"Gaining experience through actual combat and growing from it—this is your lesson."
Rias narrowed her eyes and said playfully, "The warm-up is over. It won't be so easy from here on~"
At this moment, the Rias of this world was filled with frustration.
Before she could regain her composure, she was met with a dense barrage of light.
Though there was no fear of death, the intensified pain was even more terrifying.
A nearly suffocating pressure welled up within her heart.
Then, without any power to resist, she was knocked to the ground.
"Stand up."
Rias was smiling, but her smile was daunting now.
Her pride and fantasies dissipated; only then did she begin to vaguely understand.
What method could allow her to reach the level of a Ultimate-class Devil in such a short time?
The training she had requested was hellish training!
Either lie miserably on the ground or be struck down, then stand back up again, exhausting all her strength.
This was training in the truest sense.
And this was only the first day!
Amidst extreme exhaustion and pain, the Rias of this world gritted her teeth and endured until the end of the training session.
She had originally planned to take a bath, but she fell into a deep sleep in the tub like a dead dog.
After being cleaned by Rias and carried back to her room, her fatigue and injuries were erased using the Power of Life.
Because she had been asked to train her, there were no recreational activities in the evening, so Rias woke her up early.
In reality... the Rias of this world had only slept for three hours.
Two hours of training, ten minutes of rest.
Half an hour for lunch and rest, then another two hours of training.
Continuing until her body could no longer hold out, she would take a bath, sleep, and then get back up to train again three hours later.
After only five days of this hellish life, the Rias of this world was on the verge of a breakdown.
Was this training?
This was going to kill her!
Although Devils wouldn't die, this hellish training still filled her heart with dread.
However, once it began, Rias would never stop.
"Is it painful?"
Rias asked.
"Yes, it hurts, and I'm exhausted."
The Rias of this world looked at her tiredly, a hint of fear in her eyes.
Even though she had asked her parallel-world self for training, this was far too cruel.
If not for the conviction in her heart, as well as her dignity and pride, she would have likely given up long ago.
In fact, the thought of giving up had been circling in her mind, but seeing the serious expression of her parallel-world self, she couldn't bring herself to say it despite opening her mouth several times.
"It's been five days. You've started to get somewhat used to the high-intensity training."
Rias paused and then said, "No, not used to it, but numb."
"Have you forgotten the purpose of your training?"
"I haven't forgotten. I want to become strong—strong enough to control my own fate. That's why I asked you to train me."
The Rias of this world fell silent for a moment before speaking.
"Then let's review the lesson. What are the conditions for Magic Awakening?"
Rias asked again.
"Willpower and resolve."
Vaguely, the Rias of this world seemed to realize something.
"We were born into extremely privileged environments and have never truly seen suffering,"
Rias said. "Suffering makes people numb, but it can also make one's will firm."
"It's because your conviction isn't firm enough that you've become numb."
The Rias of this world couldn't help but fall silent.
She didn't know what to say.
It was just... everything she was going through, had her parallel-world self gone through it too?
What... exactly had she experienced?
A mental storm erupted in her head. Having been suppressed for so long, the Rias of this world's thinking ability—whether it had evolved or devolved—began to imagine a whole series of scenarios.
"So, do not hesitate. Focus all your attention and concentrate your entire being on the training."
"Learn my fighting style, absorb experience, and then become stronger."
"Enjoy this process from the bottom of your heart. That is true cultivation."
Hearing this, the Rias of this world became thoughtful.
But—
Without a doubt, her mindset had shifted.
Under the fearful gazes of her peerage, the training continued for half a month.
With her nerves taut, she focused her entire attention and continued to grow.
In a short period, as if reborn, she achieved Magic Awakening during one of the training sessions.
Crimson magic power erupted from her entire body, spreading outward like a sun, her gaze filled with depth.
Vaguely, she had shed her immaturity, revealing the unique bearing of the Gremory Family.
"Is it over?"
Rias felt a bit of regret.
Disci... Teaching her parallel-world self was an unexpectedly addictive form of entertainment.
Watching her grow bit by bit gave her a great sense of accomplishment.
This was the spiritual satisfaction of being a teacher.
As for the Rias of this world's speculation about Rias's experiences?
Sorry, she had never actually experienced this kind of training.
But correspondingly, she worked hard at her cultivation every single moment.
If Rias's cultivation was a natural progression, then this world's Rias was using high-intensity training to make up for her lack of cultivation.
"I can feel a very surging power."
The Rias of this world closed her eyes, feeling a stable and extremely solid magic power.
Her magic power surged like the ocean, and an incredibly strong one welled up in her heart.
This confidence was different from before; it was more solid than in the past, as if it had some sort of pillar.
The hellish training had tempered her will, and the growth in power following her Magic Awakening rebuilt her shattered confidence.
She was even more radiant.
"I... I really did it..."
Feeling her own strength, she realized it was more than ten times greater than before.
And in terms of combat power, the increase was likely even more.
This was the result of only half a month.
In just half a month, she had grown to this extent.
Looking back now, this period of time felt like a dream.
"Congratulations, you have become a Ultimate-class Devil."
Rias smiled. "Even so, I still have a warning for you."
"Please go ahead."
The Rias of this world's tone couldn't help but become respectful.
Her original inner defiance had long since vanished.
Being inferior was simply being inferior. Just as Rias said, from a parallel-world perspective, they were the same person, but their inner selves were completely different.
"A Ultimate-class Devil is already the limit for ordinary Devils, but—"
"For this world, being a Ultimate-class Devil is just the beginning."
"Just the beginning?" the Rias of this world murmured, somewhat dazed.
She was of the younger generation of Devils, and only the younger generation.
For Pure-blood Devils to reach adulthood and become Ultimate-class Devils is normal, and generally, being a Ultimate-class Devil is the limit.
But for Rias, being a Ultimate-class Devil was only the beginning?
"When... when did you become a Ultimate-class Devil?"
The Rias of this world suddenly remembered that her parallel-world self had her Magic Trait awakened at the age of three.
At this moment, she had an extremely bold and crazy guess. Unsure if it was correct, she couldn't help but stare intently at Rias.
"It's exactly as you're thinking."
Rias laughed. "This level... I already reached it when I was three years old."
"Hiss..."
Even though she was mentally prepared, hearing this answer still caused the Rias of this world to gasp in shock.
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