The trio and the Teachers returned to the training chambers, where Belial was giving new instructions.
"Since you've already mastered the advanced Mana drills, we'll get started on simulcast drills. We'll begin with the first version: single spell, multiple targets."
"You'll start with a single spell, and instead of releasing it one at a time, you'll release two at once. Once you've mastered that, we'll increase the number by one at a time until you reach the maximum of ten." Belial explained in detail.
The trio grinned and nodded in agreement.
"Alright, get in there and good luck," Belial encouraged.
The trio entered their chambers, and the Teachers settled behind their monitoring panels, ready to witness the impressive display.
As they watched the trio complete the drills with (un)surprising ease, they discussed the recent cafeteria incident.
"Their senses are extremely sensitive. If they could detect malicious intent from so far away, I wonder whether it was directed at them," Belial mused.
"We're not sure. According to their Oath, they are the guardians of the Heavens. This means they can sense if anyone has malicious intent toward any Heavenly Clan or even Tian Dao itself," Zera replied, recalling the trio's Oath.
"It's unlike regular Twin Demons and Slayers, who only sense it when it's directed at them," Zera continued.
"That would explain why they relaxed immediately after Headmistress Lilith neutralised the threat. Regular Twin Demons and Slayers don't settle down that quickly," Beelzebub added, recalling how the trio went back to eating once the perpetrators were apprehended.
At that moment, Lilith teleported into the corridor nearby and addressed them. "We're still investigating, but preliminary results indicate the malicious intent was not directed at Chaos and Bane, but at the Senior Academy students in general. The infiltration was deliberate and extremely malicious."
"The Inquisitors are still questioning suspects. The Councils and Nursery Elders are assisting, and Wardens have stepped up patrols and implemented more countermeasures."
"We'd like to interview Bane and Chaos later to determine the range of their threat perception. They most likely saved many lives with their reactions, even if they weren't fully aware of it."
"We also want to thank them for their quick response. Their alert helped me find the threat and ensure that it could be apprehended quickly."
"Understood, we'll let them know after training. Should they come to your office?" Selene responded.
"No, the conference room we used for your introductory meeting is fine. Let me know when you're on your way, and I'll meet you there," Lilith said before vanishing again.
"Since Chaos and Bane joined forces, they've brought a lot of positive change to the Nursery and Academies. I think we'll be forever indebted to them, even though Chaos feels he owes us for summoning them and giving them a new lease on life," Beelzebub mused.
The others nodded solemnly as they watched the trio continue training in silence.
—
Maya, 18: Did anyone else think those simulcast drills sounded insane? Casting ten spells at once?! I can barely manage two!
Jordan, 21: For real! The trio made it look easy. I guess those advanced Mana drills really do pay off.
Eli, 16: The part about their senses was super interesting. Is that something only the guardians of the Heavens can do? Now I really want to know what their Oath actually says!
Kiera, 23: I liked how Headmistress Lilith stepped in. Shows they're always looking out for threats, not just training. Makes me feel safer at the Academy.
Sam, 20: Beelzebub's comment about Chaos and Bane helping the Academies was touching. You don't realise that a few people can change so much.
Priya, 19: True! The whole Heavenly Clans are coming together—Inquisitors, Councils, Wardens. Hope they catch whoever's behind the infiltration soon.
Alex, 17: What do you think they'll ask Chaos and Bane? I wonder if they even understand how their powers work. Makes me reflect on my training...
Maria, 25: The contrast between regular Twin Demons and these guardians is wild. No wonder the Teachers are so impressed—their teamwork is inspiring.
—
Halfway through the afternoon, the trio's training paused—they had already mastered the first version of the simulcast Mana Drills. Belial gave them instructions for the next stage.
"Well done, you've fully mastered the first version. Now we'll move on to the second: multiple spells at the same time. Start with two different spells, increasing the number as you master them, until you reach ten," Belial explained.
"When you say multiple spells, what do you mean?" Bane asked.
"It means casting different spells simultaneously—water and earth or fire and poison, for example," Belial clarified.
Bane, Yi, and Er nodded in understanding, their faces lighting up with realisation.
