"Are you ready?"
Makise Kurisu adjusted the magical artifact, her eyes bright with anticipation.
"Let's begin."
Shaka was equally eager, this was his most ambitious "Mystery" project yet. To complete it, he'd drawn on immortal essence power and maintained his [Mystery] level at D-rank.
As the central metal turbine vibrated at high speed, lightning crackled through the array. Golden magical particles scattered and were absorbed, converting into rotational energy. For a moment, Shaka's body dissolved into golden light and was pulled into the metal disc.
Heaven and earth invert, sun and moon revolve.
Shaka found himself back on the city wall from the monster siege. Even after multiple summoned creature experiments, experiencing the scene firsthand stirred complex emotions. This wasn't time travel it was a virtual reconstruction of history, crafted with time's power. No guards, no citizens only monsters, like a preserved fragment of the past.
"As long as I don't defeat these monsters, the magic stones outside won't be consumed," Shaka explained, grabbing a handful of weeds from the wall. "According to Kurisu, this space exists between the fourth and fifth dimensions."
From what he understood: one dimension is points and lines, two is planes, three is physical space. When consciousness perceives past, present, and future, it touches the fourth dimension. Humanity can't fully grasp "the future" yet but those who've awakened the "selfless state" (the ultimate talent expression) have taken their first step. Even more impressive, the complete selfless state reaches the eighth dimension. Truly worthy of the Prince of Tennis.
He recalled Kurisu lecturing him in a lab coat, black stockings shifting against her thighs: "The fourth dimension adds time to three-dimensional space like a stuttering video, with countless overlapping cubes. The fifth dimension is where consciousness shapes matter."
Shaka had grasped the concept then. Cassandra's ability [Fifth Dimension: Troy] worked this way she saw fourth-dimensional fragments and altered outcomes with her will, splitting futures into parallel worlds (the sixth dimension). What Kurisu had done was anchor a segment of the past, which Shaka summoned to the present. It wasn't the real past, and he couldn't change its future it existed only as a 4.5-dimensional creation.
A smile touched his lips as he stretched. Monsters began to materialize formed by his magic and consciousness. Yellow sand whipped across the deserted wall; below, roars echoed. Just as before, he stood alone.
"I'm not who I was back then!"
With boosted stats and reputation, his strength had grown dramatically not quite Level 3, but close.
"Red Flowers Abound!"
Flames surged over Pinoch as Shaka wielded the fiery, rusted blade. His 3D Maneuver Gear let out a sharp whine as he leaped from the wall, flames roaring and grappling hooks whistling through the horde.
"Breath of Fire! Ninth Form Purgatory!"
Flames spiraled from the blade into a giant serpent, shooting forward to pierce the monster army's heart. The grappling hook launched from the inferno, sending Shaka bouncing erratically through the air. Surging flames merged into the blade, glowing bright red.
"Cut!"
Nine fiery slashes streaked across the sand. Countless Minotaurs dissolved into light particles, which eventually coalesced into a single massive beast pitch-black with red neck fur, clad in armor, wielding a colossal axe.
Shaka gripped his sword tightly, the celestial weapon's destructive power banishing all fear of death. Red light flashed in his eyes; flames erupted from his feet, and he vanished.
The next instant, he appeared behind Sauta then disappeared again. In the blink of an eye, charcoal-black cuts covered the monster's body. Once nine wounds were etched, Shaka stepped back, flicking flame from his blade. With his back to the beast, he spoke softly:
"Flame Blossom Explode!"
BOOM—
Red light blazed from the wounds, and a pillar of fire shot skyward, reducing Sauta to ash. The realm's magic faded, and Shaka dissolved into golden particles.
Back at the Clan Residence
Shaka opened his eyes to find Kurisu watching him: "15 minutes, 38 seconds. How was it?"
"Not bad strong monsters, but their potential's lower than expected." Shaka wiped sweat from his brow and drank a stamina potion, then leaned closer to look at her report.
"Any improvements we can make, Assistant?"
"Don't call me that."
"Then Christina?"
"No."
She tapped his head with her pen, but her gaze stayed on the spinning machine. While it wasn't the time machine she'd dreamed of, capturing and recreating history was remarkable.
"Thanks to a physics genius like you, we pulled this off," Shaka said with feeling. "They say 'scientific cultivation brings boundless power' even if this is magic, the principle's similar."
This space-time illusion device far outperformed the school district's AR system. Even if users were injured or "died," everything reset when they exited.
"Now for the crucial step." Shaka headed to the hall and found Astraea. As divine blood dripped onto his back, his stats updated:
Shaka Lv1
—Ability Values—
Strength: I90 → H133
Durability: H151 → H178
Dexterity: G259 → G271
Agility: G271 → G298
Magic: F387 → E459
—Development Capacity—
[Mystery H] → [Mystery G]
Shaka beamed at the parchment: "As expected [Mystery] upgraded! And battles in the space-time realm boost my stats! My magic's almost D-rank with enough magic stones, I can rack up attributes fast and hit Lv2."
He was so thrilled he nearly hugged Kurisu. The [Mystery] upgrade was a game-changer while he'd always been able to unleash abilities beyond his level, the higher base meant a greater upper limit.
This was just the first iteration. As he and Kurisu mastered time's power, they might one day travel back to participate in major events.
"Adventurers don't lack attribute points they lack great achievements," Shaka mused. "Three years from now, massive battles will push many to new levels. Loki Familia will gain three Level 7s; rising stars like Ais will hit Level 6. Finn took over 30 years to reach Level 6 at age 40 nowhere near as fast as the new generation."
If I could loop through space-time illusions, replaying events like the "Seven Days of Death" or "Three Great Quests," my achievements and points would be limitless!
But simulating wars of that scale would require rare monster materials or hero relics resources he didn't have yet.
"Short answer: not enough magic power. But I can simulate my past battles like using the Extreme Color Magic Stone to recreate the fight with fairy!"
Satisfied, he burned the parchment and snapped his fingers at Kurisu: "Assistant let's celebrate! Lady Leah's coming too!"
"Stop calling me that!" Kurisu blushed, but followed along.
At the Tea & Dessert Shop
The group gathered at the city's only dessert spot. Kurisu ordered a table full of sweets the world's biggest draw for her. After eating her fill, she dabbed her mouth demurely and said casually:
"Oh right today's the day my father publishes his paper."
"Huh?!" Shaka stared at her, completely stunned.