As consciousness gently enveloped me, my surroundings materialized into a pristine white expanse, permeated with the faint scent of disinfectant. Instantly recognizing the sterile environment, I realized that I had awoken within the confines of a hospital.
Clad in a hospital gown, I instinctively scanned my body, only to discover a remarkable absence of the injuries that had once marred my skin. Not a single scar remained as evidence of the severe wounds that had plagued me just moments before reinforcements arrived.
Attempting Jack to gather my bearings, I murmured to myself, "How long has it been?" My query was met with a familiar voice emanating from the adjacent bed. It was Jimmy, his visage still bearing the remnants of his own injuries.
"It has been four days since the battle," he replied, his voice tinged with a mixture of exhaustion and relief. Despite the passage of time, Jimmy's appearance suggested that his recovery was still in progress, his injuries yet to fully mend.
Curiosity ignited within me as I inquired about Jimmy's lingering injuries, unable to fathom why his wounds hadn't mended as swiftly as my own.
Recalling the intense battle we had endured, where he too faced a formidable High-level Specialist Mark devil, I couldn't shake the memory of how he had been thrashed, his injuries as severe as my own.
Confusion mingled with concern as I posed the question, "Why haven't your injuries healed yet?" His response carried a touch of jest, highlighting our contrasting circumstances.
"Not everyone is a freak like you," he retorted, a hint of admiration underlying his words. He went on to reveal that even the doctors were taken aback by the extraordinary pace at which my injuries had healed, a rate three times faster than that of an average Private stage individual.
Jimmy proceeded to share the intriguing findings discovered during the extensive tests conducted on my body.
He explained that the doctors hypothesized that my rapid healing ability was likely attributed to an extraordinary power derived from my mutated Grey Sparked Swallow.
The revelation left us both in awe, as the magnitude of this discovery hinted at untapped potential and unforeseen possibilities awaiting exploration.
Curiosity filled the air as Jimmy posed a question that initially left me puzzled. "Do you practice that Devil's Exercise?" he inquired.
It took a moment for the realization to dawn upon me, connecting his words to the Supreme Combat Exercise I had undertaken. "Ah, you mean the Supreme Combat Exercise," I clarified, finally comprehending his reference.
With candor in my response, I confirmed, "Yes, I have indeed practiced it. It's not much of a secret, really. Almost everyone has at least attempted it once in their lifetime. In my case, I managed to complete one full set.
" The admission seemed to ignite a spark of recognition within Jimmy, who eagerly voiced his earlier suspicions. "I knew it!" he exclaimed. "During our battle, your attacks carried a power beyond mere half-skills. It was as if they possessed the full force of one.
When the doctors discovered your involvement with the Devil's Exercise and learned that you had completed a set, their excitement knew no bounds.
They couldn't wait to inform that woman," he concluded, his excitement palpable.
Before Jimmy could continue, a melodious voice abruptly interrupted our conversation, leaving his sentence unfinished.
The unexpected interruption added a touch of mystery to the moment, leaving us both eager to discover the source and the significance of the cautionary words that hung in the air.
As our conversation was interrupted, my attention turned towards the source of the melodious voice. A stunning lady, appearing to be in her early thirties, stood before us.
Her face radiated beauty, accentuated by her lustrous blonde hair. In her hands, she cradled a snow-colored fox, its fluffy and adorable appearance setting it apart from the typical Fox Devils I had read about.
Instantly, I found myself captivated by its charm, deeming it the cutest devil I had ever laid eyes upon.
With a playful tone, the lady directed her words towards Jimmy, whom she referred to as "crybaby Jimmy.
" A smile played on her lips as she taunted him. Sensing his defensiveness, I observed their interaction, noting a familiarity that suggested a close relationship between the two.
Jimmy, however, took offense to the name she called him, asserting his preferred name with a hint of irritation. It became evident that they shared a connection and were quite well-acquainted, as indicated by their banter.
"Well, I can't take responsibility for the fact that you used to cry every time you played with my adorable Seychelles," she remarked, gently caressing the head of her cute fox.
The fox seemed to bask in the affection, sporting a contented smile.
A visible sense of fear gripped Jimmy's face as he glanced at the tiny and endearing creature. "You always act like this, Crybaby Jimmy. I'll discuss this with your mother later," she added, her attention then shifting towards me.
