Chapter 257

Could it be... that he shouldn’t have sacrificed that many souls?

And yet, although that aura of death and annihilation blanketed everything in the surroundings, it did not envelop him.

Kanzaki Rei felt no sense of being attacked.

Still, a faint unease lingered in his mind—a subtle premonition of danger. Not fatal... but undeniably present.

Above him, a faint phantom began to take shape.

The figure was murky and pitch-black—a man’s silhouette. Thin, gaunt. Nothing like the pure white imagery described in myth.

Kanzaki Rei let out a quiet breath.

So it’s not the descent of Pure White...

That alone was enough to ease the tension slightly.

And more importantly—

A soul?

His God-Tier Talent: Soul Sovereign reacted instantly.

Kanzaki Rei did not act rashly.

He simply locked his ability onto the entity before him.

No movement.

But the moment the other side showed even the slightest sign of hostility—he would shut it down instantly.

"Who are you?" Kanzaki Rei asked, gazing up at the sky.

The figure looked down at him in silence, its expression filled with indifference.

Kanzaki Rei had already fully targeted it.

This existence...

Its essence was absurdly powerful—perhaps even stronger than Lexi herself.

"I didn’t expect... to encounter such a vast number of pure souls," the figure finally spoke.

"And in the hands of someone so young..."

It paused briefly before continuing:

"Mortal. What is your identity?"

"And how did you obtain so many pure souls?"

"Answer me."

Kanzaki Rei responded calmly, his tone respectful:

"My name is Kurogane Yoru. I am a successor of the War God, Kaiga."

"A successor of the War God?"

"And yet... you are advancing along the path of a Death Priest?"

Its voice was steady, neither old nor frail—like a man in his prime.

"...No matter. That is irrelevant."

"What matters is this—why do you possess so many pure souls, and why are you offering them to the Origin?"

Kanzaki Rei replied respectfully:

"Senior... how did you come to know this?"

A faint chuckle echoed from above.

"Heh. I am the one closest to the Origin of Death in this world."

"In recent times, I sensed that the Origin—once dormant—has grown stronger again. Not just once, but repeatedly."

"So I paid attention."

"And I discovered... it was you. Performing the sacrifices."

He noticed that?

Kanzaki Rei frowned inwardly.

Under normal circumstances, his Unsolvable Enigma talent should have concealed him completely.

But—

To communicate with the Origin of Death, he had indeed lifted part of that concealment.

Otherwise, just like the Corrupted Nest, the Origin would have been unable to perceive his advancement at all.

And the Corruption Worm would never have found him.

So that’s the issue...

This man claimed to be the closest to the Death Origin.

That alone explained everything.

After a brief pause, Kanzaki Rei answered truthfully:

"These souls... are the result of my talent."

The figure froze slightly.

"A talent?"

"There exists... such a miraculous talent in this world?"

Kanzaki Rei carefully observed the entity’s state.

"I don’t understand why you chose to become a successor of the War God," the figure continued.

"With such a talent... you could shine brilliantly on the path of a Death Priest."

"But... it doesn’t matter."

Its gaze sharpened.

"I can take you as my disciple."

"From this moment on... you shall become the successor of Ansu."

Ansu?

The name stirred something in Kanzaki Rei’s mind.

Wait... Ancient Ansu Cipher?

That language—

It dated back ten thousand years.

Even before the modern calendar.

"Ancient Ansu Cipher" was not just a name—it literally referred to the creator: Ansu.

Kanzaki Rei immediately spoke in that ancient tongue:

"Senior... are you the creator of this language?"

The figure responded in the same language, without hesitation:

"Indeed."

So it’s really him...

This being was unimaginably ancient.

The phantom continued calmly:

"The so-called gods scatter their inheritances across the world."

"You may not necessarily gain their true attention."

"But if you become my disciple..."

"I will devote myself fully to cultivating you."

So that’s his goal...

He had his eyes on Kanzaki Rei’s ability to generate souls.

But—

Without knowing this entity’s true nature, agreeing blindly would almost certainly lead to disaster.

"I’m sorry, Senior," Kanzaki Rei said directly.

"I am already a successor of the War God."

