After getting excited, Pandora suddenly asked curiously.
"By the way, how do you plan to research divine cores? I know Ryuga-chan is very capable, but you must also be careful about safety!"
Compared to Heretic Gods who would cease to exist if their divine cores dissipated, the danger of Campiones interfering with divine cores was obviously much less - divine cores weren't necessities for them.
So Pandora wasn't too worried.
But this time, she was apparently relieved too early.
"Of course, with these instruments."
Ryuga immediately revealed his two experimental instruments.
One was the Golden Sword that could seal and slice divine cores, and one was Aymur that could shatter divine cores.
"?"
Question marks immediately popped up above Pandora's head.
"Although you mentioned this before, you don't really plan to directly use these weapons to interfere with divine cores, do you?"
"Why not?"
Ryuga casually asked back.
"The Golden Sword can separate and seal divine cores while also providing protection, and Aymur can shatter the connections between divine cores. Working together, any divine core can be disassembled and reassembled."
"Ah?"
Pandora was completely dumbfounded.
Even if it was theoretically feasible, wasn't this the same as directly operating on divine cores with a knife?
This child's approach to researching divine cores was so radical?
"What, do you have any better ideas?"
Seeing Pandora questioning, Ryuga asked, while casually raising the god-slaying Golden Sword.
He was just asking casually, but he didn't expect that his current action would be so easily misunderstood.
Looking at the glowing Golden Sword in Ryuga's hand, Pandora had a flash of insight and suddenly realized a problem.
In this small space with just the two of them, if Ryuga was the researcher, then who was the research material?
Miss Pandora immediately trembled.
Seeing Ryuga raise the Golden Sword high, about to strike down, she plopped down on her knees and directly hugged Ryuga's thigh.
"Waaaaaah! Don't attack mama! Mama will do anything! Please give me a chance!"
Even when sensing a life crisis, she had no intention of fighting back, only made the most humble request.
Unfortunately...
"Swish!"
This was the sound of the Golden Sword blade penetrating the chest.
"What are you thinking about?"
Ryuga's voice followed.
"Eh?"
Finding herself completely unharmed, Pandora looked up in confusion.
Then she discovered the Golden Sword piercing through Ryuga's chest and his own hand gripping the sword hilt.
Only then did Pandora realize she might have overthought things.
Ryuga's experimental subject wasn't someone else - it was himself.
What ruthlessness, like a doctor performing open-heart surgery on himself.
"Don't worry. Analyzing divine cores requires first-hand intelligence, so the caster himself is the best experimental subject. It's not your turn to be operated on."
Ryuga briefly explained, then drew out another Golden Sword and stabbed it into his abdomen.
The two divine cores representing [Underworld Legion] and [Life and Death Cycle] were directly sealed and locked.
Through this method, he could accurately select the divine cores he wanted to operate on, then use Aymur to dissociate them for detailed observation of the internal structure of divine cores.
"—"
Pandora was immediately stunned.
After coming to her senses, she immediately got up from the ground, looking at the wounds on Ryuga's body with some heartache.
"Even if it's for research, there's no need to go to such extremes. Doesn't it hurt?"
Rather than research, she cared more about Ryuga's feelings.
Seeing Ryuga about to insert a third sword into himself, she stamped her feet and said through gritted teeth.
"Otherwise, you can use mama as an experimental subject - as long as you're gentle, I can endure it!"
Though her form was clearly still that of a young girl, when saying this, Pandora's expression truly carried some maternal radiance.
"No need. This pain is within my expected range. The Golden Sword mainly targets divine cores and won't cause irreversible damage."
Ryuga naturally shook his head in refusal.
"Furthermore, as I mentioned before, your qualifications as an experimental subject are inadequate."
"Of course, if you really want to help, you can help me record the intelligence I dictate later."
"Mm mm! No problem!"
Originally, Pandora wanted to insist, but hearing Ryuga say this, she hurriedly conjured paper and pen and obediently knelt in front of Ryuga.
"Go ahead!"
