Lexa waited for Vexion to calm down before asking—
"How long will it take you to find us?"
Dante smiled.
"I already have both of you connected to one of my skills."
Lexa frowned.
"Mental Fortress or whatever you called it?"
Dante nodded.
"After reinforcing your minds, I developed a vague awareness of your locations."
He tapped the side of his head.
"I can sense your general direction. Your emotional state too. Think of it as a 50-50 compass. Not precise enough to identify your exact location, but enough to find you eventually."
Vexion lifted her head.
"Then I'll make sure I'm easy to find."
Dante chuckled.
"Please don't destroy an entire continent."
"No promises."
Lexa sighed. Dante looked toward both women.
"If you cause enough trouble, I should find you quickly."
Lexa and Vexion exchanged glances. Then both gave identical toothy grins. Elric and Amber quietly felt sorry for the terrain. They felt even more sorry for anyone unfortunate enough to encounter Vexion during the examination.
Dante turned toward Amber.
"This will be your first serious examination."
Amber straightened.
"Yes, Master."
"But—" He glanced toward Lexa. "—Lexa should have given you enough preparation. Mentally and physically."
Amber nodded. Her expression became slightly embarrassed.
"Yes. It was painful—" She briefly looked toward Lexa. "—very painful. But I believe I'm prepared."
Dante nodded.
"Good."
Then he looked toward Elric.
"Your assignment is information."
Elric raised an eyebrow.
"Information, Master?"
"Gather as much as possible. Observe the other participants. Study their abilities. Learn their habits. Record anything unusual."
Dante rested his chin against Vexion's shoulder.
"You can gather information while completing whatever objective the academy gives us. Or finish the objective first. Then focus entirely on intelligence gathering."
Elric nodded.
"And if I perform well?"
Dante smiled.
"I'll give you a skill."
Elric's eyes widened.
"The same applies to Amber."
Amber immediately straightened.
"Really, Master?"
"Yes."
Vexion smiled. Master is feeling generous.
Dante continued.
"It's early for both of you. But Midvest Academy isn't ordinary."
He glanced toward the message floating above his bracelet.
"You could die. The examination appears to have very few restrictions. Until I find you, and even after I do, show me what you're capable of."
His expression became serious.
"You all know my expectations."
Vexion nodded immediately.
"Don't worry, Master. We won't disappoint you."
She hugged his arm.
"Just make sure you find me quickly."
"I'll make myself very visible."
Dante laughed. Lexa merely shook her head. Elric and Amber exchanged a glance. Neither said it aloud. But both silently prayed that Vexion's definition of visible wouldn't involve destroying half the examination realm.
Elric raised his hand.
"Master."
"Hm?"
"Do you have any specific instructions?"
Dante thought for a moment.
"The Legendary-tier participants aren't my primary concern. But—" A mischievous smile appeared. "—if the academy protects Mythical-tier and Legendary-tier students from interfering with one another... be a piece of shit."
Silence. Elric blinked.
"...Master?"
"Follow the Mythical Beings. Tail them. Observe everything. They can't attack you simply because you're following them. They'll have to shake you off."
Dante shrugged.
"Use that. Learn what you can."
Elric stared. Then slowly smiled.
"...Understood."
Vexion nodded approvingly. That sounds exactly like Master.
Amber raised her hand.
"Master... what about me?"
Dante looked toward her.
"Your role is simple."
He glanced toward Lexa and Vexion.
"Vexion and Lexa are my Number One and Number Two. I can't have them constantly running around completing minor tasks. I want them to possess authority. Respect. Influence over future subordinates."
He shook his head.
"They aren't my errand runners. They're my closest aides."
Lexa became quiet. Her heart warmed. She lowered her eyes before biting her lip to hide the smile threatening to appear.
'Master sometimes says things without realizing how much they mean to us.'
Dante continued.
"That type of work will eventually fall to you."
Amber listened carefully.
"But you're also among the first five subordinates I've accepted."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Don't spend the examination hiding. Fight. Show your strength. Learn. Record interesting mana signatures. Study unusual skills. Anything useful, bring it to me."
Amber nodded.
"What do you want me to become, Master?"
Dante answered immediately.
"Lexa's direct subordinate."
Amber blinked.
"You will primarily answer to Lexa. But you may also receive orders directly from Vexion or me."
He nodded.
"That will be the chain of command. Me. Vexion and Lexa. Then you. Simple."
Amber's eyes widened. She had expected to become an ordinary subordinate — someone who completed missions, someone who followed orders. She hadn't expected Dante to already have a place prepared for her within the future structure of his faction.
"Thank you, Master."
Dante shrugged.
"Don't thank me yet. Earn it."
Amber smiled.
"I will."
Vexion remained quietly seated on Dante's lap. She listened as everyone focused on his words. Even Elric and Amber, the two newest members, watched Dante with respect. They trusted him. They believed in him. They wanted to become strong enough to stand beside him. It was everything Vexion had once dreamed of.
The little boy who recruited me. The boy who promised he would build something greater. Who said he would create monsters capable of standing above the world.
Her smile softened.
'I never imagined I would see it happen so soon.'
Once, she had been a slave. Mistreated. Feared. Called evil because of the cruel methods she used to survive, and to entertain herself. Then Dante found her. He gave her strength. A purpose. A place where she belonged. Now she sat beside the person she loved most. She had become powerful enough to stand near the peak of her generation. And around them, the foundations of something far greater were beginning to form.
Vexion leaned closer. She rested her head against Dante's chest. For the first time, she understood something clearly. She wasn't merely watching Dante build his future. She was part of it. And as his Number One, she would make certain that nobody — not the academy, not the world, not even fate itself — would prevent that future from becoming reality.