Valentine had prepared himself for questions when he met the next successor, for emotional outbursts, for pushback, maybe even awe.
And because of this, he had been looking forward to acting like a mentor, having rehearsed many ‘cool’ lines he would use.
But Malakai hadn’t cared.
He had treated the revelations like passing thoughts.
And now…
‘He’s already begun assessing himself?’ Valentine thought, eyes narrowing slightly.
The instant they had finished speaking, Malakai had been on the move, darting across the grand hall, pushing off surfaces and testing the limits of his new body.
His movements were sharp and controlled.
Valentine had told him he could stay for as long as he needed until he was ready to leave.
He only had to want to go to leave this space.
Malakai had accepted that without hesitation. And immediately, without pause, began testing himself.
‘More than three times my initial speed and strength,’ Malakai noted internally.
He could feel it in every motion. Every step.
His body, already hardened from years of continuous training and Devil’s Fruit enhancements, had grown to an entirely new level.
Although he wasn’t an evolved, he had researched the stats of evolved individuals in preparation for the time he would.
Newly evolved individuals usually experienced a fivefold increase in strength and speed compared with normal humans.
But Malakai…
Malakai had been far beyond an average human before his evolution.
And yet, he had still gained more than three times his base stats.
It was incredible.
Insane.
He sprinted across the marble floor of the hall with a blur, rebounded off the wall mid-stride, then landed in a slide that tore a thin groove into the ground.
His breathing was steady. His movements clean. He didn’t want to stop.
He couldn’t stop.
For the first time in his life… he felt alive.
If not for the cold mask he had learned to wear due to the coldness of the Sanguine Clan, he’d be smiling.
“Um… hello?”
Valentine’s voice broke through his rhythm. Malakai came to an abrupt halt, then turned toward him.
His cold gaze locked onto Valentine, who flinched instinctively.
“…What?” Malakai asked.
“I’m s—” Valentine began, but caught himself just in time. Malakai had made it clear: no more apologies.
“You haven’t told me your name yet…”
“It’s Malakai.”
“Malakai…” Valentine muttered. Somehow, he loved the name.
“I mean… I think I can help. I can tell you what I know so far about the essence.”
That got Malakai’s attention. The more information he had about his newly acquired power, the better.
He turned fully, standing still, his expression focused.
Valentine took it as a cue to continue.
“I wasn’t able to get very far with it,” he admitted. “But we can fast-track things by letting you communicate with the essence directly. It should give you what you need to proceed.”
He motioned toward the floor.
“Alright, sit down. Close your eyes. Let’s give it a try.”
But he froze.
Malakai didn’t move.
He just stood there. Staring.
“Wh-why are you looking at me like that?” Valentine asked.
“I’m not closing my eyes,” Malakai said simply.
Valentine sighed. “You don’t have to worry. You can trust me.”
He took a cautious step forward, but stopped when he realized Malakai hadn’t budged.
Valentine raised both hands in surrender. “I’m not even real. I’m just a consciousness… see?”
He reached out toward Malakai’s hand.
But Malakai instinctively jerked back.
“I just want to touch your hand,” Valentine said quickly. “No tricks. No weapons. It’ll pass right through.”
Malakai hesitated. He didn’t like being touched. He never had, ever since his parents died.
Life in the Sanguine Clan had taught him to keep people at arm’s length, physically and emotionally.
‘This is important,’ he reminded himself.
Reluctantly, he stretched out his hand.
Valentine smiled gently and reached forward. His hand passed through Malakai’s, like mist through shadow, just as he had said.
“…See?”
Malakai pulled back his arm. He was still wary, but at the very least, less tense.
He sat down slowly, then crossed his legs. He hesitated briefly before reminding himself that this was important.
Then he slowly closed his eyes, though his body was still rigid and guarded. With his newly advanced body, his senses were sharper.
Valentine watched him and shook his head. “This won’t work. You have to let go. Completely. If you don’t, you won’t be able to focus.”
Malakai’s eyes snapped open.
But when he saw the seriousness on Valentine’s face, he forced himself to breathe.
‘It’s important,’ he reminded himself again.
He whispered the Sanguine Creed in his head, grounding himself.
‘When death comes close and shadows near…’
His pulse slowed. His muscles loosened. The rigidity faded from his posture. He relaxed.
Valentine smiled. “Good. Now… put all your focus on your chest.”
He pointed. “Not your heart. The center of your chest. That’s where the essence is.”
Malakai obeyed and focused inward.
At first, he felt nothing. Just stillness and the soft beating of his heart.
But then, he felt something.
Faint. Like a spark.
It was warm. Subtle but calling.
He didn’t know how to answer. So, instinctively, he reached for it.
Not with his hands, but with something else.
Something deeper. It felt like he was stretching a limb not made of flesh.
The spark he felt pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
Then again, stronger, as though it had been waiting.
And suddenly, it happened.
A wave of energy pulsed outward from his chest, rippling through every nerve, every muscle.
It wasn’t violent. It wasn’t overwhelming.
It felt as though it was communicating with him.
Malakai’s breath slowed as his body adjusted.
Valentine’s voice came softly, but it sounded as if it were coming from far away.
“Good. You feel it, don’t you?”
Malakai opened his eyes slowly.
“I do,” he whispered. “It’s… me. But not me. It’s alive.”
He let out a quiet breath. That small exchange had revealed so much. More than words ever could.
He sat in silence, then said quietly:
“…Manifest.”
At his words, a status panel appeared in front of his eyes.
[Vita Core Interface]
Name: Malakai Von Sanguine
Lineage: Direct Descendant of the Sanguine Clan
Title(s): [Successor of Life] [Ruined Heir] [Worthless Trash]
Talent Grade: ???
Vita Stored: 1,390 / 1500 Units
Vita Absorption Rate: 1.0 V/s (High Density) | 0.7 V/s (Normal Zone)
Evolution Stage: Human (Awaiting Awakening Process)
Base Attributes:
• Strength: 82 [18 – 25]
• Dexterity: 90 [20 – 27]
• Vitality: 120 [25 – 30]
• Perception: 91 [22 – 28]
• Willpower: 75 [15 – 22]
• Control: 45 [0]
[Node Map]
• Blood Node: Ready to Awaken
• Muscle Node: Sealed
• Nerve Node: Sealed
• Bone Node: Sealed
• Breath Node: Sealed
• Digestion Node: Sealed
• Synaptic Node: Sealed
• Cellular Node: Sealed
• Endocrine Node: Sealed
• Immune Node: Sealed
• Sensory Node: Sealed
• Body Node: Sealed (Opens when all primary nodes are awakened and refined at 100%)