"What... what just happened?"

"I... don’t know."

"Did that guy just....."

"Fuck, what type of bullshit is this!!"

The crowd was stunned speechless, their reactions being quite understandable, because after I’d laid down my gauntlet, the events that followed could easily be considered the fastest beat down I’d ever given anybody..

I say this knowing fully well that I’d sent both Apollo and Caelum flying in less than thirty seconds and the culprit of all these?

........

<Infinite Mirror Manifestation>:-

"One becomes many. Many remain one."

A supreme art of duplication that allows the user to manifest perfect copies of themselves. Each duplicate possesses the user’s abilities, instincts, and techniques, functioning as a true extension of the original.

The number and strength of duplicates scale according to the amount of energy infused into the skill.

Description:-

The user manifests perfect mirrored duplicates of themselves using pure energy and intent.

Unlike ordinary clones, each duplicate is a fully realized manifestation possessing:

The user’s physical attributes.

Skills and techniques.

Bloodline abilities.

Weapon proficiencies.

Combat experience and instincts.

These manifestations operate independently while remaining mentally linked to the original, allowing seamless coordination and synchronized attacks.

The number and potency of duplicates are directly determined by the amount of energy invested.

Effects:-

• Perfect Duplication:

Each clone is a genuine extension of the original and can utilize all abilities known by the caster..

• Shared Consciousness:

All clones and the original remain connected through a unified mind, enabling flawless teamwork and information exchange..

• Scalable Multiplication:

The more energy invested, the more duplicates may be created.

• Dynamic Redistribution:

The user may dissolve any clone at will, instantly reclaiming any unused energy..

• Reality Synchronization:

Experience, insights, and battle comprehension gained by any duplicate are immediately shared with the original.

......

This was merely one... a single ability from my recently acquired <Myriad transformation art> but it had already made me, well, infinitely more dangerous..

One of me was already too much for most to handle, now I had an ability that gave me as many of me as I needed, all with my abilities in tact.

That was a scary thought, I couldn’t help being curious as to what exactly these things, these Arts, were, I’d received one from both Apollo and Cara, hell even the demon I thrashed earlier had one and from what I could glean, they were all pretty absurd, especially the ones from Cara, Apollo and Malachi, they felt like endgame abilities..

"Tch, poor bastards..."

I clicked my tongue in annoyance as I swiped every single academy point the fools had on them, it didn’t amount to very much, atleast compared to what I received when I became an elite, but beggars can’t be choosers and each point counted for something..

As for what would happen now that they were effectively broke? Well, that wasn’t any of my concern, they should be glad the academy had the decency to prevent deaths, or they wouldn’t even be breathing right now.

I turned around, the monkey was still stunned speechless, eyes wide in disbelief, a smirk broke out on my face..

"So, what do you think about my surprise?" I asked with a teasing glint in my eyes..

"That.. this... what? How?" Seems I broke the guy...

"That... was amazing... soooo many Dantes..." Cara’s voice came from right beside me, she’d somehow creeped up on me without me realizing..

"Heh.. you like?" I wrapped my arm around her waist..

"Like? Oooh, the things I’d love to test out with that skill.." her eyes glimmered, I recognized that look all too well..

"Heh.. you’re getting pretty unhinged lately aren’t you?" I couldn’t help asking.

Normally this side of hers would be left for when we were alone, her cold pragmatic self being what she would carry around, but it seems she was tired of acting all that..

"Hihihi... it’s only when it’s you that I’m like this, what, you prefer cold and distant Cara instead?" She pouted..

"I never said that.."

"Good..." she smiled as she placed a soft kiss on my lips..

"Hey.. hey.. hey.. before you guys start mating in public, mind telling me how you did that? How were you able to use my art? The methods were a bit different but I’d recognize that ability anywhere.." the monkey seemed to have snapped out of his shock as he rushed towards me and Cara, his voice breaking our intimacy..

"I’m going to skin this monkey, I swear." Cara gritted her teeth..

"Hey.. hey.. hey.. scary lady, don’t.. I come in peace.." Malachi’s arms instantly went up in surrender..

"Humph.." Cara snorted as she ignored him..

"Hahahaha... I’d love to explain it to you my friend, but I’ve got an appointment to get to, so you’ll have to wait a while." I laughed at their interaction..

"Hmm? You’re going somewhere?" Cara’s questioning look was directed at me..

"Yea, My ’Teacher’ wanted to see me." I replied with a scoff..

"Wait, you have an instructor backing you? Who???" The monkey’s excitement returned..

"Oh, it’s nothing to get excited about, the old man isn’t even any fun to be around, so this is probably either going to be really boring or really painful, I’m thinking both." I grimaced as I realized I was about to walk straight into the lion’s den..

"Huh? Who is it.. tell me.. tell me.. tell me.." wow, I’ve never wanted to punch someone so much before, but I restrained myself, violence wouldn’t solve anything, afterall I was a pacifist..

"Keep wasting my time and see what I do to you later.."

"Ughh.. fine, fine, cranky old man..." I muttered under my breath as my body started levitating..

"The old man is getting cranky so I’ll be leaving now.." I replied as I reached a sufficient height, positioning myself in line with where they called the "teleport station".

What, you thought I was flying there? Do you know how ridiculous this place is? With my sense of direction I’d probably get lost in minutes..

"Oh, it’s valen by the way. Yes. The one you’re thinking about, cranky old man won’t let the young live, sigh..."

Boom!!!!

I shot forward as my words trailed behind me, I didn’t have time to enjoy the shocked expression I was sure the monkey was currently wearing..

......

Zing!!!!

Following a brilliant flash of light, I appeared at a different area entirely..

"Woah..." was all I could say, how do I describe the place?

The words "organized chaos" would probably be it..

The roads here were paved with a dark luminous material, same as the entirety of academy city, but that was just about all that was normal here..

The "buildings" and "structures" were so over the place that you couldn’t even begin to understand why..

To my right there was a castle shrouded entirely in dark shadows.

Further ahead I could a golden mountain that seemed to just float there.

Behind me I could see a jungle, a literal jungle with the sounds of wildlife occasionally sounding out..

The structures felt like I could reach them with just a few steps, yet at the same time, like I could never get close to them even if I walked my entire life..

It was an extremely disorienting feeling..

"Ahhh!!!.. seems the goddess of luck was smiling on me today!!" a soft, jovial and excited feminine voice broke me from my thoughts, I turned around, looking for the source..

"Ummm... could you please stop embarrassing me? I know I’m short but this is a bit ridiculous you know?" The voice sounded once more..

"Who’s there?" I couldn’t help asking..

"Sigh... down here you dumb, tall and handsome brute.." a delicate fist landed on my midsection as the voice reached my ears once more..

I looked down and my eyes met a pair of white, unblemished eyes...

"Hihihi... hi there, it’s nice to finally meet you, Dante~~~."

************

A/N: ohh, what do we have here? Dante finally met his #1 instructor fan, I wonder what’ll happen next..

***********

Thanks for reading..