Throughout all the battles Aleph experienced, he carefully realized his increase in strength. It became even more evident whe Sage was awakened.

  In the fighting side, it gave him a huge edge through his speed of thoughts. It allowed him to pn ahead and deal with troublesome enemies, even if they were stronger than him in one aspect.

  It wasn't only that.

  ‘I could see her bde… that's her swordsmanship, I see.’

  The entire world turned dark blue. Several images of Sakura appeared on her prior track.

  Every miniscule detail, from her ge of grip to her arms’ movements, were preseo his eyes.

  ‘Elemental Sight… If this thing is paired with something else…’

  Elemental Sight ower to see through things at first. Only whe Sage appeared did Aleph realize its true potential.

  In battle, its most important tribution was to see the enemy's past self. These traces alloh to glimpse more perfectly upon their move.

  Bam-!

  Bam-!

  Everything happened within a few seds. All the meticulous pnning inside Aleph's head was verted into a real result.

  After pushing Sakura back with two strikes, he uantly dealt with the greatsword in Kevin's hands.

  Flick-!

  Bam-!

  Sou-!

  Just like Sakura's sword, Aleph struck at its ft side. Instead of a head-on parry, it was more simir to flig the bde away.

  Seeing Kevin being wide-open, Aleph struck him with the staff’s end at his forehead.

  Bam-!

  “Ow!”

  Kevin was incapacitated for a while. He fell down to the ground, though he didn't let go of his on.

  During the eime, Sakura didn't hesitate to keep pressuring Aleph. She remained in his strike zone, swiftly striking him while usis now and then.

  At this point, Sakura already realized ohing.

  ‘We’re dang to his tuhe eime.’

  Though she didn't know his means, she could see the situation they were in. There was a reason h asked the two of them to go against him.

  Bam-!

  Bam-!

  For the en seds, Aleph remained on the defensive. Sakura wasn't able to find any way to get past his defehus resulting in this brief stalemate.

  During the tenth sed, Aleph saw Kevin vaulting from his position. The tter had recovered a while ago and only chose to aow.

  It was also at this moment did Aleph step into the deadlobsp;the two tacitly decided on. Kevin was ing at him from midair while Sakura ressuring his front.

  ‘Sheer strength or teique?’

  Aleph made a choice.

  He threw the wooden staff straight at Kevin's forehead (again). The tter didn't have enough time to react to the swift projectile, thus finding its mark again.

  Bam-!

  “Ow!”

  Sakura didn't have the time to be surprised as she leveraged his ck of on. However, Aleph was able to nimbly dodge all of her strikes, as if he redig her moves.

  As the dodging session tinued, Aleph suddenly lowered his stand struck at her stomach. The punch was blocked abruptly by her left arm.

  Sakura slid several feet again. She felt the slightly numbiion on her left arm before her eyes focused on him.

  ‘He’s started it!’

  This time, Aleph was the oo be on the offensive. No matter how much advantage she had with the sword, plus the fact Aleph was fighting bare handedly, it meant nothing once all of her moves were read.

  By the time this spar ended—exactly two minutes after it started—both Kevin and Sakura were exhausted.

  Aleph only had a few sweat on his forehead, a plete trast between their situation.

  “Let's start another round once you've rested.”

  This time, Aleph's words didn't sound arrogant anymore.

  *****

  “Ow… isn't this too big of a payback?”

  “No, that's training. Look, aren't you creating your owhat helps.”

  “I won't even ask you questions anymore.”

  Two hours after their sparring sessions, Kevin and Sakura returo the living lounge while being badly battered. The two had bruises all over them.

  “This is also a good ce to test your recovery. Project Soldier opened a lot of firsts in human history.” Aleph expily.

  “I mean… that was all your talent? Was that why you were training way ba high school?”

  “Teically, it is one. Sakura is way better than you in this regard.”

  Aleph pointed out to the silent Sakura.

  “You have the instinct but not the skills. There's a lot of catg up to do.”

  Suddenly, Sakura asked him an iing question.

  “Have you been doing swordsmanship, Sir Aleph?”

  “Yeah, if you sider me fighting against one.”

  “ I meet him?”

  “Unfortunately, no.”

  It remained unknown what was hidden in Aleph's heavy tone.

  “But yes, he's the best swordsman I ever met. For starters, he swung his sword repeatedly… for several decades straight.”

  Just by hearing his description, Sakura finally uood where that sharp sensation from Aleph came from. Throughout the entire fight, his aura ged repeatedly. Be it a lightning-fast martial artist or a swordsman who sheathes his sharpness (i.e., danger), she felt them from him.

  While they were talking, Elysia arrived at their current situation.

  “What did… how could you do this to a beautiful girl?”

  ‘She gets along with everyone, but I do get why Mobius was ao death by her.’

  Aleph handed out another set of medical kits to Sakura. Realizing he could not help her apply these on some injuries, his eyes shifted to Elysia as he ftly stared at her.

  The tter immediately uood what he meant.

  “Alright, alright. I uand. I'll be responsible for her!”

  “Ow… It's hard to do this by myself.”

  Hearing Kevin's words, Elysia promptly responded:

  “Isn't it for training?”

  The fave Aleph a knowing stare.

  “Why would I avoid g with her jokes?” Aleph stated ftly. “I 't beat her… and so does Mobius.”

  “I hear you!” Elysia retorted.

  “See?”

  At this moment, the atmosphere of the entire lounge became lively.

  “Was this the notorious Miss Pink Fairy in Fire MOTH..?” Kevin muttered.

  “gratutions, you got to experie firsthand.“ Aleph gratuted him.

  For the sed time, Elysia fired off her rounds.

  “What's wrong with it? I've heard boys like cute girls… and you're talking to one!”

  Aleph, of course, wasn't left to be ying down.

  “It's my first time seeing a cute girl disregard her calorie intake.”

  “Girls have a sed stomach for sweets!”

  “That is stifically unproven. It's different to be a MANTIS, but to do it prior to this surgery is just...”

  Once again, Aleph felt a strange sense of satisfa upon g with Elysia's teasing. It was quite simir to wheeased Mobius and Mei, but it feels quite different.

  After all, this was his first time going along with her jokes—a huge trast to what he said earlier.

  “In fact, sugar products are the main cause of weight gain along with carbohydrates. I won't ask for weight as it is a taboo, but do keep tabs on them.”

  “Did someone use it against you before?” Elysia asked.

  “Yes, and I won't try asking it again.”

  “...You're sensible. How many cute girls have you taken down?!”

  “Zero.”

  “...what?”

  Aleph's status startled Elysia. Kevin and Sakura kept silent as they watched this two-man edy show.

  “Like I've said, I don't have any girlfriends… or the likes.”

  Internally, he added:

  ‘Even in my past life…’

  While he was waiting for her response, an arm resounded in his mind.

  [Achievement Unlocked: Hunter Gets Hunted]

  [Hunter Gets Hunted: Beat someone on the field they excel at.]

  For a moment, Aleph eechless.