But her struggle was futile.
Perhaps sensing her every move, Satoru Mikami blocked all of Koneko's punches with only a single hand.
And worse for her—during the exchange, his strength surged once again, the aura of his Boost pulsing like a war drum inside his body.
The intense pressure hung above Koneko like the Sword of Damocles. Her breathing became ragged, her chest constricted, and the world before her eyes began to blur at the edges.
Just as she thought everything was about to end, the grip on her neck suddenly loosened.
"Are you alright?" Satoru's calm voice cut through the haze.
How could she be alright?
Sliding down the wall, Koneko landed heavily on the floor, both hands pressed to the ground as she gasped desperately for air.
"...I thought I was going to die," she admitted, voice trembling.
"Sorry. I didn't expect you to be so weak. I thought you were holding back."
"???"
Was that even human speech?!
Her pale face flushed crimson, the blush spreading like wildfire. For a moment, she couldn't tell if it was from exertion or embarrassment.
Taking a deep breath, she raised her head to glare at him.
"That was my mistake. Let's continue."
"Hm? Aren't you going to rest?"
"No need."
This time, her tone was steely. She drew deeply upon her strength, and in an instant, two furry cat ears flicked up atop her head, while a fluffy tail swished behind her.
The neko heritage hidden within her awakened.
Satoru, whose strength had just pulsed for the third round of Boost, tilted his head slightly and beckoned her forward with one hand.
"Then this time—you start."
---
Occult Research Club
A flash of light radiated from the summoning circle.
Koneko Toujou appeared in the room, her school uniform torn in several places, her shoulders rising and falling with fatigue.
"Hm? Koneko, what happened to you?"
Looking up from her desk filled with paperwork, Rias Gremory's crimson hair shimmered in the lamplight. Her sharp blue eyes softened with concern.
Koneko's aura didn't seem damaged, but her disheveled state spoke volumes. It had been a simple contract request—how had she ended up like this?
"President, I…"
Koneko's lips parted, but hesitation stilled her tongue.
She thought of Satoru's unyielding pressure, of how easily he had overwhelmed her. And then… her face burned once more.
That blush spoke louder than words.
Rias sighed gently. Stepping forward, she pulled the small girl into her embrace and stroked her hair.
"Rest first. Tell me after you've calmed down."
---
The Next Morning
On the other side of town, Satoru Mikami was busy putting the furniture back in place after last night's spar. A flicker of guilt crossed his face.
"Did I go too hard?"
He hadn't meant to push her so far. He should have let her land a clean hit, at least once. A sparring partner like Koneko wasn't easy to find. If she lost heart, it would be troublesome.
"…I'll buy her a dessert tomorrow as an apology."
Decision made, Satoru summoned his status panel.
After defeating Koneko, a new glow had appeared—
[Immortal Arts (Purple): Techniques that manipulate the flow of life. With development, they can be applied in countless fields.]
"Good stuff."
His eyes lit up as he immediately equipped the new Trait. But just then, a prompt window surfaced.
[Trait slots full. To unlock a new slot, consume 10 white Traits or 1 Green Trait. Proceed?]
"So it's capped at five…"
His gaze swept over his current Traits. He removed Spiritual Vision (white)—a useful ability once, but redundant now that Immortal Arts offered superior perception.
The moment he equipped the new Trait, his body changed.
For the first time, he could feel the faint river of Qi flowing within him—the essence of life itself, usually hidden deep in unknown channels. His stronger body allowed more of it to flow than an ordinary person.
He closed his eyes, experimenting. The immortal Arts guided the Qi like gentle streams coursing into his meridians.
---
The night passed in focused meditation.
When dawn's light crept across his curtains, Satoru sat cross-legged, wrapped in a faint white glow. The soft radiance seeped into his veins, awakening dormant potential.
His muscles tensed and released with faint cracks, his physique subtly reshaping itself.
"Not bad. Even better than I imagined."
A satisfied smile formed.
Immortal Arts weren't just perception—they could refine the body, regulate life force, and awaken hidden potential. For ordinary people, the effect would be slight. But for him—someone with infinite potential—the results were staggering.
In one night, his growth equaled several days of brutal training.
"And with this, I don't even need to sleep to maintain peak energy."
Another prompt chimed.
[Ding! Host's strength has broken through to Level 2. Trait Upgrade function unlocked!]
Finally.
Curious, he studied the new function. It was simple: ten Traits of the same rank could fuse into a higher rank.
For example—if he gathered ten Purple Traits, he could upgrade Immortal Arts into an Red one.
Satoru's eyes narrowed. "So it encourages me to fight more, huh? Collect Traits, fuse Traits… a grind system."
He closed the panel and laced up his running shoes.
"Fine. Let's finish morning training first."
---
Kouh Academy
Because the school grounds teemed with strong candidates, he didn't skip classes. He sat through lectures, quietly analyzing potential opponents.
When the final bell rang, he made his move.
"Hey, Koneko. A senior is looking for you," a classmate called.
The petite girl turned toward the doorway. Her golden eyes widened slightly.
"Mikami–senpai? Why are you here?"
"Of course—to fulfill yesterday's promise."
He held out a neat little package: a dessert from Akane Kubo's shop.
"…Thank you."
Her hesitation was brief. Though she'd been furious at him yesterday, reflection told her it wasn't truly his fault. He had summoned her for training, and she had failed to meet his expectations. If anything, she was the one who had come up short.
"Koneko, can you do me a favor?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Sepai, this is outside contract hours."
He coughed. "Not what you're thinking. I don't want to fight you again."
"…Another Devil, then?"
"Yup."
He grinned, giving her a thumbs-up. "You must have colleagues. Can you introduce me?"
"I can't…" The refusal caught in her throat.
Rias's words from yesterday echoed in her mind. After a brief pause, she sighed. "I can't decide alone. But if you have time, I'll take you to see the President."
"Then I'll trouble you."
The two walked side by side, making their way toward the old school building.
The wooden door creaked open beneath a sign: Occult Research Club.
"President, I have brought Mikami–senpai," Koneko announced.
Inside, only Rias and Himejima Akeno were present. Yuuto was absent.
Hearing the words, both looked up.
After studying the boy before her, Rias Gremory set down her teacup and rose gracefully.
"Satoru Mikami—welcome to the Occult Research Club. I am the president, Rias Gremory."