[Kiba Yuuto's Perspective]
"Right then. Let's get to work."
Maurice spoke as he folded his cloak and set it on the floor. He began a light warm-up, stretching his arms and performing a few deep lunges.
"Two hours in the outside world is a month in here. You might think that's a long time, but you'd be wrong. Think of it as only a month. Our opponents are those monsters."
The enemies in question were creatures that even the gods found difficult to handle: Trihexa and the army of Evil Dragons. And then, there was Assem.
If I were asked whether a single month of special training would allow my sword to reach them, the honest answer would be "no." We were in entirely different leagues.
And yet, in just one month, we had to acquire the strength to survive against those monsters—the power to protect what we held dear.
Maurice turned his gaze toward me.
"Yuuto. I heard you possess two Sacred Gears. Is that right?"
"Yes."
I possessed two: Sword Birth and Blade Brave. With them, I could manifest an infinite variety of demonic and holy swords.
"According to Azazel, your 'Knight King' form—that second-tier Balance Breaker... the output in that state is supposedly reaching the level of a Longinus, or at least a High-tier Longinus-class."
"My Sacred Gear… reaching the level of a Longinus?"
"So he says. I don't know much about those trinkets myself, but it means your power hides the potential to eventually rival the divine. After all, a Longinus is meant to be a 'God-Slayer,' isn't it?"
Sword Birth was a rare Sacred Gear, but it wasn't a Longinus. Even my "Holy-Demonic Sword," considered an irregular Balance Breaker, didn't reach that realm.
But could my second-tier Balance Breaker—The Knight King of Dual Supremacy—truly reach it? The realm where one could fell a god?
Seeing me lost in thought, Maurice offered a smirk.
"Well, it'll be a while before you're truly in that league. But it's worth keeping in the back of your mind. Now, as for your training... Yuuto, what is your greatest strength?"
My strength... That would be the speed of a Knight, and the versatility of my demonic and holy swords. Reaching the second tier had only amplified those traits.
"Exactly. Your power allows you to adapt to any situation. That's precisely what I want to reinforce. Which brings us to your goal, Yuuto."
"Sir."
"Bring Blade Brave to the second tier as well. Then, learn to draw even more power from your Knight King form. Consider these the bare minimum requirements."
I felt a jolt of shock.
Bring the Holy Sword Creation to the second tier...?
The thought hadn't even crossed my mind. To begin with, possessing two Sacred Gears was rare. Bringing two different Gears to Balance Breaker was unheard of.
And pushing a Balance Breaker to a higher dimension was an absolute anomaly. Even Azazel-sensei, who knew more about Sacred Gears than anyone, had called it an impossibility.
And he wanted me to do that... with my second Gear?
Maurice spoke to my stunned silence.
"It's not like it's impossible. You're already an anomaly. What's one or two more miracles between friends?"
Irina chimed in, sounding skeptical. "But can you really reach a 'second tier' just by trying?"
"Hell if I know."
"Wh—How can you be so reckless?! Honestly, he really is Issei-kun's master. They're identical in the worst ways."
I couldn't help but nod at Irina's remark. I suspected Issei's current personality owed a great deal to this man's influence.
"Look, the trigger for a Balance Breaker is different for everyone," Maurice said, scratching his head. He stepped forward and tapped a finger against my chest. "Yuuto, if you want to keep chasing Issei's back, you'd better learn to break your own limits. That kid didn't have a lick of talent. He only reached where he is now because he kept smashing through every wall in his way. If he can do it, there's no reason you can't. Give it a shot. If you want to catch up to that idiot, start there."
"...Yes, sir!"
My answer was firm. I would do it. I would break through the walls of my own limitations.
Maurice gave me a satisfied grin before turning his attention to Xenovia.
"Xenovia. Like old man Strada said, you're a natural-born combatant who can fight with one blade or two. You were chosen by the legendary holy swords, Durandal and Excalibur. Your latent potential is massive."
There had likely never been another wielder capable of dual-wielding Durandal and Excalibur. While Xenovia hadn't yet mastered the myriad abilities of Excalibur, I knew she was capable of it.
"Don't think; feel. The old man said it, and I agree. Instead of overthinking things, use your body and your blade to sense the battlefield. Use that decisiveness of yours to cut a path forward."
"Understood. No matter the opponent, the power of Durandal and Excalibur will—"
Maurice held up a palm, cutting her off.
"...I hope you realize that 'power' doesn't just mean swinging wildly, right? It's power born of intuition—of understanding your opponent. If you just charge in blindly, you're just asking to die. You get that, don't you?"
"I-I know that!"
"Didn't I just beat you senseless the other day because of that? Your decisiveness is your best trait, but your over-decisiveness is your worst. I told you not to think, but if you don't think at all, you're just a moron."
"Ugh... gh..."
Xenovia went red-faced, unable to offer a rebuttal. She fell silent, looking down.
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