Energy Essence was basically an energy blueprint for the body.
Akira imagined his body as a vast, humming energy factory, filled with endless intricate machinery churning out neutral energy day and night.
But when one absorbed a specific elemental essence, it was like replacing parts of that machinery with upgraded, specialized engines tuned to produce Wind, Fire, Earth, or more.
The more Elemental Essence Akira absorbed, the more of that elemental energy he could produce.
The higher quality Elemental Essence Akira absorbed, the higher quality of that elemental energy he could produce.
In his previous life, Akira Minato was a monstrous genius who had trained his body to completely master the five basic elements of Iron Wood Water Fire and Earth.
It simply meant he had devoured countless high-grade Energy Essences, upgrading every single machine in his body's internal factory to the highest possible tier in those five elements.
He was able to effortlessly unleash any of the five elemental energies.
Each breath he took in that life had pulsed with elemental strength. Every movement had been backed by perfectly harmonized internal energy.
But having the ability to UNLEASH elemental energies was one thing.
Being able to WEAVE them into spells or INFUSE them into weapon skills were completely different things altogether.
Even without access to any of the Advanced Elements like Wind, Lightning, Light, or Darkness, Akira stood as one of the most formidable warriors who had ever lived because of his unparalleled mastery to both unleash and weave the five basic elemental energies!
Akira blinked in surprise.
He totally didn't expect to find the very treasure that he had been searching for right before his death, right here in this strange new world.
Although its quality was wretchedly poor and its quantity even worse, it was nonetheless undeniably a shred of Wind Energy Essence, one that his body could absorb and make his own.
Before he could do much to examine his new found power, the synchronized pounding of thousands of boots erupted from everywhere.
Crash! Crash! Boom. Boom.
The castle shuddered with the impact of thousands of elite soldiers smashing through every window, glass exploding inwards in sharp, glittering shards. Cold wind surged into the corridor, carrying with it the scent of steel, sweat, and scorched energy.
The soldiers moved with terrifying precision, their armored forms slicing through the air like blades as they secured every living being within moments.
Crack!
A powerful bolt of lightning struck the ground near Princess Yuki and from its flash, a powerful looking soldier with three stars on his epaulets stepped out.
His eyes were glacial, and his presence hit like a hammer. A murderous killing intent swept through the corridor, so heavy it prickled the skin and made the very air feel thinner.
Akira had the very distinct feeling that should the Class C Bloodbat was still alive, it wouldn't last even half a second against him.
But strong as he was, it was useless if he was late to the party.
The fight was over, and there were no more monsters left to threaten the Princess.
Apparently he realized the same thing within an instant, and he took his attention away from his surroundings and to the Princess.
"Princess Yuki, are you alright?" General Raikuro asked, his voice firm and controlled, but the tension behind it was unmistakable.
"I am alright General Raikuro. Thank you for your concern. This young man here had managed to push me away from harm, and had even eliminated the leader of the monster pack. He had done well."
Princess Yuki nodded towards Akira who was standing there silently with almost a hundred rifle laser sights trained on his body. The red beams flickered faintly across his clothes and neck like restless phantom threads, but his expression never changed.
"Good." General Raikuro replied with a respectful and gentle tone. "My men will escort you to Emperor Takeshin's court immediately. His Majesty has requested your presence at the earliest possible time."
"I want no harm nor discomfort to fall upon this young man, General. Please give me your word." Princess Yuki wasn't naive.
The General had pointedly made no mention of Akira, despite her praise. That silence spoke volumes. Princess Yuki knew the pattern well.
Extraction, isolation, interrogation.
If the Royal Battalion was following protocol, they'd already prepared a room lined with cold restraints, truth spells, and quiet instruments of pain to be used on every single person in that Castle, including Akira.
Especially Akira.
General Raikuro met her gaze, his own hard and unreadable for a moment. Then he sighed, his shoulders loosening ever so slightly.
"I could never refuse a request from you, Princess," he said at last, his voice softening. "Very well. I give you my word. Only the gentlest methods of interrogation will be used on him. He will be afforded every comfort… as befits the one who saved your life."
"Very good. My thanks, General." Princess Yuki smiled warmly at the General of her Royal Battalion.
Then, behind her…
"Princess Yuki. I have failed in my duty to protect you. Please accept my life as atonement for my dishonor." Captain Kagekatsu fell to one knee and bowed his head in shame.
The remaining eleven of her Royal Guard moved to kneel beside their Captain, but they immediately froze in their tracks when Princess Yuki gave them a withering glare.
It was as though she was warning them "Don't you dare give me more headaches!"
They all stiffened on the spot, then slowly straightened up with awkward coughs and guilty expressions, each one pretending they had never even considered kneeling in the first place.
Princess Yuki turned to face Captain Kagekatsu with a heavy expression.
Next to her, General Raikuro and Akira looked on with great interest.
For Akira, this moment was revealing.
How she handled it would show him the kind of person she truly was.
If she accepted Captain Kagekatsu's life as atonement, it meant that she valued honor very highly, even higher than the relationship that she had with the man.
But if she rejected his life, it would mean that she denied Captain Kagekatsu that honor. And for him, it was a fate worse than death.
"Captain Kagekatsu." Princess Yuki said slowly. "I accept your life. Give me your sword."