"What an enormous space," Maria murmured, her voice tinged with awe.
"Welcome to the guild's training hall," Lola said with a bright smile.
"I've never seen a hall this spacious," Lisa agreed, still looking around.
"It's a simulation room," Clair added matter-of-factly.
"Well, now that everyone's had their fill of sightseeing, we'll stay here while Clair begins the training," Snow announced.
"We're not joining in?" Maria asked.
"You will," Snow assured, "but first I want you to observe before you dive in."
"Alright," Maria agreed.
They stood back as Clair walked to the center of the vast room. Two flickers of light shimmered into being beside her—Star and Light, manifesting in perfect unison.
===================
[SIMULATION BEGIN]
Difficulty: EASY
Objective: Survive from Asmodeus
==================
"Asmodeus?" Maria's brow furrowed.
"Yes," Snow replied.
"Isn't Asmodeus the boss monster on the sixth floor of Ulkis Dungeon?"
"That's right," Lola confirmed.
"According to the report, it was classified as a Rank A monster," Maria said cautiously.
The room shifted before they could speak further. In an instant, the training hall dissolved into an immense stone chamber. At its center sat Asmodeus on his throne—silent and imposing.
"What—?!" MARIA's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Does that look like a Rank A monster to you?" she demanded, glancing at Maria. Even Theresa shook her head.
A deep, ancient voice rolled across the chamber for the first time, carrying neither warmth nor hatred—only exhaustion.
"|\ Haaa... Have thou come to challenge the will of my Lord? /|"
The sound was cold, echoing against the chamber walls.
"|\ How pitiful. Yet I applaud thy courage—for it takes no small measure to walk this far. /|"
Slowly, Asmodeus stood.
Grains of sand slid from his plated shoulders as though time itself was eroding him. Yet his presence only grew heavier—an oppressive weight that bore down on everyone: Snow, Theresa, Maria, Lola, Lisa, and Aura alike.
Beneath a battered helm, two pale lights glimmered where his eyes should be. They fixed upon the intruders with unwavering focus.
"|\ With your deaths, you shall become the fifteen thousandth to fall before me. Only then shall I rest, knowing I have fulfilled my duty. /|"
His hand closed around the sword's hilt.
With a single motion, he raised it—and his armor began to splinter. Stone shards crumbled away, falling like brittle leaves. Beneath was not the slow, lumbering knight they expected, but a predator's form—sleek, unarmored, and built for speed.
His figure shimmered with lethal energy—a Slim Knight, honed by centuries of battle and wrath.
Clair froze. This... this is different from yesterday.
The stone armor crumbled away into dust.
What remained was a form clad in a skin-tight bodysuit—pure white, smooth as silk, covering from neck to ankle, down to the wrists. His hair burned like white fire, whipping in an unseen wind. Behind him hovered a radiant golden ring, slowly orbiting, humming with divine power.
With deliberate ease, Asmodeus lifted his blade and rested it lazily on his shoulder. His cold, unblinking gaze locked onto Clair.
"|\ Now, challenger... present your struggle before me. /|"
Clair summoned her weapon. Her combat uniform bloomed into existence, drawing quiet awe from those watching.
A black bodysuit, traced with golden filigree along the sides. A long red cape swayed behind her, armor plating shielding her chest, gauntlets covering her hands, and metal combat boots seamlessly fused with her suit. She was a figure of beauty and authority—glamour wrapped in killing intent.
She launched forward, blades flashing in rapid succession. Strike after strike sliced toward Asmodeus... yet none connected.
An unseen force lashed out.
Clair blocked—barely. The impact rattled through her arms, her blade cracking under the pressure. Blood sprayed from her lips.
The lower half of her face, visible beneath her mask, was streaked with crimson. She wiped it quickly, eyes narrowing.
"Damn it... If he's this strong like this, how much stronger is his true form?" she muttered.
In the distance, Asmodeus hadn't moved. The blade still hung loosely in his hand, dragging along the stone like a log.
(He hasn't taken a single step... but Lola made him move before. What's the difference between us?) Clair's mind raced, trying to read the situation.
But no time was given—another barrage crashed into her. She was forced into a relentless defense.
"What's Clair doing?" Lola asked, frowning.
"She's probably looking for an opening," Aura replied.
"An opening?" Theresa pressed.
"Yes. Asmodeus is a Guardian Knight—the finest among the Seven Sins. If I'm not mistaken... he's observing her." Aura's voice was calm, analytical.
Snow smiled faintly, ruffling her newly braided hair. "Your eyes are as sharp as always, sis."
