"In that case, let's get inside and check it out!" Rias's eyes sparkled with curiosity, echoed by the rest of the group.
As they stepped into the Time Chamber once more, the world around them blurred into a boundless white expanse—dreamlike, yet deeply unsettling. The endless void pressed in on their minds, a weight far heavier than mere gravity.
Even the strongest could crack in a place like this. The sheer emptiness gnawed at the edges of sanity, a silent test of willpower.
Shuo's voice broke the tension.
"Gravity here is ten times what you're used to. Kiba, Koneko—this is your ideal training ground. Kiba, make sure you're practicing swordsmanship with added weights. That's how you'll get the most out of this place."
He turned to Kiyome. "Alright, Kiyome, summon your magical beasts. I'll awaken their bloodlines—let's see how far they can evolve."
Kiyome's face lit up. She wasted no time, calling forth her trio of magical beasts.
The demon wolf, already enhanced by Shuo's previous intervention, now radiated a presence on par with a mid-class devil. By comparison, the green serpent and white cat seemed almost ordinary.
The others gathered round, interest piqued, eager to see what Shuo had in store.
Without fanfare, Shuo produced a stack of [Magical Beast Enhancement Cards]—ten in total—and distributed them, one per beast.
The transformation began instantly. The green serpent shimmered with emerald light, its body swelling, horns sprouting from its head. In moments, it had become a jade-scaled flood dragon—majestic and serpentine.
Beside it, the white cat's limbs thickened, claws lengthened, fangs gleamed. It grew into a silver-white tiger, over a meter tall, its presence fierce and regal.
Gasps and awed whispers filled the air as everyone watched the beasts evolve before their eyes.
But the real surprise came from the demon wolf. Despite receiving an enhancement card, it showed no change at all. Shuo frowned, thinking, Maybe its base strength is too high for just one card?
He shrugged and used every remaining enhancement card on the wolf, one after another.
The effect was immediate—and explosive.
The wolf's fur blazed with gold, a third eye split open on its brow, and it threw back its head in a bone-rattling howl. The shockwave sent Kiyome and the others tumbling backwards, ears ringing.
Shuo stared, half in awe, half in disbelief.
Holy crap, did I just mutate this thing? A three-eyed golden wolf—and it's jumped all the way to high-class devil level. Guess I overdid it…
In less than a minute, Kiyome now had two mid-class magical beasts and one mutated, high-class three-eyed golden wolf at her command.
Rias and the others looked at Shuo as if he'd just rewritten the laws of nature. Their admiration was absolute.
Shuo grinned. "Alright, Kiyome—have your beasts spar with each other. Get a feel for their new abilities."
He addressed the group: "We've got all the time we need here. The oppressive environment isn't just for show—it'll toughen your minds and spirits, and it's perfect for magical growth. But don't forget to pace yourselves. Overtraining will only hurt you in the long run."
Rias and the others exchanged determined glances and broke off to begin their own training regimens.
Meanwhile, Shuo turned to his own plan.
"Hehehe, Koneko-chan, come here. Big bro's got a special lesson just for you," he called, a mischievous glint in his eye.
Koneko shivered, a dark line appearing on her face. Her voice was small but fierce.
"Nangong-senpai, you're such a creep. If you try anything weird, I'll…" She didn't finish, just raised her tiny fist in warning.
Shuo coughed, feigning innocence. "C'mon, Koneko, don't you trust me? This is hands-on training, nothing else." He glanced at the others, then led Koneko to a quiet corner.
"Alright, Koneko-chan, hit me with everything you've got. I want to see your strength and technique."
Koneko nodded, dropping into a fighting stance. "Understood. Be careful, Nangong-senpai."
She moved in a blur, fists flying in a storm of blows. Each punch cracked the air, power rippling out in shockwaves.
Shuo didn't budge. With a single motion, he caught her fist, then pulled her into his arms, one hand patting her back as he critiqued, "Too slow. It's way too easy to catch you like this."
Koneko flushed, wriggling free with a scowl. She leapt back, then launched a series of spinning kicks, each one packing serious force.
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