"Sorry, but I'm not interested in joining your little squad."
"Hey! Don't get cocky because you awakened a Soul-Type! You still have an obligation to the mission." Yui proclaimed.
"Yeah Rentaro, as much I was against it, Mizuko only excluded you from the team because you could die without powers, now that you've awakened more you'll be more of a help!" Ren proclaimed, filling the intense atmosphere with his charisma.
"Rentaro, I know you're angry but you have to understand we did that for your own safety." Mizuko said, his eyes twitching calmly in disbelief.
"No, we won't ask." Mei chimed in, her icy eyes fixated on Rentaro. "Listen, you might think by awakening a Soul-Type you can survive without us you're wrong, don't let your anger foolishly get the best of you. Your ability just makes you able to keep up with us."
With a soft sigh, Rentaro gazed at the prideful girl with a hint of annoyance.
"No, you're the one who's wrong. It's not because I'm angry I think I have the potential to survive without you, to be blunt I really don't care that you abandoned me."
During the final moments before his second awakening, he felt a great unease within himself, something he never thought he'd feel again after witnessing the death of his parents firsthand, fear.
That became the source of motivation that enabled him to clear the D-rank dungeon, in order not to feel such an eerie thing anymore, he had just one thing to accomplish.
With nothing more to say to them, he turned his back at them and began walking away from to begin the exercise. But Mei wasn't pleased with this in anyway.
She grabbed his wrist, squeezing it tightly as she glanced at Rentaro who only fixed his sights at her without any expression on his face.
"Don't you think you're taking this to -"
A stern gaze from Yui at him was enough to keep Ren shut, he understood how influential Mei could be so in order to prevent her from making Mizuko turn against him, he kept mute.
"No one ever said you had a choice Rentaro, we were given a second chance in life by the goddess to complete one task, save humanity. Whether or not you want to do things your own way is irrelevant. You won't be the reason I won't be able to go home."
He pulled his hand out of Mei's clutches, shrugging off her remarks with a sigh.
"And that, is where she made a mistake. I'm no hero of justice, or anything else like that. I am what I've always been even back on earth, a survivor." With his final words, he left their side.
She was startled a bit, the newfound strength of Rentaro completely overwhelmed her, if he wasn't careful he could have sent her flying just by withdrawing his hand. "Tsk, get back here you-"
"Stop, Mei." Mizuko voiced out, seemingly angry at what she had just done. As much as possible he wanted everyone including Rentaro to survive but now her mouth has changed that.
"This is what happens when I let you two run your mouths." With annoyance, he departed from her side along with Ren.
"Miz..uko." Along with Yui, Mei uttered softly as they both felt like he was angry at them.
[5:00PM]
"What was that all about?" Daichi asked, observing the scene that unfolded moments ago.
"Nothing really, just tying up some loose ends, now I can focus on the Amplification training. Speaking of which, how exactly does this works?"
"Well according to Shota sensei, we strengthen our Soul-Core by cultivating it. Think of it as working out to build your muscles, we raise our Soul-Energy as high as we can and incorporate that energy into our ultimate technique. In order words enhancing it, the requirement for clearing this training stage is to create an Ultimate technique."
He explained, stretching his arms backwards before he could begin.
"I see so we are killing three birds with one stone, understood."
"Okay, that's it for today." Shota announced.
Dedicating only 2 hours to training for now, the day had almost come to an end, meaning it was time for the students to return to the dorm. The Soul-Core works exactly like the muscle, after tearing it down proper rest was needed for it to grow.
'Oh shoot!' Rentaro said aloud in his thoughts, recalling 24 hours was almost up since his daily quest was given.
"Where are you going?" Daichi asked as Rentaro deviated from the rest of the students, returning to the courtyard.
"I just want to some laps around the school, I feel like my leg could use some workout."
"Dedicated to training huh? In that case I'll come with you!"
It was a bit of a drag, but he had no time to complain. Together, they both jogged around the whole school.
"So have you decided on what techniques you'll create? And what's that Inner Soul Formation stuff you mentioned earlier?" As they jogged, they conversed.
"Yeah, I don't understand it myself, soon enough though. What about you? How are you planning on creating an ultimate technique?"
"I'll figure it out, I already have something in mind but the actual problem is implementing it." He replied.
[Daily quest has been completed]
[You have received ×2 Essence Stones!]
[You have Levelled Up!]
After thirty minutes of running, a blue translucent screen appeared in his field of vision, displaying the notifications for his quest completion.
'Alright.'
"You'll find a way, just like before."
With the laps done, they both ran towards the dorms. Pushing the doors open, their eyes met with a cozy sanctuary, adorned with soft, ambient lighting that casts a warm glow over the space.
Walls painted in a calming sage green are decorated with an eclectic mix of framed artwork and photographs.
"I can't get over how amazing this place is." Daichi said, closing the doors behind them.
The living room was in the path they walked through, in the living room, their classmates discussed with one another but the moment they caught a glance of them, they kept mute.
"I know they don't like us generally but do they have to show it?" Daichi spoke, whispering in Rentaro's ears.
"They are just cautious." A gentle, angelic voice spoke behind them.
"Hi, my name's Lucy, I hope we can be best of friends." As they turned around, their eyes met with a breathtaking beauty dressed in a pink pyjamas, she possessed black eyes and a pink hair that flowed all the way down to her butt.
Her most outstanding feature, was the size of her chest which both boys couldn't help but stare at as it jiggled just from her moving her hips.
'Oh... Damn.' Daichi thought, this scene reminded him so much of his most favorite smut book he read back on earth, Neurolink system in the modern world. It didn't much for them to snap out of it, after all they couldn't afford to bring down their reputation even more.
"I've been meaning to ask Rentaro, how did you get in? Considering you have just a D-rank Soul-Type why was your enrollment authorized?" Lucy questioned with curiosity, crossing her two hands behind her back and leaning forward.
The sight of her dangling chest normally would distract any man, but in Rentaro's case he had been through a lot. Earthly attachments didn't matter anymore to him.
"I don't know, I guess I got lucky. If you excuse me, I'm going to take a shower now." Uninterested in prolonging their conversation, he left her side, heading towards the boys side of the dorm.
"You really have to stop lowering your standards Lucy." One of her female friends, Abigail, spoke aloud.
"Oh come on be nice, I really needed to know. Aren't you also curious about how he got in?"
"As infuriating as it is, it seems it's because of Vance, a recommendation from a Soul Hunter instantly gets you enrolled. I think they might be related, that's the only way a low life like him could get admitted." With an aggressive tone, she glanced irritably at him as he headed into his room.
"No, there's more to him that meets the eye." With a bright smile, Lucy replied as she also stared at him.
'Rentaro Mizuno, I'm now curious to know who you truly are.' She thought.
Born a noble, Lucy's curiosity always got the best of her. Her thirst for the unknown, new discoveries knowing no bounds. As a result of that, awakening her talent cultivated her Soul-Core to reflect her habits. Hence,
Lucy Mikasa — C-rank Soul-Type — Perception.