"You are all too easily satisfied."
Rias said, "Just like reading a grimoire, every time you look at it, you gain different insights. The same logic applies to Magic Formulas and weapons."
"The weapon is indeed strong enough, but there is clearly room for improvement."
"How can it improve?" Jibril frowned. "This weapon has already reached its limit. At most, I could only instill my power into it, giving it higher density as my power grows."
"I really can't imagine how this could become stronger again."
"What about you, Miss Unohana?"
Rias smiled slightly and looked toward Unohana Retsu.
"I don't know."
Unohana Retsu thought for a moment and eventually could only shake her head.
Her way of thinking was vastly different from Rias's; she simply couldn't imagine where such a blade would still have room for optimization.
"At the most basic level, there are two areas that can be optimized,"
Rias said.
"Two?!"
Unohana Retsu and Jibril exclaimed in surprise.
"First, a weapon is ultimately just a weapon."
Rias looked at Jibril and asked, "What is your greatest weapon?"
"Heavenly Strike?" Jibril ventured.
"I'm not talking about attacks; I'm talking about weapons."
Rias shook her head.
"Myself?"
Jibril realized.
"Exactly. That is the biggest difference between high-ranking races and low-ranking races."
Rias smiled. "You yourselves are the strongest weapons!"
"For the Flugel, that is still considered an external object."
"Therefore—"
Rias said calmly, "The next step is to reconstruct your Magic Formula based on your physical body, so that the Zanpakutō is not an external object but an extended part of your body."
"I see."
Jibril's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but pounce on Rias, pulling her into an embrace.
"You are absolutely amazing!!"
Jibril rubbed her cheek against Rias's, her expression full of excitement.
"Ahem..."
Unohana Retsu coughed, wanting to interrupt the scene, but she was ignored by Jibril.
"Alright, get down."
Rias pulled Jibril off her. Before long, Jibril regained her composure, and Unohana Retsu asked:
"Then what about the second point?"
"Sacred Gears," Rias said. "The concept of a Sacred Gear is to use the owner's thoughts as nourishment, constantly changing and evolving to become stronger and stronger."
"In other words, as long as we construct a core Magic Formula, it can grow stronger and gain more functions along with your thoughts."
"Essentially, a humanoid Sacred Gear."
Rias smiled.
The Flugel themselves are constructed from Magic Formulas. As Jibril's thoughts change, the Magic Formula itself evolves, which is equivalent to her evolving herself!
What a... what a terrifying concept!
Although Rias's strength was still weak, this level of thinking was what was truly frightening.
Even though she was called an anomaly among the Flugel, Jibril was far inferior to Rias in this regard.
They couldn't even be mentioned in the same breath.
Both possessed a similar sense of abnormality, but the possibilities Rias held far surpassed Jibril's!
Anyone who looked at Rias would feel a sort of invisible attraction.
And perhaps this abnormality was exactly what attracted Jibril.
The two of them couldn't help but marvel.
Soon, a look of confusion appeared on Jibril's face.
"What's wrong?"
Rias asked, looking at the troubled Jibril.
"I don't know how to give back."
Jibril said, troubled, "If it were plundering, I would take it for granted."
"What I desire, I kill to take; that is the same as a gift from heaven."
"But this isn't plundering. I'm wondering what kind of thing can repay the trade with you."
"But right now, no matter how much I think, I can't think of anything that can repay your help."
So that's it; Jibril really is a simple child~
Rias couldn't help but show a faint smile.
"It's very simple."
Rias smiled and said, "If you can't find anything to give back, then keep it in your heart. There's no need to force it; just follow your heart."
"Besides plundering and trading, there are other concepts, and that is friendship."
Rias said, "This kind of giving that comes from friendship doesn't need to be divided so clearly. As long as you have that thought in your heart, it's enough."
Hearing this, a look of astonishment appeared on Jibril's face.
"That's very strange,"
Jibril murmured. "How can such a thing exist?"
"Before me, has anyone ever traded knowledge with you?"
Rias asked.
"No."
"You are the first existence to propose a 'trade' with me."
Subconsciously using honorifics, Jibril shook her head.
"Exactly." Rias flew up and patted Jibril's head, saying, "There are still many unknown things in the world, and many things and concepts you haven't understood yet. Turning the unknown into the known is not just a manifestation of fear; the process itself is a form of enjoyment."
"It's okay if you can't understand it now. Think about it slowly, and you will eventually find the answer and come to understand it."
"Don't push yourself too hard."
Rias's gentle voice and that small palm made Jibril's eyes sparkle with an unusual light.
So amazing, even more amazing than Senior Raphael.
Without even Rias or Jibril herself noticing, an emotion of admiration had risen in Jibril's heart toward Rias.
In the process of their time together, Jibril had already been influenced by Rias, which was why she was attracted to her.
It was also because of this that Jibril cared about Rias.
"Let's take it step by step."
Rias stretched and smiled. "I will teach you the Analysis Formula. You can try to construct the Magic Formula yourself. I still have my own topics to research."
The conversion of energy properties was now a must.
Rias wanted to release Kido (Spirit Path) and Return, so this was something that had to be researched.
The conversion of energy properties, as well as the conversion and fusion of energy characteristics, were all necessary courses.
After teaching the Analysis Formula to Unohana Retsu and Jibril, the three began their respective research.
"Is this really okay?"
Unohana Retsu asked, "Didn't you initially want to use the Fusion Equation to exchange for the Hōgyoku?"
"By letting me participate in the research directly, aren't you going against your original intention?"
"You said it yourself; that was the 'original' intention." Rias smiled and said, "Just as I told Jibril before, a trade is a trade, but now we have become friends. Researching together is obviously faster than me researching alone."
Although the give-and-take wasn't equal, since they had become friends, there was no need to care too much about such things.
This was Rias's way of thinking.
This might be hard for many people to understand, but for those she recognized, Rias didn't care that much about profit.
So now, the Fusion Equation was being researched by the three of them together.
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