Chapter 173 - #172 Training 1 (2/2)

However, something happened that caused Mera to widen her eyes. She actually saw some small bug landing on Akashi's back just to get instantly evaporated.

She got up and approached Akashi which alarmed Taeko who frowned at this.

”Shh” Mera gestured Taeko to keep quiet when she was finally standing above Akashi. Mera crouched down and tried to put her index finger on Akashi's back but once she made contact with his back, she had to quickly retract her hand. When she looked at the tip of her index finger, she actually saw that it was slightly burned.

'Is this blanket made of Danger Beast's hide to withstand such temperature? Maybe it's just his back...' Mera thought and moved his bangs away to touch his forehead but that wasn't as hot as his back.

After finally confirming this detail she got up to her feet and came back just to find Taeko glaring at her.

”Hehe, you are actually a jealous type, aren't you? What would you do if I actually got up and went to lie down next to him?” Mera asked with a teasing smile.

”Of course I would have stopped you since it could be considered as sėxuȧŀ harassment...In case you had Akashi's permission, I would have just glared at you to make sure you wouldn't be able to enjoy it.” Taeko closed her eyes and replied with a composed expression and calm tone.

”To be able to answer this with such a composed face...That's one of many reasons why I love you, Taeko. In case you are worried about Esdeath...I can only say that she is a formidable opponent for you, however, I can see how Akashi looks at you so I think you are winning this battle” Mera said with an amused smile.

Taeko didn't reply but instead opened her eyes and stared deeply at the ground in front of her.

”Are you worried about the future? You still have to learn a lot about love, even though I don't really like to call relationship between man and woman love... Instead of worrying you should be training at all kinds of things you might need in the future.” Mera saw through Taeko's thoughts and reassured.

”Training...? Like at what?” Taeko raised her head at Mera and asked with a confused expression.

”Let's start with cooking, you only know how to make poison but I can combine that poison with any food and make it taste absolutely delicious. I can teach you if you want.” Mera bragged about her skills while winking at Taeko.

”Teach me how to cook and not how to combine poison with food to make it taste delicious, I hope?” Taeko said while giving Mera a side glance.

”Of course, there are many things I can teach you.” Mera said with a confident smile.

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When exactly 4 hours passed by Akashi opened his eyes as if he had an alarm in his head before he got into a sitting position. He took some dried meat out of his inventory, he quickly ate before getting up and returning back to the volcano without waking the girls up. There was no need for any of them to stay at night watch due to Akashi's summoned Danger Beasts.

Akashi once again spent there a few hours before returning back to the camp and like this, the entire process repeated itself for the entire 7 days while Akashi was constantly changing the way he was controlling his flames and he also began changing the form of those flames into a phoenix and making the flames much denser which in return made it harder to control.

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[Energy: 2000/2000]

Akashi was once again sitting in a cross-legged position with closed eyes on the same black rock in the middle of the magma pool. However this time he wasn't wasting his energy and instead he was just sitting with his eyes closed.

---Akashi's subconsciousness---

”This room...!” Akashi happened to appear inside the room where he got trapped in his past life which made him narrow his eyes.

”You were actually able to come here much sooner than I anticipated, interesting...”

'This voice...Why do I feel like I have already heard it somewhere?' Akashi thought when he heard a deep voice resound in the sealed room. He actually couldn't pinpoint the location of this voice but it's not like he couldn't sense everything within the relatively small room.

”You came here to seek the power isn't that so?” The deep voice asked with an amused tone.

”Not really” Akashi said while shrugging his shoulders.

”What about Esdeath? You are really confident in winning against her, aren't you? It's the truth that you are stronger than her in physical strength but her powers are actually tricky and to be honest, they are much better than yours due to defensive elements. Your powers can only block some projectiles however they can't block someone's physical attack from near you, neither they will be able to stop her attacks.” The deep voice said.

'Great, another freak who can read my mind...' Akashi thought while rolling his eyes.

”Haha, to call me a freak...Of course, I can read your mind when I am part of you! If I am a freak then what are you?”