention.
He sat atop one of the city's highest rooftops—high enough to oversee the entire station below, fires flickering like distant stars.
At this moment, however, his focus was elsewhere. Suspended between his palms floated a translucent fragment: the metallic membrane that covers the heart of a Kabane.
Kaelis had spread his spirit across it, probing its structure, tracing every thread of its essence in silent concentration.
His ability, Sap of Swords, allowed him to summon blades of countless forms—each forged from different materials, infused with unique attributes.
But to call forth the sword of his choosing, he first had to understand it—its essence, its attribute, its material… or all of these combined.
Only through study and comprehension could he replicate such creations perfectly—one to one.
There are two ways for him to approach this process.
The first is direct absorption—by drawing the material or sword into his soul, it is dismantled and analyzed down to its tiniest essence.
This method is incredibly fast, allowing him to gain far more insight than any teacher or explanation could provide, for the object's very essence is imprinted into his soul.
Though efficient and richly informative, this process is not without its drawbacks.
The second method is more deliberate.
By extending his spirit—or mental waves, or whatever term one prefers—he envelops the material or sword, probing it with his consciousness.
This process requires patience and precision, as he must delve deep within the object, studying, contemplating, and gradually uncovering its truth.
The more intricate the material or its attributes, the longer this method takes.
Yet, what it lacks in speed, it compensates for with a unique reward—the steady growth of his spiritual power, a benefit the first method does not offer.
The increase in his spiritual power allows his soul to expand, which in turn directly enhances his physical strength.
In a world largely devoid of substantial supernatural forces, he seized any opportunity to increase his power.
Though materials like the heart membrane of a Kabane were far from top-tier—certainly no match for Triad wood or holy stones—they were sturdier than mere bone and relatively straightforward to study…
•••
After an hour, Kaelis shifted his position and carefully placed the cracked membrane on the floor.
He had already studied it thoroughly, running numerous tests, and what he discovered was nothing short of astonishing.
Its hardness was remarkable—just shy of a regular diamond—strong enough to resist conventional bullets and ordinary piercing weapons.
Its toughness was equally impressive; unlike diamond, it wouldn't shatter easily, thanks to its flexible matrix.
The membrane also exhibited thermal resistance, likely enabling Kabane to endure extreme temperatures, along with a slow regenerative ability that could heal minor cracks over several days—probably drawing energy from the heart itself.
Thanks to its lattice structure, it was far lighter than steel of the same volume, though weight would pose no obstacle for him given his abilities.
Kaelis glanced down at the membrane once more—it now resembled little more than a pile of dust.
Though this world lacked overt supernatural elements, it was not entirely devoid of them.
And this fragment, he realized, held traces of something beyond the ordinary.
Beyond the expected physical traits—hardness, density, flexibility—there were subtle, almost mystical qualities woven into its structure.
Through his examination, he had identified two such properties. The first, what he termed Life Energy Conductivity. The second, Anti-Interference.
The latter allowed energy-based attacks or anything energy based to be partially repelled or absorbed, and even drew ambient energy from the surroundings—extending the lifespan of the Kabane by several years.
The former, Life Energy Conductivity, enabled the membrane to channel vital energy—what various cultures might call Chi, Prana, or Ki.
This meant the membrane was not merely armor; it was a conduit, circulating life essence to sustain the creature even through injuries that should have been fatal.
Though these traits were modest compared to the enchanted properties found in true magical worlds, they still raised compelling questions.
That curiosity led him to conduct a final test.
From the very first time he saw the Kabane, their nature had intrigued him.
They resembled demons more than zombies—beings steeped in malevolence rather than simple mindlessness.
So he wondered: how would this material react to holy energy?
After all, in most worlds—especially those inspired by old tales and anime—undead creatures carried an innate affinity toward darkness, often tied to necromancy.
By that logic, anything imbued with holiness or purification should trigger a violent reaction.
And so, Kaelis decided to put that theory to the test…
He had first placed a short holy sword beside the fragment, observing closely to see if it would react to a source of sanctified energy.
But there was nothing—no glow, no resistance, not even a flicker of response.
That silence confirmed his suspicion: the material wasn't magical in nature. Its corruption, he concluded, was biological, not supernatural.
So he moved on to the next test…
Grasping the sword, he drew its edge lightly across the membrane's surface.
This time, the reaction was immediate.
A faint hiss echoed through the air as the blade made contact—followed by a slow bloom of cracks spreading across the material.
The membrane blackened, burned from within, and within seconds, its structure collapsed entirely, crumbling into dust.
The results were clear.
The Kabane were not reanimated through sorcery or necromancy, but through a biological virus—a corruption of flesh and life rather than spirit.
The holy sword had only reacted upon contact, cleansing the corrupted matter directly, rather than sensing any inherent darkness from afar.
It was a small distinction, but one with clear implications.
Vrooom—
He extended his arm, focusing his intent. In his palm, a blade began to take shape—its form coalescing from swirling shadows and crimson light.
The sword's blade was a deep, lustrous black, streaked with veins of red that pulsed faintly, as though blood—or some sinister energy—flowed within.
Its hilt was intricately crafted, engraved with organic patterns and cryptic symbols that seemed to shift when viewed from different angles.
A corrupted sword.
Forged from the Kabane's membrane, yet augmented by the dark attribute: [Corruption].
Its power was twofold. A mere graze from its edge would infect the target, transforming them into a Kabane.
And thanks to its property of [Life Energy Conduction], the sword continuously nourished its wielder's life force—subtly extending their lifespan with every breath.
A weapon of decay and vitality, bound together in twisted harmony.
He smirked, admiring the blade as it pulsed faintly in his hand.
"Heh, sweet."
Chapter 5 end