Chapter 326: One Step Away — The Man Approaching Divinity
Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki, who was attempting to refine the power of a star, sensed someone appearing before him and slowly opened his eyes.
His body was like a small mountain, and the mental projection of Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki before him looked tiny as if it were an ant.
"What is it, Momoshiki?"
"Is there a chakra fruit to be offered?"
When Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki saw it was Momoshiki, he immediately asked for the chakra fruit.
"It's been quite a long time, hasn't it? The task I gave you should be nearly complete by now."
He added.
At these words Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki's expression immediately grew severe.
Even though his consciousness was conversing with that being, he could still feel that terrifying pressure.
Is this the power that approaches godhood?
Momoshiki was shaken to the core as he thought this, and replied, "There was indeed a chakra fruit to be offered to you, Lord Kyōshiki."
"It's just that—"
"Hmm? Just that what?"
Kyōshiki's expression changed at once; his tone was filled with displeasure.
In an instant Momoshiki couldn't help but tremble inwardly.
He hurried to explain, "A guy I don't know where he came from — a newly evolved Ōtsutsuki — stole my chakra fruit."
"He even seized the god tree that was bearing the fruit. If I hadn't chosen to lay low in order to report this matter to you, it would probably already have been refined into his chakra pill—"
"Laying low? Hah! What a pretty way to put running away like a coward! You actually phrase your cowardice so lightly — and you have the nerve to come before me and say these things after losing the chakra fruit, Momoshiki!"
Pressed by the accusation, Momoshiki flinched again.
He thought to himself that this fellow really was unbearably arrogant and unreasonable.
He had clearly given the reason — yet this being could still blame him directly?
No sooner had that thought formed in his mind than Kyōshiki snorted coldly.
"You were badmouthing me in your mind?"
"I—I wasn't… Lord Kyōshiki…"
"Hahaha! Do you think I don't know that? But never mind, what you said isn't entirely wrong. I am indeed boundlessly mad — that's the confidence my power gives me. If you had that kind of power, you'd understand, Momoshiki!"
"But right now you're such a weak little creature that I don't even have the interest to press you flat!"
Hearing Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki's assessment, Momoshiki's feelings were mixed and he didn't know whether to feel pleased or dejected.
In the eyes of ordinary mortals he was already an almost godlike, overwhelmingly powerful existence.
Yet in front of this being, he was apparently nothing at all?
"Not even interested in pressing me flat…"
"Am I really that weak?"
Momoshiki bitterly mocked himself inwardly.
At that moment Kyōshiki spoke again.
His voice was like an ancient thunderclap, suddenly detonating in Momoshiki's ear.
"I'm only a tiny bit away from evolving into a higher form. When that time comes I will no longer need to partake of the chakra fruits you offer me. From then on, you can share whatever fruits you collect among yourselves."
"Just one step away—damn it, cursed thing!"
"Momoshiki, come here!"
At Kyōshiki's words Momoshiki's heart jolted.
His eyes shifted as he instinctively looked toward the enormous star behind Kyōshiki that radiated boundless energy.
"It's said that when Ōtsutsuki Shibai reached the late stages of his evolution and came infinitely close to godhood, he could directly absorb the star's energy as his own power."
"By using this ultra-efficient method, he completed evolution again and again and ultimately became an existence that transcended everything—"
"Could it be that Kyōshiki now only needs to evolve once more to directly refine planetary energy for his own use, instead of laboriously waiting for chakra fruits to ripen??"
"Doesn't that mean he's approaching the former Shibai himself?"
Momoshiki thought, shocked and uncertain.
At this moment Kyōshiki's voice sounded again: "Come here!"
The voice was like a peal of thunder that split the sky, instantly rousing Momoshiki from his thoughts.
He immediately hurried forward obsequiously and soon stood close to Kyōshiki.
Then, at that instant, Kyōshiki's colossal form suddenly shrank and flashed into a streak of golden light.
Afterwards he took on a normal size, roughly the same as Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki.
One could see that his body was covered with layer upon layer of peculiar black-and-white patterned markings.
These strange symbols looked like seal patterns; each emitted an enormously powerful aura.
It felt as if the other party could kill him with a glance, a sneeze, or a single exhalation.
Momoshiki trembled before Kyōshiki and dared not breathe.
At the same time his mind could not help but evaluate, "This guy is much stronger than that other one…"
The thought had barely formed when Kyōshiki spoke, "Right — you've got some eye for it!"
"I am an invincible existence!"
"In this universe, there should be no one who can surpass my abilities!"
As he spoke, he suddenly reached out and pressed Momoshiki's forehead.
Instantly a wave of force surged through, and in an instant all the memories in his brain were read.
By this means Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki quickly understood the whole sequence of events.
He confirmed that Momoshiki had not lied: the chakra fruit had indeed been taken by a mysterious Ōtsutsuki.
Not only that, the man had killed Momoshiki's partner, Ōtsutsuki Kinshiki, refining him into a chakra pill and consuming him.
Seeing this information, Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki's face turned very grave, even terrifying.
His gaze seemed ravenous.
Momoshiki felt extremely uneasy, trembling and barely daring to breathe.
He didn't know whether he would be punished.
Amid that tense unease, Kyōshiki withdrew his hand from the pressed forehead and did not appear angry about the dereliction of duty.
He slowly put his hands behind his back and murmured to himself, "That guy is strange. Although he has the Ōtsutsuki clan's power, his appearance didn't change accordingly."
"Yes, at the time I also wondered why. But I must say his power really is formidable…"
Momoshiki, trying to appear clever, chimed in, only to unwittingly bring about his own doom.
Originally Kyōshiki had no disdain for killing him.
However, at this moment, after reading the memories in the other's mind, Kyōshiki changed his mind.
"You were negligent. You lost the chakra fruit meant to be offered to me; you must be punished for it, Momoshiki."