Lisa's brow furrowed. "But why are Star and Light acting like some strange force for Asmodeus?"
"That's because their true names are Ex and Calib," Snow explained. "They're Asmodeus's ego swords—making them perfect for this training."
"Excalib... that sounds familiar," Lisa murmured.
"You've read the Ego's Archive. You know how many egos I've acquired—and how they've evolved."
"Yes. Excalib's evolution to Starlight was the first time an ego became yours, and the second was when she merged with Twilight," Lisa recalled.
Snow nodded. "You've done your homework. So... what's your take on this?"
"As an ego bearer myself... Lady Clair is focusing too much on the opponent in front of her, instead of the unseen forces striking her," Lisa replied.
Snow tilted his head. "And how would you handle Asmodeus?"
"I'd engage the invisible threat first. If that failed, I'd unleash wave slashes to disrupt his barrier while dealing damage directly."
Snow was silent for a moment as he thought to himself. That's exactly what I did... back then, before my death.
"You're half-right," he finally said. "But as an ego bearer, your aim isn't just to break their defense—it's to strike to kill. Ego blades have wills of their own. A single strike from one could destroy a city—or worse—if the wielder chose."
His gaze swept over the group. "So remember this: unless your opponent is a hunter or weak monsters who are not ego bearers... never hold back."
"Understood," Lisa replied firmly.
"Got it," Lola added.
Maria remained quiet, still trying to grasp what an ego bearer truly was.
Theresa glanced at Snow. "Then... what's the best scenario for Clair to win?"
"She can't," Snow said plainly. "And she won't even earn his interest."
As if on cue, the simulation reached its end.
A single strike pierced Clair's chest—a clean hole where her heart should be.
=========================
[SIMULATION ENDED]
Result: YOU DIED
=======================
The group rushed to her as her attire dissolved back into her normal clothes. Snow walked toward her at a steady pace while the others ran ahead.
"Why are you letting her struggle, big brother?" Aura asked quietly.
Snow's gaze didn't leave the battlefield. "She's considered the third strongest hunter in the world. Do you think she'll easily accept weakness after holding that title for over a decade?"
Aura fell silent.
"Asmodeus, in his prime, was the strongest of the Seven Sins—and the last to remain during the war the Twelve Zodiac Sons waged over the throne." Snow's voice was calm, but the weight of his words pressed down on her. "If they want power, they need to understand their opponents won't just threaten humanity... they'll crush it while flaunting their might."
His eyes flicked to Aura. "Asmodeus is the perfect training ground to prepare them for the entities we'll face in the future. My only wish is that, before these four months are over, they'll be able to stand on their own in a real fight."
"I see..." Aura murmured, finally understanding.
A sharp crack echoed.
"Your blade," Lola said, watching as Clair's weapon splintered in her hands.
Clair exhaled in defeat.
"You've used that blade for years," Maria remarked. "A new one from the Hephaestus House would cost a fortune."
"Yes... but it's fine. The real shame is that I couldn't even scratch him." Clair lowered her gaze, then glanced at Snow. "Though... was it just me, or did his attacks feel stronger than yesterday?"
"Yesterday was a test," Snow replied. "I wanted to see your raw strength—before my intervention."
"Yesterday I died before I could even block," Clair said.
"Today you blocked—and lasted almost four minutes," Lola noted.
Clair blinked. "What do you mean by 'intervention'?"
Snow smirked. "You all drank the juice I gave you. It boosts your stats to a degree. When you entered the simulation, it adjusted the 'Easy' difficulty to match your current strength."
Shock rippled through the group. That such a massive difference could hide in something so simple was almost absurd.
"Now that you've seen the gap between the old you and the new you," Snow said, "are you ready to try again after Lola's turn?"
"Yes." Clair's reply was instant.
"That's the spirit." Snow smiled.
"But with what weapon?" Theresa asked.
"You'll find out soon enough." His grin deepened. "Lola, the stage is yours."
In a blink, the scene warped back to the starting point—everyone returned to their viewing spots while Lola remained on the field.
She cracked her knuckles, summoning her sword in a flash of light.
"Begin simulation," she declared.
========================
[SIMULATION RESTARTING]
========================
========================
[SIMULATION BEGINS]
Difficulty: EASY
Objective: Survive from Asmodeus
==========================
The chamber formed once more. Asmodeus's voice resonated through the air, deep and weary.
"|\ Haaa... is thou... /|"
His gaze found her.
"|\ Has thou come to struggle once more? Regardless, thy struggle is futile. /|"
He shifted his stance—no, he was already moving.