"Off you go, and good luck," said Belial as they returned to their chambers.
The trio resumed training, while the Teachers (and livestream viewers) watched in fascinated disbelief as they breezed through the new drills.
"Okay, this is getting ridiculous," Selene muttered.
"Welcome to our world. They start slow, then power through like they're in turbo mode after mastering the basics," Beelzebub replied.
"Nothing we throw at them fazes them, unless they hit a bottleneck or need a nudge in the right direction," Zera complained bitterly.
—
Liam, 19: Did anyone else's jaw drop when Belial said, 'Do multiple spells at once'? Like, fire and poison? No thanks, I'll stick to my earth wall!
Iris, 22: Right?! The way Bane asked so calmly almost made it seem normal. How do you stop two elements from cancelling each other out?
Nia, 17: The Teachers' reactions are hilarious. 'Turbo mode' was spot on. The livestream showed that they were shocked!
Tyler, 20: Wish I could pick up drills that fast... Maybe there's a secret? I appreciate Belial's clear explanations—I'd be lost otherwise.
Zoë, 15: I liked seeing Belial encourage them: 'Well done, onto the next level!'
Riya, 23: Same, Zoë. But with a cap of ten, is there even enough time to master all those combos?
Aidan, 21: Bane, Yi, and Er always nod together—teamwork goals. No wonder nothing fazes them.
Harper, 18: Selene and Zera joking in the background made it feel real. Even if it's a bit much that the trio never struggles! Do you think they worry about hitting their limits?
Mila, 16: I hope we can watch the next round on livestream—I'm taking notes, even though I'm still practising single-spell drills!
—
"Looks like Azazel and Seraphina will take over tomorrow. They've completed everything for Mana training. Are you sure they'll need a month to finish the full program?" Belial muttered as the trio had already reached four spells simultaneously.
"We overestimated them—or rather, underestimated them yet again," Beelzebub answered grimly.
"We've learned to abandon any normal timeframe. Expect everything and nothing from them, or you'll go mad," Zera sighed, slumping in her seat.
"Two days to master Mana to the Junior Academy peak—it usually takes five years!" Selene shrieked, pulling her hair.
The trio breezed through the drills, achieving complete mastery by three thirty in the afternoon, leaving the Teachers reeling as the training chambers powered down.
"Good job. With Mana training complete, Teacher Azazel and Seraphina will take over tomorrow. We'll be on standby if you need advice on Mana usage during their lessons," Belial told the trio.
"Headmistress Lilith wants to see you in the conference room you used during your first meeting. She wants to discuss the lunch incident, ask some questions, and update you on their findings. Is that okay?" Selene asked.
The trio nodded, and the group headed to the conference room, notifying Lilith of their ETA.
—
Isla, 17: Two days to master everything? Someone tell me they're robots—how does anyone learn that fast?
Marcus, 22: When Selene said 'five years,' I almost spit out my drink! Five years and they finish by lunchtime!
Nadia, 15: I'd love to know what goes on in their heads. Teacher Zera's comment about throwing out timeframes—so relatable! I had to do that in Runes.
Dev, 19: I feel for the Teachers. Imagine creating a program just for your students to outpace it in two days. The trio are goals!
Mina, 21: I wonder if they ever get tired or bored? It sounds like they anticipate a challenge and then... nothing. Makes me nervous for what'll come next!
Sami, 14: I hope Teacher Azazel and Seraphina can keep up! What can they teach the trio when they've already finished the most challenging part?
Leo, 18: The way the Teachers panic each session cracks me up. Teacher Selene's meltdown was so real. I'd be questioning my whole career!
Priya, 20: Every rule gets rewritten with that trio. If Headmistress Lilith wants answers, she's probably as surprised as we are by their reaction during lunch.
Ally, 23: Anyone else want to be a fly on the wall for that meeting? Sounds juicy—and a little scary if you're one of the trio being called in!
—
The long conference room glowed beneath enchanted lights, calming but failing to dissolve all tension. Headmistress Lilith sat at the glossy table's head, regal and composed.