"Basic divine core units with uncuttable properties must have singular cores... Dissociated divine cores still maintain potential connections internally, initially estimated response speed at light speed..."
Accompanied by repeated adjustments and attempts, Ryuga's understanding of divine cores deepened step by step.
The effectiveness of comprehension was based on the accumulation of knowledge.
Only with sufficient knowledge could he gain more techniques for mastering and manipulating divine core power, and create more powerful skills.
During Ryuga's time immersed in research in the Netherworld.
The few people in the chat group continued their daily conversations.
[Tohsaka Rin: "It's been a week on my end. Hasn't Ryuga-sama returned yet?"]
Just as the time in the Netherworld wasn't synchronized with the present world, the time in each world in the chat group was also not synchronized.
[Erica: "No, but it's only been two days here!"]
[Erica: "Second day without Ryuga-sama, missing him."]
[Tohsaka Rin: "Ugh! So cheesy."]
[Tohsaka Rin: "Erica, is this how you managed to latch onto that powerful connection?"]
[Erica: "Hehe~ Jealous?"]
[Tohsaka Rin: "I'm not jealous at all— Damn it, I can't say that! When will I be able to be as thick-skinned as you?"]
[Madoka: "..."]
[Kanae: "Rin-chan still has hope in this regard."]
[Erica: "?"]
[Tohsaka Rin: "?"]
[Erica: "Alright, I'm not joking! I really do miss Ryuga-sama."]
[Erica: "If my lord doesn't come out soon, I'm going to be mistaken for the Campione who succeeded in god-slaying!"]
In Italy, Rome, at the headquarters of the Copper Black Cross magical society, Erica complained.
Since Ryuga hadn't said anything, she naturally wouldn't tell the outside world that Ryuga was the Campione. But this secretive behavior made others suspect her instead.
After all, when the two Heretic Gods were defeated, only she was present throughout, so she couldn't escape suspicion no matter how you looked at it.
Despite Erica's vigorous explanations, no one believed her.
Who could blame her for indeed improving significantly in strength after receiving Ryuga's blessing!
In the eyes of ordinary mages, her current strength wasn't much different from a Campione's.
Hearing Erica's complaints, everyone finally understood her situation and began to comfort her or offer suggestions.
A few minutes later.
[Tohsaka Rin: "Erica, you don't seem to need to worry anymore. Ryuga-sama should be coming out soon."]
[Madoka: "?"]
[Kanae: "?"]
[Erica: "?"]
[Erica: "How do you know?"]
Even she didn't know when Ryuga would return to the present world. How could Tohsaka Rin in another world know?
[Tohsaka Rin: "It's simple. Just look at the group shop and you'll know."]
Upon hearing this, everyone opened the group shop.
Soon, they discovered the basis for Tohsaka Rin's judgment.
[Kanae: ""Divine Core Fusion Techniques", "Mythological Technique Construction Basics", "Authority Disassembly Guide"..."]
[Kanae: "None of the prices are below 100,000 points."]
[Madoka: "Big brother suddenly released so many products at once!"]
[Madoka: "Does Rin-Nee mean that big brother has completed his research and is now organizing the results?"]
[Tohsaka Rin: "It should be like that, but with Ryuga-sama's matters, no one can be 100% certain."]
[Madoka: "Rin-Nee is so smart!"]
[Erica: "I have to admit, Little Rin's speculation makes sense."]
[Tohsaka Rin: "Of course, who do you think I am?"]
[Tohsaka Rin: "By the way, Erica, don't forget what I told you before!"]
[Erica: "What did you call me?"]
[Tohsaka Rin: "E-Erica-nee-san!"]
[Erica: "Don't worry, Rin-chan, big sister won't forget!"]
[Erica: "Ah, Ryuga-sama has returned. Talk to you later!"]
Just as she was about to tease the rarely submissive Tohsaka Rin, suddenly Erica sensed an unusual spatial fluctuation and an extremely familiar aura approaching.
She immediately jumped up from the sofa and, under the shocked gazes of her society companions, knelt on one knee in a respectful posture to welcome the man who had finally returned.
"My lord, you have returned!"
To be continued...