The true dungeon Kai had gone to two years ago, when he simply left with a few companions in secret, was undoubtedly considered a high-rank mission. When they returned, of course, they received a huge scolding from the teachers.
Thanks to that dungeon, he unlocked his unique ability, along with the level increase of his companions. And of course, to convince them to go, he simply said that it was Enrico who told him. At that time, they were impressed he knew about it, but when they heard it was Enrico, the girls easily accepted that he knew.
He went with the companions Enrico considered the most important, such as Elian, the girls, and there was also a guy who followed them secretly — actually three, being Lan and his two subordinates. It was quite annoying, but they mentioned that Enrico had asked them to follow his companions on that specific date.
'Now that I think about it, it's amazing that all it takes is mentioning him for me to accept things so easily.'
Of course, they asked for proof they were telling the truth, and they offered it by delivering a letter with a message for Kai, saying he needed at least ten companions.
'After that message, I also brought Giulio and Camila.'
Kai was swinging his sword in the training field, slicing through some metal dummies since today's classes had ended. He now had only one thought: completely eliminate that cult — something surprising, since in the original story Kai only began killing people near the end, after so many disasters.
'I can't let any of them live when he comes back. I can't risk him having to repeat that action to protect us.'
Cutting fifteen dummies with a single movement, a small irritation appeared on his face. He wasn't going to kill them just to protect Enrico when he returned — Kai wanted to kill them out of spite, because without a doubt, inside that barrier, wounds and near-death experiences must have become normal for him.
'Touch him, and it's the same as trying to kill someone special to me, and that I cannot accept.'
Infusing light magic into his sword, he made thirty slashes at once, shattering the training dummies into several pieces and continuing to cut until nothing was left.
'And that's exactly what I want to happen to them.'
Placing his sword back into its sheath, he began walking out of the field, but then stopped, drew his sword again, returned, and took an attacking stance, holding his father's sword with both hands.
"Zero Movement."
Even though Kai was standing still, a slash appeared in the air in front of him — this was the unique ability he obtained in that dungeon. This ability gave him the capacity for another invisible Kai to move in a different dimension.
'Dimensional Duplicate.'
Placing his hand on his knee, he exhaled deeply because he tried to move while his copy attacked, something still difficult for him.
'It seems this unique ability overloads someone from Circle Five too much.'
In that dungeon he went with the others, he had assumed the identity of a commoner summoned for a war, so his battle experience grew significantly during the two months he spent there.
The purpose of that dungeon was that damned war that would end several races. The good thing was that they succeeded thanks to defeating the cause of that war — the one they were fighting.
'The body I inhabited was Circle Five, so it helped me get used to reaching this level quickly.'
Just like him, most who went to the dungeon also took the bodies of Circle Five mages, giving them an advantage over the other students.
'Even so, this advantage isn't enough to reach Circle Six faster, which frustrates me.'
He already knew everything about Circle Five, but he still lacked what was needed to reach Circle Six, especially because in that dungeon the strongest were Circle Six, with at most five people at that level, and two defeating the dungeon's main enemy.
'Now that I think about it, we never told each other whose bodies we took… though I don't really care.'
Kai had become a Circle Five in the dungeon, like the others, having an advantage — but there was one person who had taken the body of a Circle Six, gaining an even greater advantage.
'Magma Pressure.'
Valença rotated her palm while focusing on a specific part of the air, causing a concentrated mini explosion in empty space, making the entire training field shake as if an earthquake had occurred.
'This is good, I managed to copy the magic of the person whose body I inhabited.'
Valença squeezed her hand, feeling a slight pulse of pain because even though it was a small explosion, the concentration required in that area affected part of her body for not being at a greater distance.
'Reincarnating into the body of a Circle Six really helped.'
Actually, Valença had taken the body of a Circle Five girl, but since she was close to reaching Circle Six, she awakened early by pushing that body to its limit — mainly because back then she was frustrated that Enrico had been trapped in that barrier.
'I wish I could have brought that body with me, but it's a shame I can't.'
Their rewards in the true dungeon were a percentage increase, a treasure, and a mana boost.
'Maybe Enrico would have liked it if he had come with us.'
"CC Impact!"
Recognizing those words, she sighed and looked toward where fire-based destruction was happening far away.
"Looks like Kaela is excited."
Well, she couldn't judge — she felt the same. With a dark smile, she had several thoughts of burning the entire cult alive.
"Ha…"
At the site of the destruction, Kaela looked seriously at her palm, still unsatisfied with her movements.
"It's still not enough. The professor used this technique much better."
She was attempting to reproduce Enrico's physical capabilities, but it still wasn't as perfect as when he used it. The more she saw her teacher use that ability, the more her body seemed to adapt to it.
"Maybe it's because of his perfect body."
"Hey, you pervert, stop having those thoughts about the professor."
With a sulky face, she glared at Sisaka, who watched the destruction with boredom. Beside her, Erina was trying to reproduce the movement she had seen.
"Damn it, why did the professor teach you that, and for us he gives regular training?"
"Erina, you should respect the professor's decision. After all, we only reached this level because of that training."
"I know, and believe me, I respect him a lot."
"But you're right about something — I don't understand why he trains you so much, Kaela."
Sisaka glared seriously at her rival. When Enrico returned, she would show him that she would be a better disciple than Kaela.
"Hehehe, your envy is quite satisfying."
Kaela giggled, covering her mouth, making Sisaka irritated and almost pounce on her — if not for Valença striking her staff on the ground and drawing their attention.
'You call yourselves his disciples, but you're so childish.'
'But the professor is a little childish too.'
Valença shook her head while the three stood expressionless. Becoming serious, Valença looked at the three girls with determination in her eyes.
"During the next few weeks, I'll be joining your training, so I hope you impress me."
The three nodded, preparing to start training. Unlike Valença, the three had reached Circle Five only a week ago, so this would serve as good experience.
"Let's begin."
This group training would last until the second-to-last day before the cult's attack, so they would make the most of it. And they did — with maximum effort — until the day of the attack finally came.