The tension in the Occult Research Clubroom was palpable. Sona's arrival had thrown everyone off balance, but I was the one most affected.
Excalibur fragments.
The moment I heard those words, I knew this world's timeline was shifting. The Excalibur Arc wasn't supposed to happen just yet, which meant either events were accelerating, or someone was pulling the strings behind the scenes.
But instead of fear, I felt excitement.
This was my chance.
A battle involving Excalibur meant combat with holy swords, which meant an opportunity to push my Abyssal Armory to its next stage. If I played my cards right, I could use this battle to accelerate my mutations even further.
The problem was time.
I needed to evolve faster.
Which meant I had to find a way to force my swords to mutate.
I clenched my fist, my mind racing through possibilities. If normal battle and training caused my abilities to change, what would happen if I found a way to stimulate my weapons directly?
An idea formed in my head. A crazy idea.
But it just might work.
"We'll begin patrols around Kuoh tonight," Rias said, looking at each of us in turn. "Our priority is gathering intel. We don't know how many rogue exorcists are involved, and charging in blindly would be reckless."
Sona nodded in agreement. "I'll have my peerage covering the eastern district. Your team will handle the west."
"Understood," Rias replied. "We'll meet back here if anything happens."
The meeting concluded shortly after, and the moment we were dismissed, I made my way toward the training field behind the club building.
I had work to do.
I summoned my blades.
They hovered around me, their sharp edges gleaming under the moonlight. Ever since my ability had mutated into Abyssal Armory, my swords had taken on a life of their own, floating freely and responding to my commands. But I needed more than just autonomous weapons.
I needed growth.
The system had already shown me that my abilities evolved through combat. But what if I could force an artificial evolution by fusing my swords with external sources of power?
My mind flickered back to an old idea—a way of climbing different swords, using each one to stimulate a different aspect of my body.
A blade that absorbs natural energy to nourish my physique.A blade that unleashes hidden potential, forcing my skills to adapt at an accelerated rate.
If my system truly allowed mutation, then this should be possible.
I took a deep breath and focused.
"Let's begin."
I gathered my demonic energy, channeling it into my blades. Each one pulsed in response, as if awaiting my command. Then, I willed them to absorb the surrounding energy.
The first step was creating the right weapons.
[Mutation Experimentation Initiated.]
• Designating First Sword: "Life-Weaver" → A blade that passively absorbs ambient energy, strengthening the wielder's body over time.
• Designating Second Sword: "Limit-Breaker" → A blade that forces the wielder's potential to surface by putting them under constant strain.
I felt my demonic power shift. The swords in front of me began to change, their forms twisting as the mutation process accelerated.
One blade, Life-Weaver, took on a dark green hue, its edges flickering like a living entity. The air around it grew heavier, as if it was drawing in natural energy from the environment itself.
The other, Limit-Breaker, shimmered with unstable crimson light. Just standing near it sent waves of pressure through my body, as if it was challenging me to surpass my limits.
I reached for both weapons.
The moment my fingers wrapped around the hilts—
Pain,Much Pain
A sharp, searing sensation shot through my entire body. My muscles burned, my veins felt like they were on fire. Every cell in my body screamed in agony as the swords' effects activated simultaneously.
Life-Weaver poured pure energy into me, stimulating my cells and forcing them to regenerate and adapt at an unnatural speed.Limit-Breaker crushed me under its weight, sending pulses of strain through my body, forcing me to keep up with its power or be destroyed by it.
I gritted my teeth, sweat dripping down my forehead.
"Ggh… It's working…"
This was exactly what I wanted.
By wielding these swords together, my body and abilities were evolving simultaneously. Every second I endured their effects, my Abyssal Armory was being pushed beyond its limits.
The system pinged in my mind.
[Forced Mutation Accelerating…]
• Abyssal Armory: 65% → 80%
• New Sub-Abilities Developing…
I let out a sharp breath, pushing through the pain.
"Not enough… I need to go further!"
I swung the swords. The ground cracked beneath my feet from the force, the energy from the blades surging outward. Every movement felt ten times heavier, but also ten times more refined.
This was real growth.
Painful but very useful.
I was no longer just adapting to battle.
I was forcing my body to evolve in real time.
I let out a laugh, exhilaration flooding my veins.
"I'm going to be unstoppable."
My moment of triumph was cut short when a new presence entered the training field.
"You're going to break yourself if you keep pushing like that, Yuuto."
I turned my head to see Akeno Himejima standing nearby, with her usual playful smile, but her violet eyes shining with something else: Maybe curiosity? Intrigue…? Maybe even concern.
I sheathed Life-Weaver and Limit-Breaker, exhaling slowly to stabilize my breathing. "I can handle it."
Akeno approached, her arms folded beneath her ample chest. "I'm not so sure about that. Your energy is fluctuating like crazy."
She wasn't wrong. My body was still adjusting to the sudden influx of power. Even standing still, I could feel my blood boiling from the effects of the mutations.
Akeno tilted her head. "You've been acting differently lately. More… aggressive in your training."
I met her gaze evenly. "Is that a bad thing?"
She chuckled. "Not necessarily. But power like that comes with a price."
I didn't reply. Instead, I glanced at my hands—at the faint glow still lingering from my experiment.
Akeno studied me for a moment before stepping closer. "You don't have to tell me everything. But just remember… you're not alone."
She placed a hand on my chest—right above my heart. The warmth of her touch contrasted with the cold night air.
"If you ever feel like you're losing control," she said softly, "I'll be here."
Something in her tone made my breath hitch.
Was this part of her usual teasing? Or did she genuinely see something in me that concerned her?
Either way, I gave a small nod. "Thanks, Akeno."
She smiled. "Good. Now, let's go. Rias and the others are waiting."
I took one last glance at my blades before following her out of the field.
I still had a long way to go.
But with my mutations accelerating, I wasn't just evolving my abilities anymore.
I was evolving beyond the limits of this world. And I'll make sure not to stop.
Because it's clear that to live in peace in this world, you must be strong.