"Oh, I almost forgot…" Mike called out, grabbing everyone's attention. "I've got a little something to help speed up your growth," he said, a faint smile forming as multiple crystals floated out of his storage space.
Each one glowed a different color — a chaotic deep crimson, a calm azure blue, and a sparkling emerald green.
"Are those... some kind of gems?" Mio asked, her blue eyes shimmering with curiosity.
"Nope," Mike replied. "They're called Crystal Cores. They help increase your stats a bit faster."
He went on to explain that these crystals were found inside defeated beasts — extremely rare, since not every monster possessed one. Because of their rarity, they were even used as a form of currency in the Apocalypse.
"How do you know so much?" Renji asked, eyes narrowing behind his glasses.
Mike smiled slightly. "Let's just say... I witnessed it during one of my time travels."
Renji blinked. He had more to ask, but now wasn't the right time.
"So, how do we use these shiny things, Mikey-kun?" Emiko asked, her tone as playful as ever.
"Good question, Miko." Mike smirked, then spoke inwardly.
(Nova, is there a faster, more efficient way to absorb these other than cultivation through meditation?)
⟦ Calculating... Affirmative, Master. Strapping the crystals to oneself while exercising will significantly enhance absorption rate. ⟧
"Nice," Mike muttered under his breath. "Alright — just attach these to your bodies while you train. Let the energy flow naturally."
"Seems easy enough," Chloe said, her brown eyes bright with excitement.
(Nova, distribute the crystals among the team according to how they correspond to each person's awakened ability.)
⟦ Noted. Commencing effective division. Storing three hundred and one crystals for the Master's later use. ⟧
⟦ Master, your reserves are as follows: 1,340 red, 989 blue, 1,505 green… and one black crystal. Total: 3,835. ⟧
"Perfect. Proceed."
⟦ Adjusting reserves… Remaining total: 3,535 crystals. Distribution complete. ⟧
The crystals began to drift, splitting into shimmering clusters before settling near each member of the team.
Mio — a balanced set of red, blue, and green crystals, perfectly even, reflecting her calm, adaptable combat style.
Chloe — mostly green and red for stamina and strength, with a faint tint of blue to stabilize her control.
Emiko — a radiant collection of blue and green, with just a trace of red for balance; energy suited for her lightning speed and agility.
Echo — green and blue crystals glowing softly in the shadows, her perfect blend for stamina and shadow manipulation, with a faint crimson pulse anchoring her form.
Dante — a heavier set of red and green, fitting his raw strength and endurance, plus a few blue to sharpen his focus mid-battle.
Freya — a harmonious mix of all three, representing her balanced celestial nature, each color glowing evenly against her metallic wings.
Renji — a smaller, balanced set composed of all hues — modest, but essential to keep his mind sharp and body steady for long hours of invention.
Each cluster floated in front of its owner, rotating slowly as the inner lights pulsed in sync with their aura — a quiet, unified rhythm that filled the chamber like a heartbeat before the storm.
The moment Nova's distribution was complete, each member attached the crystals to themselves. They glowed faintly, pulsing in rhythm with their wearers' heartbeats.
"Alright," Mike said, folding his arms. "Let's see how far you can push yourselves."
And then the chamber erupted into motion.
Emiko was first — her feet striking Renji's hyper-treadmill with electrifying speed. Sparks danced around her legs as the crystals glowed brighter with every step, her lightning aura expanding until faint arcs crackled through the air. Each stride was faster, sharper, almost blurring into pure current.
Dante grunted on the far end, benching massive alloy slabs. Sweat rolled down his temples as green and red light rippled over his veins, his muscles swelling with power. With each lift, his aura flared — feral, raw, and grounded.
Echo vanished from sight.
A soft shimmer of darkness followed by the hiss of steel filled the chamber. She reappeared and vanished again, slicing through a barrage of steel balls fired at breakneck speed. Her twin katanas flashed silver-black as she warped midair, landing with calm precision, shadows wrapping her form like armor.
Freya soared above them, wings spread wide — gleaming arcs of gold and silver. She spun midair, slashing at training drones that swarmed from hidden launchers, her movements both graceful and ruthless. Every strike sent shards of metal scattering as her metallic wings cut with divine precision.
Chloe was a storm of fire and fists. Her hands blazed with solar heat as she launched herself into the air, smashing through drones and detonating clusters of flame with each punch. The ground beneath her cracked, her green-red crystals pulsing fiercely as her stamina and strength surged.
Renji worked quietly in a corner — steady push-ups, sit-ups, and arm stretches, the crystals on his wrists and neck glowing softly. Between each rep, he adjusted small devices, calibrating readings on everyone's output through a floating holographic screen.
Mio flowed like water and wind combined. She balanced in a handstand, body coiled in perfect control, then twisted midair, sending blades of wind and ice slicing through rows of training dummies. The blue-green-red glow from her crystals blended seamlessly into the swirling frost that followed her every move.
