Before. In the Timemould Mirror Box…
Yuyui was hunching over, panting so heavily that she felt like her lungs would soon give out. Her body was badly bruised and blood slipped slickly from her nose and mouth, dropping to the floor.
"Master…" she said when she managed to stand up again, straight and firm.
Replicus had two of his arms folded in front of his chest, and in the two others, he held two basic weapons: a sword and an axe.
"Yes?" he said.
"I wonder. You told us you'd give us all gifts if we managed to complete this part of your training. You said you'd modify our cores, our stats and so on. Could I make a request?"
Replicus was taken aback.
"What kind of request?"
Yuyui blew her hair out of her eyes.