"|\ Now, challenger... present your struggle before me. /|"
He vanished.
Lola barely caught the blur with her eyes, dodging an attack that split the air beside her. No wound, no torn fabric—yet blood splattered around her from the sheer pressure.
"That's more like it!" Lola grinned, launching forward in a streak of motion.
But before she could reach him, a feminine figure materialized, slashing down. Lola bent backward, letting the blade whistle past her nose, and in the same motion regained her footing—her sword flashing in relentless arcs whenever an opening appeared.
Every strike met resistance. None broke through.
Her blade finally locked with Asmodeus's, the clash erupting into shockwaves that ripped through the chamber. The floor cracked, walls groaned, and the air itself seemed to shatter.
A sudden blow hurled Lola across the field. She skidded across the stone, and before she could rise—
BOOM!
A crushing force slammed down at her. She rolled away in the nick of time, but the impact tore the floor apart. Shards of debris exploded outward, battering her before she could fully recover.
Lola, once brimming with vitality, now stood with blood dripping from the stump of her left arm. Her breathing was ragged, but her eyes burned with defiance.
She gritted her teeth and surged forward, sending several crescent wind slashes toward Asmodeus. From above, she descended like a storm, sword raised high.
"BREAK FOR ME!!!" Lola roared, slamming her blade onto the same spot on his barrier.
She landed, sprang up again, and struck with even greater force.
A sharp, crystalline crack rang out. The barrier shattered.
Her blade descended toward Asmodeus's helm—yet at the final instant, he tilted his head. The sword scraped across his shoulder plate, leaving only a shallow mark.
Lola leapt back, creating distance.
"|\ All this struggle... just for this. /|"
His cold tone cut sharper than steel.
"Damn it..." she spat, her frustration boiling.
Then, without warning, the sword in his hand slipped free—and moved on its own.
"|\ What a pity... Your struggle ends here. /|"
Lola's eyes widened. Something flashed past her face—too fast to react.
A chilling realization came only when her vision tilted. Her head had already left her body.
=========================
[SIMULATION ENDED]
Result: YOU DIED
=======================
Silence filled the room. No one spoke.
They hadn't expected Lola to push Asmodeus that far. But the moment that baffled them most was when he abruptly released his weapon—only for it to deliver the killing blow.
"I was so close..." Lola muttered as she stepped forward, rejoining the group. Snow's gaze fell to her battered sword.
"Interesting," he said. "Looks like the Phelix Blade I gave you has finally reached its limit."
"It was the best wind-attribute blade I could ask for," Lola replied. "I cherished it. But... with my fighting style, one hand isn't enough anymore."
"Then switch to dual blades," Snow suggested.
"I might just do that."
Maria crossed her arms. "Why are you talking about weapons instead of why Asmodeus suddenly changed his fighting style?"
"Because she broke his barrier," Snow answered plainly. "Even if she couldn't damage him beyond that, she's lucky he let her off with only that much."
"So... you're saying Asmodeus fights according to his opponent's strength?" Maria pressed.
"Yes," Snow said without hesitation. Then he turned to the group. "Maria. Lisa. Lola. Theresa. Clair—you five will fight him together this time."
From his inventory, Snow produced a sword identical in grade and attribute to Clair's broken one.
"Clair—use this."
Another weapon appeared in his hands, this time a pair of dual blades. "Lola—these are yours."
"What about me?" Maria asked.
"Don't you have a weapon?" Snow questioned.
"All my equipment belonged to the guild. Hunters can't take anything with them when they leave."
Aura scoffed. "Strict guild."
"I see." Snow retrieved a silver bracelet, intricate patterns glinting along its surface. He handed it to Maria. "This is for you."
"A bracelet?" Maria frowned.
"It's a wand—or a staff, depending on how you channel it. It functions exactly like your old one. Try it and tell me how it feels."
"Where did you even get something like this?" Aura asked, visibly impressed by the craftsmanship.
"I had Vivian make the base. I just... added the rest." Snow shrugged.
The group stared at him in disbelief.
"What?" he asked.
"Are you planning to start making gear now?" Aura narrowed her eyes.
"I'm still learning. We'll see."
With that, he gave a faint smile. "Now, give it everything you've got."
In an instant, he and Aura vanished to their observation point.
"So sly," Lola muttered.
"Yeah," Clair agreed.
========================
[SIMULATION BEGINS]
Difficulty: EASY
Objective: Survive from Asmodeus
==========================
-----------------------------------
To be continued...