"Alright, time for the final grand prize!" Shuo declared, holding up the card for all to see.
The air buzzed with anticipation. The last two rewards had dropped from ordinary devils and monsters—impressive, but nothing earth-shattering. But this card? It came from the Yamata-no-Orochi, a beast out of legend. Every eye locked onto Shuo's hand, hungry for a miracle.
He crushed the card.
A blinding golden light erupted, shooting skyward in a pillar that split the clouds. The ground trembled. Awe and terror rippled through the group.
"What's happening?!"
"Wait—no way. Is that…that sword? Impossible! It vanished ages ago—how could it be here now?"
Rias's composure shattered. Her eyes went wide, shock and disbelief battling on her face. She recognized the sword instantly—and that recognition was terrifying.
Shuo just stared, slack-jawed. "You've got to be kidding. This is insane!"
Floating before them, bathed in holy radiance, was the legendary blade—Excalibur. Not the alchemical imitation known worldwide, but the true Star Holy Sword, forged by the planet itself. Born from crystallized faith deep within the earth, this sword existed to protect the world itself.
Had his luck finally turned?
Shuo burst out laughing, nearly giddy. "I knew it—today's my lucky day!"
The rest of the group could only gape, stunned into silence.
Rias quickly turned to Yuuto, her voice urgent. "Yuuto, this sword isn't like the ones made by human hands—it's—"
Yuuto cut her off, his expression complicated. "President, I know what you're getting at. Don't worry, I understand what this sword means. It's just…seeing a legend come to life is hard to process."
Who could blame him? No one expected the mythical Star Holy Sword to appear like this. It defied belief.
Under their dazed gazes, the sword descended, golden light swirling around Shuo's hand. He reached out and grasped it. Power surged through him—his blood felt like molten fire, his body thrummed with limitless strength.
Rias and the others crowded around, hearts pounding. "Shuo-kun, what's happening…?"
Shuo flashed a mischievous grin. "Guess I'm the new master of the Star Holy Sword. Maybe I really am King Arthur reborn, huh?"
A beat passed. The group actually paused to consider it, heads bowed in thought.
Shuo sweatdropped. "Hey, I was just joking! Don't take it so seriously."
But from the looks on their faces, his friends were already halfway convinced. Shuo sighed, giving up—let them believe what they wanted.
After a quick team huddle, they settled on a strategy—one that guaranteed victory.
In the blink of an eye, they found themselves back in the Time Chamber, the Devil Party over.
The familiar pressure returned, weighing on their bodies. Kiyome Abe glanced up from her training, curiosity shining in her eyes.
"So? Was the Devil Party fun? Did you score any cool rewards?"
The group launched into a detailed retelling—twists, close calls, the Yamata-no-Orochi, and the legendary sword. Kiyome listened, envy and disappointment flickering across her face.
Shuo caught her mood. He took her hand and planted a gentle kiss on her cheek. "What's wrong, Kiyome? Upset I didn't bring you along? Don't worry—next time, I'll take you with me. Just the two of us."
Kiyome's face went crimson, words tangled on her tongue. The other girls exchanged glances, but kept their comments to themselves.
Shuo rallied the team. "Alright, everyone—back to training! When the Rating Game hits, we'll show that turkey exactly what we're made of!"
Excitement surged through the group. Who would've thought that in a single day, their power would leap so far?
They dove back into their hellish regimen.
Two days passed in the real world. Inside the Time Chamber, their training arc wrapped up in style.
Rias could now wield Destruction Magic with total control, her strength stabilized at Ultimate-Class Devil level.
Koneko's martial arts and Kiyome's beast-taming skills had both evolved dramatically. Akeno and Yuuto had broken through to High-Class Devil status.
Yuuto, though, had it rough. As the lone guy, Shuo didn't hold back—he summoned lightning from the sky to "motivate" Yuuto's training. Every day for two years, Yuuto finished his sessions sprawled on the ground, battered and bruised. The girls couldn't help but pity him—even the audience would shed a tear at the sight.
"Shuo, with this power, I could crush Riser Phoenix." Rias flexed her fingers, marveling at the strength coursing through her.
Akeno grinned. "Ara ara, Rias is feeling confident. But I won't let you outpace me."
Shuo waved a hand. "Alright, alright. Outside, only two days have passed, but in here, it's been nearly two years. You've all built up a ton of pressure—let's take the last five days to relax."
Relief and excitement swept through the group. If not for the looming Rating Game, they would've taken a break ages ago.
(PS: Nearly 120,000 words written so far—thanks for sticking with me! The new book is almost here, so please send tips, votes, and flowers! Your support is my motivation!)
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