Underground Garrison.
Hidden Management Zone.
After passing through the gate guarded by the Gundam, Luo Shu stepped directly into the realm of the Divine Kingdom.
In the vast white space, Luo Shu led Natsuki forward for a short while before spotting a brown wooden door at the end of the path.
The two stopped before the door.
Natsuki glanced up at it and remarked calmly:
"So this is the gateway to the Dream Simulation Chamber? Looks rather ordinary."
"Ordinary? Then let's make it extraordinary."
Luo Shu grinned, first examining the brown wooden door before snapping his fingers.
Instantly, the door expanded, becoming tall and imposing, adorned with intricate, mysterious dark-gold patterns.
In mere moments, the plain brown door transformed into something else entirely—a strange portal that seemed to lead to a mystical world.
Though he still couldn't fully control the Divine Kingdom's space, altering minor structures like this was something he could easily manage.
After the door transformed, Natsuki Minamiya carefully examined the portal, tapped her fan against her hand, and said:
"Suddenly, I feel the previous door wasn't so bad after all."
"If you're looking for a fight, just say it outright."
Luo Shu sighed helplessly, then stepped forward and placed his hand on the door.
Instantly, a soft white light flared up, filling their entire field of vision in the blink of an eye.
When the light dissipated...
Before their eyes stood an ancient tower.
The tower's surface bore the colour of yellow earth, its outer layer carved with numerous ancient murals of unknown significance.
Following those murals, a spiral corridor coiled around the tower like a vortex, resembling a giant serpent winding its body upwards.
The ancient tower stood in the eastern part of their vision, like a pillar connecting heaven and earth.
Gazing at the seemingly near yet distant tower, Natsuki Minamiya stared for a long while before speaking:
"So this is the Dream Simulation Chamber?"
"It seems after my promotion to Hero Rank, this place has changed quite a bit. At least before, it was just a sea of white mist."
Luo Shu surveyed their surroundings briefly before making a decision and striding forward:
"Let's go see how Eriri's training is coming along."
"Don't use such misleading phrases so casually."
Natsuki Minamiya grumbled under her breath as she quickly caught up to Luo Shu.
Within the Divine Kingdom, distance held no meaning for Luo Shu.
With a single thought, he crossed vast distances in one step, arriving before the towering spire.
He first looked up at the impossibly vast tower filling his vision, then lowered his gaze towards its base.
The moment his eyes shifted, Luo Shu saw numerous vortex-like portals formed from pale mist at the tower's foundation.
"Is this the entrance?" Natsuki Minamiya teleported behind Luo Shu, peering curiously.
Just as Luo Shu was about to nod, he sensed something and said:
"Someone's coming out."
As the words left his mouth...
From one of the pale mist portals at the tower's base, a vortex slowly formed.
The instant the vortex took shape, a figure emerged.
Jet-black hair tied into uneven pigtails with crimson-black ribbons, dressed in a gothic lolita dress of black accented with red.
Like some mysterious and dangerous fairy, the figure stepped out of the vortex into their view.
"So it's you, Kurumi."
Seeing the newcomer, Luo Shu's face broke into a smile.
Yet this expression hadn't lingered long before Luo Shu noticed something amiss.
The makeup and attire were unchanged, but this Kurumi's expression seemed... somewhat silly?
Meanwhile, the Kurumi Tokisaki emerging from the vortex also noticed them, immediately jumping back in surprise with an audible gasp.
"Eek~!"
When she recovered, she promptly placed her hands on her hips and shouted angrily:
"Wait a minute! What are you two playing at? Popping up like that - are you trying to scare someone to death?"
"Something seems off." Natsuki Minamiya stepped forward to stand beside Luo Shu.
After a moment's contemplation, Luo Shu asked uncertainly:
"Eriri?"
"No way..." Kurumi Tokisaki, who had her hands on her hips, widened her eyes in disbelief. "You recognised me at first glance?"
"How did you manage that?"
"Let's not dwell on that for now."
Hearing the question, Luo Shu instead gave Eriri a strange look and couldn't help but ask:
"Why have you taken on Kurumi's appearance?"
"That's because..."
As Eriri began to explain, an elegantly modulated female voice emerged from the swirling vortex.
"It's thanks to the Dream Simulation Chamber's recommendation."
The real Kurumi Tokisaki stepped out from the white mist portal, taking graceful steps forward until she stood before Luo Shu, smiling:
"Sawamura-san's Transformation is far more interesting than I imagined."
"How so?" Luo Shu grew curious upon hearing this.
Kurumi Tokisaki took a step back and glanced at Eriri:
"Sawamura-san, you might need to demonstrate."
"Don't blame me if it's not perfect."
Eriri, still bearing Kurumi's appearance, muttered under her breath before suddenly raising her hands above her head:
"Zafkiel!!"
As the words left her lips, a loud click echoed, and a massive golden clock materialised behind Eriri...
While two mismatched flintlock pistols appeared in her hands.
"What?"
Natsuki Minamiya stared at the scene in shock before turning to Luo Shu.
"Don't look at me, I don't know either."
Luo Shu's face twitched before he sighed and addressed Kurumi Tokisaki:
"Is this something the Dream Simulation Chamber can simulate?"
"By taking someone's form, you gain their abilities?"
"Are you sure this is still just Excellent Rank Transformation?"
Kurumi tapped her chin with thumb and forefinger before replying:
"Essentially, yes. However, since Eriri's ability is only at the Excellent Rank, the power she mimics is merely superficial. At most, she can only replicate my abilities at Common Rank."
"That is to say, the state of the Spirit Class."
As she spoke, Kurumi approached Eriri and stroked the cheek identical to her own, smiling:
"So under this Transformation, all Eriri gains are basic physical enhancements, adaptability to Spiritual Power, and a partial sensitivity to time."
Hearing this, Natsuki Minamiya pondered briefly before asking:
"There must be conditions for this Transformation, right?"
"Indeed."
Kurumi nodded and explained:
"If it's just changing appearances, Eriri only needs to have seen the person in question."
"But to replicate abilities, she must hear the target verbally describe their powers, and the replicated abilities will be one rank lower than her Transformation."
"As for the exact degree of degradation, we haven't fully tested it yet."
"Using Luo Shu as a benchmark, Demigod Rank Transformation could mimic Luo Shu at Hero Rank, Hero Rank becomes Elite Rank, with some Class abilities replicated too..."
Natsuki trailed off, casting a meaningful glance at Eriri, her expression growing increasingly peculiar.
Noticing Natsuki's look, Eriri stamped her foot, her twin black pigtails swaying vigorously.
"Wait a moment, Teacher Natsuki, what's with that look in your eyes?"
"You're not thinking bad things about me in your heart, are you? Definitely not, right?"
At that moment, Luo Shu, beside her, acted as a translator:
"What Natsuki's eyes are saying is: what a waste to give this ability to you!"
"Huh?"
Eriri Spencer Sawamura's expression instantly collapsed, twisting grotesquely.