Ch. 21 I can't see inside him

"Ray, can you tell us what happened here?" Krishna's voice, calm and clear, resonated.

"Aaa..." Ray stammered, confused. "But who are you?"

"Do you know about Ranks, like A-rank, B-rank, given to Spiritumens?" Krishna inquired.

"Yes," Ray replied.

"Then, we are a special rank," Krishna explained. "Spiritumens are categorized by strength, from D-rank to SSS-rank. As the letter decreases from D to B, A, and then S, it signifies greater strength the Spiritumen possesses. Humans and Spiritumen ranks are the same if a human has a Spiritumen inside him."

"Among these ranks, there is a unique category: Special Rank. It is given to a single person. It is said and believed from ages that only one Special Rank Spirit Possessor can exist in a specific era. They are given Special Rank because their abilities are special, not dependent on the amount of energy a Spiritumen has, or any other measurable criteria. Their power can be beyond the established Ranks, or even as low as D-rank. They are, simply, special. So, you can think of us as very important to this continent—no, to this entire planet."

Krishna paused, his voice gaining a subtle urgency. "Now, tell me, what actually happened here?"

Ray hesitated for a moment, a sound escaping his throat before he continued speaking.

"I came here because my best friend was dead..." Why am I remembering her again and again! he thought, a pang of grief.

"She was injured by a Curseuman first, then another Curseuman killed her."

Ash's eyes were fixed on Ray, waiting intently for his next words. "I came here, and my path crossed with that Curseuman. I desperately attacked him, and then he killed himself by his own technique."

What I have said is the truth, Ray thought, however, I can't tell him everything, like about that dark aura.

"He killed himself, huh?" Ash's voice cut in, now switched back to his own. "Who are you fooling? Do you think we are foolish enough to believe this? He killed himself? Why would he do that?" Ash's eyes suddenly widened for a moment, a thought flashing through his mind.

Wait, is the second presence I am sensing—that of a Curseuman—actually the one he is talking about? But how can he have that Curseuman's presence? Is it his technique?

Ash moved closer to Ray, a hint of anger on his face. He raised his hand, intending to grasp Ray's neck. But the moment his hand touched Ray's neck, Ash's hand instantly burst into pieces of flesh and blood. Ray's face was splattered with the crimson spray. Ash immediately recoiled backward.

His technique wasn't that powerful, Ash thought, his face devoid of pain, merely a normal expression. I had lowered my guard. But how did it activate without any fluctuations in his Aura?

"REVERSE!" Ash commanded. His hand instantly became normal, as if time itself had reversed for that specific limb.

"How did he do that?" Ray asked, his eyes wide with surprise.

Krishna's voice echoed in Ash's mind: Actually, there were fluctuations, but not in this soul's Aura. It was in that Curseuman's Aura.

Does this mean he's still alive and pulling strings from behind, or from this... Ash pondered internally. Huhh... what is he? Yes, from this soul's body.

It can be, Krishna confirmed. Ash, use your Deep Analysis skill on him.

"Fine..." Ash murmured. His eyes glowed crimson, maintaining their intense hue. He focused his gaze towards Ray's body, attempting to peer within.

Suddenly, Ash saw his own reflection.

"I... I can't see inside him!" Ash exclaimed, his eyes wide with profound surprise.