"He's a dragon?!"
Armel was surprised when Ezyn transformed into his true form. A towering blue dragon whose wings span over the whole training field they were in appeared before him.
His previous strategy to use his extraordinary strength to put Ezyn at a disadvantage was now rendered useless when he couldn't penetrate Ezyn's thick hide.
"Look out!"
One of the Elemental siblings, Mara, shouted to Armel who's about to be stomped by Ezyn's dragon foot.
Heeding her warning, Armel cast an Elemental Spell which instantly propelled him backwards dodging Ezyn's foot.
However, his tail came next as it lashed out towards him. Armal swung his huge blade along with activating a defensive Elemental Spell with lower nodes to somehow reduce the attack he would receive.
When Ezyn's tail hit Armel's defensive Spell, it broke in an instant before it continued to hit his currently airborne body.
Helpless in that situation, Armel was flung back to the ground and skid for a few meters before tumbling a few times to stabilize his feet outside the designated training area.
"Armel is out of the Training Area. Ezyn wins!"
Elmer, as the referee, shouted which pulled back those other Elites who became silent after that display of strength.
Despite Ezyn's huge form, he could control it better than when he transformed into his human form. And due to that, those Elites of Humans, Elementals, and Luxians let out a sigh of admiration to his flexibility and his visage.
Since there were newcomers and they're someone from another world, the Elites wanted to try them out. And of course, Ezyn also liked the idea despite his wife telling him to calm down.
That guy didn't have a lot of competition in the World of Spirits after all. The closest he could get was Yumiko who already left him behind. There's also the Dark Elves but they're quick to retreat whenever they see him.
Here in this world, there's a lot who's at the same level as him.
"We are living in a small world, huh? Back there, he's supposedly the strongest. But here, he's just one of the many and not even considered as someone at the top."
Yse muttered as she sipped her tea which Fleur brewed while looking up to her husband growling like a dragon he is.
For now, they're currently treated as our guests but starting tomorrow, they'll both undergo the same rigorous training I am putting on the Elites.
Throughout the week and through the skirmishes some of them fought in, they started showing the fruits of their training. The old man Elmer, who's the closest to the threshold, was already about to merge his fifth Secondary Core.
We estimated before that it would take him a month but after about 2 weeks, he's already close to touching the threshold.
"That's normal. Because he didn't have that much competition in your world, his growth was most likely stunted. Also, there's no clear guidance on how to reach higher. The Spiritas were even looking for the Spirit Ocean. If not for that, you all would have long become Transcendents."
"Heh. I remember you're someone who didn't know a lot back then. How times have changed."
Yse smirked.
It's true though, I did grow from someone at the very bottom to now where I am even stronger than most of the Heroes.
Before, I don't know a lot but through continuous world-hopping, I started to understand the intricacies of each world.
"Because Daisuke is amazing, Yse."
Yumiko interjected before snuggling to my side again.
"I know. But you see, it's not even that long but there are three more women connected to him. Also, there are four faint threads that haven't solidified yet. His destiny will be converging with more women again."
Yse threw a meaningful glance around me where the four girls were either standing or listening in our conversation.
Haa… This dragon woman. I knew she would notice something, But for her to blurt it out like this…
"Four faint threads? Is it those four, darling?"
Sofiel don't put more oil into the fire, alright?
"I believe so. He also mentioned to me that he left that world without deciding what to do. Have you decided now, Daisuke?"
Ugh… Even you, Fleur? I put the decision at the back of my mind, you know?
"Sister Nysia called them Companion Candidates. If they all confessed, I'm sure Daisuke will accept them."
"Or Daisuke will tell them first how he's interested in them.
To fully bury the nail, Yumiko and Jayna also chipped in.
Haa… I couldn't deny all that but yeah, I'll decide upon meeting them again. Though I could interact with them whenever I send a Support Incarnation there, a day was not enough to meet them all. Just like the last time, I only saw Elise and Lunaria. Leianne was helping her grandfather to stabilize the Empire while Dannae was at the Scorched Forest being trained along with the other Rank S Pilots.