As she peered at me from an inverted angle, her eyes transformed into a captivating shade of blue. In that moment, I felt utterly exposed, as if every secret within my being lay bare before her penetrating gaze. It seemed as though nothing could be concealed from her sight.
"Well, I must commend you on your remarkable achievement of completing a set of Supreme Combat Exercise at the tender age of sixteen.
Your neural damage has completely healed, and I have to say, you've recovered impressively," she acknowledged. I looked at her with a mixture of confusion and curiosity.
She proceeded to clarify the reason behind my four-day unconsciousness, attributing it to the neural damage I had sustained. However, she reassured me that the damage had now healed, and as a result, my neural network had grown stronger than ever before.
This newfound strength would enable me to withstand the pressures of multiple sets of exercise without issue, she explained.
Grateful for her explanation, I expressed my appreciation, knowing all too well the extent of the injuries I had suffered, particularly the severity of the neural damage.
It required specialized expertise to facilitate such a rapid recovery.
She then added, "Oh, one more thing. If you manage to complete 10 sets of Supreme Combat Exercise within the next three years, come find me. I will conduct some tests on you. In return, you may choose any Mark 2 or lower potion as your reward."
"Remember, you have a three-year time frame. After that, I'll be gone, and your opportunity to acquire the Mark 2 potion of your choice will be lost," she emphasized.
Her proposition startled me, but she left her contact information on my Holowatch before departing.
I nodded in acknowledgment, though deep down, I knew it was an impossible feat for me to complete ten sets within three years. Even with ten years at my disposal, the Supreme Combat Exercise's ten sets were an astronomical challenge—one that typically required several decades to conquer.
"You're now discharged. You're free to leave," she declared. I nodded, feeling relatively fine despite some lingering soreness in certain areas. I knew it would subside within a day or so.
"Madam Mooring, call off your darn fox!" Jimmy shouted abruptly. He appeared petrified as the adorable fox frolicked around him. Jimmy's reactions always struck me as peculiar. The little fox merely sought to play with him, yet it instilled fear in him instead.
In a tone laced with mock anger, she retorted, "'Let's go to Seychelles. Crybaby Jimmy didn't want to play with such a cute little fox like you.'" With that, she departed, accompanied by her beloved pet.
Perplexed, I couldn't help but question Jimmy, "What's wrong with you? Are you genuinely afraid of that fluffy little fox?" It seemed inconceivable for any rational person to fear such an endearing creature, as Jimmy could easily overpower it with a simple gesture of his hand.
"What stage do you think that fox is?" Jimmy inquired, his skepticism evident. Without much thought, I casually responded, "Probably at a private stage.
" Jimmy shook his head disapprovingly, clearly unsatisfied with my answer. "That fox you find fluffy and cute is likely a General adjuteant or perhaps even a higher stage devil," he revealed. The revelation jolted me, leaving me astonished that the adorable little fox I had admired was actually a formidable General adjuteant-level storage devil.
It astonished me further that Jimmy possessed knowledge of its precise level.
Jimmy proceeded to elaborate, recounting an event from three years ago when the city faced the largest Armies assault in a decade.
During that tumultuous time, a diminutive fox had infiltrated the Armies ranks, swiftly dispatching the Armies's General adjuteant-level leader with a mere flick of its tail.
To have accomplished such a remarkable feat, the fox must have been a General or even a Martial-level devil, surpassing all expectations.
(Note: The term "storage devil" refers to a creature that can be stored in an item or device for later use or release.)
"That darn little fox used to visit our home with Madam Mooring. Whenever no one was around, it would play with me like a mere toy.
I grew so frightened of it that I would hide whenever Madam Mooring came to our house," Jimmy shared, his face now displaying a fearful expression as if he were reliving those unsettling days.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I blurted out, "Who is she?" Instantly, I regretted asking such a question, fully aware that it was one I should not have posed.
"I don't know," Jimmy responded, a touch of resignation in his voice. "My parents were acquainted with her about a decade ago.
She comes and goes, but every year, she spends a month or two in the Republic." With that, a silence fell between us, laden with unspoken questions and mysteries surrounding the enigmatic figure known as Madam Mooring.