Kael figured that if other transmigrators knew about his situation, they would laugh at him. After all, which transmigrator wasn't decisive in killing? Yet he had killed just one person and was sighing—utterly disgraceful for a transmigrator.
That night, Kael tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. In the end, he cast a spell on himself and finally drifted off.
The next morning, after breakfast and washing up, he went to school. Perhaps because a day had passed, the discomfort from killing had already faded considerably. He couldn't help but sigh—time truly was a medicine that healed most wounds, even the unease of killing.
At lunch, Kael, Saki, and Marin gathered again to discuss where to go tomorrow. It was Friday, and with Saturday and Sunday off, students had plenty of free time.
Saki thought for a moment. "How about the city library?"
Marin looked surprised. "What's fun about a library?"
Saki reminded her: "Marin, didn't you want to make clothes yourself? We can check materials there."
With that reminder, Marin realized. She did want to make clothes, but her skills were poor and she didn't know where to start. She was completely clueless. Rather than relying on unreliable online sources, it was better to read professional books at the library.
"That's a great idea. Thank you, Saki."
As a woman of action, Marin decided immediately. "Then tomorrow, we'll go to the library."
Both looked at Kael, who calmly said: "Whatever you decide, I'm fine with it."
So the plan was set.
After school, Kael escorted Saki home, then continued wandering the streets. Seeing evil spirits, he pulled out the Hundred Ghost Banner he had refined yesterday. He infused mana and lightly shook it toward a spirit.
The spirit was pulled in by an invisible force, sucked into the banner. But once inside, it struggled violently. The palm-sized banner shook, nearly breaking apart.
After all, a complete Hundred Ghost Banner required dozens, even hundreds of human skins. Kael's banner was made from just one skin—a defective product. It could barely contain even one spirit.
Fortunately, Kael reacted quickly, splitting his mana to suppress the spirit and activate the runes on the banner. The runes worked, gradually erasing the spirit's consciousness. After seven or eight minutes, its self-awareness and resentment were gone. Only pure soul energy remained, which Kael absorbed.
He circulated the Soul-Devouring Demonic Art, converting the energy into mana. Though suppressing the spirit and activating the runes had consumed much mana, devouring its power not only replenished it but increased it further. This filled Kael with motivation.
Such visible growth and feedback were addictive. Anyone, in any pursuit, would become obsessed if they could see clear results. People gave up only when they saw no return. But with visible rewards, who would quit?
Kael now had that feedback, so he was full of drive.
All afternoon, he hunted spirits, capturing them in the banner, erasing their consciousness, and devouring their power. Though slower than direct consumption, it had one advantage—he didn't feel disgusted. Once stripped of resentment and awareness, only pure soul energy remained. It strengthened his soul and raised his mana steadily.
Another benefit was safety—no risk of losing control or suffering backlash. Pure soul energy carried no harm.
Well, not entirely. If direct consumption gave him 100 mana, then after purification he gained only 60 or 50. Some energy was lost when erasing the spirit's self. Other demonic cultivators would rage at such waste.
But Kael didn't care. There were simply too many spirits. Even nearby, there were dozens. Across Tokyo, there were tens of thousands.
So he didn't mind the loss. Safety mattered more.
By evening, Kael had hunted more than ten spirits, doubling his mana. Now he was close to reaching First Grade Upper. He had only become First Grade Lower two days ago. And already he was nearing the next level.
He believed that within two days, he would be First Grade Upper. The speed was astonishing, unbelievable.
All thanks to the spirits of this world. Without their sacrifice, his progress wouldn't be so fast.
Even Kael couldn't help but sigh—this two-dimensional world was truly perfect for him.