"Ninety-nine, one hundred!"
Watching Stelle jump rope using a mech, both Welt and Xun Yu fell silent.
…Is she serious?
He'd thought Xun Yu was already abstract enough, but clearly there were greater masters out there.
The scene in front of him lingered in Welt's mind. He sighed helplessly.
Forget it. They're all our kids anyway—what else can we do?
Just spoil them~
Besides, compared to Xun Yu's frequent absurdity, Stelle's occasional nonsense was actually pretty nice.
The other Belobog researchers working near the Engine of Creation looked at the great heroes who had saved Belobog… doing something so bizarre, and couldn't process it.
Still… how did that gentleman just whoosh out such a huge mech?
Some kind of advanced tech?
A few researchers were itching to go over and ask, but clearly now wasn't the time, so none of them approached.
"Woohoo~"
"So refreshing!"
"Uncle Yang! Xun Yu! Is there anywhere with monsters to fight? I wanna try it out for real~"
Hearing Stelle's excited voice, Xun Yu nodded.
"There are still plenty of Fragmentum creatures on Jarilo that haven't been cleared. Perfect for you to practice."
"Mm… let's call Yanqing over too."
A look of helpless collapse flashed through Xun Yu's eyes.
Meanwhile, the loli version of Xun Yu was already completely broken inside.
March 7th tirelessly kept changing her into outfit after outfit, snapping photos each time…
Seeing the blank, broken look on Xun Yu, March 7th's lips curled upward.
Heh~ this is what happens when you mess with me!
After moving all the photos into a hidden album, she nodded in satisfaction.
Once she prints them out later, it'll be perfect!
Humming, March 7th bought all the clothes Xun Yu had tried on—using Xun Yu's money, of course.
She could use them to torment him later, or keep them for little Xun Yu back on the Express.
Once she finished everything, March 7th left in a great mood.
As for Xun Yu? She'd get back on her own~
Lying there, Xun Yu finally regained the light in her eyes.
Sigh… what even is my life…
And… did I corrupt March 7th?
…No, right?
She looked down at her current outfit—cat-ear maid…
Black history +n.
But it didn't matter. Xun Yu had prepared for this.
As long as I have no shame, I am invincible!
Returning to normal form and heading to the clone, Xun Yu tapped it and absorbed it back.
"Mm…"
"I should go gather some Fragmentum creatures first."
Otherwise, scattered around like this, there might not even be enough for Yanqing or Stelle alone.
Not long after…
Yanqing, now back to normal, and Stelle in the mech both fell silent.
They stared at the endless sea of Fragmentum creatures below their feet and pointed at themselves.
Huh? Just the two of us?
Even ants can kill an elephant. Their strength hadn't reached that level yet.
Eventually, they'd run out of stamina.
"Go on! If you don't even have the courage to face enemies, you might as well go home and sleep!"
Xun Yu said lazily, lollipop in her mouth.
"Alright. First trial: courage and endurance."
"Let the show begin."
Inside the mech, Stelle stroked her chin.
She didn't remember signing up for any trial!
"I understand, Teacher Xun Yu!"
Seeing Yanqing descend with his sword, Stelle's mouth twitched.
You understand what, exactly?!
Glancing at Xun Yu's "kind" expression—and the giant hammer in her hand—Stelle obediently charged down in the mech.
Forget it. With Xun Yu here, we won't die anyway.
I will sortie in Gundam form!
"ORA!"
"So good!"
She abandoned the mech's excellent weapon systems and went full fist-to-fist brawling.
Yanqing, as a sword prodigy, responded with elegant yet powerful sword techniques.
Watching the two with completely different styles, Xun Yu somehow produced a cup of tea and took a sip.
Then she took out an hourglass to time them.
When time was up, she snapped her fingers.
"Not bad. Now then—can you endure the second trial?"
Under their stunned gazes, the Fragmentum creatures began… combining.
"I form the head."
"I form the body."
"I form the arms and legs…"
It almost sounded like that in their ears.
One after another, massive fusion Fragmentum monsters surrounded them.
Looking up at the towering giants, Stelle's expression became colorful.
Welp. We've been scammed by Xun Yu…
"Hey! What are you standing around for?! Will your enemies show mercy because you're afraid? Because of size difference?!"
"If you don't want to be crushed into paste, move!"
Xun Yu shouted through a megaphone. In her other hand were countless invisible threads connected to the fusion monsters.
As she manipulated them, Stelle let out a piercing scream.
"Help! I'm being murdered!"
"Don't come any closer!!"
She suddenly remembered that chainsaw-versus-Nanook moment from the Simulated Universe.
But this was reality—if you died here, you died for real…
She was now absolutely certain Xun Yu was just bored and messing with them!
Unlike Stelle, Yanqing believed Teacher Xun Yu had a reason.
Stelle: I think she just has issues!
So he couldn't disappoint his teacher.
Facing the giant before him, Yanqing's eyes sharpened.
Time seemed to slow. A realization dawned.
He… had an epiphany.
"The divine is the extreme of change!"
As the Taixu Sword God descended from the heavens, Xun Yu was the one left stunned.
…Seriously?
A genius among geniuses?!
He just… leveled up on the spot?
That's a cheat!
Uh oh. I didn't prepare a third trial…
Is the session over?
Of course not.
As countless beams of light shot upward, Yanqing and Stelle watched in disbelief as the defeated fusion monsters revived…
This time glowing brilliantly.
Stelle rubbed her chin.
Why do I suddenly feel like we're the villains?
Oh. She got it.
Xun Yu never intended for them to win.
Even if they beat these radiant fusion monsters, she'd probably make dark versions, rainbow versions…
Seeing Yanqing exhausted but unwilling to give up, Stelle shook her head and grabbed him with the mech, turning to run.
"Xun Yu, help!"
Stelle: I've given you the cue. Your turn~
Xun Yu nodded and pulled them both back.
"Yanqing. There are things human strength cannot accomplish. Don't just charge forward blindly—learn to adapt."
"As long as the green hills remain, there'll be firewood. Do you understand?"
Watching the radiant fusion monster approach, Yanqing lowered his head.
"I understand."
"Good. After this, I'll give you special training."
Satisfied, Xun Yu took out a mask.
Her Fool mask.
Putting it on, her entire aura changed.
"I weep for the departed…"
Three slashes, one great cut—then an eternal night!
In an instant, four strikes merged into one blade of light and cleaved outward.
After destroying the target, the momentum continued—skimming past a corporate ship in space and slicing through several abandoned planets…
Welt, who had rushed over after sensing the Taixu Sword God, arrived just in time to see that familiar figure unleash that world-shaking slash.
He wiped sweat from his forehead and comforted himself.
It's fine. It's fine.
It's definitely Xun Yu again…
It's fine…