Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 1915: Divine energy product (3)

"Don't stop! Keep swinging!"

My command caught Klein off guard, but seeing the gravity in my expression, he immediately resumed his sword practice. Even as he complied, a look of utter bewilderment crossed his face; he clearly had no idea what the purpose of this exercise was.

I paid no mind to his confusion or the puzzled stares from the other royal guards. My entire focus was locked onto Klein’s blade as it cut through the air. After observing several repetitions of his technique, I couldn't help but furrow my brows slightly.

"Is there a problem?" Klein inquired the moment he noticed my change in demeanor. He had been watching me intently while training, waiting for any sign of a reaction, as he remained completely in the dark regarding my intentions.

I stayed silent for a heartbeat before answering, "Every swing is becoming weaker than the last."

Klein gave me a peculiar look upon hearing that critique. To prove himself, he unleashed several more strikes, each one visibly backed by more physical vigor. It was obvious he was attempting to demonstrate his raw power through increased effort.

However, I had already lost interest in his physical prowess. What I was tracking wasn't the force of the strike itself, but the divine energy being channeled from within his body. With every motion, the amount of divine energy he could draw upon was steadily dwindling.

While not entirely unexpected, the speed at which this divine energy depleted was surprisingly fast. It appeared his empowered state would only last a few minutes before the well ran dry.

I pondered whether this depletion was strictly time-based or if it was tied to the frequency of his actions. It stood to reason that the more he swung his sword, the more divine energy was consumed, leaving less inside him as the seconds ticked by.

Ultimately, it seemed to be a combination of both factors. There was a natural dissipation occurring alongside a targeted release of power.

It made sense that divine energy couldn't be contained indefinitely, particularly since their bodies weren't designed to house such a force. Eventually, the energy would simply leak out. Then, there was the additional drain caused by Klein actively channeling it into his strikes.

"If it's even possible, conserving the energy released with each movement seems vital," I muttered to myself. That was my primary conclusion for extending the duration of this state.

Still, another question weighed on my mind: just how much impact did those strikes actually have? I could sense the volume of divine energy being expelled, but I couldn't yet quantify how much damage it would deal to a monster born of corruption energy.

That was a variable that could only be determined through practical testing.

Turning away from Klein, I redirected my attention to the remaining glowing food. It still emitted a light, but I could sense the aura weakening. The divine energy enveloping the meal was slowly evaporating into the atmosphere.

This wasn't shocking, considering divine energy didn't naturally belong in food. It had been forced into the ingredients during the cooking process, resulting in this miracle. Naturally, that energy would eventually dissipate.

"It appears to hold the charge for a limited duration, meaning the food can be stored for a while. However, the potency will fade, so it's best consumed as soon as possible."

The more I studied the phenomenon, the more I understood. But I couldn't conduct this research in isolation. I required assistance and individuals equipped with specialized tools.

It was truly a shame I hadn't realized this sooner; we could have analyzed the samples while the energy was at its peak.

"Summon Max and Puffer. We need to establish a research area immediately."

My orders once again left Klein and the others confused. Klein, in particular, looked somewhat dejected that I was ignoring his swordsmanship. Nevertheless, seeing my serious expression, they moved to obey my commands.

Once they had departed, I looked back at the luminous food and thought, "This discovery will certainly open new doors. But food shouldn't be the only medium capable of holding divine energy..."

The more I reflected on it, the more certain I became. After all, the catalyst used to imbue the food was divine energy flames. Other crafts utilized fire as well—specifically forging and alchemy.

It was a stroke of luck that the current tournament in the Kite Kingdom had brought together the continent's elite masters in those very fields. If we could replace their standard fires with divine energy flames, we would have an abundance of samples to study.