Let's recap the meaning of MIND.
Miniaturized Implant of Non-metaphysical Derealization.
The longer a MIND had existed, the more it became more aware than its beginning of infancy, breaking the 'derealization' that occurred in its creation.
An adult MIND is definitely stronger than the young un'. Just like humans! This longsword was already smart enough to base its trait against my own personality, fully changing its battle style!
But it came with a downside.
Frieden had bonded with Dunkrieg for a long time, it was no longer a weapon that could be commanded willy-nilly against its will.
And as it didn't trust me as much yet, Frieden was reluctant to allow me to fully utilize her.
"Even without the MIND, I still have a couple of hidden powers." I gestured a fox sign with my left hand. "Doesn't that make you scared?"
"Oho?" Hans then finally unsheathed his fourth Katzbalger. A green splash of semi-liquid matter began to gush out from the inside of the sheath, which immediately dispersed afterwards. "Show me then!"
With the extra strength from the fluttering vortex of light that was still on his hand, the green matter formed an extremely long extension until the very edge of what it was pointed at, eventually hitting the barrier hundred meters away as he thrust it towards me.
If I hadn't dodged that, I'd definitely be a goner!
Hans swung this terrifying MIND upward to the sky, before doing a dangerous sweep across the area with it.
I was forced to leap quite high thanks to it, covering a lot of distance as I progressed forward.
"I don't know, they are still hidden from me."
Hans had his side wide open after winding up that crazy sweep. Before he recovered his balance completely, I spun my spear and kicked the pommel when it was aligned with that bastard's head, launching the spear at the speed faster than a noisy yapping could travel.
While his stance was firm, his head was knocked back by the impact with my spear appearing to be latching on his face.
I thought that was too brutal of me to completely crush the front skull of this man, then again, he had probably done a severe modification on his whole body, so I doubt that a puny strike like mine could deal heavy damage.
At the same time, I really want my spear to fully crack open his head.
Then this bastard regained his posture as he proudly showed me that he was clenching his teeth against the tip like a cigarette.
"Why won't you die!?"
Hans then transferred more strength to his jaw, eventually cracking the tip of the spear, letting the fragments and the handle fall to the ground.
"Body-modification, son!"
After I met with the ground once again, both of us took a small breather in the middle of the so-called 'spar'.
"Hans the Stupid Jaw, you do know that Anti-MIND weapon cost ten time more than the cheapest MIND production, even if it was at the lowest quality and strength like the one you just gnawed!"
"Ol' pal, you have used that very same spear since the last time we beat each other up. It's your fault for still using that junk."
"Rich people like you won't understand!"
"Be rich then!"
Alright, this event had traumatized me to never throw my weapon ever.
Then again, that spear was already trembling since the very first moment we clashed. It would eventually break as we went further with the intensity of this duel.
Heck, even the firearm that I acquired back then won't do shit against that strong fabric of his suit. I thought that aiming at his head was the only way. I didn't know that his skull was denser than the four MINDs on his waist combined.
Should I aim for the groin? He had probably enhanced that too.
Which left me with no choice.
I had nothing left to use beside Frieden.
"You know what? Maybe you're worthy enough to see this sword in action."
"I doubt that you could use it at this point." Hans snickered. "You're not a man who rationed his weapons. The Faust I knew would usually give everything he got in the very first second of the fight, not letting his opposition make a single move.
"You haven't fully synchronized with it, am I wrong?"
I ignored his yapping, and placed my right hand on the handle.
Like what Hans said, the reason why I haven't utilized Frieden again after she partially acknowledged me was because of the fact that I haven't synchronized my consciousness with her.
For a newly 'derealized' MIND, it would take around two days to six months, depending on the potential of the awareness that the MIND possessed.
After Frieden gave her last farewell to her former owner, she needed to synchronize with me so that she could perform that spherical vortex dome.
But because she hadn't fully trusted me yet, the synchronization was only partial. At any moment, she could fully desynchronize with me and I couldn't acquire her trust any more.
I planned to let her be on my back for a couple of days before attempting my initiation, but because of a different occasion, I couldn't wait for any less second.
I closed my eyes, channeling my focus and subconscious desire to plunge into the fragile shell that Frieded had created.
This won't take much time. As consciousness without an external factor had a faster perception of time. I'm lucky, it would only take 5 second after I'm done.
Just like a nose-dive, I went head first.
The place I got into was serene. Rays of light pierced deep into the waving surface of water. I was submerged in an illuminated sea of tranquility.
In front of me was an ever sinking and rising headless body of a girl in a white cloak. A single chrysanthemum flower was attached to the left chest of the white fabric, waving up and down along with the peaceful current.
She then moved her right hand, as if she wanted to wave at me. Either that time was slowed down or it was the effect of being under the sea, everything that both of us did were perceived slower by me in this process.
"I apologize for forcing my initiation."
Frieden pointed at herself before giving an OK- gesture.
"It might be too soon for this, Frieden, but I need your cooperation."