The black Goliath's power was undoubtedly that of a Level 5. Coupled with its absurd regenerative ability, even adventurers of the same rank would find it a nightmare to deal with—let alone Tiona and Tione, who were still a level below.
Despite its towering, building-sized frame, the monster wasn't slow in the slightest. Its attacks came with terrifying speed, each strike carrying crushing force.
That thick, black hide covering its body resisted both physical and magical damage. Even first-tier weapons could only partially penetrate or get deflected outright.
But the worst part was its regeneration—so extreme it bordered on cheating. Unless its central Magic Stone was directly destroyed, every other wound would heal in seconds.
That meant unless you had the raw power to shatter the Magic Stone hidden inside its body, you had to first find a way to expose it. Otherwise, no matter how long you fought, you'd never bring the beast down.
"I know," Tione sighed, exasperated. "But Tiona said, 'If we can beat the black Goliath in another way, doesn't that mean we've gotten even stronger?'"
"I'll admit it—I got caught up in her logic. So I agreed to go fight the thing head-on in the Challenge Space."
"The result? Its attacks were mostly neutralized by the Holy Shroud, but our strikes barely made a dent. Even when we managed to hurt it, the damn thing healed right away."
"We tried every tactic we could think of, but nothing worked. We just couldn't kill it."
Just recalling the experience made Tione's scalp prickle.
If they'd run into that monster in the actual Dungeon, their only option would've been to flee.
They simply didn't have the strength to land a killing blow on something like that.
After an entire day of punishment, her body and mind had hit their limit. No wonder she'd slept terribly last night.
But that wasn't what annoyed her most.
After all, Tiona had been the one who suggested the fight. And since Tione had agreed, she couldn't really blame her sister for it.
She turned and looked at Tiona, still fast asleep, her breathing slow and peaceful. The corner of Tione's mouth twitched.
"She's the one who came up with the idea to fight that damn Goliath… and now she's sleeping like a baby."
"Meanwhile, I'm the one lying awake, fuming about it all night."
So that's the real reason you didn't sleep, huh?
Tsuna couldn't help but smile as understanding dawned.
It wasn't just about being tired—Tione was irritated that the troublemaker who'd dragged her into that fight was still snoozing away without a care.
Knowing that, Tsuna found it hard not to laugh, even as he looked at Tione's grumpy, worn-out face.
"Tione. Look down for a second."
"Huh?" She blinked in confusion but obeyed, tilting her head forward.
Tsuna lifted his hand, his fingertip burning with a soft golden flame, and pressed it lightly to her forehead.
The Dying Will Flame flowed into her body, spreading warmth through her limbs. It was the power of Activation—stimulating the body, restoring vitality, melting away exhaustion and pain.
In seconds, the fatigue that had weighed her down all morning was gone. Her soreness faded, and her mind cleared as if she'd just woken from the best sleep of her life.
Tione's eyes widened. "Tsuna, what was that? Magic?"
"You could call it a kind of magic," he said with a small smile. "It's a power I fully unlocked after I reached Level 2."
"And actually, that power's the reason I came to see you and Tiona today."
That caught her off guard. "Huh? What does that have to do with us?"
"That's what I want to find out," Tsuna replied. "If my theory's right, you and Tiona might be able to use this kind of power too. I wanted to talk to you about it—and maybe run a little test."
"I see." Tione's eyes lit up. "Then come in."
Before Tsuna could react, she grabbed his hand and pulled him into the room. Her amazon strength made resistance pointless.
He stumbled inside, glancing around just in time to see Tiona fast asleep on the bed, tangled in her blanket, hair spilling everywhere.
Always cheerful, always carefree... even when she's being reckless, Tsuna thought with a faint smile, pulling his gaze back to Tione.
Her eyes were sparkling now, brimming with curiosity. "So, what do I have to do?"
"It's nothing complicated," Tsuna said. "This power isn't unique to me. It's a kind of energy that exists in everyone—it's just that some people can control it naturally, and others can't."
"To put it simply…"
He spread his hand, revealing seven rings laid neatly across his fingers.
"Tione, put these on first. We'll figure out which type of energy resonates with you."
"Alright."
She took the seven rings and slid them onto her fingers, one by one.
"What now?"
"Give me your hands. I'll handle the rest."
Tione hesitated briefly, then placed her hands in his.
Tsuna closed his eyes and focused, channeling a faint trace of Dying Will Flame into her body—just enough to stir what was already inside her.
The reaction came almost immediately.
A vivid red and a brilliant gold light flared to life on two of the rings. The others stayed dark.
Just as I thought. Storm and Sun—the perfect match for her.
Tione stared at the glowing rings, eyes wide in awe. She could feel something stirring deep within her—a new kind of strength, alive and burning.
"This is the Dying Will Flame," Tsuna said softly. "The destructive nature of the Storm… and the life-giving power of the Sun. Two flames that couldn't suit you better."
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