At the center of it all, Mike finally stepped forward.
He walked toward the reinforced steel dummy stationed a few meters from Mio's training space. The air around him pulsed faintly as his presence shifted — calm, but heavy with restrained intent. He wasn't strapping on any crystals; he didn't need them. His connection to energy ran far deeper than absorption or amplification.
He simply wanted to test one of his abilities.
(Apart from my monarch abilities, I've only been using Telekinesis... and most of the others are already passively applied, so I've gotten a hang of what they're all about. So I guess that just leaves...) Mike contemplated inwardly.
"Eternal Hybris — 1%."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
And just then, an intense green aura surged around him. His eyes and hair glowed a faint emerald.
⟦ All Physical Stats enhanced by 10× ⟧
[ Physic — 50 × 10 = 500 ]
The ground cracked, spider webbing across his feet.
"I feel like I drank a truck load of energy drinks" he smirked. Clenching his fist, taking a fighting stance.
BOOM!!
He launched a casual punch, but it left a whole in the reinforced steel dummy.
"huh?!" Mike's eyes widened.
The training dummy crumbled instantly sending shockwaves across the training hall.
Mike lowered his fist slowly, emerald light still rippling faintly across his skin.
The reinforced dummy didn't just collapse — it disintegrated.
Chunks of alloy skidded across the floor as a delayed shockwave rippled through the hall. Several training drones wobbled midair before stabilizing themselves.
Silence followed.
Then—
"What the fuck was that?" Dante barked, letting the alloy slab crash to the floor as he stared at the crater.
Emiko skidded to a halt on the treadmill, sparks popping harmlessly around her ankles. "Mikey-kun… you barely tapped it."
Renji's fingers flew across his holographic display, eyes wide behind his glasses. "That output spike was instantaneous. No buildup. No external amplification." He looked up sharply. "Mike — what did you just activate?"
Mike flexed his hand, watching the faint green shimmer ebb and flow across his skin. His heart was pounding harder than usual — not painfully, but insistently, as if his body was struggling to keep pace.
"Just a physical enhancement form," he said casually. "Nothing fancy."
Mio didn't look convinced. She stepped closer, her gaze calm but sharp. "Your aura changed. It feels… heavier. Condensed."
Nova's voice echoed calmly in Mike's mind.
⟦ Status Update: Eternal Hybris active at 1%.
Stamina consumption elevated but stable.
Warning: Extended usage will accelerate fatigue exponentially. ⟧
So this is what 1% feels like… Mike thought.
Power coursed through him — raw, direct, overwhelmingly physical. His muscles felt tightly coiled, every movement begging to be released. The world itself seemed lighter, slower, as if gravity had loosened its grip.
He exhaled and let the form fade.
The green aura receded instantly. His hair and eyes returned to normal, and the pressure vanished as though it had never existed.
Mike rolled his shoulders once.
"…Yeah," he muttered, scratching the back of his head. "I definitely underestimated that."
Renji stared at the readings, then at Mike. "…Your base physical stats are fifty across the board, correct?"
Mike nodded.
Renji swallowed. "Then at one percent, you multiplied everything by ten."
Dante let out a low whistle. "And that's the safe range?"
"Safer than going higher," Mike replied.
Chloe crossed her arms, a grin tugging at her lips. "So what happens if you do?"
Nova answered before Mike could.
⟦ Projection: At 2%, strain on muscular fibers and cardiovascular output increases dramatically.
At 5%, sustained use without sufficient stamina reserves may cause internal damage.
Beyond that — backlash probability rises sharply. ⟧
Freya landed softly nearby, wings folding in with a metallic hum. "A power that punishes arrogance," she said thoughtfully. "Fitting."
Mike smirked. "Yeah. Hence the name."
He glanced once more at the ruined dummy — then at the cracked floor beneath his feet.
"For now," he said, clenching his fist without activating the form, "1% is more than enough."
Emiko grinned. "Good. Because if you go higher and break the chamber, Renji's gonna cry."
"I will not cry," Renji snapped instantly. "…But I will bill you."
Laughter rippled through the hall, easing the tension.
Mike's gaze swept over the team — every one of them pushing past their limits, growing stronger with each passing moment.
Good, he thought. This is exactly how it should be.
He turned away from the training floor.
"I'll leave you all to it," Mike said. "Keep pushing. Don't slack."
Then, more quietly — to himself —
"It'll be better if I handle my training elsewhere."
He reached into his storage space and pulled out a long, narrow case — matte black, reinforced at the edges. Renji's handiwork. Heavy. Purpose-built.
Without another word, Mike stepped into his storage space, the entrance sealing shut behind him.
Inside, the silence was absolute.
The case rested against his shoulder as he walked deeper into the void.
Whatever training awaited him there…
It wasn't meant to be seen yet.