Hidden Management Zone, within the Divine Kingdom.
Under a darkened sky.
Streaks of crimson-black lightning crisscrossed the heavens, emitting continuous rumbles.
Dazzling thunderbolts flashed across the horizon as a massive golden clock intermittently appeared in the sky, accompanied by deafening roars.
The entire darkened sky bore patches resembling shattered glass from the colossal forces clashing.
In the deserted city below.
Asuna Yuuki stared blankly at the celestial spectacle, murmuring in disbelief:
"Is this something humans can actually do?"
Ayano Kannagi, observing as part of her training, was drenched in cold sweat:
"Demigods clashing can actually alter the heavens like this?"
Compared to Asuna, who was new to the mystic side, Ayano could perceive much more.
The ever-present sense of mortal danger, the barely perceptible collisions of immense power.
Frankly, if she didn't know they were currently in the Dream Simulation Chamber, that this was all a dream, Ayano would have fled long ago.
As another thunderous boom echoed, Asuna glanced hesitantly at Ayano before curiosity got the better of her:
"Ayano... can you also do this? Just wave your hand and shatter the sky?"
Ayano immediately protested:
"Who the hell could do something like that?!"
Asuna looked puzzled, "But didn't you use to work with Director Luo Shu?"
Ayano's face flushed as she replied sheepishly:
"Ahem! We did work together, but back then Luo Shu wasn't this terrifying..."
She added in a mix of frustration and melancholy:
"He didn't even seem stronger than me before... how did the gap become this huge in just a few months..."
Before Ayano could finish complaining, the celestial tremors abruptly ceased.
Two beams of light crashed down with a thunderous roar, landing right before the pair.
As the light dissipated, Asuna Yuuki's face flushed crimson when she saw Luo Shu standing there, his short-sleeved top shredded into ribbon-like strips that barely clung to his body, revealing countless white scars crisscrossing his torso.
Instinctively, she averted her gaze.
Only to immediately regret it when she caught sight of Kurumi Tokisaki beside him - her chest sporting a gaping hole through which one could faintly glimpse a still-beating heart, yet her expression remained eerily composed.
'This... this is worse than looking at the Director...'
The gruesome sight sent Asuna whipping her head back towards Luo Shu, her face now deathly pale.
Meanwhile, Luo Shu, having just finished training, tugged at the tattered remains of his sportswear and complained:
"Was spatial severing really necessary for a simple physical capability test?"
Kurumi pressed a finger to her lips, pouting dramatically at him:
"But Luo Shu-kun specifically requested I go all out, no? And let's not forget how ruthlessly you counterattacked with lethal strikes~"
"Can't blame me for retaliating after taking that hit," Luo Shu retorted as he stripped off the now-useless garment, revealing his well-defined upper body.
Fortunately, Kurumi had primarily targeted vital areas, such as his heart and head, leaving his lower garments intact. For a man, baring his torso wasn't particularly embarrassing, so Luo Shu remained unfazed.
Kurumi's solution proved far simpler. Summoning Zafkiel, she nonchalantly shot herself in the forehead, startling both Asuna and Ayano Kannagi as her injuries reversed to their pre-combat state.
Yet the moment her wounds vanished, Kurumi's brow furrowed:
"Hmm? The time cost increased over thirtyfold... Was this your doing, Luo Shu?"
During their clash, Luo Shu had suddenly employed an unusual ability that pierced her heart instantly, leaving her critically wounded. That this mysterious power could also exponentially increase the time consumption made things... interesting.
As Kurumi's mind raced for countermeasures, Luo Shu appeared considerably more relaxed. Though Kurumi's spatial-temporal kiting tactics had frustrated him, the all-out battle had left him exhilarated - like finally relieving pent-up pressure.
"I call it Fatal Strike - a core ability of the Child of Apocalypse," Luo Shu explained cheerfully, rolling his shoulders. "Let's wrap up training here. I've got afternoon commitments."
His gaze shifted to Asuna and Ayano: "So it was you two on morning sparring duty today! How's Class power treating you?"
"W-well, I've started sensing traces of light..." Asuna stammered before adding quietly, "Though it still feels unfamiliar."
Luo Shu nodded approvingly at this expected progress:
"There's no helping it. The Spirit Class is like this at the Common level, only possessing some passive-like abilities. It gets much better at the Excellent level."
Asuna Yuuki's Class was a lower-tier version of the High Tier Class Metatron, reverse-engineered by Origami Tobiichi using Tokisaki's research on Classes and the Class derivation function.
Being a downgraded version, it didn't cost many points, but among High Tier Classes, it was still considered powerful.
However, perhaps because powerful Classes tend to be weak at the Common level, after Asuna Yuuki changed to Spirit, she only gained passive abilities like delayed ageing and light attribute affinity, so she was still in the stage of getting used to Spiritual Power.
Luo Shu changed into a new black short-sleeved shirt and said with a smile:
"You could try asking Kurumi for advice. She's good at clones and knows very well how to control power during the weak stage."
"Yes, Director." Asuna Yuuki replied respectfully, seemingly still not used to communicating with Luo Shu.
Compared to a newcomer like Asuna, Luo Shu was much more casual with Ayano Kannagi:
"Ayano..."
Ayano slightly raised her head, as if waiting for Luo Shu's lecture.
However, Luo Shu just glanced at her and sighed:
"Never mind, there's nothing to say to you."
"Huh?" Ayano exploded instantly upon hearing this, "What do you mean by that? What do you mean there's nothing to say?"
"Exactly what it sounds like." Luo Shu said with a look of disdain: "I heard Kotoko Iwanaga called you a blockhead all night."
"Even the divine flames awakened through Familia inheritance - you can't even use them consistently. That's really something."
"You're just a brute!"
"Honestly, just spar with Kurumi's clones and use that terrible physical instinct of yours to learn your abilities."
Ayano angrily took out Enraiha, almost slashing Luo Shu with it:
"What do you mean terrible physique? This is a perfect maidenly figure! If you can't speak properly, then don't speak at all, you perverted bastard Director!"
"I'll cut you down!!"
"Oh, how impressive." Luo Shu said sarcastically, then casually waved: "Time's almost up. Kurumi, I'll leave educating this blockhead to you!"
"Who are you calling a blockhead?!"
Ignoring Ayano's shouting, Luo Shu directly exited the Dream Simulation Chamber.
When he opened his eyes again, he was already in the underground Hidden Management Zone.
The first thing he saw upon opening his eyes was Megumi Kato, who seemed to have been waiting there for a while.
"Good afternoon, Kato. Have you had lunch?"
"I have, Director."
Dressed in office suit attire with black thigh-high stockings, Megumi calmly held some files and said:
"There's about 15 minutes until Fujiwara-san arrives. Shall we return to the office to work first?"
"Let's head back then, might as well deal with some paperwork." Luo Shu said while tilting his head and stretching. "By the way, I remember Chika said she'd bring a friend over to visit?"
"She was being mysterious on the phone. Who did she bring along?"
Megumi sighed: "Shouldn't you be asking Fujiwara-san that question?"
"Besides, you'll see for yourself soon enough, won't you?"
"That's true." Luo Shu suddenly understood, then smiled as he walked towards the elevator, saying, "Seems like I'll have to look forward to it a bit more."