Novel Full Chapter 220: Talk I
Chapter 220: Talk I
[Academy Forest – Deep Within – Night]
Damian’s axe rose and fell with mechanical precision, each strike cutting through thick tree trunks with enhanced strength that made the task almost trivial.
THWACK. THWACK. THWACK.
Sweat poured down his bare torso, muscles burning despite his enhanced physique, his breathing controlled but heavy.
Then he felt it – a presence that made even his C+ rank Aura tense with instinctive recognition of overwhelming power.
Headmaster Kaiser appeared beside him as though he’d always been standing there, his long white beard and hair tied in traditional knots, his ageless face showing mild amusement.
“So… you do understand that training is important. Good to see you’re not completely consumed by politics and organizational management.”
Damian didn’t pause his swinging, his voice flat.
“…I need guidance on the Abyssal Slaughter weapon art.”
Kaiser waved his hand dismissively.
“That can wait. First, release your Slaughter Intent. Show me how much you’ve developed it.”
Damian stopped mid-swing and released his Intent without hesitation.
The translucent flames erupted around his body – dark crimson mixed with black, writhing like living things, the mental pressure radiating outward with intensity that would make most awakeners instinctively retreat.
Kaiser observed silently, his ancient eyes tracking the Intent’s movement and density.
’It’s growing faster than I expected. Much faster. The portal experience accelerated his development significantly.’
“Do you actually understand what Slaughter Intent is? Not just how to use it, but what it fundamentally represents?”
Damian shook his head honestly.
“I know it manifests from killing. That it requires quantity and… something else. But the mechanics aren’t clear.”
Kaiser nodded, settling into teaching mode.
“In our world, tens of thousands of awakeners have killed hundreds or even thousands of enemies. Soldiers who’ve spent decades on battlefields. Executioners who’ve ended countless lives. Yet very few develop Slaughter Intent. Why?”
He didn’t wait for an answer.
“The common theory says people who enjoy killing, who immerse themselves in the act of taking life, eventually form the Intent. That the pleasure derived from murder creates the manifestation.”
His expression became distant, remembering.
“But I have a different theory. One based on personal experience rather than academic study.”
Damian listened without interrupting, recognizing genuine wisdom when offered.
“There was a time in my youth when I killed many enemies. Hundreds during campaigns. Thousands over years of warfare. Clean kills, efficient executions and necessary eliminations. But no Intent formed.”
Kaiser’s eyes showed something dark.
“Then one incident made killing personal. It involved my emotions – rage, grief and betrayal. So I stopped killing cleanly. I tortured my victims. Made their deaths cruel and prolonged. Let my emotions fuel the violence.”
His voice became quieter.
“I kept killing like that, and suddenly the Slaughter Intent manifested. When I looked at my victims’ corpses, I saw their fear, their helplessness and most importantly… their resentment.”
He looked directly at Damian.
“That’s when I formed my theory: Simple death amounts to nothing for Intent formation. But when the killer invokes the deepest negative emotions towards themselves in their victims before death – when fear and resentment and despair are maximized – that emotional residue manifests as Slaughter Intent.
Maybe that’s why in wars, not everyone develops Slaughter Intent. There is nothing personal involved there. Resentment is not particularly concentrated on their killers. It is just an idea I came up with.”
Understanding crashed through Damian’s mind.
’The terrorists I tortured. The Giants I devoured while they were still alive, feeling their terror as I consumed them. That’s why my Intent grew so dramatically.
It wasn’t just quantity. It was the emotional weight of those deaths. The resentment they carried toward me as they died.’
Kaiser continued.
“And maybe that’s why people say those who immerse themselves in killing develop Intent. Not because of enjoyment, but because emotional investment creates the conditions for manifestation.”
He gestured at Damian.
“Your biggest advantages are your mind and soul. Your Willpower is exceptionally strong for someone your age and rank. And you have this Slaughter Intent as well – two mental weapons most awakeners never develop at your age.”
His expression became slightly critical.
“But you focus almost exclusively on physical growth. Training your body, enhancing your attributes and developing physical weapon arts. So much so that you can’t even properly control your own strength.”
Damian frowned, defensive.
“What are you talking about? I’m in complete control.”
Kaiser sighed like a teacher facing a stubborn student.
“If a warrior with your exact physical attributes – your strength, speed, enhanced body from that Devourer art – fought against someone at the peak of B+ rank, they would slaughter that opponent in less than a single second… I have fought many Demons who focus on this.”
He let that sink in.
“They would have perfect control over their physical power alongside refined skills and techniques developed over years. You have raw capability without the refinement to maximize it.”
Damian’s mind immediately went to Vash, one of the Unnamed Four, whose bare-handed combat showed exactly that kind of control.
’I need to go see him soon…’
Kaiser’s voice became more instructional.
“Take advantage of what you’re naturally best at. Your Willpower is your greatest asset. You have been using it solely to guide your Aura in your body to increase your ranks faster.
You should learn to weaponize your Slaughter Intent alongside your Will directly. Not just as intimidation or weapon art enhancement, but as an actual killing technique.”
His ancient eyes gleamed.
“Humanity has only two centuries of data about being awakened. We’re still discovering fundamentals. There’s so much to explore and develop. We haven’t even scratched the surface of what’s possible.”
He gestured at himself.
“I found Slaughter Intent helpful for my weapon art, so I incorporated it there. But you have a creative mind – you developed an entire Devourer art from nothing. Use that creativity to explore what Intent can do beyond conventional applications.”
The words hit Damian like physical impacts, his mind exploding with possibilities.
’I’ve only used Intent for intimidation and powering Abyssal Slaughter. But what if I could weaponize it directly? Create skills or arts purely from Intent and Will? Mental attacks that bypass physical defenses?
What about combining Intent with telekinesis? With my Domain? What about…’
Doors he hadn’t known existed were suddenly thrown open, limitations he’d accepted as fundamental revealed as arbitrary.
“Master, for Abyssal Slaughter specifically – what are the next steps for advancement?”
Kaiser was silent for a long time, studying Damian with those ancient eyes that had seen two centuries of war and survival.
Finally, he spoke.
“I need to revise my assessment of your potential. Initially, I thought you were just an S-rank talent. Exceptional but ultimately limited. Someone who might reach S-rank at best before hitting your ceiling.”
His voice became serious.
“But nothing makes sense when it comes to you. Your achievements, your daring and your ability to break conventional limitations… So today I’m giving you different advice than I’d give normal disciples.”