It Won’t be Easy

The whole room was silenced after hearing Kisuke's words. Artemis was about to say something, but Serafall stopped her because she got the context behind what Kisuke had just said.

While the others were confused and had no idea what Kisuke was trying to say, they didn't interrupt him.

Akeno and Irina, on the other hand, were frozen in their spots once realization dawned on them. Immediately after, they felt ashamed. Ashamed that they were disappointed when they thought that their progress was slow. It was true that they couldn´t take full advantage of their new bodies due to the restrictions of this world and their poor mastery over energy manipulation. However, it was also true that the Draconic bodies they'd received also gave them a substantial boost in power and defense if they were in a normal situation.

But, despite the fact that they looked the same, they didn't immediately realize that they weren't in their old bodies anymore.

The silence ended when Irina started walking towards Kisuke, while making a condescending smile. Once she came in front of him, Irina raised her right fist and gave his chest a soft thump, "Do you really have to say that in such a condescending tone? Though it's really our fault for not realizing it sooner and thinking that it'd be a lot easier from then on."

Kisuke's smile softened and he reached out for her bobbed head, "It's just so that I can send the message across much better. You can't have me telling this to you every time as you should've felt and realized this yourself through self-evaluation, even if you didn't know the specifics."

Kisuke then looked towards Akeno and said, "Especially you, Akeno-san. You have more experience and should've been able to figure out something like this. Letting power blind you is never a good thing."

Akeno couldn't look up and could only mutter, "I've been arrogant and overconfident. I should have known that there's no such thing as a free power-up."

Kisuke nodded and replied, "As long as you understand. Well, I can't exactly put the blame on you entirely due to the existence of ridiculous Sacred Gears that could change the power balance with anyone wielding them."

"Could you explain to us now what exactly is going on? Since you made it sound like this isn't normal and all.", implored Irina.

"To start, although I did my best to make it compatible with you, adaptability is still a different story that I can't do anything about. If I were to make an analogy, it's like from an analog machine to the latest high-tech stuff. Even if you know how to use it, you don't understand anything about it, nor its full potential and capabilities."

"On top of that, your base capabilities are all at abnormal levels due to the origins of your bodies. However, that also means training or improving your bodies may not yield any results. Hence, today's update. I'm actually surprised that you managed to gain some points, meaning, you actually worked hard. I'll give you that."

Akeno finally looked up with a concerned expression, "T-then, is there a way to actually improve?"

"What you actually did is already good.", answered Kisuke, "This way, you can slowly raise your stats and adapt to it, pulling out more hidden potential. Just keep on doing what you did in the Dungeon and within a few years or a decade, you'll be a force to reckon with."

"W-what?", questioned Akeno and Irina in shock. But more than anything they were wondering where everyone else would be within that decade powerwise. And not just that. With how fast things were changing in their original world, being only remotely powerful a decade later was not a good thing at all. Then a strange thought came into them that they could´ve become more powerful if they were in their original bodies, a big contrast to their initial thoughts.

'What's the point of potential if we can't properly manifest it?', thought both of them, as they felt like they were being scammed.

Kisuke was able to correctly guess what was on their minds and chuckled, "I reminded you, didn't I? It won't be easy."

Akeno and Irina became silent and conflicted. Even then, Kisuke continued, "Well, it's not like there isn't a way."

The girls looked at him with hope and waited.

Smiling brightly, Kisuke added, "Simple, taking the offense aside, both of you have very durable and sturdy bodies. You should capitalize that... to your limit."

Akeno was the first one to understand what he meant, "You're telling us to torture ourselves and risk our lives?"

"I never said that you should purposely hurt yourselves, but it's true that being on the verge of death is the easiest way to learn. It's the same with your adaptability issues."

"W-wait! I can't agree with that!" Artemis immediately opposed Kisuke's words, "Constantly risking your lives when it's not necessary is stupid. Even if it's for getting stronger, I don't think that it's warranted to purposely put your lives in danger."

Although Artemis didn't know the context of their conversation, she didn't want to lose her new children over the pursuit of power.

"That's where I have to disagree, Artemis-sama.", replied Kisuke, "It isn't stupid to purposely risk your life, however, only with proper preparation and resolve to go through it. Otherwise, it would indeed be stupid."

"Besides, it seems you misunderstand my idea of taking the risk. You're thinking of increasing the chances of one dying to an enemy to practice while I was referring to decreasing the chances of dying in front of certain death to the utmost limit. Although the goal is the same, they are completely different."

Kisuke then peeked back to Akeno and Irina, "And finally, even if you don't want them to do this, they can't really take the normal route... No, that's wrong. They can't afford to take the normal route."

Artemis wanted some more clarification, but before she could ask, Akeno spoke up, "Uhmm, Kisuke-san... I would like to take that training again."

Kisuke knew what she's referring to and asked, "Oh? Do you mind if I increase the difficulty?"

Akeno nodded, "If you think that's for the best. I implore you to do so."

"I'd like to take it too!" Irina wanted to join the training.

"Then I'll set it up later. I suggest you go through it for a few hours whenever you're on the surface."

"Wait, what training?", asked Aika in curiosity.

"It's something I devised here and tested over on that side. Although it's not strictly for getting stronger but for discipline and mentality training, it'll be good for Akeno-san and Irina's adaptability."

"Hmm... Let me try it too.", requested Aika, and looking at Koneko, she was also eager to experience it.

"Sure, but I don't think that it'll be very effective for you."

"Huh? Why's that?"

"Because of Yoruichi's training. She trained you three on how to fight stronger enemies through techniques and skills. The dummies only have a limited amount of move set and once you figure that out, even if it becomes stronger than you physically, it won't be able to do anything against you."

"Wait, what!?" Akeno and Irina were shocked yet again as they already experienced the terrifying wooden dolls.

Kisuke then started to walk away to prepare the things needed before saying, "Well, compared to your training, their training under Yoruichi is all about surviving and getting out with the fewest injuries. Unlike the dummies, their opponent is someone who has real killing intent."

This time, it was Sona, Aika and Koneko who were surprised. "Wait... Our training is that bad from the outside perspective?", asked Sona.

"Yeah... It's actually pretty bad. Even the strictest special forces I know of doesn't employ that much brutality." Kisuke stopped walking in realization, "Now that I think about it, both Yoruichi and I got carried away and threw away our previous notions of training. But since you kept adapting to it, we just went on while 'improving' our methods. It worked out great, though."