After finishing the day's work, Sawada Tsunayoshi returned to his room.
He drew the curtains and clicked on the magic-stone lamp. A warm amber glow soaked the walls—just the sort of quiet that lets a mind untie its knots.
"Things are unfolding almost exactly as I pictured."
"My ability really is pushing the whole familia forward. Even the ones who were stuck have finally let that pressure bleed off—talent and potential are surfacing because they're squeezing themselves harder."
"In a single month, the people who'd stalled out have earned the right to move again."
"Next, the floor of our familia will keep rising—first everyone at Lv.3, then a fair number at Lv.4."
"Once we reach that step, we'll finally be a match for the Freya Familia."
"Same as I projected: after the first upgrade, the run from Lv.2 to Lv.3 is when they'll grind the hardest for ability points."
There hadn't been an environment harsh enough to push constant progress before.
Now there is. Naturally, ability values go up.
"After that first jolt—once they're sure advancement is real—the focus turns to self-management."
"When people realize that training in that environment can patch over gaps in talent and potential, more of them will chase full stats."
"Finn and the others won't be exceptions."
"In the past, they didn't raise their numbers because they had no way to. Not doing it now would just be waste."
"For a long stretch ahead, they'll build their paths from Lv.2 up."
That was how Tsunayoshi saw the futures of most who'd just broken through to Lv.2.
Self-management.
After the excitement fades, that becomes the plan for nearly everyone.
Some will still try to rush their levels, but when feats aren't enough to keep going, even their adrenaline will taper off, and they'll start thinking longer-term.
It's the natural trend.
He wasn't an exception either.
Only, his preparation wasn't just about raising numbers. With Lv.1's experience in hand, he didn't need to wring himself dry anymore—steady gains would be enough.
His task was to make "Beast Creation" pull more weight as he climbed.
Stabilize the forms it makes. Explore more ways to use them.
And dig into his own power.
Sky Flames.
In his original world, Sky Flames were the root.
Those who couldn't ignite them on their own could use resolve—and an external medium—to kindle their fire.
Tsunayoshi flexed a thought. Fourteen rings bloomed on the desk, each with a different cut and color.
There were the Vongola Rings, etched with the family crest and set with stones that symbolized the Seven Flames of the Sky—and the Mare Rings, each with a jewel and little wings on both sides.
He lifted the two Sky rings. With just that touch, a soft orange blaze of the Sky licked to life around them.
"Mm. Not bad. The purity of the flame rises. Easier to guide the power out."
"But… not much use to me."
Since his flames had become "magic," he'd obtained the purest form of Sky Flame there was. Drawing out its traits was always just a decision away.
Maybe that's the advantage of Sky Flames as an evolved ability in his case.
For him, it's either not moving at all—or starting from the finish line.
He'd been handed the Flame at its most refined.
Because of that, he didn't need the rings for himself.
"What I don't know is whether these rings can guide people of this world to awaken Sky Flames."
"We can test it."
The first two who came to mind were Tiona and Tione.
They were the closest to him, which made asking for help simple—and their temperaments were sharply defined.
…
Tiona was all open smiles and easy energy, strong as a bull, with a knack for turning pain into power. She fit the "clear sky" temperament like a glove.
Tione's core burned hot, even if her surface was calm and rational; she favored a more explosive, frontal style. That made her a match for "clear sky," and for something wilder—"storm," perhaps even "wind."
A ring could use a person's resolve to better guide the wave of a Dying Will Flame.
And if adventurers had anything in surplus, it was resolve.
If Tiona and Tione succeeded, it would mean these "waves" of Sky Flames weren't unique to one world.
If it worked, the familia's strength would jump again—useful for whatever walls waited ahead.
If it failed, he'd dissect the failures and use his ability to invert what he could.
"Beast Creation" gave him plenty of room to make mistakes and learn.
"Alright. Tomorrow I'll find Tiona and Tione and test it."
Over the past month, the two had maxed their stats early. Once it was clear Agility and Dexterity wouldn't budge further, they'd practically lived in the challenge space.
With Loki's rule in place, they'd have to take a break anyway.
Perfect timing.
"After that… I need to develop arms that actually help me."
"No matter what, I can't hide in the shadows forever."
"And if someone drags me onto the stage before I'm ready, that could get messy."
"So beyond the basics, I need tools to bridge this gap I'm in."
He didn't have to overthink it. Two artifacts came to mind at once—one red, one white.
A gauntlet that doubled power every ten seconds, and wings that halved the enemy's every ten seconds.
One to amplify himself. One to weaken the opponent.
On top of that, "flight" wasn't a bad perk. Even after he crossed this soft spot in his growth, either artifact could stay as a trump card.
"The Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet. The White Dragon Emperor's Light Wings… time to develop them properly."
(End of Chapter)
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