An hour later, both Kara and Sol had completed their enhancements. Kara simultaneously developed a huge Demonic Core and an Abyssal body. Sol developed his Abyssal body first, and then formed a huge Shadow Core.
Ace smiled, patting them both on the back. "Good job, both of you. It looks like our investment in you all was worthwhile. After we have you trained up, you will all be true powerhouses!"
Kara flexed her body, studying her movements. "Hell yeah! Thanks, Ace, you are pretty alright for a weird old guy. So, what next? How about I punch a wall and see if I can break through it?"
Ace stopped smiling. "What?"
Kara smiled, and readied up a powerful punch. "Don't care! I'm gonna do it!"
Ace sighed, while Sol watched anxiously.
She punched the wall, and the result was horrific.
A disgusting cracking noise echoed all throughout the caverns. The wall was completely unmarked, while Kara's fist was crushed into a bloody pulp. She yelped, staring at the dangling mass of flesh her hand had become.
Sol rushed over, inspecting her injury. "Dear lord that is horrific! Incredible work, genius! Oh heavens, why am I cursed with such a mentally perturbed sister..."
Kara chuckled, and started waving her fleshy, mangled hand in Sol's face. "Onii Chan, stop staring at my dangling meat bits!"
Sol suddenly looked disturbed. He backed away slowly, while Kara just smiled.
Then, slowly, her hand started healing.
Raven watched as it gradually fixed itself. Tendrils of fleshed pulled her hand back into position, as the flesh and bone slowly reconnected. "Damn. Is that regenerative power normal for people with enhanced bodies?"
Ace watched intently as Kara tested out her now healed hand. "No. That is not normal..."
Kara smirked, and held up her restored fist. "Actually, it's a Supernatural Ability! [Regenerative Body]. I received it while getting penetrated by dozens of me-"
"Language, sister."
Kara smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, sorry. I should really choose my words more carefully..."
She cleared her throat. "Anyways, I got it while being absolutely ravaged by dozens of burly, sweaty men! However, it wasn't as strong as this before. The healing was much slower."
Ace carefully looked over her body. "Your ability must be being amplified by your Aura Core, then. Demons are renowned for their regenerative abilities, after all. However, I can't sense your Aura at all! If it was responsible for healing your hand, surely I would be able to sense it..."
Kara cocked her head. "Oh, then it must be the Perk I received for accomplishing dual enhancement. [Silent Aura], it makes my Aura extremely difficult to sense."
Ace shook his head. "It must be one of the most powerful Perks a player could have. I am an incredibly skilled Aura user, and I can barely detect it. I imagine an Aura Master would have to concentrate their entire will upon you just to feel it."
Kara blinked. "Wait, seriously? I thought it was lame, but it is actually useful?"
Raven turned towards Ace. "I am guessing we will understand it better once we start training with our new enhancements, but what makes it so powerful?"
Ace smiled. "Good question! One of the most important parts of fights between those with enhancements is how your Aura is used. The Aura in your Core and body can both be moved to different parts of your body. Figuring out how your opponent is using their Aura is necessary to win!"
Ace pointed at Kara. "Since Kara can hide her Aura, you won't know where she is focusing her power. This makes her a mystery. She could be hiding immense amounts of Aura anywhere."
Kara smiled. "Awesome! I am guessing this ability is best in a duel, or when fighting a group of skilled opponents, right?"
Ace nodded. "Exactly! Hiding your Aura will not be too helpful if you are fighting a swarm, but it is absolutely broken in smaller scale fights and duels. Now, then..."
Ace walked towards another section of the wall. Waving his hands, a strange Aura reverberated throughout the cavern. Then, a chunk of rock melted away, revealing a hidden passage.
Ace looked back towards the players. "Please, follow me. Before we start your training, I have something to show you."
***
They traveled deeper and deeper into the earth, following a rugged, eerie pathway. The air was stale and humid, and the dim, red light Ace used to light the way gave the place a haunting atmosphere.
The more Raven walked, the more he got used to how his new body felt. It felt like he was slowly tapping into a well of hidden strength.
Ace glanced back at the players. "This is a long hike, are you all starting to get used to your new bodies?"
Raven nodded. "My movement feels smoother. It's easier to move my muscles, just by a tiny bit."
Sol looked at his own hand. "I definitely feel stronger. The difference isn't too noticeable yet, however."
Kara slapped her butt. "My glutes are getting even tighter!"
Ace stepped over a crack in the path. "Good, you should be slowly feeling yourself get stronger. After the enhancement, you must begin to actualize your gains. As you exert yourself physically, your body will get stronger. As you use your Aura, your Core strengthens as well."
Ace took a left turn, leading them further down the narrow passageway. "As for what I want to show you... well, the first thing you need to do is agree to never speak of what this location is."
Raven shrugged. "Sure, I can keep a secret. But what about the dumbass behind me? She never shuts up, I can't imagi-"
Kara slapped the back of Raven's head. "Of course, I will never talk about this!" Kara spoke firmly, with a serious look on her face. "I might act stupid, but I know how to respect a friend's secrets! For example, I haven't told a single soul about how Sol likes to- hmf!"
Sol clamped his hands on Kara's face, furious. "Silence, you fucking imbecile!"
Ace sighed. "I need you all to be serious, right now. Please, show some restraint."
Kara and Sol both stopped, looking down awkwardly.
Slowly, the pathway widened. Eventually, they reached a door.
It was a simple, plain wooden door. It was undecorated and un-weathered, seemingly brand new.
Raven struggled to keep his eyes on it. 'Odd. It's like my brain doesn't want to even register it.'
Ace took a deep breath, and opened the door. He stepped inside, and the players followed.
As soon as Raven stepped inside, he received a notification.
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Warning! You have lost access to the Game's System!
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