"I have no intention of taking another master."

The moment those words fell—

The figure’s expression barely changed.

"If you refuse... that is acceptable."

A pause.

"Then how about a trade?"

"Provide me with enough souls... and I will grant you your wish."

A wish?

What an outrageous claim.

"Any wish?" Kanzaki Rei asked.

The figure replied calmly:

"Nothing is impossible."

"As long as you offer sufficient souls... I can fulfill anything you desire."

Kanzaki Rei paused briefly.

"...Even killing a god?"

A dry, mummified smile stretched across Ansu’s face.

"Do you bear a grudge against a god?"

"But yes... it is possible."

"With enough souls, I can grant that wish."

He can kill gods?

Was he truly that powerful?

"I’m not referring to an avatar," Kanzaki Rei clarified.

"I know," Ansu replied.

"I am speaking of the true deity."

"Of course... it depends on which one."

"If it is the current Moon Deity... it would require an enormous price."

"But if it is not—"

A faint trace of arrogance surfaced in his voice.

"It would be as easy as reaching into one’s pocket."

"Even Kaiga... would be no exception."

Kanzaki Rei kept his expression perfectly neutral.

His talent remained locked onto the opponent.

With Unsolvable Enigma, the other side should not be able to read him.

"I see."

"And if... I refuse this deal?"

Before he could finish—

Ansu’s gaze turned cold.

"If you refuse—"

But before he could complete the sentence—

Kanzaki Rei’s eyes narrowed slightly.

「God-Tier Talent · Soul Sovereign」

In that instant—

He sensed the opponent’s intent to act.

Without hesitation, he activated control immediately.

Buzz—

A powerful resistance surged back!

Kanzaki Rei felt the soul above trying to raise its hand—

Attempting to draw upon some distant power.

But—

It failed.

The hand lifted...

Yet nothing answered the call.

Ansu stared at his own hand, confusion flashing across his face.

Kanzaki Rei spoke coldly:

"Senior... were you just trying to harm me?"

Ansu’s pupils shrank!

He attempted to move again—

But realized—

His body was completely immobilized.

"Senior," Kanzaki Rei said quietly,

"Since you’ve come... then don’t leave."

He raised his hand.

In that instant—

Ansu’s soul was forcibly dragged down from the sky toward Kanzaki Rei!

"You—!"

His voice trembled, filled with disbelief.

"What did you do?!"

"Nothing special," Kanzaki Rei replied lightly.

"I simply... seized your soul."

Just moments ago—

This entity had hovered above like an untouchable god.

Now—

It was firmly grasped in Kanzaki Rei’s hand.

Heh.

Let’s see if you’re really as powerful as you claim.

Kanzaki Rei exerted control—

But suddenly—

A violent backlash surged through his mind!

Crack!

His control through Soul Sovereign was... being disrupted?!

This is the first time...

The soul before him struggled violently—

Its fingers twitching, showing signs of movement!

"Tch—"

In the next instant—

Hundreds of potion bottles appeared around Kanzaki Rei!

"So my stockpile finally has a use."

A ritual array spread across the ground.

Soul Binding and Locking Ritual!

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Hundreds of bottles shattered simultaneously—

Golden and silver liquids splashed onto the soul!

White smoke hissed violently—

Constantly weakening its resilience!

Individually, these effects were negligible.

But under Soul Sovereign’s control—

They became devastating.

"Stay. Still."

Kanzaki Rei’s voice dropped.

Buzz—

At last—

Ansu’s soul froze completely.

No more resistance.

Kanzaki Rei wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.

What the hell... is this thing?

Even a God-Tier Talent had nearly failed to suppress it.

But now—

It was completely under his control.

Every fragment of its soul—

Belonged to him.

Meanwhile—

Ansu stared coldly at Kanzaki Rei.

Though controlled, his consciousness remained intact.

Just like the souls Kanzaki Rei had controlled before—

They could still think, still resist in spirit.

Kanzaki Rei spoke calmly:

"Ansu."

"That’s your real name, correct?"

"I think... we can renegotiate now."

His gaze sharpened.

"Tell me."

"What is your true identity?"