That half-Anzean already settled at the League while assuming her disguised self just for the meantime, especially now that the Healing Faction joined hands with the Dark World to attack the World. She would be discriminated against again if they found out her real identity. Also, as for her mother, she's still in a comatose state.
"I'm impressed they all know about it. But why are you not saying anything, Daisuke?"
Yse continued her probing. Now I don't know if she just wanted to tease me or she's hoping for another reaction.
"I never leave out anything when it concerns my Companions and what they said is something I will not deny. It's true that there are those four but for now… I'll make the decision when I meet them again with this body."
"I see. Well then. Seeing Yumiko still happy, I guess there's no need for me to worry."
That's it, eh? It's all for Yumiko. Well, I'm treating them all as the most important for me so there's really no need for her to worry.
-
-
After a day of training, some of the Elites requested to train inside the Virtual Simulation and since it's new for them, Ezyn and Yse also tried it.
As for the twins and the beast couple, they were already sent to fight in the ongoing skirmish.
When night came, fresh troops of the Noxians and Dark Worlds denizens were once again seen marching towards one of the three territories. This time, it was on Serenia where Arland and Hikari were on guard.
To help them in case the troops there weren't enough, Sofiel sent a thousand-man army with five Elites leading them.
Since they were also watching at the training area earlier, the four of them requested to be sent along with the Protectors. All of them were already at the last stage of Transformed Spirit Realm so they're hoping to breakthrough soon. For the twins, it's all for the sake of continuing to follow Yumiko while for the couple, they just wanted to become something like the Spirit King and Queen.
"Well then, I'm going to do my daily Absorption. If something happens, don't hesitate to interrupt me."
Like everyone, I never neglected a day of Absorbing more Energy but even so… the progress became extremely slow even if the amount I absorbed were more than what Sofiel absorbed normally.
As for my Adaptability, it's even slower. It only gained 2% progress after a week despite continuously using it for the Elite's training. Leveling up a Unique Ability was really a drag.
Though my Energy felt like it would never run out due to my Energy Control, the consumption during the battle was always high. If I'm an active fighter, I would be drained in less than five minutes. Fortunately, I'm a Support.
"Take your time, darling. We girls have a lot to talk about tonight."
"Well, as long as you all get along well together."
Looking at them, there's really nothing to worry about. Letting them interact whenever I used Interdimensional Communication helped lessened whatever jealousy they have towards each other.
-
-
As soon as I started the Absorption Session, my mind also started working to think about what to do next.
The current stalemate in this world needs to break. With the addition of Yumiko and Jayna to our Transcendent Roster, it's time to take the offensive.
Relying on the World's Will who's searching alone for the Portal wouldn't work anymore, since I'm the one who has the closest Energy Control ability to the World's Will, detecting the fluctuation of Energies is included in my skillset. With the two of us searching, closing those Dark World Zones would be easier.
I needed to talk to the World's Will again…
As soon as that thought passed by my mind, a familiar series of notifications appeared inside my mind.
[The World's Will has requested to meet you.]
[Generated Temporary Skill: Consciousness Travel]
[Do you want to use it?]
Is she observing me? Or is thinking about meeting her again triggered some kind of alarm? Or is it just a coincidence that we're thinking the same thing?
In any case, this is good too. While my body is actively absorbing here, I can send my consciousness up there.
"Yes."
Once I uttered my answer on the system notification, my vision turned white once again. As if I'm travelling inside a Portal or the Teleportation which Fleur always used, my consciousness arrived at the same place where I met her the first time.
With the setting sun as the background, the silver-haired woman stood next to me as she looked at that with a hint of melancholy in her eyes.
… If I'm not aware that she's the World's Will, I would've mistaken her as a real person. Wait. She didn't have this kind of expression before… Is her sentience evolving?
"You're here."
Taking her eyes off to what she was staring at, she turned her head to me and smiled.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l