Kaiser murmured to himself as he observed the faint energy burning quietly around his body.
Aura—a force originating from the life energy of a being.
The power system of this world was not a singular structure but rather a complex fusion of multiple systems.
Devils wield Demonic Power, a force that manipulates supernatural phenomena through manifested imagination. Angels and Fallen Angels utilize Light Power, which can be materialized into tangible energy. Then, there are magicians who invoke supernatural effects through spellcasting, and even Taoists who practice Senjutsu, making the range of abilities incredibly diverse.
Yet, regardless of the nature of these beings, they all possess a fundamental power derived from life itself.
That fundamental power is called Qi—or more precisely, Aura.
Unlike Demonic Power or Light Power, Aura possesses no direct destructive force. However, every living being inherently generates Aura.
By mastering this Aura, one can control the flow of life energy, unlocking superhuman potential.
Humans, too, possess Aura, and it is often used as fuel for Sacred Gears, allowing them to activate and manifest their abilities.
"However... my aura seems a little different."
Kaiser raised his hand and clenched it into a fist.
The next second, the Aura that had been burning subtly around him suddenly transformed into a torrent of blinding white light, surging outward like an explosive force.
Wrapped in this Aura, Kaiser could clearly feel his physical body strengthening—not just externally, but internally as well.
"This must be Touki."
Recalling the knowledge from the original story, Kaiser carefully analyzed his own power and finally identified it.
Touki—a specialized form of Aura.
Unlike ordinary Aura, Touki could only be awakened by those who had undergone harsh training and refined their martial prowess to its peak.
It allowed a person to project their boundless vitality and life force outward, transforming it into a visible energy layer.
This pure energy could reinforce both internal and external aspects of the body, enhancing one’s physical capabilities, increasing attack power, defense, and speed to superhuman levels.
"Though it’s different from Prana, its function is quite similar."
The most common use of Prana was defensive reinforcement, and it was remarkably effective in that role.
Even in unarmed combat, Prana could be directly converted into attack power, a technique that the Jie Long Seventh Institute’s martial artists excelled at.
Furthermore, with the right techniques, Prana could be modified to enhance various aspects of a fighter’s abilities.
This property closely resembled Touki, which was why, when Kaiser activated his Inherent Authority to switch power systems, his Prana seamlessly converted into Touki, continuously pouring out of his body.
"The quantity has decreased significantly, though... but it makes sense. Prana doesn’t directly strengthen the body, whereas Touki excels in that regard."
Kaiser quietly assessed his current state, trying to familiarize himself with his new power.
Under the influence of Inherent Authority, his Prana had been entirely converted into Touki—but the overall amount had diminished significantly.
This was an inevitable result of the power conversion process.
Since Inherent Authority transformed powers of equivalent strength, and Touki had additional benefits compared to Prana—specifically enhancing the physical body—it naturally required more energy to sustain.
When a weaker power system was converted into a stronger one, some loss was unavoidable.
Thus, Kaiser wasn’t surprised. Instead, he focused on controlling the Touki flowing through his body.
He experimented with using Touki to strengthen his physical body, then tried enhancing individual attributes like attack, defense, or speed—all of which he could manipulate as easily as breathing.
Whatever level of control he had over Prana, he could now exert the same mastery over Touki.
"Good thing I never recklessly pursued brute force. Every time I absorbed Manadyte or Urm-Manadyte, I always took the time to properly adapt before letting my power exceed my control."
Kaiser felt a sense of relief.
Had he not trained in controlling his powers meticulously, he might have struggled to manage this overwhelming Touki.
Indeed—even though his Touki was now reduced in volume compared to his Prana, it was still vast and overwhelmingly powerful.
This was undeniable proof that, after absorbing so many Urm-Manadytes, his Prana had grown tremendously.
"Right now, even if I don’t use any weapons, I should be able to defeat Ayato Amagiri in hand-to-hand combat, right?"
Kaiser made a rough estimate of his strength.
"If I wield Ser-Veresta or Gravisheath, my power should increase several times over."
"And if I use the True Longinus..."
The True Longinus was immensely powerful—almost absurdly so.
Just by holding it, he felt as if he could stand before gods without fear.
But ultimately, that was just a feeling. The real extent of its power could only be determined in actual battle.
The blinding white Touki surrounding him gradually dissipated, drawn back into his body.
Then, Kaiser summoned his spear and firmly grasped it in his hand.
As his fingers brushed against the spear’s shaft, Kaiser’s mind drifted into deep contemplation.
This spear’s power was not merely overwhelming—it held limitless potential.
If he wanted to fully unlock those possibilities and convert them into tangible strength, he needed to carefully plan and strategize.
Closing his eyes, Kaiser synchronized his mind with the spear, as though trying to communicate with it.
A profound silence filled the room.
Over the Next Few Days
Kaiser gradually settled into Kuoh Town while exploring the city.
Kuoh Town was neither too big nor too small—it was impossible to explore every corner in just a few days, at least not without using supernatural abilities.
But Kaiser had no such intention.
Instead, he played the role of an ordinary tourist—wandering around, taking in the sights, even indulging in shopping for clothes and snacks.
His days passed in relative comfort.
During the day, he roamed the town, familiarizing himself with the streets and landmarks. At night, he returned to his hotel room, meditating with the True Longinus, delving deeper into its mysteries.
A few days later, Kaiser made a surprising discovery.
The watchful gazes that had been tailing him didn’t increase—instead, they had decreased.
It almost felt as if someone in the shadows was handling things for him, ensuring that he remained undisturbed.
Kaiser furrowed his brows in confusion.
As far as he knew, ever since he escaped from the Church, he had been wandering alone, never forming any connections.
Logically speaking, no one should be protecting him.
"Could it be the Church?"
Kaiser considered the possibility.
Judging by his Life Experience background, the Church he had been raised in was far from noble.
However, as someone familiar with the original story, Kaiser understood that—while the Church was not as righteous as the world believed, it was still a force of order.
The corruption within it stemmed from internal politics—not a fundamental evil.
Like any powerful organization, the Church had its share of corrupt figures—but that did not mean it was beyond redemption.
Perhaps a high-ranking Church official had taken an interest in him, uncovered the truth about his past, and decided to secretly protect him?
Could it be that Heaven itself had noticed his existence?
"Did they discover the True Longinus?"
Kaiser couldn’t be certain.
By now, he had fully familiarized himself with Kuoh Town.
Kaiser left his hotel and stepped out onto the streets.
Kuoh Town’s residential areas were quiet at night—and the outskirts were even more desolate.
Kaiser made his way into a dark alley, heading towards the abandoned outskirts.
Soon, he arrived at an old, abandoned factory.
The lock on the entrance had been forcibly broken.
"This should be the place."
He narrowed his eyes.
A chilling voice echoed from the shadows.
"You actually came to me willingly?"
From the darkness, a silhouette emerged.
At first glance, it appeared to be a beautiful woman—her figure voluptuous and alluring.
Behind her, several long, furry spider legs extended from her body.
Kaiser immediately recognized what she was.