3 days before the human Flammenwerfer that burns heathens.
With his eyes close shut, Colt was meditating. It is not to increase his aura because that's useless but to remember the important points of the novel's plot.
At this point of time where he had eradicated most threats to his life by keeping his enemies close to him and giving them a brand a new road to follow. He should be in the clear now, but there's still something bugging him about all this.
'Why are there people trying to kill me? I haven't done anyth…' His train of thought stopped as he remembered his previous actions where he was acting all edgy against the young masters who tried scheming against him, 'Well, I broke their ribs and arms, but that shouldn't warrant for them to take my life, right…RIGHT?'
It was as if the world is trying to kill him outright, he had not done something that should make anyone risk his death, but he just experienced something rather unfortunate that he is doubting if his death is a pivotal role in the original plot.
His problem lies in the fact that his objective had been met. If his life was a story then the whole book should have ended when he got Mina to accept Filla, or when he got Vyra and Jin together.
He should be living his best life back in the Edgeworth fief, occasionally pulling the strings to strengthen the forces of his family in order to make sure the enemy will not be able to take a stand so he can live in peace whilst rearing his children.
But noooo, the world is still trying to end him. It was as if the reaper is constantly behind him, creeping slowly in order to take his life.
'Looking at it objectively, my current fate is having an unknown future, having a mysterious world unraveling before me where I am still unaware of the truth, the mysterious Magical Beasts were replaced by the three cheaters, and someone is trying to kill me…hmmm, why does it feel like I haven't made any progress?'
In the end, Colt could only shake his head. He opened his eyes and looked at the other seat of the carriage where he saw Mina also meditating. A red light was being emitted from her body, and two magic circles surrounded her.
'She already created the third magic circle? She really is talented...more talented than what people take her for.' Colt smiled for Mina's persistence to improve.
Mina was known as a peerless genius, but she had stopped trying to improve to reasons unknown after reaching a certain rank in her Healing Element. Was the Healing Element strong enough for her?
It was never known to the others, but right now she is trying to improve her strength in order to keep Colt safe and secure. When she fell to the assassins, Mina realized she could have finished them off much quicker if she could have used Fire Magic.
But that is not just it, she is also trying to become stronger so none will dare try and take something from her. Once she is strong enough, Mina will be able to scare anyone off. Being strong in the element of fire is merely the first to her domination.
She wants to become an unquestionable Empress for the sake of the dream of spending time with her future family with her beloved.
'We'll have twelve kids, and seven pets, living in a mountain where no one will be able to come to bother our time together. Yes, yes, that is the dream that I am trying to pursue. Those who stand in my way shall burn.' With such a dream, the fire in her heart burn, she was laughing as she thought of this.
Currently, Mina is striving to become stronger for not only Colt but for their future children.
Colt was aware of her wishes; if this was back when he first transmigrated, he would have been in fear of what might come, but right now he is smiling instead, "Though she is still scary sometimes…that's the nature of a wife. Right now, Mina can be possessive and will kill anyone who harms Colt but at least she won't simply take the head of anyone she gets jealous of so...that's an improvement, right?"
So many questions, leads to so many doubts. But Colt could only shake his head, 'I have fallen hard, huh. Welp, it seems like having met her merely a weak after a breakup made me want for love…that's kind of cringy and cheesy, ugh.'
Laughing at himself, he once again closed his eyes. But through his close eyes, the bright red light shone brighter than it should have and a pained shout.
"Aaah!"
When he opened his eyes, Mina was already engulfed in fire. Her fervor on pursuing strength became her weakness. She became too hasty and had let the fire explode and became uncontrollable.
However, that doesn't really matter for Mina can control it in a few minutes. It will hurt but she'll be free of the pain. It is common knowledge Healing Mages have absolute mana control that lets them manipulate the mana in their bodies to enhance their strength.
For Mina, the genius who is above every is most certainly someone like that. A person who has great mana control.
But Colt was not aware of such a simple fact. When Mina was just about to take control of the raging flame, she saw Colt extend his hand forward.
"My dear, wa—"
Before reason could appear in Colt's mind, his left hand was extended and the black smoke that had stayed stationary for the longest time swirled and attracted Mina's mana.
Like a hungry whale, the World Devouring Mark took everything that it could, everything Mina's Fire Element attuned mana could offer was sucked away by Colt.
The pair then brushed past their gazes and immediately, Colt noticed that something else was wrong.
'What's happening? Mina, your eyes are losing its light.' Turning to look at his left hand, Colt's face became twisted as he retracted his hand but the fire mana was already sucked away.
Because Mina was too unguarded against Colt, she let him take everything away instead of fighting and accidentally hurting him.
Thud! Stumbling, Mina felt weakened from all the mana that had been taken.
Colt on the other hand was in pain. The World Devouring Mark did its job of absorbing the fire mana, but what of the storage? Where would it be stored? In Colt's body of course.
From his left arm, Colt's body began to burn.
"AAAAHHHH!"
A pain much more horrible than having his arm cut off arose.
'This is bad…my body…the fire is too strong.'
He has no means of controlling mana, and yet here he was. In a situation where mana occupied his body.
Since ancient times, the body had been unable to sustain more than one energy, or else the body will be destroyed and the mind will be crippled. However, with the World Devouring Book, that is what just happened.
At first, Colt was unable to control his mind. The accursed backlash had appeared, his body was getting destroyed and his mind shortly followed.
"NYAAAAA!"
The roar of the cat was followed by the appearance of the white line on his forehead; freeing him from the headache! His thoughts were finally freed.
'I must expel the mana out.' In the midst of this thought, he looked over at the valiant white cat.
He did not know how to expel the fire mana in his body, but then, an image appeared in his head. He did not know how he managed to do it, but through sheer instinct, he forced the mana to follow a channel.
And then, he breathed fire that destroyed the carriage's roof.
That's right, the image he projected in his head was the beast that appears at night…a drunkard puking his vowels out.
And like a drunkard, Colt puked the fire out of his system.