To her right, Teachers Belial and Beelzebub; to her left, Demons Selene and Zera. Opposite, the trio—Bane, Yi, and Er—took their seats, their tails flicking nervously beneath the table.
Lilith: Thank you all for joining me. After the cafeteria incident, it's necessary to review what happened and discuss next steps for everyone's safety and peace of mind.
Beelzebub let out a quiet sigh, still recovering from the chaos.
Beelzebub: With respect, Headmistress, Bane, Yi, and Er's reaction was uncanny. They sensed the threat before any staff member.
Selene nodded, her eyes fixed thoughtfully on the trio.
Selene: I'd like to hear directly from you. What did you sense during lunch? And do you know your limits?
Bane exchanged a glance with Yi and Er before responding.
Bane: It felt like a ripple—an intent so sharp it cut through the crowd. Hard to describe, but we all felt it. Our bodies just acted. As long as someone's malicious toward the Heavenly Clans or Tian Dao, we'll respond. If someone else neutralises the threat, we'll relax. Otherwise, we'll deal with it ourselves.
Yi: All the scales on my tail stood up. Definitely not normal. As far as we know, it's from the Oath; we're low-level, so our instinctive detection radius is about a mile.
Er: We joke about 'malicious intent masks,' but this time, it was blatant. If Headmistress Lilith hadn't intervened, someone could've been hurt. We don't know what would've happened if she hadn't acted first.
Zera, usually composed, allowed a shiver to cross her face.
Zera: Their responses match old reports—almost textbook. I was..."
Zera trailed off, shaken. "But it's valuable for our protocols."
Lilith folded her hands, looking at the trio with a mix of pride and concern.
Lilith: I've convened the Nursery Elders and Council. The infiltrators are detained, and their motives are under investigation. Your rapid response prevented something much worse.
Belial, arms folded, his voice calm:
Belial: The speed at which you adapt—both with Mana and situational awareness—is unprecedented. We'll upgrade countermeasures and study your reactions to strengthen Academy defences.
Selene looked to Lilith. "Should we involve the trio in future security drills?"
Lilith: That's under consideration. Right now, focus on your training and well-being. We'll consult you after the investigation and debrief you once we learn more about the attackers.
A brief silence, then Beelzebub spoke, softer this time.
Beelzebub: Thank you. For acting without hesitation, and returning to normal so quickly—it helped keep panic down among staff and students.
Bane shrugged; Yi and Er grinned.
Yi (teasing): Next time, can we request hazard pay?
Even Lilith smirked. Laughter rippled through the room, easing the tension.
Lilith: That's all for now. Training resumes tomorrow. Stay vigilant, but don't forget—you're still students. Let us handle the rest.
The meeting dispersed. Though the mood had lightened, determination and curiosity shone in every eye.
—
Maya, 19: Does anyone else get chills hearing about the trio's reaction in the cafeteria? It's wild they noticed the danger before the Teachers did.
Jordan, 22: The way Bane described sensing that malicious intent—like a ripple—makes it sound so instinctive. I'd freak out if my body just acted like that!
Eli, 17: Same! And Yi talking about all the scales on his tail standing up was so vivid. Do regular Twin Demons and Slayers react so strongly, or just these three?
Kiera, 20: Zera admitting she was unnerved made it feel serious. If she's rattled, it must've been intense.
Sam, 18: I'm actually jealous of their abilities. All that skill, and they're still students? The Teachers are clearly in awe!
Priya, 21: Lilith's balance of pride and concern is great leadership. Also, hazard pay for fighting magical danger—can we get that for midterms?
Alex, 16: Totally! How do they stay so calm? If I had to confront real threats, I'd lose it.
Maria, 24: Staff upgrading protocols made me feel safer. The Academy responds fast. I trust them even more now.
Liam, 15: That last moment when everyone laughed lightened the mood. Even in scary situations, it's good that the trio can joke and reassure everyone.
Noah, 23: Think they'll involve students in future security drills? Nervous but also excited!
Bella, 18: Hope we get a campus update once they catch whoever's behind the infiltration. The suspense is intense!