The night passed peacefully, and Blake spent the following week accompanying Airi and Marina. They went shopping and on dates during the day, while the nights were filled with intimate moments.
During this week, the news spread of Masato Oono's death in a car accident and Kouzou Akizuki's involvement in a gang shootout. Airi was quite pleased, muttering about how evil people always met bad ends, which only elicited a soft chuckle from Blake. He didn't add much to her commentary.
Meanwhile, Marina felt relieved. The two men had caused her much harm and fear, and now that they were gone, she no longer had to face them, and the burden on her heart was lifted.
After the week came to an end, Blake bid farewell to the two women, using the excuse of returning to his homeland for some business. He spent 30 luck points to adjust the flow of time between worlds before leaving. The allure of a peaceful life was tempting, but he knew he couldn't afford to indulge in it just yet.
His sister, Lia, who had sacrificed so much for him and faced the scorn of their entire family, still needed him to rescue her from their clan's torment.
---
"Phew, I'm back… Airi, Marina, goodbye for now."
Standing in his familiar room, Blake took a deep breath. His crystal-blue eyes reflected a hint of regret as he gazed at the familiar surroundings.
"Sia, retrieve Judgement Ring and the Body Refinement Pill."
Placing his treasured sword, Frost Whisper, carefully on the bedside, Blake composed himself before speaking softly. He had refrained from retrieving the items in Airi's world to avoid complications.
"Understood."
With a sweet response, Sia materialized the items on Blake's bed. A pair of rings exuding faint magical energy and a jade-colored porcelain bottle appeared.
"Device: Judgement Ring."
Fixing his gaze on the items, Blake placed the black Sin ring on his left middle finger and the white Punishment ring on his right middle finger.
After testing their abilities and confirming they worked perfectly, he smiled with satisfaction.
He then opened the porcelain bottle and took out a jade-like pill emitting a refreshing fragrance. Without hesitation, he swallowed the top-grade Body Refinement Pill.
A wave of heat surged through his body, and moments later, black impurities began to ooze from his pores. The stench made his lips twitch as he rushed to the bathroom to scrub himself clean multiple times.
"This feeling of lightness is fantastic. And my physical attributes have noticeably improved. I'd say my Aether Energy capacity now surpasses that of a typical low-tier devil."
Standing shirtless in front of the mirror, wearing only shorts, Blake admired his increasingly refined complexion and handsome features with satisfaction.
"The effects of the Body Refinement Pill from an immortal cultivation realm are truly remarkable."
He clenched his fist and threw a light punch. The sharp sound of the air being cut was exhilarating.
While he hadn't measured his strength yet, he estimated a casual punch could exert at least half a ton of force. With full power, it could easily reach one ton, enough to shatter walls with ease.
"Currently, I can probably take on a mid-tier devil without much issue. As for high-tier devils, that's out of the question for now. Their magic attacks can level mountains, and Judgement Ring likely wouldn't be able to absorb more than a few hits."
Satisfied with his newfound power, Blake decided to head out. It was late afternoon on a weekend, and his fridge was nearly empty from his extended absence. He planned to grab a meal and restock on groceries.
Walking along a dimly lit path, Blake's lone figure seemed slightly melancholic. His thoughts turned to his past, where loneliness had enveloped him. If not for anime and novels providing some solace, he might not have endured.
Just as he was lost in thought, a streetlight nearby flickered and went out. A wave of malice washed over him, causing him to halt.
"Come out. I know you're there."
His crystal-blue eyes focused on the shadows ahead, and he swiftly unzipped his sword bag, drawing Ice Whisper. This blade, his constant companion, was always at his side.
"Well, well, I didn't expect to be discovered. Looks like you're not an ordinary human after all, even though you lack the aura of holy or spiritual power."
From the darkness emerged a figure holding a serrated weapon in one hand and a woman's severed head in the other. The creature's black horns, human-like yet grotesquely evil visage, and bloodied mouth sent a chill through the air. With a sinister grin, it stepped forward.
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(A/N: Throw your power stones and comment on this book, please! It will motivate me!)