The Married Life Of Immortals

Bane spread his arms, and Onyx reabsorbed into his small body. Then Bane winced in pain, grasping at his chest as he felt all the power he had gained from cultivation and his enlightenment. It was hard for him to let go of the power, but he knew he would become even stronger in the future.

Once the pain was done, Bane walked forward to leave the Domain of Dead Kings, but Daigatz called out. "Are you really just going to keep me here?! Do you know what will happen if I ever break free?"

Bane didn't look back and walked through the portal without saying a word. Daigatz screamed out in rage, but there was nothing left he could do. The Supreme One had lost this round, but Daigatz was eternal, and this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

Bane stood at the edge of the portal, taking in the scene before him. Lysia and Eve both turned to face him, their expressions a mix of surprise and curiosity. The tension between them was still palpable, but Bane could sense a slight shift. Perhaps, for now, they were willing to set aside their differences.

"You're back? How could you come back so fast?" Lysia asked, her voice tinged with relief and an undercurrent of concern. She rushed forward, her eyes scanning him for any signs of injury.

Eve inclined her head in acknowledgment floating over to join them. "Welcome back, Bane. How was your journey?"

Bane smiled. "Eventful, to say the least. I met a Supreme One's Avatar, and it tried to kill me, but I was able to cultivate and study for around 50 years before he could reach me."

Lysia's eyes widened in shock, her mouth opening and closing as she tried to process what he said. "Fifty years? You really spent that much time alone? Are you a hermit? I don't think I ever studied anything that long. I prefer to explore and learn."

Bane rolled his eyes. "Why is my time spent more important than the supreme one I caught?"

Both Lysia and Eve froze, then Eve merged with Bane. Lysia gave Bane an incredulous, but then Eve came back out.

"Can I show her the fight after the fifty years?" Eve asked, and Bane nodded.

That was the time that Mizuage and Wei Nam Lee showed back up at the entrance to the cavern. All the demonic energy had disappeared right after Bane got back because his body absorption rate had increased greatly. While Bane still couldn't use magic or the demonic energy outside of his body now that he was back, he could channel nearly fifty times more mana through his body because of his new ability to actively convert any type of energy into another.

The moment that Mizuage saw Bane, he rushed over with Wei Nam Lee. "Your back so soon? And I can feel that your mana base has skyrocketed! I don't think I could match you in a fight now, even if you still can't use skill. The mana you have makes you nearly as potent as the elf!"

Lysia finally noticed it, and grabbed him. "How?!"

I explained everything, and Lysia could hardly believe it. There was no way that he could get stronger now unless he went into the dungeon, but he had to spend the next two and just over a half years learning everything that he could from the village.

Eve then showed everyone Bane's fight with Daigatz from the time that he woke up. When it was done, because Bane watched it as well, everyone was speechless, and could only look to stare at Bane.

"How could you get so strong?!" Mizuage exclaimed.

Bane shook his head. "I had time to absorb all the energy I had collected, and then used special knowledge I had gained from enlightenment to gain the upper hand. This was also only a small fraction of his power. I need power that none of us can even fathom at this point. Gaining mastery of everything that I learn here is only the beginning. When I leave the dungeon, I will have to search the world for ways to get stronger. These beings wield power that kills millions with the blink of their eye."

Bane's words hung heavy in the air, the weight of his revelation settling over the group. Lysia, Eve, Mizuage, and Wei Nam Lee all exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of awe and determination.

"Alright," Lysia finally said, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions in her eyes. "If we're going to prepare for these Supreme Ones, we need to make the most of the time we have. What do you need from us, Bane?"

Bane nodded, appreciating her resolve. "I need to learn everything about the techniques and knowledge you all possess. Combat, magic, strategy—everything. And I need to understand the dungeon's intricacies, the traps, the monsters, the secrets hidden within. I will need help from everyone in the village; any technique, skill, rune, or magic, no matter the level, I need to learn them all. Even if they don't think I can learn it, I want to see how it is done. Information will be the key to me becoming strong enough to keep everyone safe."

Everyone left the cave, but then Bane stopped, turning to Mizuage and Wei Nam Lee. "Can the two of you head back to town? I would like for you to talk to Bilgarth about getting everyone's help in the village. I think that Lysia, and I can handle this as I am now."

Mizuage wanted to see Bane's progress, but the child was his master. "As you wish. Come, Disciple Wei. We have a village to talk to."

Wei Nam Lee nodded, but he was secretly excited because he would be able to start testing his body-tempering pills. This was much sooner, and it would get Wei Nam Lee to his goal much sooner.

Once they were gone, Eve fused back into Bane, and then it was just him and Lysia. She crossed her arms, but Bane went over and hugged her. Suddenly, Lysia broke down in his arm, but even with his small body, he easily scoped her up into his arms.

"I am sorry for making you worry, but I will always come back. I am going to get so strong that I'll need to use boulders to pop black heads!" Bane joked, but Lysia stayed silent, and doesn't fight him. "You okay?"

"Just be quiet and walk. You know how I feel. I am happy you are back," Lysia mumbled with her face pressed into his chest.

Bane smiled, and headed to the last energy source. Mana.