Days flew by. Training. No live combat. Grayfia pushing for physical reinforcement through Mana and Touki.
Between Grayfia's lessons, Sam sparred with Koneko, Yumi, and Akeno.
Koneko was teaching Sam Touki control, Yumi was refining his swordsmanship, and Akeno was helping Sam with his ranged defense along with Mana control.
Asia helped him with his physical training, her growing expertise with the Grimoire of White Mage allowing Sam to recover faster and push himself harder and longer.
Rias was… absent for most of the training. Grayfia mentioned specialized training so Sam just brushed it off.
But it still felt off, not seeing all of the group most days.
As for Tiche? She was being trained exclusively by Grayfia.
The demoness had underestimated her. Once their initial spar concluded, Grayfia showed a slight level of discomfort.
Esdeath stayed in the system space. Sam had neither an excuse nor a plan to introduce her yet.
Especially with how she seemed more volatile than Tiche.
In terms of progressing his abilities…
Lightning Claws had reached 50% Mastery.
Lightning Breath had reached 30% Mastery.
Energy Regeneration had reached 45% Mastery.
Reactive Activation had reached 35% Mastery.
Exoskeleton had reached 75% Mastery.
Iracus' Folly had reached 10% Mastery.
Godspeed had seen the biggest increase all the way to 40% Mastery.
Railgun hadn't been incorporated into Sam's fighting style yet so its progress stayed at 0%.
As for his Skills, Intimidation and Intermediate Persuasion were of little use to train.
Muay Thai and his Novice Blade Weapon Mastery were his real focus.
Due to Muay Thai being Sam's primary fighting style, it had reached an exaggerated 80% Mastery under Grayfia's pressure.
Novice Blade Mastery had reached 35% Mastery, a much slower ordeal.
His progress toward his peak, High Superhuman according to Gym Nuts stats, was already over halfway. He had his traits to thank for the rapid gains, along with Asia's constant healing.
But training aside, Akeno pulled Sam aside as much as she could while "hiding" their activities.
The reason being that she told Sam that she wanted to 'feel like a mistress'.
Honestly, it confused Sam but it saved him some trouble. Koneko was suspicious but Asia and Yumi were blissfully unaware.
Grayfia ignored them, not exactly caring, but Sam could feel she was ramping up to tease them at any moment.
On day eight, 6 days before the showdown with Riser, Grayfia allowed Sam to go back into live combat.
Using Empath to regulate himself there were no issues with Draconic Escalation.
That night, Sam felt a pulse from the system. When he opened it, a chill rolled through the room as Esdeath summoned herself in.
"My my~ It's rude to keep a lady waiting, Master."
"Esdeath…" Sam felt the cold bristle across his skin as she stepped closer.
Blue hair. Tall thanks to her boots, nearly eye level with him, yet somehow feeling taller. The clothes she wore fit her well, confident or unbothered. Likely both.
"Hmm? You feel stronger~" She tapped a finger to Sam's chin.
Sam's hand shot out to grip hers. "You can stop that."
Despite this, Sam felt his heartbeat speed up.
Not for beauty, but danger.
Esdeath narrowed her eyes as she looked at her hand in his. "Bold."
Sam's hand gained a layer of frost even as heat spread through his chest. Empath flared with warning. Killing intent.
Esdeath's hand pushed onto his chest. "You're getting warmer, am I affecting you that much?"
"You're doing this on purpose." His temperature rose as heat flowed from his chest to his limbs.
"Of course I am. You turned up the heat, now you're getting cold?" She pushed harder onto his chest, cold seeping in despite its heat.
Sam hissed at the sudden cold, steam escaping his mouth.
"What's your game… Didn't I already show you my strength?" He grabbed her wrist, yanking her hand away with force this time.
Esdeath's eyes widened, surprised. "Stronger than I thought? No… you grew too fast."
She slightly struggled in his grip so he dragged her arm up above her head, stepping to push his chest to hers.
"Exactly why you shouldn't play games, Esdeath."
"Spoilsport~"
The room immediately heated up as she withdrew her ice.
"Are you going to do something with that hand or is this a special of yours?"
Sam let go of her hand, which came down to rest on his shoulder.
"Enough games. You want something? Say it."
Esdeath tilted her head, amused. "Fine, I want out. That… place is not fun to be stuck in."
Sam sighed. If only I could.
He stepped back from her. "I can't. Not without too many questions being asked. They already asked about Tiche, I barely came up with an excuse."
Esdeath tapped her chin. "Well, do find a solution soon, else I might just not go back~"
"You are trouble. Potentially too much trouble."
Esdeath smiled, a look promising something as she disappeared into the system space.
Damn it. How do I explain **her*?*
***
(Rias POV)
Rias had spent time in the study, digging through texts about reincarnated souls.
Proper reincarnated souls did not carry anything from their past lives.
Reincarnation through Evil Pieces was transformative, not miraculous.
Sacred Gears could be carried on into a soul's reincarnation, but abilities that weren't sacred gear? No known examples, at least in what she had searched through.
What in the world is Sam…
Rias rubbed her temples as she closed a book.
Grayfia had reported that Sam runs hotter now, but compared to his 'incident' from before it was basically nothing.
But a Gold Dragon… not much knowledge for that in terms of confirmed dead ones. Unless unnamed…? But why would they be special to keep a trace of their former self?
The more Rias thought, the more she seemed to spiral into the impossibility of Sam's situation.
With a groan she stood, walking to put up the book she was done with.
She heard the door open behind her. "Who is it?"
"It's me, Dear." Venelana Gremory spoke as she walked to the desk, picking up one of the books.
"Souls?"
Rias turned to look at her mother. "Yes. Things have gotten… impossible. I wanted to prepare based on what Grayfia reported."
Venelana smiled as she put the book down. "So it's to help your Sam~"
Rias's face gained some pink. "You're impossible, mother."
"But you are focusing on things you can't change, unless he accepts being reincarnated with one of your pieces."
Rias sighed. "He's already refused in his own way. Besides with the innate Holy Energy, it's best to avoid complications."
Venelana's smile widened as she hugged Rias. "Then support him. In your own way, and to do that, you need strength."
"I know, mother…"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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